The Lounge of Terrestrial Wheelmen

[overpowered]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZja_8crIEI

[SportWagon]

The good news is, apparently my issue diagnostics abilities are improving! I correctly predicted that the source of my difficult-to-adjust rear derailleur was a failing shifter cable.

The bad news is, I failed to get around to fixing it before it snapped on me on the way to work. Pushing a 38-11 on a loaded LHT is not easy. Thankfully I later was able to at least get it up two gears by cranking down the limit screw, but was still a tough ride home. My knees are mad.

On some other incarnation of this board I related the story of how I once figured out the cause of the needle-like pains coming through the rear brifter grip towards the end of a longish ride and detoured after getting home, took it into the store and had them fix it in about 10 minutes plus the time it took me to go to the bank machine when they could have fixed it but were waiting for proper "customer authorization" or something. I thought I'd told them the cable must be nearly broken. Oh well. And I got home and bathed and still met my wife on time at grocery shopping.

But I also rememember soon after getting my Marinoni, about its second season, I think, the rear cable snapped right at the covered bridge half-way point of my planned ride. So, yes I persuaded it up to about 42x15 (luxury!) and rode home. I now know how much stronger I was then than I am now. Now the same thing would mean walking at least two hills, maybe more.

But then a few years ago there was the spring failure which limited me to 25 and 21 at the rear (not sure why it would still shift between those two gears with a broken spring). 52x21 was just about manageable as a high gear. Good cadence training.

I was sparing with the 25, but really there was only one hill I thought I should use it. So I saved it in case I then ended up limited to that only. But that didn't happen. (Really can't use 52x25 either).

I think I've broken the front shifter cable at least once, too, but that's mostly just an inconvenience, especially early in the season.

Hmm. I think 38x13 is slightly higher than 42x15, if my calculations are correct.

[SportWagon]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZja_8crIEII am sure the rules say you're not allowed to leave those on your wheels. But I always have one on my spare tube; I figure otherwise the valve might puncture the spare.


Edit... I hadn't actually checked, but...
http://www.velominati.com/the-rules/



Rule #60 // Ditch the washer-nut and valve-stem cap.

You are not, under any circumstances, to employ the use of the washer-nut and valve-stem cap that come with your inner-tubes or tubulars. They are only supplied to meet shipping regulations. They are useless when it comes to tubes and tires.

[George]

That's yet another Rule I break every time I get on a bike. I insist on having caps on my bike and car tires. I don't know why, but I just feel "wrong" if they're not there. I had some snazzy red ones on my MTB for a while that came with some cheap Bell 26" tubes from back in my Mongoose owning days, but put I have since put them on my son's red bike. He digs 'em!

I really miss riding. I haven't been on a bike since whenever the last time I posted about riding, probably in mid-December. I figure it'll come around again soon enough and then I'll be griping that it's too hot instead of too cold.

[Freude am Fahren]

"rules" are irrelevant unless your competing, so who cares?

[G'day Mate]

I have some transparent caps that I like to use on my bike, but the last mechanic that serviced it ditched them :(

[Tom Servo]

"rules" are irrelevant unless your competing, so who cares?

Everyone's competing. Cat 6 for life, yo.

[Cam]

Say what? Yeah, caps on presta valves don't do much. However, I believe that caps on schrader valves are important, especially on off-road bikes or vehicles, because they keep dirt out. Dirt in the valve could damage it. The little ring nut thing that comes on presta valve should not be used because if you tighten it too much, you can easily rip the valve right off the tube.

[George]

Really? I always make sure those are tight when I add air to my road bike tires. I don't crank down on 'em like I'm in a strong-man contest, but I figured they should be snug against the rims, and they always seem to loosen up between episodes of me checking tire pressure and adding more air.

[Cam]

Both Lori and I have damaged tubes because of that ring. :o

[SportWagon]

Um, the sequence "schr" does not even seem to appear in the rules or its commentary. You only very rarely see washer-nuts for Schrader valves. To the keepers of the rules, Schrader valves clearly do not even exist to need rules written about them. They're designed for automobile tyres, after all.


The little ring nut thing that comes on presta valve should not be used because if you tighten it too much, you can easily rip the valve right off the tube."Doctor! Doctor! When I tighten my presta valve washer-nut too much, it damages the valve."

Leaving the washer-nut on and somewhat loose can help with getting the pump on (helps stop the valve pushing down into the wheel), assuming the valve is long enough. (Otherwise you might need to remove it to have enough length for the pump to attach securely). If it's absent or loose, you can tell if you've not got the valve straight. (i.e. perpendicular) When mounting a new tyre, you need the nut very loose or absent in order to get the bulge of the valve properly past the bead to make sure you don't trap the tube between the bead and the rim. I actually can't remember if I've left them on my Marinoni, but if they're there they are just barely tightened down. I kept meaning to check but was too busy shovelling snow this morning.

Several pictures of threaded schrader stems here, with nuts. In case the question comes up.
http://www.bike.bikegremlin.com/2015/06/23/bicycle-tyre-tubes/

I thought I had had some which were Michelin, circa 1975, but maybe I'm wrong.

[overpowered]

Both Lori and I have damaged tubes because of that ring. :oYou're turning it way too hard then. I get it mildly finger tight. I've never had a problem with them.

[Cam]

Well, duh. :rolleyes:

[G'day Mate]

Caleb Ewan is a funny little sprinter - this is him on the left:

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

He gets waaaaaaaay down low to the point where his chest is just about touching his stem and his head occasionally bobs down below the level of his handlebars. Other sprinters don't seem to get down nearly that low!

Some video why not ...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOive0JIzJo

[FaultyMario]

Sorry about the Senna post, bill. But 2 things, my firefox doesn't render the picture unless I quote the text and then copy and paste it; and, somehow I feel weird visiting this thread since the name change.

Anyway cyclists do it better. I find JK to be on par with Warren Cristopher (http://www.wsj.com/articles/john-kerry-not-your-average-cyclist-1433105684) as fas as SoS goes, much better than the four in between them.

[overpowered]

So you win a race, but the guy who got second gets the headline.

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/peter-sagan-reacts-to-his-first-second-place-finish-of-2016-207742

[Cam]

A cyclist was killed here on Thursday morning. She was riding her bike to work between 6:30-7:00 am and was struck from behind. :|

It's still dark at that time during this time of year. No word yet on if she had lights on her bike. I think it's a 45 mph zone in the area where she was killed, but cars normally drive 50-60 mph there.

[Freude am Fahren]

Re: the washer nut on presta valves. I leave mine on, as lightly as I can tighten so they wont backout on their own. I do it so when my bike sits and my tires go flat, I don't have to worry about the valve pushing into the rim when I try to fill them, which is annoying.

I could just ride more often, but shutup.

[overpowered]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6M_obzrBlnM

[SportWagon]

He didn't mention over-tightening your valve stem washer-nut.

[George]

Or leaving valve caps on.

That's a good video for newbs like me, though. I especially need to start cleaning my drivetrain as shown in that video.

[overpowered]

7 Ways You’re Hurting Your Knees

http://www.bicycling.com/training/injury-prevention/7-ways-youre-hurting-your-knees

[overpowered]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdvW71UE94I

[overpowered]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lv9U_gYdi5E

[Tom Servo]

This video is making the rounds up here now. Audi driver went on the news claiming that the cyclists hit his mirror and that caused his reaction, but I don't see how that could have happened. Also of note, the road they're on has a 30mph limit, and the clearest I can see the Garmin is with it showing 22mph after they braked when the Audi driver assaulted them. A blogger up here says he can make out 27mph at one point, though I'm having a hard time seeing it.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ln1MyKG2a_0

Some more commentary: http://ciclavalley.org/video-cyclists-assaulted-on-chevy-chase/ and http://ciclavalley.org/nbc-hunts-down-driver-who-nearly-hits-cyclist-on-chevy-chase/

[overpowered]

He claims that one of them hit his mirror. He's confessing to violating the 3 foot law.

The video shows him brake checking them and passing too close and you can hear him using the horn to harass them which is also illegal. I'm pretty sure he crossed double yellow as well.

He's a violent piece of shit and he should be arrested for assault and reckless driving.

[Tom Servo]

It sounds like the Glendale PD basically told the cyclists they wouldn't bother taking a report, but the rumor going around is that they *did* take a report from the driver where he claims they assaulted him by hitting the mirror.

On the plus side, it looks like Glendale PD's traffic investigator has gotten word and is reaching out to remedy that situation.

[overpowered]

240 rpm :eek:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jgyq8Zkp10Y

[overpowered]

https://www.facebook.com/photo/download/?fbid=947029475344456

[overpowered]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4WHeVf5DN4

[G'day Mate]

Looks like they've caught someone using a hidden engine.

http://cyclingtips.com/2016/01/motors-scandal-reports-state-that-belgian-under-23-rider-becomes-the-first-to-be-caught-for-mechanical-doping/


Disconcerting reports from the world cyclocross championships suggest that the Belgian under 23 rider Femke Van den Driessche has become the first rider officially detected as using a motor in her bike, exposing her to severe penalties.

On Saturday afternoon the UCI issued a statement indicating that something serious had happened.

“The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) confirms that pursuant to the UCI’s Regulations on technological fraud a bike has been detained for further investigation following checks at the Women’s Under 23 race of the 2016 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships. This does not concern any of the riders on the podium.

“Further details will be shared in due course”

Van den Driessche, the European CX champion, has separated been named as the rider concerned. According to Sporza, the Belgian cycling federation confirmed her identity to them.

Although she began the race in Heusden-Zolder as one of the favourites, Van den Driessche ran into issues at the start, being unable to put her foot in the pedal and being caught up in rider traffic. She was also hit by mechanical problems heading onto the final lap. She came across the finish line on foot and abandoned soon afterwards.

Sporza has stated that the bike with the motor was detected in the pits. Riders will often swop bikes during cyclo-cross races, enabling their mechanics to clean mud off during the event and thus limit mechanical issues such as gears and brakes getting snarled up with gloop.

“Our auditors made checks at the start and during the race in the pit and they have established mechanical fraud,” stated UCI coordinator Peter Van den Abeele to Sporza. “For the UCI this the first time that technological fraud is detected and for us this is a downer.

(more in the full article)

[SportWagon]

Hmm. KERS for bicycles? There could be a category for that.

