The Bicycle Thread - January 2023

January 1, 2023 | The Bicycle Thread

[Berlin_Freeper]

Welcome to The Bicycle Thread. A monthly PING List for bicycle enthusiasts to share experiences, information and ideas.

[Berlin_Freeper]

Drive attentively, responsibly and... sanely (I must add).

[Mariner]

Is that one of those abominable E Bikes?

[Berlin_Freeper]

Is There A Perfect Saddle Height For Your Bike?

[gundog]

Thanks. I just did a brief search. Lots of good info. Lots of trash-talking, too. Probably the legacy of Critical Mass.

[Susquehanna Patriot]

Jerod, so as a result of the two deaths in your town, did you stop crossing the road?

Different bike riders assess or not assess risks, and some have different risk levels. Wonder if one of the 1200 deaths included non-car accidents - One in my town was an off-road mountain biker dying after a collision with a tree. I live 4 miles outside of town in the country. I have determined the best times to ride where the already low country traffic is lower, the angle of the sun is not in horizon to blind the potential approaching driver, wear colors that stand out, use of flashing red light, and most important stay to the right and always have an escape route. Most drivers live / work out here and safely go by. Since I do not know they are safe until they pass me, I always prepare to take evasive action as I hear them approaching. I take evasive action about once per year, and while I was glad I did, none of them were heart stopping moments. Infrequently, I ride into town which is 5 miles away. I won’t bore you with my urban risk assessment. I say a prayer for protection before going out and a prayer of thanks when I return.

I’ve heard similar dire warnings about going out solo for a hike. In both activities, there is nothing like being “in it”, “in nature” - one sees, hears, smells things - sometimes touch too like when that bug smacks up against you as you are riding 20 mph down a hill. There’s no way to describe the serenity, the experience. It’s not for everyone, but that’s what makes the world go around. Just ask Columbus.

[Susquehanna Patriot]

Thanks for reminding me ... while I have been on about 25 miles of Natches Trace Parkway in a car a couple times as a brief side trip to/from TX, I always wanted to spend time biking on it.

I need to put that on my bucket list now. Life is getting shorter.

[BobL]

“Bicycles are dangerous... Save your life and stop riding them.”

Yep, my sister had her teeth knocked out on one. So when I was 16 the first thing I did was dump the bike and get into some REAL transportation.

[ChinaGotTheGoodsOnClinton]

I am going for a ride in England today on Rouvy. They added a ‘ghost rider’ feature that seems to wring every ounce of juice from your legs no matter how short the workout...

[Berlin_Freeper]

Worth mentioning for the New Year:

Cycling for health and fitness

It only takes two to four hours a week to achieve a general improvement to your health. Cycling is:

• Low impact – it causes less strain and injuries than most other forms of exercise.
• A good muscle workout– cycling uses all of the major muscle groups as you pedal.
• Easy – unlike some other sports, cycling does not require high levels of physical skill. Most people know how to ride a bike and, once you learn, you don’t forget.
• Good for strength and stamina– cycling increases stamina, strength and aerobic fitness.
• As intense as you want– cycling can be done at very low intensity to begin with, if recovering from injury or illness, but can be built up to a demanding physical workout.
• A fun way to get fit– the adventure and buzz you get from coasting down hills and being outdoors means you are more likely to continue to cycle regularly, compared to other physical activities that keep you indoors or require special times or places.
• Time-efficient – as a mode of transport, cycling replaces sedentary (sitting) time spent driving motor vehicles or using trams, trains or buses with healthy exercise.

Health benefits of regular cycling

Cycling is mainly an aerobic activity, which means that your heart, blood vessels and lungs all get a workout. You will breathe deeper, perspire and experience increased body temperature, which will improve your overall fitness level.

The health benefits of regular cycling include:

• increased cardiovascular fitness
• increased muscle strength and flexibility
• improved joint mobility
• decreased stress levels
• improved posture and coordination
• strengthened bones
• decreased body fat levels
• prevention or management of disease
• reduced anxiety and depression.

[daniel1212]

If you don’t ride a bike, your chances of getting in an bicycle accident are greatly reduced.

Life is a series of calculated risks, which must be weighed against the benefits. If you do not use the Internet your chances of getting an infection are greatly reduced, however, the vast majority of such are due to the "driving" habits of users.

And if you do not get out of bed your chances of getting in a fatal accident are greatly reduced.

