Bicycle thread

[Ridge]

I'll be riding in RAGBRAI again this year. Anyone else going that I can catch a beer with one day?

[Aurelius]

Originally Posted by Ridge

Very cool. Always nice to see techniques in practice by those who can relay the steps to others.

The guy teaching the class was very good at identifying bad technique that no one had spotted previously. For instance, despite the fact that I was using the proper posture for hill climbing, I couldn't keep the front wheel down on steep hills, which made steering impossible and in many cases nearly resulted in flipping the bike over backward. Most experienced riders thought I was just in the wrong gear, but that wasn't the problem. The problem was that I was unwittingly pulling the handlebars toward my chest with every pedal stroke, which had the effect of lifting the front wheel. The other thing I was doing wrong was causing massive changes in torque by standing on the pedals and allowing my full 180 lb weight to come down on them as soon as they hit the 10 O'clock position. The predictable result of pedaling uphill that way was either a loss of traction at the rear wheel, or the front end coming up. By keeping some downward pressure on the opposite pedal, I was able to even out the torque spikes and keep the front wheel planted. It all seemed so obvious after he pointed these things out that it made me wonder why it hadn't occurred to me before.

[blackfriar]

I rode the 80K route on the Titletown Bike Tour this morning. It's my first organized ride in about 25 years and had a great time. The ride has been around for years so it is really well-run.

[TooTallRacing]

Originally Posted by Ridge

I'll be riding in RAGBRAI again this year. Anyone else going that I can catch a beer with one day?

Snowman88 and I will be attending the great ride this year... so 2nd and third rounds on him you riding with a team or charter?


I wish I knew how to multi quote....

I am heading up in an RV with 4 other riders. This will be my fourth RAGBRAI, the first three were in 85, 86, and 87.

Be on the look out for a tall guy that looks like he is about to have a stroke. I plan on drinking every night where ever the bands are playing. 502.554.8323 Mike

[neanderthal]

Originally Posted by TooTallRacing

Snowman88 and I will be attending the great ride this year... so 2nd and third rounds on him you riding with a team or charter?


I wish I knew how to multi quote....

I am heading up in an RV with 4 other riders. This will be my fourth RAGBRAI, the first three were in 85, 86, and 87.

Be on the look out for a tall guy that looks like he is about to have a stroke. I plan on drinking every night where ever the bands are playing. 502.554.8323 Mike

To multiquote just hit the little speech bubbles (right next to "quote") in the first (few) posts you want to quote, then hit "quote" on the final post you'll be quoting.

[Mr Head]

I woosed out on hill riding today. I rode back down to the beach.
A semi ugly ride in that by the time I got to the beach my legs were beginning to feel the work. I was pretty sure I was going to limp back home.
Instead I got to talking to another older guy there on a Roubaix and we ended up riding back together and talking almost the whole way. He was riding about 20 mph most of the time so to stay side by side I had to ride at that pace. That was tough. Fortunatly we both didn't miind stopping and resting.

The late start lead to riding back from the beach in the heat. So, why not add insult to injury and ride up the steep hill?
Sure I'm in, so tat's what I did. There was a point there where I was just about ready to pull over and sit on the curb for a few. Didn't and got back home.



This weekend put me over 1,000 for my year.

And 108 and change for the weekend.

[Ridge]

Originally Posted by TooTallRacing

Snowman88 and I will be attending the great ride this year... so 2nd and third rounds on him you riding with a team or charter?


I wish I knew how to multi quote....

I am heading up in an RV with 4 other riders. This will be my fourth RAGBRAI, the first three were in 85, 86, and 87.

Be on the look out for a tall guy that looks like he is about to have a stroke. I plan on drinking every night where ever the bands are playing. 502.554.8323 Mike

Riding with my local club/team. We're going as team trunk monkey this year. We'll be in a white 15 passenger van towing a red trailer with Cycles de Oro plastered all over it. We should be arriving early Saturday morning. Will try and ping you then. Mine is 919.328.0265 James

[Gummee!]

Originally Posted by Aurelius

The guy teaching the class was very good at identifying bad technique that no one had spotted previously. For instance, despite the fact that I was using the proper posture for hill climbing, I couldn't keep the front wheel down on steep hills, which made steering impossible and in many cases nearly resulted in flipping the bike over backward. Most experienced riders thought I was just in the wrong gear, but that wasn't the problem. The problem was that I was unwittingly pulling the handlebars toward my chest with every pedal stroke, which had the effect of lifting the front wheel. The other thing I was doing wrong was causing massive changes in torque by standing on the pedals and allowing my full 180 lb weight to come down on them as soon as they hit the 10 O'clock position. The predictable result of pedaling uphill that way was either a loss of traction at the rear wheel, or the front end coming up. By keeping some downward pressure on the opposite pedal, I was able to even out the torque spikes and keep the front wheel planted. It all seemed so obvious after he pointed these things out that it made me wonder why it hadn't occurred to me before.

