The Lounge of Terrestrial Wheelmen [Archive] - Page 13

George

September 26th, 2015, 02:22 PM

Yeah, I figured I need to. Fortunately the shop that overhauled the Allez is within walking distance to my office. I'll call them and make an appointment and can hopefully get it done in one day in a car-free manner, without having to strap that awful bike rack to the back of my car. I watched some YouTube videos about BBs today and it sounds like mine is just starting to go, compared to some. It doesn't click or clank or make scraping noises yet, so I could probably keep riding it as is for a while, but with winter approaching, I'd like to get this bike "right", which it certainly is in every other way. I'm going to try to ride much farther into winter than I have before, just because I enjoy it so much, and also because of Rule #9 (http://www.velominati.com/the-rules/).

Pictures and commentary of today's ride are below.

My son practically dragged me out of the house this morning for a bike ride, despite my best attempts to remain a hermit in the basement and watch the latest episode of Star Trek Continues, which came out this morning. I tried to explain to him that we should ride UPHILL from our house, so we would have a fast and easy return once exhausted, but he's into instant gratification and would have none of it. I try to choose my battles wisely and let him lead the way.

We rode down to a spot we've been before, but this time we stopped and we...okay, I...read the historical markers. The signs you see below describe this low-lying area - well, of course, that's relative, as we're still a few hundred feet above the city of Denver - which has a stream running through and a couple of ponds made by little dams. The structure my bike is leaning against is a windmill, which I think is more decorative than functional.

According to the signs, this area was established by a family as a homestead in 1877, and the signs show old-time photos of how this field used to look with houses and barns all around. Apparently they had dairy cattle here and produced cheese, among other things, therefore making this a "cheese ranch", which is a term I never heard while living back east - even while living in rural Vermont close enough to farms to hear cows moo and to find cow skulls as a boy about my son's age while walking in the woods.

Nowadays this is just open space between densely packed, sprawling suburban neighborhoods. There's also a public vegetable garden down here where anyone can plant and tend whatever they like. It's a neat place I seldom ride to, because there's really nothing here except what you see, and joggers, dog-walkers, and so forth.

There is a lot of cool stuff down in this area, especially if you like cottonwood trees, which are about the only trees native to the this area. There are a bunch of single track trails and paved sidewalks around, but when alone I prefer to get out in the open at higher altitudes as shown in the final picture below.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00556_zpsvugowjia.jpg

On the way home, we stopped at a store and my son got busy locking up our bikes with the flimsy Word Lock he and his sister use at school. I think this is probably the worst locking job in the history of bike locking, as the bikes are locked to each other but not at all to the rack, but I figured I had corrected him enough with "stay close" and "hurry now" and "stop at the sign up ahead" and "ride on the right, where cars drive" as we rode though plenty of multi-lane suburbia, which he needs to learn. I knew we wouldn't be long and hoped a bike thief wouldn't toss them both, still connected, into the back of a pickup truck while we were inside. Obviously that didn't happen or I'd be telling a different tale right now.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00559_zps0ptsdaol.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00560_zpsz28ogi7n.jpg

He's a great guy, if not quite street-smart enough, just yet:

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00561_zpsjsax5cze.jpg

Finally, this is where I rode last Friday morning when I had a day off. Lovely, and better than hanging around where there's no view, as we did today.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00520_zpsjew8efqz.jpg

G'day Mate

September 27th, 2015, 03:28 PM

Road Race World Championships ...

Congratulations Peter Sagan!

http://e2.365dm.com/15/09/768x432/peter-sagan-world-championships-mens-road-race_3356981.jpg?20150927204736

SportWagon

September 28th, 2015, 09:28 AM

So what were you doing last week instead of recording rides on Strava?

overpowered

September 28th, 2015, 04:38 PM

Queensland police actually have a cyclist complaint form.

https://www.police.qld.gov.au/apps/reports/cyclistComplaint

Here, it's more like you call; they find out you're a cyclist and they tell you that there's nothing that they can do.

G'day Mate

September 28th, 2015, 04:45 PM

Queensland are actually leading the nation in introducing laws to encourage cycling. They were the first to bring in a metre passing law, and for ages they've allowed cycling on footpaths.

SW - spent last week working from home and taking care of the puppy :)

overpowered

October 4th, 2015, 08:57 AM

https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xlp1/v/t1.0-9/12096495_10153717053697048_3358733129269192513_n.j pg?oh=43eff9b1e86d71263bd112ae48ecfb4a&oe=569CD254

Cam

October 4th, 2015, 09:44 AM

WTFLOL?

overpowered

October 5th, 2015, 08:50 AM

https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xat1/v/t1.0-9/12108755_10153713658138385_5004924615369412299_n.j pg?oh=9f4a6f0ace4b5fcb7fc59717bfc44183&oe=5686937A

overpowered

October 5th, 2015, 10:06 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQHvcpBljSU

G'day Mate

October 5th, 2015, 11:28 PM

"Time for a run leg, you triathlete" :lol: Rule #42 (http://www.velominati.com/the-rules/#42)

Yw-slayer

October 6th, 2015, 04:58 AM

Going into your local shop, asking myriad inane questions, tying up the staff’s time, then going online to buy is akin to sleeping with your best friend’s wife, then having a beer with him after.

More like the other way around I'd think. But still. :lol:

Tom Servo

October 6th, 2015, 07:05 AM

Finally got my new wheels all set up. Turns out it's pretty hard to find a wheelset with 135mm spacing that's not set up for disc brakes these days. Also, this was the first time I had a wheelset show up with no rim tape. But they're now assembled, so I get to see if that makes my commute any easier than my old, grindy wheels.

Tom Servo

October 6th, 2015, 07:31 AM

Levi's commuter jeans on sale at Macy's, along with free shipping. They're going for $30 a pop vs. the normal $70, plus "FREESHIP" gets you free shipping (I'm pretty sure this only applies to the continental US, though..) I can't vouch for them personally (I've heard they're a little on the skinny leg side, which sucks for actual bike commuters), but I know some folks really like them. The big plus is that it's reinforced where normal jeans usually get chewed through.

http://www1.macys.com/shop/product/levis-511-slim-fit-commuter-black-pants?ID=1510152&CategoryID=26679&LinkType=#fn=BRAND%3DDKNY;;DKNY Jeans;;GUESS;;Levi's%26sp%3D1%26spc%3D102%26ruleId %3D%26slotId%3D6

Freude am Fahren

October 6th, 2015, 08:14 AM

Yeah, I have a couple pairs I ordered online during a sale. They are a bit skinny for my liking.

George

October 6th, 2015, 09:17 AM

I hope the quality of their commuter jeans is better than regular Levi's jeans in recent years. For many years, that's the only kind of jean I would buy, but then around the turn of the century, their quality plummeted. Sizing became inconsistent and they simply wore out far too soon. It's as if they switched to "light duty" denim in their third-world factories, and I remember every pair I'd buy was made somewhere different than the last pair - Guatemala, Haiti, Somalia, Burkina Faso, Disputed Zone, etc. I switched to Carhartt jeans, which usually cost a few bucks less than regular Levi's, and last forever, like Levi's used to.

LBS courtesy question: I need to take my MTB in to get the bottom br

acket checked out, as previously mentioned. I washed and waxed the bike back in July, but after commuting on as much gravel as possible (vs. nearby neighborhood paved streets that I ride the road bike on), and getting caught in the rain and even a rather painful hailstorm two weeks ago, the bike is a filthy mess. It's caked with dust, including the drivetrain. Am I obligated to wash it before taking it in, or is a dirty bike expected by bike mechanics? I ask because I'd like to take it in this week, but don't feel like making the time to break out a hose and bucket to do a good job cleaning it one evening after work.

I guess I should wash it first, huh?

overpowered

October 6th, 2015, 10:15 AM

If it's muddy, I'd at least hose and wipe it down. It doesn't have to be immaculate but it kind of sucks to work on a crusty bike getting crud all over your shop floor.

LHutton

October 6th, 2015, 11:15 AM

http://www.anorak.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/tram-track.jpg

overpowered

October 6th, 2015, 11:28 AM

I wonder how many riders have been taken down by that?

I'm thinking, it's a lot.

Random

October 6th, 2015, 11:39 AM

You become adept at either avoiding the tracks or bunny hopping out. Or crashing. :)

<-- rode extensively in an urban area with lots of tram tracks (https://www.google.com/maps/place/Basel,+Switzerland/@47.554615,7.59446,13z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x479049c72769304f:0x361ce b70f36d8a90), back in the day.

George

October 6th, 2015, 12:45 PM

Wow, those rails almost look wide enough to swallow a mountain bike tire, too.

It doesn't have to be immaculate but it kind of sucks to work on a crusty bike getting crud all over your shop floor.

Yeah, I guess that's obvious and not a question I needed to ask. And even though I drive an old car, I always at least run it through a gas station car wash and give the interior a quick vacuuming with my shop-vac before taking it to the shop. I figure the mechanics might, just maybe, treat it better if it looks better. And, my car usually needs a cleaning anyway, so a shop visit is a good time for an annual cleaning.

I was intending to let the crud keep building on the non-moving parts of the MTB, however. I figured it made it less desirable to thieves on those rare occasions when I lock it up somewhere other than the bike cage at work. Oh well, winter is coming and there's lots of fresh crud to be thrown up by my fender-less tires in the future.

Yw-slayer

October 7th, 2015, 01:00 AM

I find that small drain covers are worse. Tramlines are more obvious.

LHutton

October 7th, 2015, 01:55 AM

I wonder how many riders have been taken down by that?

I'm thinking, it's a lot.
Probably. Whole site of them here.

http://www.anorak.co.uk/375360/sports/britains-worst-cycle-lanes-photos-of-that-olympics-legacy-in-action.html/

Cam

October 7th, 2015, 03:27 AM

The commentary is gold, but this one slayed me.

"The state-of-the-art stadium provides covered seating for six spectators, with an uninterrupted view of the 5m sprint pursuit event."

:lol:

Freude am Fahren

October 7th, 2015, 07:18 AM

It should be illegal to make drain grates go with the direction of travel.

George

October 7th, 2015, 05:06 PM

Cleaned the bike last night. - not another soap and water and then car wax affair, but I got it clean enough so I didn't feel like I was insulting the tech at the shop, like not brushing your teeth for a week before going to the dentist.

Dude remembered me and called me by name, which I hardly expect at a shop I enter perhaps two or three times per year, but I notice as a sign of, well, just being good people. Guy stopped what he was doing (working on another bike), tossed mine up on an empty workstand, and pulled the chain off the chainrings on the frame side so he could spin the cranks freely. Why didn't I think of that?

Silence.

He put the chain back on and it was SQUEAK SQUAWK SQUEAK SQUAWK SQUEAK SQUAWK SQUEAK SQUAWK time again. We talked about lubing the chain and how I've been doing it. I have been lubing the chain probably once every two weeks, but apparently not generously enough. I figured too much lube would make more dust get caked on the chain and be counter-productive, plus leave puddles on the floor of my garage. He slathered on some goo from a huge jug and now my MTB is nice and quiet again, and the chain is silver/black again instead of the same brown color as the dirt around here.

Oh well, live and learn. I'm always glad to get a lesson when I need one. I sure like this shop, and this tech in particular. He's the same one who turned my Allez from someone's old cast-off into a mechanically perfect rat rod. He also showed me a slight side-to-side wiggle in the cranks and mentioned it wasn't bad but I should keep an eye on it in case they loosen further, and he said I should be good to go for quite a while.

No charge. I was outta there in ten minutes, having shielded my eyes from all the hot and sexy new bikes they sell, some of which I think I'd love to own. I should have looked at headlights, though. I never got a better one last fall when we discussed them here, briefly, but I want to ride more into the cooler weather this year and need to get a better one soon.

Tom Servo

October 7th, 2015, 08:29 PM

I really wish I could find a good shop like that. Guessing it's part of being in a major city like LA - I only know one shop that's even remotely like that and it's a long way away up a big hill that's not particularly bike friendly to go up.

overpowered

October 7th, 2015, 08:48 PM

https://38.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m28nlmTvF91qeusqq.gif

It didn't occur to me that it would be the chain. Maybe I've forgotten what it's like to not recognize chain squeak.

Be a bit generous with lube. When I still used oil, I would usually clean the chain every thousand miles or so and lube it up, spin the crank a few times and let it sit overnight. The next day I'd wipe it down. Wipe down after every ride and it stays "reasonably" clean.

I use paraffin now. It doesn't get dirty but I have to redo it every 200-300 miles. It's a little more work than oiling but the lack of dirt sticking to the chain and the better efficiency makes up for it in my opinion.

overpowered

October 13th, 2015, 08:01 AM

This article exposes the bias of the League of American Bicyclists upper management as they try to make it seem like lane control is dangerous.

Joining the Chorus of Ignorance

http://iamtraffic.org/news-views/joining-the-chorus-of-ignorance/

SportWagon

October 13th, 2015, 09:19 AM

Yesterday I had to swerve out of the bicycle lane to go around a dead raccoon. Huge one. Might have been forty pounds, I think. Twenty-five at least.

The other weekend as I was approaching the turn leading onto the Conestogo River bridge just outside of the town of Conestogo, I realized the car behind me was almost crossing wheels with me. First following too close, and then decided she couldn't pass, I guess. Oh well, she didn't actually touch me, and passed well enough eventually.

