First trip into the heart of the city!

I'm off to the main part of the city for my first ride ever in serious
traffic, and clipless, even. Boo-Haw!

There's no more technical, more "high attention" area in the city than this
route near the campus hospital, with the possible exception to a main
thoroughfare near the major shopping centers. IOW, if I can ride this, I
can ride anywhere in the city.

Pretty sure I've done my homework.

Getting geared up to go do business in town takes longer than the
prototypical bride on her wedding day! LOL!

Shoe, check;
Eyeglass mirror, check;
(klomp/thump, klomp/thump) oops,
-other- shoe, check. ;-)

Jersey with zipper back pocket,
License and money and checkbook (going to the bank too);
Checks actually -in- the checkbook, check;
Biking gloves, check; housekeys, check.

ahnold
====I'll Be Back=====
/ahnold

What a great ride!.

The clipless helped immensely the first two hills. I remember thinking,
'this is nothing!'. Then I had the energy to sprint the next hill and make
it through the light at the end of the pack and before any new pack. Wow,
who is this guy who rode 3 miles a day for the first 3 months only a year
ago.

This kind of all uphill ride into the heart of the town is where you need
excess ability over the demands of the ride so you can always spin up and
sprint for the lights you can't sneak up on. I remember thinking I was
using all my savvy, all my training, all my ability, and more was left.
IOW, the base I built in the last year, I could literally -feel- the
reserves.

Nary one clip in/out problem, except I seemed to be zoning out coming up to
the very first stop sign. The emergency console was flashing, Capt'n, but
Scotty was takin' a wee nap! ;-)

I took the bike into the banks. On the way I met a guy with a very clean
looking Bianchi. He didn't seem to know about the Bianchi history, so we
talked about checking the website and the legends about the color. Fun. My
first 'bike chat'.

Despite the 'challenge', it was 'nothing but net'. I hit the sweet spot on
this one ladies and gents. ;-D

What a great day for a ride.

-B
It's a little sad to have this milestone pass. It's pretty cool to have
that sense of anticipation, the 'can I do it?' and you're not really sure.

"Badger_South" wrote in message
...
I'm off to the main part of the city for my first ride ever in serious
traffic, and clipless, even. Boo-Haw!

There's no more technical, more "high attention" area in the city than
this
route near the campus hospital, with the possible exception to a main
thoroughfare near the major shopping centers. IOW, if I can ride this, I
can ride anywhere in the city.

Pretty sure I've done my homework.

Getting geared up to go do business in town takes longer than the
prototypical bride on her wedding day! LOL!

Shoe, check;
Eyeglass mirror, check;
(klomp/thump, klomp/thump) oops,
-other- shoe, check. ;-)

Jersey with zipper back pocket,
License and money and checkbook (going to the bank too);
Checks actually -in- the checkbook, check;
Biking gloves, check; housekeys, check.

ahnold
====I'll Be Back=====
/ahnold

What a great ride!.

The clipless helped immensely the first two hills. I remember thinking,
'this is nothing!'. Then I had the energy to sprint the next hill and make
it through the light at the end of the pack and before any new pack. Wow,
who is this guy who rode 3 miles a day for the first 3 months only a year
ago.

This kind of all uphill ride into the heart of the town is where you need
excess ability over the demands of the ride so you can always spin up and
sprint for the lights you can't sneak up on. I remember thinking I was
using all my savvy, all my training, all my ability, and more was left.
IOW, the base I built in the last year, I could literally -feel- the
reserves.

Nary one clip in/out problem, except I seemed to be zoning out coming up
to
the very first stop sign. The emergency console was flashing, Capt'n, but
Scotty was takin' a wee nap! ;-)

I took the bike into the banks. On the way I met a guy with a very clean
looking Bianchi. He didn't seem to know about the Bianchi history, so we
talked about checking the website and the legends about the color. Fun. My
first 'bike chat'.

Despite the 'challenge', it was 'nothing but net'. I hit the sweet spot on
this one ladies and gents. ;-D

What a great day for a ride.

