What's new
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.

Bicycles

WOW thats very impressive for your kids! And some beautiful areas to ride too.. RAGBRAI is on my list at some point. Probably will be when the kids are older (hopefully with them!)

Yah I truly hate riding on the road- even in a group- I have found that riding early (like 4:30-5am) helps as there is no traffic out and you can see people coming from a long ways away.. I also know a lot of people that use the Garmin Varia rear radar system. I just dont want to spend the money lol
 
Groz's Burb said:
That is a sexy rig. Is there a specific color code for that green? Nice bikes btw, that Supercal looks fun to bomb around on.
Click to expand...
thanks! I am not sure the color code, I have a can in the basement somewhere but i dont know if it has a code on it. I hope it will be able to be matched in the future because I will most likely get it repainted at some point
 
TuckerK5 said:
I don’t know anyone who is still road riding in my area.
It’s suicide to try it around here now.
Click to expand...

We definitely have to be picky when choosing roads to ride. Living in the middle of nowhere does make it easier finding quiet roads.

As for the 3-foot law, I've never looked into whether we actually have one. But you wouldn't think so, looking at our local drivers.

There's a reason you don't see any cars in those pictures. Back roads are best.
 
shond100 said:
Yah I truly hate riding on the road- even in a group- I have found that riding early (like 4:30-5am) helps as there is no traffic out and you can see people coming from a long ways away.. I also know a lot of people that use the Garmin Varia rear radar system. I just dont want to spend the money lol
Click to expand...

Yeah. I'm blessed in that 8 of the 10 miles on my daily commute (each way) are quiet back roads. I often see zero cars on that segment of my morning ride, and 3 or 4 on my afternoon ride. The other 2 miles have a nice shoulder, but that only goes so far when the average driver isn't expecting to see a bicycle. Cyclists are pretty rare here, even after 2 years of strong bike sales. So road riding sucks.

My hometown has bike trails, bike lanes, and a much larger percentage of drivers that respect cyclists. Riding around there is a whole different experience compared to here. Much lower stress.
 
shond100 said:
WOW thats very impressive for your kids! And some beautiful areas to ride too.. RAGBRAI is on my list at some point. Probably will be when the kids are older (hopefully with them!)
Click to expand...

Do it. Do it! DO IT!

I have joined RAGBRAI 5 times so far. Haven't regretted it yet. It's a strong possibility for next summer, given the amount of progress the kids have made this year.

:popcorn:
 
campfire said:
Do it. Do it! DO IT!

I have joined RAGBRAI 5 times so far. Haven't regretted it yet. It's a strong possibility for next summer, given the amount of progress the kids have made this year.

:popcorn:
Click to expand...

RAGBRAI is officially on our calendar this year. My 8yo has done several long training rides, but we still need to build up the endurance before we'll be ready for 500 miles. The 6yo wants to come, but doesn't quite have enough motivation to put in the practice rides. So I have my doubts.

@shond100, are you still interested in riding along? You have 85 days left to get ready...

20190722_RAGBRAI_TZ09.jpg


RAGBRAI-Activities-32.jpg


:haha:
 
campfire said:
RAGBRAI is officially on our calendar this year. My 8yo has done several long training rides, but we still need to build up the endurance before we'll be ready for 500 miles. The 6yo wants to come, but doesn't quite have enough motivation to put in the practice rides. So I have my doubts.

@shond100, are you still interested in riding along? You have 85 days left to get ready...

View attachment 445396


RAGBRAI-Activities-32.jpg


:haha:
Click to expand...

1682699031311.png
THAT!

I’ve been 100 miles a few times but no way my butt and back are sitting on a bicycle for that long.
 
TuckerK5 said:
View attachment 445404
THAT!

I’ve been 100 miles a few times but no way my butt and back are sitting on a bicycle for that long.
Click to expand...

Meh. It's a series of 5-10 mile rides between parties. A week-long food fest. Most days are 60-80 miles, and even the optional 100-mile day is still easier than doing a proper no-stopping century ride.

Fun. Food. Festivities. It's not really about biking, that's just an excuse to close the roads for a very long block party.

