Cycling - a chat about all things bike.

[pajama]

Originally Posted by jelli

My Cruel did some cycling your way. Have you done any of the Natchez Trace?

I know this was directed at Mtnbike but actually me and a friend are getting a ride on the Natchez together. (It's S's g/f Mtnbike when she gets back in town from her next assignment.) I've driven the Trace many times and it is gorgeous.

Maybe us TN folks should get a fall ride together.

A

Oh btw, The Boy got his bike the other day. We went riding this morning. Only a couple of miles 'cause I didn't know what the hand would do. It's a "boxer's fracture" after all, but didn't impede the ride much. But it was an easy course.

By jiminy I'm cream crackered! (that's knackered!)

I've been out with the cycle club tonight despite having a wee chest infection. I probably shouldn't have gone but I'm glad I did because it's such a challenge.

The Clarion motto is that they never leave a rider behind, which is a good job because I'm usually the one at the back. Tonight we got split up. The fast guys up front dropped us - that is me, the ride leader and the lovely Sean who keeps me company at the back. We knew we'd never find them so we carried on our own ride.


Yup, yup I have 'ride hair'.

We were treated to a bit of the old crepuscular action in the sky

These are thumbnails, click on them for the full size pics.

The ride was a never ending incline with the wind increasing by the mile - inclines and the wind are serious asthma/copd triggers for me - but I made the 20some miles and now my body has given up for the day and my bed is calling me.

[mountainbikedyke]

Originally Posted by pajara2

I know this was directed at Mtnbike but actually me and a friend are getting a ride on the Natchez together. (It's S's g/f Mtnbike when she gets back in town from her next assignment.) I've driven the Trace many times and it is gorgeous.

Maybe us TN folks should get a fall ride together.

A

Oh btw, The Boy got his bike the other day. We went riding this morning. Only a couple of miles 'cause I didn't know what the hand would do. It's a "boxer's fracture" after all, but didn't impede the ride much. But it was an easy course.

We definitely should plan a group ride! I've been working in the heat so much that I haven't ridden much so it will be good to get my "bike legs" back!

[blue-eyed blonde]

I'm realize I'm a little late to the party, but I'm super thrilled to find a cycling thread on BFP!

I've always had a bike for general commuting & bopping around town, but in 2007 I bought a road bike so I could ride Ragbrai (an annual 7 day ride across Iowa) with my Dad. We've done it every year since then, and I've definitely been bitten by the cycling bug. I've done rides in Oregon & Arkansas since then as well as lots of riding here in MN.

I had to give up running after back surgery and a fractured ankle (work injuries) and cycling filled the gap for me. I was worried that being bent over on a road bike would be hard on my back but I had the bike professionally fitted and I find it more comfortable than my old upright - for those who have posted they're afraid to be on a road bike or are uncomfortable, there *is* a bike for you - go to a good local shop and try a bunch and when you find the bike you love, get it fitted!

Happy & safe pedaling!

[Dominique]

Let me be the first to say welcome....the bicycle party never seems to end. Some one is always in the mood to talk about bikes. Right now its way past my bed time and I'll just say welcome before something very non relevant comes off the tips of my fingers.

Originally Posted by blue-eyed blonde

I'm realize I'm a little late to the party, but I'm super thrilled to find a cycling thread on BFP!

I've always had a bike for general commuting & bopping around town, but in 2007 I bought a road bike so I could ride Ragbrai (an annual 7 day ride across Iowa) with my Dad. We've done it every year since then, and I've definitely been bitten by the cycling bug. I've done rides in Oregon & Arkansas since then as well as lots of riding here in MN.

I had to give up running after back surgery and a fractured ankle (work injuries) and cycling filled the gap for me. I was worried that being bent over on a road bike would be hard on my back but I had the bike professionally fitted and I find it more comfortable than my old upright - for those who have posted they're afraid to be on a road bike or are uncomfortable, there *is* a bike for you - go to a good local shop and try a bunch and when you find the bike you love, get it fitted!

Happy & safe pedaling!

Hello, hello and big welcome to our chat about cycling blue-eyed blonde.

I've just googled the Ragbrai...wow that's one big challenge and a great event. How cool that you do it with your Dad. I'd love to do such a supported ride in the future.