I think it was the same day that I got to a stop-light, T-intersection with me on the top of the T. Actually, strictly-speaking it's not a T-intersection because on the right is a driveway to a nursing home. Anyway as I was approaching, I realized a car which must have passed me had pulled over right up to the kerb, leaving no room to pass. Sort of annoying because the bike lane does start right after the intersection. (Up until least year, the road had been a single very wide lane each way; enough room for on-street parking, but not really for two-lane traffic). And oddly, the car behind them seemed to leave me extra room. Oh well, we all started up eventually. And, no the car did not turn into the driveway.

A bit of an issue yesterday passing a buggy. I let some motorized traffic go around the pair of us (the buggy and I) first, before pulling out on its left side going up the gentle hill coming out of the Cox Creek valley in Winterbourne.

Whoa! I got to Elora and was nearly run over by a car turning left in front of me. I stopped and they swerved to avoid me. If they'd been creative they could probably have nipped ahead of me on the wrong side of the road and been gone before I got that far into the intersection. Or, they should have waited the extra second for me to clear the half of the road before starting.

Somewhat before that, coming up the hill behind the campground, cars, sometime with trailers, occasionally had trouble passing me because they had to deal with pedestrians on the other side of the road, but spread out as if it was a country laneway, or something. And, of course, they had their back to the passing traffic (as makes sense, and is possibly a legal requirement).

All made me glad I usually get out a bit earlier than I had that day. When I can hear and smell all the car drivers roasting breakfast over the campfires in the woods beside the hill.

When setting out, I'd decided I wouldn't go all the way to Fergus, because it was too windy, with the significant vector a headwind for my return. 30 to 40km/hr with gusts. Actually wasn't too too bad. A nice sunny day. Not one of those gloomy days when in some directions you feel like you can't make any progress. Got held up by a car held up by a pedestrian in my turnaround route in Elora. Oh well. It pulled off to park eventually.

Coming back down Middlebrook Road, the wind was noticeable, but at least it's mostly downhill. It looked like Judy was hosting Thanksgiving Dinner as I saw a young adult couple walking from their car to Judy and Randall's stone house.

I stopped at the crest of the hill just after the castle to eat some snacks. And an elderly couple stopped their car to make sure I was alright. Neighbourly, I guess. At times one could imagine it was not a good day for bicycling, because of the wind. I say elderly. They were probably less than seventy, or only just in their seventies. Not really that much older than I am now.

A few kilometers after I started up, I thought I saw a Scottish Terrier walking towards me by itself on the other side of the road. They can excitable mildly aggressive dogs sometimes. But as I got close, I realized those were cat's ears! And it was a huge pure black cat. As I got close and went by, it turned to lookat me with incredible green eyes which would look unrealistic if you saw them in a picture. Too bad I don't have a helmet cam.

From that point on until I got home, nothing happened.

No, that's not true. Around RIM park I got passed by a largish, reasonably fit, but not athletic fellow on a sort of garden variety racing style bicycle. After he passed, I was able to keep pace with him. Occasionally got reminded of those things about group riding. Like when his bike slid back when he went to stand up. He was lumbering along in a biggish gear. The wind was mostly a cross-wind, with only a slight tail wind. At the crest before the downhill at the bottom of which I turn right, I decided I could probably jump, and I did, gearing up and spinning past him, knowing that he couldn't switch to spinning after all that lumbering. So I got to the bottom of the hill well before him, and luckily he wasn't turning right as well, because I know he would have gone up the hill a lot more quickly than I. Not very mature behaviour, I suppose, for someone my age.

Earlier in the day, I'd been passed by a more realistic cyclist taking better advantage of the tailwind than me on Middlebrook Road. He went by quickly, and for a while seemed to be only slowly pulling away. But then eventually he just disappeared off into the distance. There were a few cyclists going the opposite direction all day, but I think a lot had either gone earlier, or just not gone out because of the combination of wind and family obligations.

overpowered

October 13th, 2015, 12:20 PM

The Benefits of Bicycle Training

http://cyclingsavvy.org/2015/10/the-benefits-of-bicycle-training/

Freude am Fahren

October 13th, 2015, 02:46 PM

Had my first angry, moron driver in a while today. Just cycling on the edge of a nice, somewhat wide, two lane road with very little traffic. No bike lane or shoulder, but you'd be hard pressed to get blocked and not be able to get in the other lane. Plus the lanes are plenty wide for just about any size car to pass and stay in the lane, though it's annoying, there is room, and it happens all the time.

I hear a honk behind me, not unusual in my area, people are quick to honk. Heard it again, and thought "could they actually be honking at me?" I look over my shoulder and see a woman in a Mini gesticulating at me. I put out my hand in the "what?" fashion and continue on my way. She honks again. I turn around and she's giving the hand gesture for get over on the sidewalk. So I flip her off and continue on my way, at which point she drives by me without changing lanes, but still with plenty of room given her small car. By the way, this whole time she could have easily gotten into the left lane and passed that way. I will never understand these morons.

Here's the road https://goo.gl/maps/gNHG8uhaNV32

Also, right behind there, it was one lane, which go straight into the left lane. So she had to change into the right lane in the first place to get behind me.

overpowered

October 13th, 2015, 03:02 PM

The idiocy is consistently amazing. The left lane is right there but in their ignorant delusional little minds there's a higher principle at stake: that you have no right to be on the road. They will waste their own time to defend that principle with a vengeance.

I recommend not flipping people off if you can help it. You never know who has a gun or is willing to fuck up the front of their car.

http://www.rawstory.com/2015/10/angry-driver-shoots-georgia-woman-in-the-back-because-she-was-driving-too-slow/

Freude am Fahren

October 13th, 2015, 04:12 PM

True, and I rarely do. First time on the bike actually. Only done it a couple of times on the motorcycle and car.

G'day Mate

October 13th, 2015, 04:37 PM

October 11th - yay (https://au.news.yahoo.com/video/watch/29780768/new-cycling-rules-to-come-in-effect/)!!

Nek minnit (https://au.news.yahoo.com/video/watch/29801161/bike-law-campaign-premature/) :(

SportWagon

October 14th, 2015, 08:41 AM

The Benefits of Bicycle Training

http://cyclingsavvy.org/2015/10/the-benefits-of-bicycle-training/

I was talking the other day to a professor here who grew up in Germany. I noticed he had disc brakes on his bicycle (something Dutch from Germany, I think--staid and robust but not overly heavy or klunky).

I asked him if he noticed the front brake seeming to twist the fork under the frame--something I notice on my cross bike whose make and model escape me right now. In his reply he mentioned that they'd been taught in school to brake mostly with the back brake, rarely using the front. I suppose when I'm riding my cross bike I do give more rear brake bias, because of the twisting feeling of the disc brakes. The front brake strains that stupid modern minimalist headset too.

But in general on my road bike, it's the front brake that does most of my slowing and stopping. (Although a grab on the rear seems to assist the final total stop). Though my mother did moan occasionally about her brother going over the handlebars once. My dad would say "Well, that's <him>". Other people have said it's almost impossible to do that unless you have a mechanical failure that locks up the front wheel entirely.

Cheated with the web and deduced my cross bike is a Brodie Romax. c.2000

P.S. real headsets have balls.

overpowered

October 14th, 2015, 10:28 AM

https://vimeo.com/137571808

SportWagon

October 14th, 2015, 12:02 PM

Oh yes. Forgot to prefix my ride report with a message about the new Strava start screen, which surprised me.

I vaguely recall updating Strava, and I guess the change is significant.

Overall they've improved the initial "Record Activity" screen.

But I don't like that they now seem to require, or at least prefer, some sort of internet map access at start and rest points.

But it didn't seem to cause me any problems, even going through my firewall, though I've got generous settings for Strava. (Generous until it decides it needs to talk to port 8111 or something).

But they've got rid of that strange slidey lock thing which was hard to manipulate with your sweaty fingers at the end of a ride, especially on a bright sunny day when the screen tends to be very difficult to read. It was especially difficult because the whole screen would also slide for different views. Now you access those through a menu, I think.

I suppose it was sort of neat when I checked it at snack time and it showed me retracing my northward route back south. And at start time, I guess most people will find "here's your house" more definitive than watching for at least four of five green bars in an odd little GPS indicator.

I backup Strava recording on the same device with a GPS Logger, and also GPS Logger on another device. And I've used the backup device at least once this year. (80km on a hot day, at my slow pace, can be hard on the battery). I don't think it's ever been the case that Strava failed without the backup on the same device failing, however.

overpowered

October 14th, 2015, 09:34 PM

http://i100.independent.co.uk/image/29187-m4oqnr.gif

overpowered

October 15th, 2015, 11:56 AM

A church in D.C. is claiming that bike lane plan would violate their first amendment rights.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/local/wp/2015/10/14/d-c-church-says-a-bike-lane-would-infringe-upon-its-constitutional-rights-of-religious-freedom/

G'day Mate

October 18th, 2015, 01:56 PM

Did my longest ride in a long time yesterday, and completely ran flat with 4kms to go. Not a nice feeling, but it was all downhill to the finish so I just coasted. Before that I was going like a man possessed and would have been the third person to finish the 200km (or 194 as it turns out) course, but suddenly it was like "LIGHTS OUT!!" and three people passed me (some of whom I'd overtaken just a few kms beforehand). D'oh! I also got isolated for about 40km on the first loop, which cost me a lot of energy. Cross-winds smashed the lead group to pieces. For a while there were some semi-organised 4-abreast echelons, which was pretty cool (albeit illegal) but the disparity between abilities meant many couldn't hold on.

Tom Servo

October 18th, 2015, 03:26 PM

Downtown LA CicLAvia today. I think turnout was down because we actually had some rain this morning, we got pretty wet riding to the event. Still fun.

http://i.imgur.com/WvmwTRw.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/K01xeSV.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/iLfCuZN.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/MaNaAnk.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/D2mQrx7.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/lwZdshi.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/dMO7SX1.jpg

overpowered

October 20th, 2015, 11:07 AM

Fear of Cycling

http://thinkingaboutcycling.com/article-fear-of-cycling/

overpowered

October 20th, 2015, 01:04 PM

The sky is falling! The sky is falling!

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-10-20/adelaide-cyclist-rules-prompt-legal-safety-concerns/6868470

G'day Mate

October 20th, 2015, 04:23 PM

Yeah, you should hear the stupid arguments and trade-offs people want.

overpowered

October 20th, 2015, 05:18 PM

I have. I've been listening to anti-bike idiots for decades.

G'day Mate

October 20th, 2015, 05:38 PM

Indeed.

In the meantime, my Everest is itching ...

LHutton

October 21st, 2015, 03:50 AM

What annoys me is the amount of dangerous potholes on main roads. They've been responsible for deaths on more than one occasion and yet highways authorities would rather spend money on road furniture, like islands, speed bumps and rumble strips across the road, rather than just maintaining the damn road surface.

SportWagon

October 21st, 2015, 04:43 AM

Islands can be dangerous for both cyclists and motorists, and can give pedestrians a false sense of security. Bleah.

Cam

October 21st, 2015, 09:02 AM

my Everest is itching ...
I think there's a cream for that.

LHutton

October 21st, 2015, 12:27 PM

G'day Mate

October 21st, 2015, 02:32 PM

Because you're there.

overpowered

October 21st, 2015, 10:36 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t22cISLOANQ

overpowered

October 21st, 2015, 11:24 PM

LHutton

October 21st, 2015, 11:43 PM

Because you're there.
Either that or he was randomly beeping the car in front of him whilst going past me by coincidence. I wasn't even obstructing him in any way. Completely puzzled by it. I guess it could be that the car had just overtaken him and then braked in between him and another car, but I didn't hear anything like that.

Tom Servo

October 22nd, 2015, 07:52 AM

I have, on rare occasions, had people honk at me because (I think) they like cyclists and are saying "hi", or are trying to warn you that they're passing. Of course, it's *really* hard to tell if someone is honking nicely or angrily most of the time. Of course you know it's angrily if they just lay on the horn for a long time, and if it's two *really* short beeps it's probably not angry, but otherwise it's hard to tell. It's like yelling "AAHHH!!!" at people, but trying to convey an actual thought.

It's part of my theory about why drivers get all ragey sometimes, including myself. You just can't communicate effectively. If someone does something that puts you seriously in danger, the only options you really have are honking and giving the finger. If you screw up, you can do the wave, but that rarely placates the person mad at you. You can't talk out a situation when you're driving, so you just get frustrated and the red mist starts setting in.

In other news, more fun with the Surly. I got some new wheels to replace the old ones after finally finding a set of wheels with 135mm rear hub spacing that weren't setup for disc brakes. That's somehow resulted in some seriously brutal brake chatter from the front wheel, enough that I didn't feel safe riding it. I know that's a common thing with long reach cantilever brakes on steel forks, but it's never been so bad that I'm afraid to brake. To give you an idea, I had to do a panic stop after a driver ran a stop sign in front of me (I thought only cyclists did that...) and it shook the bike so hard that my water bottle shot out. Took it to the shop where they verified that I hadn't screwed up when making sure the headset was tight, then said they thought the pads needed more toe-in. On the plus side, they did the repair for free, on the minus side a) it only made it a bit better, panic braking seems reasonably okay but moderate braking still shakes the hell out of the bike, b) resulted in some pretty misaligned brake pads (one of them is probably at about a 20 degree angle as compared to the rim, need to fix that before it causes some sort of crazy uneven wear), and c) has a ton of toe-out now. Looked into swapping for V-brakes in the front which appears to be a not-unheard of fix, but of course those are linear pull where my STI brifters are not.

So...anyone have any experience with a Travel Agent? Are they reasonably reliable?

