Join in the fun; The Calorie-Count Cycling Club...

Welcome to all who have an interest in anything cycling of any kind.( road, mountain, commuting, stationary, whatever).

This is the place to come to ask that question you have been wanting to ask,

or tell that story about your latest adventure riding your bike,

find out how to use cycling to get in better shape, or anything else you can think of.

So, to start, tell us, what you ride, where you ride and what type of riding you enjoy.

Come back often too check out what's going on and see what's on everyones mind or add your knowledge to the group. 

 

Hi,

Kevin here.  Really into biking.  I live in Woodbridge Va just outside of DC. 

I have serveral bikes.

Klein Quantum Roadbike

Lemond Poprad Cyclocross bike

Independent Fabrication Steel Deluxe Moutain Bike

Independent Fabrication Steel Deluxe Singlespeed MTB (on order actually)

Klein Attitude Mountain Bike converted single speed.

I'm really into racing mountain bikes.  Endurance racing - 12, 18, 24hrs solo or 100 mile races.   I love cyclocross racing too.  My latest thing is fully rigid Singlespeeds.  I love them.  I'm doing my next 24 race on my Klein SS.

I also just commuted to work for the first time this morning and really liked.  Living so close to DC made it tough but I was able to piece toghter a route that wasn't too bad.

My goal this year is to train and do well in all my races. 

Welcome Kevin! Nice work finding a rideable route in the DC area! That's some hardcore racing & a NICE stable of bikes you've got yourself.

Good luck with the racing! We'll enjoy hearing your results if you wish to post them :-)

Thanks,

Next race is on Memorial Day weekend.  24 Hours on the singlespeed!  Can't wait, I hope to ride for 20 hours total and/or 175 miles.   I can post a little write up.  Usually takes a couple of days before I can move again so don't expect anything too soon :)

kevin- very impressive! good luck with all of your racing!

I think my sister and I are going to do a biathlon in August. It's a 5k and a 13 mile ride. We can do relays so she is going to run (I hate running) and I'm going to bike (she hates biking!) It works out kind of perfect and it's for a good cause so it should be pretty fun.

I can't wait till next week because it is supposed to be pretty nice all week and I'm planning to ride to work every day. I'm going on a big camping trip w/friends to the Allegheny's on Friday for the whole weekend. Unfortuately none of them are as entusiastic about riding as I am, so I'm not taking my mtn bike :( Maybe I'll just take my own and go on my own rides w/out them. but... I don't really want to get lost out there.. lol.

Hi all! I just started riding for this year and came searching for a site where the enthusiasm would match mine.

My bike is about 10 years old, it's called a Specialized Crossroad...a tour bike.....21 speeds and it's been ridden pretty hard over the years but seems to hold up nicely.

I'm retired and just trying to control the weight and blood pressure with good exercise. I've been walking/hiking 75 to 90 minutes a day since our snow melted and I had to quit snowshoeing.  Today finally the bike was road ready and I headed out.  Amazing how different biking is on the legs than walking/hiking!  I was like jelly after an hour on the road.

You all do such amazing things. I think I've found the incentive and enthusiasm I was looking for!

Landis trial... I haven't been following it too closely.  I know some of what's going  on though.  I want to believe Landis... and he is trying his best to be open about everything.  If he has more testosterone in his pee after riding the tour de France is that really suspect?  I mean shouldn't he have a lot extra... expecially considering how hard he rode?   It'll be interesting how his challenge of the science behind the USADA standards will turn out.   It's a shame the USADA offered a reduced sentance if Landis would turn over evidence that Lance Armstrong was doping even though no test ever proved anything.   It makes me think the USADA is possibly corrupt.

__________

carrihound, what is this longest distance ever you plan to ride?

In honor of national bike to work day I rode to work which I haven't done before.  I don't know how regular I can make this since I had to drive my kids to the sitter and then back home to get the bike but all in all it was fun.  I have a 10 mile commute one way mainly on rural highways, speed limit 55 mph.  I made it to work in 32 mins with a head wind so I think I am getting better at this.  No major problems, the site recommended by Carri was a good refresher of riding safe, thank-you for sharing it!

My bike is not set up for communting so I used my shoulder bag and tightened it to my body really well.  I think maybe a rack that clamps on the seat post would suffice and be easy to remove when not commuting, what do you all think?  Any problems, concerns I should know about?

Poze:  I have a rack and trunk that clamp to the seat for my Quest.  It works fine but I find the limited capacity a challenge.  I supplement it with a backpack that has a compartment for a hydration bladder.  That is a bit of a load but I don't have any problem on a 10 mile commute.  You might want to consider Gmule's suggestion -- bring some of your stuff -- clothes, etc with you when you drive in (and carry them home next time you drive).  By the way, I am finding that if I commute by bike 2 days a week, I can stretch a tank of gas from 1 week to 2 weeks.  That cuts my average fuel cost from $30/week to $15/week.

