the*bear
Struggling Artist
"Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go." T.S. Eliot
Posts: 95
|
Post by the*bear on May 17, 2004 13:11:29 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by Kensterberg on May 17, 2004 13:25:48 GMT -5
See how clueless I am with graphics, I couldn't even get the Bianchi image to work myself!!!! But that's my bike ...
|
|
|
|
Post by Kensterberg on May 17, 2004 13:27:45 GMT -5
OK, and I think that I now have it set up so that my bike is my avatar ... I think.
|
|
the*bear
Struggling Artist
"Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go." T.S. Eliot
Posts: 95
|
Post by the*bear on May 17, 2004 13:41:53 GMT -5
My wife is one of my "trainees," she's training with my group to do her first century at Lake Tahoe next month.
We've had a lot of rain here in the past week, ten inches last Wednesday alone, some of the smaller bayous have overflown their banks. Because of the threat of more rain, we were forced to cancel our group ride Saturday, none of the other members of our group were able to ride yesterday (Sunday), so just she and I set out to do eighty miles.
We only got about ten miles in when we hit a spot near Bayou Vermilion where water was over the road, about fifty yards riding through six-inch deep backwater. We had three or four other areas like that, then got away from the river and had about fifty miles or so of clear sailing.
Skies were overcast for the most part, fairly cool temps, so we were having a decent ride . She was doing well, keeping up at about 15-16 mph steady. About sixty-five miles in, though, the skies opened up and dumped a driving rain on us for about fifteen minutes, then slacked to a steady drizzle for the last fifteen miles. By that time we were back to the Vermilion, but on the other side, and found that some places the road was under a foot or more of water. We kept plugging on, though I expected her to call for someone to come pick her up at any moment.
She stuck it out though, and we made home soaked to the skin and chilled to the bone. I changed clothes, then went out, cleaned the bikes, and lubed the drive trains. When I got back in, she was on the phone telling her freinds how much fun she had!
Boys, I think we have a cyclist here.
Taking the bikes into the mechanic this evening to let him check the hubs and the bottom bracket, replace the grease that has probably washed away.
|
|
|
|
Post by Kensterberg on May 17, 2004 13:45:50 GMT -5
Damn Bear! Do you guys take snorkels with you in case the water gets higher? What kinds of wheels/tires do you use for biking through a foot or more of water, and do you wear aqua socks? That's just unreal ... God I'm glad I live in the desert.  |
|
the*bear
Struggling Artist
"Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go." T.S. Eliot
Posts: 95
|
Post by the*bear on May 17, 2004 14:08:22 GMT -5
Unfortunately we were on completely unmodified road bikes, although I had the sense to leave the litespeed at home. I kept my entry-level Specialized around for just such an occasion (rain bike, though, not self-powered submarine).
No aqua socks, my Sidi's got soaked, appear to be none the worse for wear, though.
|
|
|
|
Post by strawman on May 17, 2004 15:04:57 GMT -5
hey bear...that was quite a ride.
It's not quite so bad being out there and getting caught in the rain as it is being inside and knowing that you have to get out on a wet day to train. Still I don't think even I'm that keen to go riding when theres a foot of water on the roads!!!!....still glad to see your wife enjoyed it....now you'd better start saving for her Litespeed. I suggest she goes for the De Rosa Merak!!
Good call on getting the bottom bracket removed too...probably quite a bit of water down there after rain like that.
I've not been riding too much over the last week and a bit. The Doc has ordered me top rest up but I have been out for some slow, spinning 40km rides. Nothing too exerting. Still by Saturday I was hoping to be able to begin again in earnest, and add some gym work as well....we'll see
|
|
the*bear
Struggling Artist
"Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go." T.S. Eliot
Posts: 95
|
Post by the*bear on May 17, 2004 15:14:14 GMT -5
Sounds like you're healing quickly, straw, and starting to get the itch. I'm sure you'll be out there hammering before you know it.
Actually the wife has her mind set on getting a tandem, figuring that I'll pull her along. Just as soon, since I end up having to wait on her on most of these rides. I did tell her she has to prove to me that she can pull her on weight before we go that route, though.
|
|
|
|
Post by strawman on May 17, 2004 15:23:02 GMT -5
bear...funny that you should mention a tandem. I was thinking of getting one of those and doing some of the "fun rides" with my eldest son on one of those.
Yeah it won't be long though and I'll be relegated to the rear, and that boy of mine has absolutely no sense of responsibility on those twisting descents. The only way I can beat him now is to jump him early and protect the best line, and sometimes he still gets by through sheer courage (I think stupidity)....yep 15 years old and bulletproof...he'll go well one day!!
|
|
the*bear
Struggling Artist
"Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go." T.S. Eliot
Posts: 95
|
Post by the*bear on May 17, 2004 16:14:51 GMT -5
Yeah, that's reasons #2, #3, and #4 for getting a tandem: my three sons aged 12, 7 and 7. It would be pretty cool to have them ride along as they get a little older.
|
|
|
|
Post by luke on May 17, 2004 18:37:57 GMT -5
I'm 22 yrs old and I don't know how to ride a bike.
|
|
the*bear
Struggling Artist
"Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go." T.S. Eliot
Posts: 95
|
Post by the*bear on May 17, 2004 18:52:10 GMT -5
Unbelieveable. How did you get around as a kid? I lived on my bike until I got a driver's license.
Have you ever tried to ride?
|
|
|
|
Post by luke on May 17, 2004 18:57:27 GMT -5
Well, I half-assedly learned in Philadephia when I was about seven or eight, but I never really got it fully down and I lost it. At about age ten, it was too embarrassing to learn how to ride a bike, since everybody else already did, so I never bothered.
As for getting around, I dunno, I just walked everywhere. Actually didn't bother to get my license until I was eighteen; I had friends to pick me up everywhere, even though I lived a little bit out of the way. Also had great fear of getting a DWI. Fuck, I think I was posting on RS before I even had a driver's license! Not sure about that one, though. Keep in mind, back in them days, Louisiana folk were still getting their licenses at fifteen. This was before the suckiness of the rest of the world reached our great state, destroying our really cool driving and drinking ages.
How 'bout this rain!? It's really pissing me off...no windshield wipers, Rain-X will only do so much for a fella...
|
|
|
|
Post by Kensterberg on May 17, 2004 19:10:31 GMT -5
Love that pic, Luke!
I must have been in about 2d grade when I learned how to ride a bike. It was my primary means of getting around for years ... even after I got my driver's license, I still biked everywhere in the summer ... and there's nothing like the sensation of speed on a bike ...
Keep hanging out here, Luke, and you'll either wind up learning to ride or you'll wonder what the hell would possess anyone to get on one of these things!
|
|
|
|
Post by luke on May 17, 2004 19:29:50 GMT -5
Yeah, my girlfriend rides a bit...tempted to learn, but I dunno where I'd do it. Not in public, that's for sure..."look at that guy in his 20s who can't ride a bike!" Would be a pleasant alternative to running sometimes.
|
|
