I'd intended to try to hit a hundred miles over the New Year weekend, but fell a bit short.
The weather here has been incredible - mid 60's to low 80's (depending on whether you're at the beach or inland) every day - just our normal, amazing Southern California winter weather, thank you!
Anyway, I got out late on Saturday, so opted for a short 10-mile blast to the lake and back. Tried to keep it as intense as possible, but the lake was super crowded - definitely not the place for a hot lap. It was already cooling and pre-dusk when I got back, so I decided to try to make it up on Sunday and Monday.
I got out late again Sunday and rode the 25-mile out-and-back to Adams and Park, initially intending to take a turn through downtown or maybe even Ocean Beach. When I got down to around 30th St., I was a little surprised at how much cooler and breezier it was (compared to home). Still, it was pleasant, but I decided to call Park my turnaround point, and resolved to go early and long on Monday.
When I left the house this morning, Monday at 9:30, it was just barely cool enough for the sweater I was wearing, but I had a hunch I might need it later, so I was carrying bungee cords in case I had to take it off, but hedging against cooler weather. I was only a block away from the house when I decided to turn back - that bottom bracket clunk was annoying and I decided I didn't want to fret about it on a long ride (more about the clunk in a later post). Too bad, I was really looking forward to riding the Blue bike - it felt so light and lively!
After transferring the water bottle and saddlebag to the single-speed Relic, I was on my way, and planning to do a 100K loop up to Del Mar, over the Hwy 56 bike trail and home - an ambitious ride for an old fart on a single-speed, but I've been riding a bit stronger lately, so I decided to go for it. I could always use public transportation for my bail-out plan, right?
I shed the sweater on the first climb, only 2 miles from home. It was gloriously warm and sunny, and looked like it would be a great ride day. Once I got down into the San Diego River Valley, I was glad I'd opted for the sweater and put it back on after getting to Mission Bay Park. The ride from the bay up the coast was fine, and I even felt pretty strong going up Gilman, chatting with a fellow cyclist, staying in the saddle about 3/4 of the way up, finally dismounting to walk it only up the last 70 yards or so, then re-mounting as soon as it leveled a bit, then up through the UCSD campus and over to Torrey Pines Rd. Coming down Torrey Pines grade, I was almost wishing I'd had something warmer than the sweater, but it proved to be enough once I started pedaling again.
The bike path next to Hwy 56 is really nice - rolling, clean, smooth, and quite scenic in spots. I wanted to take pictures for this post, but didn't want to fuss with digging in the saddlebag to get my phone.
Turning south on Black Mountain Road saw me doing more hike-a-bike, mostly because I was feeling a little gassed and my right knee was getting sore. Once I made it to Mira Mar road, the going was pretty easy, mostly downhill through Kearney Mesa and down to the Stadium. I was dreading the climb up to La Mesa, certain I'd be doing a lot of walking on my (now very tender) knee, so I opted for the bail-out, taking the trolley from the Stadium to within 1-1/2 miles of home.
It was a fine way to start the year, and sets a good benchmark (about 90 miles) for me to surpass. I intend to work up to 100-mile weekends in the spring (on a geared bike), and hopefully 100-mile days shortly after that, and perhaps even 200K brevets before year-end.
Monday
Why NOT to wear a helmet
Or at least why NOT to try to convince everyone ELSE to wear one.
Mikael-Colville Anderson feels we live in a culture of fear that scares people away from seeing the bike as a rational and safe means of transportation by relying heavily on promoting helmet usage. He pulls from scientific studies and various polls that reference both the risks and rewards of cycling as well as other activities, such as driving and walking. Ultimately, he feels cycling gets the short end of the stick as an activity that is promoted as far more dangerous than it actually is.
I agree!
Click HERE for the whole story.
Mikael-Colville Anderson feels we live in a culture of fear that scares people away from seeing the bike as a rational and safe means of transportation by relying heavily on promoting helmet usage. He pulls from scientific studies and various polls that reference both the risks and rewards of cycling as well as other activities, such as driving and walking. Ultimately, he feels cycling gets the short end of the stick as an activity that is promoted as far more dangerous than it actually is.
I agree!
Click HERE for the whole story.
Saturday
Bike Town
Velo Cult, one of the coolest bike shops I've ever seen is leaving San Diego in favor of Portland, Oregon.
Yes, you read it right - the store is changing their city of residence from San Diego to Portland. A pretty radical move, on the face of it. Moreover, they're taking the whole staff (4 employees) with them. (Insert tasteless "kool-aid" joke here...)