Like I said earlier: row your bike back and down into the hill when it gets steep.

Works standing too.

Managed to fall down a rocky hill yesterday out laying trail. I've got bruises that have bruises today.

M

[zippy]

Back on the horse. Recovering from a middle ear infection with punctured ear drum. How it happened I have no idea. The antibiotics kicked my arse.

Thankfully two friends showed early yesterday morning and got me out for a couple hour ride around St Pete. Felt good . Shake down run after swapping to compact crank on the Pistola. So far love it.

[Aurelius]

Originally Posted by Gummee!

Like I said earlier: row your bike back and down into the hill when it gets steep.

Works standing too.

Managed to fall down a rocky hill yesterday out laying trail. I've got bruises that have bruises today.

M

Mountain biking has its risks. I finally figured out how to pop a wheelie yesterday and fell off the back. I'm gonna wait until my elbow pads and full face helmet arrive before trying it again.

[Aurelius]

A local rider built himself a custom downhill bike 12 years ago, which was promptly stolen. Last week while surfing e-Bay, he saw the very same bike offered for sale in California and contacted the police there. They asked him how he could prove that it was in fact the very same bike he built 12 years ago. He told them that inside the bottom bracket he'd carved a smiley face symbol into the metal. The cops confiscated the bike from its current owner, took it apart, and found the smiley face, just where he said it would be.

[kannonbal]

Finally got the chance to put myself up against the clock for the first time ever. On a team for a multi-sport relay race; I was the road biker.

Stage 3 was a 13 mile TT; plenty of undulations and some cross winds to boot. 91 teams and I was 4th fastest! did it in 34.46, including transfer times. Worked out to a 25 mph average. First place was at 31:20 and I was the fastest person with hairy legs, no aero bars, no skin suit, and no aero helmet. Completely shocked by my result and feeling really pleased with myself.

Stage 5 was a 9.8 mile TT and this one had more up than down and also had a 2.5 dead flat stretch with a nice 10-12 mph headwind. I did that one in 26.42, or 24.6 mph and I was 5th overall and missed 4th by 9 sec.

Starting to think I might have to race a bit more! And some clamp on aero bars and a slippery helmet may be in my future. Or maybe a TT bike.....hmmm......

[Uncle Pollo]

Originally Posted by kannonbal

Finally got the chance to put myself up against the clock for the first time ever. On a team for a multi-sport relay race; I was the road biker.

Stage 3 was a 13 mile TT; plenty of undulations and some cross winds to boot. 91 teams and I was 4th fastest! did it in 34.46, including transfer times. Worked out to a 25 mph average. First place was at 31:20 and I was the fastest person with hairy legs, no aero bars, no skin suit, and no aero helmet. Completely shocked by my result and feeling really pleased with myself.

Stage 5 was a 9.8 mile TT and this one had more up than down and also had a 2.5 dead flat stretch with a nice 10-12 mph headwind. I did that one in 26.42, or 24.6 mph and I was 5th overall and missed 4th by 9 sec.

Starting to think I might have to race a bit more! And some clamp on aero bars and a slippery helmet may be in my future. Or maybe a TT bike.....hmmm......

TT bike and helmet and own that bitch.

[Uncle Pollo]

Originally Posted by Gummee!

Like I said earlier: row your bike back and down into the hill when it gets steep.

Works standing too.

Managed to fall down a rocky hill yesterday out laying trail. I've got bruises that have bruises today.

M

Sit there, soft hands, and spin.

[Oznerol]

Not a lot of long rides for me, lately; If I've got more than a couple of consecutive hours free for 2-wheeled fun, I'm usually on the motorcycle. And in the 4 months since I got to Cali, I've been on a mountain bike twice.

But I have been getting out for shorter rides on the road bike two or three times a week. It's pretty cool being able to step out my front door and do a 22 mile ride that includes 2000 feet of climbing and fairly varied scenery. I recently replaced the triple crank on my road bike with a compact double -- shaved a bit of weight, but more importantly raised my lowest gear, forcing me to work a bit harder but getting me up the climbs a bit faster.