George

October 22nd, 2015, 08:32 AM

Back in July when I replaced the cables and some other parts on my MTB, I ended up installing new cantilever arms, since the 20+ year-old plastic "spring covers" inside the original ones had rotted away, so I couldn't get equal tension on each side, and of course I installed new brake pads, too. It was like starting from scratch, rather than just adjusting an existing setup.

This is the page I used for setting them up: Park Tool: CANTILEVER BRAKE SERVICE (http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help/cantilever-brake-service#article-section-4)

The rubber band trick with the tires off the rims was a great idea, I thought, as a first-timer at this.

http://www.parktool.com/assets/img/repairhelp/cant15.jpg

My MTB had a good bit of fork shudder or judder when braking with the flat bar setup. I read that is more common with taller bikes with longer head tubes and installing a fork-mounted cable hanger can help. Since I was re-doing all my cables, and because I just happened to see one on the shelf at Performance Bike, I gave it a try. Since I changed a bunch of other parts at the same time, it's hard to rate the difference this one part made, but overall I'd say I have less front end shudder now than when I had the brake cable going through a hole in the stem, 1990s-style.

Forté Fork Mount Cable Hanger (http://www.performancebike.com/bikes/Product_10052_10551_1111718_-1___000000)

The part also has a cable adjuster built in, with a long range of travel, and I've already used to good effect as my front brake cable has stretched some. It's kind of hard to see in this picture, but here it is on my bike:

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00507_zpsruydndgs.jpg

In my opinion, and after doing it just once, setting up cantilever brakes is easier than setting up an electric guitar. :)

Yw-slayer

October 22nd, 2015, 08:54 AM

There was a lot of debate on an HK online cycling forum recently. About 60% of the people thought that ANY use of the horn when passing was totally inexcusable, that even if it was a short beep when overtaking, it was an indication he/she is driving too fast and/or close and/or dangerously (including overtaking dangerously) because you are paying attention to the road and would never swerve out in front of a car (yet the same people would also claim that ANY use of the horn scares them and is therefore likely to cause an accident...?) etc., and immediately jumped on anyone else who expressed a different, including anyone who tried to explain that not every person who lays a hand on a horn when passing you is a raging nutter.

Guess what view I took. :lol:

George

October 22nd, 2015, 08:55 AM

Hey Tom, as you know I promised to send you a box o' stuff in exchange for the Ass Punisher 2000 saddle. I'm mentioning this publicly to shame me into doing it, finally.

Before I seal up the box and take a half-day off work to wait in line at the post office, can you use a pair of these? I bought them thinking I'd "upgrade" the rusty old original part that seems to be necessarily canted to one side and therefore not giving an equal pull. But, I ended up using the cable hangers that came in the box with the new canti arms. They're hardly worth trying to sell on craigslist, and I live a very long way from the nearest bike co-op, or I'd donate them.

If you or anyone else would like a pair of these, brand new and unused, please let me know.

Tektro Alloy Brake Straddle Cable Triangle w/cable Black (http://www.bikeparts.com/search_results.asp?ID=BPC345317)

http://www.bikeparts.com/images3/large/BR7177.jpg

SportWagon

October 22nd, 2015, 09:07 AM

Well I got beeped today whilst riding inside the white line of an A-road. I didn't actually have to ride ride inside that line and many don't but I did to stay out of the way of traffic and some random Zafira-driving arsehole beeped me anyway. Reason? Not a clue.
Consulting Google suggests the hypothesis that the driver was afraid their odd-looking vehicle was going to catch on fire.

P.S. Evel Knievel commercial was very disappointing. Did you notice the bicycle fit on his too-small ten-speed?

Oh. And, if I understand correctly, we would say in North America that you were riding outside the white line. (You were to the left of it, correct, travelling on the left side of the road?)

Tom Servo

October 22nd, 2015, 09:47 AM

LHutton

October 22nd, 2015, 11:01 AM

Of course you know it's angrily if they just lay on the horn for a long time
That's what I got, or at least that's what I heard starting a few metres behind me.

Consulting Google suggests the hypothesis that the driver was afraid their odd-looking vehicle was going to catch on fire.
:lol:

G'day Mate

October 25th, 2015, 05:06 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cd0UriPKyms

Tom Servo

October 26th, 2015, 07:34 AM

Apropos:

Speaking of riding for really long distances, the 2016 Tour de France route has been unveiled, and you're never going to guess what it is:

SURPRISE, THEY'RE RIDING THROUGH FRANCE!

I didn't see that one coming.

Also, totally unlike years past, there will be some giant climbs:

"Notably for the hosts, the finish to the 12th stage on July 14, France’s Bastille Day, will take place on the epic Mont Ventoux, a windswept, 15.7km climb that averages a punishing 8.8 percent gradient."

Yet there will also be some flat stages in the beginning for the sprinters:

"The opening stage is almost certain to end with a sprint finish, as are the third and fourth stages."

I'm not sure why they refer to the route presentation as an "unveiling" when at best it's just a reminder.

Just once I'd like them to announce that the Tour de France will last for four days, be contested entirely on prone bicycles, and go nowhere near France.

George

October 26th, 2015, 06:15 PM

Today I ordered not one but two of those cheap Chinese CREE headlights that look like they're about the size of a baseball. Review and pics to come, eventually.

Daylight Saving Time in the USA ends on November 1 and I'm not done commuting for the year/season yet. :rawk:

Suspiciously cheap, but hey, I don't buy lottery tickets or play the slots, so once in a while I gamble with really, really low stakes:

http://www.amazon.com/CREE-Bicycle-HeadLight-HeadLamp-1200LM/dp/B008KUXRAW?tag=viglink20253-20

overpowered

October 26th, 2015, 06:51 PM

I had two MagicShine's which are basically the same thing. Be careful with the wires. They are delicate.

Yw-slayer

October 26th, 2015, 09:11 PM

Yes, the China-made lights can be AWESOME VALUE but the wiring and batteries are rather suspect. I wouldn't rely on them as a single light source.

Tom Servo

October 27th, 2015, 06:43 AM

Daylight Saving Time in the USA ends on November 1 and I'm not done commuting for the year/season yet. :rawk:

Thanks, I was wondering when the hell that was happening this year. Seemed like it was getting awfully dark in the mornings...

overpowered

October 27th, 2015, 11:12 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfEGiYD7ECU

G'day Mate

October 28th, 2015, 12:42 AM

Wow, 6km/h difference!

I'd like to see them ride a bike about 1,000kms in all sorts of conditions and then do a test like that before and after servicing and cleaning it!

Cam

October 28th, 2015, 04:36 AM

That's a pretty good vid. :up:

overpowered

October 28th, 2015, 01:43 PM

http://38.media.tumblr.com/2a9e4b3c7d9cfd49f95dc8293e8e8b8e/tumblr_mjvbi70NpV1rikgr5o1_400.gif

G'day Mate

October 28th, 2015, 08:40 PM

Trigger-activated warning light!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.cootamundraherald.com.au/story/3453750/cyclists-light-up/?cs=581

http://nnimgt-a.akamaihd.net/transform/v1/crop/frm/KBU2AeJuBafWhRrUt9hY9x/5b22c136-3348-48fb-9f8d-0092602e296a.JPG/r0_137_3088_1873_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg

Tom Servo

October 29th, 2015, 06:36 AM

I've seen similar things before some tunnels here in the US and in Europe. Definitely a good idea, though I hope that that's not the only sign for the next 15km. Drivers will forget about the flashing lights within the first .5km.

overpowered

October 29th, 2015, 03:08 PM

This seems a bit too good to be true:

http://www.speedforce.com/
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/speedforce-the-world-s-smartest-cycling-computer#/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmt5CFs74tA

Yw-slayer

October 29th, 2015, 03:21 PM

Definitely sounds too good to be true. I can try and make inquiries about the people on the team if you're interested.

Tom Servo

October 30th, 2015, 08:59 AM

http://streets.mn/2015/10/27/two-anti-bike-lane-narratives-that-need-to-stop/

overpowered

October 30th, 2015, 10:05 AM

The rider who made the video was controlling the lane to avoid a right hook and didn't get right hooked. The rider behind him was on the edge, and got right hooked.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqI5cVFC_gs

overpowered

October 30th, 2015, 10:08 AM

In NYC, More Severe Injuries After Painted Bike Lanes Installed, Study Finds (http://commonhealth.wbur.org/2015/10/bike-lanes-severe-injuries)

overpowered

October 30th, 2015, 11:21 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvjKzTKJMiY

overpowered

November 2nd, 2015, 03:42 PM

Luckily, these riders didn't fall far enough out to get hit by the passing car:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xgn3b2NM4i8

This was near Formia, Italy.

overpowered

November 2nd, 2015, 05:04 PM

The CHP actually cited an aggressive driver based upon video evidence from a bike mounted camera. The CHP's lawyers later rescinded it, clinging to the age old excuse that if an officer didn't personally witness it, then they can't prosecute.

Video:

http://www.3footcycling.com/castro-valley-california-incident-bike-mounted-video-deconstruction-and-analysis/

Petition to change that policy:

http://www.3footcycling.com/sign-our-using-bike-mounted-video-evidence-petition/

Comments:

http://www.3footcycling.com/use-bike-mounted-video-evidence-petition/The petition worked (sort of):

We accomplished the goal of our crowd-funded documentary via our short deconstruction and analysis video (http://www.3footcycling.com/castro-valley-california-incident-bike-mounted-video-deconstruction-and-analysis/) and our first California state-wide petition. The goal was to mobilize cyclists to sign our petition (http://www.3footcycling.com/use-bike-mounted-video-evidence-petition/), share their reckless endangerment experiences and insights, and pressure the California Highway Patrol (CHP) and the Alameda District Attorney to meet with us and explain why they refuse to accept bike mounted video evidence in general, and specifically in the case of our member cyclist's filmed incident of egregiously aggressive reckless driving. Cyclists across California, and a few from other states, signed the petition and shared their voices, experiences and insights. We are very happy to announce that our mobilization and pressure resulted in a Summit at CHP Golden Gate Division Headquarters with Chief Ernie Sanchez, a key representative from CHP Headquarters, key staff members from CHP GGD, 3FootCycling.com's Founder, Craig Davis, and our member cyclist.

It was a respectful and productive meeting where CHP stated that they are prohibited by law from citing reckless driving or 3 Foot law violations using bicycle mounted video evidence. They also said that our persistent pressure forced an internal review and learning process that that they appreciated. Our next effort is to dissect their legal arguments and develop a strategy to remove CHP's legal shackles which includes working with the local State Senator and Assemblymember. CHP issued a 10/5/15 press release “Three Feet For Safety – CHP Focusing on Keeping Cyclists Safe” which highlights our partnership:

"We have also partnered with 3footcycling.com, a nationwide advocacy group dedicated to informing the public about bicycle safety laws across the country. In partnership with 3footcycling.com, Golden Gate Division has developed warning letters that are sent to drivers seen violating the Three Foot Law and other bicycle-related laws. The letters are not punitive, but rather work to educate drivers about being safe around cyclists."
Please read the whole press release on the CHP GGD Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/CHPGoldenGate) and leave comments of support for CHP GGD's leadership in cycling safety.

Please also continue to encourage everyone that supports cyclist safety to add their voices to our petition.

Cam

November 2nd, 2015, 06:03 PM

Prevented by law from citing based on video evidence? WTF? :erm:

Tom Servo

November 3rd, 2015, 09:16 AM

I remember when the law was passed that that was part of it, that an officer had to witness it themselves. Of course, I've yet to hear of an officer witnessing a close pass and actually doing anything about it. I have, however, heard of officers committing close passes. So their record isn't so great at the moment...

It is very frustrating. The general rule seems to be that the law will do absolutely nothing about dangerous drivers until they hurt/kill someone. The police do not care unless you were actually hit.

George

November 4th, 2015, 06:43 PM

Strange commute tonight. It was about 50 degrees F, raining lightly, and of course due to the return to Standard Time, completely dark when I left the office. I'll spoil the whole mess so those who want to read it can, and everyone won't have to scroll past a long post with a couple pics every time they return here.

Let me first tell a long, boring backstory. Heh.

Okay, maybe a short one instead. Last night, while loading up and unlocking my bike in the bike cage at work, I stepped on a bent nail. I heard it "jingle" on the concrete when my foot hit it. I looked down, saw what it was, and tossed it to the back corner of the bike cage to prevent myself and others from getting flat tires or possibly punctured shoes and feet. No big deal, right? I forgot about it as soon as it happened.

This morning I locked my bike up as usual, in my normal spot near a concrete wall but sort of close to the fence. I park it at end of a long bike rack, and I lock it with a cable lock and small to medium sized padlock. Yeah, I know that's weak, but it's in a chain-link fenced cage, and you need swipe a badge to get in.

Tonight, I came downstairs and went through my usual routine of strapping on my rack trunk and the handlebar bag in which I'm carrying the batteries for my El Cheapo Chinese lights (that kick some serious ass, by the way!). I unlocked the bike and then as I pulled the bike forward, toward me, and toward the fence, my foot hit another bent nail and I heard it jingle on the concrete. My back was to the chain link fence as I looked down and saw a whole pile of bent nails this time, instead of just one. What the hell? I wondered if maybe someone was trying to mess with the cyclists and tossing in handfuls of nails or something and then I realized they weren't nails on the ground at all.

(spoilered for dramatic effect)

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00597_zpsk846wpyr.jpg

My bike is normally locked up right there behind the opening. I think someone started this yesterday or maybe slightly before and have been making it larger. It's plenty tall enough now to get a bike through. All they need to do now is cut openings for handlebars and then come in with their bolt cutters, portable power grinders, or whatever, and help themselves.

