Bicyling For Weenies Small brain wave from Dawn who just got back from her first real bike ride in probably 10 years. She is pumped and happy and curiouse to know what everyone else thinks. She is however a weenie, and would like to know more about it from everyone who has done it before.
Questions[2] * Why do you bicycle? * What is the wisest 50 dollars (Canadian, roughly $3.76 American) you ever spent on bicycling gear? The worst? * Whats a really cool bike trip to do that wont cost her a million dollars or kill her on the way up, or down? (Mountains are evil. deserts dont sound too cool either) * What bike trips have people taken? ( I know of 2 off hand, Sarabeths trip and the trip to session one 99) Were they worth it? why? * What gear do i need for weenie biking around Edmonton? (My little sister just suggested a big foam mattress. shes so helpful) * IS bicycling as dangerouse as people make it out to be? talk on... -Dawn who finally got up the nerve to start a topic Okay, new question, what are panniers?... and largly what i have heard about bike clips is scary "you dont want your legs trapped" sort of stuff which is probably old wives tales but still makes me wonder. :)Dawn, who wants to go out biking again today... Panniers are saddle bags! They hang on one or both sides of the back (and front, if you're touring) wheel, on the racks. As for toe clips (or "cages"), here's the deal: what you're "supposed" to do is stick your foot in and chinch down the strap. That's what racers and other hard-core types did before "clipless" pedals with click-in bindings and special shoes came along. But I would never tighten them. Mine are loose enough that my shoe slips easily in and out. The only possibility of getting stuck would be my shoelaces getting tangled, I suppose, but that has never happened to me. (I have, on the other hand, gotten stuck in the so-called "clipless" binding pedals.) Anyway, try 'em. When you get used to flicking the pedal up to get your foot in, and slipping your foot out as you stop and all that, I think you'll find the feeling of added control is quite worth it. Or not. Whatever. "panniers" is a term used by people who want to make other people (like me) look like someone who knows nothing about biking (which, other than riding 850 miles in 24 days, I dont)... be cool like me, call 'em "bags"........ oh, and those toe clip things.. you only need them if yer a wuss.. somone (can't remember who) talked me into paying $8 for some. I never put them on and still managed to ride up hills in 4-5 gears higher than everyone else (but that was mainly to feed my already too large ego, not for any practical reasons) - Jason 1) Because there's nothing quite like rolling along astride my trusty steed, I have a cool "one less car" sticker on my fender, and it's less confusing than the bus. Oh, and the "bike bumps" [0] on my legs are cool. 2) Hmm, tricky. Assuming you've got a pretty good bike, helmet and lock already... you might try toe clips ($10)[1]. They take some getting used to, but they keep your feet in place on the pedals and allow you to pull up some in the course of the pedal stroke. A rear view mirror ($8-15), either handlebar or helmet mounted, can be nice. Good full handed neoprene style gloves if you cycle in the cold or rain... a red led blinker and front headlight ($10 together) if you think you'll get caught riding at dusk or after dark. A rear rack ($20) if you don't already have one, so you can carry stuff around (in pannier bags or bungeed to the top) is essential. Take the weight off your back! Nothing else jumps to mind at the moment. Oh, I suppose a reflective velcro pant 'clip' for your right leg (so the edge of your pants dont get caught in the chainrings 3) Have you heard of the Kettle Valley Railway? It's in the Oakanagan valley, in eastern BC. Worth looking into. Very flat. quite short riding distances possible. I think the full loop would only take a week or so. Otherwise, I bet at an outdoor store, bike shop, or general bookstore you could find a book with a title something like "cycling around Edmonton" or "day trips around Edmonton" 4) You already covered mine. It was fantastic. I think it's one of the best ways to travel when travel is the point, as opposed to destination. Ideal pacing. Non-touristy. Wind on your face. Smell the world go by. 5) See #2. 6) Do people say it's really dangerous? All I know is my experience. Yes, I have scary encounters with cars on the road (some weeks more than others), I dont imagine it's any more often than I would if I were driving. The potential consiquences are bigger because I'm unprotected by a steel cage around me, but then I never ride more than 25mph, so perhaps it balances out. The only "solution" I've found is staying off busy streets and using the bike routes as much as possible, especially if I'm not feeling at my peak alertness. Keep your brakes well adjusted. Stay at least a couple feet away from the parked cars on the side of the road to avoid being "doored," even if it means cars have to slow and move into the other lane to pass you. Learn to control your bike really well. Some cycling books have helpful tips in that area, stuff like swerving well, leaning into corners, crossing train tracks