Cycling

[Wimbo]

I am an amature cyclist, both road and mountain biking... meaning, I am not paid to race, but I spend a lot of my time riding in group rides, training for charity events, weaving through the woods on single track, etc. I also spend a lot of money fueling my hobby. So, I am somewhere North of the guy with a bike in his garage that goes riding with his kid on Saturday, and somewhere way, way south of the Tour de France.

Any other cyclist out there? What/where do you ride (road or mountain)?

Also, to the non cycling guys & girls out there: Why do you get so mad at people biking on the street? In the small group I ride with, we have had one guy intentionally hit by a car, a couple of water bottles thrown at people, and lots of yelling and honking - just in the last 2 weeks. AND, there are women and kids as young as 12 who ride with the group. I can't understand it... when we ride, we always stay single file while hugging the edge of the road. What is it about people on bikes that brings out the worst behavior in motorist?

 

[YosemiteSam]

I am an amature cyclist, both road and mountain biking... meaning, I am not paid to race, but I spend a lot of my time riding in group rides, training for charity events, weaving through the woods on single track, etc. I also spend a lot of money fueling my hobby. So, I am somewhere North of the guy with a bike in his garage that goes riding with his kid on Saturday, and somewhere way, way south of the Tour de France.

Any other cyclist out there? What/where do you ride (road or mountain)?

Also, to the non cycling guys & girls out there: Why do you get so mad at people biking on the street? In the small group I ride with, we have had one guy intentionally hit by a car, a couple of water bottles thrown at people, and lots of yelling and honking - just in the last 2 weeks. AND, there are women and kids as young as 12 who ride with the group. I can't understand it... when we ride, we always stay single file while hugging the edge of the road. What is it about people on bikes that brings out the worst behavior in motorist?

A guy I work with is a cyclist by hobby. He rides with buddies at least once a week and races (or does support for a buddy racing) several times a year.

I don't hate groups of cyclist on the road. They actually give me quite a bit of enjoyment watching the group explode like bowling pins when I plow into them! :laugh2:

 

[Dallas]

My son and I are avid mountain bikers. We ride Gary Fisher mainly. I was on an 08 Piranah until this year. I liked the bike so much I went and purchased a new Superfly 100. This is probably the best line of bikes I have ridden. I love the full suspension the Superfly brings over my old hardtail.

We are mainly trail riders here in Alaska. Some of the best trails in the nation. The city also has a magnificent trail system for riders.


We don't ride in traffic. I understand drivers wanting to go the speed limit and bikers just not pulling weight in the 45mph zone and feel the need to slow everyone down because they have the right to be in the same lane. I understand that. It's funny because when you graciously get past the pack of riders, they look at you like your the idiot. Seriously not a fan of bikes in traffic. It's just asking for someone to get hurt.

Glad to see you enjoying cycling so much. It's a growing trend. Many of my friends are now avid riders.

We do a lot of winter riding here as well. We just switch to studs and tear it up even more.

 

[Idgit]

I used to MB, when I lived right on a trail head.

Now I'm in road biking country, though I don't get in the saddle very much anymore. I've got an old-school road bike. Kestrel, the first braided-carbon fiber frame. Full Campy Record-Ti. It's geared for racing, though, and I don't deserve it the way I huff up the hills these days here in NorCal.

 

[Wimbo]

They actually give me quite a bit of enjoyment watching the group explode like bowling pins when I plow into them! :laugh2:

Ya know... it's not the impact that bothers us so much, but the machine that grabs us by the helmet & sets us up again.

 

[Wimbo]

My son and I are avid mountain bikers. We ride Gary Fisher mainly. I was on an 08 Piranah until this year. I liked the bike so much I went and purchased a new Superfly 100. This is probably the best line of bikes I have ridden. I love the full suspension the Superfly brings over my old hardtail.

We are mainly trail riders here in Alaska. Some of the best trails in the nation. The city also has a magnificent trail system for riders.


We don't ride in traffic. I understand drivers wanting to go the speed limit and bikers just not pulling weight in the 45mph zone and feel the need to slow everyone down because they have the right to be in the same lane. I understand that. It's funny because when you graciously get past the pack of riders, they look at you like your the idiot. Seriously not a fan of bikes in traffic. It's just asking for someone to get hurt.

Glad to see you enjoying cycling so much. It's a growing trend. Many of my friends are now avid riders.

We do a lot of winter riding here as well. We just switch to studs and tear it up even more.

I almost bought a Gary Fisher MTB last year. However, my LBS had a demo Orbea Lanza hard tail that he was willing to part with cheap, so I bought that instead. The trails around here are less about jumps and drops & more about fast single track... so, hard tails prevail. On the road I ride a Felt AR5.

When a motorist passes me 'graciously', they generally get a quick wave as to say, "sorry, I know I am slower than you & I appreciate your patience." It is usually returned with a head shake as to say, "crazy idiot, get off the streets."

 

[Wimbo]

I used to MB, when I lived right on a trail head.

Now I'm in road biking country, though I don't get in the saddle very much anymore. I've got an old-school road bike. Kestrel, the first braided-carbon fiber frame. Full Campy Record-Ti. It's geared for racing, though, and I don't deserve it the way I huff up the hills these days here in NorCal.

Even the pro's huff it up the hills.

 

[Cythim]

I've started to ride a little and even commute to work (the entire 1 mile!) on my bike. I picked up an old steel Trek from the Community Cycling Center for $300 because I don't put near enough time in the saddle to warrant anything better. Portland does a great job of supporting cyclists.