[overpowered]

I don't think I've seen a story on a system that recovers energy. The one's I've read about just use rechargeable batteries. Sometimes in the saddle bag; sometimes in a "water" bottle; sometimes hidden in the frame like the motor.

[overpowered]

Poking around. I hadn't looked into Campagnolo in a while so I was browsing. Their cheapest crankset, Veloce, costs about $120 give or take as you shop around. Their most expensive, Super Record, costs over $600. The difference in weight: about 150g, or about 1/3rd of a pound. That's an expensive 1/3rd of a pound.

[G'day Mate]

Totally saw Chris Froome this morning:

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

[overpowered]

http://www.ohiobikelawyer.com/wp-content/Screen-shot-2011-11-16-at-12.59.06-PM.png

http://www.ohiobikelawyer.com/bike-law-101/2011/11/i-am-traffic-getting-out-of-a-ticket-revisiting-afrap/

[Cam]

Nice.

[overpowered]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Byr_N9vVS3Y

This type of facility is designed to cause collisions. It puts cyclists into a place where they are not expected which violates the predictability principle of defensive driving and makes them effectively invisible.

[Tom Servo]

Seattle had some similar facilities, but at intersections like that they had a red arrow for turning cars when the bike signal was green. Similar kinda situation down in Redondo Beach. So far, it seems to work reasonably well.

[overpowered]

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

[overpowered]

Seattle had some similar facilities, but at intersections like that they had a red arrow for turning cars when the bike signal was green. Similar kinda situation down in Redondo Beach. So far, it seems to work reasonably well.Separate signal phases are the only way to make that work but it also reduces throughput.

It's better to just not set up that conflict in the first place.

[overpowered]

People keep telling me that riding on the road is dangerous and that I should take up mountain biking because it's safer. Meanwhile, most of the worst biking injuries among people I've known have been to people who were mountain biking at the time. And then there's this:

http://selfieonbike.com/mtb-accident/

[overpowered]

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

http://raleigh-chopper-ventoux.blogspot.co.uk/
http://raleigh-chopper-the-hour.blogspot.co.uk/

[SportWagon]

Somehow the phrase "little Marco Pantani" comes to mind. But I don't really know why.

But then, upon reflection, "Eddy Merckx".

Also, a linked video showed Sébastien Loeb testing for Pike's Peak at Mount Ventoux...

[overpowered]

https://www.facebook.com/selfieonbike/videos/1214052585277267/

[overpowered]

SA and Queensland police have been cracking down on cyclists "for safety" they claim. Yeah. Right.

https://www.facebook.com/photo/download/?fbid=961795190579788

[overpowered]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TIlNAXU1kk

[overpowered]

Why do drivers get away with attempted murder?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/recreational-cycling/why-do-drivers-get-away-with-attempted-murder/

[Cam]

Police declined to prosecute because... eh, fuck it. :smh:

[overpowered]

Sagan.

https://49.media.tumblr.com/82d18766a1d2a7ca6e0f674464727202/tumblr_n1gps9PX221t8dafqo1_400.gif

[Cam]

:lol: :up:

[overpowered]

Keep in mind, he's probably doing over 30mph when he does that.

[George]

What's the big deal? I jump curbs like that all the...


30 mph

Uhh...nevermind.

That's a risky angle, too. If he doesn't clear the curb, he's in for a long skin-ripping slide on that median, or so it looks to me.

I'm hoping to get out for a ride this weekend. They're calling for warm (mid 50s F) temps and sunny. The problem is we have so much melting snow around here that off-road trails are just soaking wet mudfields and melting snow has puddles (and small rivers, in some places) of water all over otherwise dry roads.

[overpowered]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFXqmy6Mr8E

[overpowered]

http://p.fod4.com/upload/aff3567c9abaad4b798a350dc1e1b1a3/jXQdhp9ZReKQS6LISJil_Bike%20No%20Hands.gif

[overpowered]

That's a risky angle, too. If he doesn't clear the curb, he's in for a long skin-ripping slide on that median, or so it looks to me.Yeah. Missing that one would be very painful. The safest angle to jump curbs is 90 degrees or at least close to it and at a low speed. Almost parallel can toss you over sideways fast if you miss. My bunny hopping skills are not anywhere good enough for me to even think about seriously attempting that one.

Sagan barely pauses pedaling for the jump up and keeps pedaling going down. He's known as one of the best bike handlers in the pro peloton. He also descends winding hill roads faster than most other riders which helps him make up time that he loses on the climbs or if he was in a break, helps him extend his lead. He raced both mountain bikes and road bikes as a youth and his early pro career was just mountain biking until he managed to get a contract doing road.

[G'day Mate]

Sagan won the world championships on the strength of his cornering leading into the finish last year. In particular, at about the minute mark of the video below (or just before) you see he's built a little gap over the chasing two heading into that fast turn but he carries so much speed through it that he extends it to get himself just out of reach


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Td9kXwI9_fc

[overpowered]

Yeah, though he actually took the time out of them on the climb when nobody chased him. They thought he was too far out to go for it. He wasn't. He took more time on the descent and by the flat, they had no chance to catch him. Major tactical error by the peloton. He may not be the best climber but he doesn't exactly suck at climbing either and when he goes for it on anything less than a cat 2, or a very steep cat 3, you'd better be paying attention.

[G'day Mate]

Indeed. You replied before I made my edit, but what I think that corner did was put him just out of reach of the two guys behind him. If they'd tried a bit harder he may have gone back to them or the peloton may have had the impetus to chase harder.

[overpowered]

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

[DrMekon]

Am currently off the bike following double hernia surgery. Coincided with some unexpected money. Have taken 600g out of my nice bike. I doubt I'll notice much different, but the bike looks nice. Down to 7.3kg. Taking any more out would require moving over to dura ace or red 22 and a new set of expensive wheels (currently ksyrium elite s). Maybe if the update of red 22 results in a price drip, maybe I will, as I'd be able to justify it by moving the Ultegra 6800 on to my commuting bike, and the 6700 off the commuting bike and on to my tourer. That would take it sub 7kg, which seems pretty good for a bike that has mudguard mounts.

[G'day Mate]

I'm about to head out to find a group of four guys who have ridden non-stop (although they only covered 150km last night so I suspect they eventually rested) from Melbourne to Adelaide. 1,100kms over two and a half days!!

https://www.facebook.com/withallihave/?fref=ts

Crazy bastards. I ought to do the last 30-45kms with them, depending on where they are when I intercept them.

[G'day Mate]

Well, that was pretty cool. Here's (https://www.strava.com/activities/493007639) one of the Strava activities if anyone is interested

[overpowered]

Strava art:

http://www.mymodernmet.com/profiles/blogs/stephen-lund-gps-doodles

[Cam]

There was this one time, I was pulling on arm warmers before a ride, my grip slipped and I punched myself in the face.

[G'day Mate]

Video from the guys who did the epic 1,100km Melbourne to Adelaide ride ...


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

[George]

I had my last day off work from my current job today - not counting a couple weekends between now and mid-March - and with a little free time, the kids in school, and temperatures in the 60s F (in February?! No way!), I donned shorts and a tee shirt and went out for a ride.

My usual foolishness is below.



Back in 2013, when I had the Mongoose full-suspension POS, three guys in the neighborhood and I went riding one Saturday to a place I haven't been able to get to since, due to this sign. This picture is from 2014 and when I again tried to ride up there in 2015, the sign was still up.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/all/DSC03679_zps9ee31fb4.jpg

The neat thing about riding up here is that it's mostly downhill to get home. Gotta love that, and it's unusual for me as when I commute I ride down into a valley and then back up, so it seems I'm always having to climb to arrive at my destination.

Today, the sign was gone!

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00691_zpsusz06pwc.jpg

Whoops! Should have brought my fatbike...er, my imaginary fatbike, that is...

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00692_zpsfcd7z837.jpg

Turning to look back the way I came, because I knew I'd be going way too fast through those downhill switchbacks on the way home to stop and take snapshots...

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00693_zpsmmmsxobt.jpg

Most of the trail was nice and dry, like this, but not all of it.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00695_zpsdqhduuwe.jpg

This is after climbing switchbacks a good ways and thinking how much fun this will be on the way down.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00702_zpswz9laaxm.jpg

Behind this gate is a long loop (a couple miles, I think) of single track, rock ledges, little streams, and other cool riding. That's where we rode in 2013. But, it was not to be today.

I'll be back.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00704_zps8jklrvr2.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00714_zpsp3njk3h5.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00719_zpslywzajau.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00718_zpsq4fqtitj.jpg

Of course, there is that melting snow thing, in places where the sun doesn't hit. I didn't see this coming!

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00706_zpsa84k1tv9.jpg

So I started out with 26" x 1.75" tires and I think here I had 26" x 2.5" tires, give or take! Tomorrow, after I wash this pig, I think I'll slap on my knobbies, just for grins....and for the next ride up here.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00710_zpspk8wnfcr.jpg

This was sort of an accidental shot, as I fumbled with the camera, but here you can see all the goo caked on the rear cantilever brakes after riding some more. They squealed mightily, but still stopped the bike just fine, even like this.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00729_zpsij8hexkl.jpg

The front brakes were plenty messy, as well. Of course, once I started gittin' it downhill, it was like a mud fountain, spraying everywhere, including all over me, my face, sunglasses, helmet, and even in my mouth. The rear rack works fine as a mud fender, but I'm going to pull the front rack off, since I've decided my commuting by bicycle days are over for my current job. Soon enough I'll have another and I'll have to see if and how that will work. It's truly one of my biggest concerns about the new job - will there be relatively safe bike storage and showers?