without getting your wheel caught, looking behind you without swerving, jumping curbs, etc... most of that can be mastered with a couple of practise sessions in a parking lot. Ari's take I bike because it's healthy for me and the earth. It's the "Right ThingTM". The best $50 or so (Canadian-ish) I've spent was on my panniers... Mine are huge, and I'm glad for it. I should have gotten fron panniers, too, but live and learn. Other than that, my helmet was great, and rain gear. Biking is pretty simple, and once you develop some muscles, you can get by with a lot less than people let on. As far as good trips, I've only really done one, two if you count my pre-trip trip. I went from Vancouver, BC to ~San Francisco, CA. I'd do the first half (Vancouver, BC to Eugene, OR) again in a heartbeat. Washington, while hilly, is not half bad, and Oregon is awesome due to the fact that the whole coast is a state park, and they all have hike/bike sites that are cheap. Only the exchange rate will get you, and it's quite possible to survive on $10/day. I did a pre-trip trip of two days in the Colorado desert, and I forgot my sunscreen. I got fried, thirsty, and generally sore. I'd do it again, but I'd prepare for it, and as a first trip, skip the desert. I heartily reccomend the coast (and would love to join in on anyone who does a coast trip's trip)... they were sooo worth it, a lot of self-discovery and empowerment (when you can power yourself 1600 miles without any major mishaps, you can get really confident about travel) As far as gear, this is what I would take next time:
Stuff I would not bring:
As far as safety, I'd say biking is really safe. Just stay away from narrow shoulders, and logging trucks and semis. The usual rules about people apply, use your senses, and get out if the situation is uncomfortable. The road is pretty public though, so not too much can happen. Do be prepared, of course, but a little intelligence will get you a loooong way. (Ari) I love to bike ride. I am horrible at it, don't have a bike (it was stolen years ago), and when I rode Hannah's bike, I got the ends of my pants stuck in the chain and tore them to shreds, and fell over. And by the way, riding a bike is not like riding a bike, if you know what I mean. The good side is that I am getting a new bike soon, and plan on getting really good and being able to ride for miles on end, and have lots of fun, and know everything about biking. :) ~Erin Hi, this is gabe (lester), with a question for the gurus. I really want to take a bike trip up to camp from Joshua Tree in SoCal. But I recently heard that you pretty much just don't ride south-north on the west coast because of winds. Naturally, I don't want to have a completely hellish experience on my virgin bike trip. What can you tell me about that? Thanks, Gabe Well, I biked the other way, and yes, had favorable winds a lot of the time. I had headwinds a lot too, maybe a little less than favorable, but it wasn't obvious... I bet that you wouldn't have any problems. (Ari) Oh, cool! Yeah, weather patterns... who knows. On the upside, the majority of the bikers you meet on the road and in camp grounds will be able to tell you what's coming up next. ~Reanna Chris, who deserves to be worshipped now that he is one day from finishing a 1600 mile trip, says: I bike because it's the most efficient form of transportation around. Because a bicycle goes the same speed as my attention span, allowing me to see all the scenery and the cool junk in the ditch (mercifully, it also forces me to watch my weight in roadkilled tools...). Because I dig the true rapport between well-trained muscle and well-adjusted machine, when you and the bike Grok [3] each other.Because I'm hooked now. wisest 50 dollars: once you calculate exchange rate,that comes out to about the price of a good rack. once you have a rack, the bicycle goes from a vehicle to get you around to a vehicle to get you and your stuff around. As a certified stuff addict, I like that. I have been on 2 bike trips that lasted over at least one night- one several years ago across half of wisconsin, and one counter-clockwise circumscription of Lake Superior-1450 miles, plus another 200 home.I think following the length of the Mississippi river would be cool- that goes on the list. the main equipment I would suggest for day trips or bumming around town is a small tool kit with the equipment necessary for repairing flat tires, adjusting brakes and whatever other minor repairs you'd rather do while sittng in the road ditch than walk home. It's worth noting, of course, that the knowhow to do the repairs is at least as important as the tools. Regarding the hazards of biking, the friends I ride with seem to think I'm the craziest driver on the road, so maybe people give me more room, but I think you are as safe as anyone in a car if you keep your wits about you and follow the rules people expect you to. good luck and enjoy the ride wherever you may go! [0] muscles. [1] prices only vaugly approximate. [2] This page has inspired me and gotten me thinking. See BackPacking [3] If you don't know what that means, skip the sentance. NBTSWikiWiki | Recent ChangesEdited 27 times, last edited on July 19, 2000 by 192.168.0.1. © 2000 NBTSC Webmasters |
Dawn