I went in and told building security and they came out and looked and made vague and uninspiring comments about reporting it to building management and so forth. Hopefully they'll have this section of fence replaced, but I can't imagine they'll improve it.

There are a few bikes that seem to live in that cage year-round, but one I always notice and admire is an extra-large Surly Long Haul Trucker in a nice blue color. I figure it's a 60 or 62cm frame. It showed up one day this summer and has not moved since, unless the rider puts it in exactly the same place each time, which I think is unlikely.

The rest are either department store bikes ridden by a certain segment of the employees who are here from overseas and billeted in nearby long-term hotel-apartments, or in the case of two, they've been there so long that they're so caked with dust that it's hard to tell what they are. I think the LHT, and maybe my MTB too, just maybe, caught someone's eyes as good grabs for bikes with bar-end shifters, racks, and overall decent components. There are several other good bikes that are frequent visitors, but like mine, they show up in the morning and are gone at night. But, someone with the right tools and a hole in the fence could get in and out with bikes during the day too, especially when there's not much traffic it the garage like mid-morning and mid-afternoon. I often see a Madone, a Cross Check, two Cannondales - one is a "Six" something or other, and three or four flat-bar mountain bikes that I'm not sure I can identify, other than one that's a Niner brand.

No harm has come to me or my bike, but I feel a little weird about this situation. I think tomorrow I'll shoulder my bike like a cyclocross racer, hump it up eight flights of stairs, and stash it in one of four empty cubicles in my area. Few will even walk past it, and I know no one will care it's there, if they see it at all.

On to other things...

The lights arrived and they're fantastic. I bought two lights because they were so cheap and I figured I might need two of everything to make one set that actually worked, but they both work just great. I got two of the diffuser lenses, too, but only installed one so I could A-B them and see which I preferred before installing the other lens, or removing the first.

I really like one of each! The one with the diffuser lens lights up a wide area closer to my bike, at least the way I have it aimed. They remind me of the fog lamps or cornering lights or whatever you call the lower set of lights under the main headlights on some cars. The light with the "stock" lens on it is more of a spotlight, and it's EXCELLENT as a "high beam" to see way down a pitch-black gravel trail.

The first picture is with the flash on. I held a finger over the flash on the second picture and you can really see how the wall is lit up. These two lights together are easily as bright as a car headlight, or at least my car headlights, which are behind 16-year-old yellowed plastic covers. I am extremely satisfied with these lights. Now I just hope they'll last a while and not crap out before the week is over.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00599_zpstofqlevr.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00600_zps2a501zf2.jpg

I could go on about some rain-related minor trouble I had after I took these pictures, but this is long enough already. More later, maybe.

SportWagon

November 5th, 2015, 08:31 AM

Who [else but George] would've thought you could put

Keep going.

Lots of spoilers within spoilers! :lol:

Freude am Fahren

November 5th, 2015, 06:28 PM

http://www.freudeamfoto.com/gtx/spoiler.gif

G'day Mate

November 5th, 2015, 07:21 PM

:lol:

George

November 6th, 2015, 07:36 AM

Well played, gents. :lol:

Coldest commute yet for me this morning: 32 F / 0 C. Sunny. Some snow still on the ground in shady areas from yesterday morning's snow and rain - during which I opted for a heated automobile.

No progress on the fence yet. Today I brought the bike up the stairs with me, and thankfully met no one else in the stairwell, since I took up most of the room with my bike on my shoulder. That was a bit more tiring than I thought, but it will only make me stronger if I keep doing it.

Tom Servo

November 6th, 2015, 03:04 PM

I once carried my Roubaix up to my office on the 15th floor. I have never attempted to carry a bike up that again.

And man is that cold. I'm all thrilled that it's only in the low to mid 60s in the mornings so I'm not all sweaty when I get to work anymore.

overpowered

November 7th, 2015, 09:40 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9YL04v-J5U

overpowered

November 7th, 2015, 09:48 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XypDTdd4qr0

SportWagon

November 9th, 2015, 05:19 AM

Wasn't even really close to freezing Sunday (high about 10C), and it was sunny and I had permission to bicycle, but I was still recovering from some nasal infection not-quite-a-cold thingy, and my clogging eavestroughs were weighing on my mind, too. So I wimped out and spent about three hours climbing ladders, scooping small shovels, and squirting hoses trying to arrange to allow some sort of water flow along our troughs and into and down and out of our downspouts.

overpowered

November 10th, 2015, 09:49 AM

25 REASONS WHY CYCLISTS DON’T USE CYCLE LANES

http://irishcycle.com/2015/11/05/images-25-reasons-why-cyclists-dont-use-cycle-lanes/

Tom Servo

November 10th, 2015, 05:49 PM

Our big anti-growth group "Fix the City" filed suit which has lead to the city council unadopting the 2035 mobility plan and re-adopting it. That, of course, means time for public comment.

As I understand it, they literally cited an internet comments section as reason to not adopt the plan. At least it was the LA Times one and not a YouTube video, but man, if that's all you've got...

overpowered

November 10th, 2015, 10:17 PM

Road rage on a group of cyclists that contained Tony Abbott doesn't go well for the driver.

http://www.smh.com.au/act-news/tony-abbott-shuts-down-road-rage-after-woman-blasts-his-cycling-bunch-20151110-gkvu2x.html

George

November 11th, 2015, 10:46 AM

Miscellaneous musings:

I have been pretty smug about the fancy chain-link bike cage in our parking garage, and wondering if I'll ever find another job with such a fine storage area for bikes.

Then someone cut a hole in the fence - which still has not been fixed, and I suspect it won't be in the remainder of my time here. That's too bad, but I'm getting strong like bull carrying the MTB with rack bag(s) up the stairs. The only other regular commuter this time of year continues to park his Cross Check in there, and from where in the cage he parks, it's likely that he hasn't seen the hole.
I've seen him before, but I don't know who he is or where he works, or I'd tell him about the hole so at least he's making an informed decision to park there if he wishes to continue.

None of the bikes in there, including the long-term resident LHT has been touched, as far as I can tell. That surprises me. Why cut a hole if you're not going to take advantage of it?

A little while ago, I walked over to another building in this complex where there's a little sammich restaurarant on the ground floor and I walked past a door I've seen before, but I've never seen it open, before today. The sign says [Company Name] Bicycle Storage.

It's inside the building, just inside the double service/freight/dumpster doors around the side of the building. In the quick glimpse I got as someone exited the room and held the door open for a second or two, I saw a room about the size of a one-car garage, nicely painted, with several (10 or 12, I'd guess) vertical racks with bikes hanging up on the walls. Wow. It was so nice, I wouldn't have been surprised to see a valet in there, handing out warm towels and breath mints. And I thought I had it good with a cold, dark, dirty cage in the basement of a garage.

I didn't ride today, due to there being at least three inches of snow on the ground and more falling when it was time to leave in the morning. So now I'm surfing the web and pricing studded tires and fenders. It's sunny today and the snow is melting quickly, but the low tonight is supposed to be 19 F / -7 C, so I might not ride tomorrow either. I have some decent colder weather cycling clothes this year, but I may draw the line when I have to start wearing skiing gear to ride a bicycle to work. We'll see.

overpowered

November 11th, 2015, 09:08 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UggSw4nGfw0

overpowered

November 11th, 2015, 09:28 PM

http://38.media.tumblr.com/5f882584dcae7c0c9a91d487d3fc2884/tumblr_nxks2bwN0Y1t95h1uo1_500.gif

Yw-slayer

November 11th, 2015, 10:19 PM

:up:

overpowered

November 12th, 2015, 02:11 PM

Five Cyclist-Blaming Headlines—And How to Reframe Them

http://www.bicycling.com/culture/advocacy/five-cyclist-blaming-headlines-and-how-reframe-them

overpowered

November 12th, 2015, 02:34 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFPmjxkNRmA

SportWagon

November 17th, 2015, 02:37 PM

Ride report from last Sunday, encouraged by George (http://gtxforums.net/member.php?25-George)

[Extra long edition]

Well, the forecast was for a warmish dry sunny day on Sunday, with a high of perhaps 12C. One thing and another and I slept until noon. I couldn't actually get out by even 1pm, so make that 2? Well, that became 2:19 according to strava.

Shortness of the day was therefore an issue. A ride to Elora was out of the question, so I chose West Montrose, but perhaps that was cutting things a bit close.

It was not cold, but I confirmed my old observation that a given temperature feels cooler as a high than as the early morning temperature for a warming-up day. Weather channel said 13C when I left, and I assumed it would drop slightly, and it felt like it did, but the channel said 14C when I actually got back???

I wore a long-sleeve turtle-neck under my jersey, and a T-shirt under that. Between the T-shirt and turtle neck I put four sheets of 8.5x11 computer paper, and I'm glad I did. My single-layer lycra tights kept me warm but not too hot.

People pile their leaves for collection in the bicycle lane, grrr. On that road that used to just have wide lanes with no lane markings. Parts of it actually seem narrower now. And as if leaves weren't bad enough some sections had an odd gravely covering--which is almost worse because it's less obviously a reason for swerving from it.

The lights at the T-intersection of Lexington and Univerity Avenue Extension did not want to trip because of me. But it wasn't until I'd ridden up onto the sidewalk to push the button that two cars arrived to trip them. I thought that had got better again recently, but before the construction a year ago tripping the light with my bicycle worked flawlessly.

Towards the top of grade after I had turned left, a police car sat at an intersection waiting for speeders. Just as I was approaching he waved out his window, and I realized it was to signal to the car behind him that he should go around and past. Oh well, that driver wasn't in too much of a hurry, and I managed to ride past, sending back an anonymous sort of glare.

Along my trip I saw several fellow cyclists, mostly solo, going he other way. Most actually looked, if anything, slightly more warmly dressed than I, although one guy was wearing knee-britches with bare shins.

Not much incident all the way to West Montrose. I guess a family was walking up the short steep rise into Conestogo, and I did slowly go faster than them, which was a relief considering how slowly I feel like I'm going uphill now.

Now, going down the hill towards the West Montrose I saw a reddish-brown 1940ish sedan going up on the other side. It might have been that Chevrolet I'd posted picture of before on a different board; the one which had been parked in Elora for years. But I didn't really see clearly.

As I got close to the West Montrose covered bridge, it felt like they had somehow managed to narrow the paved surface there down to one lane, which was not what I recalled.

After going through the bridge, I saw a family cycling away the right fork while I took the left. Now to head to Playful Puppy Paradise. But I think the house at Playful Puppy Paradise has changed hands, and Playful Puppy and Friendly Puppy no longer live there.

I ended up taking a fairly long pause at left turn which is the north-west corner of my route. Cars on my side were spaced somewhat widely, and after I let one pass after which I thought I could go, I realized the car after it was travelling a lot faster. Oh well, I ended up with a break after that.

That busy stretch south into Conestogo wasn't too bad. It seemed there might be late-season cottage traffic returning before nightfall, but it was intermittent. At one point I needed to signal to move out left to pass a group of Mennonites walking towards me, on a bridge I think. (Otherwise they'll often walk or move over to the gravel shoulder, while I'll stay on the paved shoulder).

I saw a few Mennonite cyclists on the other side of the road, that is, riding towards me. They were all fairly formally dressed, and varied in their aerodynamic positioning, but I think all with large shoes or boots. I have never seen a female Mennonite cyclist round here, and they don't use those large-wheel scooteers around here either.

So I got to Conestogo, and managed to make my way to the middle of the road for my left turn. Eventually that turn went easily because the road markings encouraged a pickup truck turning left opposite me to block the other traffic.

So I got to my last little test, the small steep S-bend hill coming out of the Conestogo River valley. And I realized there was a group of young guys, not Mennonites, I don't think, coming down the hill, somewhat spread out. I slow to a crawl going up there now. Shortly after I moved out to go past them, I heard the cough of a high-revving engine shifting down--probably a motorcycle. Oh well, after I was clear of them I managed a mini-spurt to get over to the edge of the road again. And the motorcycle came through, almost reminiscent of echelon formation riding. As it rode of I saw longish reddish-brown hair coming out the back of the helmet. Size and posture, too, suggested it was a woman.

Along the University Avenue Extension (with bicycle lanes) a bus passed me somewhat closely. I thought that was odd, because the transit buses seemed to have actually started leaving a little extra room in general. And, indeed, as it got fully past me I realize it was an inter-city tour-type bus.

I saw the same police car, moved slightly I think, still at his post. He was across the road from me now, of course.

I actually almost caught someone going down the hill to Lexington, but they seemed eventually to begin taking advantage of gaining momentum. Plus it's bad form to pass and then turn right.

So there were more leaves and gravel junk on the subsequent bicycle lanes.

As I was approaching the traffic lights I saw a very young girl--anywhere from seven to eleven--apparently alone on her bicycle. Up at the traffic light, around the corner her (presumably) mother was waiting. As I went by it sounded like the mother was saying the girl should have checked over her shoulder and perhaps let me by, but I'm not sure. I wasn't going to get involved, anyway; I could use the rest and really only just caught up not far from the intersection. But, whatever the case, the girl had had her brain-hands full with the leaf-filled bicycle lane, really.

I really had left my ride a little too late. I got home nicely before sunset (cleaning more than 1/2 hour before), but probably would not have done so if I had needed to fix a flat. Riding on a flat is damaging to the casing, even if the rim holds up okay, but might have been the best option if a flat had happened.

