Spring riding tips

[grizzly adam]

I sent the following message to the BCR folk who are apart of our barely-used Yahoo! Group and thought it would also fit in nicely here. Anything you guys want to add?

The weather is starting to get awfully nice now. There's hardly any
sign of snow around and the lakes are almost opened up. This means
that we can actually start riding outside! I now some of you have
already been out on the road and maybe some of you are getting out on
the road for the first time in a long while. As we start to make the
transition from either riding inside or not riding at all to riding
outside here are some things to keep in mind:

The roads are dirty:
There's all sorts of dirt and crap that's been moved around from this
winter and it's all on the side of the road. This stuff can cause
flats and in an extreme situation, a crash. As you're out on the road,
remember that the dirt is there and that we have to deal
with it for awhile. Be sure to bring spares or ride with someone who
has one. Try not to ride through the dirt, but also don't swerve all
over the place to avoid it. That can spook fellow riders and especilly
drivers.

Drivers aren't used to seeing us (yet):
Drivers are getting antsy with the spring weather as well and lots of
motorists aren't used to seeing or looking for cyclists out on the
road. When you're out riding, keep that in mind and try to wear colors
that stand out (think my orange and pink LS jersey!) and stay close to
the shoulder. Don't get upset if you get honked at - getting run off
the road is another story - just smile and wave.

Pay attention:
For some of us, it's been awhile since we've been on our bikes and
with the winter layover, we're not quite where we were last fall. If
you're riding with a group of people, keep a heads-up attitude about
things - where you're going, who's around you, and what's coming up in
the road. Use your hand signals for people - motorists and fellow
bikers. Point out potholes that formed over the winter, large gravel
areas and of course your turns. If you're riding with someone new,
give them a little room until you learn their style of riding - are
they consistent with the pace, do they pedal and then coast. Do they
swerve, ride their brakes, etc. Get to know their habits. Don't
overlap wheels or ride too close. You want to be sure that everyone
has enough room to get around road debris without taking people down.

Bring a cell phone. Or change for a pay phone if you don't have a cell
phone.

Bring food:
Early rides are always fun cuz they're the first ones and we like to
think we can jump right in. For some of us, the winter was pretty
lazy, so the first ride of the season can be a little bit of a shock
to the body. Treat it well with food and water so that you complete
the ride feeling good.

Ride with someone:
It's just more fun this way!

Just some thoughts. Do you have any you'd like to share? Tell us.

Thanks for reading and if you get out and ride, be safe and have a
wonderful time!

Grizzly Adam

[waitabit]

Cool, except for the fact that you would'nt catch me dead in pink.

[fasterfoster]

I sent the following message to the BCR folk who are apart of our barely-used Yahoo! Group and thought it would also fit in nicely here. Anything you guys want to add?

"Drivers aren't used to seeing us (yet):"When do you think they'll get used to seeing us??? :crazy2:

Seriously, it looks like a nice reminder.

[grizzly adam]

REAL men can wear pink! :cool:

[waitabit]

REAL men can wear pink! :cool:I know, but you still wont see me wearing it.;)

[Trevize1138]

REAL men can wear pink! :cool:

That's why you never wear it. Got ya ;)

(yellow pimp shade superior, organge pimp shades inferior)

[grizzly adam]

Exactly. I never claimed to be the manly man that wears the pink/orange jersey. I can barely grow facial hair, let alone wear something as masculine as that.

Orange vs yellow - here we go again.

From Dictionary.com

yel·low n.

The hue of that portion of the visible spectrum lying between orange and green, evoked in the human observer by radiant energy with wavelengths of approximately 570 to 590 nanometers; any of a group of colors of a hue resembling that of ripe lemons and varying in lightness and saturation; one of the subtractive primaries; one of the psychological primary hues.
A pigment or dye having this hue.
Something that has this hue.


Chiefly Southern U.S. The yolk of an egg.
Western U.S. Gold. Used formerly by prospectors.
yellows Any of various plant diseases usually caused by fungi of the genus Fusarium or viruses of the genus Chlorogenus and characterized by yellow or yellowish discoloration.
Note how yellow lies BETWEEN orange and green. Not above or before, but after.



And let's not forget this: Slang. Cowardly.

Whereas ORANGE is this:

or·ange n.