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00717_zpstb2o2vhj.jpg

I'm no expert on wildlife scat, but if anyone wants to take a guess, feel free. It was all over the place. Some was in piles, like this, and some was spread out over several feet, as if something had to let loose while running...maybe running for its life. There are coyotes out here for sure, and elk, and there is a least one herd of cattle in the area, and some bison too. There are also prairie dogs, and the big holes they dig, and if the signs are to be believed, rattlesnakes as well. I'm thinking this is from a deer, maybe, but I admit to being clueless.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00722_zpsplxm96ky.jpg

More mud, but not bad. There were lots of sweet jumps on this trail, coming back down, anyway.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00725_zpskd4oqutu.jpg

Tunnel #1. I've been through this one before. Why is there a tunnel here, you ask? See the second picture for the answer.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00726_zpsjd40xhvz.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00727_zpsambenhcx.jpg

Heading home, and being careful not to run over boys and girls carrying their books home from school along this trail, per the sign.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00731_zpsukopnqer.jpg

This was tunnel #2, which I didn't know was there. It's sort of hidden on the other side of the road. Inside was graffiti promoting the A-Town Boys, on one side, and the Dirty Boiz on the other. :lol:

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00732_zpsyvithvwq.jpg

A cool rock outcropping at the top of a rise. There were hawks soaring overhead, seemingly motionless, but my attempts to photograph them proved they were actually moving, despite looking like almost stationary kites up there.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00733_zpsi2uck1hi.jpg

Another trail for another day. I turned around here, happy to know there's more to explore in this area. I'm SO lucky that I can just ride here from my house and don't have to drive the bike with my car to get to cool places to ride. I hope that comes across as me being grateful, and not boastful.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00734_zpsvo0xuqvw.jpg

Continuing toward home. I've shown you guys pictures of my bike at the top of that grassy hill to the east.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00735_zpshdqcppyq.jpg

More muck and mire...

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00736_zpslsswbxcw.jpg

I was walking the bike by this point, to avoid busting my ass on this slick mess, and almost back to the start of the trail.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00738_zps80g9r7nl.jpg

Elapsed time, out and back, was two hours and fifteen minutes. I figure I probably spent fifteen minutes, combined total, taking pictures, and I rode for the rest of the time. I hope I can get back out this weekend before our weather gets back to normal for this time of year.

[overpowered]

Probably rabbit.

[Yw-slayer]

That's awesome Meks (not the surgery, hope the recovery goes well).

[overpowered]

https://media.giphy.com/media/lcYFNTaz4U9jy/giphy.gif

[G'day Mate]

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

[Tom Servo]

Remember, Australia wants to encourage cycling.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-02-25/police-crackdown-on-bicycles-without-bells-in-queensland/7198784

[G'day Mate]

We are so backwards :smh:

[Tom Servo]

What's getting me is how outrageous the fines are for not having a bell, or riding without a helmet.

[Freude am Fahren]

We are so backwards :smh:

I think you mean upside-down.

[Kchrpm]

Inside out. And round and round.

[overpowered]

What's getting me is how outrageous the fines are for not having a bell, or riding without a helmet.They're pretending to do something without actually doing anything.

Doing something would require improving education for both cyclists and motorists, which is hard. It would require stricter enforcement against motorists well, which is unpopular, to say the least.

[Cam]

I have a noise-maker on my bike. My mouth. :thppt:

[George]

I never had one on my road bike, but I liked having a bell on my MTB. I ride on trails that sometime have joggers, walkers, and the dreaded dog-walkers (who, I'm sure, complain about dreaded cyclists on their dog-walking forums) and I've found most people get out of the way with a polite ding or two from a good ways back.

That excludes the headphone crowd, of course.

The only reason I don't have a bell now is the kids knocked over my bike in the garage some time ago and the bell exploded when the bike hit the cement. I was right there and tried to catch the bike, with a slow motion lunge and that slowed down, low pitched yell, " N o o o o o o ! " The bell was a black one that had a floating compass in it, which is kind of silly in most places around here, where you usually can see the mountains to the west, or at least remember where they are in combination with the sun's position in the sky.

I will buy a bell again soon. Maybe today, as it's supposed to hit 70 degrees tomorrow (Saturday) and I already have negotiated time off for good behavior with the missus so I can go ride in the morning. In exchange, she gets to go see a movie while I do something with the kids in the afternoon. More cycling, perhaps, if my butt isn't too sore. I noticed some soreness after my ride last week, after taking two months off bicycle commuting to work. It's like losing finger calluses after not playing guitar for a while, I guess.

Come to think of it, my son needs a new bell also. My wife has one on hers, a small silver one with a black...um, thing that you push and release to make it ring...that blends in nicely with her silver handlebars and black grips. The girl has one of those red pepper bells I'm sure you guys have seen, and the boy had a bell that had a floating eyeball in it, but that one, like mine, broke some time ago. I guess the bells with things floating in liquid aren't built for the long haul.

But enforcing bell usage as law? That's ridiculous.

[Yw-slayer]

There was a fat, entitled wanker hiker blocking my way on a shared trail who wouldn't move even though I asked him politely several times in increasing volume. I was so tempted to just push him off the path and kill him. But that wouldn't have helped, nor would a bell.

[George]

Perhaps carry a bullhorn from the Acme catalog for such inconsiderates? "COMING THROUGH! MOVE IT, FATSO!" :D

As for me, I had a nice, short bike ride this morning, followed by a nice, long walk home with a broken chain. That was a first for me. As the weather is spring-like today, about a hundred and twelve cyclists slowed down in the bike lane and asked me, as I pushed my bike along the sidewalk, "Flat tire?"

"No, broken chain." I replied, to which each said, "Ooh, sorry - can't help you there."

This conversation was repeated verbatim a few doors down the street from my house when a helpful neighbor stepped out from his garage to offer assistance.

Cyclists are good folks, and especially on gorgeous Saturday mornings in February that feel like April or May when everyone is just happy to be outdoors and not at all shy about pasty white arms and legs from being sequestered indoors for the last few months. I looked down at my own legs in shorts in February and though someone might ask that old joke, "Hey, are those your legs, or are you riding a chicken?" :lol:

I suppose a trip to the LBS is now on my list for this afternoon, as it's supposed to be equally nice tomorrow and I'd like to get out again, if I can. There's a sticker on my largest chainring - obviously original - that says "Use NARROW Chain Only". I suspect what was a narrow chain when this bike was made (1993, as far I can tell from the internet) is not a narrow chain today in the day of 11-speeds.

[LHutton]

What's getting me is how outrageous the fines are for not having a bell, or riding without a helmet.
What gets me is that you can shout way more quickly and effectively than any bell. It's a completely redundant POS that should never have made it onto bikes in the first place. Bell manufacturers must pay really huge lobbying fees to keep themselves in business producing a completely worthless product.

I think it requires a petition. Here manufacturers have to put them on bikes but there's no mandatory requirement for owners to have one, so the first thing everyone does is take them off. But nonetheless it's an environmental crime to be producing them if nothing else.

[Freude am Fahren]

:lol:

[George]

Bells may be worthless in cities, but they work well in the suburbs on multi-use paths. I've learned that from personal experience. Calling out "on your left" confuses people. They may do anything - stop, turn around, move to the right, or they may move left, right where you don't want them to be.

A polite "ding!" from a ways back, in my experience, makes people turn and look and make whatever decisions they like about how to make room, reel in their dogs, etc. Many ladies have said "thank you" to me as I've passed. I think they prefer a bell to a yell.

Bells on trails like the ones where I live seem like the simple and courteous solution, to me.

[G'day Mate]

Was quite nice for a ride this morning:

http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/insaneogram81/20160228_073148_small.jpg

[Yw-slayer]

Perhaps carry a bullhorn from the Acme catalog for such inconsiderates? "COMING THROUGH! MOVE IT, FATSO!" :D

No use, he was deliberately ignoring and blocking me. Hence the murderous urge.

[overpowered]

I bet he'd move if you blasted him with this:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9nonCqesLI

[overpowered]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-A3p6kSMQ3k

[Yw-slayer]

I bet he'd move if you blasted him with this:

Then he'd probably complain to Park Management and then they'd revoke hard-won trail-riding privileges for all mountain bikers.

Not worth it. Hence the only options were murder, or to doing nothing and just overtaking him when it was safe to do so.

[LHutton]

Bells may be worthless in cities, but they work well in the suburbs on multi-use paths. I've learned that from personal experience. Calling out "on your left" confuses people. They may do anything - stop, turn around, move to the right, or they may move left, right where you don't want them to be.

A polite "ding!" from a ways back, in my experience, makes people turn and look and make whatever decisions they like about how to make room, reel in their dogs, etc. Many ladies have said "thank you" to me as I've passed. I think they prefer a bell to a yell.

Bells on trails like the ones where I live seem like the simple and courteous solution, to me.
Well you can also shout from way back too. They key is making a noise in time. But if they have their MP3 in, nothing short of an air pistol will get their attention.

You can also shout politely. I.e. "good morning, coming through," it doesn't have to be, "Oi you, the cunt with the dog that's just taken a shit, move and pick that crap up too."

[George]

Do it like Harry Callahan!

"...but being this is the most powerful airgun in the world and would blow your headphones clean off, you've gotta ask yourself one question: 'Are you going to move over?'"

http://40.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lr4na2Sv9d1qf6o97o1_r1_500.jpg

[Freude am Fahren]

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

[Yw-slayer]

Do it like Harry Callahan!

"...but being this is the most powerful airgun in the world and would blow your headphones clean off, you've gotta ask yourself one question: 'Are you going to move over?'"

I know you're being facetious, but this is the only mountain bike trail open on Hong Kong island, and more importantly, most of it can be ridden in an end-to-end/loop, the traffic to and from there isn't too bad most of the time (especially in the early morning) and you can stick your car near the start of the trailhead. To get to the other trails (which are admittedly "better" trails), I have to cross the harbour, put up with the vagaries of tunnel and more intense rush hour traffic (and even without that, spend around 1.5x the time travelling to and from), and can't really ride those in an end-to-end/loop fashion.

When I last looked, an airhorn is also illegal under local law and in this context would bring down unwanted negative attention on us.

So in that context, taking the high road and ignoring one entitled prick of a hiker is a small price to pay.

[George]

YW - the ONLY mountain bike trail on the island? You need to heed the advice of Horace Greely and go west, young man! Or perhaps, for you, that would be go east, if you don't want to take the long way. Colorado, Wyoming, and/or Montana would do you and your MTB some good, methinks.

[George]

I just checked my email and got quite a shock. About four years ago - based on how old our kids were at the time - I started playing music in a garage band (but a NICE and LARGE garage!) with some guys my age in the neighborhood. It was a "Dad band". We all had young kids, and it was a real treat to get out after three years of never going anywhere else but to work and then home to take care of our very young (at the time) twins.

