tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post3643976445968809951..comments2024-03-18T08:41:35.438-04:00Comments on Lovely Bicycle!: How We RideVelouriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comBlogger124125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-52028668298519123742014-04-18T12:14:29.733-04:002014-04-18T12:14:29.733-04:00It is tough and quite intimidating to transition f...It is tough and quite intimidating to transition from casual to longer group rides. You CAN go longer AND faster but you do need to hone your group riding skills to get the most out of those rides. <br />I would suggest practicing drafting with a casual riding friend, gradually increasing your speeds and holding them for distances. The faster/longer groups usually won't expect you to take pulls when you are new, but they will expect you to keep paceline formations together and point out obstacles. That's a huge part of why they can motivate at a much higher speed.<br />There are definitely roadie groups who don't care if you drop but there really are many who truly want to nurture the newbie. But, like I said, the joiner needs to be willing to learn and take a little risk. Carrie Anne Schmeckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03345303424053526414noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-46710921013864577832014-03-02T18:10:13.950-05:002014-03-02T18:10:13.950-05:00Late comment, but I have some thoughts about group...Late comment, but I have some thoughts about group rides. Ten years ago, I started riding seriously. I joined a group with my boss. They liked to not leave anybody behind, but at the same time they traveled at about 17 mph average. I had a hard time keeping up on my hardtail mountain bike converted for the road. I ended up getting a Lightspeed at the local bike swap meet.<br /><br />I later went on a ride with them when my father was visiting and he couldn't keep up. We were dropped on the out and back ride. When they were on their way back we had to abandon our desire to get to the point of interest. Disappointing.<br /><br />Later, due to problems with my wrists I had to abandon the uprights and go to a recumbent. The recumbent I have with me as an engine does very well on the flats and keeps up just fine, if not better than the average person. The hills are another story. If it is a steep hill, then I am much slower. It is inconvenient to ride with a group of "roadies" as the strengths and weaknesses are mismatched. Some like to make cracks about my bike.<br /><br />I joined a local recumbent group on Facebook. When we do group rides there is a strictly followed rule and nobody left behind. There is a lot of socializing and enjoying the scenery. I am one of the few on two wheels instead of the three of their tricycles. I am faster than most, and uphill, if very steep (~9%) I struggle to stay upright if I try to ride right next to some of them due to the lack of speed.<br /><br />I enjoy the socializing much more in the recumbent group rides as you can actually socialize. In the upright group rides, which I still do, I also enjoy the socializing but it is harder to do because we are going faster and the terrain is different. Uprights are not afraid of riding on the road. The recumbent cycling groups has some tricyclists who are afraid of the road and do everything possible to stay on the multi-use paths (of which we have over 50 miles worth).<br /><br />So, what I am I trying to say?<br />1) You can search Facebook for local cycling groups that are of varying interests, and likely find one to fit yours;<br />2) Some people will be biased about what you ride - no matter what it is;<br />3) It takes some effort on each persons part to find a group that will meet the type of riding they want to do;<br />4) If a person wants to improve their riding skills (speed; drafting; etc.) they need to be willing to practice on their own;<br />5) The League of American Bicyclists have safety classes for riding on the road and for commuting. It is well worth taking if you want to get comfortable on the road.<br />6) If your goal is to increase the distance you go, then increasing your distance in your rides is a good place to start. You can build up your base fitness level. With that said, people often suggest working to increase your speed also so it takes less time to get there. (And, do intervals to improve your strength/speed as an increase in strength and speed helps you enjoy the ride more - especially when you encounter hills).<br />7) Do not EVER try to force a spouse to do what you think is necessary to improve the ability to cycle comfortably. You can mention what you have found works for you, and what the "experts" say, but let them decide whether or not to do it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-52137731251470011982013-01-19T18:13:16.647-05:002013-01-19T18:13:16.647-05:00I am just going through and seeing cool stuff! I ...I am just going through and seeing cool stuff! I am primarily a commuter. 22 miles per day in dry weather (hot or cold) from Bay Ridge Brooklyn to midtown NYC. And it's "primarily" due to time constraints. I have vintage down tube lightweights, fixed gears, vintage steel bikes with modern shifting, a Raleigh Sports 3 speed etc. My goal, if there is such a thing, is to ride easy to work in the morning and ride home hard when I can beat myself up. I end up late all the time (just 5 more minutes of snooze turns to 45 min!!). So I am huffing and puffing to work. No biggy. I want to take a leisurely ride home and someone passes me or grazes me on the way back and the Cat6 race is on! hahaha I love my commute, I hate the congested train with its array of incurable germ-laden occupants. Bike is utilitarian.<br /><br />My girlfriend lives 32 hilly miles away in New Jersey. 2 1/2 hours (I always take a lot of pictures along the way!). Bike is mostly utiitarian. <br /><br />On the odd occasions when I have time (could someone tell me what that means??). I take a fun ride. Again, lots of pictures. Against the wind, cold, hot, whatever. Time goals? I am too heavy to remember those, I just want to concnetrate on breathing, pedal stroke, efficiency. Bike is fun vehicle!