The Bicycling thread

Last year my daughter and I did the Shoreline West Tour along the Lake Michigan coast. A 7 day, 387 miles trip through really beautiful country side. Lots of great scenery and lots of hills. One of the highlights for me was the ride through the [URL="https://mynorth.com/2017/05/m119-tunnel-of-trees/"]"tunnel of trees"[/URL] which is an iconic motorcycle ride. I had ridden the tunnel several times on the BMW. The slower speeds on the bicycle allowed me to really enjoy my surroundings and provided a totally different experience. I'm leaving tomorrow morning to do the tunnel again on the motorcycle. The colors should be peaking but the temps will be in the 40's.

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My roadie is an Alan Ultral carbon aluminum hybrid '04, mountain cross Giant NRS 3. Got back in the riding in 2000 when I decided I didn't want the BIG one before my time.

Started riding when I could reach the pedals of the family bike, JC Higgins 26 ballon. Many painful crashes on that bar, about '52. First bike hand down English three speed sisters bike. Which I crashed racing a Cushman Eagle, when the passenger kicked me into the gravel as I get even downhill. Next the first ten speed from sears. No one could believe how it could shift gears until I showed'em. About that time some new cars could be ordered with 4 speed trannies. Imagine! A bike with ten? Started doing long rides for that time, fifty miles out through the countryside. Next a Gitane, got married and gave it up until the Alan.

It's said you never forget how to ride a bike, but that first twenty feet was whoa! Now ride 15 miles every three days. No racing. Just ride a 52 to 14 gear all the time.

Should add, it's one of the best things I ever did for myself. It's solitude, it's nature, it's cardio, restful to stop and look up at the clouds on a sunny day, fun to nod at the regulars going the other way, and good to check the old pressure in the evening.

Todays ride through open range, always some interesting encounters, but the less traveled county road is a favorite route. We were startled by two huge elk right alongside roadway , though behind hi fencing at a wildlife refuge, never have seen them here.The picture taker (me) was not quick enough

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And they were already stringing the lights in J-city at the Electric Co-op

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Bet those cattle guards really rattle your teeth :)

Not as much as a cow broadside! Her strobe headlight seems to aggrivate them. Usually just the young ones scramble.

Some are newer and somewhat smooth...then there are the rest.:banghead

Those pics sure came out tiny this time...have to figure out what I did to cause that

Been pedallling since I a kid and didn’t get my first Moto until 25. I’m down to 7.5 bicycles, (one’s a tandem), amd 4 motorcycles. Unfortunately I haven’t done squat on my push bikes in a few years except to ride a cruiser to the beach with my surfboard.

My newest bike is an ‘09 Intense VP Tracer custom build and my roadie is a Litespeed Palmares that was a custom build about 15 years ago and was insured for $15K for replacement. When I rode DH bikes over 10 years ago most of those builds were in the $10K range. The VP was about an $8K build.

From the little I’ve looked it seems the prices have come down quite a bit in certain areas in the last few years. I was surprised to hear 26” wheels are totally old school now too.

People’s jaws drop at what you can spend on 2 wheeled machinery but almost get it when you explain custom vs production builds and low number high end manufacturing etc.

I’ve always liked the good stuff and a big part for me is that I just love the technology and aestetic of a beautiful well made machine. Building up your own bicycles to your own specs is a special kind of joy too. I used to be a sales rep for a bunch of distributors, getting my hands on the goods was too easy therefore I was perpetually broke.

If I ever get around to another bike I like the look of the Surly Ice Cream Truck fatty which would be perfect for my neck of the woods. That or touring bikes for the missus and me, maybe Surly Long Haul Truckers.

I wonder what the weather will be like when I get home in November, maybe I’ll go for a ride.

Two wheels and no engine? Egads! What is wrong with you people! ;-)

I have a bicycle in the attic of the garage of some forgotten brand, Cannondale perhaps? I had it out last year and maybe put 50 miles on it. This year it never saw day light. I have never been one to put any real miles on, 3-4 miles at a time perhaps. I should get out and ride more, keep the 59 year old ticker loosened up, but there always seems to be something else to do. Besides, if it is nice enough to go for a bicycle ride, it is definitely good motorcycle weather!!

Could be wrong , but I have the feeling that riding the bicycle tunes my balance in general with motorcycling, or maybe it's visa-versa. Leg strength is also tuned up. The two compliment each other.

Plus handling skills are transferred, certainly for off-road. If you ride bicycles in big cities it also tunes those skills.

I spent a few months in Taipei, Taiwan riding a fixie back and forth to work, what a hoot that was! A fast scooter would have been the next best thing.

Def agree on skills transfer between bikes and motors. :thumb

Some of the different styles of bikes available offer something for everyone...well, most. Skinny tires, fat tires, electric assist models and foldables and at every price point.

The first time I saw one of these, I did a serious double take :scratch

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Single sided fork, single front crank ring and a massive 50 tooth rear cog

Then the fatties, from beach cruisers to hunting and fishing rigs, even something for the snow crowd.

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There are several e bikes in this class and a few foldables for the travelers. This segment continues to expand

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Each year I see more of the fatties.
Looks like a good winter or beach bike.

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Bicycling became my cardio as the ankles and knees began fading. Every time the big muscles squeeze, the heart says thank you.

Fat bikes are also great for rocky rooty and boggy terrain like we have here.

[QUOTE=8ninety8;1144862]Bicycling became my cardio as the ankles and knees began fading. Every time the big muscles squeeze, the heart says thank you.[/QUOTE]

Same here. I'm just not very graceful when I run and that puts a lot of strain on the joints. I now prefer the bicycle for cardio. Maybe it's the wind in my face. Oh wait, that's the motorcycles...

[QUOTE=Lee;1144844]Each year I see more of the fatties.
Looks like a good winter or beach bike.

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Lots of those in my home town of Bend, OR during the winter. Always reminds me of the new and improved version of my 26" balloon tire bike as a kid.