I did the bike to work ride today.  I had to take off work because all the routes flow from the suburbs where I work into DC.  The weather wasn't great but it was dry except for couple of brief showers.  I ended up riding 30 miles.  The last 8 were brutal.

nightc1, well, i never planned to ride more than the occasional century (i did one in Oct 2005 for the LAF Ride for the Roses). but i've always wanted to ride from SA to Austin, because it seems do-able, so this is the longest single day ride i plan to do (depending on my route through town when i arrive in austin, it could be up to 125 miles think). i'm happy the tour de cure came along and is helping me satisfy my desir to ride this route - gives me a supported ride for about half of the ride!

pozesara, that's awesome! 32min for a 10 mile commute is ROCKING! i have a seatpost rack on my bianchi and it's a great way to carry your stuff. the only caveats i have to offer are (1) they carry less weight than a mounted rack (totally not an issue if you're only carrying a day's worth of clothes & lunch), (2) you have to adjust to having weight on the tail end of the bike (again, no biggie, but especially if you carry a pannier on only one side, you have to get used to handling the bike a little differently, especially when you are going slow or stopping or stopped since the bike is more topheavy & may tilt to one side if the weight is not totally balanced), and (3), this is the worst one for me, the seatpost mounts are wide & can rub your inner thighs as you ride. i find that irritating, but not so bad that i'd ever go back to carrying a backpack.

jc, i save about that much on gas each week too! but tell me, how did you ride to work, but also take off work? did you ride to work and then not work? that sounds like a NICE DAY to me! :-)

i'm off to pack up for the trip to san antonio, wish me strong tailwinds for tomorrow!!

Well, I rode to work every day this week.  It's only 3 miles each way, and I go home for lunch too, so about 12 miles a day.  I figure I saved quite a bit on gas.  I have a route I am planing on riding this weekend, it will be about 35 miles and go through my town and 3 other towns.  I posted a picture of my bike in my profile if anyone wants to see it. - James.

carri, good luck on that ride tomorrow, you'll do great.

My wife went with me on the fast group hill ride yesterday and she did os well, I'm really proud of her and you'll do the same GOOD LUCK.

kclark welcome to the new thread, I know I've seen you over on the challenge thread.

quetico, welcome as well didn't see your post first time through. 

DAN 

I follow the cycling news every day so there is no way for me to avoid the Landis hearing.  I have a great deal of respect for Greg LeMond and although I doubt his testimony will have much impact on the out come of the trial I think it hurts Landis' public image.  Especially since most likely Landis' manager will end up with criminal charges resulting from the threat.

nightc1: The post ride testing does not measure the amount of testosterone, they check for the ratio of testosterone to epitosterone which is normally 1:1.  A result greater than 4:1 triggers suspicion.  Press reports indicate that Landis tested 11:1.  A high reading like that results in the sample being tested for testoserone isotopes  that were not naturely produced by the body.  Landis' samples are reported to have contained testoserone that was not naturely produced by his body.  He says the lab results are incorrect because the samples were mishandled and the testing was not done correctly.  The USADA says that the tests that were done by a lab in France were done correctly, the samples were handled correctly, and the science is sound.  The burden of proof is on the prosecution and a panel of arbitrators will decide the case which will mostly go to appeal regardless of the outcome.  I would like to beleive that he is innocent but I have my doubts.

carri: Have a great ride tomorrow!

In regard to the dog from yesterday, as I passed his house today he was lying in the front yard and didn't react to my passing but on the return he was nowhere to be seen so I have to assume he is alright.   I'll better next time he chases me.

There's no obvious way for me to ride to work... I would love to do that though.   I'm trying to plot a way that'll keep me off super busy streets.   I think the morning commute wouldn't be too bad since I could leave early.  Even if it adds some to my 17miles I currently drive.  The problem I'd see would be the ride home.   More traffic... more competition for even side streets... it could be problematic.

I really want some kind of super fuel efficient vehicle though.  Last week I filled my car up (18gal) and it was over $50.   That's when gas was in the 2.80's... now it's over $3 ... and I'm using regular... not premium.   If I could ride most days to work... or even 3 days... that would save me a bundle.  I spend now.. probably $30 a week or so.  It's crazy.

Imagine all the cool stuff I could have (or just not spending as much) for that extra money.   Makes me wish there was some kind of organized commuter's club or something.

landis Trial, I am also following the Lanids saga, If he was in a court of law this whole thing would be dismissed.  Everything I have read sounds to me like they have convicted him and they are trying to make the evidence fit the situation. In a real court there is so much that is wrong that it wouldn't even make it to trial reasoable doubt would prevail in this case.

I think the sad thing is what Landis' manager did to Lemond, I would love to know what he thought would be gained by that.  Sad because so many respect Lemond that it only made landis' look foolish and many will think he put him up to it.

