Glad you're OK. I quit riding bicycles on the strets in EL Aye about 30 years ago, when I almost got killed twice in a few months. Nasty accident, my racing handle bar was showed in my sack, and came out around my navel. Lost a nut and a few feet of small intestine, and I was rushed to St. Johns in Santa Monica (happend in SaMO). I don't remember it but was told I was given the Last Rites.

I'll have to wait until I get back in town the week after next but then your on! Maybe we should start up a Pelican Parts cycle club!

Michael

Well it's why i used the term. :-P

Please come and join me! I am not nearly as strong as I'd like to be but I'm getting better every day I tackle those hills. We can try and meet up with dd74 and get our butts kicked! ;) I like the fact that there is safety in numbers.

Michael

I don't think you can pin the d-bag moniker on the Lexus driver at all.

You didn't miss the fact that the video showed there was a bike lane, did you?

If cyclists wanna get out and campaign for bike lanes and "their rights," they better be sure they use the frickin' bike lane and stop obstructing traffic.

It's not the Tour de France, guys. :rolleyes:

safety in numbers.

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Oh, trust me, they're both d-bags (cyclist & Lexus driver). I see both every single day. The "Lexus" drivers think they own the road as do the bicyclists. To see the two collide, as in this case, is priceless.

Seriously dudes, what's with the GAY spandex outfits?

Just to entice you.

Well, the right clothing wicks away perspiration. There's nothing worse than a soaking-wet shirt sticking to your back. And the shorts prevent chafing. Nut-rash sucks!

That being said, it's no different than the "costumes" Harley riders wear, yes? :confused:

If they're both d-bags, the cyclists were the worst of the two by far.

And nothing changes the fact that the cyclists should've been in the bike lane.

+1

True, true. The bicyclists regularly flaunt the law and ride 3 or 4 abreast, holding up traffic. FL law also states, regardless of the bicyclists position on the road, you must leave 3' space when passing them. So, on a busy two-lane road like A1A in this case, you can be stuck behind the cyclists for quite a long time.

So...bicyclists riding in a pack, blocking the traffic lane = d-bags.

Old Boca (ethnicity withheld) Lexus driver, too impatient to wait (regardless of the situation, you can't mow down people) = d-bag.

Win-win, no?

If i was a cop i'd have a serious hard on for bicyclists. I hate those militant nazi spandex wearing pack riders, and i've never even had a run in with them.

LOL.

Fixed it for you.

In CA, bicycles are considered vehicles and have just as much right to the ENTIRE lane as cars do.

That said, I ride as far to the right as possible, and always wear really bright clothes. As for the "spandex", the jerseys are usually a wicking fabric that dries quickly and they have pockets in the back for carrying jacket, food, etc, the shorts stay in one place and are padded. Doing a couple of hours in the saddle with the wrong shorts is not pleasant.

I've started riding again, been doing bits os Sepulveda but find it pretty terrifying during evening commute. I'm moving to SM and I'll have a lot quicker access to decent streets and PCH to ride.

There is a limit to how far right one can ride. If there are parked cars I leave enough room so that if someone decides to open their door I don't go boom. Also there tends to be a lot of crap (broken glass, metal, etc) in the gutters so you need to stay clear of that as well.

I used to do Tu/Th at the bowl back in the early 90s. I'm too old for that crap these days, and if I go down like I did then it'll take too long to heal :p

I agree with you here. They're a serious traffic hazard. I think we should send them all to France where they belong.;)

I do about seven laps, then hit the hills to tease myself with all the houses I can't afford. Cal Tech is sometimes there with their team. They're some freakin' fast rocket scientists.

It's the Specialized guys you have to watch out for. When they're in the group, it's game over. Once a Specialized team racer on a mountain bike set the pace -- on a hard-tail mountain bike with knobbed tires. :eek: He sounded like a 4wd truck with off road rubber. It was cool.

As far as the club, sure! That big Pelican mascot would make for an eye-catching jersey.
Wayne Dempsey? Are you reading this? Free advertising! :D

It's the risk one runs...SmileWavy

cat 1 riders are national riders. Is it still that way in the USCF rule book? Cat 1 allows you to ride national races. If you are not too strong, the Bowl ride will make you strong just sucking wheels. hang on for two laps and latch back on the next time around. Keep on doing it and get some long miles in on the weekend and you should see inprovment in 2 months.

I had built many of "race wheels" over the years, by hand. I really like a mid weight set for general riding and training. 3X straight guage wheel is great for training. I like to take guys over rough roads and shake em' up a little if they want to follow my wheel and not have worry about screwing up my race set. Not I just ride ksyrium. strong set of wheels. I really like them.

For the Montrose ride, you need a 52or 53ring for the climb. Its all power climb. a 42 ring will spit you the back so fast you wouldn't know what hit you. They are not really climbs like Trash Truck Hill, but a bunch of hills around neighborhoods. The killer is the last climb up to Sierra Marde. No little ring there, but by then, you are really beat after 40 miles of hard riding. BTW, there's ling loop and the short loop. You are doing these hills with a 53x17 gear. You will not need a 23 or 21 tooth gear on that ride. On the flats,you are spinning 53x 15s. Maybe we can get in better shape and go do the Montrose ride. I really need to ride.

Then there's always the biker's revenge...:D
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2431/...8bbeae0fdd.jpg

Anytime, Jeff. Just PM me.

Well....I see you don't hang out in Boca much... :rolleyes:

One of a litany of reasons not to live there.

I speak for all of L.A. in saying we're glad you're not interested to live here. :p

DD74:

I am sorry to read about your run in, but glad you are unhurt. The driver of the Honda is guilty of leaving the scene of an accident.

Driving irresponsibly in the vicinity of bicyclists is unacceptable. The potential for causing serious bodily injury or death is just too great.

Now, despite the fact that Ca law gives bicyclists equal access to the road, many roadways are simply too high risk for cyclists to "share". I like to ride my bike too, but there are roads that are simply too narrow (Chantry Flats Rd, Glendora Mntn/Cnyn Roads to name a couple in my area), or roads that are simply too busy (portions of Foothill blvd and Colorado Blvd) in San Gabriel Valley. I realize I am responsible for my own safety and well being. Therefore, I stay off these roads--duh!!!

IMO, Ca law and the practices of irresponsible bicyclists and motorists have created a recipe for DISASTER here in Los Angeles County. Bicycle lanes and dedicated paths need to be developed, expanded, and improved, But, in the mean time, bicyclists need to grab a clue, ride responsibly, and avoid dangerous roads. Neither Ca law nor spandex will save you when you collide with 1 or 2 tons of metal moving at 30+ mph...

Mike

This is at the park? Are they having loose organize rides again?

Why do you even respond or try to explain thing to him? He's said nothing but to put other people down.

At the Rose Bowl. Not Griffith Park. Though lately I've seen increasing number of racers training up in the hills.

Lots of fixies are riding around there too, no doubt with the idea to pick off geared riders, which they sometimes do. :D

True. Something about Sniper reminds me of Carl from Aqua Teen Hunger Hunger Force.

You know, sorta' like this:
http://z.about.com/d/animatedtv/1/0/y/Q/athfcarl.jpg

LOL....

Yeah, that's me alright.

And you need not worry, i have less than zero interest in Kalifornia in general, and LA in particular. I'd rather live in Philly, and that's REALLY saying something.