I'm real disappointed that I've had to cancel my Sky Ride today. I was to be riding the Lytham Loop ride (just 20miles - a paltry distance for some of you lot) but it's way too windy for this rider with compromised lungs. The wind is one my my copd/asthma triggers and I've had a chest infection this week so thought it better to give it a miss and hope the wind dies down a little for me to get an easy roll out later today.

I posted about Thursday's Clarion ride and how I'm glad I went as it was a challenge. Well, because of that 'wee chest infection' I managed to make myself rather poorly and bed-ridden for most of the day afterwards. In retrospect it was rather silly to go out with the 'real cyclists' with an infection. Lesson learned!

Happy pedaling one an all.

[blue-eyed blonde]

Originally Posted by Incubus

Hello, hello and big welcome to our chat about cycling blue-eyed blonde.

I've just googled the Ragbrai...wow that's one big challenge and a great event. How cool that you do it with your Dad. I'd love to do such a supported ride in the future.


I'm real disappointed that I've had to cancel my Sky Ride today. I was to be riding the Lytham Loop ride (just 20miles - a paltry distance for some of you lot) but it's way too windy for this rider with compromised lungs. The wind is one my my copd/asthma triggers and I've had a chest infection this week so thought it better to give it a miss and hope the wind dies down a little for me to get an easy roll out later today.

I posted about Thursday's Clarion ride and how I'm glad I went as it was a challenge. Well, because of that 'wee chest infection' I managed to make myself rather poorly and bed-ridden for most of the day afterwards. In retrospect it was rather silly to go out with the 'real cyclists' with an infection. Lesson learned!

Happy pedaling one an all.

Sorry to hear you're feeling bad! For the record, you're a real cyclist no matter what you ride or who you ride with! :-)

Yes, Ragbrai is a very cool ride and I feel blessed to be able to do it with my Dad. In his own words, he's "one tough old bird." This year's Ragbrai was the hardest I've ever done because of the extreme heat & humidity. Iowa's always hot at the end of July, but add humidity to that plus hills & 70 miles a day and it was kinda rough.

Ragbrai is a huge ride - anywhere from 10,000 - 15,000 people ride it every day of the week! I rode Cycle Oregon in 09 and they limit it to 2,000 riders. I can't recommend it highly enough - it was absolutely amazing, both the riding (the toughest but most rewarding I have ever done) and the support (the cadillac of rides IMHO). There's a ride in Nebraska each June called Tour D'Nebraska that takes only a few hundred people; friends have done it and raved about it. Next year I'd like to ride the BRAG - Bike Ride Across Georgia. I've heard good things about it. I've been inspired by a woman I met on my first Ragbrai whose goal was to ride in every state. She's done that now and has moved on to countries!

Thanks for that blue-eyed blonde. Yes I am a 'real' cyclist despite not being able to ride as far, as fast or up hills and lacking the disposable income to buy all the lovely kit that the folks at the cycling club have.

I'm in awe of the distances and the large events you ride in. The lady who's riding in every country...has she been to the UK yet? I would love to ride with her. That's a serious amount of people on the road for the Ragbrai, are ya'll riding in close proximity? Is that safe?

One day I hope to do the C2C and JoGLE. I'm not ready for either of them yet though. A more realistic aim is the Manchester to Blackpool ride in Spring next year.
Tonight was a Breeze ride. The women who ride on it are generally new to cycling so I get to help out up front whilst our ride leader keeps the inevitable back marker company at the back.

With the magnificent mountains of the Lake District to the North and the outline of lumpy bumpy North Wales to the South East-ish and a raging sea at high tide it was a dramatic view. It's a pity that my iPod can't capture the majestic mountains of the Lakes


After last weeks infection it was good to feel strong tonight. At the start of this year the inclines on this route (the longer version of which I do at least twice a week) seemed like major hills and I was really honking up them, even having to stop at times. Tonight however I flew up them and in bigger gears than I ever have. I'm sure the challenge of the Clarion club rides have helped with an increase in my fitness level.

[SF_Boi]

I've been cycling for many years. It's such a major part of my life, it's my freedom, joy and tons of excitement. Human and the machine, pure beauty.

When I started racing, Eddy Merckx was my hero back then and he still today. I love that man. I learned so much from his style of riding. How he hardly every came out of the saddle, hand placement, body placement, and knowing how far to go.