This would have been the year before I started bike commuting, I guess, and part of what made me want to try riding my bike to work - in addition to you guys, of course - was Mike, the drummer in the band. We used to jam on Saturday nights and a couple times he mentioned that he was sore or tired or whatever because he had done a group ride or a race that morning. The bass player was also a cyclist, and his across-the-street neighbor, and I'd listen to them chat about bikes between songs. Heck, I think we sat around bullshitting just as much as playing music, and that was part of the fun.

One day he and the bass player were talking about the bike that he had just "built up" for one of his kids, from parts. We got to talking about how that was possible, and it all "clicked" with me, since during this conversation I had a Fender Telecaster-style guitar strapped on that I had assembled from parts. Bikes and Fender-style guitars (designed for assembly-line production) make perfect sense to me as things you can easily change parts on, or assemble from scratch with parts of your choosing.

He worked in a building right behind mine in the same office park, but lived at least five miles farther away than I, so I figured if he could ride to work, so could I. Clearly, he was in great physical condition with no fat at all on him, but I was up to the challenge, and that's one of the reasons I started riding to work in 2013.

The other guitarist in this band and the bass player weren't as adventurous, musically, and perhaps not quite as experienced, but Mike, the drummer, jumped at the chance to go jam with some other guys I knew, and we did that several times, in addition to the garage band thing. I'm pretty sure I posted pictures of he and I at one of these jams in the Guitar Emporium thread, and possibly at a block party we played in the spring of 2013, I think.

Anyway, enough background, but I just wanted you guys to know a bit about him. The last time I saw Mike was at a jam in November, 2014, and I only remember that because that's the last time I've played music with anyone. I sort of miss it, sometimes, and I'm sure I'll get back into it when the time is right and there's a reason to do so, but right now, given a couple hours to myself on a weekend, I'd rather go for a bike ride than to sit in the basement and play guitar.

Well, sorry for the long, rambling post, but you guys know how I am by now. I shouldn't have talked about myself so much, but mostly I was thinking about my friend. I haven't seen Mike since November, 2014. I just checked my email and saw I was invited to a benefit for him. He was diagnosed with ALS in January, 2015, and according to the email, he is now in a wheelchair with a trach and a feeding tubes and requires 24-hour home care support.

Of course I will be making a donation to the cause, and I'm going to talk to him and/or his wife to see if I can stop by and visit on a weekend afternoon. I've never known anyone in this situation, but I assume anyone who is sick would appreciate visitors.

Mostly I'm just shocked that anyone so young (late 40s, maybe 50 by now) could go from a fit-looking cyclist and drummer (playing drums is hard work) to where he apparently is now in a little more than a year.

So hug your family and tell them you love them and all those good things, because while life can seem long and frustrating at times, it's really quite short, and sometimes brutal, too.

[Yw-slayer]

YW - the ONLY mountain bike trail on the island? You need to heed the advice of Horace Greely and go west, young man! Or perhaps, for you, that would be go east, if you don't want to take the long way. Colorado, Wyoming, and/or Montana would do you and your MTB some good, methinks.

HK is more than just HK island. We have several trails on the mainland (but within HK) which are accessible but, relatively speaking, less so. They are to the North.

I could ride illegally, but the best way is to use what trails you do have so that you can show that people use them for MTB.

That said, I save my "serious" and/or "fun" MTB riding for trips abroad, hence I've done it in Lijiang, Bali, New Zealand, and soon Scotland. Most of the existing local trails are fine - new ones are being approved slowly - but I can ride most of them on my 29er hardtail (admittedly with more skill than I have). That's one reason I sold my Remedy, the other main reasons being that I don't have time to ride it and that the frame was a bit small for me anyway.

[Phil_SS]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DH7hqFMxsTw

You may ask yourself, why is Phil posting this in the Wheelman thread. Well as you can see when watching the video there are little snippets of people trying to climb the street on bikes. They are doing that during an event called the Dirty Dozen.

Pittsburgh Magazine produced a great article about the event and it's creator. (http://www.pittsburghmagazine.com/Pittsburgh-Magazine/November-2015/Bicyclist-Danny-Chew-He-Runs-Pittsburghs-Dirty-Dozen-Race/)

So, any you guys up for the challenge? :)

[overpowered]

37%?! I thought that the steepest was 33%, Fargo St. in L.A., which has an annual bike race up it. I couldn't imagine 33%, much less 37%.

Putting down the pavement must be a bitch on something that steep.

[Freude am Fahren]

I'm guessing that's why a lot of it is made of cobblestone.

[Random]

Concrete slip form would likely work pretty well.

Asphalt paver machine can work on that sort of slope, but it's very tricky to get everything laid down smoothly--those machines typically use their own weight to help get everything smooth and level, which doesn't work as well on a steep slope.

Here's a pic of a test section of asphalt being laid down on the interior of a reservoir. 2H:1V slope (50% gradient, 26-deg). The resulting product was....adequate. Wouldn't be ok for a road.
http://gtxforums.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=1614&stc=1

[overpowered]

I somehow missed the degrees vs. grade thing. Canton Ave is 37% grade, not 37°. I also meant 33% for Fargo. Brain fart.

degrees ≠ percent grade.

37% grade would be a bit over 20°.

I looked it up and the 37% portion of Canton Ave is only 6.5 meters long though it looks like it's pretty damned steep for longer than that.

I'm usually feeling the pain at 10%.

[overpowered]

I didn't know that they used asphalt for reservoirs. Usually I just see concrete, rocks and dirt. Does asphalt give a better seal (less seepage)?

[Random]

Not necessarily, but it is nice and flexible (relative to concrete), so it gets used as a liner material in water supply reservoirs relatively often.

[Phil_SS]

FYI, Canton Street is cobblestone. Which is another reason why it is so tough to climb. Honestly it is probably tough but there are other streets that are way longer and almost the same grade. So I'm bettin they are much tougher to climb.


https://youtu.be/cK8MhLihFlg

Why won't my videos embed anymore?

[George]

Try
URL[/video*], but without the asterisks, and don't use the embedding code, just the URL of wherever you can watch it on YouTube.

I used this URL for the video below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cK8MhLihFlg

[video=youtube;cK8MhLihFlg]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cK8MhLihFlg

[George]

Not necessarily, but it is nice and flexible (relative to concrete), so it gets used as a liner material in water supply reservoirs relatively often.

Pfft. That's old technology, gramps! Thanks to the magic of FlexSeal, now you can simply spray your way to leak-free reservoir happiness!

If FlexSeal sprayed on the screen door in the bottom of my boat will keep me afloat, surely it will keep your reservoir dogs from barking!

It's the handyman in a can!

Love,

Phil Swift

http://www.stinehome.com/media/catalog/product/cache/4/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/f/l/flexseal1.png

[G'day Mate]

I've comfortably (well, you know what I mean) done about 100m at 25% before - I reckon I could do it.


So, any you guys up for the challenge? :)

Only 5,000 feet of vertical over 90km? A trifle. Adelaide's own Dirty Dozen (which I've completed twice, in 2014 (https://www.strava.com/activities/190442748) and 2015 (https://www.strava.com/activities/385088366)) is usually well over twice that with only about 20km extra. We don't have quite as many super steep pinches (although there are usually at least a couple of climbs that get over 20% in places), but we've got heaps that average 10% for over 2km.

The stats on last year's climbs were 2.2km@10%, 1km@11%, (500m@7%), 1.2km@12%, 2.3km@9%, 1.3km@9%, 4.6km@7%, 2.7km@10%, (500m@7%), 1.6km@7%, (2.6km@6%), 1km@9%, 1km@10%, 2.4km@8%, 2.1km@11% and 2.5km@9% ... with the bracketed climbs not actually counted as part of the 13.

I think we usually have about a 60% finishing rate?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pI6anvUZR8

[overpowered]

FYI, Canton Street is cobblestone. Which is another reason why it is so tough to climb. Honestly it is probably tough but there are other streets that are way longer and almost the same grade. So I'm bettin they are much tougher to climb.


https://youtu.be/cK8MhLihFlg

Why won't my videos embed anymore?Because you're using a shortened URL and the board software doesn't recognize it or know what to do with it. Use the full URL.

[overpowered]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgIL6eHHgZU

[Cam]

Why won't my videos embed anymore?
You have to remove the 's' from https.

[overpowered]

I post https all the time. It's the shortened URL.

[overpowered]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBTK0UwwQ4I

[overpowered]

Afrika


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kotWv4MCxNI

[overpowered]

SDPD doesn't understand sharrows or BMUFL. :|


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YrC3ZKeUYw

[G'day Mate]

Afrika

Geeze, and I complain about the spring Magpies!

[overpowered]

Ostriches have been clocked at 43mph so I don't think this one was giving serious chase.

[Freude am Fahren]

Imagine being those people on the side halfway through and seeing that go by.

[overpowered]

NSW requires a bell on a bike. They didn't specify where it should be mounted.

https://www.facebook.com/photo/download/?fbid=10207682380634116

[overpowered]

Don't mess with Super Mario.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4XxCZagAjk

[G'day Mate]

Pretty sleek ...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__Dpnxzd09A

[Freude am Fahren]

I like the name. "Oi, get the fuck out of the way!"

[George]

Even better:


"Oi you, the cunt with the dog that's just taken a shit, move and pick that crap up too."

:lol:

[G'day Mate]

Everesting Sunday (or attempting) ... all things going well

[G'day Mate]

*ahem*

EVERESTING SUNDAY ...

http://www.strava.com/segments/11532799

700m at 6.5% translates to 180-200 laps and just under 300km.

[George]

Huh?

Oh, G'day! There you are! How've you been, mate?

Congratulations on your latest Deeds Of Awesomeness, and that cool picture of you at sunrise you posted a page or two back. You should use that on your Strava page or something. :up:

[Tom Servo]

I would have responded, but I didn't know a nice way to say "You're a goddamned lunatic".

[Cam]

You guys sure do some funny things down under.

Friggin' awsome, man. Good luck.

[overpowered]

Cycling Savvy course now available online (not free though and not quite complete):

http://online.cyclingsavvy.org/

[overpowered]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8ZuWzYcZSU

[G'day Mate]

Hell's 500 baby (https://www.strava.com/activities/515796865)

[Tom Servo]

Congrats, lunatic!

[FaultyMario]

Congrats, baby's gonna be proud.

[George]

10,326 calories?!

I'm imagining the size of the meal(s) you ate afterwards. :eek:

Nice job on the ride, too. :up:

[Cam]

Afterwards? A ride like that, you have to eat numerous times during the journey.

