Recent fatal crash at UCLA

no brakes ? incroyable

hadn't run into this phenomena for 3 years 'out west' where buffalo roam n there's no guardrails...

lookingover the mouth of Tampa Bay for dolphin research I drove into the old beach road thru a sharp model T S and...

LO ! 2 fat women doing Mike The Bike on rental scooters taking a line thru my lane....


first of many...

Thanksgiving roadkill

I'll take a dollar for every church goer I know whose smoking dope and screwing their children....


giving away your slaves is like allowing the state to take your forest after yawl cut down the trees for lumber.....


electioneering isnot tobe confused with contemporary morals and ethics.


-steel frame owner

I heard Arabs are setting fire to Michelin tires on your street thus afternoon

On 14 Sep, 08:17, Lou Holtman wrote:
Op 14-9-2012 7:55, Dan O schreef:









On Sep 13, 10:40 pm, "Tom $herman (-_-)" ""twshermanREMOVE\"@THI
$southslope.net" wrote:
On 9/13/2012 11:50 PM, Dan O wrote: On Sep 13, 8:02 pm, Frank Krygowski
wrote:
James wrote:
[...]
Gloves to spread the load on your hands, wipe your nose,

...ewww... *Put a handkerchief or tissue in your pocket or handlebar bag!

**** you!

Odd place for this comment.

Well, he seemed to be expressing disgust, implying that I am
inherently repulsive. *I don't mind snot on my thumb wipes. *And can
you imagine? *Need to wipe my upper lip, so I open my handlebar bag or
reach in my pocket, wipe and fold and restore? *How does this guy ride
anyway? *Sounds like atweed ride. *"Quite right. *Jolly good. *One
moment whilst I fetch my hair comb." *Or... simply wipe on the back of
my hand like every kid does naturally but using the absorbent
terrycloth thumb patch that's *for that purpose* and keep riding.
(*After* clearing my nostrils with a Farmers blow, only needing to
wipe residual drip. *And there's a lot of snot production when riding
hard and well hydrated. *it's not gross. *The continuous production
keeps it clean. *Jeez, how prissy can you get?)

Exactly. All other than disposables, handkerchiefs are a filthy
invention. Disposables are not practical while riding and a constant
production. Farmers blow, as you call it, and wipe your nose with the
back of your gloves is the way to do it. I put my gloves in the washer
after each ride together with my other cycling clothes. It can't get
more hygienic like that. There are people who get offended by that so I
do it as discreet as possible.

So you'd rather collect and save your snot in your pocket or handlebar
bag? [...]

People even wipe the coffeecup marks of their desk with the same
hankerchief. Disguisting.

Lou

I had a cup of coffee this morning, helps clear out the lower
passages, IYKWIM. It can be disgusting, but better out than in.

On Sep 12, 9:14*pm, Frank Krygowski
wrote:
Sir Ridesalot wrote:
On Wednesday, September 12, 2012 6:52:15 PM UTC-4, Dan O wrote:
On Wednesday, September 12, 2012 3:07:34 PM UTC-7, James wrote:

On 13/09/12 02:30, Frank Krygowski wrote:

Some aspects of the current "sport cyclist" garb are functional. For

example, most people who try lycra shorts feel improved comfort,

certainly over (say) riding in cutoff blue jeans. And wearing some kind

of cycling glove usually helps for long rides.

It shocked me that you would acknowledge that.

Not just shorts (and "improved comfort" is seriously soft pedaling the benefit, IMO) and gloves, but jerseys and arm and knee and leg warmers (sweet modular dynamically adjustable heat regulation), and glasses and... don't even get me started on SPD.

These things and more are like night and day to my bicycling experience.

(And I kind of like the Cat in the Hat jersey, myself.)

Interestingly enough I just read a number of articles over on the Rivendell site and it seems that Grant doesn't like clipless pedals, bicycling specific shoes, synthetic bicycling clothes, helmets, aluminium alloy or carbon fibre frames, integrsted brake/sjfting levers, 9 or 10 or 11 speed gear clusters or tires less than 30 mm. He only builds steel lugged framesets.