In some ways, I sympathise with their decision. The owners are new parents, cycling advocates and social activists; I'm imagine that one reason for the decision could be to assure that their child(ren) is/are raised in the most bike-positive environment possible, and arguably, in the US, that place is (from all reports) Portland.
As a happy "cycling-positive" resident of San Diego, I have been encouraged by the social awareness that Velo Cult seemed to represent. There's a program started by VC that fosters bike commuting by encouraging area retailers to offer discounts to customers that arrive by bike. There's a San Diego Bike Union that fosters cycling for transportation. There are a few neighborhoods in San Diego that seem to be quite bike friendly. And of course our climate is a huge plus.
But San Diego is primarily defined culturally by it's lack of being a 'this-' or 'that-' town. We're a town of transplants, vagabonds, students and generally a feel-good do-little sort of town.
Geographically, we're a large, spread-out suburban sprawl of beaches and canyons navigated by serpentine, narrow roads or high-speed freeways. And San Diego's freeway traffic is becoming legendary - some of the fastest average speeds in the US (subjectively about 85MPH average speed) are found on our freeways. When car drivers leave a freeway where they've been going that fast, their psychological inertia seems to push them to drive 20MPH over the surface street posted limits, too. And the impatient, mean-spirited Los Angeles driving style is migrating south to San Diego as well.
Everyone here seems to drive. Even though we've been upgrading our public transportation, putting in light rail systems all over the county, the main effect of those seems to be enabling our homeless population more mobility. Most of the day sees the 'Trolley' (as it's called) running far below capacity. About the only time it's full is when the Padres are playing a Home game.
I wouldn't want to live anywhere else (although the theoretical idea of an American Copenhagen or Amsterdam is appealing). I understand why a Cycling-centric business would prefer to thrive in a Cycling-centric community.
Sure seems as though their move is going to set San Diego back a few steps on the path to becoming the cycling community I wish we were.
Farewell, Velo Cult. I'll be watching from here, hoping you prosper and flourish in your new home.
Yes, you read it right - the store is changing their city of residence from San Diego to Portland. A pretty radical move, on the face of it. Moreover, they're taking the whole staff (4 employees) with them. (Insert tasteless "kool-aid" joke here...)
In some ways, I sympathise with their decision. The owners are new parents, cycling advocates and social activists; I'm imagine that one reason for the decision could be to assure that their child(ren) is/are raised in the most bike-positive environment possible, and arguably, in the US, that place is (from all reports) Portland.
As a happy "cycling-positive" resident of San Diego, I have been encouraged by the social awareness that Velo Cult seemed to represent. There's a program started by VC that fosters bike commuting by encouraging area retailers to offer discounts to customers that arrive by bike. There's a San Diego Bike Union that fosters cycling for transportation. There are a few neighborhoods in San Diego that seem to be quite bike friendly. And of course our climate is a huge plus.
But San Diego is primarily defined culturally by it's lack of being a 'this-' or 'that-' town. We're a town of transplants, vagabonds, students and generally a feel-good do-little sort of town.
Geographically, we're a large, spread-out suburban sprawl of beaches and canyons navigated by serpentine, narrow roads or high-speed freeways. And San Diego's freeway traffic is becoming legendary - some of the fastest average speeds in the US (subjectively about 85MPH average speed) are found on our freeways. When car drivers leave a freeway where they've been going that fast, their psychological inertia seems to push them to drive 20MPH over the surface street posted limits, too. And the impatient, mean-spirited Los Angeles driving style is migrating south to San Diego as well.
Everyone here seems to drive. Even though we've been upgrading our public transportation, putting in light rail systems all over the county, the main effect of those seems to be enabling our homeless population more mobility. Most of the day sees the 'Trolley' (as it's called) running far below capacity. About the only time it's full is when the Padres are playing a Home game.
I wouldn't want to live anywhere else (although the theoretical idea of an American Copenhagen or Amsterdam is appealing). I understand why a Cycling-centric business would prefer to thrive in a Cycling-centric community.
Sure seems as though their move is going to set San Diego back a few steps on the path to becoming the cycling community I wish we were.
Farewell, Velo Cult. I'll be watching from here, hoping you prosper and flourish in your new home.
