Any cyclists here?

[JasonJ]

I have been here for a few years, and have not seen mention of anyone who cycles. I myself started serious cycling in 1984, road bike only. Did a lot of long rides, up to 100 milers. I was a teenager at that time, and all I thought about was riding. In 85, I started seeing people on these horrible heavy big tired things called mountain bikes. I decided to give it a try and never looked back. I have owned a number of mountain bikes. When I was stationed in Korea in 93 a bunch of us who ride went into the hills and build extensive trails and raced down them. Of course we injured ourselves constantly, but thats what helmets were for. Now I prefer fast singletrack, something I can cruise at good speeds, still get a good work out. I don't care much for the new downhill and freeriding movement where they are on engineless motorcycles wearing full body armor. It just doesn' seem like mountain biking to me. Right now my steed is a 99 Cannondale Super V 1000 full suspension rig, and I have replaced virtually all components with high end lightweight Shimano XTR and XT components. 28-32 pounds seems to be the current accepted weight for suspension bikes, I have mine down to 26 pounds, not too bad. I am considering getting a new frame, but I am happy with the indestructability of this frame. I am a heavy rider, and I am not kind to my equipment, so I need strength. Here is a quick pic...<br /><br />

 

[jsfinn]

Re: Any cyclists here?

Hey JasonJ - Im a Mountain Biker also and much like you, I prefer fast single track. Nothing is better than getting home after a long ride, pealing off your muddy shoes, and trying to figure out what all of the new bumps, bruises, and cuts are from. <br /><br />I ride a Specialized Hard Rock - mostely stock because it's pretty new and not much has stopped working yet.<br /><br />www.mtbreview.com is a good site if you havne't seen it yet.<br /><br />Road biking seems..eh..boring to me. It seems like if you had a road bike, you can only bike on the road but if you have a mountain bike, you can bike ANYWHERE. Besides, I'd rather take my chances with rocks and trees than some crazy driver.

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Any cyclists here?

Cool. The best riding I have had was in Colorado Springs when I was stationed at Ft Carson. You could just ride out the door and blaze. There is some good riding where I am at now, but you have to drive to get to the really good stuff. The locals are all into the freeride junk, and us cross-country types don't have much. I like some downhill stretches, but everything here is all about 20 foot drop-offs and junk like that. I still wouldn't trade the sport for nuthin, I'll just keep looking for my own sweet rides.

 

[crab bait]

Re: Any cyclists here?

i really would like to rec bike again for fun.. been 15 years..<br /><br />when i live in the bay area,, had a old camper van.. always had my CCM 10 speed stored in there nice & neat.. <br /><br />when i'd go to a place ,, never planned,, like sacromento, santa cruz, palo alto , berkeley, ect.. i'd park.. break out the bike,, an cruise around.. come back,, store bike in van,, off i go.<br /><br />i'd loved it.. <br /><br />the last time i rode a bike,, last spring,,for the first time since.. a friends teen boy's 10 speed with an OLD MANS seat.. for about a hour on flat road.. <br /><br />when i got back..<br />i literially thought i would have to go to the hospital..!! my seat area was in such agony..!! to the point where i knew,, honest to god,, i knew,, i would not ever be able to have siexx again.. EVER in my life .. i knew i had to be ruined,, i was in so much pain ,there.. if i was a lawyer,, i'd be suing somebody..!!<br /><br />grown adult men ought not to be doin' that bike ridin' on a prosterior support seat like that.!!<br />it's not good..!! not good at all..!!<br /><br />another thing,, why are boys,, bikes boys bikes..?? it makes no sense..<br /><br />i know one thing,, if i was to buy a bike.. it would diffinately be a girls style... for sure..!!

 

[jinx]

Re: Any cyclists here?

My 3 boys and I are going to ride the C&O canal towpath this summer. 185 miles along the the Potomac River. Should be a great acheivement for a 9 year old.<br /><br />Jinx

 

[snapperbait]

Re: Any cyclists here?

"Any cyclists here?" Only when the truck's broke, and since it's a chevy, well, I don't ride all that often..<br /><br />Actually, I was into flatland freestyle bmx for a while in my younger days, but I did'nt have the balance it takes to be real good at it.. Still had fun tho...<br /><br />I used to ride to work which was about a 7 mile round trip.. I tell ya, things keep being slow as they are with the boat yards, my buisness, and all that jazz, I might just blow the dust off the bike and take up riding to work again instead of running out $40-50 a week in gas... good exercise too..

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: Any cyclists here?