I guess there are a lot of other people who, like Frank, prefer equipment of a mid 1980's or earlier flair to it.

I don't think it's about a particular "flair." *Rather, it's about a
particular view of what's most practical.

I recently read Grant Petersen's book _Just Ride_. *In it, he explains
his view that most of the high-zoot bike gear is developed for racers,
but that most riders are not best served by a lot of that gear. *He says
most riders are "unracers." *They'd do better with stuff that's less
specialized, less razor's edge. *I've thought the same thing for a long
time.

"For the most part, noncompetitive, recreational riders wear the same
clothes, pedal in the same shoes, ride the same bikes as racers do.
Most rides are training rides, and we're always trying to improve our
times...

"Overall, the message in this book is to jettison the influences of
racing that make your bike riding less than fantastic. _Don't_ suffer in
the name of speed, imagined glory, or Internet admiration; _don't_ ride
bikes that don't make sense for you; _don't_ wear ridiculous outfits
just to ride your bike..."

He gives about 200 pages of details, in a cheery, easy-reading style. I
like his writing, and I agree with almost all of it, even though my
favorite bike is aluminum instead of lugged steel.

It does help that others share Peterson's words, which saves time. I
mean, compared to reading 200 pages of cheery crap.

Wrong on the "same bikes, same gear"; there's a large "middle market"
for all thinks bike-- Dura Ace, yes, but then there's 105, Sora... you
know that, Frank. Why the bull****?

What's "ridiculous" about lycra riding shorts, or a jersey meant for
bike riding-- comfortable cut, pockets in the back, material that
helps keep the rider cool in hot weather (the major concern here in
Texas)?

Not to mention "increased visibility" compared to ordinary street
clothing, of course.

Club jerseys tend to have advertising on them-- in many cases, these
are local people with businesses and this club sponsorship may
increase "bottom line", but may also be a benevolent contribution
toward a favorite sport, all done on an organic, local level.

Frank sees "problems", which I'll let him enumerate if he wants.
--D-y

On Sep 12, 9:36*pm, Frank Krygowski
wrote:

Down, boy.

And then he calls me "boy".

*James and I were talking specifically about helmets. *As I
said, if professional regulations require you to race in a helmet, it
makes economic sense to train in a helmet. *You don't want to suddenly
find out in a $5000 sprint that your hat drains sweat into your eyes
when you tilt your head down.

Applies another layer. Sputter, sputter, spit spit spit.

That applies a lot less to your Austin heroes whose sprint prize might
be a water bottle. *They don't have that same economic incentive to wear
a garish hat.

MOS

Now, being subjected to the propaganda we all know so well, I imagine
most of them would tell vivid tales of how dangerous their riding is,
and their friend whose life was saved, how they wouldn't dare ride
without it, yada yada. *(As if serious head injuries used to be the norm.)

But at the same time, I'll bet few if any of them wear a helmet that's
easily identified as being out of style. *And I'll bet few _would_ wear
such a hat, even if a pristine new-old-stock top-of-the-line one were
handed to them for free.

That's more for your shrink to help you with, Frank. Turn the music
off for a minute, if you can-- that roar in your ears, I mean.

Why the endless pejoratives when talking about "racers"? Come on, you
can do it!
--D-y

On 09/14/2012 11:10 AM, wrote:
On Sep 12, 9:14 pm, Frank Krygowski
wrote:
Sir Ridesalot wrote:
On Wednesday, September 12, 2012 6:52:15 PM UTC-4, Dan O wrote:
On Wednesday, September 12, 2012 3:07:34 PM UTC-7, James wrote:

On 13/09/12 02:30, Frank Krygowski wrote:

Some aspects of the current "sport cyclist" garb are functional. For

example, most people who try lycra shorts feel improved comfort,

certainly over (say) riding in cutoff blue jeans. And wearing some kind

of cycling glove usually helps for long rides.

It shocked me that you would acknowledge that.

