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Hiking & Biking

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    • LIhikers wrote:

      I rode my bicycle to work yesterday for the first time in a month.
      I had hurt my leg at work and had to wait for it to heal, so I wasn't riding.
      It was 36 degrees when I left the house but I was spot on with how I dressed.
      The only part of me that was cold were my ear lobes.
      During the ride home I had a verbal altercation with a young car driver who was sure I should be riding on the side walk.
      The exchange involved a lot of him sounding his car horn, yelling out his window, and him cursing and swearing at me, while I tried to explain the Department of Motor Vehicle code for bicycles, in an equally loud and obnoxious manner.
      He just doesn't know how much he doesn't know.!
      After teaching college students the past 15 years I can confirm that last sentence is very true about the younger generation. A lot of false confidence. :rolleyes:

      Great to see you back on your bike. :thumbup:
      The road to glory cannot be followed with much baggage.
      Richard Ewell, CSA General
    • Astro wrote:

      LIhikers wrote:

      I rode my bicycle to work yesterday for the first time in a month.
      I had hurt my leg at work and had to wait for it to heal, so I wasn't riding.
      It was 36 degrees when I left the house but I was spot on with how I dressed.
      The only part of me that was cold were my ear lobes.
      During the ride home I had a verbal altercation with a young car driver who was sure I should be riding on the side walk.
      The exchange involved a lot of him sounding his car horn, yelling out his window, and him cursing and swearing at me, while I tried to explain the Department of Motor Vehicle code for bicycles, in an equally loud and obnoxious manner.
      He just doesn't know how much he doesn't know.!
      After teaching college students the past 15 years I can confirm that last sentence is very true about the younger generation. A lot of false confidence. :rolleyes:
      Great to see you back on your bike. :thumbup:
      But, but, but...

      They received prizes and pats on the back for everything they did, win or lose, succeed or fail.

      And their parents always told them how 'special' they are...
      “Of all sad words of tongue or pen,
      the saddest are these, 'It might have been.”


      John Greenleaf Whittier
    • I hauled the bicycle out of the basement for the first time in a couple of weeks.
      Kathy and I went for a 10 mile ride with a break at a Starbucks that's about half way.
      Kathy, as a school bus driver gets lots of gift cards as Christmas gifts from the kids, and I each had a hot drink and a snack before heading for home. It was 40 degrees when we started the ride and 43 with rain when we finished.
      Even in the rain it sure beat pedaling a bike set-up on an indoor trainer, as I've been doing.
    • LIhikers wrote:

      Do any of you who enjoy bicycling use a quick link in your chain?
      I'm thinking of putting one in the chain of the bike I use for commuting so I can remove, and clean, the chain easier and quicker.
      I'd like to hear how having a quick link has been good or bad for you
      Most quality chains have one link to aid in removal - but unlikely will you need it, teflon oil is a quick easy way to clean it.
      Be wise enough to walk away from the nonsense around you! :thumbup:
    • max.patch wrote:

      any nyc bikers? :)


      I've ridden in New York City one time. Me, my wife, and a friend rode the 5 Boro Bike Tour one time.
      The ride ended on Staten Island so we had to take the Staten Island Ferry back to Manhattan at the end.
      Then we had to ride from the ferry terminal down town to the train station which is in mid-town.
      That was no fun, instead I'd describe it as exhilarating as it really got my heart pumping and had all my senses set on high.
      Since then many miles of bicycle lanes have been added in NYC but a lot of drivers see them as an annoyance and are hostile to bicycle riders
      Some day I'd like to take my bike back into NYC to ride the Hudson River Greenway
    • odd man out wrote:

      In the Netherlands they are building a highway infrastructure just for bikes. Makes sense for the Netherlands. Years ago we were in Groningen and saw a parking lot at the train station with easily a few thousand bicycles.
      citylab.com/transportation/201…y-built-for-bikes/531246/
      With the new green deal, bikes might be about the only mode of transportation left, especially if they are counting on high speed rail as an alternative. :rolleyes:
      The road to glory cannot be followed with much baggage.
      Richard Ewell, CSA General
    • odd man out wrote:

      In the Netherlands they are building a highway infrastructure just for bikes. Makes sense for the Netherlands. Years ago we were in Groningen and saw a parking lot at the train station with easily a few thousand bicycles.
      citylab.com/transportation/201…y-built-for-bikes/531246/
      wonder how they intend to pay for the "bike highway". just another euro socialist project or do cyclists pay license fees and such?
    • chief wrote:

      odd man out wrote:

      In the Netherlands they are building a highway infrastructure just for bikes. Makes sense for the Netherlands. Years ago we were in Groningen and saw a parking lot at the train station with easily a few thousand bicycles.
      citylab.com/transportation/201…y-built-for-bikes/531246/
      wonder how they intend to pay for the "bike highway". just another euro socialist project or do cyclists pay license fees and such?
      Same way we pay for our roads, I expect.
    • odd man out wrote:

      In the Netherlands they are building a highway infrastructure just for bikes. Makes sense for the Netherlands. Years ago we were in Groningen and saw a parking lot at the train station with easily a few thousand bicycles.
      citylab.com/transportation/201…y-built-for-bikes/531246/
      In 1980 we lived in Holland for 6 months, even then bicycling was a part of every day life. In fact we bought a bicycle while there and outfitted it with a child seat on the back so my wife and son could get around while I was at work.
      There were many places that had bicycle lanes outside of the vehicle lanes and then side walks outside the bicycle lanes with each type of lane separated from the others with a curb or median. It worked well until you came to an intersection, then you really had to pay attention.
      And the town we lived in had a large bicycle parking lot at the train station and almost no one locked their bike. If they got off the train and their bicycle was missing they would take another one of similar size, style, and value. No problem. I don't see that working here in the USA any time soon.

      The post was edited 1 time, last by LIhikers ().

    • odd man out wrote:

      chief wrote:

      odd man out wrote:

      In the Netherlands they are building a highway infrastructure just for bikes. Makes sense for the Netherlands. Years ago we were in Groningen and saw a parking lot at the train station with easily a few thousand bicycles.
      citylab.com/transportation/201…y-built-for-bikes/531246/
      wonder how they intend to pay for the "bike highway". just another euro socialist project or do cyclists pay license fees and such?
      Same way we pay for our roads, I expect.
      Gas Tax? ?(
      The road to glory cannot be followed with much baggage.
      Richard Ewell, CSA General
    • LIhikers wrote:

      I rode my bicycle for the first time in 2019 today.
      I rode about 15 miles with the temperature in the low 40s and with a brisk breeze.
      I guess I haven't been working hard enough on the indoor trainer as it seemed like a hard time today.
      Hey, but at least you got out there and had a "real ride". :thumbup:
      The road to glory cannot be followed with much baggage.
      Richard Ewell, CSA General
    • Astro wrote:

      LIhikers wrote:

      I rode my bicycle for the first time in 2019 today.
      I rode about 15 miles with the temperature in the low 40s and with a brisk breeze.
      I guess I haven't been working hard enough on the indoor trainer as it seemed like a hard time today.
      Hey, but at least you got out there and had a "real ride". :thumbup:

      That's true, nothing like dodging traffic to give you a good work-out.
    • Astro wrote:

      odd man out wrote:

      chief wrote:

      odd man out wrote:

      In the Netherlands they are building a highway infrastructure just for bikes. Makes sense for the Netherlands. Years ago we were in Groningen and saw a parking lot at the train station with easily a few thousand bicycles.
      citylab.com/transportation/201…y-built-for-bikes/531246/
      wonder how they intend to pay for the "bike highway". just another euro socialist project or do cyclists pay license fees and such?
      Same way we pay for our roads, I expect.
      Gas Tax? ?(
      A common misconception.
    • odd man out wrote:

      Astro wrote:

      odd man out wrote:

      chief wrote:

      odd man out wrote:

      In the Netherlands they are building a highway infrastructure just for bikes. Makes sense for the Netherlands. Years ago we were in Groningen and saw a parking lot at the train station with easily a few thousand bicycles.
      citylab.com/transportation/201…y-built-for-bikes/531246/
      wonder how they intend to pay for the "bike highway". just another euro socialist project or do cyclists pay license fees and such?
      Same way we pay for our roads, I expect.
      Gas Tax? ?(
      A common misconception.
      not a misconception at all. though we are seeing an increase in general taxes used for road building, mainly due to inflation and decrease in the cost of gas, gas taxes and other use taxes through the highway trust fund still pay for most of the cost. i have no doubt you'll tell me where i'm wrong.
    • I rode outdoors yesterday for the first time this year and boy my muscles are sore. It was great. I forced myself to ride up a steep hill that is always a killer and feel really good that I did it in the ‘pre-season’.