<br /><br />I have done a couple of centuries here and there, Montauk 145 flat miles, MS Bike Ride in October, 110 hilly miles. I want to visit my friends in Jim Thorpe PA. I want to do it on this Peugeot 650 B I am working on. I have to get it set right and broken in (or see what breaks first!) and etc etc. I am going to figure my final brake handle placement and then do a shellac job per instrux I read here! Anyway, I am not much of a group / bunch of friends rider. People either scare me or I have to hang back too much. Sometimes there will be a little gathering of the Brooklyn Velodrome Vintage Wheelmen but there's more non-riding stuff going on. <br />Sometimes there's nothing more satisfying than tooling around 'town' on the old Schwinn Corvette 3 speed. Bike is fun!<br />I have nothing to add nor subtract, everybody's right!<br /><br />Victor K. Brooklyn, NY Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-82386148604426286772012-08-03T01:30:11.946-04:002012-08-03T01:30:11.946-04:00Love the post : ) I am a facilitator for a cycling...Love the post : ) I am a facilitator for a cycling group that caters to exactly that...from rearing to pedal teenagers...to a much older lot getting back on the saddle after decades. The cycles range from MTBs, Hybrids, Roadies n even a couple of Fixies : ) We go on group rides...that cater to the slowest and the fastest riders : )rashmihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10093420526259680846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-37303648329547983372012-05-26T21:18:57.986-04:002012-05-26T21:18:57.986-04:00I like this post and sorry to post a month and a h...I like this post and sorry to post a month and a half since it was originally posted. I'll just say this: one reason to ride 'seriously' is so you can be like some of the guys in the group I ride with: 68 - 75 year old guys that are fit as a fiddle and that leave me (and many others half their age) in the dust. They are inspiring, and they didn't get to that pont by putzing around on weekends on a Dutch cargo bike.Reggiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14831898567423896721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-28838267709005188302012-04-04T19:38:09.138-04:002012-04-04T19:38:09.138-04:00I don't think being a great writer is somethin...I don't think being a great writer is something that can be defined. A great writer is a great writer.<br /><br />For me, it's not about being a great writer, but about communicating. My word choice might annoy you, but it is authentically mine; it's what I feel like writing. Who knows why. It's best not to question these things and just go with it. <br /><br />As an aside, ATMO is no more of a word than roadcycling. The former caught on as a trend is all.Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-3024949971122938742012-04-04T19:16:58.087-04:002012-04-04T19:16:58.087-04:00You're all over-thinking it. Go ride your bik...You're all over-thinking it. Go ride your bike. That's all that matters.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-61612433718808262252012-04-04T19:12:31.849-04:002012-04-04T19:12:31.849-04:00"Roadcycling" is no more legitimate a te..."Roadcycling" is no more legitimate a term than "sporty cycling" imho. "Cycling" and "riding" should more than suffice, unless you live in north America, in which case there seems to be a lot of use of "biking". A tendency towards verbosity and "vocabularious"ness is no more a mark of a great writer than owning a bike is the sign of a great cyclist. ATMO.<br /><br />Jonathan from Sydney.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-66132812250609003112012-04-04T10:57:04.505-04:002012-04-04T10:57:04.505-04:00It's funny, I've had this same experience ...It's funny, I've had this same experience with racing. I like to race for the fun of it, not to win, and I will probably always race in the lowest category possible. Problem is, for cyclocross and crits, the beginner category is a half-hour long race. Half an hour. That's it? I want to really get out there and have a long race, one that's about strategy and saving something for the final sprint. But to do a longer race, you have to be in a higher category and that means way faster riders. Alas, I think we all long for a group of like-minded and like-fitness folks to ride and race with. Unfortunately, that's not how the world works. I guess I'll just create my own long-slow racing organization....NatMchttp://nat.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-40993067339090408862012-04-03T11:36:50.476-04:002012-04-03T11:36:50.476-04:00I agree. Perhaps we can keep them out by telling t...I agree. Perhaps we can keep them out by telling them they're making it too complex.Peppy (this is my past time, not yours, can't has)noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-45983755238552327702012-04-03T10:11:16.064-04:002012-04-03T10:11:16.064-04:00I'm a loner and prefer riding alone. I'm n...I'm a loner and prefer riding alone. I'm not fast, and don't ride a road bike (in fact, a road bike given to me by a "roadie" couple was quickly turned into an upright ride!). I'd much rather wander around (Vienna to Prague is one of my desires!!), and it's allowed me to see things here in Orange and LA counties I wouldn't have seen if I'd been in the car, as I wouldn't have gone the way I went by bike. There's room in the cycling world for all of us.Darlahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18120129331636884242noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-47041660683112005922012-04-03T08:00:12.227-04:002012-04-03T08:00:12.227-04:00Amen, and seconded!Amen, and seconded!RadlerAdlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16587606309948388742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-20019460340114284112012-04-02T23:03:12.750-04:002012-04-02T23:03:12.750-04:00Doesn't take long at all to learn or develop. ...Doesn't take long at all to learn or develop. A lot will depend on how you learn.