Enjoy the attached video of the great Eddy Merckx

[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sziZ6PejrfM"]‪Eddy Merckx‬‏ - YouTube[/nomedia]

[DapperButch]

Originally Posted by SF_Boi

I've been cycling for many years. It's such a major part of my life, it's my freedom, joy and tons of excitement. Human and the machine, pure beauty.

When I started racing, Eddy Merckx was my hero back then and he still today. I love that man. I learned so much from his style of riding. How he hardly every came out of the saddle, hand placement, body placement, and knowing how far to go.

Enjoy the attached video of the great Eddy Merckx

‪Eddy Merckx‬‏ - YouTube

Yo, SF Boi, how goes it???

Hey there and welcome to the cycling thread SF_Boi

Thanks for posting the clip of Le Cannibale...his record of wins in all the great Tours and the Classics puts him way up there with the best. It could be argued, quite easily, that he is the best road racer ever. Although it's hard to seperate Merckx, Hinault and Anquetil.

I remember watching highlights of Eddie's later TdF wins with my Pops.

I'm getting fatter by the day! The weather has been appalling since Monday so I've been far too inactive.

Tonight, although the weather wasn't great I just couldn't sit in anymore. I put on my cycling duds and set off for a roll at 20.40pm.

Here's my 17.99mile route
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/45654924

With a slight tail wind I powered on to Lytham, which is up the coast a few miles away. The roads weren't busy so I didn't have to concentrate too much on anything apart from the job at hand, which was getting to my destination as quickly as I could. As I reached my destination the rain set in again. So I took a 10 minute rest stop, changed my jackets around and had a drink, stuck m'hat on and set off back along the coastal route to complete the loop.

The trip back was harder as there was a bit of a head wind and it was raining but I made it. 2 hrs later I hit home on an endorphin high and real glad that I hadn't just sat on my arse all night.

On the way back there were sections of the Blackpool Illuminations being tested. I made a little video to show y'all. S'cuse the heavy breathing and the shakiness - I was on a bike yanno!

[Dominique]

I liked blackpool lumus. Forgive me, I haven't been getting alot of sleep....
where was the camera, I seemed to have missed that part.....were you really riding in the rain, in the dark, with one hand?

Biting tongue!

---

This is a big kick off week end for Bicycle Pittsburgh (i have a couple of rowing conflicts) and now I hear the weather is going to be awful. One of he things the bicycle group is going to be doing, is touring one of our famed cemetaries dressed as zombies ...(on bicycles of course) everything bicycles.

I'll look for some video to post.

Yup I admit I was being rather naughty and was riding in the dark, in the (by then rather light) rain, with one hand. I did a risk assessment, was aware of any hazzards and of what could go wrong (I know this route and ride it often). As you can see, only one car overtook me. It was 9.30pm and no traffic was going my way. I wouldn't dream of doing what I did on that road under day-time, or even early evening conditions.

Ohhhh tell me more about Bicycle Pittsburgh. What events are being staged?

We have the big Blackpool Sky Ride on Sunday. Most of the towns roads are to be shut off to traffic and a shed load of cyclists are taking over the roads.

[DapperButch]

Originally Posted by Incubus

Yup I admit I was being rather naughty and was riding in the dark, in the (by then rather light) rain, with one hand. I did a risk assessment, was aware of any hazzards and of what could go wrong (I know this route and ride it often). As you can see, only one car overtook me. It was 9.30pm and no traffic was going my way. I wouldn't dream of doing what I did on that road under day-time, or even early evening conditions.

Do you use reflective clothing/lights/other things to make you visible at night?

[Dominique]

I wear high density colored tops for day time riding...you know the ultra bright yellow, reds, and oranges in the wicking material.....

At night I wear a total reflectived vest that is also high desity yellow but filled with these dots that reflect light. The department of transportation workers wear these, and a friend of mine works for the Penna. D.O.T., so he bought me one......it works really well.....

here is a link to Biycle pittsburghs 10 day *everything bicycles*

http://ow.ly/5Wrj9

Originally Posted by DapperButch

Do you use reflective clothing/lights/other things to make you visible at night?

I do indeed Dapper. My regular cycling jackets and rain jacket all have reflective details. I also have a high vis vest, which, to be honest, I tend not to wear in the summer. I have a flouro flashing led strip for my leg or arm. I also have bike lights (and a spare one clipped to my person quite often) which are set to flash, which I think makes them more visible than a static light.

To be fair, I did know I was taking a rather naughty risk but decided to go for it due to my knowledge of the route, the lack of traffic going my direction and also that there were tram tracks and no junctions on my left. (We drive on the left of course).

