The Bicycling Thread

[wildbears]

[wildbears]

[955i]

Interesting. If not TOO expensive, nor TOO heavy, there might be a place for this on group rides or rides with just one other. I think there might be a safety advantage, so long as it was used sparingly.

[wildbears]

Why Are There So Many Deaths In Road Racing?

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

[wildbears]

Ty, Any suggestions?

[955i]

Suggestions. I would leave the technology alone for now. I don't think it is the speed. Road furniture must be addressed. Having a flagman standing in front of a danger waving a flag has proven inadequate plenty of times. Actually rerouting several blocks (or miles) around street hazards is an option. AND physically removing the obstacle before replacing it after the race is also an option. Organizers should be required to address this.

Also, teams have to be led more intelligently. Too many times, young (or dumb) riders mix it up with the true favorites in order to show their prowess, courage or ability. Race day is seldom a place to do that, especially in the first 3/4 of the race. Just be a solid riding domestique and help your guy if needed, but don't crowd all the other domestiques off the road. Give a little space. The in-car team race managers need to calm down and direct their riders better for safety as well as for race strategies.

These approaches are more doable in the Grand Tours than in the 1-day Classics and Monuments for obvious reasons.

AND, generally just ride smarter and Rule #1: "Don't be a dick."

[wildbears]

Best suggestions I've seen.

[wildbears]

[wildbears]

[wildbears]

[wildbears]

Just changed the disc brake pads on my mechanical Tektro front calipers. Took more time than changing the pads on one of my cars. Biggest issue was alignment. First time so maybe faster in the future. The back pads still look almost new.
Got two pairs for the price of one at Walmart online. OEM pads.

[955i]

Man, I had the same problem. I completely lost the brakes on my gravel bike about twenty rainy muddy gritty miles into the Land Run 100 (now the Mid South). It was too dangerous to continue because there were some gnarly downhills coming up and I'd barely survived some in the first twenty miles.

When I took them apart later, one pad had almost disappeared in the caliper. There was grit behind it jamming it in place. After finally getting it removed, it was almost impossible to get a new pad in place and aligned. One more thorough cleaning finally did the job, There's not much space to work in on these little things.

[wildbears]

It has come to my attention, and our bathroom scale, that following the nutrition requirement hype that is online, GCN and elsewhere, for non competitive Cyclists, a balanced diet and adequate hydration are all that are needed. Fueling during a ride is only needed for rides exceeding 2 hours. Hydration is always a priority. Pre ride carb-loading is pretty much just for racing.

What say you?

[955i]

Are you saying that if you eat less, the bathroom scales are happier?

[wildbears]

Coming soon to a rest stop along I-75 in Ohio....

[955i]

That's cool. It's money that could be spent on bike paths . . . BUT gaining public and voters' goodwill is equally as important.

[955i]

2000 miles. I made my annual goal last week. 2000miles is no really big deal for true riders, but it's good for me. Especially since every other day I try to run. I met my 400 mile goal there, too. Now. I just need to not be a big pig at the dinner trough the next 10 days and do a little light maintenance. These aren't big numbers, but they are goals met three years in a row!

[wildbears]

Congrats!

[wildbears]

For the 6th year, Cane's Chicken has partnered with NFL stars to raise money to give bikes to kids....

[955i]

I've never eaten at a Canes. I will try to get 'er done at least once, now that they've earned my goodwill with this project.

[wildbears]

[955i]

The guy who owns and runs the old fashioned local bike shop a couple of towns over, has several Stingrays from this era - none are pristine, but each is a good original. At least one was a gift to him as a kid. I don't know all the names of the different versions. The springer frontend on this one is amazing. Look at that front hub brake and the plunger suspension in the back!

[wildbears]

I was out early Christmas morning going to get coffee and spotted a young boy carefully riding down the sidewalk on a bike that he would grow into. The tag from Santa still hung from the handlebars. A big but nervous smile was on his face. His dad was watching from their front yard.

[wildbears]

[955i]

Campy! Campy! Campy! Love those bike shoes. She has good form.

[wildbears]

The More You Cycle, the Lower Your Risk of Knee Arthritis

Cycling has always been touted as easy on the knees. But actually preventing arthritis? That’s a new one.

Outside Magazine, Published: Apr 30, 2024

https://smartlink.bio/outsidemagazin...eBV2oOd96XxJXQ

[955i]

My right knee has been getting sore occasionally after some rides. I need to ensure I am in the right gear to spin up a hill rather than grind up it. It's suffering today after three days of snow skiing this weekend and soccer practice today. Easy day tomorrow for sure.

[955i]

New Year's Day ride in my town of Cushing, Oklahoma - population 7,500. This is the 40th straight year (or more) that at least some have ridden. Last year, only two rode in 25F windy conditions with icy patches on the road. Still it counts. This year about ten of us rode in idyllic 52F weather.

[wildbears]

The Cincinnati Cycling Club used to have, and maybe still does, a New Year's Day ride. Distance was based on temperature. One mile for every degree Fahrenheit. I think I rode about 15 miles one year. Took a couple of hours and a few stiff drinks to thaw out fireside.

[955i]

1 mile for each degree F! Splendid. Today would have tested some of our folks at 50 miles. Most years it would be about right. But 15 miles at 15 F? Brrr.

Maybe kilometers are a better idea after all!