George

November 18th, 2015, 08:23 AM

I can't tell if that's an homage or if I'm being made fun of, but either way, I approve of both the message and the format. :lol:

This is a new one to me:

"Between the T-shirt and turtle neck I put four sheets of 8.5x11 computer paper"
To block the wind, I assume?

"if I had needed to fix a flat"
Did you ever get rid of those tires with the threads showing?

About the spoiler tags in my posts: I started adding spoilers when I'd post a humble-brag of lots of pictures of awesome Colorado cycling scenery and other foolishness, and I figured people didn't want to have to wait for pictures to load and then scroll past them over and over every time they came back to this thread. I kind of wish folks would do that in the What Are You Listening To thread, as sometimes I click on that at home - forgetting I have a slower connection there than at work - and then have to go take a walk or something while my computer grinds to a halt as all those videos load.

But either way, I actually like reading posts like SW's above, and also seeing pics and videos in here. The closest I've gotten to Australia is Mexico, but I kind of feel like I've been to Adelaide from seeing G'day Mate's videos around town and on the mountain. I like that stuff, but I figure not everyone does, and that's why I use the spoiler tags sometimes.

In other news, weather nerds (like me) may have seen that we got a nice blizzard here on Monday night through yesterday morning. I rode to work on Monday, after checking the Weather Channel before my ride and hearing on the "Local On The 8s" that we would have a snow accumulation of one inch on Tuesday morning. It was a beautiful morning ride in, but when I got here, all the office hens were clucking about the huge snowfall that was predicted. Apparently I tuned in to the Weather Channel too late to hear them say "and nine to twelve inches Monday night". D'oh!

My wife picked me up in the snowstorm Monday night. I brought my laptop home and worked from home yesterday, and today I got up early and walked to the light-rail train station and rode the train to work, just for an early-morning adventure and a change of pace...and also because I have several free ride tickets that expire in December. I'm embarassed to admit I haven't had my snow tires mounted yet. I went to the tire store a couple Saturdays ago, and got there five minutes after opening, and the parking lot was already full and the line inside was astonishing, so I figured I'd go another day, and, well, you know how that goes...

Walking to the train station today, I was wondering if anyone knows a website to measure distance from point to point, without knowing the exact address of both locations, and one that allows me to lay out the exact course of travel from above, rather that just accepting Google driving directions? I'm just curious how far I walked today, and it would be neat to figure out exactly how far my bike commute is too.

I wish I'd had my camera with me this morning to show you guys the frozen tundra covering the gravel trail under the power lines that some of you might remember from previous picture. Clomping through the crust and trying to keep the snow out of my boots and my jeans as dry as possible, I enjoyed seeing the powdery snow blowing all around this very windy morning. I was glad I was afoot and not trying to pedal into that wind, and was sorry I hadn't packed my camera.

Finally, if anyone is still reading this, they fixed the hole in the fence in the bike cage at work and put in some extra reinforcement, too. It won't keep a determined thief out, but I figure it sends the same "we're watching you" message to the would-be thief as he sent to me/us, I felt, by cutting the hole in the first place. But did they sweep up all the little bits of metal when they fixed the fence? Of course not. But, I was really surprised they fixed it at all, and so quickly, and I sent a thank-you note via email to our facilities guy for getting it done. I was pleased to see my bike was still in the cage when I walked in this morning. It has been there since Monday morning, locked to a rack with two locks instead of just one. that's how it will be from now on.

It's supposed get into the 40s F today and be sunny all day, so hopefully enough snow will melt for me to ride home safely tonight. If not, I'll take the train again and enjoy another cold walk home from the station, listening to my current Walt Longmire audio book on my mp3 player with headphones.

SportWagon

November 18th, 2015, 12:11 PM

Deriving amusement from something someone did should not be considered making fun of them.

Assume I am making fun of my tendency to post long postings, and also deriving amusement from the nested spoiler facility.

And yes, I changed the tires almost immediately after taking the picture.

And the paper blocks the wind, and also creates an insulated area of air underneath its crumples.

It's like the newpapers they used to use when racing in the high mountains, but cleaner.

G'day Mate

November 18th, 2015, 03:17 PM

I almost used the paper trick for the start of Three Peaks - some guys in my dorm certainly did.

Warning - another Three Peaks story below:

In the end I basically nailed my choice of clothes though! Started with jersey, gillet, under-helmet-head-warmer and long-fingered gloves over the top of fingerless ones. My legs just had to suffer in the wind, but it wasn't that bad and even my feet didn't get very cold.

At the bottom of the first descent I removed the long gloves, arm-warmers and head-warmer-thing. The gillet stayed on until half-way where I could deposit the whole lot in a bag to be collected at the end, leaving me with just my usual jersey, bib-knicks and fingerless gloves.

Felt pretty comfortable all day :)

Tom Servo

November 18th, 2015, 04:49 PM

In other news, weather nerds (like me) may have seen...

I have it on good authority that the wife is getting me a PWS that feeds data to wunderground.com for Christmas. I am geeking out like nobody's business.

Random

November 18th, 2015, 05:27 PM

Google Earth will do path calculations, George.

George

November 18th, 2015, 06:13 PM

Thanks, all. SW, you can make fun anytime you want. The rest of you lot, however, had better toe the line!

Tom, I like that wunderground TV show that's on in the late afternoons on the Weather Channel. Once in a while I get home from work early enough to flip on the TV and catch part of it while I'm changing into my smoking jacket and silk ascot for subsequent lounging around the mansion. I like the experts sitting in easy chairs, verbally answering emailed questions, and the fact that they draw on an actual chalkboard instead of using computer graphics for everything. That's cool.

Heck, our kids are in second grade and they don't even know what a chalkboard is - it's all whiteboards and not only that, but "smartboards", I think they're called, where kids can draw on a computer screen and it appears on a huge board that the whole classroom can see. I guess dry erase markers were putting too much of a dent in the county school budget. Anyone else remember having to go outside at school to pound erasers together to get all (well, some) of the chalk dust out of them? Well, probably everyone here, but they don't seem to use chalk anymore, which is probably just as well.

I haven't tried Google Earth, but I did find out that a straight line distance from my house to the train station is two miles, according to this site: http://tjpeiffer.com/crowflies.html. I couldn't walk in a straight line due to meandering neighborhood streets, icy sidewalks, and close to the train station, a brick fence I that had to have been around seven feet tall - and certainly at least six feet. I was standing in/on a few inches of snow and had to jump up to grab the top edge and pull myself up and over, from a neighborhood under construction into a business park. As I jumped down into a snow drift on the other side, all I could think of was Danny Glover in one of those Lethal Weapon movies, I think, who often said, "I'm too old for this shit." :lol:

Random

November 18th, 2015, 08:26 PM

G'day Mate

November 18th, 2015, 08:27 PM

https://www.strava.com/routes/new

George

November 18th, 2015, 09:11 PM

Actually, I just found out that google maps will do it, too. On a computer, right-click on your starting point and select "Measure Distance" from the menu, then click on the map to add way points. It displays the distance between each waypoint as you click and the total distance at the bottom of the map.

That works beautifully. Thanks, Random!

I walked 2.66 miles to the train station this morning, and my bicycle commute - by the most direct route - worked out to exactly 5.0 miles, which is what I'd assumed from clocking it in my car, even though that's a slightly different route.

George

November 19th, 2015, 06:07 PM

Another 2.66 miles on foot this morning! I have a blister on one big toe and my ankle on the other leg was swollen a bit, but not painful, when I arrived at work and took a shower. I like just rolling out of bed and into some old clothes for a walk to work, and then showering and changing as if I'd ridden my bike. Obviously all the stair-climbing I do hasn't conditioned my lower extremities to long walks. I thought I was actually getting into decent shape with all the bike riding, but I can tell relatively long walks make me use different muscles than cycling, as the front of my shins have been a bit sore as well.

A couple pics from today, with some minor cycling content too:

On "Power Line Trail", having just left my house. That's not it's name, but what I call it. Yesterday I couldn't see any earth, just snow. Obviously lots of snow has melted and there has been a lot of foot traffic and one parks & rec truck or county maintenance vehicle, or maybe a cop car looking for frozen corpses or something.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00602_zpsiohc6dz1.jpg

Here I turned left on a paved sidewalk, and then turned around to face west for this shot. That's my neighborhood in the foreground, but my house isn't pictured. The sun is technically "up", but it hasn't cleared the eastern horizon yet.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00603_zpsvo7lmstp.jpg

Farther along toward the train station. This was a really cool view and a neat sky, but the picture turned out pretty average. I find a lot of cool landscapes just can't be done justice with a camera lens. They need a human eye to take it all in, and your body standing there in the weather and the wind, too.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00604_zpsmcvpetga.jpg

Here I am, very close to the train station. In the background to the left, way back there, is the brick fence I hopped over yesterday. Today I found a gate, which you can see to the right. There's a badge reader to get in to the neighborhood, but the door opens freely if you're on this side. This opens up interesting possibilities of me riding my bike quickly and directly to the train station and then riding the the train up into Denver, or Boulder, or wherever it goes north of here, and then having my bike to ride when I arrive. There are large areas at the back of each train car for cyclists to stand and hold their bikes. I will have to try that sometime. A bicycle on a train seems like a great combination of 19th century technology. :up:

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00605_zpsgzlgcodj.jpg

On the other side of the gate, looking back west. The first night I took the train and then walked home, I pulled myself up, put my foot on the door knob, and jumped over. I don't think that's what they had in mind when they installed this, but I could tell it was the direct route back home, rather than taking the really long way around this large, gated commutity. The gate on the other side of the 'hood requires a badge or passcode for cars, but the sidewalk into or out of the neighborhood is wide open, so I don't feel like I'm trespassing.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00607_zpsiydoqzvs.jpg

Here I'm waiting for the train. They have marked where cyclists should stand while waiting and I guess the appropriate doors for cyclists to board the train line up with these markers when the train stops.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00608_zpswge2v7gt.jpg

Looking east, which is always boring along the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, compared to looking west.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00609_zpscab7ixjd.jpg

Here's a "before" picture of the hole in the fence in the bike cage, which you guys may have seen before, if you were adventurous enough to click on my last spoiler tag. :p

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00597_zpsk846wpyr.jpg

And here's how it looked tonight, after work. That's my bike in there on the left, and two long-term residents that never move.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00610_zpsq1drku9p.jpg

I was trying to get a shot of the really large Surly LHT on the right but I guess the flash just lit up the fence and killed the background. The orange bike in the back, if you can even see it, is a '90s (I assume) GT Aggressor MTB with the "triple triangle frame". The other is a Huffy that drives me nuts, because the mountain bike style brake levers are ABOVE the grips. How does that even work?! Also, the owner apparently feels the need to angle the rear of the bike so that the front wheel is in the rack, AND the kickstand is on the ground.

The fence material running horizontally and vertically is the new reinforcement inside the chain link fence. I doubt it's any harder to cut through than the chain link, but more fence is better than less fence, right?

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00611_zps6s8bzszu.jpg

Th-th-tha-that's all, folks!

SportWagon

November 20th, 2015, 05:48 AM

Davis, CA. :D

(That's the newspaper offices (https://www.google.com/maps/@38.5453626,-121.739368,3a,75y,208.12h,75.84t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sobFP16Zrx199oWgIB-ODng!2e0!7i13312!8i6656) in the background. And one of our ubiquitous bike racks.)
Brought here from Politics. Though I still couldn't see the bike rack last time I looked.

Oh now I do. In front of the white pickup truck.

George

November 20th, 2015, 02:44 PM

I finally left work before dark (since the switch back to Standard Time), and it was snowing. Yay! I wished I had my camera the whole way home, but managed to snap a pic once I got here. Note the fresh snow on the grass outside and even a bit on my tires, from where I leaned the bike against the house while I searched for my garage door opener. I also hauled home a week's worth (and then some, I think) of clothing and two pairs of shoes. Fortunately the roads were warm enough from earlier in the day that the snow wasn't sticking, so it was like riding in a light rain.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00612_zpszefqle89.jpg

overpowered

November 21st, 2015, 08:21 AM

https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xft1/t31.0-8/12240334_915279898519414_8863624540302793901_o.jpg

overpowered

November 22nd, 2015, 09:21 AM

A review of the film Bikes vs. Cars

http://john-s-allen.com/blog/?p=6736

overpowered

November 22nd, 2015, 07:57 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yTFiP_co0U

SportWagon

November 23rd, 2015, 01:09 PM

A review of the film Bikes vs. Cars

http://john-s-allen.com/blog/?p=6736https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What_on_Earth!

George

November 23rd, 2015, 07:11 PM

I went down hard in full body slam style on a sheet of ice tonight on the way home. It was in front of the north side of a department store where the sun hasn't hit part of the the parking lot that remains in the shadows this time of year, and while almost all the streets around here are dry, this wasn't...and I didn't see it until I was on the way down. I had just sprinted across a four lane road and into the parking lot at a pretty good clip. I was on the center of three chainrings and on one the smaller rear cogs of my 8-speed cassette, if that gives any idea of speed. I was leaned over a good bit and pedaling into this very familiar turn that I take on almost every commute when the bike just came out from under me.

I think the ice was a blessing because I didn't tear my clothes nor get any road rash. Thank goodness for jeans, however, instead of tights - last year I tore a pair of tights when I bit it in a similar fashion. I slid along the ice what seemed like a long way, and the bike and I came apart. I remember thinking two things as my brain went into slow-motion mode: one, was "hey, my bike is going that way and I'm going another way", and the other was, "wow, my helmet is sliding along the ground."

