Cycling - a chat about all things bike.

[Dominique]

My mother had emphysema, and so did most of her brothers and sisters. Her father apparently did too. I worried I'd never get that. It didn't help that she smoked like a chimney. She died at age 47. Nothing worse than watching someone literally choke to death. Even way back then...The Dr's told her she had to do things to make her lungs expand.....walk, walk rapidly...leisurely ride a bicycle. Saddly, she did nothing but make [sic] comments about her coffin nails i/e cigarettes.

I, according to my father, was born on a bicycle. I adapted to a two wheeler very young and I rode and rode and rode. I wasn't in a major hurry to drive a car because I took my bicycle every place...Not much has changed. Thats why the hills don't bother me. I hardly ever/almost never use the first five gears on my bike. (not the beater bike, it slips gears on you and you find yourself in fifth gear alot)

It's been raining, heavily at times, today and I didn't go to any bicycle pittsbugh events. In fact took a long 3 hour nap. One of the things I enjoy the most about bicyle gatherings, is the post event refreshment (or what ever...even if its water) You meet all kinds of people, people who look like all the others, and you find this was this first ride.....or another who has been riding 30 years.

I'm attaching my favorite hill clibing event we celebrate every year. It's a little long. Enjoy. Also, you'll get to see what a beautiful city I live in.

I'm sorry to hear that about your parents Yellow_band. I was on course for a similar fate to your Mum, or at least have to carry an oxygen tank by the time I'm 50. Thankfully I've averted that fate for a while longer.

I was one of those 'born on a bike' too. In fact I don't even drive. I used my bike for leisure and transport since I was about 7yrs old (although was riding a bike before then) to being 33/34yrs...and now I'm doing it again.

I get really disheartened when folks tell me that hills are easy and that they just get easier because whilst the teeny slopes do get easier the other ones really don't. Even more disheartening is being dropped by the club ride the other week because I'm slower on the inclines.

[Dominique]

Thank you Incubus...but you see, I see you as one who gets the point. You are trying to do as much as possible for the sake of your lungs. Every little bit helps. And She was told that (over thirty years ago) too.

Lets face it, hills expand your capacity!....I haven't heard anything on the world news since Friday about the rioting...has it stopped?

Originally Posted by Yellow band

Thank you Incubus...but you see, I see you as one who gets the point. You are trying to do as much as possible for the sake of your lungs. Every little bit helps. And She was told that (over thirty years ago) too.

Lets face it, hills expand your capacity!....I haven't heard anything on the world news since Friday about the rioting...has it stopped?

I do get the point, sadly I got it way too late; the damage is done and expanded capacity is not possible according to all the medics. Maintaining the (50%) capacity I have is the name of my game, although I'd love the medics to be wrong. I am ashamed to say that I didn't give up smoking when I was first diagnosed. I wish I had but alas one cannot dwell on 'what ifs', I can but work with what I have.

There is no way on this earth that I could ride those hills in your video. I used to be able to many moons ago but such steep feats are a thing of the past. Great video though.

I'm sorry you didn't get a chance to attend the cycling events this weekend.

Yes the rioting stopped after 3 days. The newspapers are still full of stories and articles dissecting the whys and wherefores though.

[DapperButch]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cycling/14694430.stm



Alberto Contador's doping hearing at the Court of Arbitration for Sport has been set for 21-24 November.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) and world cycling's governing body UCI are appealing against the Spanish Cycling Federation's decision to acquit him.

The 28-year-old's case was due to be heard before CAS in June but was initially delayed until August.

The hearing will consider Contador's positive test for clenbuterol after the 2010 Tour de France.

The Spanish rider won that race by 39 seconds, ahead of Andy Schleck.

Contador faces a possible two-year ban and losing his Tour de France victory if the Lausanne-based court finds against him.

He was found to have minute traces of clenbuterol in his urine samples days before the Tour began last July.

Clenbuterol is a banned fat-burning, muscle-building drug, but the Spanish cycling federation accepted Contador's explanation that he had inadvertently consumed the drug in contaminated beef.

Wada regards clenbuterol as a zero-tolerance drug, although its rules allow athletes to escape a sanction if they prove "no fault or negligence" on their part.

[Dominique]

Early yesterday, we took the * beater bike* to a bicycle shop and donated it. The shop owner told me it wouldn't require much. Then, I had my sweetheart fit for a bike. (geeze, wisdom tooth extraction-minus novacaine would have been easier) after a series of *looks* from me, she chilled out and went with the process. She picked a specialized frame, and to be honest.....I stayed out of this, as this is her bicycle, so I was trying on clothes and keeping busy. They gave her a ton of attention and explained everything....I know she made a few modifications in the handlebars. She is 5 inches taller than me, but not all legs. SO...I really didn't know what she ended getting until we picked the bike up.