<br /><br />There are those riders who join the group and simply radiate calm. Everybody relaxes. The squirrels stop scampering. Wheels roll straight. The exemplar really does nothing perceptible but sit rock solid in the saddle and remain unperturbed by anything. The ride finishes minutes ahead of schedule and everyone is still fresh.<br /><br />Do just a few rides with one of those riders and you'll be stamped. I'm sorry you've never been there. I'm not that rider myself. I've been told for over 40 years that I've a very steady wheel, a wheel that others want to follow. But the calm thing, it's not me. Age makes it more likely I suppose but I've always seen younger riders who could do it.<br /><br />Too many newcomers in this sport. Best I can tell you is you're making it too complex, too hard. It's just a bike ride. Go ride your bike.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-82740306919240844562012-04-02T16:24:34.256-04:002012-04-02T16:24:34.256-04:00Anon 5:27 was a different anon.
"But why be...Anon 5:27 was a different anon. <br /><br />"But why be so critical of others if their experiences are different? That's the part I don't get."<br /><br />In retrospect my tone was too scathing. Nevertheless, I believe that some of your commentary has generalized too much from your own experiences. I think its ironic that you ride with a club that bans hybrids (at least on some rides) even though a plugged flat bar is 100% USAC race legal. Its not about the bike or the kit...its about the rider!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-20483138983071622022012-04-02T11:29:55.344-04:002012-04-02T11:29:55.344-04:00"Much of the "advanced" is just blu..."Much of the "advanced" is just bluster and posing."<br /><br />Being smooth, safe and predictable in a pack or a paceline is an advanced skill, and one that takes a long time to develop. I've been on lots of road rides that would never judge a newcomer on his or her clothes and bicycle but judge a squirrely rider harshly.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-45168750639442791942012-04-02T00:16:10.901-04:002012-04-02T00:16:10.901-04:00Now I wish I'd published this post on April 1s...Now I wish I'd published this post on April 1st! Sadly, I am no good at tricking people.Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-41610208897732234582012-04-01T20:38:13.516-04:002012-04-01T20:38:13.516-04:00If that's your take on it, I guess there is no...If that's your take on it, I guess there is nothing further to say. Interpretations are subjective.Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-5392491974266493352012-04-01T20:27:11.856-04:002012-04-01T20:27:11.856-04:00Could it be that Anon 5:27 is one of Spindizzy'...Could it be that Anon 5:27 is one of Spindizzy's "Hairy Naked Cycling Gods of Yore"?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-17483973547432576282012-04-01T20:15:01.772-04:002012-04-01T20:15:01.772-04:00The deeper the question the deeper you must dig in...The deeper the question the deeper you must dig into your sense of humor for the answer. Oh c'mon, it's just turning pedals. April fools!Bifhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05543158648103470697noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-44866758752553717762012-04-01T20:01:55.046-04:002012-04-01T20:01:55.046-04:00'But why be so critical of others if their exp...'But why be so critical of others if their experiences are different? That's the part I don't get.'<br /><br />With all do respect, you've done the same :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-80948342544587385682012-04-01T18:43:54.431-04:002012-04-01T18:43:54.431-04:00I think Velouria's use of "roadcycling&qu...I think Velouria's use of "roadcycling" is cute and whimsical and I always take it to imply sort of reverence for the activity. It's also very Germanic to combine nouns like that. Velouria is often quite vocabularious and I really enjoy, and respect, that. It's one of the marks of a great writer (and sometime rider)!Chris Kostmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05056622357667732064noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-5306597642324455702012-04-01T17:30:18.684-04:002012-04-01T17:30:18.684-04:00Anon - I think the key word in your comment is &qu...Anon - I think the key word in your comment is "I". It's great that you feel comfortable riding a century in a t-shirt. It's fantastic that you never require padded shorts or chamois cream. It's splendid that for you, transportation and road cycling are one and the same.<br /><br />But why be so critical of others if their experiences are different? That's the part I don't get.<br /><br />I am with Robert, start your own blog. I enjoy reading others' points of view.Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-23070159840877699472012-04-01T17:22:28.028-04:002012-04-01T17:22:28.028-04:00If there are no right or wrong ways to ride a bicy...If there are no right or wrong ways to ride a bicycle, are there right and wrongs ways to classify oneself as a cyclist?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-68486054168107326302012-04-01T15:01:47.071-04:002012-04-01T15:01:47.071-04:00Yours are very good points--I agree with them all!...Yours are very good points--I agree with them all! <br /><br />(You should blog.)Robert Linthicumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04309652843831858990noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-45541414225285372282012-04-01T02:23:35.458-04:002012-04-01T02:23:35.458-04:00"Much of the "advanced" is just blu..."Much of the "advanced" is just bluster and posing."<br /><br />this.<br /><br />the bike snob may mock...but in my experience some of the most "skilled" and fearless riders are bmxers and alley-cat-6ers. roadies...not so much.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com