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Archives for May 2014

Cross-Country Biking in 1975

05.08.2014 by Ray Niekamp // 3 Comments

When you lust over the fancy biking clothes in the catalogs, remember that it wasn’t always this way. I came across a video on You Tube that gives a look at cross-country cycling in 1975. Back then, JC Penney hired 12 college students to bike from New York City to San Francisco. It was called “The Great America Bicycle Tour.” They made stops at shopping malls along the way to perform “safety skits” in front of JC Penney stores.

The bikes were equipped with disc brakes, and were sold at JC Penney, although were originally made by Huffy. The biking outfits — tennis clothes. (!)

An interesting 14-minute look at biking 39 years ago. Some of us well remember those tube socks with the striped tops.

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Categories // Odds 'n ends Tags // touring

That Demoralizing Wind

05.06.2014 by Ray Niekamp // 10 Comments

windyI really enjoyed my ride to the air show several days ago, except for the stiff headwind I found myself fighting on the way back. I hate wind even worse than I hate hills. Actually, I don’t hate hills — I just don’t do very well with them. But the wind is another story.

Part of my problem with the wind is my size. People in my bike club, even riders much faster than me, love to draft me on group rides, because I do such a great job of shielding them from the wind. That, of course, is what causes me big problems when I’m on my own. I’m just this human sail who finds himself slowing rapidly when I’m riding into the wind.

The problem was worse on the weekend ride, because I had miscalculated and picked a route into the wind that was at least twice as long as it would have been had I just retraced the route I took on the way out. It seemed like it would never end. Other riding-related maladies popped up as well. My bum started to pain me, and I was wearing my favorite pair of shorts. I started feeling some soreness in my lower back. It wasn’t a lot of fun.

I probably did everything wrong going into the headwind. I stayed on the hoods, for starters. Everything I’ve read says you get into the drops into a headwind, to make yourself smaller and more aerodynamic. And I committed the real non-no — I shifted into an easier gear. What you’re supposed to do is shift into a harder gear to force you to pedal harder and maintain your speed.

I even let the wind get the best of me, and stopped at the side of the road for a few minutes, to eat some fig bars and drink mass quantities of water. But mainly to rest. I always feels rejuvenated when starting off after a break, but in the wind Saturday, that feeling lasted maybe a minute.

As I got nearer to the end of the ride, I encountered some rollers again. But by this time, the wind was at my back and I could pedal up them without losing much momentum. Hills are a challenge for me. Wind is a chore, an adversary, a powerful foe.

Well, there’s only one way to deal with it. I have to tackle it head on. We’re having a particularly windy spring this year, and I’ll be looking for a stiff headwind on my upcoming rides. Maybe by the end of the summer, I’ll have the same attitude toward the wind as I do toward hills: tough, but doable.

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Categories // Technique Tags // wind

Bikes and Planes

05.04.2014 by Ray Niekamp // 1 Comment

One of my biking goals this year is to get out and ride in areas where I haven’t ridden before. A friend shared some ride ideas with me, and mentioned that he and his son would not be able to attend the Kingsbury air show. They were planning on riding from San Marcos down to Kingsbury, about 20 miles away, but the boy had some scouting obligations.

It sounded like a great idea to me though, so I decided I would make the trip. I tossed the bike in the back of the SUV and drove from Austin down to San Marcos, about 30 miles south. San Marcos has the best outlet mall I’ve ever seen (Tanger on one side, Prime on the other — it’s huge). Lots of parking around back for cyclists to start their trips. I had ridden from here a couple of times, but not for several years. A check of Google Maps the night before reminded me of which roads to take, and I started out about 9 a.m.

Some of the roads were in good shape. Some had a rough chip seal surface, that I couldn’t wait to leave. Lots of rolling hills all along the route, although the farther from San Marcos one gets, the more the land flattens out. The corn is looking pretty good already, but we’ll need some rain soon.

 

The road to Kingsbury, looking north. Some bluebonnets are still hanging on in roadside ditches. (Click all pix to embiggen.)
The road to Kingsbury, looking north. Some bluebonnets are still hanging on in roadside ditches. (Click all pix to embiggen.)