      Bike commuting is just around the corner. gif.014.gif

      I’ve become a baby in my middle age and don’t want to commute unless it’s at least 50*. :)

      I’m so excited, can’t wait for my first commute in what seems like forever. It’s scary too. It’s been so long, the people on the road at 5:30 am will have forgotten that I’m out there.
      Lost in the right direction.
    • LIhikers wrote:

      I haven't started commuting by bicycle just yet.
      When I get up in the morning it's either too cold, too wet, or too windy.
      I guess I'm just a wimp as I get older.
      When I was in my 30s I'd do it as long as it was over 30 degrees, or not cold and raining.
      I'd go with "older and wiser". :D
      The road to glory cannot be followed with much baggage.
      Richard Ewell, CSA General
    • Yesterday was the first day this year that I commuted to work on my bicycle, a Surley Disc Trucker.
      When I left the house it was 32 degrees with a strong wind. The weather services were calling it variable from 2 to 18 mph.
      Traffic was just as I knew it would be, insane.
      I leave the house at 6:30 in the morning which gives me plenty of extra time, that way if I get a flat I won't be late for work.
      I kill that extra time at a Dunkin Donuts right near where I work. As I was getting off at DD my shoe lace looped over one of my rear lights and broke it's mount, no problem as I still had 2 more rear lights.
      After work, going home was brutal. The wind was steady, strong, and in my face. That plus it's slightly uphill going home. Not to mention that I'm worn down from working all day, Then as I was carrying the bike down the outside basement entrance stairs I wacked the rear fender into the wall and knocked off another rear light. :(
      Hopefully I'll get the light situation fixed and ride again next week.
    • LIhikers wrote:

      Yesterday was the first day this year that I commuted to work on my bicycle, a Surley Disc Trucker.
      When I left the house it was 32 degrees with a strong wind. The weather services were calling it variable from 2 to 18 mph.
      Traffic was just as I knew it would be, insane.
      I leave the house at 6:30 in the morning which gives me plenty of extra time, that way if I get a flat I won't be late for work.
      I kill that extra time at a Dunkin Donuts right near where I work. As I was getting off at DD my shoe lace looped over one of my rear lights and broke it's mount, no problem as I still had 2 more rear lights.
      After work, going home was brutal. The wind was steady, strong, and in my face. That plus it's slightly uphill going home. Not to mention that I'm worn down from working all day, Then as I was carrying the bike down the outside basement entrance stairs I wacked the rear fender into the wall and knocked off another rear light. :(
      Hopefully I'll get the light situation fixed and ride again next week.
      You’re awesome. Tomorrow is my first commute in a long time, can’t wait.
      Lost in the right direction.
    • Traffic Jam wrote:

      LIhikers wrote:

      Yesterday was the first day this year that I commuted to work on my bicycle, a Surley Disc Trucker.
      When I left the house it was 32 degrees with a strong wind. The weather services were calling it variable from 2 to 18 mph.
      Traffic was just as I knew it would be, insane.
      I leave the house at 6:30 in the morning which gives me plenty of extra time, that way if I get a flat I won't be late for work.
      I kill that extra time at a Dunkin Donuts right near where I work. As I was getting off at DD my shoe lace looped over one of my rear lights and broke it's mount, no problem as I still had 2 more rear lights.
      After work, going home was brutal. The wind was steady, strong, and in my face. That plus it's slightly uphill going home. Not to mention that I'm worn down from working all day, Then as I was carrying the bike down the outside basement entrance stairs I wacked the rear fender into the wall and knocked off another rear light. :(
      Hopefully I'll get the light situation fixed and ride again next week.
      You’re awesome. Tomorrow is my first commute in a long time, can’t wait.
      Have a good ride!
    • Better planning would have you get a job or move so you are going uphill to work and downhill at night. :D

      Seriously, great that you are out there, and wish you better luck with the lights in the future. :thumbup:
      The road to glory cannot be followed with much baggage.
      Richard Ewell, CSA General
    • Yesterday was another beautiful spring day and I took the opportunity to ride to work again. It was a good day with only 1 near miss.
      Someone drove so close to me that I was able to fold their right mirror back. I saw them coming in my little rear view mirror and was prepared. Then they made a right turn directly in front of me and I almost T-boned them. I thought they were going to stop and complain about me folding their mirror back, but no, they kept going to the LA Fitness gym. I didn't let that ruin my day though and really enjoyed the riding. It would have been better though if I had been on a quiet country road in a locale that had more trees than people, cars, or buildings.

      Tomorrow is supposed to be another nice day weather wise and hopefully I'll be "on the rode again"

    • Today's commute brought a surprise.
      About 4:30 this afternoon it started to rain. That wasn't supposed to happen until 10 and so I didn't have any rain gear with me.
      It was a light drizzle when I left work and a light, but steady rain by the time I got home. I was wet but warm enough. Not a real problem, just uncomfortable.
    • Yesterday's ride to work went really well. I even rode part of the way with someone doing their first ever bicycle commute. It was nice to have someone to talk to plus 2 are more visible than just 1. Then on the way home I had no energy and even though it's only 10 miles, it was a struggle. I'm guessing that's because I came down with a cold during the day. Today I called in sick. :(