We saw many things like some dude in a Chucky Mask on a bike. It was funny but I think that dude must have been hot and sweaty in the plastic mask!
There were many riders, runners and we saw two guys on horse back.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Y.M.C.A to Santa Fe Dam
Ah what a great ride. Today, Meme, Peter, Carl, Kevin and I rode down 605 Trail, I think the correct name is San Gabriel Trail. It was nice to see Kevin after his 5 - 6 month hiatus. For him, its back to business and he did really well. On the way to Santa Fe Dam he hung with both Carl and Meme.
We saw many things like some dude in a Chucky Mask on a bike. It was funny but I think that dude must have been hot and sweaty in the plastic mask!
There were many riders, runners and we saw two guys on horse back.
We saw many things like some dude in a Chucky Mask on a bike. It was funny but I think that dude must have been hot and sweaty in the plastic mask!
There were many riders, runners and we saw two guys on horse back.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Skid Marks - Recent Developments
Riding fixed gear is no easy task, sure its a throw back from the days of old, the first type of bicycle. I picture some dude in knickers, sports jacket and handlebar mustache riding his fixed gear on some back country road.
Fast forward to 2009 FG bikes are all the rage so being the enthusiast that I am I had to build one. Well I did and riding has been a blast and learning experience.
First, just riding a bike with NO freewheel was something to adjust to. My natural inclination is to stop pedaling when at the apex of a hill or "coast" on the down hill. Even in a turn, you don't think about it but you really stop pedaling, re-adjusting your pedal/crank in perspective to the ground to avoid pedal strike. I was quickly reminded I can't do these things on a fixed gear. With a fixed gear you have no choice but keep pedaling, period.
The Stop: Stopping can be tricky. I initially built the Green Hornet with no brakes but quickly axed that idea when cruising around my block. Stopping quickly is impossible. Sure you can romanticize on the idea of being one with your bike, the beauty of a simple machine. The oneness of human and bike maybe a romantic notion but without brakes it unsafe. I don't know how those crazy messengers barrel through the streets of New York, weaving through crowded boulevards and in and out of traffic without brakes. No way no how is that for me. I have neither the strength nor the skills to stop on a dime without a brake.
The bottom line, I installed a front brake. The front brake is what actually slows you down and I can apply enough back pressure to the cranks to stop sufficiently. I have also been practicing my skid. It took me a while to figure this one out but thanks to Sheldon Brown (Google him, he knows everything about bicycles), clipless pedals and determination, I finally learned how to skid on a fixed gear bike. The trick is to pull up on one pedal while applying mad amounts of downward force on the opposite. This function will effectively "skip" the rear wheel and if your are going fast enough you'll break into a skid.
Fast forward to 2009 FG bikes are all the rage so being the enthusiast that I am I had to build one. Well I did and riding has been a blast and learning experience.
First, just riding a bike with NO freewheel was something to adjust to. My natural inclination is to stop pedaling when at the apex of a hill or "coast" on the down hill. Even in a turn, you don't think about it but you really stop pedaling, re-adjusting your pedal/crank in perspective to the ground to avoid pedal strike. I was quickly reminded I can't do these things on a fixed gear. With a fixed gear you have no choice but keep pedaling, period.
The Stop: Stopping can be tricky. I initially built the Green Hornet with no brakes but quickly axed that idea when cruising around my block. Stopping quickly is impossible. Sure you can romanticize on the idea of being one with your bike, the beauty of a simple machine. The oneness of human and bike maybe a romantic notion but without brakes it unsafe. I don't know how those crazy messengers barrel through the streets of New York, weaving through crowded boulevards and in and out of traffic without brakes. No way no how is that for me. I have neither the strength nor the skills to stop on a dime without a brake.
The bottom line, I installed a front brake. The front brake is what actually slows you down and I can apply enough back pressure to the cranks to stop sufficiently. I have also been practicing my skid. It took me a while to figure this one out but thanks to Sheldon Brown (Google him, he knows everything about bicycles), clipless pedals and determination, I finally learned how to skid on a fixed gear bike. The trick is to pull up on one pedal while applying mad amounts of downward force on the opposite. This function will effectively "skip" the rear wheel and if your are going fast enough you'll break into a skid.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Cal Poly Insect Fair - A Day Out With Grandma, Adam and Fran
Spent day with Grandma, Adam and Fran. We went to the Cal Poly Insect Fair and both kids had a chance to touch a millipede, a hissing cockroach, a walking stick, a big hairy tarantula and many more bugs. I bought some honey for Jamie.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Glendora Mountain Road with Bicycle Friends
Met Annette, Bill and Matt on GMR for a nice ride. This was my first time back since the Station Fire and lots was burnt.
We rode Fork plus 2 or 3 met many cyclist and a few cars/motorcycles.
We rode Fork plus 2 or 3 met many cyclist and a few cars/motorcycles.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Potato with a few Bicycle Friends
It was a cold cloudy morning when Carl pulled into my driveway. At 6:45 am it was still dark and the clouds hung low in the air. I loaded my bike and we were quickly off to meet Grace and Sarah for a big mountain bike ride. Today I had hopes of riding to Potato. The ride was a lot of fun and we made it to Potato.