-B
It's a little sad to have this milestone pass. It's pretty cool to have
that sense of anticipation, the 'can I do it?' and you're not really sure.


Congratulations on passing another biking milestone!

I'm not one to ride the roads too much. I had to ride downtown (Dayton, OH)
as part of my training program for the parks and I'm not sure I would want
to do it on a regular basis. Those bus and car emissions are terrible -
give me a country road or trail anytimeg

Beverly

Badger_South wrote:

I'm off to the main part of the city for my first ride ever in serious
SNIP
-B
It's a little sad to have this milestone pass. It's pretty cool to have
that sense of anticipation, the 'can I do it?' and you're not really sure.



congrats on getting your first city ride ! this adds to your confidence
for sure.

my first ride to the City - San Francisco - way too many lights every
block there are lights. i was not used to stopping and waiting at so
many such signals . I saw couple of bikers pass me and jump red-lights
(when there is no cross traffic) - but i couldn't convince myself to do
so. I can understand how bikers living right in the middle of the city
feel, so it is somewhat justified. And in downtowns, the traffic lights
remain red longer too

anyways, you did it !! there are more milestones to come - many more
'can I do it?'s waiting for u.

+ravi

Badger_South wrote:
:: I'm off to the main part of the city for my first ride ever in
:: serious traffic, and clipless, even. Boo-Haw!

Good stuff, man!

::
:: There's no more technical, more "high attention" area in the city
:: than this route near the campus hospital, with the possible
:: exception to a main thoroughfare near the major shopping centers.
:: IOW, if I can ride this, I can ride anywhere in the city.
::
:: Pretty sure I've done my homework.
::
:: Getting geared up to go do business in town takes longer than the
:: prototypical bride on her wedding day! LOL!
::
:: Shoe, check;
:: Eyeglass mirror, check;
:: (klomp/thump, klomp/thump) oops,
:: -other- shoe, check. ;-)
::
:: Jersey with zipper back pocket,
:: License and money and checkbook (going to the bank too);
:: Checks actually -in- the checkbook, check;
:: Biking gloves, check; housekeys, check.

Technical!

::
:: ahnold
:: ====I'll Be Back=====
:: /ahnold
::
:: What a great ride!.
::
:: The clipless helped immensely the first two hills. I remember
:: thinking, 'this is nothing!'. Then I had the energy to sprint the
:: next hill and make it through the light at the end of the pack and
:: before any new pack. Wow, who is this guy who rode 3 miles a day for
:: the first 3 months only a year ago.

Amazing. Scientific, even.

::
:: This kind of all uphill ride into the heart of the town is where you
:: need excess ability over the demands of the ride so you can always
:: spin up and sprint for the lights you can't sneak up on. I remember
:: thinking I was using all my savvy, all my training, all my ability,
:: and more was left. IOW, the base I built in the last year, I could
:: literally -feel- the reserves.

did you get that trainer yet? don't want to lose one bit of that base over
winter!

::
:: Nary one clip in/out problem, except I seemed to be zoning out
:: coming up to the very first stop sign. The emergency console was
:: flashing, Capt'n, but Scotty was takin' a wee nap! ;-)

I've done that zone out thing. That's a bit scary...

::
:: I took the bike into the banks. On the way I met a guy with a very
:: clean looking Bianchi. He didn't seem to know about the Bianchi
:: history, so we talked about checking the website and the legends
:: about the color. Fun. My first 'bike chat'.
::
:: Despite the 'challenge', it was 'nothing but net'. I hit the sweet
:: spot on this one ladies and gents. ;-D
::
:: What a great day for a ride.

Wonderful!

::
:: -B
:: It's a little sad to have this milestone pass. It's pretty cool to
:: have that sense of anticipation, the 'can I do it?' and you're not
:: really sure

Yeah, but not look at whatelse you can do without fear! It more than makes
up for it, imo.