:cool:
 
campfire said:
RAGBRAI is officially on our calendar this year. My 8yo has done several long training rides, but we still need to build up the endurance before we'll be ready for 500 miles. The 6yo wants to come, but doesn't quite have enough motivation to put in the practice rides. So I have my doubts.

@shond100, are you still interested in riding along? You have 85 days left to get ready...

View attachment 445396


RAGBRAI-Activities-32.jpg


:haha:
Click to expand...
Oh that's super tempting! Not going to be in the cards this year..

That's so incredible though getting your 8yo out there for that!
 
shond100 said:
Oh that's super tempting! Not going to be in the cards this year..

That's so incredible though getting your 8yo out there for that!
Click to expand...

We're trying, but I hit a fairly large snag. Wife & kids (8yo, 6yo, 4yo) often ride a cargo bike around town. Makes sure the youngins can still get around when they're too tired to pedal. 2 weeks ago their bike was rear-ended by a car doing 40MPH. The 4 of them went to the hospital. 3 broken bones and a whole lot of scrapes and bruises (and we are very thankful it's not worse).

We're now 2 weeks into an 8-week recovery. The kids are healing quickly, but Momma's on bed rest for a while. PT starts in July, so I'm pretty sure she and the little ones are dropping out of RAGBRAI.

The 8yo did get back in the saddle this weekend, knocking out 26 miles in 2.5 hours. Slower than we used to ride, but I think the two of us can still make RAGBRAI happen. But I have to hold plans very loosely.

If we do make it, it will be a very special personal victory for all of us.

48 days left...

:thinking:

:popcorn:
 
Last edited:
First ride after the crash was only 4 miles long. But the most significant 4 miles I've ever ridden. Both girls wanted to ride, and I wasn't about to stand in their way.

We picked a quiet country road with no car traffic. Helps calm the highly charged emotions we all have right now.

20230525_155102.jpg
 
Thank god they were relatively ok. Could have been really bad.

Make sure they don't push themselves on recovery. I did that in high school, and had pain since.

Your area have any designated bike paths? I am very fortunate to be able to have 20+ miles one way of bike paths.. Never interact w/ cars.
 
campfire said:
We're trying, but I hit a fairly large snag. Wife & kids (8yo, 6yo, 4yo) often ride a cargo bike around town. Makes sure the youngins can still get around when they're too tired to pedal. 2 weeks ago their bike was rear-ended by a car doing 40MPH. The 4 of them went to the hospital. 3 broken bones and a whole lot of scrapes and bruises (and we are very thankful it's not worse).

We're now 2 weeks into an 8-week recovery. The kids are healing quickly, but Momma's on bed rest for a while. PT starts in July, so I'm pretty sure she and the little ones are dropping out of RAGBRAI.

The 8yo did get back in the saddle this weekend, knocking out 26 miles in 2.5 hours. Slower than we used to ride, but I think the two of us can still make RAGBRAI happen. But I have to hold plans very loosely.

If we do make it, it will be a very special personal victory for all of us.

48 days left...

:thinking:

:popcorn:
Click to expand...
When it rains it pours.
Chin up...
 
imiceman44 said:
When it rains it pours.
Chin up...
Click to expand...

Sigh.

<rant>
If trials make me stronger, I'm feeling pretty strong right now. The past 3.5 years have been one thing after another. :angry1:
</rant>

In seriousness, though, the compounding trials are having a compounding effect. This accident, which definitely counts as a major, life-changing event, isn't as major or as life-changing as other stuff we've been through. So we have hope. We survived that, and we'll survive this, too.

One day at a time...
 
JoshHefnerX said:
Your area have any designated bike paths? I am very fortunate to be able to have 20+ miles one way of bike paths.. Never interact w/ cars.
Click to expand...
There are trails, but the closest bit is about 8 miles away. So we don't get to enjoy them unless our ride is at least 16 miles long. Much of my riding is to work, and that location doesn't have trail infrastructure. So I'm riding on semi routes through a developing industrial area. I pick quiet roads to stay further from the delivery trucks.

This weekend the girls went out for a tour. 9 miles to the trailhead, a 15-mile group ride (about half trails and half road), and then 9 miles back home. As proud as I am of the 33 miles they put in, only 1/4th of that was actual trail riding.

In short, we love bike trails, but rarely do they take me where I need to go. :surepal:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Posts

Top Bottom