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Stumpy

Road Cyclists - again

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I picked up this beauty last week, but I've yet to truly break it in on any trails as of yet.
Kevin - Sonic Beef #5 - OrFun #28
"I never take myself too seriously, 'cuz everybody know fat birds don't fly." - FLC
Online communities: proof that people never mature much past high school.

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Questions:

1. You're riding. There's a sidewalk or bike path off of and to the side of the road. Why do you guys still ride in the street?

2. So you're riding the streets. There's miles of street in your residential neghborhood. Why do you guys choose to ride in heavy- traffic streets choking on exhaust fumes?

I don't get it.
My reality and yours are quite different.
I think we're all Bozos on this bus.
Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239

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Questions:

1. You're riding. There's a sidewalk or bike path off of and to the side of the road. Why do you guys still ride in the street?


Because the sideWALK is no place for bikes. In fact, its illegal. If there is a bike path on the same road. I know me and all my ride budies will ride it. If its a detour to get on the path, then I'll stick with the direct route. Do you take a detour to avoid roads with bike paths?

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2. So you're riding the streets. There's miles of street in your residential neghborhood. Why do you guys choose to ride in heavy- traffic streets choking on exhaust fumes?


Because its as much my road as yours.

Residential roads usually dont have bike lanes, have tons of hidden driveways, and are riddled with stop signs. Plus, Its hard to do an 80 miles ride in your 2 mile square neibourhood.

And if more of you drivers would ride instead, the roads would be less clogged, and have less exhaust fumes.;)



Back to the main topic.... While I'm in school, I'm not upgrading, but I've been eyueing this guy now. The price for a full dura ace bike is just unreal... Any of you Colorado riders seen them around?http://www.coloradocyclist.com/product/kit/DXXAAZ9R
Remster

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I got a 2007 version of this bike about a month and a half ago...

I'm not sure how many miles I've actually put on it... (probably a bit over 100 miles riding it to/from work plus a couple of other rides)

I also got a hold of a cadence meter and mounting bracket for my Garmin 305 part of my really wants an Edge 705 for it though... :$B|

Livin' on the Edge... sleeping with my rigger's wife...

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Questions:
1. You're riding. There's a sidewalk or bike path off of and to the side of the road. Why do you guys still ride in the street?


If you are riding just because you are too lazy to walk, yes the sidewalk is a viable option. But if you are riding to get a workout, it is not. Trying riding on a sidewalk at speeds over 12 mph and you will understand. My usual course is 30 miles, with 2000 feet of climbing. My average speed is 14mph with top speeds on the downhills occasionally hitting 50mph. Try that on a sidewalk.
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2. So you're riding the streets. There's miles of street in your residential neighborhood. Why do you guys choose to ride in heavy- traffic streets choking on exhaust fumes?

I don't get it.


Why go all the way up to 12,500 when you could just do hop-n-pops from 2000? Does the word "boredom" ring a bell? I suppose I could just pave a circular sidewalk in my back yard and spin around that for 3 hours at a time.
"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.

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I also got a hold of a cadence meter and mounting bracket for my Garmin 305 part of my really wants an Edge 705 for it though... :$B|



You bastard!!!>:( Now why did you have to tell me about that?[:/]
And here I was happy with my 305, not knowing the 705 existed.[:/]
"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.

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I also got a hold of a cadence meter and mounting bracket for my Garmin 305 part of my really wants an Edge 705 for it though... :$B|



You bastard!!!>:( Now why did you have to tell me about that?[:/]
And here I was happy with my 305, not knowing the 705 existed.[:/]
It doesn't actually exist yet... it should be out soon though... (btw: I'm using my forunner 305 on my bike... not an edge 305...)
Livin' on the Edge... sleeping with my rigger's wife...

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1. You're riding. There's a sidewalk or bike path off of and to the side of the road. Why do you guys still ride in the street?



Sidewalk? Nonsense, that's no place for a bike

Bike Path? I agree, please stay off the road then

(I used to be a hard core long distance bicyclist - and I am an advocate for bike use. I understand why we ride where we do. Yet, it does bug me to see bikes on the road where there are good paths alongside)

It also bugs me when we ride on the road and it's perfectly legit to do so, and cars won't make a complete lane change when passing. That's worse than anything the bicyclist can do.

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

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I think it's just a simple matter of us all showing consideration for eachother. I've been a cyclist and a motorist. When I'm a motorist, I always give the cyclists plenty of room. But I also get out of the way for the motorists when I'm cycling. I don't just stay right butt in the middle of the road because I can.

It's a two-way street (no pun intended).
Mrs. WaltAppel

All things work together for good to them that love God...Romans 8:28

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YOU SUCK!



Why thanks!!! :P
It was that or a pinarello ;)

Edited: That Douglas Matrix looks nice but i would test ride it first to check its not a noodle, and that it fits you. It will come from the same factory in taiwan as most of the other makes i would imagine. If it is nice and worth getting, then upgrade the wheels. Seems daft to get a nice light frame, DA groupset and have heavy easton training wheels on it!!
Never try to eat more than you can lift

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Questions:

1. You're riding. There's a sidewalk or bike path off of and to the side of the road. Why do you guys still ride in the street?

2. So you're riding the streets. There's miles of street in your residential neghborhood. Why do you guys choose to ride in heavy- traffic streets choking on exhaust fumes?

I don't get it.



1. I pay my road tax - i have as much right to the street as you do. Secondly, there are usually pedestrians walking in the bike path and i have no inclination to play slalom at 35km/h when i am out on a training ride.

