Official Road Cycling Thread

dc503 wrote

Glad to hear your injuries weren't worse. Keep an eye on things especially since you lost consciousness and broke a helmet, that's a serious impact to subject your head to, MIPS or not.

I will be, thanks for your concern.

wdb wrote

Ouch indeed. Not excusing the driver in any way but I wonder why they didn't go single file?

I agree. They should have been riding single file and paying attention. I have the Garmin rear radar system which would have shown both of those vehicles approaching and I would have gotten over. This is why drivers get pissed off at cyclists. I am glad he is ok, could have been much worse.

Rayscott wrote

I agree. They should have been riding single file and paying attention. I have the Garmin rear radar system which would have shown both of those vehicles approaching and I would have gotten over. This is why drivers get pissed off at cyclists. I am glad he is ok, could have been much worse.

I have the Garmin rear radar as well. It never misses a vehicle, but paired with my Edge 520, the audible warning is pathetically weak. I never hear it. But between the radar, my mirror, and just the sound of the car itself, I usually know when a car is coming up behind me.

The park they were riding in has road side signs throughout stating that cyclist can occupy the whole lane.

M_Six wrote

I have the Garmin rear radar as well. It never misses a vehicle, but paired with my Edge 520, the audible warning is pathetically weak. I never hear it. But between the radar, my mirror, and just the sound of the car itself, I usually know when a car is coming up behind me.

I never hear mine as my hearing is not what it used to be but the screen does turn red around the edge. But like you say radar, mirror, car sound, plus looking back make it much safer.

Mr Tonka wrote

The park they were riding in has road side signs throughout stating that cyclist can occupy the whole lane.

Oh ok. didn't realize that.

Froome lost the yellow jersey but not by much. Looks like he has some competition this year which should make the rest of the race more interesting. I was surprised Qunitana lost so much time. I think Contador is done.

Mr Tonka wrote

The park they were riding in has road side signs throughout stating that cyclist can occupy the whole lane.

That's gotta piss people off.

wdb wrote

That's gotta piss people off.

I agree

There are a couple of such roadways in TN that have endless no passing zones and 30-35 MPH speed limits even in the non-twisty areas. I thought about a trip to Land Between the Lakes in TN when I had my Z4, but some Google Maps recon convinced me I'd go crazy plodding along at those speeds behind some huge camper.

I have a few requests of non-bicycling car drivers. These come from my few months of experience pedaling around my local area, but I tend to think these requests are fairly universal.

1. PLEASE, turn your headlights on at dusk. If the sun is down and the streetlights are on, so should be your headlights. Makes it much easier for me to see you in my tiny mirror.

2. DON'T CUT CORNERS! I almost got nailed tonight but some middle aged woman driving a Buick ark. She apexed a left turn into a blind intersection just as I was coming up on it. I was waaaaaay over on the right and she still had to swerve to avoid me, and then laughed about it. ARGHH!!

3. THINK BEFORE YOU PASS ME!! A young girl who probably had her license a few months passed me on the far left side of the road over a blind hill. While I appreciate the fact that she gave me a ton of room, she put herself in a very dangerous situation by flying over that hill on the wrong side of the road. Wait until it is safe to pass me.

Just to show I'm not all negativity, thank you to all those who saw me resting on the side of the road last week at the top of a nasty hill and asked if I was okay. Your concern reinforces my belief that people are basically decent at their core.

M_Six wrote

I have a few requests of non-bicycling car drivers. These come from my few months of experience pedaling around my local area, but I tend to think these requests are fairly universal.

1. PLEASE, turn your headlights on at dusk. If the sun is down and the streetlights are on, so should be your headlights. Makes it much easier for me to see you in my tiny mirror.

2. DON'T CUT CORNERS! I almost got nailed tonight but some middle aged woman driving a Buick ark. She apexed a left turn into a blind intersection just as I was coming up on it. I was waaaaaay over on the right and she still had to swerve to avoid me, and then laughed about it. ARGHH!!

3. THINK BEFORE YOU PASS ME!! A young girl who probably had her license a few months passed me on the far left side of the road over a blind hill. While I appreciate the fact that she gave me a ton of room, she put herself in a very dangerous situation by flying over that hill on the wrong side of the road. Wait until it is safe to pass me.

Just to show I'm not all negativity, thank you to all those who saw me resting on the side of the road last week at the top of a nasty hill and asked if I was okay. Your concern reinforces my belief that people are basically decent at their core.

I think most people are considerate. The ones I worry about are the distracted drivers doing everything buy paying attention. Then there's the aggressive drivers who will cut you off to get where they are going. Road cycling has become very dangerous. Here at the beach I try to go very early or not at all. We do have nice trails right outside our door where vehicles are not allowed. If I ride later in the day I take the hybrid out on the trails.

Good fast stage today. Froome didn't lose any time and Qunitana picked up some. Nice to see a Frenchman win on Bastile Day. He is a good young rider.

Just ordered a Brooks C-17 saddle. LBS owner rides with one and recommends it. I'm on my 3rd saddle from them and I'm still limited to an hour of riding because of the pain. Really beginning to piss me off. I should be able to ride for 2 hours at least at this point. I wish the LBS had Brooks saddles in stock for me to test, but since I ordered it through Amazon, I should be able to return it if it turns out to be a nightmare. But from what I've read, it's a pretty comfy long distance saddle. Fingers crossed.

Wife did seattle to Portland today, im at home drinking

1MOREMOD wrote

Wife did seattle to Portland today, im at home drinking

You drink too much.

M_Six wrote

Just ordered a Brooks C-17 saddle. LBS owner rides with one and recommends it. I'm on my 3rd saddle from them and I'm still limited to an hour of riding because of the pain. Really beginning to piss me off. I should be able to ride for 2 hours at least at this point. I wish the LBS had Brooks saddles in stock for me to test, but since I ordered it through Amazon, I should be able to return it if it turns out to be a nightmare. But from what I've read, it's a pretty comfy long distance saddle. Fingers crossed.

Have you been fit on the bike yet? If your fit isn't right, saddle won't make much of a difference.

M_Six wrote

You drink too much.

Yeah! Knob creek

Mr Tonka wrote

Have you been fit on the bike yet? If your fit isn't right, saddle won't make much of a difference.

I have. And that's helped some. Still, the pain is right along the centerline of my crotch, not in my sit bones. It feels like I'm sitting on a 1" diameter steel rod. My current saddle has cut-outs and helps a bit with that, but it still causes some serious discomfort. The C-17 is all rubber and flexes everywhere, so I'm praying it'll help. We'll see.

1MOREMOD wrote

Yeah! Knob creek

I'm sipping the Clyde Mays that TXSTYLE recommended. If you see it, buy it. Very good.

So your wife does distance rides?

Yes some, doing seattle to Vancouver next month she does them every year

M_Six wrote

I have. And that's helped some. Still, the pain is right along the centerline of my crotch, not in my sit bones. It feels like I'm sitting on a 1" diameter steel rod. My current saddle has cut-outs and helps a bit with that, but it still causes some serious discomfort. The C-17 is all rubber and flexes everywhere, so I'm praying it'll help. We'll see.

Have you tried those stubby saddles with no front?
https://www.ismseat.com/comfort-fitness

Also, you shouldn't be 'sitting' a lot. Carry weight on legs, and stand every so often.