And since Americans between the ages of 15 and 24 being more likely to die in a traffic crash than in any other type of accident, in 2018 - though many are omitted), while average yearly fatality rate from motor vehicle accidents is over 90 people deaths per day,[2018] and there were 40,231 deaths caused by motor vehicle accidents in 2017, then if such do not drive then their chances of getting in an accident are greatly reduced.

Thus a "garage-in-place" and a 6 car length requirement for all essential travel (or bumper cars) would be consistent with the reaction to a virus with a less than 1% mortality rate. Yet among 169,936 preventable deaths in 2017, and an estimated 125,300 preventable injury-related deaths in homes and communities, (about 75% of all preventable injury-related deaths that year, and a 38.3 death rate per 100,000 population ) about 2,000 children under 14 died from a home injury.

Therefore in order to save lives then (to be consistent with the extreme hysteriavirus response for all ages) everyone must normally stay at home - except that obesity and overweight together are the second leading cause of preventable death in the United States .

And if you do not breath your chances of getting anything are really greatly reduced. Except that to live and die in your sins means damnation for sure. See tag.

[real saxophonist]

Just look at what's been posted on this thread:

Children’s toys don’t belong in the street.

Stay in yo lane you spandex wearing homos

[gundog]

Yeah....nobody’s ever been hurt in a car.

[BobL]

“Yeah....nobody’s ever been hurt in a car.”

Not in a collision with a bicycle, except when trying to avoid the road hazard.

[minnesota_bound]

Bicycles are impracticable. Buy an electric car instead...

[daniel1212]

My above post was a compilation which I did not proof read much and thus needs some editing (and if you do not write you will avoid such mistakes):

Life is a series of calculated risks, which must be weighed against the benefits. To illustrate:

If you do not use the Internet your chances of getting an infection are greatly reduced, however, the vast majority of such are due to the "driving" habits of users.

And if you do not get out of bed your chances of getting in a fatal accident are greatly reduced. Yet many people die in their sleep.

And since Americans between the ages of 15 and 24 are more likely to die in a traffic crash than in any other type of accident (in 2018 - though many are omitted), and the average yearly fatality rate from motor vehicle accidents is over 90 people deaths per day, [2018] and there were 40,231 deaths caused by motor vehicle accidents in 2017, then if you do not drive then your chances of getting in an accident are greatly reduced. ,And overall, the odds of dying in a motor vehicle accident are 1 in 107 (0.93%) with your chances of getting into a motor vehicle accident are one in 366 (0.27%) for every 1,000 miles driven. The lifetime odds of dying in an automotive accident as an occupant of an on-road motorized vehicle are estimated to be about 1 in 158 (0.63%).

Thus (to be consistent with the extreme Covid-19 response for all ages) a "garage-in-place" and a 6 car length requirement for all essential travel (or bumper cars) would be consistent with the reaction to a virus with a less than 1% mortality rate.

Or to save even more lives everyone must normally stay at home - except that obesity and overweight together are the second leading cause of preventable death in the United States, and over 70% of Americans are overweight or obese and which is estimated to be attributable to 2,800,000 deaths in America over a 10 year period — at 280,00 per year).

And among 169,936 preventable deaths in 2017, and an estimated 125,300 preventable injury-related deaths in homes and communities, (about 75% of all preventable injury-related deaths that year, and a 38.3 death rate per 100,000 population ) about 2,000 children under 14 died from a home injury.

But if you do not breath your chances of getting anything are extremely reduced. Except that to live and die in your sins means damnation for sure. See tag.

[fella]

"Any recommendations for a lightweight folding road bike suitable for a 6’5” tall rider?"

Norton 500 Manx.

[fella]

"Stay in yo lane you spandex wearing homos"

Back in the 70's I lived in Holland for awhile. Lots of people rode bicycles everywhere all the time in town, wearing normal clothes. Men in suits with hats women in dresses. Lance Armstrong has destroyed to cool of riding bicycles

[fella]

Bicyclists acting worse than BMW drivers cause a lot of deservedly ill will toward themselves.

I ride a bike in bike lanes and on bike trails but one of my pet peeves with the Armstrong want-a-bees is that most will not give a warning when over taking someone.

[DainBramage]

All these haters are 75 lbs overweight and sit on the couch all day with their hands down thier pants.
I wish I had taken up cycling 20 years before i did. My wife and I average 125 miles a week, mostly gravel, and swim 3 miles a week. Usually together.
It’s so much fun to share those experiences.