The Cyclist's Thread!

[my395]

I had a great time doing the 30 mile option. There was a guy from Reno on a handcycle as well and he did the entire century. Not sure that anyone has done this century on a handcycle before.

[Sierra Lady]

Bravo to both of you!

[windyscotty]

Did you hear about the guy who got busted for honking for a long time at a rider when he could easily pass? The cyclists recorded it on their phone and gave it to the cops.

I have never heard of someone following a cyclist for many miles honking without passing. That driver was endangering those riders and causing a huge nuisance.

[highanxiety]

Did you hear about the guy who got busted for honking for a long time at a rider when he could easily pass? The cyclists recorded it on their phone and gave it to the cops.

I have never heard of someone following a cyclist for many miles honking without passing. That driver was endangering those riders and causing a huge nuisance.

Saw that video on TGR, there was a lot of comments/info on it also.. I think this is the link to the actual vid.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFM5QiAd3QA

[Biker395]

Yea, I saw it. My initial guess on that guy was that he was one of those people who didn't know that you can cross a double yellow line to pass a cyclist if it is safe. So he thinks he has no choice but to sit there behind them, and gets irritated with the wait. Then I found out that he had done this on a couple other occasions ... making him look a little less like an ignorant old man and a little more like an arrogant ass.

What frosts me about stories like that? Reading the comments. They fall into three categories:

1. People who understand that the guy in the SUV has no basis whatever for what he did (thankfully, most).
2. People who'll excuse what he did because they see other cyclists doing things that they believe to be illegal. The logic is that since OTHER cyclists do stupid things, that somehow excuses this guy's behavior.

Two problems with this one.

First, the logic is plainly flawed. How would it be if commercial truckers treated every motorist badly because they see so many of them doing stupid things (texting while driving, blowing through stop signs, speeding)? Suppose that were a huge commercial truck blowing it's horn at someone in a car ... would you read those same stupid comments? I doubt it.

Second, what they assume is illegal behavior usually isn't. Cyclists can ride two abreast if they are going the speed of traffic. That means that until someone approaches behind them, there is no need to pair up. And on a road with a shoulder as narrow as that, they would be justified in taking the entire lane, as there is no space to pass with adequate separation. Oh, and BTW ... that little white line? That's the fog line, and no, cyclists are not required to ride to the right of that line. That delineates the edge of the roadway, and the law requires that cyclists ride as close to the edge of the roadway as is practicable (considering their speed, debris, the condition of the road, etc.)

3. People who state the obvious and try to use it as justification for bad behavior. Essentially ... what I drive is bigger than you, so physics states that you should stay off my street and stay outta my way ... not for me, of course ... but for your own good. Can't argue with that logic, I guess. Of course, the same logic says that cars should stay off the streets used by commercial trucks.

To me, it's all about myopia. People have a hard time viewing any situation from another's perspective. Motorists regard commercial trucks as a danger and a nuisance (they're larger and slower) and cyclists as a nuisance (they're just slower). Commercial truckers regard motorists and cyclists as a nuisance (both are smaller, but pose little danger) and cyclists regard motorists and commercial truckers as a danger (for obvious reasons).

All would benefit rolling a few miles in the other's shoes. Almost all cyclists are motorists as well, so we understand what it is like on the other side of the steering wheel. Things would improve if more motorists spent some time behind the handlebars.

[Biker395]

There is justice and there is poetic justice.

That this guy got cited for impeding traffic (as well as other violations), is poetic justice.

http://www.adventure-journal.com/2012/0 ... -cyclists/

[M2M]

Did you hear about the guy who got busted for honking for a long time at a rider when he could easily pass? The cyclists recorded it on their phone and gave it to the cops.

I have never heard of someone following a cyclist for many miles honking without passing. That driver was endangering those riders and causing a huge nuisance.

Saw that video on TGR, there was a lot of comments/info on it also.. I think this is the link to the actual vid.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFM5QiAd3QA

I think every rodie out there has seen this video and is happy they nailed him -
I have a near miss video with the go pro that I can put up -
It's scary out there and anybody that does not use some kind of mirror because it's " not cool" , hasn't had a close incounter -
I , at least saw the guy before he almost hit me!

[MountainNut]

Anyone insane enough to enter this 2-day Sierra event this weekend?

Me? I absolutely FLY uphill .. like a lead albatross (or lead zeppelin). Oh yeah, Magnus Backstedt's my ALL-TIME climbing hero! And Cancellara and Cipo!

PAIN!!!

http://scnca.com/2012raceflyers/ECSR.pdf

[Biker395]

Damn. I really should do the Challenge. Maybe next year!

[Sierra Lady]

^ SG will be assisting BARC (Bishop Amateur Radio Club) members with communications at two of the aid stations. Saturday he'll be at the Paradise Fire Station and Sunday he'll be at Shulman Grove in the Whites.

It sounds like a grueling ride!

[Biker395]

^ Worse than that ... it's actually sanctioned race.

I'm more than capable of doing all those climbs ... even one day after the other. Bur racing up them? Oy.

[M2M]

^ Worse than that ... it's actually sanctioned race.

I'm more than capable of doing all those climbs ... even one day after the other. Bur racing up them? Oy.

your " slow" is wayyy faster then most of us by the way

[windyscotty]

I passed by the Everest Challenge riders this morning as they were coming back down Bishop Creek. They get some high speeds on that road.

Seems to me that it is so popular now with so many riders that they should close the highway for a few hours during the race. It really is too dangerous with those speeds and the blind turns.

[MountainNut]

There's the Everest Challenge and then there's the 100km timed-feat, 'The 100-at-100 Challenge'.

100 years old riding over 100 kilometers! In 4 hrs and change (4:17:27)! At a 14.3 mph average speed. Guess he kinda kept his weight way down for these type of events - with his massive 5' tall, 112 pound frame. A giant among centenarians (or is that centurions?).

Robert Marchand sets a new record for his (somewhat rare) age group.

Plus he set another age-group record recently in Switzerland, riding over 24km in an hour-long event.

Amazing guy. Obviously took good care of himself throughout, andf kept highly-active well into his later years.

Much of it just (consistently) riding a damn bicycle for many years (from 1978 on).

Most of us won't even live this long, let alone pedal that fast in our later years..


http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/09/news/robert-marchand-sets-new-100-kilometer-speed-record_240211

Joie de vivre! ... Viva la France!

[MountainNut]

Just out of curiosity, how many flat tires (no, NOT FAT TIRE ales) do you guys average in a week or a month? Seems to be alot of glass and "goatheads" (barbed burrs) on the road as of late. Like 50% more than last Spring.

Possibly thinking about going back to mt-biking (for the Winter) cuz of all the insane flats..

Tires: Gatorskins or Armadillos?