I assiduously avoid all forms of transportation that require physical exertion I am saving myself for the over 50 triathalon. I figure, I'll have a big advanatge because all of my parts will be like new

 

[tylerin]

Re: Any cyclists here?

Would it be to much to ask of you guys to ride in single file when your "cycling" down a main street Thanks

 

[jsfinn]

Re: Any cyclists here?

Jinx - have you ever tried the Washington and Old Dominion Trail?<br /><br />It's 44 miles of paved 2 lane bike path. Great for kids. You can ride further than that if you like - there are lots of branches.<br /><br />If you ride without the kids, you can stop off at the Dominion Brewing Company in Sterling for a nice cold beer nearly trailside. <br /><br /> http://www.wodfriends.org/ <br /> http://www.olddominion.com/

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Any cyclists here?

Tylerin, I avoid roads like the plague. Have you seen how people drive? BTW, as annoying as it is, cyclists have to obey the same rules of the road, and as such have the same rights to the road. While I personally feel that a gaggle of bikes hogging the road is unsafe and not necessary, they do have the right and you are powerless. You can always tell a group of experienced, serious cyclists as they are in a single file line, mostly for aerodynamics, not to be nice for cars. The inexperienced are the ones who are in a big gaggle and can't seem to go straight. You can't fault them though, because at least they are out there trying.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Any cyclists here?

hello<br /> I love cyclists. especially the size of their eyes when I tag the fender mounted airhorn . I dont cycle much anymore but used to love it. we had a lot of problems with tourists wanting to cycle between duck and corrola NC. that is when we mounted the twin airhorns on the right front of the net truck. net truck wasa 3/4 ton 1210 series 4wd IH. was a beast. get right up to them as they hogged the road and WHHHOOOOOOOOO.<br /> watch them fly<br /> why they wont ride in the bike path was a mystery. other than the bike path ended .<br />and its funny watching them with the high dollar road bikes with 1/4" wide tires when they hit the sand . cactus is hard on them as well . oh well it was all in the name of fun<br /> good luck and keep posting

 

[tylerin]

Re: Any cyclists here?

Rodbolt, where can I get me one of them lol

 

[11 footer]

Re: Any cyclists here?

My friend and I did alot of mountain bikeing this summer. The prolbem around here was finding places to go. We ended up finding a big sand pit about 30miles from my house. It was a blast for the bown hill stuff.<br /><br />We tryed one of them paved two lane bike paths, its a yuppy trap. There where way to many morons on their 700doller street bikes acting like sh!t heads. There must be the rudest bread of cyclists around, I can't tell you how bad I wanted to put a stick in their spokes <br /><br />Since them my friend and I have been spending more time in the woods on dirkbikes and ATV's. I enjoy them more, but I'll get back on the bike next summer.

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Any cyclists here?

Ryan, the roadies can be a pain. I have a paved path here that I like to use just to get a good burn on, for excersize purposes. Usually the roadies are all right, they'll say hi when they pass or give you the nod when they are coming towards you, but there is the occasional snooty one. I am usually in regular baggy shorts, a t-shirt, and my screaming yellow helmet. The roadies are in their skin tight biking garb, and the snooty ones will give me That Look. I don't care, nine times out of ten my bike is worth more than theirs anyway. What I really like is catching up to and passing roadies. It just irkes them to no end that they got passed by a mountain biker. When I am in good shape, I ride as fast as I can for as long as I can, and not a lot of the roadies can hang, and very few other mountain bikers can hang. Right now a three year old could smoke me, but that will change very soon...<br /><br />I like motorcylces and ATVs and all that, don't get me wrong, but it is also nice to be out in the woods, everything quiet, and its just you and your stamina. Of course, since that mountain biker female got attacked by that mountain lion in Cali, I'll be more on the lookout than I already am. We have a lot of mountain lions and bear up here.

 

[CCrew]

Re: Any cyclists here?

Jason, I'll send my 11 year old out to whup yer rear! We ride more casually than seriously, but she wanted a new bike for her birthday (Jan 1).. was tired of the "girl" bike she had. Bless her heart, she took to a sweet Gary Fisher 24 speed Mt Bike that was the "have to have". Who am I to tell her no? . Nice bike, I'm pretty impressed with it. I have a Mongoose D40i, and my wife has the womens version A40i. My son had to be the outcast and get a Specialized Hemi Comp BMX race bike! <br /><br />Be warned though, if ya see some little squirt on a white/blue Gary Fisher (she's only like 48" tall and weighs 55lbs) she'll keep up like you'd never believe!<br /><br />-Roger