Amazing feat, Mate! :hard: :toast:

[overpowered]

Hacking Traffic Flow

http://online.cyclingsavvy.org/courses/cyclingsavvy-mastery-in-development/lectures/605517

[G'day Mate]

10,326 calories?!

I'm imagining the size of the meal(s) you ate afterwards. :eek:

Nice job on the ride, too. :up:

Haven't eaten yet - on a big ride you eat so much during that you eventually can't stomach anything.

[G'day Mate]

Well my appetite is back and I did a fairly normal-looking poo, so that's good. The legs are a little sore (but not too bad), my butt hurts and mostly my internal systems just seem to be going FUCK YOU.

[overpowered]

https://www.facebook.com/photo/download/?fbid=972680059446064

[Freude am Fahren]

So I snapped a spoke yesterday:

https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtp1/v/t1.0-9/10320580_10108262726177321_5265254537590236601_n.j pg?oh=385d45fb375f5525f62282f7a801bdbe&oe=57580A53

Ran over some landscaping debris, and I think a stick go up into the spokes. Clearly the speed magnet made a stress point, but it hasn't moved in 7 years, and I've done pretty much 0 maintenance on my bike, so I can't complain too much.

No on replacing it. Option 1 is to try and get it fixed. The wheel looked a bit wobbly after it happened, and I'm not sure that'd save me money over a new wheel.

Which is option 2. Anyone have opinions on wheels? I don't want to spend a lot of money. This set looks like a good value, but I only need one wheel. http://www.amazon.com/Vuelta-Zerolite-700c-Road-Wheelset/dp/B002JBJC52/ref=pd_sbs_468_5?ie=UTF8&dpID=51quvWRyrPL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=0CQP22NNQ64GZ0FDKHZM

[Tom Servo]

A friend of mine has a Vuelta wheelset and seems pretty happy with them. I picked up a set of Fulcrum Racing 5's for my Roubaix a couple of months before it got stolen and was quite happy with them for the price. Looks like you can get them for around $210 at https://www.raceviewcycles.com/Racing-5-Black-White-clincher-CAMPY-FR?language=en&currency=USD

[Tom Servo]

We've hit peak curated artisinal Fred: http://www.omata.com/home#product

[Freude am Fahren]

:lol:

I'll be giving those wheel you suggested a try too.

[George]

My $40 wheelset from craigslist turned out to be a good buy. I recently swapped from commuter tires to knobbies and re-adjusted the cantilever brakes on the naked wheels with no tires mounted to get 'em just right. I was pleased to see they're as true as wheels could seem to be to me, a non-expert at such things.

CL might be worth a look, maybe, especially if you're like me and riding bikes worth far less than a set of brand new wheels would cost. :D

[G'day Mate]

I'm really enjoying the Everesting scene at the moment. Last night on the way home I went and did a few laps with a guy who was about 2/3 of the way through his ride, and tomorrow one of the virtual strangers who showed up and did laps with me is doing a BEAST of a hill around the corner so hopefully I can get out to him a couple of times.

[overpowered]

Language NSFW


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MQakN4-emA

I disagree with the guy on using the full lane but other than that, I agree with all of it.

[G'day Mate]

Sherpa duties again today - I did 13 laps of a BEAST of a climb. The sign says 20% ...

In shittier news, some wanker stole all the guy's gear! He had a chair and esky with food, sunscreen and spare clothes at the bottom for the day and some arsehole just took it. Didn't stop him though - he put the word out and people from the community came and re-stocked him. He ended up with more than he started with!! I ended up making three trips; the first just to ride for a bit, the second to bring him water and sunscreen to replace what was stolen and the third to ride some more and bring a "snake salad", which I'm trying to turn into a thing.

[Cam]

Cyclist-hating former Toronto mayor Rob Ford died of cancer at age 46. I thought heart disease or drug overdose would have got him first.

[overpowered]

Cancer can hit anyone at any time but yeah, he seemed like someone more likely to die from those.

[SportWagon]

So it took a while for the weather to warm up on Easter Sunday, but was 6C when I finally left shortly after noon, reasonably warmly dressed. During the ride it warmed up to 10, and I was comfortable the whole time, never getting overly warm, and even right to the end feeling hints of the cold against which I was protected.

I set off at a moderate pace, keeping the gears low. With the idea that I was not really out-of-shape this year, compared to last spring, I thought I could probably make a leisurely ride to West Montrose and back, resulting in a nice 40km distance base, as opposed to last year when something had made riding very difficult, and I seemed to remember taking ages to build up distance. (In reality though, in 2015 there'd been only one very slow ride before I pushed to West Montrose, but amazed by my slow speed, and it did take two months before I did 60km to Elora and back).

Just before the Conestogo River valley I saw someone going the other way, and it turned out he was in fact a "Strava fly-by".

Indeed I got to Conestogo feeling reasonably fresh and the hill climb was merely a normal struggle, and I didn't feel the need to walk.

So my humming of "Do You know the Way to West Montrose" became even more enthusiastic. (I've been away so long. I may go wrong and lose my way)

On the Winterbourne Road I was passed by three other cyclists. Sigh.

Down to the bridge; I felt fine. There was still snow by the edge of the road to the bridge, and assorted gritty muck on its surface. I handled the climb afterwards alright.

On to Playful Puppy Paradise. We'd seen a scruffy sleeping dog when we'd driven by in the car the day before, and, indeed there he was again, looking sort of like a giant blackish-yellow tribble. Wisdom is to let him lie, of course, but he sensed my presence and popped his head up and watched me go by, but didn't even bark, let alone chase. And presumably went right back to sleep afterwards.

Traffic looked heavy when I got to Northfield Drive, but once I actually got going it seemed moderate. And being a non-commercial day, there were no big trucks.

On to Conestogo, and a methodical climb out of the river valley, and my challenges were mostly over. I was beginning to feel pleasantly tired.

I got home and discovered my main phone's battery had failed, and so was glad I'd used a backup device, although it's a nuisance getting to a computer to do the upload. (At least the backup is an old enough Android device that it simply lets you mount the data as a USB device under Linux).

I'd managed just over two hours, partly helped by the moderate winds. But still, it looks like I may be this year about where I was in early June, if not July, last year.

But yes, because I had been able to ride faster, my knees really hurt afterwards. Mostly not a pathological pain, although there was a severe twinge one time when I went to kneel in the bathtub. They seem to be recovering now. I think I got things just about right. Any further distance could have been harmful, I think. Unless perhaps I could have been super-disciplined and ridden even slower.

[Cam]

:up:

I haven't done any pleasure rides since last fall. I still ride to and from school every day though, a paltry 5 miles. :o I should add that Lori does too. No wait. I stand corrected. Last week-end, Lori, Levi and I went for a bike ride. Last year, I got an old ratty kiddie bike trailer from my LBS for free, intending to use it for Levi. I tried to use it last fall, but Levi would not stay in the trailer. Lori and I worked together to get him to stay in the trailer this time and it worked. We rode around the neighbourhood for 45 minutes or so. One young lady even noted, "That's the cutest thing I have ever seen." (No doubt talking about me.) We're a cycling family. :D I'll get Lori to snap a pic next time.

The Thursday evening rides from the LBS start back up this week. :)

[SportWagon]

Ah! My clutch leg is gradually getting back to normal!

I remembered too that, really, I knew less than a mile into my ride that it would go better than the first few last year. Last year the gradual (short, of course) climb on Regina from University Avenue to Columbia Street was a struggle to complete. But last Sunday, although I did gear right down, it was pretty easy. (Not like the quick sprint when I was younger, but...)

[G'day Mate]

What gear ratios do you use?

[SportWagon]

If I had to pick one gear to use last Sunday it would have been 42x19. I was using that most of the time. Any little hindrance and I went to 42x21. The only lower gear after that is 42x25, so when I say "geared right down" it's not really all that low. It is too low for standing up, but not really comfortable for the short steep climbs I encounter, but I ease back and pedal steadily but slowly. Sometimes I used higher gears, down short downhills, but not a great amount.

A new bicycle is in my mind, but might not come to pass. If I don't get a new bicycle, perhaps I should investigate if I can get 49/39 front rings.

When I originally got the bicycle, my intention had been to fit a front triple, but various details of technology made that impossible. It would be nice to be able to twiddle up hills in the early spring (and up to about 10 years ago, 42x25 would be a twiddling gear; part way through a season I would switch the rear from 14-25 to 13-21--but now I'm getting older).

[Cam]

I got a couple of big sprockets on the front and a bunch of smaller ones on the back.

I'm sure you can tell how much I care about gear ratios.

[overpowered]

:lol:

I used to care about that stuff but I don't even try to pay attention to it anymore. I think about cadence and effort and shift (or not) accordingly.

[overpowered]

Summary of why I don't like most bike lanes. Also, I think 0:40 was me.


https://vimeo.com/142871438

[G'day Mate]

Heh, I don't mean "exactly what gears do you select to climb Hill X", I just mean what chainrings and cassette do you have? I've got compacts and 11-32 and I can spin my way up just about anything.

[SportWagon]

Well I never use lower than 42/25 on any hill. Don't know if the few short climbs cause the pain, or just the general overall activity. It's not a "bad pain" and has gone away now. Though my legs and knees will never feel like when I was young. (Going up, and more especially, down stairs reveals that).

[overpowered]

If there's one place you don't expect to get doored, it's during a professional bike race.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XHRNRofmI0

[Freude am Fahren]

By the race doctor no less! (I think)

[SportWagon]

Bah. Polar vortex. Wet slush Saturday through Sunday. This morning and actual accumulation of about 4cm.

Regarding knee pain. You may recall I mentioned a number of times that this time last year I was incredibly weak and seemed to need to ride more slowly and occasionally, but not always needed to walk up short hills (and would do a slow tedious slog in 42/25, trying to keep smooth). I had identical gearing then, but experienced no knee pain.

[George]

Bah. Polar vortex. Wet slush Saturday through Sunday. This morning and actual accumulation of about 4cm.

Spring snow and the resulting runoff has kept me off my bike(s) for a while now...that and not really having anywhere to ride since becoming unencumbered by traditional employment. I may go for a ride today, if I can squeeze my fat ass into my cycling shorts.

I figure that's about a 50/50 chance.