Not just shorts (and "improved comfort" is seriously soft pedaling the benefit, IMO) and gloves, but jerseys and arm and knee and leg warmers (sweet modular dynamically adjustable heat regulation), and glasses and... don't even get me started on SPD.

These things and more are like night and day to my bicycling experience.

(And I kind of like the Cat in the Hat jersey, myself.)

Interestingly enough I just read a number of articles over on the Rivendell site and it seems that Grant doesn't like clipless pedals, bicycling specific shoes, synthetic bicycling clothes, helmets, aluminium alloy or carbon fibre frames, integrsted brake/sjfting levers, 9 or 10 or 11 speed gear clusters or tires less than 30 mm. He only builds steel lugged framesets.

I guess there are a lot of other people who, like Frank, prefer equipment of a mid 1980's or earlier flair to it.

I don't think it's about a particular "flair." Rather, it's about a
particular view of what's most practical.

I recently read Grant Petersen's book _Just Ride_. In it, he explains
his view that most of the high-zoot bike gear is developed for racers,
but that most riders are not best served by a lot of that gear. He says
most riders are "unracers." They'd do better with stuff that's less
specialized, less razor's edge. I've thought the same thing for a long
time.

"For the most part, noncompetitive, recreational riders wear the same
clothes, pedal in the same shoes, ride the same bikes as racers do.
Most rides are training rides, and we're always trying to improve our
times...

"Overall, the message in this book is to jettison the influences of
racing that make your bike riding less than fantastic. _Don't_ suffer in
the name of speed, imagined glory, or Internet admiration; _don't_ ride
bikes that don't make sense for you; _don't_ wear ridiculous outfits
just to ride your bike..."

He gives about 200 pages of details, in a cheery, easy-reading style. I
like his writing, and I agree with almost all of it, even though my
favorite bike is aluminum instead of lugged steel.

It does help that others share Peterson's words, which saves time. I
mean, compared to reading 200 pages of cheery crap.

Wrong on the "same bikes, same gear"; there's a large "middle market"
for all thinks bike-- Dura Ace, yes, but then there's 105, Sora... you
know that, Frank. Why the bull****?

What's "ridiculous" about lycra riding shorts, or a jersey meant for
bike riding-- comfortable cut, pockets in the back, material that
helps keep the rider cool in hot weather (the major concern here in
Texas)?

Not to mention "increased visibility" compared to ordinary street
clothing, of course.

Club jerseys tend to have advertising on them-- in many cases, these
are local people with businesses and this club sponsorship may
increase "bottom line", but may also be a benevolent contribution
toward a favorite sport, all done on an organic, local level.

Frank sees "problems", which I'll let him enumerate if he wants.


Personally I have a problem understanding what these guys mean by
recreational riders. Now we have "non-competitive recreational riders."
And what's wrong with competitive riding on the amateur level?

Op 14-9-2012 17:10, schreef:
On Sep 12, 9:14 pm, Frank Krygowski
wrote:
Sir Ridesalot wrote:
On Wednesday, September 12, 2012 6:52:15 PM UTC-4, Dan O wrote:
On Wednesday, September 12, 2012 3:07:34 PM UTC-7, James wrote:

On 13/09/12 02:30, Frank Krygowski wrote:

Some aspects of the current "sport cyclist" garb are functional. For

example, most people who try lycra shorts feel improved comfort,

certainly over (say) riding in cutoff blue jeans. And wearing some kind

of cycling glove usually helps for long rides.

It shocked me that you would acknowledge that.

Not just shorts (and "improved comfort" is seriously soft pedaling the benefit, IMO) and gloves, but jerseys and arm and knee and leg warmers (sweet modular dynamically adjustable heat regulation), and glasses and... don't even get me started on SPD.

These things and more are like night and day to my bicycling experience.

(And I kind of like the Cat in the Hat jersey, myself.)

