The Biking Thread

rickenvox said:
I get to ride with this guy tomorrow
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Nice. Tell us about it. Details please!
 
sunvalleylaw said:
Nice. Tell us about it. Details please!
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Someone from our club in Pasadena coordinated this ride with the Amgen Tour of California organization. Mostly people from my club and it was free, not one of those pay to ride with a pro things. It was an easy ride up to the Rose Bowl, which has a 3 mile loop around the Bowl and adjacent golf course. We did about 4 laps and then back down to South Pasadena where we started. Jens was supposed to circulate through the group so everyone could talk to him but that wasn't happening, so I rode up to the front and rode along side him with 3 other guys for almost the entire ride. He said he hasn't ridden his bike since his retirement until very recently. He's been running and hiking. He compared riding his bike to any profession you would retire from - is that the first thing you want to do when you retire? He also said everyone in Germany is following our election campaign very carefully and are amused/shocked by new Trump quotes on a daily basis. Jens is just as nice and gracious in person as you would expect him to be. And he's coming out with a book called, you guessed it, "Shut up Legs."

Here's a pic of me and him (showing off my winter weight which I need to shed)
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A group pic:

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Leaving the Rose Bowl
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Our police escort:
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sunvalleylaw said:
for any of you (@Tig , @IamSeaDevil ? ), that have raced MTB, I am looking for input. I am setting a goal for myself for training this year (new bike has me inspired) to do some light citizen racing, and pick 1 -3 races or so to train for. I will start probably beginner class my first race to get the feel, then see if I move up to sport. Will not get too, too serious about it, but will approach it like I did running races when I did those. Start easy, back in the pack a bit, then increase pace as I get comfortable. Nothing too crazy. I am thinking that by training for some events, I will focus more on diet and training so as to get fit and have fun in my normal riding and life as well.
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i raced XC from the mid to late 90s, moved up from beginner to sport, before switched to road racing. All I can tell you is register for more races than your target races, and use races to get in racing shape. You can't do it riding alone - night and day. Also if racing is anything like it is in So Cal, the beginner class podium is always filled by some superfit guys who have either never raced, or road race at a high level and want to try out mountain biking. Regardless is loads of fun.

Most of our races took place in the local mountains at altitude. So the first lap and first climb I hit would always take my breath away, no oxygen. You either get up the first climb first and try to stay at the front for the rest of the race, or if you're like me you pace yourself and then slowly pick off people on subsequent laps. Unlike road racing there was never any pack to stay in. It always turned into a time trial where you're either slowly passing people, or they're passing you. But if you try and follow someone else's pace (who might be going above their own limits and not a good person to follow) you'll blow up early and drop way back in the group. Better to know your own pace, one you can sustain and slowly accelerate and just ignore other people. If you're in shape you'll do well, if not you'll gain experience and know how to train for the next race.
 
Cockpit view of Sunday's ride. This Fi'zi:k Performance bar tape is the best I've ever installed and used.
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Tig said:
Cockpit view of Sunday's ride. This Fi'zi:k Performance bar tape is the best I've ever installed and used.
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How so? I may have to re-wrap my bars after my shifters get replaced. Come in red? :) Oh, and those bars look narrow! maybe it is the perspective of the camera.
 
sunvalleylaw said:
How so? I may have to re-wrap my bars after my shifters get replaced. Come in red? :) Oh, and those bars look narrow! maybe it is the perspective of the camera.
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Most bar tape can be carefully unwound and re-wrapped if it is somewhat new, but the older stuff will tear. What I like about this tape is that it has a stitching underneath the center ridge that keeps it strong and prevents it from tearing when stretched during installation. It is thick enough to feel good, but not too bulky. I chose the tacky version and it is easy to grip even when my gloves are wet. The only bad thing is it is pricey.
http://www.competitivecyclist.com/fizik-performance-bar-tape

The camera has about a 170 degree wide field, so everything gets a bit distorted.

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Tig said:
Cockpit view of Sunday's ride. This Fi'zi:k Performance bar tape is the best I've ever installed and used.
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Nice pic, way too many people riding with you for my liking. I get real uncomfortable with that many cyclists around me.

Nice tip on the tape. I'll need to retape my bikes sometime and if the tape is good and lasts it might be worth the price
 
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Commuting season is here. This is from the way in to the office on a mid-day commute after court. About 11 miles one way, and maybe 750 feet elevation gain on the way in to the North. I have the downhill leg home to do in about an hour. Everything was working and rolling nicely! Felt great to be out getting some base miles and enjoying the scenery. :)

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EDIT: There was a headwind on the way home. Still, pretty nice. I have been on a bike I think 7 of the last 8 days! Can't argue with that!
 
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Nice one today. Tried to keep the pedal pressure pretty light climbing to just get some saddle time in with low intensity. Then worked on improving handling and cornering skills on the way down. Fun!

That second one shows a lot of area burned in our last big fires in 2013 starting to grow stuff again.
 
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Beautiful pictures SVL!

46 miles for me yesterday with a large chunk of the climbing along a stream that finally has running water in it (first time I've heard it. It is a real pretty ride and the smell of the redwoods was really nice as well. And fortunately the steep part is short.
 
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