2. This is New Zealand. There are about 3 people here ;)
Never try to eat more than you can lift

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1. I pay my road tax - i have as much right to the street as you do.



Not saying that you or anyone else here does this but. Is that the excuse for riding two or three abreast and refusing to return to single file when a car approaches from behind? Or for running stop signs because you know you can make it? Happens all the time around here, despite the fact that both are illegal in this state.

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Secondly, there are usually pedestrians walking in the bike path and i have no inclination to play slalom at 35km/h when i am out on a training ride.



Instead you ride in the street and let cars play slalom with you at 55+ mph.

Share the road goes both ways. If there's a bike path available, bicyclists should use it. If it's not suitable for their training purposes they should complain to whoever built/maintains it. If cyclists have to be on the street they should ride as far to the side as possible, single file.

In exchange, when cyclists are riding on a street that does not have a separate bike path I'll wait for oncoming traffic to go by before I pull all the way into the other lane to pass them, just as I do when passing a car.

Seems fair to me...

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If cyclists have to be on the street they should ride as far to the side as possible, ......
...... I pull all the way into the other lane to pass them, just as I do when passing a car.



these two concepts are in conflict for most drivers - you know that?

A cyclist that rides in the left wheel track is doing that as a defensive mechanism because - when they do drive near the edge - the 100's of drivers that pass them at 60 mph and barely miss them. It's not necessarily safe, but it does force a car to pass them like the legitimate road vehicle they are.

I'd say, in return, the cyclists need to drive like the legitimate road vehicle they are - stop when indicated, single file, keep up to minimum speeds, etc....

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

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1. I pay my road tax - i have as much right to the street as you do.



Not saying that you or anyone else here does this but. Is that the excuse for riding two or three abreast and refusing to return to single file when a car approaches from behind? Or for running stop signs because you know you can make it? Happens all the time around here, despite the fact that both are illegal in this state.

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Secondly, there are usually pedestrians walking in the bike path and i have no inclination to play slalom at 35km/h when i am out on a training ride.



Instead you ride in the street and let cars play slalom with you at 55+ mph.

Share the road goes both ways. If there's a bike path available, bicyclists should use it. If it's not suitable for their training purposes they should complain to whoever built/maintains it. If cyclists have to be on the street they should ride as far to the side as possible, single file.

In exchange, when cyclists are riding on a street that does not have a separate bike path I'll wait for oncoming traffic to go by before I pull all the way into the other lane to pass them, just as I do when passing a car.

Seems fair to me...


Then you would be in the minority. If you ride in the gutter as most drivers would prefer then

a) You pick up every piece of broken glass/ debris/ rocks going, and
b) drivers dont make any effort to go round, they just go past.

Here the police have recommended that we ride 2 abreast for our group rides as it has been shown to be safer. Cars have to slow down, then pull out and pass safely rather than just blowing past at 100.

I drive as well, it doesn't take long to pass considerately but sadly the cage mentality turns people into agressive idiots most of the time. Here's a hint, if i can easily tap on your roof, you are too close!

I do understand the frustration of watching cyclists jump stops and reds. I have been sat there on a red (as a cyclist) and another cyclist has blown past me. Its embarassing because they are not helping the perception. If i am riding on the road i try and obey the rules and i expect drivers to do the same.

Edited - i have to admit in my younger more foolhardy days i was a bike messenger. But i don't think traffic lights had been invented then. Or one way streets. Or sidewalks... :P
Never try to eat more than you can lift

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Then you would be in the minority.



Not around here. I live in a VERY bike friendly community.

What gets me about both the stop sign thing and the riding in a pack thing is it's generally not the commuters, families or students who do it. It's the guys in head to toe spandex with sponsors and club names all over them.

They should be a good example. Not a bad one.

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In exchange, when cyclists are riding on a street that does not have a separate bike path I'll wait for oncoming traffic to go by before I pull all the way into the other lane to pass them, just as I do when passing a car.



You wouldn't believe how many times I've been forced onto a verge or even into a hedge by drivers overtaking me while another car is coming the other way on a single lane road.

I don't stereotype all car drivers as being inconsiderate though, and would appreciate the same courtesy in return!
Do you want to have an ideagasm?

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I don't stereotype all car drivers as being inconsiderate though, and would appreciate the same courtesy in return!



Stereotype - : something conforming to a fixed or general pattern; especially : an often oversimplified or biased mental picture held to characterize the typical individual of a group. ("stereotype." Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary. Merriam-Webster, Inc. 01 Oct. 2007. .)

Please let me know where I said that all bicyclists are inconsiderate.

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>There's a sidewalk or bike path off of and to the side of the road. Why
>do you guys still ride in the street?

Sidewalk - because it's illegal around here. I will use a sidewalk when there's no other option, but that's a last resort.

Bike path - I much prefer bike paths to streets, but often I'll have to get off the bike path to get where I'm going. Stores/businesses/houses etc generally have road access only.

>So you're riding the streets. There's miles of street in your residential
>neghborhood. Why do you guys choose to ride in heavy- traffic streets
>choking on exhaust fumes?

See above. Residential streets don't always go where I have to go. (When they do, I generally prefer them.)

>Is that the excuse for riding two or three abreast and refusing to return
>to single file when a car approaches from behind?

Often I'll do that ("take the lane") on especially dangerous roads so I'm not forced into a gutter, into a car door or into oncoming traffic.

>Or for running stop signs because you know you can make it?

Only time I run stop signs (in either a car or a bike) is when I can see the other roads for a goodly distance - and there's no one coming from either direction.

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