I managed to land on my shoulder and thigh (and my helmet too, I guess) and didn't get seriously hurt, although I know I'll be very sore in the morning. Fortunately no cars were around, except parked ones.

Believe it or not, I still consider tonight's ride a fun one, just like all the others.

G'day Mate

November 23rd, 2015, 08:10 PM

Sounds like you bounced luckily :)

overpowered

November 23rd, 2015, 10:09 PM

If you've got to hit the ground, sliding on ice is probably preferable to scraping on asphalt.

SportWagon

November 24th, 2015, 04:16 AM

If you land hard, though, fully frozen ice is harder than asphalt.

Tom Servo

November 24th, 2015, 06:02 AM

Yowza, glad you're okay and that is something I don't have to worry about here!

George

November 24th, 2015, 06:46 AM

^ Yes, but you ride on streets that are like a Mad Max movie. :lol:

I'm not hurting too much today. Sure, I feel it, but I'm not as "stove up" as I thought I'd be. One thing I notice in my 40s, compared to my 20s, is that soreness from lifting weights or otherwise strenuously using muscles that I don't work very often is that the soreness will often hit on the second day (Day 3) and then last two or three days. more, sometimes. I remember in college, I'd be sore the very next day and then fine by Day 3.

I rode to work today and CAREFULLY approached the ice slick and took a couple pictures of it. It's big! I just wanted to see it in the daylight, and to show off here, of course. Sadly I don't have the cable to download pics to my PC here at work, but I'll post them from home this evening, if anyone cares.

Mostly I feel really good today. That's probably because of Rule #9. :D

Tom Servo

November 24th, 2015, 01:42 PM

Speaking of Mad Max movies, I vaguely mouthed off at someone yesterday with entertaining results. The guy was driving a Fiat 500, was rather rotund, with a long white beard and a dog in the passenger seat. As I was behind him, he was often stopping at green lights, meandering between lanes like he was drunk, and never using a signal. Suffice it to say, he was playing with his phone. He had both windows down and was meandering pretty slowly. After nearly changing lanes into me, I got up next to him and said "Ya know, you've nearly hit me twice now, do you think you could put your phone down?"

"I didn't nearly hit you."

"You looked awfully shocked to see someone here, how do you know you didn't almost hit me if you were so busy with your phone you didn't even know I was there?"

"Well, I didn't hit you."

"Still, I'd appreciate you putting your phone down."

He then slams it onto the passenger seat (I'm shocked it didn't bounce up and fly out the window), scaring the crap out of his poor dog. He yells "Fine, I put it down and I see you. Are you happy now?"

"Yes, actually, thank you!"

"You're a fucking idiot."

"Whatever you say, Hobo Santa. Have a nice night!", and I took off down a side street.

Maybe not the best thing I've ever done, but I felt like I kept it polite and non-shouty and it entertained me, so that's enough for me.

George

November 24th, 2015, 08:07 PM

Hobo Santa is probably "a thing", but that might be the first time I've heard it. Nice! Texting drivers terrify me, when I'm on two wheels or four, and I'm no hypocrite about this, as I don't text. I just never started, so it's not something I have to avoid doing now. Nobody texts me, and I return the favor.

A couple autumn in Colorado biking pics and parking lot skating rink/landing zone pics below.

Okay, so as you guys know, I take a zillion photos, and have ever since I got my first digital camera in 2008. A lot of them are junk, and some I think are stupid after I take them, like this one, but I'm going to post it anyway, since tigeraid inspired me with his weight loss in the *synth* I WORKOUT thread, and I darn sure don't want to steal his thunder by posting this in there.

Truly, I got NO road rash from my slide-for-life on the ice, except my belt got some scrapes that might be from salt thrown down on the ice to help it melt. There was salt all over the sidewalk and I imagine someone threw some salt out on the ice slick too. These are the jeans I wore on the bike last night. They're an old pair, and I hung 'em up to dry last night and put them on again this morning over cycling shorts. I don't know that they're much warmer than tights, but after falling yesterday, I was thinking they're a little better as body armor in case I hit the pavement again today. I didn't.

So I'm wearing bike shorts under these, and it was a couple degrees below freezing, so I had my belt tightened an extra notch or two, to avoid plumber's butt in freezing weather, and I was surprised at how thin this made me look. I wasn't even sucking in my gut...much. No, really, I know I'm wrapped tight here, but I don't have a belly that hangs out past my belt buckle any more. You can see some dirt from my wipeout, but I'm really pleased that I didn't rip a hole through these old "Saturday jeans" during my ice-sliding antics.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00616_zpsnnqvtkbj.jpg

This is part of Power Line Trail that I usually bomb down at maximum speed. Today I took it slow and easy, as there were parts of trail that still had hardened ice in spots, and footprints of humans and dogs frozen into it, so it was like a hundred speed bumps in every ten yards, in some places where the sun hasn't hit - not in these pics.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00618_zpsiysmmyhv.jpg

I run one steady headlight even in the daylight while commuting, and a flashing taillight. I'm always "lit up" unless I'm just pedaling to a local park with my kids on a weekend afternoon. You can see the ground is kind of mushy from melting snow. That made for slow going as well.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00617_zpsxn01s57h.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00619_zpsunqoom7p.jpg

Here's the sheet of ice I busted it good on. I was coming from the left of this picture, on the other side of that median, and headed toward where I was standing when I took this picture.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00621_zps8s0pmf91.jpg

And another view. I was coming from where that white SUV is and turning to my right.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00622_zpst2h4eva5.jpg

I can see how studded snow tires would help on ice when the bike is "straight up" and riding on the center of the tires, but I'm wondering if they would have worked with me leaned over in a turn like that. Maybe one day I'll order a set of these and find out, but mercy, they're 'spensive!

https://www.biketiresdirect.com/product/schwalbe-marathon-winter-studded-26-tire

https://www.biketiresdirect.com/productimages/images450/scmwt1-1.jpg

overpowered

November 24th, 2015, 09:39 PM

Wow. People are angry in South Australia.

https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/offbeat/a/30175335/motorists-fume-at-cockroach-cyclist/

Cycling groups warned his reckless riding is a reminder that safety is the responsibility of all road users.Riding in the middle of the travel lane is not reckless. It's usually the safest way to ride.
The 'metre matters' message clearly has not got through to this lane hog.What does one have to do with the other? Using the full lane discourages close passes. He's not actually doing anything wrong.
“Little bit frustrating that we are not sharing the roads,” said one motorist, Lee Cook.He is sharing the road. He isn't sharing the lane side by side with cars. Lee Cook needs to learn what the word share means.
The cycling lane becomes active at 7.30am but Bike SA said it should be used regardless.
...
This guy was caught just before the cycling lane became active at 7.30am, but Bike SA said it was no excuse.So he isn't actually breaking any law and "Bike SA" is on the side of motorists who are too self important to change lanes to pass a bicycle regardless of what the law says? Really Bike SA? Really? There's nothing worse than bike advocates that think that bicyclists should behave as lesser road users. They're actually saying that there's no excuse for a cyclist doing something that's completely legal? Wow. Cyclist Stockholm Syndrome.
South Australian Police warned that failure to ride in an active bicycle lane earns a fine of $114.

“We have changed the laws to look after you, protect you as a rider.”Forcing cyclists to ride in cycle lanes does not protect them. All too often, it actively endangers them.

I'm also noticing in the video that the cyclist appears to be keeping up with the cars in the right lane. Most mandatory bike lane use laws have a precondition that the cyclist must be travelling at less than the normal speed of traffic for the requirement to apply. I'm not familiar with SA's law, but it would be unusual to be required to ride in bike lanes when they are keeping up with the cars.

As always, the people whining about cyclists are really more concerned with territory than safety or the law. Their claims that it's about safety or the law are just red herrings. The cyclist invaded "their" territory and they won't stand for it.

overpowered

November 24th, 2015, 09:54 PM

Tonight I was riding home from a group bike ride downtown. I was crossing a bridge on Morena over the San Diego river. The right lane is about 12 feet wide which is too narrow for side by side sharing so I was using the full lane. Some idiot at first refuses to change lanes to pass (2 lanes each way on this road). Then he does but he yells at me as he goes by and a few seconds later he pulls into the 7-11. I follow him (because I'm stupid like that). He tried to claim that he almost didn't see me, in the middle of the lane at night in a well lit area, with no less than 6 tail lights including a Cygolite Hotshot 2 and a Radbot 1000. Some people complain to me that my tail lights are too bright. I've had people I worked with say that they saw me on the road in the morning with the sun in their eyes from hundreds of yards back because of my lights. If they're visible during the day with the sun in your eyes, they're sure as fuck visible at 10pm in clear air. I ride lit up like a Christmas tree.

Anti-cyclists can't tell the truth if their life depended upon it.

He was a big fat black dude, and a security guard with a sidearm. I need to stop doing this.

G'day Mate

November 24th, 2015, 10:42 PM

That stretch of road is along my regular commute OP, and I noticed a good amount of gravel in that spot this morning so perhaps he was avoiding that. He did seem to carry on in the normal lane for quite some distance though, but at that time of morning who honestly gives a shit?

[edit] Looking at the video again, he goes a long way past where the gravel is. It's a pretty crappy stretch of road though.

overpowered

November 25th, 2015, 09:13 AM

He also could have been concerned about being left hooked or having someone pull out in front of him from the left. Those are actually the things that worry me most when riding in bike lanes and the risk of both of those is dramatically reduced by riding in the middle of the travel lane.

Also, he was in the slow lane keeping up with the cars in the fast lane. I don't see the problem, other than concerns about territory.

overpowered

November 25th, 2015, 02:34 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZbVsrYPOGE

overpowered

November 26th, 2015, 06:25 AM

https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/12274285_1032869620129114_5981976882720893259_n.jp g?oh=35bb04fc11adfde6e1571b1a2ef2c505&oe=56E0DE8B

SportWagon

November 26th, 2015, 09:44 AM

http://www.vonhomecaremedicinehat.com/images/nurses-medicine-hat-bicycle.jpg

Yes, I could hotlink it, but I won't. Saw it on the (bad) news last night.
http://www.vonhomecaremedicinehat.com/von-history-home-care.htm

G'day Mate

November 26th, 2015, 05:27 PM

https://www.tboom.co.uk/shared-media/graphics/campaigns/1105/1105_2015_11_06_14_31_57_front.png

overpowered

November 28th, 2015, 08:03 PM

Cycle tracks FTL again.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwj-v8G7AR0

G'day Mate

November 29th, 2015, 02:27 PM

70kms (43mi) before work today (https://www.strava.com/activities/441723591) - feeling good :cool:

George

November 29th, 2015, 02:45 PM

43 miles? :eek:

Good on ya, mate. :up:

Snowy Sunday ride pics and commentary below.

After a four-day weekend inside the house with the kids, and with the Broncos game not coming on for another few hours, I had to get out for some exercise this afternoon. Temperature according to the Weather Channel was 25 degrees F / -3.9 C. I actually had a great ride, and am seriously thinking of buying some studded snow tires for the bike, although I had no trouble today. But, it's still fall. Winter is coming!

I rode slowly and only had to put a foot down once during a slight front wheel skid, when I was going faster than I should have, downhill, offroad, over icy ruts from re-frozen indentations in the snow made by joggers, dog-walkers, and yes, other cyclists, too.

The streets were dry, except for icy buildup from melting, freezing, re-melting, and re-freezing snow near the sides and along gutters and sidewalks, but riding in the middle of quieter-than-usual residential streets was no problem at all. Sure, there were some nuts like me out and about, but I think the vast majority were huddled inside and watching football on TV.

Because I do better with a destination than just aimlessly riding around, I rode to the library to return a book that I finished this morning, "A Full Life" by Jimmy Carter. I would have snapped a picture of my bike at the library but the steam coming out of my ears from the assholes triple-parking their cars in front of the FIRE LANE! - DO NOT PARK HERE!! - DO NOT STOP HERE!!! signs made me think I might say something I'd regret to the lazy you-know-whats who can't even drive past the curb in front of the front door to the dozens of empty parking spaces just twenty or thirty yards away. Come on, people - I'm out here cycling in the snow, and you can't waddle your fat asses more than twenty steps from your Lexus SUVs to the book return slot?

Where's a cop when you need one?!

Oh well, I shouldn't concern myself with things that don't affect me personally, but damn it, I park where you're supposed to and walk to the book return slot when I'm in my car, and it annoys me to see cheaters who blatantly ignore common civic decency. I wouldn't care as much if it were a HUGE parking lot, but the entrance is a narrow, one-lane, one-way road, and when women (always women) stop their cars where they shouldn't, traffic out on the street has to stop, if someone else is trying to enter the library parking lot, but cannot, due to others being selfish.

Believe it or not, that's a trail below, heading east. I rode up and over quite easily on my street tires. A couple times, when I stood to pedal, the rear spun and I wished I had put on my knobbies, but overall today, I did just fine.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00627_zpsl4ngnotq.jpg

Looking down the trail that I fly down toward work, when it's dry. That's looking north.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00628_zpsvoz5erg2.jpg

Standing in the same spot for the third picture, but looking south:

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00626_zps3pgxh2vk.jpg

Non-traditional cyling attire, to be sure, but I stayed warm. Skiing gloves for the win!

