Because I'm Always Learning Something New
by Ray Niekamp // 4 Comments
I still think they were smart to cancel the Tour de Florence — too much uncertainty about Ike’s path. But it turns out that Austin was completely spared. Some rain bands from Ike did find their way to the Tour route, but not much. However, the wind was pretty stiff, sometimes gusting into the 30s. So I’m glad I didn’t ride. Plus, it’s so humid around here today, I could barely do an hour’s worth of yard work.
I’ll ride tomorrow.
by Ray Niekamp // 4 Comments
I just got tagged, for the first time since I started blogging. It all started when Fat Cyclist responded to a tag and then tagged several others — but he went and told everyone that if they wanted to consider themselves tagged, they should. So yesterday, I find I’ve been tagged by mgrinrr, and this morning BikeMunky got me. I’d better answer.
If you could have any one — and only one — bike in the world, what would it be?
A bike that fits like a glove. One I could ride for hours on end with no numbness in hands or feet, no soreness in the butt. I would be able to generate endless reserves of power and fly to the front of any club ride.
Do you already have that coveted dream bike? If so, is it everything you hoped it would be? If not, are you working toward getting it? If you’re not working toward getting it, why not?
Nope. Not sure it exists. I’ve only owned my current bike for five months, so if I made any serious effort to get another, I might run into some trouble on the home front.
If you had to choose one — and only one — bike route to do every day for the rest of your life, what would it be, and why?
I could be very happy riding out of Dripping Springs, Texas, on the county roads southwest of town.
What kind of sick person would force another person to ride one and only one bike ride for the rest of her / his life?
Yeah! My feelings exackly.
Do you ride both road and mountain bikes? If both, which do you prefer and why? If only one or the other, why are you so narrowminded?
I own both, but ride road 99 percent of the time. I am seriously thinking about putting 1” wide slicks on my mountain bike and using it for an around town utility bike to cut down on needless gas-wasting car trips. I’ll ignore the loaded question.
Have you ever ridden a recumbent? If so, why? If not, describe the circumstances under which you would ride a recumbent.
Nope, never had the opportunity. I would like to try one out. A friend swears by his, and if I ever develop physical problems that make riding my current bike too much of a hassle, I would seriously consider it.
Have you ever raced a triathlon? If so, have you also ever tried strangling yourself with dental floss?
No to both. I was a jogger for 28 years until my knees couldn’t take it anymore. Swimming bores me, and I wouldn’t have the patience to train for a longish open water swim.
Suppose you were forced to either give up ice cream or bicycles for the rest of your life. Which would you give up, and why?
That’s a weird either-or choice. Under what circumstances would anybody be forced to make a choice like that?
What is a question you think this questionnaire should have asked, but has not? Also, answer it.
Would you like to respond to this tag by answering only three of the questions? Yes.
You’re riding your bike in the wilderness (if you’re a roadie, you’re on a road, but otherwise the surroundings are quite wilderness-like) and you see a bear. The bear sees you. What do you do?
Is it a black bear or a grizzly bear? The answer would be different for each.
Now, tag three biking bloggers. List them below.
Sorry guys!
by Ray Niekamp // 1 Comment
It turned out that I did get out and take a ride Sunday, although it was in the heat of the afternoon, and I had to cut the distance to 18 miles. Still, it was good to be back on the bike, and with any luck, I can resume riding more or less regularly. Until the next disruption to my schedule three weeks from now.
I had to change my planned route today, because it turns out that the city has decided to resurface the streets in this part of town. They’re laying down new chip seal, and are in the first stages of that. Right now, the road I would have used today has been covered with crushed stone that will be rolled into the road surface. I’m concerned that my bike’s tires won’t survive a trip through the new stuff until after the chips are sealed. I assume they’ll paint new lines to mark the bike lane along the road as well.
The odd thing about the resurfacing is that the streets around here don’t really need it. They’re in good shape, with no potholes to speak of, and only a few cracks. The biggest problem is the debris that accumulates in the bike lane, and most of the time that’s easily avoidable.
I ride my bike in other parts of town, and out on country roads, and they’re crying for a new surface. I guess City Hall has to keep its more important constituents happy.