[overpowered]

10 things sex and cycling have in common.

https://www.vingle.net/posts/462144-10-Things-Sex-and-Cycling-Have-in-Common

[George]

I went on my longest ride ever yesterday, from 8:00 AM until Noon, with about fifteen minutes of down time, I'd guess, to enjoy a delicious breakfast burrito from a standing-room-only takeout shack in an older neighborhood where I used to work, and then to buy more water in a convenience store, since I only had one water bottle with me.

I only took one picture but it's another "animals 'round here are gonna killa ya!" sign. Colorado has a serious case of Australia envy in that regard, judging from all the signs saying Watch Our For Snakes, Horses, Coyotes, Wolves, Elk, Bison, Uphill Skiers Setting New Land Speed Records, The Dogs That Shoot Bees From Their Mouths, etc.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00755_zpsbkxuwbui.jpg

[Tom Servo]

That's one sweet saddle.

[Tom Servo]

Just gave a shot at saving my trusty Kryptonite Evo. At some point it started developing some rust, which had gotten to the point where I occasionally had to wrestle it open. The actual key part was fine, it was releasing the shackle that was bad. Hit the rusty bits with some WD-40 and cleaned off as much as I could, then hit it with some chain lube and let it dry. So far, so good...hopefully I don't have to buy another lock.

[G'day Mate]

Paris Roubaix
http://www.franceinfo.fr/sites/default/files/styles/mea_635x357/public/asset/images/2016/04/epalivetwo101534.jpg?itok=tg0Ync_

How unexpected

[Tom Servo]

Had a missed call with no voicemail. I looked up the number, and it looks like it's the contact person for the United Healthcare pro cycling team. I felt kinda fast this morning on the way to work, but not that fast.

[George]

^ He probably wanted money.

You guys may recall that I broke my 3x8 chain while mountain biking a while back, and I don't mean simply riding my mountain bike with street tires on smooth pavement when I say "mountain biking". I did some research and learned there are only a couple of ways to break a chain.

One is to be incredibly strong. Uh, I think we can skip this one.

The other is to put a bunch of weight on the chain while having it cross-chained or otherwise in a place you don't want it to be. I thought I was super-careful about cross-chaining. Despite being a latecomer to the sport, I read a lot and try not to mess things up. I always look down while shifting to make sure things are just right, such as keeping my friction front shifter carefully trimmed to prevent rubbing.

Well, despite my best intentions, I tried to jam the chain up into gears I never used while commuting to work - namely, the smallest of three chainrings and the largest rear cog - while attempting to climb Mt. Impossible (well, for me, anyway) in the mud and grime of a late Colorado winter.

I think I've mentioned that I bought and installed a new chain, but I didn't get the derailleurs squared away until yesterday and today. By the way, I'm really tired of trying to spell derailleurs. No matter how I do it, Firefox underlines it as wrong. Too bad. Sorry. That's the best I can do.

I finally coughed up the cash for a bike repair stand, since that two-legged touring kickstand I had been using was nice for little things but showed itself as a poor substitute for the real deal once I got into this project. I figure the cost of one LBS tuneup would have been more than this stand cost, and now I'm feeling like John T. Badass with front and rear derailleurs that shift like buttah despite being 20+ years old. I took it on an offroad ride this afternoon that included the longest uphill gravel trail I know of that's not too far away, just to get as much stress on the chain as I could to make sure everything is properly adjusted.

I figure I'll continue to save cashola on bike adjustments as the kids grow into what my son calls "gear bikes", assuming my apparent short-term success today is something I can replicate and not just beginnner's luck.

Such is life in my world. It could be better, but it could be a whole lot worse, too.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00764_zpswe4mxbxk.jpg

[Tom Servo]

Very nice. I might be misunderstanding, but having the chain on the smallest chainring and largest cog is totally normal and in no way crosschaining, that's just your lowest gear. Also, you spelled derailleur correctly, as far as I know.

I managed to somehow not notice that I hadn't removed the cable that I use with my U-lock from the rear wheel and started rolling the bike, only to have it seize up after grabbing the rear derailleur. I can't tell if the derailleur cage or the hanger is bent, but one of those two is. The Madone currently has a failing shifter cable too, which I've neglected getting fixed just long enough to find myself with both bikes unable to shift correctly.

Looks like a trip to the bike shop is in order.

[George]

...having the chain on the smallest chainring and largest cog is totally normal and in no way crosschaining, that's just your lowest gear

Right, but I had never had to use the granny gears as a commuter, and therefore hadn't realized the new cables I installed weren't adjusted properly for climbing when in Low/Low gears. I was too worried about spinning out on asphalt and trying to go faster with street tires and drop bars, so, when it was time to go UP, very slowly, in the mud, I think grabbing the bar-end shifters and pressing them up past whatever normal "stops" were built into them made the side of the chain scrape against sprockets/gears/cogs enough to snap the chain the next time I went out for what I thought was a casual ride.

[Tom Servo]

Ahhh, okay, I gotcha. I knew I misunderstood :)

[Tom Servo]

Hooray, Madone is fixed. Surly next.

[SportWagon]

Sheldon Brown deliberately spelled "derailleur" "derailer".
- http://www.sheldonbrown.com/derailer-adjustment.html
- http://www.sheldonbrown.com/derailer.html

Wow. He's right when he says the actual French word has an acute above the first "e"...

[G'day Mate]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lKq1fGtXFM

Want.

[George]

Hooray, Madone is fixed. Surly next.

Did you fix that cable yourself? Granted, I had to go back and do a little adjusting after the fact to turn what I hadn't realized was only a 2x7 back into a 3x8, but otherwise I don't think changing bike cables is any harder than changing guitar strings.

Sheldon Brown can (could) spell derailer any way he wants. Firefox insists on a red underline under derailleur. Perhaps I need an acute above the first "e"...

Today I went out on a...

:sing: Three hour cruise!

...before we get Spring Stormzilla this weekend which is supposed to dump snow on us all day Saturday and Sunday. Dangit, where did I park my fatbike again?

The usual foolishness is you-know-where.



Leaving the Sea Of Rooftops for some fun and exercise. Three hours later, I pedaled back up this long, steep, sandy hill. There was a lady walking a dog ahead of me. She looked back at me several times, but I didn't catch up to her until the hill leveled off at the top. :lol:

Thank goodness for that teeny-tiny front chainring and the big ol' monster in the back.

Once again, photography fails to show or even hint at the true steepness of a grade.

[homer simpson]Stupid camera![/homer simpson]

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00766_zps31edrids.jpg

Looking back after pedaling up this beast. While standing there, yet before I whipped out my camera, with my bike carefully set on its side in the ditch to my left, a motorist slowed down and asked if I needed help. That was pretty cool of him. For all he knew, I had a flat tire or something.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00769_zpsmqx52xiv.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00773_zpsmp1fl31k.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00776_zps6hrtpe1n.jpg

While slowly pedaling up a long, steep incline at not much more than walking speed, I glanced to my left and saw someone staring back at me. I quietly stopped and whipped out my camera. Can you see it?

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00778_zpskjydmadh.jpg

How about now? (my first use of Gimp Image Editor in Linux!)



http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00778-1_zpsqcb22cem.jpg


Getting part of my bike in the pic so you guys wouldn't think that was a stock picture of something...

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00779_zpsdfccfrrw.jpg

Cheater version below, again:



http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00779-1_zpsiafjubbs.jpg


Okay, you gotta be able to see it now, right?

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00780_zpslkiufmoz.jpg

Still can't? Okay, one last time...



http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00780-1_zpsjd3iiaxv.jpg


There were two in there, and I stopped again on the way down and got more pics, but I figure enough is enough here.

I never get tired of views like this. I wonder if my kids, Colorado natives, will be as amazed with views like this as my wife and I continue to be.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00786_zpskkeqx0c4.jpg

My new avatar, perhaps? These signs are everywhere, and I know I've shown them here before, but as an east coast guy, I still think they're cool.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00788_zpstwyw9oih.jpg

On the way back down. The things hidden behind spoiler tags above were in the still-leafless bushes to the right.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00791_zps29hb77ig.jpg

I was able to put the pedal down (car metaphor; yes, I know that's confusing in a bicycle post) after taking the pic above and haul some serious ass. It reminded me of a long ski run, except I had to pedal to the top before skiing back down.

Below part of a groovy trail I always enjoy. I'm headed home now, a little tired, and very hungry all of a sudden. The trail turns to the left way up ahead and then lets riders bomb down some fun twisties with half-buried logs across the trail so even this old fart riding this old bike could catch some air on the way home. Yee haw!

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00800_zpsmreckxxr.jpg

After some serious downhill bombage, I was getting closer to home when...

Noooo!

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00804_zpsqwajm3ne.jpg

So I went the LONG way around and eventually made it home, but for a few minutes there, I must confess that I contemplated committing a felony.

Hope you guys are having even half as much fun as I in this nice, mild spring weather. Now, where'd I leave that snow shovel?

(Yes, I still have snow tires on my car, too)

[G'day Mate]

Geeze I wish you had Strava George - I'd love to see where you're riding.

As for me, I never get sick of roads like this:

https://dgtzuqphqg23d.cloudfront.net/jpVnR2XY5LMoNUPWo1SsuxgyLmsM_T5eEZweAgSeaLQ-2048x1536.jpg

The guy in the picture probably was though - at that stage he was about 4,000m into an Everesting which took over 24 hours.

[Tom Servo]

I am so jealous of where you ride.

I did not fix the cable myself. I've done it a few times on other bikes, but the internal cable routing on the Madone is something I haven't attempted yet, and I always need the bike fixed quickly so there's no time for letting it sit while I figure out wtf I'm doing. Michele got me one of the Park Tool internal routing magnet kits, but I still have to learn how to use it.

[overpowered]

Common sense is not so common.

https://pvcycling.wordpress.com/2016/04/15/rare-bird/

[George]

Geeze I wish you had Strava George - I'd love to see where you're riding.

That's one reason I take so many pictures! :D


Michele got me one of the Park Tool internal routing magnet kits, but I still have to learn how to use it.