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00625_zpswulqabjw.jpg

Pausing on a footbridge to take in the sights, and then an older chap rode by, riding (driving?) a low-to-the-ground recumbent trike with skinny, slick, road bike tires on what looked to be 20" wheels, and he had two dogs on leashes with him. I stood aside to let him pass, and we said hello.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00630_zpsarelrulh.jpg

I tried to discreetly snap a picture of his rig and entourage, but he was on the other side of tennis courts before I could get a bead on him. You can't really see him, as his black and yellow labs are taller than he is on his trike, but that's them just to the right of the dark green screening on the left side of the tennis court. The yellow lab is ahead of the black one by about a length, if that helps explain what you're seeing here.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00634_zpsavfynqpm.jpg

G'day Mate

November 29th, 2015, 06:20 PM

43 miles? :eek:

Good on ya, mate. :up:

Yep, but only with a lazy 1,000m/3,000ft of climbing

overpowered

December 2nd, 2015, 12:17 PM

Bicycle Law Enforcement by Kirby Beck (a retired cop):

http://www.hendonpub.com/law_and_order/articles/2013/07/bicycle_law_enforcement

G'day Mate

December 2nd, 2015, 03:02 PM

Got a new personal world record on Norton Summit (https://www.strava.com/segment_efforts/10645914838) last night :) That hill climb is arguably the climb in Adelaide, so getting a PR there is always an achievement. There's 128,000 efforts by 9,000 people recorded against it on Strava, and next year it's in the Tour Down Under so that number will increase significantly when all the tourists have a go.

George

December 2nd, 2015, 05:53 PM

Sounds mighty impressive, G'day! I'm guessing a personal WORLD record means you were the fastest person to ever log a Strava ride there, as opposed to it being YOUR fastest ride there.

I can't compete with that, but I did ride to work today and the Weather Channel said it was 23 F when I left in the morning and 34 F when I got home. The temps sure felt reversed, though. I was fine this morning, but had run warm water in the sink to thaw out my numb hands when I got home.

And from OP's link above, this quote: America’s roads were first paved in the late-1800s after extensive lobbying by bicyclists, then known as “wheelmen."

Previously I've heard wheelmen used in 1940s and early '50s film noir types of stories, and probably Old Time Radio crime-dramas as well, to describe men who drove the getaway cars during bank robberies. But I like it as a term for cyclists also.

We should rename this thread The Wheelmen's Lounge or something, just to confuse people for a little while.

overpowered

December 2nd, 2015, 06:54 PM

The League of American Bicyclists was established in 1880 but was then called the League of American Wheelmen. Bicycles were normally referred to as "wheels" back then. They didn't change the name until 1994. In 1880, it was established to advocate for smooth paved roads and create maps of roads that were good routes for bicyclists.

G'day Mate

December 2nd, 2015, 07:16 PM

G'day! I'm guessing a personal WORLD record means you were the fastest person to ever log a Strava ride there, as opposed to it being YOUR fastest ride there.

Nah, just a personal best, but I like to refer to them as personal world records. The actual record (held by former U23 World Time Trial champion Damien Howson of Orica GreenEdge) is about five minutes faster than me, and given that last night I only gained 20 seconds (which translates to just 0.4kmh) on my previous best ... I think I've still got some work to do. Hell, I'm not even in the top thousand!

We should rename this thread The Wheelmen's Lounge or something, just to confuse people for a little while.

This idea I like.

Random

December 2nd, 2015, 07:32 PM

;)

George

December 2nd, 2015, 09:07 PM

Too cool! :up:

But what else should we expect from our benevolent dictator, about whom I thought upon reading this wikipedia article, redirected from League of American Wheelmen:

(slightly re-formatted to make it read better here)

Platinum-level bicycle friendly communities - there are five:

Boulder, Colorado
Davis, California
Fort Collins, Colorado
Madison, Wisconsin
Portland, Oregon

Too bad we don't know anyone from Madison. :D

Barman, let's have a round of sarsparillas for anyone properly attired in spats, and chits for all to play the faro tables!

G'day Mate

December 2nd, 2015, 09:40 PM

Nice :up:

George

December 3rd, 2015, 08:48 AM

Here, here!

I hereby move this be declared a Throwback Thursday for we vigorous young wheelmen and our dashing scorchers.

In anticipation of this declaration, and following a fine dawn repast, I donned knickers and scarf and pursued a peculiar mode of passage to the venue of my vocation. Upon dismounting this fiery conveyance with velocipede at hand, truly covered in soot, I was, and without benefit of goggles, as well. The fireman had surely given his all with the coal shovel on this brisk forenoon, and we reported to the ensuing depot with generous alacrity.

I trust my fellow wheelmen will enjoy similarly amusing excursions forthwith.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00635_zpssqsltn0i.jpg

I expect the foregoing narrative was more agreeable than a Samuel L. Jackson meme about "bikes on a train".

G'day Mate

December 3rd, 2015, 02:20 PM

Beautiful morning this morning - here's a still from my trip down the hill with the city in the background why not ...

http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/insaneogram81/triptowork.jpg

FaultyMario

December 3rd, 2015, 02:29 PM

How did this thread go unnoticed for 53 pages, in what universe have I been?

overpowered

December 3rd, 2015, 03:08 PM

You're asking us? I searched this thread and it appears that you've posted to it 64 times.

It was renamed yesterday, because George asked to rename it, and Random decided to go along with that request.

George

December 3rd, 2015, 03:14 PM

Hey, it's wasn't just me - G'day seconded my motion! :assclown:

(methinks Mario knew the score before posting)

FaultyMario

December 3rd, 2015, 03:33 PM

The velominati are starting WW3.

overpowered

December 4th, 2015, 02:07 PM

https://vimeo.com/17502384

overpowered

December 4th, 2015, 04:28 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXnmYD0Ew_s

Tom Servo

December 6th, 2015, 03:27 PM

Almost think it has to be satire, but can't quite tell...

http://tolucantimes.info/inside-this-issue/war-on-cars-part-i/

overpowered

December 6th, 2015, 04:15 PM

That's not satire. It's just another ignorant self entitled territorial moron.

California Highway 101 is now open to bicyclists.This ignorant dumbass thinks that cyclists being on this road is something new. It isn't.
No, I’m referring to a major four-lane each way, 80 mile an hour, truck route freeway.The highest speed limit in California is 70mph, on a freeway. The 101 is not a freeway where cyclists are allowed on it.

There is no war on cars. This idiot feels deeply victimized by having to deal with bicycles on the road, because he's so fundamentally ignorant of the rules of the road that he thought cyclists didn't have a right to the road. Having to pay attention while driving is too much for his pathetic excuse for driving skills, so he thinks he's a victim. He's just a whiner who doesn't know how to drive.

George

December 7th, 2015, 08:51 AM

Oh, man, I just typed a freakin' novel - and an illustrated one at that - and I apparently closed the tab that contained all the wisdom I wished to impart here. Sigh...

Edited to add: SUCCESS! The Back button saves the day...at least for me. Now you guys will have to trudge through all this, or not, as you wish.

This looks like a great week here for being a wheelman, according to the weather forecast. I watched the snow melt all weekend, and more importantly, not only did the snow melt, but the resulting mud that had me sunk down to the rims on Friday night's commute home when I took a shortcut between paved roads in neighborhoods seems to have dried up also. I'm thinking by Wednesday or Thursday, I might even be able to pull the road bike down from its bat-like perch on our garage ceiling and ride away the dust that it has been accumulating for months...not that I need to, however - the mountain bike is perfect for my needs and the road bike is simply icing on the proverbial cake.

This morning I rode on the dirt/gravel trail I avoided all last week. It was pretty dry in most spots, and as I was already late (but who cares; they're laying us off in a couple months), I figured I had time to stop and take a picture from my lucky vantage point several hundred feet above the city of Denver.

Like all landscape photography I attempt (and I mean subject matter, not orientation), this picture doesn't do a good job of showing what is easily seen in person. In this case, it's the layer of brown smog over the city. You can see it just above the horizon as we look north here - a hovering mass of brown goo that is often visible when we have cold, clear air like today. The Weather Channel said it was 32 F / 0 C when I left this morning, and I was pleased that it was so "warm", compared to last week, and also that I've been doing this regularly enough to know exactly what to wear for such conditions.

I read on a bike forum that the key to winter cycling is to keep doing it as the temperature drops, so one isn't going from shorts and a tee shirt straight into multiple winter layers. I think that was good advice, and I was completely comfortable today - not too cold, and not too hot and therefore sweaty.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00651_zpsxbjazjwu.jpg

When I got to work, the light on the card reader for the bike cage turned from red to green, as usual, when I swiped my badge, but the locking mechanism refused to let me in. I suppose it's better to be locked out than to have my bike locked inside, and that made me think twice about why the fence was cut through a while back. Maybe someone needed to retrieve his own bike because the lock wouldn't open, and that's why none of the others were stolen or stripped.

I rode around to the front doors, which are two motion-activated double glass doors that open in succession, like an airlock in sci-fi movies. Now, I don't claim to be Joe Trackstand, but I do ride often enough that I can manage a brief pause with my feet on the pedals without tipping over, and the normally bored rent-a-cop who sits there web-surfing or book-reading all day in the huge open lobby of this building about crapped himself, I think, when he saw me ride in.

"HEY! YOU CAN'T RIDE A BIKE IN HERE!" he hollered, as I pedaled in. I rode right up to him, ignoring the fact that he looked like every blood vessel in his neck and head was about to burst, and calmly produced my badge and explained what was going on with the bike cage. He said "we'll look into it", which I took to mean "F*ck you, pal!"...or "buddy", if you prefer :D...and then I humped my trusty steed, loaded with a week's worth of socks and underwear, up to the eighth floor via the stairs.

Here it sits, in a nearby file storage room. Even though it's unlocked, I think I prefer it being up here.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00652_zpssydk7mfj.jpg

G'day Mate

December 7th, 2015, 01:12 PM

Geeze I wish you were on Strava George - I'd love to see some of your rides on there.

George

December 7th, 2015, 02:06 PM

Thanks, but I think I make it all seem more exciting than it is, since this is about all I do other than work and then go home and be a dad. One of my co-workers was asking me why I was so thrilled about having ridden a train to work the other day, and I had to explain that I make my fun when I can, and compared to the mundane sleep-work-kids repetition of my life, riding a bike is like going on a great adventure every day. Riding a train was like a visit to some exotic locale, by comparison.

Don't get me wrong; I love my family, and am incredibly lucky to have them, but the kid in me misses doing cool stuff for my enjoyment, instead of just for their benefit all the time, like skiing, playing guitar with other people, and going places other than the five-mile stretch between work and home.

G'day, you should hop a plane and come out here and ride with me sometime. I figure I'd have a day or two, at most, before you acclimated to the altitude, during which time I might be able to keep up, at least for a little while, before you drop the hammer and leave me far, far behind. :lol:

SportWagon

December 7th, 2015, 02:11 PM

George...

George

December 7th, 2015, 02:42 PM

Are you pointing out the manual entry option, SW? Thanks if so. I have done that before, starting back in 2013 when I first started riding and someone posted a link to our group/league/clan/whatever it's called. At some point, it wouldn't let me do those any more, since we are running an old version of Internet Explorer here at work. I have since downloaded Chrome, and that's what use for browsing from work now. Wow, what a difference that made in terms of speed and ad-blocking ability! But I haven't been back to Strava, except occasionally clicking on a link here.

I do keep track of days I ride on my time & attendance spreadsheet at work, which is also a spreadsheet on which I keep a variety of personal notes and information, such as my favorite Excel forumulas (mostly provided by Kchrpm!) and other trivialities that interest me. According to my notes, I rode to work 44 times in 2014, and 54 times so far in 2015, including today. The number could be a little bit higher if I forgot to add "Bike" next to the date, which is possible. I guess 54 days doesn't sound like much, but for some reason I didn't ride to work at all in the entire month of July and only three times in August. My numbers here in the fourth quarter are looking pretty good, however - 12 in November and 3 in December (out of just 5 working days so far). Looks like I rode 14 days in September of this year, which I figure is pretty respectable out of 20 working days for me that month.

I guess I could go in and backfill all my riding dates from the last two years with manual entries, but if I'm going to spend that much time goofing off at work, I should be working on my resume instead.

SportWagon

December 7th, 2015, 03:13 PM

I access strava mostly from home, and often on my phone. (Unless something goes wrong, rides are uploaded directly from it).

I only rode 31 times last year. Need 100km more to make 1,000 miles. :(

G'day Mate

December 7th, 2015, 03:30 PM

I rode 541 times last year but fell 450km short of 10,000 :(

Of course, most of those 541 were commutes less than 10km.

George

December 7th, 2015, 03:48 PM

I count days, with each day usually meaning two rides. You obviously have a more impressive method of counting. :up:

overpowered

December 7th, 2015, 04:03 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sf45i_hYVnU

overpowered

December 7th, 2015, 04:20 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVlgYfrRhMw

Take the lane. Take the lane. Take the lane.

overpowered

December 7th, 2015, 04:40 PM

https://www.facebook.com/photo/download/?fbid=644149338960525

SportWagon

December 8th, 2015, 03:05 AM

George.

I thought you had got a nice Ubuntu (well, Linux, anyway) system running at home on some oldish hardware?

"Manual Entry" at strava would appear to work for me even in the ancient Firefox 20.0 I use (because of sticking to a very old Ubuntu release to get reasonable performance from an old Atom netbook with only 1G memory).

George

December 8th, 2015, 09:49 AM

Yes, I'm running Ubuntu 14.04 on an older laptop connected to a large monitor and it's a fine basement computer for emailing, websurfing, and streaming video, like the occasional weekend movie I'll watch while doing boring stuff like ironing, getting my cycling gear ready for the work week, etc.

