The Biking Thread

Some sort of days long cycling event going on that I had no clue about, that is using the long, steep, windy, narrow, treacherous two lane main road to my house. Made for a REALLY slow drive up the hill yesterday. I don't mind, but whatever this event is, they didn't coordinate very well with the local powers. There's a huge road work project going on that already has traffic FUBAR as one lane is closed all day. I guess the road crew finally talked with somebody from the event and decided to call it a day. This thing lasts through Saturday from what I hear, so I'm not sure what the road crew is doing until then. The worst part is that there are TWO ways into my town, and BOTH have huge road work projects going on. Once these guys pedal through "town", they have to then go down the grade on the other side which is also FUBAR.

The Tour of California typically uses the same route every year for a stage, but didn't this year because of the road work.

Oops.

Anyway, looks like a big deal what ever it is.

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^Oops, indeed. Poor planing!
That looks like Race Across America (RAAM), but the short version called Race Across the West. They started at Oceanside Pier this morning. It looks like they headed out on Alex Road, Sal Luis Ray River Trail, N. River Road, Sleeping Indian Road, Morrow Hills Road, and Olive Hill Road.

I have a friend who is starting Friday morning on a tandem with a blind rider for RAAM.
https://www.bicycling.com/rides/a21273231/blind-cyclists-sea-see-raam/
 
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Rode 60 today, almost twice as much as my max so far after nine days. Earliest and latest I've been out. Rode a 11.5-mile rail trail from end to end and back. Part of it opened last year and I wanted to check it out, but I don't really like trails. Hemmed in by trees so there's not much to see and it seems to go on forever, plus the traffic. Plus side, get to cross a hilly river area on flat ground. I got an extremely loud horn but it didn't get much of a reaction, including from the four running girls who were taking up the entire trail. Dunno if it was wind, people not paying attention, just assholes, or what. Didn't really get any good pictures since I didn't feel like stopping.

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I got I think 7 or 8 personal bests on a climb and descent out and back yesterday I think I will work into a training mix. Dirt again. South trails are still good, but gonna be time to work the rides north up the valley soon. Will hopefully get some riding in around Stanley and Redfish lake this weekend. Will be bringing the boat for waterskiing, but will try to work some riding in too.

I follow @Tig on Strava, and he follows me. If any of your others are on there, I am under Stephen Thompson, Hailey Idaho. Would love to connect and exchange encouragement. The thing does seem to keep me a bit accountable. Though I try not to be the uber strava guy.

https://www.martenstuffer.com/singl...-Able-to-Track-How-Much-of-an-Asshole-You-Are
 
sunvalleylaw said:
I got I think 7 or 8 personal bests on a climb and descent out and back yesterday I think I will work into a training mix. Dirt again. South trails are still good, but gonna be time to work the rides north up the valley soon. Will hopefully get some riding in around Stanley and Redfish lake this weekend. Will be bringing the boat for waterskiing, but will try to work some riding in too.

I follow @Tig on Strava, and he follows me. If any of your others are on there, I am under Stephen Thompson, Hailey Idaho. Would love to connect and exchange encouragement. The thing does seem to keep me a bit accountable. Though I try not to be the uber strava guy.
Click to expand...

I like Strava to check out the ride data it displays. I ride with hundreds of different people each month, so there is that aspect, but that isn't what I like the most about Strava. I like encouraging others, especially the new racers I ride with. I also follow our running guitar guru, Robert Renman (https://www.strava.com/athletes/21616750).

I can be followed under Doug Ford (no, not that other guy!) or via my profile. https://www.strava.com/athletes/8126820
 
Tig said:
I like Strava to check out the ride data it displays. I ride with hundreds of different people each month, so there is that aspect, but that isn't what I like the most about Strava. I like encouraging others, especially the new racers I ride with. I also follow our running guitar guru, Robert Renman (https://www.strava.com/athletes/21616750).

I can be followed under Doug Ford (no, not that other guy!) or via my profile. https://www.strava.com/athletes/8126820
Click to expand...
Oh jeez! I totally should follow Robert. I know he has had some joint health issues he is working through, but what an amazing runner!
 