The trial should have been about the incompotence of the french lab, I work in an enviromental lab and If I did half the stuff that place did I'd be in jail.

Let's hope the panel overlooks the drama and focus' on the facts.

DAN 

Carrie: Hope you are having a great trip and a great ride.  I took the day off because the big rally was downtown and the caravans were travelling into DC.  My home and office are in the Northeas suburbs so I would have had to ride to the caravan meetup, downtown and back out again to get to the office.  But yes, it was a pretty good arrangement even if it was a strange way to "Bike to Work".

Landis: One point made early on but apparently dropped from the conversation was that there was no reason for Landis to be taking testerone during the TDF because the benefit of testosterone is in long term muscle development.  It is quite possible that Landis and others were/are using testosterone as part of their training program.  If that is the case then evidence of testosterone use should have shown up in every one of the samples that Landis donated during the TDF.  That raises two questions in my mind: 1) Why was only the last sample flagged?  2) If the other samples show evidence of testosterone use upon re-examination, how many other riders would also test positive if their samples were re-examined?  If Landis was the only rider in the TDF using testosterone, there isn't a big drug abuse problem in cycling.  If some/many/most of the other riders are using testosterone, epo, etc., then all these random drug tests should be finding more culprits.  Something is rotten in France.  To me this whole mess has all the earmarks of a coup to strip Landis of the TDF title.

Commuter Routes:  You have to be a little crazy to commute on a bicycle.  However, there are far fewer cyclists injured or killed than SUV passengers.  Cyclists even fare better than pedestrians.  There are a couple of way of looking at this.  a) There are fewer cyclists so there are few cyclists injured.  b) Your odds of getting through the commute are about as good on a bicycle as they are on foot or in an SUV.  It's just scarier being out there with so little protection.  There are roads that cannot be used for commuting on a bicycle.  When I drive to work, I drive straight up the BW parkway a total of about 8 miles.  My bike commute takes about  9.4 miles minimum.  My morning commute takes 15 to 20 minutes -- most of that due to stop lights and parking.  My bike ride takes about 40 minutes because I am not doing a great job of climbing hills in the first 6 miles.  Some roads that you are reluctant to consider for commuting are actually rideable.  Some roads that are supposed to be rideable are best avoided.  What roads you can use is a matter of personal confidence and or insanity.  An example of insanity:  last year a Goddard based scientist was killed while using his bike for a lunch time errand.  Since I am a Goddard based contractor, I heard about this unfortunate event and it was brought up by my co-workers on a couple of occasions.  It might be prudent to give up cycling in light of that event.  More recently, a bus carrying a college team (basketball, I believe) took a wrong turn flew up an exit ramp, across the overpass and crashed on the road below.  We should stop riding buses.  Not too long ago, a tractor trailer carrying logs overturned on an overpass, spilling its load onto the road below.  One car and its driver were crushed.  We should stop driving cars.  Or we can take the view that such bizzare events have no meaningful pattern and there is no way to avoid them.  I believe that 4 cyclists of the literally thousands in PG County were killed as a result of a riding accident last year.  Maybe I will be one of those statistics someday.  But everyone dies of something.

Commuter routes: Check out www.bikely.com

That website uses imaging from google earth. You can use it to plan a route with and see what other roads are available to ride on. I was able to alter my route to avoid the most dangerous part of my commute and it only added and extra mile. That was worth it to me.  As far as commuting cost I am saving about 150.00 per month on gasoline expenses. I am sure there is also a savings for wear and tear on my car as well. I talked to my insurance agent and they knocked a couple of bucks off of my car insurance since I rarely drive it anymore.

In the state of Colorado cyclists on the "roadway" must usually ride single file. If you can see clearly and there is no traffic approaching from the rear, then you may ride two abreast. Any number of cyclists may ride side-by-side if they all stay on the shoulder, because the law doesn't consider the shoulder to be part of the "roadway." A bicycle is allowed on any road unless there are signs specifically prohibiting bicycles. You are not required to use a nearby bike path merely because it exists.

I took my ride early this morning.  I didn't go the way I had originaly planned, but it was still a nice 21 mile ride.  It was pretty windy (about 15mph wind).  I had a tail wind for the first half and a head wind for the second half.  I guess I should have gone in the oppisite direction.  I looked on the Nebraska Department of Roads website and read about the rules of bicycling.  You are suposed to stay to the right or on the shoulder if it is possible, you are alowed on any road except the interstate or freeways, so about 99% of the roads except I-80 are rideable.  It does say that if there is a bike path nearby, you are suposed to use it, but there are not very many of those out here in the country.  I would gladly use them if there were.  Actually there is a project under way that will connect my town with the next two towns with a bike/hike path that will be 17 miles long when it is complete.  It looks like it will be about 5 years in the making.  Happy cycling everyone.