[Raymo853]

To further muddle things, you also have to watch out for all the various plus, semi-fat, and fat tire sizes offered in 26ers, 650B and 29ers. I would just stay away from any of those and stick to normal tires sized bikes, so no tires wider than 2.4″ wide.

Based on current market offerings, if you are 5’7″ or taller, get a non-plus size 29er hardtail. If you are shorter, I am torn between recommending a 26 or 650B. The tire, rim and fork choices for 650B gts better every day, but still does not equal 26 or 29.

I switched to 29ers in 2004 and am pretty much a devotee, but might consider getting a 650B plus in a dual squish trail design. I simply lack the upper body strength to handle a long travel 29er and am being convinced about plus size tires.

[Raymo853]

Not different enough from current and past suspensions stems (Girvin FlexStem, Softride, StedFast, to warrant a Kickstarter.

I wonder if any of the four folks at Red Shift did and search or examination of similar products?

[Raymo853]

If Harry can not get it, I would be interested.

[Raymo853]

We have to make sure Eric W. enters his PBP distances when he can. He appears to be on track to finish soon, has less than 140 km remaining of the 1,230 km total.

[Raymo853]

@Brendan von Buckingham 122423 wrote:

The damage to the front end of that back car is noteworthy. What speed do you think he was going at impact for that to happen? Speed limit is 25 mph.

I disagree the damage is noteworthy. If it did hit the truck, the bummer heights would probably not match especially if it was experiencing brake dive. To crumple up a hood like that and a bit of front clip squishing would not take much speed at all, like an impact at 15 would do that.

[Raymo853]

@Tim Kelley 122345 wrote:

My guess is that the beige car in the back rear ended the truck in the front since there was no visible damage to the white Mercedes and the trucks bumper was just about the right height. Everyone seemed to be up and out of their vehicles on their phones. No other pedestrians or people on bikes seemed to be hanging around.

A sound interpretation. Wondering if the F150 or Mercedes was stopped or slowing for a pedestrian or bicycle rider.

[Raymo853]

@AFHokie 121807 wrote:

I don’t mean to hijack the thread, but I saw a guy on a penny-farthing today on the WOD near Purcellville and I have no idea where else to post about it.

I have nothing to add except he was really moving and I’m really curious how he gets started or stopped….his feet were about the same height as my noggin when he went by.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-Ocy0SPgcM

[Raymo853]

Happy to read this. Had to look it up on Google Maps to be sure I understood where to avoid.

http://bikearlingtonforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=9306&d=1439298519

[Raymo853]

I was once fully against E Bikes on anything but roads, but moderated myself based on a few points people have made. I am still concerned about the upcoming days when E-Bikes will easily be going car speeds. Yes various rules about 1000 watt limits, speed governors, etc. will be hard to enforce when they appear and sound the same.

Hmmm, my future tense may be wrong:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYIJm7101pg
and
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xP6fAPJa7cE

[Raymo853]

@mstone 121660 wrote:

When did 66 become gravel?

I assume you are referring to this edit by “BD”.
http://gravelmap.com/#@38.83381003296485,-77.40267042922972,12,roadmap

[ATTACH=CONFIG]9287[/ATTACH]

[Raymo853]

If it went to court or even mediation, a smart advocate could have crushed you, the driver, on the “few seconds” and “10 times”. Such language is sloppy and will cause you to fair poorly in such situations. It also makes me think you may have tendency to exaggerate and based on that, I say you are probably at fault.

[Raymo853]

@rcannon100 121209 wrote:

I use an inhaler. It helps me not die.

It pumps me up like Hans and Franz. And when I use it while racing, it lets me hunt down my prey like a turkey-vulture swooping down to crush puny cyclists people. Hear me now and believe me later…. my inhaler gives me super powers… like breathing…. and laser beams that come out my nostrils blowing out tires of cry baby competitors.

I’m not going to sugarcoat it; if you have a problem with asthmatics using inhalers to participate in races that dont count for anything ~ you are a girly-man.

And I have never said those with real asthma should not be using, it is all those with fake diagnosis that I have a problem with.

[Raymo853]

@PotomacCyclist 121150 wrote:

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/others/antidoping-experts-concerned-at-rise-in-number-of-amateur-athletes-turning-to-drugs-to-get-ahead-10031430.html

There are other articles about the topic of amateurs doping. It even extends to high schools.

A seedy case involves a championship football team from Sayreville NJ. (The case also shows the problem of violence among some football players.

We could really go off on a tangent and talk about the rampant anabolic steroid abuse in our Nation’s police forces. I assume many of the abuses/shootings can be partially attributed to roid rage.

[Raymo853]

I agree that many people really have asthma and should be using inhalers. I just do not believe somehow people like Lars Boom could win a CX World Championship and some how have this physical limitation. Nor 95% of UCI ranked riders.

When I was 41, after a horrid sickness, I used both a long term steroid and short term inflammatory inhaler for about a month. I was utterly shocked by the massive increase in my cardio strength and would have consider doing any race then as wrong with no doubts. I did a Stokesville-Douthat-Stokesville tour right afterwards. I was able to shadow Roger Masse up the climbs, something I should have not been able to do and never could do again. Of course, as soon as it turned downhill and twisty, he disappeared.

[Raymo853]

@cvcalhoun 121093 wrote:

As for testosterone, it’s commonly used for sexual dysfunction. Again, stopping it because you’re racing seems a bit extreme.

Andro Gels/patches have more impacts than sexual function. Body density increases, muscle mass increases, healing time drops. Friends in their 40’s using it have pointed out one thing, it makes your recovery times from big efforts seem similar to what you experienced in your 20’s. http://www.livestrong.com/article/103207-benefits-using-androgel/ I won’t deny that sounds very attractive to me. Maybe I just started this thread to stop myself from asking my doc for a script.

[Author]

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