Thursday
Rough-Stuff Cycling
I found this on the Veterans Cycling Club - New England Section blog. quote:
From a letter by Bill Paul, founder of the Rough Stuff Fellowship, to the Rough Stuff Journal, vol. 13 no. 6, 1968:
Having been indulging in this form of escapade since 1921 I am ready to admit that many people will have many opinions, and to simplify the answer to a simple question my answer is - any way, road, track or path which is free from modern tar-macadam! When I first started it was known as pass-storming, for fifty years ago the Llanberis, Honister and similar road passes were all rough and loose metal [gravel] thrown down and spread across. Motor cars were few then and seldom passed along these routes. Then routes along drove roads and sheep tracks were sought out and when Wayfarer publicized, through article-writing and public lecture, his crossing of the Nant Rhyd Wilem that really started something we know today as "rough stuff"....
On the bicycle itself, does anyone really want a special one? I don't. Any bicycle that you can propel, push, drag, lift or carry, will do. I like something handy and reasonably light and not over done with too many mechanical "aids". Mine is a Parkes Autograph lightweight with Dunlop lightweight high pressure rims, fitted with a speed tyre and a four-speed medium S.A. gear - and what I can't do on or with that I'll leave alone. I have quite a tally of routes achieved, including the crossing of Black Sail with my wife - and a tandem!
And more background, this from The Bicycle, 1954:
The Bicycle October 27, 1954
'WHO WANTS TO JOIN A ROUGH-STUFF FELLOWSHIP'?
"Winova's" article "Are the rough ways losing their popularity?" (The Bicycle 13/10/54), in which she describes some of her rough-stuff interludes in Scotland, pleased me because, like her, I have always been a searcher of the remote, wild and more desolate country which is to be seen "off the beaten track" [sic]. Like her, I wonder if the modern lightweight, with it's Continental this and super that, prompts the rider to keep on the billiard-table surfaces of modern tarmac.
Nevertheless, I believe there are still a small select circle who love the rough and high ways amongst the mountains of Wales, the Lakes and Scotland.
What interested me particularly was "Winova's" reference to the matter of badges for the crossing of some of the tougher, rougher ways. This prompts me to suggest the formation of a fellowship of such rough-stuff enthusiasts.
A badge might be designed in due course and an annual meeting at some prearranged rendexvous where experiences could be exchanged. There would be have to be a qualification for membership, of course, and I believe adistinguished and worthy president could be prevailed upon to accept the position.
Who, then, would care to become a member of "The Rough-Stuff Fellowship"?
Liverpool. W.H. Paul
The Bicycle November 17, 1954
SUPPORT FOR ROUGH-STUFF FELLOWSHIP
May I say how much I am in favor with the admirable suggestion of W.H. Paul concerning a "Rough Stuff Fellowship". For many years now I have included in every ride, wherever possible some miles of "green lanes" of cross-country work. The sense of adventure and interest to be found in traversing country without signposts and metal [gravel] highway is infinite.
To stand on the summit of a mountain crossing in wild lonliness summons up all the joy of sheer achievement. In several hundreds of miles of diverse surfaces, across fields, bogs, boulders, and the like, my machine has yet to suffer dammage of any kind. Admittedly the going can be rough, but the reward far outweighs the effort and satidfactionn is the greater.
Judging by the kindred spirits encountered in my own travels, such a fellowship as proposed by Mr. Paul would be extremely exclusive. Yes, by all means let us have a chance to exchange reminisces; they would, I am sure, prove most revealing, and I personally would give every support to such a venture.
Oxford. K.E. Walker
Congratulations to W.H. Paul for his suggestion regarding the formation of a "Rough Stuff Fellowship". I feel that this aspect of cycling has been much neglected, because of the fact that it is too slow for the majority of modern club-folk.
I am essentially interested in racing, but I cannot help feeling that too little attention is paid to the much more satisfyling pursuit of touring, especially the great thrill one experiences when one has conquered one of the "rough and high ways".
This proposed fellowship must thus remain difficult to enter, in order to add incentive to those who wish to become members. I hope I shall be among the first.
Leeds University C. C. Michael Bamlett
There is an organization today that still pursues this sort of adventure: the Rough Riders
From a letter by Bill Paul, founder of the Rough Stuff Fellowship, to the Rough Stuff Journal, vol. 13 no. 6, 1968:
Having been indulging in this form of escapade since 1921 I am ready to admit that many people will have many opinions, and to simplify the answer to a simple question my answer is - any way, road, track or path which is free from modern tar-macadam! When I first started it was known as pass-storming, for fifty years ago the Llanberis, Honister and similar road passes were all rough and loose metal [gravel] thrown down and spread across. Motor cars were few then and seldom passed along these routes. Then routes along drove roads and sheep tracks were sought out and when Wayfarer publicized, through article-writing and public lecture, his crossing of the Nant Rhyd Wilem that really started something we know today as "rough stuff"....
