[DismalScientist]

Just because you have a road bike doesn’t mean you have to progress to racing gear. The newest bicycle I own is over 20 years old. Before the days of integrated brakes/shifters, an easy fix would be to put a flat handlebar on a road bike. If you wanted to move to drop bars, you would only have to get new bars and brake levers and just recable the brakes. (This is just one reason why shifters should be on the downtube, as God intended….:p) Unfortunately, with integrated levers/shifters, this gets expensive.

[DismalScientist]

Have you considered a road bike? 12 miles each way in an upright position seems a bit long. Furthermore, I would look into narrower, higher pressure tires.

[DismalScientist]

I’ld treat it as a normal passing situation, just from a complete stop. I wouldn’t pass anyone if it were clear that he would just pass me later on. Sometimes I can be fooled, like when I accidentally take Tim Kelly when he’s wearing flip-flops, riding a mountain bike with a child seat on the back.:rolleyes:

[DismalScientist]

Yes. Why not? Too much opposing traffic in the opposite lane? As long as everyone is given adequate room, there is no reason the person in front should be the first to pull out.

[DismalScientist]

I’m not anti-biking shorts. I wore them for long rides and touring. It’s a question of how much you want to invest for a multi-day 125 mile ride.

[DismalScientist]

Metrobus! It’s why I don’t carry patch/kit and tools on my commute. I hop on if rain is likely/happening. The front racks on the buses are easy to operate. This is by far the most hassle-free alternative for me.

[DismalScientist]

When I was touring, I would bring a lightweight tent, sleeping bag and foam pad and bungee it to my rack between the panniers. You need to check ahead about the availability of camping on the route before doing this. You generally can’t just set up a tent anywhere by the side of the road. I found that often it was as cheap to stay in fleabag motel than commercial campgrounds and I have a strong preference for beds, no matter how nasty, to sleeping on the ground.
You need to decide about eating. If you are cooking, you might need a stove and equipment to cook and eat.
As for first aid kits, I would stick to band-aids, gauze and adhesive tape and some first aid cream. I’ve never really actually used a first aid kit on a bicycle trip and, if I had to, I would likely use clean clothing for bandaging in a pinch.

[DismalScientist]

http://www.itsnotarace.org
In my defense, my FCN (Food Chain Number) was quite a bit higher than Tim’s other victims. But, Tim’s FCN was god-like high.

[DismalScientist]

Hey Tim, that was me in the khakis. I saw you catch up to me turning at Pierce Street. I was surprised that you caught me given the wide tires and the baby seat on the back. Next time I should blow the light at Courthouse as advocated in other fora… (Just kidding.)

BTW, sorry I pulled up to you so close. I wasn’t expecting you to pull a track stand in Clarendon with that rig. If you had dropped a foot, there would have been plenty of room.

[DismalScientist]

How did I ever survive my youth without all this equipment?

How many days is this ride going to take? If multiple days, be sure you are comfortable riding your daily mileage. If one day, make sure you can ride 75% of the distance comfortably.

As for equipment, bring spare tubes or a patch kit, tire levers and a pump. Bring extra tools to the extent that you know how to use them. Bring water bottles sufficient to drink between places where you can fill up. Bring money to buy food on the way. Bring maps and/or cue sheets if you know how to read and/or use them. If this is a multi-day trip, arrange for changes of clothes and sleeping accommodations. As a concession to modern technology, bring a cell phone. (I seemed to survive my youth without one.) :p

GPS, cycling clothes, etc may increase comfort, but aren’t necessary in my opinion.

[DismalScientist]

Does this mean that a jet-powered motorcycle or Tesla-cycle is a moped since they have no displacement?

[DismalScientist]

Tire gauges? Who needs ’em? That’s what thumbs are for.

[DismalScientist]

The bike valet works great.

(Just padding my post count.)

[DismalScientist]

E-bikes… Sheesh….. My eyesight must not be too good at my advanced age. I get behind this sweet young thing that looks like she’s on some sort of cruiser at the bottom of the Rosslyn hill. I think I’m going to stomp her in my SCR (silly commuter racing) up the hill. Turns out she’s on a e-bike going 20 mph maintaining a 30 cadence. This is not good for my ego.

[DismalScientist]

For the cheapskates out there (myself included), I buy a 250 lumen flashlight and handlebar mount for about $12 at http://www.dealextreme.com. Haven’t had problems yet, but my fingers are crossed.

[Author]

Posts