Internal cable routing, eh? Yikes! I forget I cycle in a whole different era than most of you guys. I'm still marveling at the new-to-me bar-end shifters, which, if I've done my homework properly, are 1950s technology. :rawk:

[G'day Mate]

You know what George? You can keep your Colorado, I'm more than happy with my Adelaide hills. Beautiful autumn day today, the vines are turning yellow and red, the cows and sheep and horses are out, saw some kangaroos and hopping mice and kookaburras, and there's still three more months until the middle winter during which period I will continue riding as much as I want :D

Some pics from the ride home from today's ride ...
https://dgtzuqphqg23d.cloudfront.net/4ZfpsodJsDYrhg-Slyj39ZDToOwxqjq-8kTRfx8jzD8-2048x1536.jpg
https://dgtzuqphqg23d.cloudfront.net/Wahngp9d3hGrbkVxAVR5Y6T7b_VJgnAm-jjGBVqKkKo-2048x1536.jpg
https://dgtzuqphqg23d.cloudfront.net/TAf210bQ3JxUk8_Rgvo7uXJvFtXYPCfavT0dAq12aXQ-2048x1536.jpg

[George]

Wow. Nice!

The time you took to take and post pics is much appreciated. :up:

Australia is one of the places on Earth to where I'd pack up and move, never to return, without much argument or consideration.

A picture (just one, sorry) of my ride today is below.



So how many of you guys have a snow shovel that matches your bike? Huh? Anyone? :D

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00807_zpsa0exx01o.jpg

[G'day Mate]

It was hard to not stop and take pictures yesterday! Your picture of snow everywhere helps reinforce my other benefit too; that I can ride all year. Last year I rode over 1,700km throughout winter, and the year before I rode over 1,800.

Yep, happy with my hills :)

[Cam]

Yeah, but your winter is like a Canadian summer. When we lived in Hamilton, Lori rode her bike all year, including days where it was -30C.

We will never be as hardcore as my wife. :P

[overpowered]

I'd like to think I'd ride in -30C, but I suspect I'd wuss out around -20C.

[G'day Mate]

Eep

[George]

Found while web-surfing elsewhere:

http://cs543104.vk.me/v543104180/1389a/KHbwnkpUYG4.jpg

[Cam]

OMGWANT!

[SportWagon]

Regarding my knees my wife reminded that old people can't manufacture/access Vitamin B as well as when they were young. But on second thought, I can't see the possible relevance of that at all.

So I did the same 40km ride again today. Warmer, but I still wore light tights and a light turtleneck. (the temperature rose more quickly than I expected...)

The wind conditions seemed about the same (very light). And I was a good ten minutes faster today.

And, even though at times I felt transfer pain in my knees when I put in an extra effort for some reason or other, I had no significant knee pain after I finished. I walked about 1km to my bank downtown, then 3km walk to work and felt fine.

So I guess the pain the other days was the good strength-building kind.

[G'day Mate]

Holy crap, I was just looking at my Strava "Training Log" and I didn't realise how much riding I'd been doing lately!

Would you believe I've had four days over 200km so far this year, and going back to last August there's only been two of eleven 100km+ rides that haven't turned into 150+.

[G'day Mate]

Did I also mention that I'm planning another Everesting?

I don't even know what makes me do it any more :lol: ... :smh: ... :lol: :D

[SportWagon]

I saw this G'day activity https://www.strava.com/activities/550719564 (Morning Ride (damned hateful legs)).

And resisted the temptation to add the comment "What gears are you using? :p".
As in, had it all typed-in and ready to hit "Send".

So I just kudo'd instead.

[G'day Mate]

:p

[Kchrpm]

I read about all this riding, and it makes me feel so lazy. Then I remember that I am indeed lazy, so it all checks out.

[Cam]

Ladies dig active dudes.

[Kchrpm]

Ladies like a lot of weird things, though.

[overpowered]

Some people like to ride until they feel that death by exhaustion is near. Some people like to ride a leisurely mile or two in the park. Most riders are somewhere in between. They're all right.

Ride the way you want to ride. Don't ride to impress others.

[George]

For Kay See Aich Arruh Pee Emm, from the Cinci craigslist...might not be your size, but something like this is all you need to join the fun...and drive the ladies wild!

Trek 800 Mountain Bike - $120 (https://cincinnati.craigslist.org/bik/5548603135.html)

http://images.craigslist.org/01616_kI6Gs1uz02Y_600x450.jpg

[overpowered]

Bill Walton

http://www.wsj.com/articles/bill-walton-is-all-about-the-bike-1461191925

[George]

^ Interesting article about Bill Walton. Grateful Dead fans should click to zoom in on the picture and check out the artwork on his super-tall head tube.

[overpowered]

True cycling fans would notice that he's standing next to Eddy (The Cannibal) Merckx and Greg Lemond.

Holland's shop is only a couple of miles from my house. Nice bikes but very expensive.

[George]

Hey, I would have noticed if he's been standing next to Bob Weir! (also mentioned in the article)

Well, as any of you who care already know, I'm no longer with the company that had the fenced-in bike cage and a nice locker room with showers that was an enjoyable five mile bicycle ride from home. My new office, where I'll start work on Monday, is right the heart of downtown Denver. It's just a couple blocks from the state capitol and the park where all the 4/20 smoke-ins and various rallies and parades happen (or pass by), and also where the central train station for the light rail system is located. I live a little over two miles from a train station in the southern metro area, so I'll be riding the train as my primary mode of transport to work. I'm thinking I'll ride my bike the two miles to the train station and lock it up there for the day, and then ride it home in the evenings. While neither of my old bikes are particularly valuable, the amount of time, money, and effort I've put into them and the cost of replacement has me daydreaming about buying a smooth-riding but ugly-as-sin beater to leave at the train station all day. Either way, I think this will have me riding more often, even if it will be a shorter distance. We'll see. For now, I'm just thinking about how things might be.

I can (and have) taken a bike on the train before, but I'm thinking it wouldn't be worth the hassle just to ride a bike in the urban combat zone for such a short distance. Sure, many (tons!) of people ride bikes in downtown Denver, but I'm thinking for two or three blocks, I'd be better off walking, if only to keep things simple. I'll figure out if I could store my bike in my office after I've worked there a bit and scoped out the vibe. I'll be on the second floor this time, instead of the eighth, so physically getting the bike into the office will be the easy part, if that ever happens.

I'm looking forward to getting out of the safe and clean suburbs and working in an urban neighborhood where there is a huge variety of people and businesses. There are a zillion funky little independent restaurants of every category and nationality all around (very different than the land of corporate chain sameness where I live and used to work) and everything else in easy walking distance, such as used book stores, used record & CD stores, legal marijuana stores and stores selling related accessories, tiny hole-in-the-wall New York City-style mini-convenience stores with signs shouting Cigarettes! and Pre-paid Phone Cards!, burger joints, liquor stores, taco stands, clothing stores, diners, barbershops, breakfast burrito bodegas, pawn shops, concert venues large and small, bars, tattoo parlors, pay-here-weekly used car lots, coffee shops, and on and on and on. Bike shops, too.

I'm looking forward to the change, but I'll miss the cool suburban trails I used to enjoy, at least while commuting. They'll still be there on the weekends.

[Cam]

The Thursday night rides from my LBS started last week. I couldn't go then, but I went last night. The very first intersection, the leader of the ride crashed hard and cut his knee pretty bad. Poor guy. :(

[overpowered]

Some transit stations have bike lockers which are more secure. Check with the station. You might also be able to take the bike on the train. Some trains have special cars for bikes. Others may have designated areas for them.

[G'day Mate]

How far would the full trip be by bike?

[overpowered]

Apparently a lot of RTD train stations have bike lockers but they're $30 for a 6 month lease plus an initial $20 padlock fee.

http://www.rtd-denver.com/AlphabeticalList.shtml

http://www.rtd-denver.com/Bike_n_Ride.shtml

[George]

How far would the full trip be by bike?

Approximately 20 miles or 32 kilometres by car each way. I imagine the route by bike would be more direct on a bike than in a car in some places, but less direct in others (can't ride a bicycle on a limited-access Interstate Highway, for example), but it would probably work out around the same by car, bike, or train, I'm guessing.

That's a distance I'd love to do on the road bike on Denver's annual Bike To Work day - which has some fun perks at LBSs and other places during morning and afternoon commuting hours - and I could see myself doing it maybe once or twice a month in ideal weather, but it's not even a "someday goal" as a daily thing. Even if I were in as good of a physical condition as G'day, I don't have the time for that.


You might also be able to take the bike on the train. Some trains have special cars for bikes. Others may have designated areas for them/

Yes, and I've done it and posted a picture here. Every train car has a place for cyclists to stand and hold his bike at the end of the car. I just don't see a need to have a bike with me when I get off the train to ride a mere three blocks. I think I'd be greatly simplifying things by walking to the office from the train station.


Apparently a lot of RTD train stations have bike lockers but they're $30 for a 6 month lease plus an initial $20 padlock fee.

I've seen those, and they look very durable and weather-proof. Even better is that you can't tell if there's a bike in them or not, and they're within sight of the regular outdoor bike racks, so why would a thief even bother cutting a lock off a bike locker when there are other bikes locked up in plain view? I'll have to check if they have them at the station near my house. I've been there a few times but haven't seen them, but they could be out of the way, such as in the parking garage. If so, I'd pay $50 for the first six months and $30 per six months after that, if I'm reading this correctly, no problem - I'd be saving that per month, easily, in gasoline and oil (hey, it's an old car) and overall wear and tear.

Thanks for the links. :up:

I have to obtain a train pass, and getting on that site and looking around was on my To Do list. I appreciate the head start.

[overpowered]

"I've been behind you for a mile"


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKziIYA4gKM

Car was behind for 30 seconds. Unless the rider was doing 120mph, the math doesn't really work.

At 10mph, 30 seconds is about 1/12th of a mile.

Self entitled territorial motorists are amazing drama queens.

[overpowered]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L08MY2OMkRY

His math is a bit off but his basic point is true. Cyclists taking up a full lane typically do not affect motorist travel times.

[overpowered]

I love it when idiots tell me that they ride too and that I'm doing something dangerous. It doesn't even remotely occur to them that they are making full lane change passes and they can easily see me, which is what is keeping me safe. This rider experiences this as well. Not embedded because the skip to time feature doesn't work with embedding.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKCLS9kTcvw&t=33m50s

[overpowered]

New South Wales cyclists reporting that they are stopping because of recent anti-bike laws and police crackdown.

http://road.cc/content/news/187364-nsw-tough-new-fines-inspire-people-stop-cycling

[Cam]

WTF? Ticketed for trackstanding? :twitch: :smh:

[SportWagon]

Okay ride on Sunday. Weather was taking its time getting to the promised 13C, about 7C when I finally got myself out at about 11:30am. Wore exactly the same clothing as last Monday, which had been much warmer, with the exception I added my chest-paper this time.