They told us they'd have the bike ready around 2p. When we went to pick it up, It was gorgeous. It was a flat black frame, that gradually went to gloss black and right into silver. It had half fenders. And some kind of Led light mounted on the front fender/frame...blended in nicely, and wired to the handlebars with a thumb on/off switch. Colorful tires, black and silver and they seemed to be all season, all terrain, and the utility rack on the back had built on framing for panniers. The best thing that could have happened, did happen. She got on it and rode it! She smiled the entire time.

So we loaded it into her suv and brought it home. And we went for a ride. She actually kept up with me, I wasn't riding at my *alone pace* but we were not going so slowly that I had to keep circling back. WE ACTUALLY RODE. As I was making dinner and her a snack tray to munch on for the steeler game, she said to me *How long until we eat? I'd like to go ride my bike....if you don't mind?* WHY WOULD I MIND????

This morning we sifted through my box full of used and unused bicyle stuff. We have a flashing rear light, a handle bar mirror (the kind that goes into the grip) a really nice waterbottle cage and lots of bottles. One nice hydro
aluminum can).....today I think, we'll get her a top bag. Theres two sets of panniers I use one set often.

I think she likes her bike. We are heading out to the farmers market shortley.

Dapper...I can't believe they're dragging his case out so long.

How fabulous Yellow band. Have you both been out riding loads this week?

Only two of us turned up for the Clarion ride tonight. We decided that we'd just have an hour roll around the green bits beyond Blackpool. There were plenty of inclines but I only needed to drop to my granny ring towards the end when there were some rather more challenging inclines/hills.

[Dominique]

Originally Posted by Yellow band

I'm attaching my favorite hill clibing event we celebrate every year. It's a little long. Enjoy. Also, you'll get to see what a beautiful city I live in.

It just reminds me, snow is knocking on the Door!

[SF_Boi]

Diavolo, you are absolutely correct on the ultimate hill training. Mount Diablo is a crazy training hill. I usually use the Marin Headlines because I like the views, cows, coffee stops!

Have you ever hear of the NorCal Aids Bike Ride? It's a multi day ride, but in the valley area (Sacramento, Davis). I'm thinking of doing a ride, I just need to make sure it does't come too close to my holiday time.

Hi Yellow Band, I really love that video. The guy that puts on the ride is a cookie! Love the hair cut! Too many years of wearing a helmet.

Take care everyone! Happy riding.

[SF_Boi]

I just test rode my new "throw down bike" for the coming winter. The Trek 2:1
I'm getting it at a very good price (>$1000), it has "okay" components, it's light in weight and I won't feel bad for trashing it. I changed in bars and put clipless peddles. I pick it up tomorrow and go for a ride to break it in!

[SF_Boi]

I guess everyone is asleep for the winter! Well, it was a very beautiful day in San Francisco. I did a 44 mile route in Marin, CA. It was great! I hope everyone is doing well and talk with you all soon.

[Dominique]

This is the first of 12 hills on the ride dubbed the DirtyDozen. This particular hill is in my neighborhood. More people fall than actually make it up the hill. You can not pull on the handlebars, as the hill is so steep, the front tire will lift off the road surface and you fall, It's hard to not pull.

[DapperButch]

Originally Posted by Yellow band

This is the first of 12 hills on the ride dubbed the DirtyDozen. This particular hill is in my neighborhood. More people fall than actually make it up the hill. You can not pull on the handlebars, as the hill is so steep, the front tire will lift off the road surface and you fall, It's hard to not pull.

Wow, that was great to watch. Thanks for posting. Of course, it took me until minute 6 to figure out that turning down the sound would save my ears from that annoying cow bell!

Reminds me of the time with one of my friends on the trail. She and I were still relatively new mountain bikers. She was in front of me heading up a hill. It was like slow motion, her front tire lifting up...I swear it looks like she completely flipped backwards. It wasn't a big deal since we were just on dirt, but I can still see it. Funny.

[mplsgrrl]

Originally Posted by Yellow band

This is the first of 12 hills on the ride dubbed the DirtyDozen. This particular hill is in my neighborhood. More people fall than actually make it up the hill. You can not pull on the handlebars, as the hill is so steep, the front tire will lift off the road surface and you fall, It's hard to not pull.

That was AWESOME to watch!