Badger_South wrote:
I'm off to the main part of the city for my first ride ever in serious
traffic, and clipless, even. Boo-Haw!

That's nothing.

Today I was driving home from the gym, and passed this MORON
riding on a major collector with a 50-mph limit and no bike lane.

With a trailer with what looked like a 2-YEAR-OLD
in it trolling behind his mtb.

But hey, this ass-clown at least put one of those WHIPPY ORANGE FLAGS
on the trailer.

I suppose so they could more easily determine which wheel of
the inevitable Hummer his ****ing DAUGHTER was under.

--Blair
"Some people you want to just slap,
even if they're spinning 84 rpm."

Beverly wrote:
I'm not one to ride the roads too much. I had to ride downtown (Dayton, OH)
as part of my training program for the parks and I'm not sure I would want
to do it on a regular basis. Those bus and car emissions are terrible -
give me a country road or trail anytimeg

I grew up in DC.

You haven't wondered if you're really gonna enjoy being
alive until you've stood with one foot on a pedal and the
other on a curb while an accelerating Metrobus blasts diesel
soot across your entire body in 92F/100%RH conditions.

--Blair
"I'm starting to get it now."

"Blair P. Houghton" wrote in message
...
Beverly wrote:
I'm not one to ride the roads too much. I had to ride downtown (Dayton,
OH)
as part of my training program for the parks and I'm not sure I would
want
to do it on a regular basis. Those bus and car emissions are terrible -
give me a country road or trail anytimeg

I grew up in DC.

You haven't wondered if you're really gonna enjoy being
alive until you've stood with one foot on a pedal and the
other on a curb while an accelerating Metrobus blasts diesel
soot across your entire body in 92F/100%RH conditions.

--Blair
"I'm starting to get it now."

I know I could never ride in a large city. Dayton is a small town compared
to the DC area. I've driven there a few times and even that makes me
nervous! My last vacation there I stayed in a hotel just a few blocks from
the White House, parked the van and took cabs or some other public
transportation every where I wanted to go. Even driving the beltway around
the area is more than I care to do.

I hear DC has some nice trails and I've added them to my list of trails to
ride. Have you rode any of them? I'm considering the Mount Vernon Trail,
Capital Cresent and a few others in the area.

Beverly

"Blair P. Houghton" wrote in message
...

Today I was driving home from the gym, and passed this MORON
riding on a major collector with a 50-mph limit and no bike lane.

Thankfully I've been drinking, so I won't tell you what a dip**** you are.

Cheto

-Ameca es Chetolandia-

Cheto wrote:
"Blair P. Houghton" wrote in message
...

Today I was driving home from the gym, and passed this MORON
riding on a major collector with a 50-mph limit and no bike lane.

Thankfully I've been drinking, so I won't tell you what a dip**** you
are.

Allow me.

Blair, you're a dip****.

Bill "stone cold sober" S.

"Blair P. Houghton" wrote in message
...
Badger_South wrote:
I'm off to the main part of the city for my first ride ever in serious
traffic, and clipless, even. Boo-Haw!

That's nothing.

Today I was driving home from the gym, and passed this MORON
riding on a major collector with a 50-mph limit and no bike lane.

With a trailer with what looked like a 2-YEAR-OLD
in it trolling behind his mtb.

But hey, this ass-clown at least put one of those WHIPPY ORANGE FLAGS
on the trailer.

I suppose so they could more easily determine which wheel of
the inevitable Hummer his ****ing DAUGHTER was under.

I have ridden many times in urban traffic (Boston) pulling my daughter with
a trailer-bike. It's no big deal. I taught my (then) 12 year old son urban
cycling by riding cross-town in rush hour traffic in several lessons. One
of the most important things to teach is the specific kinds of danger
presented by bike lanes and paths. I actually have 2 of those silly orange
flags, I've never actually used either one.

My wife commutes to work daily by bike, my son to school. During the
summer, my son commutes downtown every day to a sailing center. I wouldn't
allow them to do those things if I though it was dangerous, it isn't, if
done correctly.