tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post5709139708847768418..comments2024-03-18T08:41:35.438-04:00Comments on Lovely Bicycle!: 100 Miles on the DanubeVelouriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comBlogger90125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-37957419966624758912012-05-13T23:15:11.483-04:002012-05-13T23:15:11.483-04:00From afar, you look like Anna Torv. I just thought...From afar, you look like Anna Torv. I just thought you should know.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-47743154673233507532011-11-01T16:49:43.543-04:002011-11-01T16:49:43.543-04:00Brittney - Contact the US distributor at will(at)b...Brittney - Contact the US distributor at will(at)boxcycles(dot)com re US pricing and availability.Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-82745139891254992772011-10-28T01:11:38.708-04:002011-10-28T01:11:38.708-04:00This is a beautiful bike-- my dream bike, honestly...This is a beautiful bike-- my dream bike, honestly! :) How much do the Neorealista's with 7 speeds run for-- $2K? $2.5K?Brittneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15705501250334244009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-29906830705778939502011-10-27T07:05:08.877-04:002011-10-27T07:05:08.877-04:00Anon - The bicycles in the Danube photos with Ana ...Anon - The bicycles in the Danube photos with Ana (she has a Retrovelo and I was on Jacqueline) have kickstands, but we put them down on the grass anyway. Sometimes the bikes get tired. The Bella Ciao shown here does not have a kickstand; they don't like to use them. However, I did install a kickstand on my own Bella Ciao bike. <br /><br />lynn - I rode on the stock, new Brooks B17S saddle the bike came with. In the upright sitting position it did not give me the same pain in the you-know-what that I've experienced with the B17S on road bikes. For city riding, I feel the B17S not wide enough and under-sprung. I also find it kind of uncomfortable to mount and dismount in the upright position: It just doesn't feel like there is "enough saddle" there. But for the long ride where I hardly got off the bike and had the handlebars quite low, it wasn't bad. The layer of felt wool coat under my butt could have helped too. My butt did hurt a little the next day, but just a little.Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-8518219485649750642011-10-27T03:18:30.518-04:002011-10-27T03:18:30.518-04:00Looking at your Danube photos with Ana, very nice....Looking at your Danube photos with Ana, very nice. Just wondered why most of your bikes are without side stands ? so useful, no throwing the bike on the ground. The bikes are much more attractive free standing in photos too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-41926783809171348172011-10-26T17:05:09.103-04:002011-10-26T17:05:09.103-04:00very cool. If I do a century I like the way you di...very cool. If I do a century I like the way you did it- ( perhaps without the cold and fog) but the being alone and just going and eating. sounds like a great adventure. It's also such a great feeling to do something like that and wake up feeling fine.MamaVeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09519007680870604271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-86710397534245597662011-10-26T14:30:33.684-04:002011-10-26T14:30:33.684-04:00Late to the party but I just wanted to say congrat...Late to the party but I just wanted to say congrats! I'm all the more amazed by the fact that you accomplished this on a bike you hadn't ridden before - though it is similar to your bella ciao at home. Did you switch out the seat for one you had previously broken in?lynnhttp://detroitvelo.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-4843064656288123482011-10-25T22:20:45.938-04:002011-10-25T22:20:45.938-04:00Yes!!!!! Sardines!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can I has?!??!?! ...Yes!!!!! Sardines!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can I has?!??!?! I just did a century too.Peppy (the sardine eating cycling cat)noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-17867660663444271812011-10-25T21:53:53.848-04:002011-10-25T21:53:53.848-04:00Dagmara - The Bella Ciao is much lighter. The Pash...Dagmara - The Bella Ciao is much lighter. The Pashely is around 50lb; this bike is around 30lb.Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-15600667201391030232011-10-25T15:56:07.214-04:002011-10-25T15:56:07.214-04:00Great ride, great story! I must try one day. Could...Great ride, great story! I must try one day. Could you plse tell us, is that a B17? I did quite a long ride on a B72 some months back. Found I had some problems becouse the saddle was so wide. Could be my handlebars was not high enough. I still REALLY like this bike.<br />badmotherAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-67076836797848116082011-10-25T14:46:18.421-04:002011-10-25T14:46:18.421-04:00Congratulations on Century # 1, many more are sure...Congratulations on Century # 1, many more are sure to follow! I think it is waaaaaay harder to do a flat ride. I cannot stand to be on the bike any longer at mile 50 of a flat ride, so the remainder is pure torture. I love hills, bring 'em on! Super job! CheersAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-49772930952646132852011-10-25T13:13:41.181-04:002011-10-25T13:13:41.181-04:00Congratulations!
