twocoach wrote: ↑Sun Apr 19, 2020 10:01 am
As a fat guy, I think all you skinny guys are boring (again, we're talking tires, here). To me, riding a road bike is like jogging on a big, paved trail; no challenge to it other than churning out miles. The only part of road biking I would like is the big numbers you can put up on your MPH and your total miles ridden but the lack of terrain challenge would result in me riding along think about my work, my family and everything else. When I ride a mountain bike, all I can think of is steering, gearing and pedaling or I will end up wrapped around a tree. I find that to be very oddly relaxing; I imagine that most road bikers would find it to be stressful.
And while we're on the topic of road biking, can you please explain to me why road bike riders always wear full kits when they ride? They aren't training for the Tour De France; do they really need to be in full matching spandex kits? It's kinda weird.
Maybe the roads are boring where you live. Around here (SF Bay Area, especially Southern Peninsula, South Bay) the roads are no less challenging. We have several "categorized" climbs and the Tour of California routinely holds a stage in our area. Here is a very popular local event (this year's event is unfortunately canceled) which has some of the prettiest and challenging (for an amateur) routes: https://tierrabella.org/tb_route.php. Also check out some of the road profiles at this site: https://actc.org/profiles/index.php. Everyone knows their best time up Old La Honda and a combination of Shannon/Kennedy and Peach/Canon is a regular. A 30-mile with about 1500-2000-ft elevation change is not uncommon for a weekend morning road ride. So many to choose from. Metcalf Road climb (1000-ft in 1.5 miles, essentially straight up) is one I have never been able to do in one go in my road bike - I see many mountain bikers pass me even though my bike weighs about half-to-third of their's......then I realize it's all in the gearing. My best combo is 34-28 whereas the mountain folks are all spinning away at 30-34, at just above stall speed!! Another great annual event is the Tahoe century bike ride (once around Lake Tahoe) called America's Most Beautiful Bike Ride - 100 miles, 4900+ ft climbing at altitude, and views to die for! (https://www.bikethewest.com/americas-mo ... bike-ride/)
About the kits.......I was talking to my friend about this a few years ago and here is his explanation (not sure I buy it completely, but FWIW)....it's not unlike me going to the store wearing my KU tshirt or some guy wearing his 49-ers hat in public. If you're asking why we need to wear a bike jersey at all that's a different question. The comfort, the quick drying fabric and the pockets are all essential. Most of mine or non-branded and neutral colors for the most part. I have a couple that are from rides which I have done and a California Republic jersey.
twocoach wrote: ↑Sun Apr 19, 2020 10:01 am
As a fat guy, I think all you skinny guys are boring (again, we're talking tires, here). To me, riding a road bike is like jogging on a big, paved trail; no challenge to it other than churning out miles. The only part of road biking I would like is the big numbers you can put up on your MPH and your total miles ridden but the lack of terrain challenge would result in me riding along think about my work, my family and everything else. When I ride a mountain bike, all I can think of is steering, gearing and pedaling or I will end up wrapped around a tree. I find that to be very oddly relaxing; I imagine that most road bikers would find it to be stressful.
And while we're on the topic of road biking, can you please explain to me why road bike riders always wear full kits when they ride? They aren't training for the Tour De France; do they really need to be in full matching spandex kits? It's kinda weird.
Maybe the roads are boring where you live. Around here (SF Bay Area, especially Southern Peninsula, South Bay) the roads are no less challenging. We have several "categorized" climbs and the Tour of California routinely holds a stage in our area. Here is a very popular local event (this year's event is unfortunately canceled) which has some of the prettiest and challenging (for an amateur) routes: https://tierrabella.org/tb_route.php. Also check out some of the road profiles at this site: https://actc.org/profiles/index.php. Everyone knows their best time up Old La Honda and a combination of Shannon/Kennedy and Peach/Canon is a regular. A 30-mile with about 1500-2000-ft elevation change is not uncommon for a weekend morning road ride. So many to choose from. Metcalf Road climb (1000-ft in 1.5 miles, essentially straight up) is one I have never been able to do in one go in my road bike - I see many mountain bikers pass me even though my bike weighs about half-to-third of their's......then I realize it's all in the gearing. My best combo is 34-28 whereas the mountain folks are all spinning away at 30-34, at just above stall speed!! Another great annual event is the Tahoe century bike ride (once around Lake Tahoe) called America's Most Beautiful Bike Ride - 100 miles, 4900+ ft climbing at altitude, and views to die for! (https://www.bikethewest.com/americas-mo ... bike-ride/)
About the kits.......I was talking to my friend about this a few years ago and here is his explanation (not sure I buy it completely, but FWIW)....it's not unlike me going to the store wearing my KU tshirt or some guy wearing his 49-ers hat in public. If you're asking why we need to wear a bike jersey at all that's a different question. The comfort, the quick drying fabric and the pockets are all essential. Most of mine or non-branded and neutral colors for the most part. I have a couple that are from rides which I have done and a California Republic jersey.