On the bicycle itself, does anyone really want a special one? I don't. Any bicycle that you can propel, push, drag, lift or carry, will do. I like something handy and reasonably light and not over done with too many mechanical "aids". Mine is a Parkes Autograph lightweight with Dunlop lightweight high pressure rims, fitted with a speed tyre and a four-speed medium S.A. gear - and what I can't do on or with that I'll leave alone. I have quite a tally of routes achieved, including the crossing of Black Sail with my wife - and a tandem!
 |
| The Bicycle, 1954 |
The Bicycle October 27, 1954
'WHO WANTS TO JOIN A ROUGH-STUFF FELLOWSHIP'?
"Winova's" article "Are the rough ways losing their popularity?" (The Bicycle 13/10/54), in which she describes some of her rough-stuff interludes in Scotland, pleased me because, like her, I have always been a searcher of the remote, wild and more desolate country which is to be seen "off the beaten track" [sic]. Like her, I wonder if the modern lightweight, with it's Continental this and super that, prompts the rider to keep on the billiard-table surfaces of modern tarmac.
Nevertheless, I believe there are still a small select circle who love the rough and high ways amongst the mountains of Wales, the Lakes and Scotland.
What interested me particularly was "Winova's" reference to the matter of badges for the crossing of some of the tougher, rougher ways. This prompts me to suggest the formation of a fellowship of such rough-stuff enthusiasts.
A badge might be designed in due course and an annual meeting at some prearranged rendexvous where experiences could be exchanged. There would be have to be a qualification for membership, of course, and I believe adistinguished and worthy president could be prevailed upon to accept the position.
Who, then, would care to become a member of "The Rough-Stuff Fellowship"?
Liverpool. W.H. Paul
The Bicycle November 17, 1954
SUPPORT FOR ROUGH-STUFF FELLOWSHIP
May I say how much I am in favor with the admirable suggestion of W.H. Paul concerning a "Rough Stuff Fellowship". For many years now I have included in every ride, wherever possible some miles of "green lanes" of cross-country work. The sense of adventure and interest to be found in traversing country without signposts and metal [gravel] highway is infinite.
To stand on the summit of a mountain crossing in wild lonliness summons up all the joy of sheer achievement. In several hundreds of miles of diverse surfaces, across fields, bogs, boulders, and the like, my machine has yet to suffer dammage of any kind. Admittedly the going can be rough, but the reward far outweighs the effort and satidfactionn is the greater.
Judging by the kindred spirits encountered in my own travels, such a fellowship as proposed by Mr. Paul would be extremely exclusive. Yes, by all means let us have a chance to exchange reminisces; they would, I am sure, prove most revealing, and I personally would give every support to such a venture.
Oxford. K.E. Walker
 |
| I hope they weren't all forced to share the one cycle! |
Congratulations to W.H. Paul for his suggestion regarding the formation of a "Rough Stuff Fellowship". I feel that this aspect of cycling has been much neglected, because of the fact that it is too slow for the majority of modern club-folk.
I am essentially interested in racing, but I cannot help feeling that too little attention is paid to the much more satisfyling pursuit of touring, especially the great thrill one experiences when one has conquered one of the "rough and high ways".
This proposed fellowship must thus remain difficult to enter, in order to add incentive to those who wish to become members. I hope I shall be among the first.
Leeds University C. C. Michael Bamlett
There is an organization today that still pursues this sort of adventure: the Rough Riders
Wednesday
New Maker Added
Just added a new "maker" to the link list over on the left. Normally I don't post about every link I add, but I want to bring Worksman cycles to your attention.
They manufacture a good variety of cargo bikes, mobility trikes, cruisers, commuters, and even retro boneshakers. Some very interesting and very useful bikes - and these are not boutique prices! In fact, for what you'd pay for a cargo bike, you could easily recoup your investment in a very short time.
They don't make it easy to capture photos of their bikes, so click through and have a browse.
They manufacture a good variety of cargo bikes, mobility trikes, cruisers, commuters, and even retro boneshakers. Some very interesting and very useful bikes - and these are not boutique prices! In fact, for what you'd pay for a cargo bike, you could easily recoup your investment in a very short time.
They don't make it easy to capture photos of their bikes, so click through and have a browse.
Sunday
Sufferfaces
This is what pro bike racing is all about - suffering.
I hold these athletes in the highest regard.
Stolen from Le Grimpeur by way of Big Ring
Wednesday
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