Ultimate Bike Thread....

[Racerbvd]

Originally Posted by look 171

How many bikes do you have, Peter?

That’s an awfully personal question. Like when someone asks me

how many cars do you have? How many sets of Fuchs do you have? How many bicycles do you have???

[look 171]

Originally Posted by LEAKYSEALS951

Tell em' don't worry, the rides are getting out of hand, and next week they will be starting A B C groups.
"A" stands for agony.
"B" group will be riders B*****ing about the pace.
"C" group stands for Crying, like little babies.
Something for everyone.

This ride started life as one group. About 20 years ago, the slower, second group formed. I have been riding "B" for some time on and off for the past 10 years. Their avg speed is about 24-28 on the flats. The big kids are always near 30+. These are young men, activity racing. I can hang for about 20 miles, that's it and I try like hell to stay on. About 15-20 miles in, our B group will split, the slower riders will get drop and form their own little group for the rest of the ride. I do not want to get stuck in the split, many aren't strong enough to do their turn and they just ended up riding the rest of the 20-30 miles at a slower pace looking for a wheel to suck. I am ok with wheel suckers but at least do their turn, 5 pedals stroke is all we ask but they refuse to do just that, slowing up the pace. We no longer say anything and many of them are new riders that are young, strong enough to stay on for a bit but have no idea of group riding experience sometimes causing accidents. Sucks, no fun. Like clock work, 10 miles in on the first long gradual 2% incline, they pick up the pace another 4-5 mph to get rid of the leaches.

I do about 80-120 pretty hard miles weekly to stay up with them. Getting too old for this. 60 near the end of the year. Most of the riders are in their 30-50 year range. There's a 67 year old who show up every Saturday. He was the Sottish time trail champ at one time back in the early 80s. Tough old guy, doesn't know what stop is. Rides daily, 200 miles weekly like clock work. Amazing thing is, he's not taking any meds.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by Racerbvd

That’s an awfully personal question. Like when someone asks me

Then I must ask, how much do you weight instead?

[look 171]

Cliff, ho wmuch do you like suffering? Some people love it.

IF the goal is jsut to get out for some fresh air, enjoy the ride and kick tires after, you might look into an E-Gravel bike. I am not even sure if they exist (almost sure they do). It helps because its elec. assisted. Just be warn, you might get siht for it. Oh yeah, you will still get a hell of a work out on it if you want.

[gregpark]

All real cyclists are addicted to pain and suffering. Not sure why but for me I think a lot of it may be the endorphin high after the ride? The cold beer after is enjoyable too 😊

[CurtEgerer]

Originally Posted by gregpark

Now that you posted the license sticker you know some 85 year old MSU alum is going to claim it as theirs 😃

I've actually been thinking of that

[herr_oberst]

It's interesting that there are enough great artists around to paint all those custom bikes these days.
(Same with custom helmets. It seems like every rider and driver in any top series gets a new, custom painted helmet every single race.)

[LEAKYSEALS951]

Originally Posted by look 171

Rides daily, 200 miles weekly like clock work. Amazing thing is, he's not taking any meds.

I remember when I was starting out. Some guy named "Rock" would be riding around town and encourage me to hang on his wheel. Then we'd be doing 25mph ave. everywhere. Amazing.

He said "If you want to stay in shape, do 100 a week. If you want to be FAST, do 200"
I always wondered why he was so nice to a newbie like me. Looking back, I think he was so lonely doing 200 a week, he was just happy to see someone.
He was an inspiration!

For me groups do what they do. I figure "Take it or leave it" The social preaching and drama doesn't do it for me. I get too much of that at my work

[LEAKYSEALS951]

oh yeah, went on a bike trip this weekend, saw this in bar:

[look 171]

Originally Posted by LEAKYSEALS951

I remember when I was starting out. Some guy named "Rock" would be riding around town and encourage me to hang on his wheel. Then we'd be doing 25mph ave. everywhere. Amazing.

He said "If you want to stay in shape, do 100 a week. If you want to be FAST, do 200"
I always wondered why he was so nice to a newbie like me. Looking back, I think he was so lonely doing 200 a week, he was just happy to see someone.
He was an inspiration!

For me groups do what they do. I figure "Take it or leave it" The social preaching and drama doesn't do it for me. I get too much of that at my work

Yeah, I stay away from most mouthy folks. Usually younger, riders that has been doing it for 4-5 years and they seem to know it all. Funny thing is, some of us that had been doing it for a long time or stay out front all know each other and the words get around so the mouthy ones know of our experiences or history and they stay away or keep their trap shut. Not need for that kind of crap coming from me. IF they are going to stay up front, we only ask that they hold their line so they don't cause a wreck.

We always have a few serious riders even in the dark ages, 80s, here in LA but nothing like today, everyone is in spandex holding up traffic with their deep dish carbon wheels. I remember getting the riot act from a guy name Ron Skarin on my way to a local Wednesday training ride when I was 17. Skarin was in the 72 Olympic. He would smack me in the back of the head, no helmets back then, and say, close that gap even if I was dying, lung hanging out of my mouth gasping for air. So I chased. After the ride, on our way home, he come up and say, ride slow, but put in your miles weekly and your speed and endurance will come. I always remember that. In my early 20s, I was doing 350-400 a week in the summer including riding to and from all the weekly local training rides later, the track. Have no job, going to school part time, building cabinets out of my parent's house. I was fit, fast and no longer afraid to chase breaks. What the hell did I get out if it? Not a fooking thing but finishing local crits, top ten. Bagged only two races in all my years of racing (not one win at the track) and one I was DQ for running another rider into the hay bail. It was pay back only that I was caught. Thinking back, it was too much fun.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

^That's so funny.
I had a friend, Magnus, from Sweden. He was fast as hell.
His advice: If you are getting dropped and can't hold on a wheel? Pedal HARDER!!!!"

Another pic from the weekend, pulled into said bar. Owner was a bike guy. "Where'd you come from?" He asked. I told him. "Holy sh$% beers on the house!"
All the free Nat Bo's I could drink!

[LEAKYSEALS951]

Another wall ornament on his wall: (sorry for crappy pic)

[look 171]

Now that's a cool place to stop. Sadly, I don't really drink. One beer, maybe two but it must be ice cold. Yeah, I am spoiled.

[CurtEgerer]

These are my regular riding buddies in the 80s (Bruce, me, Joel, Mike) at school up in the Keweenaw Peninsula in Mich. Riding paradise up there. Joel was a semi-pro rider in Venezuela and taught this flatlander how to climb (and love it).