B&B's I Cycle, You Cycle, Let's Exchange Stories (aka B.I.C.Y.C.L.E.S.)
- Thread starter Ryanshh
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That's a magnificent bike! Everything about the aesthetic is perfect IMO. Surly is wonderful. Thanks for the great pics.
tankerjohn
A little poofier than I prefer
Thanks! I really appreciate it. I put a lot of work into that Cross Check and just love it. Not the fastest sled, but it will darn sure go anywhere and look good doing it.
Headed to Alafia for my first ride since I broke my finger there before the shut down March 22. I brought the old 26” hardtail and met my son at 8am, when the gate opens. There were about 20 cars ahead of us, but only a fraction of the people I saw back in March. We both got out unscathed after some fun trail riding!
The smoke cleared out of Portland at last. I didn't get a real ride in, but I peddled about 8 miles worth of errands.
I finished with about 40 pounds in my messenger bag, including two gallons of honey. Hey, it was sweet just to get in the saddle and take a deep breath of clean air.
I finished with about 40 pounds in my messenger bag, including two gallons of honey. Hey, it was sweet just to get in the saddle and take a deep breath of clean air.
Put in about 8 miles on my bike today. Trying to reach my goal of 10 miles and then move up from there eventually
Checked out a new mountain bike trail today in North Port, Florida. I only rode 4 miles, but it took forever due to difficulty finding the trailhead, lots of unmarked intersections, and really rooty, technical stuff. I will probably go back, only because my favorite brewery is on the way!
That @FL shaver has some excellent photos.
Just snapping with the iPhone as I go!
I actually rode longer. Just realizing now that the app missed the whole north side of the trails.
There were plenty of sketchy root sections where the bike just starts sliding diagonally. There was an exposed braided steel cable (old bridge?), and a bridge with a section missing. The place could use more trail markers, too.
I actually rode longer. Just realizing now that the app missed the whole north side of the trails.
There were plenty of sketchy root sections where the bike just starts sliding diagonally. There was an exposed braided steel cable (old bridge?), and a bridge with a section missing. The place could use more trail markers, too.
As a NW rider, I would be terrified of crashing into a nest of mean/venomous little critters in the FL brush.
Out here we do have cougar (got a rider a couple years back) and the remote possibility of riling up a black bear, but those are rare occurrences. Unless I somehow ride into a ground nest of yellowjackets (also rare and unlikely to be near a bike trail), I think the chances of getting attacked/bit/stung are much greater down in the semi-tropics. Am I wrong?
I have come upon an Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake and a Cottonmouth at my trail. I do think about Florida panthers when trail running and mountain biking, but I was looking for this guy today:
The photo was taken a couple weeks ago by our club member at Butler Park. The trail runs along a slough which must have plenty of gators!
I was once stung 7 times standing by a yellowjacket nest in the North Georgia mountains. I was hiking with three kids to Springer Mountain when we stopped at the bottom of the hill at intersecting trails, figuring our next move. My son’s friend said something bit him, and we were all covered in yellowjackets. We ran different directions, stripping shirts off and wiping them off. Although we were only a couple miles into the hike, they wanted to go on!
Trail cameras at Pepper Ranch Preserve have captured Florida Panthers and black bears.
The photo was taken a couple weeks ago by our club member at Butler Park. The trail runs along a slough which must have plenty of gators!
I was once stung 7 times standing by a yellowjacket nest in the North Georgia mountains. I was hiking with three kids to Springer Mountain when we stopped at the bottom of the hill at intersecting trails, figuring our next move. My son’s friend said something bit him, and we were all covered in yellowjackets. We ran different directions, stripping shirts off and wiping them off. Although we were only a couple miles into the hike, they wanted to go on!
Trail cameras at Pepper Ranch Preserve have captured Florida Panthers and black bears.
When I was 12 years old, I had an accident on my bicycle. I was coming home from school , riding my bike on Ridge Avenue. The street went downhill slightly. A motorist turned left from Beaver Avenue and entered Ridge going slightly uphill. I saw him and put on my foot brake, but I couldn’t stop. He ran over me and the bike. I was underneath his 1952 Dodge. I believe I was in the right lane. I had some pain. My left ear got scraped along the ground and it hurt some. The rest of me did not hurt. A cop came along and took me to a hospital.
I look back on this now and can see that I was in the right lane. That doesn’t look good for me.