 

[Wimbo]

I've started to ride a little and even commute to work (the entire 1 mile!) on my bike. I picked up an old steel Trek from the Community Cycling Center for $300 because I don't put near enough time in the saddle to warrant anything better. Portland does a great job of supporting cyclists.

Nice! Are you enjoying riding a bike, or is it just a means of transportation for you? For me, it was an instant flashback to being a kid again. I got hooked quickly, and a friend of mine suggested we set a goal of riding in the local MS-150 ride (a 150 mile ride over 2 days to raise money/awareness for the fight agains Multiple Sclerosis). That was 5 years and 4 MS-150's ago. Great sport.

 

[Idgit]

Even the pro's huff it up the hills.

Yeah. I see them huffing right past me like I"m standing still. European-looking guys who stand 6'4" and ride steel uphill faster than I can on a straightaway.

 

[Wimbo]

Yeah. I see them huffing right past me like I"m standing still. European-looking guys who stand 6'4" and ride steel uphill faster than I can on a straightaway.

They are doping. You can take them when they are off the juice.

 

[Cythim]

Nice! Are you enjoying riding a bike, or is it just a means of transportation for you? For me, it was an instant flashback to being a kid again. I got hooked quickly, and a friend of mine suggested we set a goal of riding in the local MS-150 ride (a 150 mile ride over 2 days to raise money/awareness for the fight agains Multiple Sclerosis). That was 5 years and 4 MS-150's ago. Great sport.

I really enjoy riding, I just don't have the time to ride as much as I would like. I've always been a runner first so the bike is there for my cross training session and transportation.

 

[HoleInTheRoof]

I've been looking for an alternative to running for a while, and toyed with the idea of taking up cycling.

I went to a picnic with some friends and our kids yesterday, and afterwards went on the bike trail. I borrowed one of the guys bikes - don't know what kind it was or anything. I had a blast. Absolutely loved it.

This is something I plan to be involved in full-bore come spring.

 

[Meat-O-Rama]

I don't honk at or throw things at or otherwise harass people on bikes, but I do have an issue with them in general. They want motorists to respect THEIR right of way, but have no respect for MOTORISTS right of way. Mainly, riding down the middle of the road and going straight through stop signs and expecting that everyone in a car should just stop and wave while they ride through.

 

[kramskoi]

I am an amature cyclist, both road and mountain biking... meaning, I am not paid to race, but I spend a lot of my time riding in group rides, training for charity events, weaving through the woods on single track, etc. I also spend a lot of money fueling my hobby. So, I am somewhere North of the guy with a bike in his garage that goes riding with his kid on Saturday, and somewhere way, way south of the Tour de France.

Any other cyclist out there? What/where do you ride (road or mountain)?

Also, to the non cycling guys & girls out there: Why do you get so mad at people biking on the street? In the small group I ride with, we have had one guy intentionally hit by a car, a couple of water bottles thrown at people, and lots of yelling and honking - just in the last 2 weeks. AND, there are women and kids as young as 12 who ride with the group. I can't understand it... when we ride, we always stay single file while hugging the edge of the road. What is it about people on bikes that brings out the worst behavior in motorist?

...road...time trials and hilly road races, as i'm about 68kg [150lbs]...train year 'round 7-9 hrs a week...

...three feet law was passed here in Louisiana and it was long overdue...now the penalties are more severe for motorists who don't allow ample room for cyclists on roadways...best thing really...

...to be fair, there are some cyclists who are less than gracious...usually an escalation ensues between the cyclist and the motorist...an escalation that does'nt bode well for the former...it is at that point where the situation turns ugly and sometimes deadly...

 

[Cythim]

I don't honk at or throw things at or otherwise harass people on bikes, but I do have an issue with them in general. They want motorists to respect THEIR right of way, but have no respect for MOTORISTS right of way. Mainly, riding down the middle of the road and going straight through stop signs and expecting that everyone in a car should just stop and wave while they ride through.

Most cyclists do not ride that way. There will always be a few that do, but there will always be more stupid drivers on the road than stupid cyclists.

 

[Dallas]

Most cyclists do not ride that way. There will always be a few that do, but there will always be more stupid drivers on the road than stupid cyclists.

I ride and I drive. I could debate this "theory" all day. You don't ride in downtown Anchorage.

I ride it and I drive it. It's not even close.

I have had more issues w/ bikers blowing red lights and disobeying the rules of the road than drivers in my downtown area.

Bikers just assume everyone is looking out for them so they skirt the rules of the road.

 

[Cythim]

I ride and I drive. I could debate this "theory" all day. You don't ride in downtown Anchorage.

I ride it and I drive it. It's not even close.

I have had more issues w/ bikers blowing red lights and disobeying the rules of the road than drivers in my downtown area.

Bikers just assume everyone is looking out for them so they skirt the rules of the road.

Your anecdotal evidence is poor. A spot check estimation from a town that likely has poor cyclist education and safety is hardly an argument against the facts.

 

[Wimbo]

Bikers just assume everyone is looking out for them so they skirt the rules of the road.

No one I ride with is like that. We assume you can't see us. As one of my friends frequently reminds us... "When you are on the road on two wheels, you are invisible."

Check out this video: http://www.dothetest.co.uk/basketball.html

 

[Dallas]

Your anecdotal evidence is poor. A spot check estimation from a town that likely has poor cyclist education and safety is hardly an argument against the facts.

Anecdotal evidence......spot check estimation..


:laugh2: Really?


Yeah its all because Anchorage just has poor cyclist and lack of biker safety.


OooOO-K !!


What facts are you supporting anywhere in this thread?


The facts I said bikers here ride like idiots? Those facts?