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I like Strava as a way to track my rides for me mainly. I don't, however, have it set to private. I am sometimes curious to know how I do verses the masses. I find it interesting that I am faster than average uphill and slower downhill (strong legs and a bit of a chicken for going too fast downhill :shrug: ). And I only use the free version. I don't have a HRM or power meter so time/distance/elevation and speed are all I can get anyways.

Doug and I follow each other but he's really the only one (there used to be another guy locally but he has left the area and isn't on anymore). I'm under nuke_diver https://www.strava.com/athletes/3189438

And I forgot to congratulate you Doug on your victory in the Ontario Provincial Elections, I'm sure you'll do a fine job :grin:

https://www.thestar.com/news/queens...ord-on-track-to-be-ontarios-next-premier.html
 
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nuke_diver said:
I like Strava as a way to track my rides for me mainly. I don't, however, have it set to private. I am sometimes curious to know how I do verses the masses. I find it interesting that I am faster than average uphill and slower downhill (strong legs and a bit of a chicken for going too fast downhill :shrug: ). And I only use the free version. I don't have a HRM or power meter so time/distance/elevation and speed are all I can get anyways.

Doug and I follow each other but he's really the only one (there used to be another guy locally but he has left the area and isn't on anymore). I'm under nuke_diver https://www.strava.com/athletes/3189438

And I forgot to congratulate you Doug on your victory in the Ontario Provincial Elections, I'm sure you'll do a fine job :grin:

https://www.thestar.com/news/queens...ord-on-track-to-be-ontarios-next-premier.html
Click to expand...
Cool. Just sent a request to follow. I am used to being well back in the pack where I live. But I can still compete with myself! :grin:
 
nuke_diver said:
I like Strava as a way to track my rides for me mainly. I don't, however, have it set to private. I am sometimes curious to know how I do verses the masses. I find it interesting that I am faster than average uphill and slower downhill (strong legs and a bit of a chicken for going too fast downhill :shrug: ). And I only use the free version. I don't have a HRM or power meter so time/distance/elevation and speed are all I can get anyways.

Doug and I follow each other but he's really the only one (there used to be another guy locally but he has left the area and isn't on anymore). I'm under nuke_diver https://www.strava.com/athletes/3189438

And I forgot to congratulate you Doug on your victory in the Ontario Provincial Elections, I'm sure you'll do a fine job :grin:

https://www.thestar.com/news/queens...ord-on-track-to-be-ontarios-next-premier.html
Click to expand...
LOL!
Um, I sure look older suddenly.
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I had no idea this existed. I am hopeful to gain good info, as I have been enormously educated and enriched elsewhere on MWGL.

In quick response to "how is it where you live?" the answer is: a lot better than I'd have thought. Part of that is "New Mexico culture," which is ornery as fuck, but also a deep sense of "don't bother the other guy if he's not bothering you." Which is one way of saying that for all the coal-rolling duallies on our roads, you get pretty good treatment as a rider. The only assholes are few enough. The biggest problem is the roads theselves: not many (meaning traffic is FAST next to you), many narrow shoulders, etc. We have a lot of fatal accidents that are NOT due to rage, but just fucking up.

On the other hand, ABQ has one of the most extensive bike trail networks I've ever seen (http://www.cabq.gov/parksandrecreation/recreation/bike/documents/bike-map.pdf), and our wifi-enabled, natural-gas propelled city buses have bike racks on the front. You can genuinely bike around this city, and safely, if you are smart about avoiding certain roads / sticking to the trails.
 
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OK, some questions.

1. I had a seizure last May, and some family tragedies. And I'm 52 and gained 20 lbs. this school year. I've been riding 3-4x/week, between 18 and 30 miles per ride, avg. around 16-17 mph. 10 years ago a regular (e.g. recovery the next day) I would do 36-44 mile rides around 18-20mph. How long do you think it might be before I recover the endurance? I am anti-competitive, so I don't really care about speed other than as a useful data point.

2. I have a shitload of inherited "bike junk." This ranges from Campagnolo brakes and a Peugot XP-10 from the 70's to a set of wheels built by Sheldon Brown in 2005 just before he died to tires from the 80's still in their shrink wrap. What's the Reverb.com equivalent for bike stuff? ABQ is a bad place to sell locally.

Any thoughts would be profoundly appreciated.
 
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