And more food comments - always a...Congratulations!<br />And more food comments - always a bar of chocolate, a few hardboiled eggs, a can of sardines in olive oil, dates, brazil nuts. I do find that there are some rides wherein I eat a lot, have to stop, and some where I just fly along (and these are long rides - 50 - 75 - 100+ miles). Might depend on the amt of activity in prior days too. But I always like knowing I have something in the bag. And even though there are often places along the way to buy stuff...it's usually not ideal / or is too "snackish" - hence I pack my high lipid / high protein / good tasting stuff.rural 14noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-42075727956962008822011-10-25T10:20:45.101-04:002011-10-25T10:20:45.101-04:00Great report and pictures. Thanks.Great report and pictures. Thanks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-19872692434618454352011-10-25T09:58:49.444-04:002011-10-25T09:58:49.444-04:00Forgive me if I've asked this already in one o...Forgive me if I've asked this already in one of your previous posts concerning Bella Ciaos, but would you say the Neorealista in this configuration is significantly lighter than a Pashley Princess Sovereign (I know, the Pashley has more accessories on it contributing to the weight). <br /><br />- DagmaraAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-56480575446700813392011-10-25T09:17:43.249-04:002011-10-25T09:17:43.249-04:00WOW! You earned my respect and admiration (which y...WOW! You earned my respect and admiration (which you already had,BTW,having read through lots of your lovely blog :) )! I've never ridden a century,though have often thought about doing one. Actually,my longest recorded ride (one I kept stats on) is a metric half century,LOL!<br /><br />I think it was an awesome and inspriring read,not even considering the style of bike and clothing worn. Congradulations on this accomplishment,my friend! Hoping to try my first century by Spring :D<br /><br />SteveAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-53664077085618637492011-10-25T03:54:24.289-04:002011-10-25T03:54:24.289-04:00" It's not like you were unprepared or wi...<i>" It's not like you were unprepared or without plans for 'what if' "</i><br /><br />Right. I probably should have made it more clear that I knew where all the train stations were and there were opportunities to cut the trip short every 10-15 miles had I chosen to. Also, there were opportunities to buy food every 2-5 miles except for one particularly desolate 10 mile stretch between Tulln and Traismauer. I had known that as well, which is why I did not bother packing food.Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-58290342664710830502011-10-25T03:40:56.357-04:002011-10-25T03:40:56.357-04:00How fun. Sounds like you had a great ride. I’ve al...How fun. Sounds like you had a great ride. I’ve always thought that disagreeable weather makes the experience more tragically epic, which although unpleasant at the time, it does create fonder romantic memories than the more pleasant varieties of epic.<br /><br />For the ride you did it perhaps isn’t of critical importance, but the food question is a good one. Although everyone is different, they aren’t that different. During an endurance ride, glycogen exhaustion is an inevitability and what, how much, and when you eat affects the performance of your mind and body, and your ability to recover. No matter how you slice it it’s a game of diminishing returns, and that’s the same for everyone. <br /><br />A rider who is more diligent about refueling, as some above have suggested, will maintain better and recover quicker and better, and would complete the task sooner, and be able to reasonably repeat the process for several or many more days. A rider who isn’t eating enough and at the right times will be digging too deep into deficits that mount steadily, recovery is poor, and (if not during the 100) by the second or third day they are shot. You weren’t in a hurry and don’t have to go out and do it again the next day so I guess you can burn down the house, so to speak, and it doesn’t much matter. Depending on circumstances I’ve approached it both ways myself.Bifhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05543158648103470697noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-48336956841705460552011-10-25T02:41:39.918-04:002011-10-25T02:41:39.918-04:00somervillain - Sorry, the stuffing comment was a g...somervillain - Sorry, the stuffing comment was a general one, not aimed at you. There is this idea in roadcycling culture that cyclists ought to eat as much as possible during rides, which I happen to disagree with.Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-75047911920092640102011-10-25T02:16:04.198-04:002011-10-25T02:16:04.198-04:00Congratulations! While I know you didn't ride ...Congratulations! While I know you didn't ride in street clothes to make any sort of statement, I still think that the clothes (and fog, and the upright bike) make your story even better.Evanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08657532405866434855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-36164951041140398992011-10-25T01:25:03.033-04:002011-10-25T01:25:03.033-04:00I find that a kid's Cliff bar in Chocolate Bro...I find that a kid's Cliff bar in Chocolate Brownie flavor is just right in a saddlebag. Not too many calories, won't spoil your dinner, and picks up my energy nicely. It also tastes surprisingly like an actual chocolate brownie, which is a plus. <br /><br />I also like a drink with some caloric value (read: peach Snapple iced tea), so that I'm getting a little zap of calories as I go. Sounds like you had that with the apple juice, though.<br /><br />The Manly Man I Ride With needs a huge amount of protein to function as a human being. Like tons. Could not be a vegetarian and be a nice person, tons. I like carbs, and find them more helpful. Last year I read an article in the NY Times about how some folks, particularly men, need more protein when they burn calories, and some folks, particularly women, need more carbs. Whatever works, you know? But I do agree that snacks are good to have along. Of course, I'm also hypoglycemic, so if I don't bring snacks, I could pass out, which makes it harder to find a cafe!ridebloghttp://rideblog.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-84620319093636881232011-10-24T23:59:29.739-04:002011-10-24T23:59:29.739-04:00I was telling one of my coworkers who will be goin...I was telling one of my coworkers who will be going to Vienna in December about your ride. He told me that he actually met his wife while bike riding in Vienna. He also told me about the interesting Spas in Vienna. Not that I would recommend them, but thank goodness you weren't sore the next day :). Congrats on completing your first century.Suehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12235831374184428641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-39412354626787339752011-10-24T23:47:22.854-04:002011-10-24T23:47:22.854-04:00Seriously, congrats!Seriously, congrats!Montrealizehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08689176985812848399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-4834281577153874982011-10-24T22:27:09.037-04:002011-10-24T22:27:09.037-04:00You absolutely kick ass. I like the fact that you ...You absolutely kick ass. I like the fact that you did it yourself without 500 other riders and just decided to go ride your bike for 100 miles.<br /><br /> Anyway, It's not like you were unprepared or without plans for "what if" and even if you weren't on a 17 pound rondo bike you WERE riding a genuine "REAL" bike. I've done big multi-day group rides and centuries and even one double and I like 'em, but it stops being a day on my bike and becomes more like a Military Exercise. I think that I get more tired and sore cutting firewood or stretching barb wire for 10 hours than I do riding 100plus, but when I know I have to do that for a whole day I don't spend 3 weeks psyching myself up for it. If one wants or needs to ride ones bike for 100 miles or whatever, than just getting on and trying to make it happen seems like a pretty reasonable approach.<br /><br /> I've done some really long rides(no "incidental" centuries though) in interesting places because it was just too nice a day to let the opportunity get away. I'm going to remember your Austrian adventure and use it to remind myself that that bike can take me to some pretty special places if I just don't get off it so soon.<br /><br />SpindizzyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-65339582135038750672011-10-24T22:04:57.452-04:002011-10-24T22:04:57.452-04:00This is a great tale, and I think it's inspire...This is a great tale, and I think it's inspired me to do my own Century on the W&OD, out and back from Shirlington to Purcelville, plus a little Custis or MVT to round it out, since I couldn't make either of the organized rides I'd had my sights on.<br /><br />Congrats! Now all we need is to score the above photos to music and you're all set. Start with Mary Poppins, seque into Rod Serling...Christopher Fotosnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-26430765621245047902011-10-24T19:59:31.674-04:002011-10-24T19:59:31.674-04:00Outstanding HTFU Velouria! Your readership is prou...Outstanding HTFU Velouria! Your readership is proud of you.manderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14825819771373993710noreply@blogger.com