I would never ride on the streets with cars because drivers are dumb and kill cyclists at a far higher rate than is acceptable in my risk comfort level. That leaves me with paved walking/ biking trails that are all pretty flat and boring.
Maybe if I had access to better ones, I would enjoy them more.
Re: The Work From Home/Quarantine Thread
Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2020 12:32 pm
by ousdahl
twocoach wrote: ↑Sun Apr 19, 2020 12:23 pm
I would never ride on the streets with cars because drivers are dumb and kill cyclists at a far higher rate than is acceptable in my risk comfort level.
you're among the minority.
Re: The Work From Home/Quarantine Thread
Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2020 12:55 pm
by zsn
Most of the roads where we ride are quite popular with cyclists and there are usually wide bike lanes and/or the drivers are very cognizant of the cyclists. Some of these mountain roads are not as busy with cars. Are some cyclists jerks......absolutely; but for the most part cyclists and drivers coexist peacefully because many drivers are bikers themselves. Whenever there is an "incident" the bicyclist shares at least some of the blame. There are also some popular road bike routes which are closed to cars on some weekend days (e.g. 7.5 mile stretch Canada Road in Woodside/Redwood City, 9-3 on Sundays)
twocoach wrote: ↑Sun Apr 19, 2020 12:23 pm
I would never ride on the streets with cars because drivers are dumb and kill cyclists at a far higher rate than is acceptable in my risk comfort level.
you're among the minority.
Funny that my mother asked me about 2 hours ago if I have been riding my bike.
I told her no, "trails" near me are closed thanks to our Mayor. Then told her there is no way I am riding my bike on the streets right now. I live near a hospital, people are driving in, out, and around the hospital and are understandably not of sound mind - and then you have the other drivers out for a "Sunday drive" who are escaping their otherwise mundane confined lives and are not "experienced" city drivers.
Meanwhile, as those who live in the "downtown" area of Chicago can attest to, the "trails" on a nice day are probably just as dangerous as the streets.
Hmmmm. I guess I have second guessed myself and maybe I will go for a ride tomorrow - assuming the weather is still pleasant.
Re: The Work From Home/Quarantine Thread
Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2020 3:17 pm
by pdub
“name a "happenstance" situation where you found out that one path of your life crossed with someone that you know from another path in y6our life.”
I bought a house with my PhD blowup doll that when we pulled up to take a tour she realized she took piano lessons at when she was a kid.
On a KU message board level, on dotcom Coldwarkid was one of my favorite posters and it turned out he was roommates with a guy we bought beer from in the first half of college.
Re: The Work From Home/Quarantine Thread
Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2020 8:33 pm
by DCHawk1
Bike riders are the worst.
Re: The Work From Home/Quarantine Thread
Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2020 9:10 pm
by jhawks99
That's not very helpful.
Re: The Work From Home/Quarantine Thread
Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2020 7:31 am
by Shirley
To avoid confusion:
Refer to people on bicycles as "cyclists".
Refer to people on motorized bicycles, e.g., motorcycles, as "bikers".
tia
Re: The Work From Home/Quarantine Thread
Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2020 8:51 am
by shindig
Feral wrote: ↑Mon Apr 20, 2020 7:31 am
To avoid confusion:
Refer to people on bicycles as "cyclists".
Refer to people on motorized bicycles, e.g., motorcycles, as "bikers".
Feral wrote: ↑Mon Apr 20, 2020 7:31 am
To avoid confusion:
Refer to people on bicycles as "cyclists".
Refer to people on motorized bicycles, e.g., motorcycles, as "bikers".
tia
What about people on 3 wheelers? Trikers? Lol.
The same thing we call people on motorcycles:
Motorcycles (i.e. street bikes) are much more dangerous. I've ridden trikes and quads for 30+ years, and have never hurt myself seriously (bruised a few hands and broke a pinky finger once). Usually when out riding an ATV, people watch out for each other. The key is to ride within your limits..
Re: The Work From Home/Quarantine Thread
Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2020 11:31 am
by chiknbut
DCHawk1 wrote: ↑Sun Apr 19, 2020 8:33 pm
Bike riders are the worst.
Someone had to say it.
Re: The Work From Home/Quarantine Thread
Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2020 11:33 am
by twocoach
DCHawk1 wrote: ↑Sun Apr 19, 2020 8:33 pm
Bike riders are the worst.
The minority chunk of motorcycle riders who feel they can cut between lanes of heavy traffic while doing wheelies are in my opinion, the worst but cyclists who ignore the rules of the road while bitching about drivers on social media are a close second.
Re: The Work From Home/Quarantine Thread
Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2020 11:46 am
by jhawks99
99 wonders why that motaur dude does not wear a helmet.
Re: The Work From Home/Quarantine Thread
Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2020 12:13 pm
by zsn
jhawks99 wrote: ↑Mon Apr 20, 2020 11:46 am
99 wonders why that motaur dude does not wear a helmet.
"The only ones who wear a helmet are those who have something to protect"