I must have seen about 20 horse-drawn buggies going the opposite way down Winterbourne Road. When I got to the intersection with Letson Drive, where they come from their church, I counted 8 approaching the intersection along it. Some turn right (like the ones I had seen before), and some turn north to go the same direction I was. Those mostly seemed to go a short block and turn right on a gravel road which heads in the Maryhill direction. There was no buggy traffic-jam at the covered bridge, anyway.

Needed to stop for a pee break just before Playful Puppy Paradise. It would be nice if they put the portapotty back in the park in West Montrose, now warmer weather is coming. Saw no puppies at PPP, just people, packing their RV, I think.

Nice ride home. Just a little slower than Monday. Today there'd been a light wind, and it was coolish, and I had the brief interruption in my trip.

So when I finished (the temperature claimed 12C then), the light tights, and T-shirt and long-sleeve turtleneck under a warmish short-sleeve jersey seemed about right. And the chest-paper had probably helped.

I saw fewer other riders on this trip than on the previous regular work-day Monday.

[Yw-slayer]

WTF? Ticketed for trackstanding? :twitch: :smh:

That's insane.

[overpowered]

Lord Lawson says cycling is most damaging thing for London since the Blitz

http://road.cc/content/news/173223-lord-lawson-says-cycling-most-damaging-thing-london-blitz

Excuses from prejudiced idiots never stop.

[G'day Mate]

Michael Rogers leaves cycling with a broken heart

http://www.ridemedia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/ROGERS-Michael117pp.jpg

[SportWagon]

Lord Lawson says cycling is most damaging thing for London since the Blitz

http://road.cc/content/news/173223-lord-lawson-says-cycling-most-damaging-thing-london-blitz

Excuses from prejudiced idiots never stop.
Cars are the most damaging thing for Great Britain since the Normans.

My Dad lived through the blitz, and went on cycle rides out of South London during the early post-WWII years.

A veritable Frank Patterson paradise...

[G'day Mate]

Been a while since I posted a cycling video ...


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

[overpowered]

Good job. That lane was far too narrow to allow safe passing even if you weren't keeping up with the car in front of you. It's amazing how these idiots can't even handle a bike in the middle of the lane when the bike is keeping up with the car in front. It's nothing but prejudice and bigotry.

[G'day Mate]

I'm starting to think he was so far back that he never even saw the car in front of me or the truck and thought that I must've backed everything up myself.

[overpowered]

Except, why would you be stopped behind a car at the light?

[overpowered]

A couple of days ago I had a San Diego County Sheriff tell me that the BMUFL sign and sharrows I was riding on do not mean that I can occupy the entire lane. The words "may use full lane" do not mean "can occupy the entire lane".

Apparently reading at or above the level of the average 10 year old is not a minimum requirement to be a San Diego County Sheriff.

[Cam]

:smh:

[Freude am Fahren]

If my teachers taught me anything, it's that "may" means allowed to, and "can" means capable of. So even if you don't use them interchangeably, "may" gives you even more explicit consent than "can".

[SportWagon]

May in English is a vague word. The sign could be interpreted as meaning "you might need to watch out for inept cyclists who might wobble around so as to occupy the whole lane". The sign really needs to use the phrase "entitled to" or "allowed to" but that's too long for signage.

[overpowered]

The word "may" has different meanings but only one makes sense in the context of the sign.

auxiliary verb, present singular 1st person may, 2nd may or (Archaic) mayest or mayst, 3rd may; present plural may; past might.
1. (used to express possibility):
It may rain.
2. (used to express opportunity or permission):
You may enter.
3. (used to express contingency, especially in clauses indicating condition, concession, purpose, result, etc.):
I may be wrong but I think you would be wise to go. Times may change but human nature stays the same.
4. (used to express wish or prayer):
May you live to an old age.
5. Archaic. (used to express ability or power.)

[Random]

In legal/contract speak that I am familiar with, it's always used in the "is allowed to" sense. "The Contractor may..." etc.

[SportWagon]

When I had a discussion with then modern English teachers in about 1995 (in newsgroups), when I would have been very prescriptive about "may" indicating (or requesting) permission, they indicated to me that they did not enforce such prescription and alerted me then to the problem that "may" can mean "might".

Sure, the Sheriff should have been trained differently beyond that, but I doubt that prescriptive language has come back much in vogue in general in the education system. (In fact, I recall the teacher said using "can" for "may" should be tolerated, even preferred, which leads to the Sheriff thinking what he thinks. It's possible he views the sign as a mere warning of possible bad behaviour (which is, true, somewhat ludicrous; how many other such signs are posted; "Warning, drivers may run 4-way stop sign"?)).

You have to consider how the car drivers may interpret things, too. (And that stupid guy who put the bicycle beside the car on the diamond sign).

[overpowered]

Warning signs in the U.S. are yellow and shaped like a 4 pointed diamond.

Rectangular signs that are white and have black lettering are regulatory signs. They prescribe specific behaviors. Common examples are speed limit signs, no parking signs, right lane must turn right signs, etc. Most regulatory signs are white rectangles with black lettering though there are some exceptions (like stop signs and yield signs).

In the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices published by the Department of Transportation this sign is designated R4-11. Signs in the MUTCD that have a designation starting with "R" are regulatory.

The California Vehicle Code makes regulatory signs that are described by the MUTCD the law wherever they are posted.

[SportWagon]

You're welcome for my help in solidifying your argument.

Do California speed limit signs still say "Maximum"? (Apparently not...)

Hmm. Ugly caricatures of bicycles may use full lane. https://www.google.ca/search?q=R4-11&safe=off&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ

Hmm. Australian. "dinking a mate"...
https://www.google.ca/search?q=%22dinking%22+a+mate+bicycle&safe=off&biw=1553&bih=856&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ

[Freude am Fahren]

I like the one that has the additionaL "CHANGE LANES TO PASS"

Also, how can a sharrow be interpreted any way other than, BIKES GO HERE TOO!

[Random]

Most people have no idea what that symbol means, I would guess.

[overpowered]

Most people have no idea what that symbol means, I would guess.Sadly, that's true.

They mean "this is where bikes go" and it does seem like that should be obvious but when someone is stuck in the prejudice that bicyclists have to stay out of the way of cars, they will rationalize that prejudice to ridiculous lengths.

[overpowered]

Lord Lawson says cycling is most damaging thing for London since the Blitz

http://road.cc/content/news/173223-lord-lawson-says-cycling-most-damaging-thing-london-blitz

Excuses from prejudiced idiots never stop.


Cars are the most damaging thing for Great Britain since the Normans.

My Dad lived through the blitz, and went on cycle rides out of South London during the early post-WWII years.

A veritable Frank Patterson paradise...And then there's this:

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/pollution-protesters-stage-central-london-diein-a3235456.html

[Freude am Fahren]

Don't let a Mustang driver see that.

[overpowered]

Freddies on the edge (https://pvcycling.wordpress.com/2016/04/27/freddies-on-the-edge/)

[G'day Mate]

Another one. I've been sitting on this footage for a while - took some time to figure out how to convert Fly6 videos to a format that was usable in GoPro Studio.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkpFsz1r9-8

[Cam]

Take the lane?

[overpowered]

Take the lane?Bingo.

If idiots think that they can squeeze by, then they will try to squeeze by. This idiot might have honked if he'd been controlling the lane, but that would have been preferable to that close pass.

GD: How did you convert the video so that GoPro Studio could use it?

[overpowered]

I recently learned that in South Australia, when there's more than one marked lane in a given direction, there's no requirement for cyclists to keep left within the lane.

[G'day Mate]

I wasn't even in lane-taking mode because at last check there was nothing behind me and it merges to one lane just ahead and I thought all the cars in the left lane were turning. Momentary lapse in whatever.

op - this article (http://www.thinkoholic.com/2015/08/19/convert-avi-file-gopro-studio-freeware-updated-simplified-version/) is your friend.

[overpowered]

I think you learned a lesson about managing idiots.

[overpowered]

Servo posted the original video on this a while back. Driver has been charged.

http://laist.com/2016/04/28/justice_delivered_almost.php

[overpowered]

https://media.giphy.com/media/7y2uGBJogQmY0/giphy.gif

[Cam]

Impressive.

I put new black bar tape on my roadie today. My old white tape was super scummy and grew mildew on it over the winter. I watched a video tutorial to prepare. I finished one side and it turned out really well for my first try. I was all proud of myself. Then, I realized that I wrapped the drop section the wrong way. Doh! :toolbox: It doesn't really matter in my case though, as I almost never use the drops.

[SportWagon]

Needed to stop for a pee break just before Playful Puppy Paradise. It would be nice if they put the portapotty back in the park in West Montrose, now warmer weather is coming.The portapotty had been put back this week! So I stopped to use it in thanks, even though I didn't really need to.

I had an instance of "right no-hook" today, where a car, instead of making the turn when I had plenty of time to slow down or stop, (actually I think they would have completed the turn before I even got there) waited with their signal flashing, causing me to need to crawl up beside them and go through slowly after feeling confident they were intending to let me through.

Oh yes. When I got home my cell phone crashed just as I tried to get into the Strava App to stop and upload. But it recovered the ride after the reboot. (I also had a second Android device which had a backup GPX file).

[Cam]

I don't pass cars if they have their indicator on. I fall in directly behind them to let them know that I'm not passing.

[overpowered]

I don't pass cars if they have their indicator on. I fall in directly behind them to let them know that I'm not passing.Me too. Even when they seem like they're waiting for me, I have a hard time trusting them. I'll either wait or pass on the left.

I generally don't approach intersections from the edge. I control the lane to avoid setting up a right hook.

[Freude am Fahren]

Stalled motorcycles in a pinch point at the start are bad for bike races. Duh.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hau_LMZsp9Q


https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=3tVreQyv1ZQ

7 taken to hospital with "non-life-threatening" injuries.

[overpowered]

“Sydney is weird, there is a general hatred for cyclists”

http://road.cc/content/news/188228-%E2%80%9Csydney-weird-there-general-hatred-cyclists%E2%80%9D