Any of several southeast Asian evergreen trees of the genus Citrus, widely cultivated in warm regions and having fragrant white flowers and round fruit with a yellowish or reddish rind and a sectioned, pulpy interior, especially C. sinensis, the sweet orange, and C. aurantium, the Seville or sour orange.
The fruit of any of these trees, having a sweetish, acidic juice.


Any of several similar plants, such as the Osage orange and the mock orange.
The hue of that portion of the visible spectrum lying between red and yellow, evoked in the human observer by radiant energy with wavelengths of approximately 590 to 630 nanometers; any of a group of colors between red and yellow in hue, of medium lightness and moderate saturation.
adj.


Of the color orange.
Made from oranges.
Tasting or smelling like oranges.
Again, notice the placement of orange in relation to yellow - between red and yellow. BEFORE yellow.

So for these reasons, orange pimpshades are cooler than yellow and should be worn at all times. Especially spring time - they'll help with your riding. And getting chicks.:geek:

[waitabit]

Exactly. I never claimed to be the manly man that wears the pink/orange jersey. I can barely grow facial hair, let alone wear something as masculine as that.

Orange vs yellow - here we go again.

From Dictionary.com

[/list]Note how yellow lies BETWEEN orange and green. Not above or before, but after.



And let's not forget this:

Whereas ORANGE is this:

[/list]Again, notice the placement of orange in relation to yellow - between red and yellow. BEFORE yellow.

So for these reasons, orange pimpshades are cooler than yellow and should be worn at all times. Especially spring time - they'll help with your riding. And getting chicks.:geek:I'm going to buy some orange clothes right now!

[funky-funky-chicken]

I personally find that all black from head to toe is particularly effective for riding attire. I find its camouflage effects are desirable for my 4:30am commute to work.

[Don Youngdahl]

If you are looking for the maximum visibility in a garment, get the yellow/green that 's mostly yellow, with a hint of green hue. The average human eye has maximum sensitivity to that color.

If it's a vest or windbreaker, then the so-called fluorescent treatment to the fabric adds an additional advantage. Fluorescent colors reflect 7 percent more visible light than strikes them. By some process that I can't begin to understand, the fluorescent treatment shifts some of the light striking the fabric from the non-visible spectrum to the visible spetrum. No, I don't know if it's shifted from the higher or lower end of the spectrum, but I have this on good authority from a cyclist who's VP for R&D for a company that makes photo-luminescent and electro-luminescent products.

Maybe there should be a techie section on the forum.

Don Youngdahl

[noise_is_life]

My spring riding tip is to make sure to keep your tire pressure up, it helps prevent flats.

I routinely run my tires at 140 psi, of course you have to have tires that can handle that.

[bigwheel]

My hint:

I also run a set of "tire savers" on my road bike. They are little wires that drag on the top of the tire, and flick off the bits of glass before they work their way into the rubber.

If you get caught in the rain, you'll have to bend them upward, off of the tire, or else it gets messy.

[el gueche]

isn't pink the new black?

[manual63]

Keep in mind. Most of the sidewalks are clear now. I like the sidewalks out in the burbs. Hardly any peds and lots of curb and grass jumps. Yep.....those women on cell phones in those SUVs can be kinda scary and man.....this is not even a joke. Look around when you are driving in the Burbs. I think almost every SUV drivin' woman is on the phone......I swear!!!!

Get some hopping skills and you won't mind the sidewalks at all......:)

[manual63]

Funny......LOL....I just noticed this was in the Road section....LOL.

Guess you better start learning to hop on that road bike.....I do it.....:laugh:

[noise_is_life]

Hopping is pretty easy on the road bike, but riding on the sidewalks is not so much fun at road bike speeds and high pressure skinny tires.

[manual63]

Hopping is pretty easy on the road bike, but riding on the sidewalks is not so much fun at road bike speeds and high pressure skinny tires.

Yeah....that's why my post is so funny. I have an aluminum fork on my GT Road bike. Man.....every crack goes right to my unhelmeted skull!!

[fasterfoster]

Yeah....that's why my post is so funny. I have an aluminum fork on my GT Road bike. Man.....every crack goes right to my unhelmeted skull!!You're just looking for trouble, aren't you?:laugh: :laugh:

[manual63]

You're just looking for trouble, aren't you?:laugh: :laugh:

Don't I always look for trouble? I don't know why.....maybe I like to see the sensitive people over react to what I say sometimes......:D