The Bicycle Thread - August 2019

To: grey_whiskers

I just got back from the Tour de Tonka century. It was grueling, but I hacked it.

81 posted on 08/03/2019 2:28:52 PM PDT by IronJack

It was pretty hot today, granted.

Hoist a cold brewski for me.

82 posted on 08/03/2019 2:35:04 PM PDT by grey_whiskers (The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change with out notice.)

To: grey_whiskers

About to mix up a batch of margaritas. Ole!

Have a good ride.

83 posted on 08/03/2019 3:30:41 PM PDT by IronJack

To: Berlin_Freeper

Today, 15.82 miles...
There is a forest near me. Nothing crazy (flat) but the trails narrow ,crisscross, rocks, roots, puddles, and a few sand traps to muscle through. Was the reason I bought a new trekking bicycle instead of a cruiser. Right after I bought the bike a few months ago, a huge storm blew trees down, blocking trails but they been removed now.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48454971187_38e1d485d4_h.jpg

In the past days I been trying to get cruiser handlebars but Germans will tell you no when they think you are out of specs. Even when you are offering money. But I did get a perfect handlebar that bends in a little. I am very happy. They were right!

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48454813626_3ef74662c5_h.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48454969572_1be8f4d05b_h.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48454816916_63908d49bf_h.jpg

84 posted on 08/04/2019 9:40:54 AM PDT by Berlin_Freeper

Congratulations IronJack! You are one of our pros 🚲✌

85 posted on 08/04/2019 9:43:19 AM PDT by Berlin_Freeper

To: Berlin_Freeper

I have three regular rides. 1. The park and forest near me (pictured today, but I did cut it short to walk the dog). 2. Tempelhof Airport which was turned into a national park, the runways are great for riding. 3. Müggelsee (lake) for riding and swimming.

86 posted on 08/04/2019 10:03:16 AM PDT by Berlin_Freeper

To: Berlin_Freeper

87 posted on 08/04/2019 1:56:09 PM PDT by Berlin_Freeper

To: Berlin_Freeper

88 posted on 08/04/2019 3:10:07 PM PDT by Berlin_Freeper

To: Berlin_Freeper

You can add me. Thanks

89 posted on 08/05/2019 8:16:15 AM PDT by gbaker

Welcome to The Bicycle Thread PING List 🚲🙂

90 posted on 08/05/2019 10:24:53 AM PDT by Berlin_Freeper

To: Berlin_Freeper

Would love to work on bicycles but I never had a garage or mechanical talent.

You certainly look handy on your Freeper page. I had one of my bicycles modified as you described 15 years ago by having "North Road" handlebars installed on my Trek 7200. This worked very well and was much more ergonomic for me than the flat handlebars it originally came with. After that I added triathlon bars to it so that I could crouch down and be more aerodynamic in a headwind by supporting myself on my elbows. It's an odd combination but it works suprisingly well.

Since then I have slowly started doing more of my own maintenance until now I enjoy restoring older European (mostly English, Dutch, and German) bicycles and recumbent bicycles. I now find bicycle maintenance an enjoyable pursuit on its own but it allows me to own and ride a much wider variety of bicycles than I would previously have been able to afford.

91 posted on 08/06/2019 1:22:01 PM PDT by Ronaldus Magnus

To: Ronaldus Magnus

I did manage to adjust my seat up and forward and got more power. I went up a gear in average when riding. Amazing what an inch here and there can do. Swept back (slightly) handlebar lets me tug better and also stand better on the peddles.

These days bicycle sizing is a big thing and highly recommended by all.

92 posted on 08/06/2019 2:41:38 PM PDT by Berlin_Freeper

To: Berlin_Freeper

93 posted on 08/10/2019 6:40:27 AM PDT by Berlin_Freeper

To: Berlin_Freeper

23.9 miles today
Yesterday I posted a picture of the graffiti wall being worked on (see prior post).
Today I wanted to ride at Tempelhof Airport (Park) but was curious what painted, so as usual I went out of my way some miles to check-it-out and what a funny surprise I saw!
Guess the surprise: Think Cat. Think cartoon. Think 1972. Now take a guess and see the link below...
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48511513181_bd6dc37b8f_o.jpg
What a Great Surprise! LoL!
Very glad I went there and got a picture because it will be covered over in a few days with something new.
Those people are crazy. Spending the time, the money, and then GONE!
You can see how high that wall is from yesterday’s picture.