Interestingly enough I just read a number of articles over on the Rivendell site and it seems that Grant doesn't like clipless pedals, bicycling specific shoes, synthetic bicycling clothes, helmets, aluminium alloy or carbon fibre frames, integrsted brake/sjfting levers, 9 or 10 or 11 speed gear clusters or tires less than 30 mm. He only builds steel lugged framesets.

I guess there are a lot of other people who, like Frank, prefer equipment of a mid 1980's or earlier flair to it.

I don't think it's about a particular "flair." Rather, it's about a
particular view of what's most practical.

I recently read Grant Petersen's book _Just Ride_. In it, he explains
his view that most of the high-zoot bike gear is developed for racers,
but that most riders are not best served by a lot of that gear. He says
most riders are "unracers." They'd do better with stuff that's less
specialized, less razor's edge. I've thought the same thing for a long
time.

"For the most part, noncompetitive, recreational riders wear the same
clothes, pedal in the same shoes, ride the same bikes as racers do.
Most rides are training rides, and we're always trying to improve our
times...

"Overall, the message in this book is to jettison the influences of
racing that make your bike riding less than fantastic. _Don't_ suffer in
the name of speed, imagined glory, or Internet admiration; _don't_ ride
bikes that don't make sense for you; _don't_ wear ridiculous outfits
just to ride your bike..."

He gives about 200 pages of details, in a cheery, easy-reading style. I
like his writing, and I agree with almost all of it, even though my
favorite bike is aluminum instead of lugged steel.

It does help that others share Peterson's words, which saves time. I
mean, compared to reading 200 pages of cheery crap.

Wrong on the "same bikes, same gear"; there's a large "middle market"
for all thinks bike-- Dura Ace, yes, but then there's 105, Sora... you
know that, Frank. Why the bull****?

What's "ridiculous" about lycra riding shorts, or a jersey meant for
bike riding-- comfortable cut, pockets in the back, material that
helps keep the rider cool in hot weather (the major concern here in
Texas)?

Not to mention "increased visibility" compared to ordinary street
clothing, of course.

Club jerseys tend to have advertising on them-- in many cases, these
are local people with businesses and this club sponsorship may
increase "bottom line", but may also be a benevolent contribution
toward a favorite sport, all done on an organic, local level.

Frank sees "problems", which I'll let him enumerate if he wants.
--D-y



Frank's choices makes sense for his kind of riding I guess. That is OK.
At the same time he is narrow minded and judgemental about other peoples
choices and preferences. That is the problem with Frank. I invited Frank
to post some pictures from a typical ride he does; equipment, people and
scenery so we can put the right 'label' on him and his riding buddies,
like he is doing all the time.
Does it matter what picture or text is on a cycling jersey? Hell I ride
in shirts with advertising on them. I got them for free and they are a
nice fit and from nice material.

Rivendell? You gotta be kidding. There is the same marketing BS on their
website as on any other. 'only steel- always lugged- ever since 1994'
geezzzz what a bunch of snobs.

Lou

On Friday, September 14, 2012 5:15:50 AM UTC-7, Duane wrote:
On 09/14/2012 12:58 AM, Dan O wrote:



snip



I had to come back to the arm and leg warmers, because you have really

missed the boat here. They are great for leaving the house before

sunup when it's chilly, but can be adjusted as my body warms up from

riding, and adjusted more or even taken off when the sun comes up.

This is a realistic scenario for me much of the year. The arm and

knee and leg warmers are fantastic. My favorites are wool, which is

great stuff (though i'm not sure it's sutiable for your stylin' around

and making a impression after you've gotten off the bike... and combed

your hair, of course - a comb being one of your "essentials", IIRC).







Going to be around 5C Sunday morning when I leave my house and 25C when

I'm coming down off the hill. Arm warmers will be useful. Or I could

choose the sensible tweed smoking jacket and fold it into my ruck sack

when things get a bit sticky out.



The toe warmers will be useful as well. My road shoes are well vented

to be comfortable when it's warm but tend to get nippy in this weather.