I had forgotten how much I like riding urban (well lit) roads at night. I wouldn't ride the unlit country roads, that are not too far from here, at night.

[Dominique]

Bike Pittsburgh, which I belong too, but I am more involved the the ghost
bike project than any other specific part.....and we are more pro active than just showing up at the scence of a bicycle/ vehical death scene and chaining a ghost bicycle.....we like to think we are more pro active.

---

moving forward. Thru an aggressive letter writing campaign, we were able to get city council to pass an ordinace stating, it's unlawful to bicicle in darkness, without a solid white light on the front of your bicycle and minimum one red flashing light on the back. Our relationship is very co operative.

City council, by the way, like most cities....we have budget troubles, passed an ordinance to install 2000 bicycle racks in the business districts over two years. All parking garages must have 10% of the total amount of spaces be made bicycle acceptable and all new construction must include bicycle parking racks/sheds! Bicyles have come along way in this city. Don't forget, Pittsburgh is mountainous terrain. It's not beach, resort area. And bicycles are popular here. Appalacian Mountains.

Originally Posted by Yellow band

Bike Pittsburgh, which I belong too, but I am more involved the the ghost
bike project than any other specific part.....and we are more pro active than just showing up at the scence of a bicycle/ vehical death scene and chaining a ghost bicycle.....we like to think we are more pro active.

---

moving forward. Thru an aggressive letter writing campaign, we were able to get city council to pass an ordinace stating, it's unlawful to bicicle in darkness, without a solid white light on the front of your bicycle and minimum one red flashing light on the back. Our relationship is very co operative.

City council, by the way, like most cities....we have budget troubles, passed an ordinance to install 2000 bicycle racks in the business districts over two years. All parking garages must have 10% of the total amount of spaces be made bicycle acceptable and all new construction must include bicycle parking racks/sheds! Bicyles have come along way in this city. Don't forget, Pittsburgh is mountainous terrain. It's not beach, resort area. And bicycles are popular here. Appalacian Mountains.

Do you have a high percentage of deaths on bicycles in your state? How about the whole of the U.S?

How fantastic that you have 'secure' parking in garages. I'm waging a one-genderqueer-battle for the same here in my town. Our council has provided miles of new cycle tracks on the town centre roads (many of us believe some of them to be dangerous though) and lots of new bike parking stands but our thieves are devious and too many bikes go missing from town centre. I want to be able to park my bike in town, somewhere that is CCTVd and patrolled. I am quite happy to pay a sum commensurate with the service provided.

To be fair our town is much more cycle friendly than it ever has been which can only be a good thing. There are lots of folks, like British Cycling and Sky Rides who are doing much to promote cycling around the area.

What is it about cyclists and mountainous areas? My serious cycling back in the day was in hilly and mountainous areas.

[Dominique]

Originally Posted by Incubus

Do you have a high percentage of deaths on bicycles in your state? How about the whole of the U.S? I have no data to support this, but NO, not many.....one is too many. It's just another effort to encourage vehical operators to learn to share the road. Those stripped down, spray painted white bicycles DO make you (anyone seeing it) think.

How fantastic that you have 'secure' parking in garages.Yes! and no charge.... I'm waging a one-genderqueer-battle for the same here in my town. Our council has provided miles of new cycle tracks on the town centre roads (many of us believe some of them to be dangerous though)That is Next....4 are being layed this summer, in very busy bicycle areas, college towns and main routes into the city and lots of new bike parking stands but our thieves are devious and too many bikes go missing from town centre. I want to be able to park my bike in town, somewhere that is CCTVd and patrolled. I am quite happy to pay a sum commensurate with the service provided. Someplaces are charging a dollar....but council is capping that. I'm fine with paying a dollar for indoor, cctv and an over all piece of mind about my bicycle. Sure beats a few years ago, chaining it to any tree I could find.

To be fair our town is much more cycle friendly than it ever has been which can only be a good thing. There are lots of folks, like British Cycling and Sky Rides who are doing much to promote cycling around the area. Finally, it's progress in the making. It's good that we can see it, and can celebrate it.

What is it about cyclists and mountainous areas? My serious cycling back in the day was in hilly and mountainous areas.

Ha Ha, My S/O certainly wonders about this.......I think it's the chanllenge. After all these years, I no longer see these hills.