OK so that was a great start but then it got even better (I’ll let you know the better part).

Then I rode over the large bridge on the right, turn and was going over this smaller bridge when I saw the police patrol boat stopped in an odd position so I stopped and took a picture. Then I noticed a dark green helicopter circling overhead. I knew it was police because my daughter sat in it or one just like it at a festival a couple of years ago at Tiergarten (I have a picture somewhere, will try to find it - I really should tag my pictures). I don’t know what that was about. There were no other police. Maybe a practice drill.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48511379851_d09fb294e8_h.jpg

I decided to go around the forest one time (I usually do two or three loops around it) but I did not do the trails in it because they get narrow and by that time (especially Sunday) there were a lot of people in it (hikers, joggers, etc). The bushes at the side of the asphalt road used to be very high bushes and small trees but the cleared all that out and exposed a dead tree I never knew about. You can see an owl (looks like a not so happy owl) painted on the tree and it has a hole in it.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48511377111_a392188543_h.jpg

I finally made it to Tempelhof Airport (turned into a National Park) and this is where it gets better...
Turned out that there was a special event going on. There was a stage with a woman sitting on it with a crowd of people in front meditating and doing yoga. I could not believe my luck. A field full of Hot women wearing yoga pants! LoL!
They had a hydration station so I gulped down the last of my water and refilled my bottles. Then I meditated on that for a few minutes and remembered I am married then went back to riding. Ahh well. The moment was great though.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48511553477_f32ee06904_h.jpg

Here is a runway. There are two a big distance from each other running parallel. I went around them twice. There is also a perimeter road inside the Park but I didn’t ride that today.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48511381241_53cdcc9621_h.jpg

Those small white containers are housing for refugees. But when I went close I saw no sign of people there. In the past I saw refugees and their stuff like bicycles and baby carriages.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48511372471_5b2a3ac0c8_h.jpg

Here is the number 3.
I don’t know what it means.
Mystery of Life https://youtu.be/Gok8NcHgmkE
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48511376131_08126fe9f8_h.jpg

Pretty sure this is one of the Berlin Airlift planes left on display. It says “Troop Carrier” on it.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48511379021_b281421cf1_h.jpg

Here is the same runway in one of the pictures above, looking from the other end.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48511374616_2298f353b9_h.jpg

A group of British chaps (I heard their accents) went by while I was having a small rest, but I got my camera out just in time to picture them before they were gone. You can rent all kinds of things to ride there.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48511375341_7415cc51b8_h.jpg

A murder of crows flew by.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48511558787_73a5a41b91_h.jpg

A windsail (there was at least three more).
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48511371626_a00c16110e_h.jpg

On the way back I wondered if I just passed Hellboy so I doubled back and I did!
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48511380496_05c24eb484_h.jpg

The Park. I am close to home now.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48511551327_915faef4c6_h.jpg

94 posted on 08/11/2019 11:19:14 AM PDT by Berlin_Freeper

To: Berlin_Freeper

95 posted on 08/11/2019 1:01:51 PM PDT by Berlin_Freeper

To: Berlin_Freeper

Bicycle Traffic Jam in Utrecht
(My mother was from Utrecht)

96 posted on 08/12/2019 12:09:37 AM PDT by Berlin_Freeper

To: Berlin_Freeper

I really want hot sunny days to go ride and swim in the lake but my weather app says rain for days to come without breaking 80 degrees. 😟

97 posted on 08/12/2019 12:16:07 AM PDT by Berlin_Freeper

To: Berlin_Freeper

Globull Warming.
Can you imagine if we had some real global warming?
That would be Super!

Oh. Sun just came out?
Mocking me!

98 posted on 08/12/2019 12:18:14 AM PDT by Berlin_Freeper

To: Berlin_Freeper

A murder of crows flew by.
I am a murder
All falling out the sky
I wear my ribbons black until I die
I am the dark wood, the river and the blood
I am the lover lost

99 posted on 08/13/2019 3:40:32 AM PDT by Berlin_Freeper

To: Berlin_Freeper

post 100

Btw, when I post to myself I am really posting to All.

This has caused ~~confusion~~ derision in other threads.

I am not actually posting to myself.

100 posted on 08/13/2019 3:52:01 AM PDT by Berlin_Freeper

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794