Frankly I just don't find manually entering dates and guesstimated lengths of rides on Strava very rewarding. I'd rather post about the occasional interesting ride here, and just copy and paste "Bike" next to the date on my spreadsheet at work to count days ridden to work. If I'm missing out on some reason I should be posting on Strava, please let me know, but I just figured I'd wait until I get some kind of GPS gizmo or smart-phone, which I figure will happen eventually as technology gets cheaper and more devices come with that technology, and then I can just plug it in and say the magic words, or however you guys upload the data from your Tricorders to the internet.

Speaking of Ubuntu, I keep meaning to make an account at ubuntuforums.org to ask why I no longer get updates, and why the Ubuntu Software Center closes itself (or crashes) when I try to launch it. I'm also unable to update Firefox, even though I keep getting messages that it's out of date and I have to click "Allow" to watch Flash videos. Maybe I should ask in our Ubuntu thread at this forum, since I just hate making yet another account at a website with yet another user name and password to remember. Other than no updating, the old Dell runs great, and I can't see the need to use any other OS, at least for my current needs.

P.S. - today was Day 55, and a balmy 48 degrees F when I left the house. It's a heat wave! I wore too many layers and arrived at work a sweaty mess. Thank goodness for showers at work and locker rooms with ample room to hang clothing to dry.

Signed,

Calvin's Dad :D

overpowered

December 8th, 2015, 10:59 AM

With Garmin Express connected to Strava, I just plug the Garmin into the computer and it automatically uploads.

overpowered

December 8th, 2015, 11:39 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLurEnjOeMo

SportWagon

December 9th, 2015, 12:53 AM

George, you should check the Linux (Ubuntu, etc) (http://gtxforums.net/showthread.php?1022-Linux-%28Ubuntu-etc%29) thread.

George

December 9th, 2015, 06:58 AM

Thanks SW! Much appreciated. I'll reply in that thread later, from home.

Today they are calling for a high temperature of 66 degrees F / 18.8 C today, in December! Awesome.

I saw another cyclist today on the way in, which is rare, especially for this time of year. I must admit I got in the drops and poured on the power when I saw him far ahead, thinking not that I'd try to draft the guy or race him or even let him know I was there, but seeing him motivated me to pedal harder.

Now, I've mentioned this before, and I'm not asking for advice or anything, but this situation just made me feel stupid, somehow. I know I was in the right, but I could just imagine the non-cycling motorists behind us thinking, "What the **** are you morons doing? Can't you ride together?"

Well, no, at least not in my opinion.

This in an intersection I've mentioned before. There are two lanes heading north, which is the direction I go every morning. The left lane is a turn-left-only lane, and the right lane is for going straight or turning right. I do this...

Take the lane. Take the lane. Take the lane.

...and position myself in the center of the lane, like a car, behind other cars who were also going straight this morning. He, on the other hand, leaves the road and jumps up on the sidewalk, rides past the waiting cars, and lines up with the pedestrian crosswalk to cross when the light turns green.

I guess it's not that big of a deal, and when the light turned green, I passed him faster than G'day Mate riding to a home brewers meeting, but I just wanted to tell him it seemed like he was making us both look like fools. I don't care what motorists think as long as they don't run me down, but I thought you guys could relate.

Cam

December 9th, 2015, 07:04 AM

...I passed him faster than G'day Mate riding to a home brewers meeting...
:lol:

I would hope that I would get more respect from motorists if I'm juxtaposed next to a foolish cyclist.

Tom Servo

December 9th, 2015, 01:53 PM

I've definitely had motorists point out someone else's bad behavior as it happens and tell me that cyclists don't obey the rules. They'll literally tell me this while I'm sitting there obeying the rules and don't seem to be able to figure out the disconnect.

overpowered

December 9th, 2015, 01:58 PM

They'll literally tell me this while I'm sitting there obeying the rules and don't seem to be able to figure out the disconnect.That's because they're trying to rationalize their hatred and bigotry.

Odds are, you'll see them break the law before they get out of your sight.

G'day Mate

December 9th, 2015, 02:04 PM

It's the trip home from those things that's usually slow ...

overpowered

December 10th, 2015, 08:38 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GL0rbxB9Lqg

overpowered

December 10th, 2015, 10:36 PM

http://bikeyface.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/signs.jpg

http://bikeyface.com/2015/12/10/see-the-signs/

overpowered

December 11th, 2015, 01:49 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UILaVtN3v3A

overpowered

December 15th, 2015, 03:35 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMFId7b1000

Take the lane. Take the lane. Take the lane.

G'day Mate

December 15th, 2015, 09:16 PM

Did anyone else see that MTN Qhubeka got granted World Tour status for 2016 under the name "Team Dimension Data"? Pretty cool to have an African team in the mix!

21Kid

December 16th, 2015, 06:50 AM

Not sure if better in science thread or here...

Bicycle inner tube pumps itself up as you ride (http://www.gizmag.com/pumptube-self-inflating-inner-tube/40902/)

Air is drawn in from the atmosphere through a one-way valve, which sits in the valve stem. Instead of going directly into the inner tube, however, the air goes into one end of the tube-like pumping mechanism, which runs along the outside perimeter of the main inner tube. As the tire rolls against the ground, the pumping mechanism is compressed, forcing air into the inner tube. The resulting absence of air in the pumping mechanism creates a vacuum effect, drawing more air in through the valve.

That said, if the inner tube is already at its desired pressure (which can be set on a dial on the valve stem), no additional air is pulled in.

overpowered

December 21st, 2015, 06:03 PM

Apparently parking valets in Salt Lake City think that protected bike lanes are for them:

https://www.facebook.com/photo/download/?fbid=10105846642034379

overpowered

December 22nd, 2015, 12:15 PM

https://www.facebook.com/photo/download/?fbid=965567666840435

Yw-slayer

December 24th, 2015, 06:05 AM

Apparently parking valets in Salt Lake City think that protected bike lanes are for them:

https://www.facebook.com/photo/download/?fbid=10105846642034379

It would be a pity if those cars were damaged.

Cam

December 24th, 2015, 09:12 AM

https://www.facebook.com/photo/download/?fbid=965567666840435
Sweet jumps!

overpowered

December 25th, 2015, 08:27 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgptuUIhIz8

KOM:

https://www.strava.com/segments/1542043

overpowered

December 26th, 2015, 10:44 PM

Yao Ming gets a bicycle:

https://www.facebook.com/photo/download/?fbid=1092379820796257

George

December 29th, 2015, 10:18 AM

I'm calling it a year. I had hoped to keep riding through December, but with a bunch of snow last week and this weekend, which is now in the melt during the day and refreeze at night pattern, plus single-digit (F) temps in the mornings and highs in the 20s (F) all week, I've hung my trusty (and utterly filthy) steed in the garage until the weather improves.

Final stats for 2015:

At least 60 days of bicycling commuting - that's 120 individual rides, plus whatever recreational riding I did on weekends. I think it's only 60, but I might have forgotten to note "Bike" a day or two over the year on my spreadsheet.

60 x a minimum of 10 miles both ways = 600 commuter miles for the year, minimum, which I realize is practically nothing in the cycling world, but I've ridden more days and miles each of the last three years I've been bike commuting, so even if I'm an occasional bike commuter, I'm still improving/increasing, even if my three-year-old tires show almost no wear. :D

Tom Servo

December 29th, 2015, 03:03 PM

My end of year has been pretty crap. We decided we're trying to buy a place instead of renting, and that's meant very little leisure time. I'm hoping we can go for a ride tomorrow, and maybe for our usual New Year's Morning/Take advantage of the hungover people not being on the road urban assault.

G'day Mate

December 29th, 2015, 04:54 PM

I did over 500 rides for 9,300km (5,800mi) and 160,000m of elevation gain

Tom Servo

December 30th, 2015, 05:28 AM

Damn, nice! I thought I was on pace for a 5,000 mile year, but then these past six weeks I just haven't had chances to keep the riding up. Feh.

SportWagon

December 30th, 2015, 09:24 AM

A blog entry about my LBS...

http://thatdragonflysmiled.com/andy-cox-owner-of-king-street-cycles-in-waterloo-ontario/

Not a good picture of Lori, actually. She's much more energetic than that.
And then they've had this one on their website for a long time...
http://kingstreetcycles.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Lori.jpg

https://www.strava.com/activities/456153209

Not even 1000 miles. Bah. On that ride something happened which hasn't for a while. I was riding on the paved shoulder northbound on the Winterbourne Elora Road when a fair way up ahead I saw a car pull out from the oncoming traffic to pass other oncoming traffic. They were still in that lane when I passed the group, but I think they were keeping slow and steady because of me and delaying their actual pass.

The weather was actually warmer than my previous December ride. In contrast to that time, I wore regular gloves and no ear warmer and never felt cold.

On both rides I took a little headlight, held on my handlebars with its built-in bungee thing, and a tail-light held around my snack food and kept inside my rear pocket. I used neither, but it seems good to get in the habit of taking them. I'm still not sure where I'd securely mount the tail light, nor how long its rather frail-looking elastic strap will last. Attached to my snack food but hanging out the pocket seems reasonable, but I'll not be surprised or devastated if it falls off.

I kept meaning to mention I bought something bicycle-related and retro from Canadian Tire a few weeks ago. Something I will probably actually eventually use. What could it (they) have been?

overpowered

December 30th, 2015, 05:44 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQly80iRVag

overpowered

January 1st, 2016, 08:34 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ru3vGR8nck

G'day Mate

January 1st, 2016, 10:15 PM

:up: I was wondering what was going to make it interesting.

overpowered

January 4th, 2016, 01:53 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hXepcKCpCI

G'day Mate

January 4th, 2016, 02:01 PM

You lucky I'm alert cause I missed you

:erm:

SportWagon

January 4th, 2016, 03:12 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ru3vGR8nckThe chase group got caught, and the leader just barely got his chain back on in time to stay out ahead of the bunch?

G'day Mate

January 5th, 2016, 10:01 PM

Wow, AG2R La Mondiale have managed, somehow, to look even uglier for 2016

http://www.cyclisme.ag2rlamondiale.fr/images/2016/carroussel/tof63.png?1452063571629

Maybe it won't look so bad with short legs and arms, but they must pay their riders a LOT

overpowered

January 6th, 2016, 10:59 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtpL5wZ07j4

Nope. Nope. Nope.

overpowered

January 6th, 2016, 09:18 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6QvK1NXINY

overpowered

January 6th, 2016, 09:25 PM

Who is the Boulie Tacker? Two years on and no clues as cyclists hunt 'obsessive' culprit

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/who-is-the-boulie-tacker-two-years-on-and-no-clues-as-cyclists-hunt-obsessive-culprit-20151214-glnnax.html

overpowered

January 8th, 2016, 09:09 AM

https://www.facebook.com/photo/download/?fbid=1656156984624917

overpowered

January 8th, 2016, 11:02 AM

https://www.facebook.com/photo/download/?fbid=165562440267145

overpowered

January 8th, 2016, 11:44 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJiixtKuVq8

G'day Mate

January 9th, 2016, 08:42 PM

The Australian National Championships have just finished. In the 180km road race, Jack Bobridge took the lead in a breakaway with one other 3km in, dropped that guy about half way and held a 6 minute lead over the peloton with 20km to go. He cracked at the end, but still beat the next opponent by three minutes.

Tom Servo

January 10th, 2016, 06:43 AM

Quick background - part of the plans when building new rail lines out here is to build a bike route/path along them. Expo line is going in and there's a bike path except in one spot, where the NIMBY neighbors filed a lawsuit, claiming it'd bring peeping tom cyclists or something. Lawsuit has since been settled, city are looking to move forward on closing the "Northvale gap".

Got a notice that the city is holding a meeting about it on Wednesday. Figured I'd go, and figured it was just to get feedback on where it works best. Now being told that those same NIMBYs are expected to show up en masse to try to kill the project.

It just never ends with these people. This is why we can't have nice things. And you just know these are the same people who bitch about people riding in the street by their homes, somehow entirely unable to connect the dots that putting in a dedicated path would mean a lot fewer people "slowing them down". Oi.

G'day Mate

January 10th, 2016, 01:23 PM

:rolleyes:

Maps?

Tom Servo

January 10th, 2016, 02:29 PM

Here's an article: http://la.streetsblog.org/2016/01/07/closing-exposition-bikeway-gap-closure-meeting-next-week/

Here's the general area, they already have the rail line drawn in despite it not running yet: https://www.google.com/maps/@34.0328557,-118.4147681,16z

Honestly, using Northvale itself to get past this is not that bad. It's a quiet residential street. But I'm definitely saying that from a perspective of someone pretty comfortable riding on the road, though not as comfortable as you or op. The proposed path would be a great link for people just getting started riding, and having this gap is, IMHO, a big problem for the "interested but concerned" group.

On the plus side, even with the gap, this does mean that close to (what we hope is our new) home is a path that will lead almost all the way to the beach, so I'm happy about that. I don't mind duking it out with the cars on Santa Monica, but I also like it when not every ride has to be a battle.

Edit: Of note, I believe the actual Northvale trench, as it's called, where the train goes through is pretty flat. Otherwise, you've got some short but steepish hills in the area. Enough that Michele's had problems climbing them. The main route right now includes a pretty decent climb on a two-lane-each-way road with no bike infrastructure, and a spot where you need to merge into the left hand lane while climbing at a freeway exit to set yourself up for the crossing at Overland & National. Again, not something that's particularly tough for me, but would be exceptionally intimidating for a beginner and I've had more than one yelling match with an idiot motorist over there who doesn't understand why I am positioned where I am.