My dad and I went to court over this. The judge said that my bike is not a vehicle. Dad said that the judge was crooked.
My bike was ruined and I got a new Schwinn bike at Christmas. It had hand brakes and 3 speeds.
When I was a junior in high school, I felt pain in my left leg. I was helped by 2 sophomores . Not long after that I had to go to Good Samaritan hospital. I had a torn cartiledge and a cyst on my left knee.
I look back on this now and can see that I was in the right lane. That doesn’t look good for me.
My dad and I went to court over this. The judge said that my bike is not a vehicle. Dad said that the judge was crooked.
My bike was ruined and I got a new Schwinn bike at Christmas. It had hand brakes and 3 speeds.
When I was a junior in high school, I felt pain in my left leg. I was helped by 2 sophomores . Not long after that I had to go to Good Samaritan hospital. I had a torn cartiledge and a cyst on my left knee.
I'm looking for recommendations on buying a new bike. I'm looking for a road bike for casual daily cycling (not commuting). How do you recommend that I get started? Inflation in bike prices continues. I'm looking at a $800 to $1500 range. Used? New?
Brand? Size? I looked at a custom bike manufacturer and they want $3000 for a basic, no-frills, custom bike. Too high for me.
Brand? Size? I looked at a custom bike manufacturer and they want $3000 for a basic, no-frills, custom bike. Too high for me.
I am riding a Huffy one speed. That is my only recommendation.
Used is an excellent option if you are experienced at inspecting/maintaining/upgrading/repairing a bike yourself. Otherwise I recommend a new bike.
I think that the steel frame Fuji Touring is an outstanding new bike bargain. It is designed as a touring bike. It comes with drop bars, a triple chainwheel, good components, bar end indexed shifting, and a rear rack. I find the middle chainwheel ideal for casual riding in urban neighborhoods.
All at the low end of your price spectrum with rim brakes. I think a disc model is available. You would likely have to special order through a Fuji dealer.
I use mine as a robust sport bike and for longer range errands. It would also make a good commuter (add fenders) or a higher performance utility bike (add panniers). With 32mm tires it is a decent gravel/dirt road bike.
I have a light sport bike, a utility bike, a sadly unused touring bike, and an old mountain/gravel bike, so I don't take advantage of all of the Fuji Touring's potential. If I was getting only one bike and spending less than $1000, the Fuji Touring would be it.
This is VERY helpful advice, Tanuki. Thank you!
Went for a MTB ride at Babcock Webb WMA today. The double track is frequently graded gravel. Wildlife sighted: Fox squirrels, a garter snake and black racer, cattle (not so wild), a variety of herons and other birds, but the scariest creatures were that small deer that darted across the road and the crawfish that squared me up when I went for a closer look. Many miles of gravel riding out here. I saw both gravel bikes and MTBs. 83 degrees with 81% humidity, but comfortable with an east breeze and overcast.
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26 miles on the Banks-Vernonia rail trail/linear State Park. One group of horses, many families, what appeared to be a club ride of recumbent trikes. Lots of riders and a few walkers.
Unloading
Trail head
An overpass - lots of quiet grade level crossings as well.
My turnaround point.
The Stub Stewart mountain bike state park covers a few miles in the half way range.
We were a family, but not really a group. My son, on his Miyata 1000, rode the whole out and back. We saw him at the trail head, then he passed me on the return about two mike from the car. I stuck with my wife (she has my old Co-Motion Americano) to her turnaround, then tacked on a fast 3 miles, including the steep down/up that sees me in my bottom gear. Lots of oncoming traffic on the return.
Unloading
Trail head
An overpass - lots of quiet grade level crossings as well.
My turnaround point.
The Stub Stewart mountain bike state park covers a few miles in the half way range.
We were a family, but not really a group. My son, on his Miyata 1000, rode the whole out and back. We saw him at the trail head, then he passed me on the return about two mike from the car. I stuck with my wife (she has my old Co-Motion Americano) to her turnaround, then tacked on a fast 3 miles, including the steep down/up that sees me in my bottom gear. Lots of oncoming traffic on the return.
tankerjohn
A little poofier than I prefer
Five(ish) miles around the mountain bike trails at Laurel Hill in NOVA. Incredible weather today. Leaves should be in full colors in a couple weeks or so. I love fall!
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