Kingsbury, Texas, is a forlorn little hamlet on U.S. 90 alongside the railroad tracks, about halfway between Seguin and Luling. Glad I could clear that up. There’s nothing in Kingsbury, but about a mile south, on Farm Road 1104, is the Old Kingsbury Aerodrome. A group of aviation buffs has assembled a collection of old planes, and has built replicas of several World War I era planes. About twice a year, they have an Air Fair day, and all the planes are assembled on the grass field outside the hangars.

If you're not expecting the entrance to the aerodrome, it's easy to miss it.
If you’re not expecting the entrance to the aerodrome, it’s easy to miss it.
Fokker D-1 Triplane, the plane most associated with the Red Baron. This is a replica, but it can fly. The wind was too strong this day for it to go up, however.
Fokker D-1 Triplane, the plane most associated with the Red Baron. This is a replica, but it can fly. The wind was too strong this day for it to go up, however.
Fokker D-VII. The Allies respected it so much, it's the only plane they required the Germans to turn over intact after the war. Replica.
Fokker D-VII. The Allies respected it so much, it’s the only plane they required the Germans to turn over intact after the war. Replica.
A Canadian-built Curtiss Jenny, called the "Canuck." This one is real, not a replica. Apparently, a lot of the Canadian Jennys found their way to Texas flight schools after WWI. It's painted like a 1920s barnstormer.
A Canadian-built Curtiss Jenny, called the “Canuck.” This one is real, not a replica. Apparently, a lot of the Canadian Jennys found their way to Texas flight schools after WWI. It’s painted like a 1920s barnstormer.
Bleriot. A replica of the plane Louis Bleriot flew across the English Channel in 1909.
Bleriot. A replica of the plane Louis Bleriot flew across the English Channel in 1909.
Cars were featured, too. Lots of rods and customs, WWI ambulances, Model Ts. But this unrestored Model T got my attention. Looking for a little restoration project?
Cars were featured, too. Lots of rods and customs, Model Ts, WWI ambulances. But this rescued Model T got my attention. Looking for a little restoration project?
Period costumes were much in evidence. Note the flag whipping in the wind. Too dangerous to fly the wood and fabric contraptions this day.
Period costumes were much in evidence. Note the flag (48 stars) whipping in the wind. Too dangerous to fly the wood and fabric contraptions this day.
Since this is a bike blog, I wanted to add this photo of an old bike. Poor job on my part, but it's a Chicago-built Crescent single speed. Notable for its white tires, wooden wheels, and that saddle looks familiar, doesn't it? Yep, it's the same Brooks B-17 a lot of riders still swear by today.
Since this is a bike blog, I wanted to add this photo of an old bike. Poor photography on my part, but it’s a Chicago-built Crescent single speed. Notable for its white tires, wooden wheels, and that saddle looks familiar, doesn’t it? Yep, it’s the same Brooks B-17 a lot of riders still swear by today.

I took too long looking at the planes and such, and it was past time to leave. A  cheeseburger and a Diet Coke were on the agenda before heading back to my bike. “What’ll it be?” I asked the nice lady at the food stand. “Just a donation, whatever you think it’s worth,” she replied. I was generous.

I was looking forward to the return trip to San Marcos, because I would have a tailwind. But I also remembered the rollers I dealt with on the way down, and figured I could bypass them if I took a different route. So I turned west on Farm to Market 20, and headed for Geronimo. Bad move. The turn took me right into a strong headwind. The 10 miles to Geronimo were a slog, and I began to tire.

But then I could turn north on Texas 123, a straight shot back to San Marcos. It’s a four-lane highway with a small shoulder, and I made great time. Amazing how a tailwind lifts your spirits. Even five miles from the outlet mall parking lot, when I got off 123 onto country roads again, the rollers weren’t so bad as long as the wind pushed.

So, I had a great time, but the downside of a great time on the bike is that domestic chores go by the wayside. Instead of my usual Sunday ride with the club, I stayed home to cut the grass, trim the bushes, rake some stubborn leaves, and sneak in a short ride late in the afternoon. It was a tradeoff I was glad to make.

 

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Categories // Rides Tags // Rides

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