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@OneEighth 2128 wrote:

ACC-
Rollers would let you train indoors on your bike and would have the added benefit of honing your balance and the smoothness with which you pedal. Another benefit to rollers is that they don’t take much space when you aren’t using them. They do take some getting used to, though.

The phrase, “the added benefit of honing your balance,” caught my eye leading me to imagine spectacular misadventures in my utility room. I strongly suspect in my case a helmet would be necessary when riding on rollers. Visions of Lucille Ball floated in front of my eyes.

The one benefit of riding back and forth through Reptile Jungle near Reston is I finally learned how to stop falling off my bike whenever I hit the brakes. Plus, I stopped hitting the brakes when I saw a snake, now I just name them. (Clipping in and out was a mystery for so long.)

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@Mark Blacknell 2125 wrote:

Huh. Just when I thought that there was little more depressing than the simple act of using a trainer, ACC introduces me to the concept of listening to Celine Dion while on a trainer. I think I’d want to just end it right there.

(ACC – there are loads of hardly-used trainers out there – lots of people buy with high ambition, and then realize that it’s just taking up space. Save money through their mistakes.)

Possibly Kenny G would be worse. Lemme know.

Thank you, I will look for the silicone-based one on Craig’s List however, it is unsettling to find myself associated with anything silicone-based.

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@PrintError 2111 wrote:

I’ll second Tim. I had a Cycleops trainer a few years ago and warmed up on it before winter rides. Traded it for a set of shifters though… it was one of those long days.

That’s the trade-off. I want to upgrade some things on Spartacus i.e. “Sparky” but probably won’t have the money to do that if I get a trainer. But I am enjoying reading about them, thank you for getting me started. Meanwhile I’ve almost learned all the words to Celine Dion’s “I’m Alive,” apparently a popular spinning song. Sheesh. Poor Spartacus, his paint seems to get bluer all the time.

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I am bike illiterate. Sometimes when I read the posts here I get the same feeling I get looking at a menu in a French restaurant, there I usually resort to pointing and mumbling.
The combination of two nouns; Craig’s List + trainer added to the adjective, cheap — well makes me nervous.
I glanced at trainers in LBS just before Christmas and the choices seemed broad.
Any suggestions as to brand and/or type?

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Seeing as I am attached to the idea of keeping my fingers and toes, I’ve been looking around for spinning bikes that are not under lock and key. The rec centers only allow access to the bikes during classes.
Desperate times call for desperate measures.
George Mason has three spinners out and available for use in their RAC during normal business hours.
If you don’t like classes or your schedule doesn’t accommodate classes, this is an option.
The facility is not free but it is open to the public. More information is on their website.
I don’t think I’ll mention it to Sparky, my bike with a jealous streak.

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I go into my utility room and stare at Sparky (my WSD Trek 1.something or other, I don’t speak “bike.”) and apologize for cheating on him with a spinning bike. I tell him it doesn’t mean anything to me, it’s just exercise not a relationship. I offer to clean his chain but he won’t speak to me. Sigh. It has to go above 35 by Tuesday.

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Darn those kids playing in the park riding their tricycles. That will lead to two-wheelers with banana seats, then on to mountain bikes, BMX, and road cycles.
Tricycles: The gateway drug.

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I appreciate your help patrolling the deer situation. Can you do anything about the snakes?

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Glad you are ok. Elbows are overrated, heads are not. My favorite are minivans, the guided missiles of the road. I swear, instead of having heat-seeking technology they have bike-seeking. I can look over my shoulder and see one coming up on me, no matter what I do they wind up in my face. Maybe I will send another letter…

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Elbow! Rats, I knew there was something wrong with my technique. I am just glad it would be my elbow that gets clipped and not my hip. Wish I had that line when I wrote that letter.:cool:

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I sent a letter to Mark Keam this afternoon.

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Amen, Brother.

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Thank you, 20-30 miles are not a problem, it is very helpful to know the pop-up facilities come and go. Just like some of the parks lock their restrooms after a certain point in the season. Trust me, for a woman it becomes an almost Olympic gymnastic event to get bike knickers up and down, especially in the summer.

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Thank you for your reply. In all seriousness it is a consideration, perhaps not for as many men but it is something I look for as I try out new distances. I also think about places I can warm up if necessary. If I get too cold I can’t always think clearly.

ann

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What is the bathroom situation on the C&O? Every 100 miles or so ? 😮

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