Headed out this morning about ~50° F - Nashbar Shorts, Duofold synthetic T-shirt, Nashbar jersey, DeFeet wool "Kneekers" (I guess Frank will just have to google that), DeFeet wool arm warmers, Nashbar crochet back gloves, Shimano SPD sandals, Vetta helmet, Bolle Anaconda glasses, Pedro's messenger bag.

About 5 miles up-and-down hill, then a few more miles of ~flatter road, and into the first small town. Still dark, so ambient temp actually still cooling off, but I have warmed up to the point where I tug on the upper arms a bit to pull the arm warmers down not quite out of the T and jersey short sleeves. Immediate cooling on armpits and biceps. Still a little stuffy, unzip jersey a few inches. Immediate increase in ventilation around neck and flowing into armpits. Just right.

Ride on to and through the next small town. Not yet sunup but getting light (switch headlight to flashing mode). Here comes the climbing again. Pull arm warmers down so a little upper arm skin is exposed between them and my sleeves.

Climbing with intervening almost flat stretches - pull arm warmers down below elbows.

Nearly done climbing, stop at county park for pit stop. (Frank mentions stopping for fifteen minutes to change is no big deal, but what are the chances you'll need to at the same time as your pit stop. So that may now be *two* stops... or more. Can turn a commute into quite the outing, no?) Sun is up now. Take a break for a few minutes with helmet and glasses and messenger bag off. Reload and head out.

Over the top, getting patches of direct early sun, push arm warmers all the way down to wrist area. (Could adjust "kneekers", too, but am comfortable as-is; they are well vented with meshy weave in the back.) Descend into city.

I could do this ride in ordinary clothes - used to do just that, in fact. Man it sucjked! (But I didn't even know!) Bike-specific clothing is *the* single most dramatic improvement to my bicycling experience. (The other is learning to put and keep my bikes in optimum running condition - so thanks again to r.b.t.)

One of the advantages to bike specific clothing is heat regulation, and one item of clothing does not affect *only* the body part that it covers. The entire body's heat regulation is affected. A good core of non-chafing, non-binding, insulating but breathable and wicking and quick drying, then the modular bits (I carry at least two different pair of gloves year around - three in winter). Sure I can make it in ordinary street or work clothes - none of the above is "essential"... well, wait a sec' - yes - yes that stuff is almost all essential to me - not absolutely "necessary", but yes it is essential to my experience. Comfort is entirely relative and often elusive, and it's not just about feeling good; comfort also enables performance. Unless casually toodling a short distance, ordinary clothes just don't cut it - not even anywhere *near*.

Plus, I always arrive with my regular clothes in fresh out of the dresser condition.

On Friday, September 14, 2012 8:52:44 AM UTC-7, Dan O wrote:
On Friday, September 14, 2012 5:15:50 AM UTC-7, Duane wrote:

On 09/14/2012 12:58 AM, Dan O wrote:







snip







I had to come back to the arm and leg warmers, because you have really



missed the boat here. They are great for leaving the house before



sunup when it's chilly, but can be adjusted as my body warms up from



riding, and adjusted more or even taken off when the sun comes up.



This is a realistic scenario for me much of the year. The arm and



knee and leg warmers are fantastic. My favorites are wool, which is



great stuff (though i'm not sure it's sutiable for your stylin' around



and making a impression after you've gotten off the bike... and combed



your hair, of course - a comb being one of your "essentials", IIRC).















Going to be around 5C Sunday morning when I leave my house and 25C when



I'm coming down off the hill. Arm warmers will be useful. Or I could



choose the sensible tweed smoking jacket and fold it into my ruck sack



when things get a bit sticky out.







The toe warmers will be useful as well. My road shoes are well vented



to be comfortable when it's warm but tend to get nippy in this weather.



Headed out this morning about ~50° F...

Oh, yeah - it's going to be 80-some° F on the way home this afternoon (90° yesterday) - not bad, but it will be nice to stow the arm and leg warmers and base T with my work clothes and be in shorts, jersey, and sandals. Very nice. And *really* nice compared to trying to do it in my work clothes.