I will add more pictures to this page as I find more "Famous People on Bikes".
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Free ride ALERT!!! ATX100k "Six-Pack" Series - Muleshoe Bend
Ride your bike this Sunday 2-3-13! The park entrance is $5 per vehicle per day. Muleshoe Bend is a great place to camp but as of 1-29-13 there is a burn ban.
http://www.meetup.com/mountainbikes-130/events/93341782/
www.atx100k.com
Muleshoe will follow the main loop CLOCKWISE and will include the D, E, A, C (in that order) loops. These sections are 100% required for the ride. The B loop is NOT included.
TRAFFIC: YOU WILL BE SHARING THE ROAD WITH TRAFFIC ON SEVERAL SHORT SECTIONS OF THIS RACE. WE ARE NOT MANAGING TRAFFIC AND DO NOT HAVE EXCLUSIVE USE OF THE PARK. You'll cross the road near the entrance and you'll be on the road from the 2nd crossing down to the lollipop, around the circle and back up to the trail to head to section D. Please know that you are absolutely required to follow all applicable traffic laws and use common sense. If you act silly you could manage to get yourself hit by a car. It's not likely, but it could happen.
PARKING:
Check-in/parking/start will be down on the shore, NOT in the parking lot near the entrance. Each lap will take you back down to the shore to check in and visit your car if necessary.
Please note that the grassy areas surrounding the check-in area are infested with goat-head stickers. These will really hurt bare feet and they have the potential to pop a tube (probably won't pop someone running tubeless).
ROUTE:
You will leave from the 'lollipop' parking area and ride up the road you drove in on. You'll stay left at the first split you come to and almost immediately drop onto the main trail on your left. You'll be heading towards D (super short loop). E is next, and is a 90-degree turn to the left on a corner - it's really easy to miss. After E, you finish the traditional trail, cross the road near the entrance and enter the trail head. Immediately take a right into Loop A (also a bit easy to miss, just keep your eyes peeled as you drop in after crossing the road). SKIP LOOP B. You'll ride for a while and you'll take a easy left onto loop C in a sandy open area. After loop C you'll end up back on the blacktop and you'll need to head down to the lake/lollipop to check-in. Repeat 7 more times.
We will be putting out signs and tape for this race. We won't be marking off every incorrect turn though; remember you are 100% responsible for knowing the course. Study the maps, ask questions and pay attention at the pre-race meeting.
LIGHTS:
Many riders will be finishing up in the dark. Bring lights. If you don't have lights, get them now. Sunset is at 6:10, anyone starting a lap after 5pm will need to have lights on or risk some serious bodily harm.
http://www.meetup.com/mountainbikes-130/events/93341782/
www.atx100k.com
Muleshoe will follow the main loop CLOCKWISE and will include the D, E, A, C (in that order) loops. These sections are 100% required for the ride. The B loop is NOT included.
TRAFFIC: YOU WILL BE SHARING THE ROAD WITH TRAFFIC ON SEVERAL SHORT SECTIONS OF THIS RACE. WE ARE NOT MANAGING TRAFFIC AND DO NOT HAVE EXCLUSIVE USE OF THE PARK. You'll cross the road near the entrance and you'll be on the road from the 2nd crossing down to the lollipop, around the circle and back up to the trail to head to section D. Please know that you are absolutely required to follow all applicable traffic laws and use common sense. If you act silly you could manage to get yourself hit by a car. It's not likely, but it could happen.
Levi Leipheimer joins in unsanctioned mountain bike event despite suspension
 |
| Another Alpha Cyclist |
The American, currently serving a six-month ban from competition for admitting to using performance-enhancing drugs during his career, was photographed Saturday in what appeared to be a mountain-bike race dubbed the Old Caz Hopper, part of California’s Grasshopper Adventure Series.
This brought up some concerns for the rider, who’s not allowed to race any sanctioned events, per his suspension. Leipheimer said he took part to stay fit but asked to be left off the results sheet of the event, which is unsanctioned.
“First of all, I’m sanctioned and I take that very seriously. I would never jeopardize or do anything to prolong that,” he told VeloNews Monday.
The Alpha Cyclist: Levi Leipheimer joins in unsanctioned mountain bike event despite suspension
Racers turn out to raise money for LISD Mountain Bike Team - Lubbock
Velocity Bike Shop sponsored a "cyclocross race" in an area just north of the Lubbock Windmill Museum off 19th Street.
The money raised will be used to help send LISD students to bike races and participate in events put on by the National Interscholastic Cycling Association.
Biking coach Adam Finck says, "This is first and foremost a youth development program."
Racers turn out to raise money for LISD Mountain Bike Team - KCBD NewsChannel 11 Lubbock
Where are the Bicycles in Post-Apocalyptic Fiction?
Randall Parker hits on one of the things that always irritates me about post-disaster movies and books:
 |
| disaster bike |
I'm reading some after-the-electromagnetic pulse disaster novels where the electric grid has collapsed. Lots of people walking home or fleeing home on foot. In the vast majority of these novels there is no mention of any means of human transportation between a car and walking. So some guy has to walk home hundreds or thousands of miles across a post-apocalyptic landscape to get back to his family. Every person he comes across either is on foot or has some Mad Max truck fuel. What's with that?
Is this bias by the authors due to a total lack of bicycles, skate boards, roller skates, and push scooters in their rural or suburban neighborhoods? Am I so out of touch with life in some American states that I'm mistaken in thinking that large areas have no bikes? I do not think so. In the United States annual bicycle sales at 20" wheel size and above run at 11 to 14 million per year. If we suddenly couldn't get any gasoline easily tens of millions could bicycle and maybe well over a third the population. Throw in skate boards, roller skates, and other smaller stuff and 3 mph travel seems avoidable.
 |
| drools on parade |
What's even weirder: post-plague novels have this problem. So, fine, most people do not own a bicycle. But if 99+% of the population has just died surely there is a bicycle for each and every person still alive. Hiking is really optional in such a scenario. The average travel speed should be above 10 mph if almost everyone dies.
Where are the Bicycles in Post-Apocalyptic Fiction? - The Daily Beast
CBS: Armstrong Threatened '60 Minutes,' 'We Helped Create The Myth'
"60 Minutes Overtime" takes a look behind-the scenes at how Lance Armstrong tried to influence the show's coverage surrounding the allegations of doping.
"It's not over," the CBS Chair said. "He'd like to think it's over, but it's not."
CBS: Armstrong Threatened '60 Minutes,' 'We Helped Create The Myth'
"It's not over," the CBS Chair said. "He'd like to think it's over, but it's not."
 |
| 60 Minutes Overtime |
CBS: Armstrong Threatened '60 Minutes,' 'We Helped Create The Myth'
Trek Bicycle Corp. reacts to Armstrong interview
MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Officials at Trek Bicycle Corp. say they are monitoring the developments of Lance Armstrong's statements.
In a two-part interview with Oprah Winfrey, Armstrong admitted using performance-enhancing drugs when he won seven straight Tour de France titles.
Armstrong rode Trek bikes during those wins. The Waterloo-based company dropped him last fall.
The company released a statement after the second part of the interview aired Friday night.
It said they were hopeful for the future of clean cycling and don't plan to "re-engage" with Armstrong. The statement said they "will monitor the developments of his statements." A Trek spokesman didn't immediately answer an email or call Saturday seeking clarification.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports some prominent sponsors may try to recover money paid to Armstrong while he was doping.
Trek Bicycle Corp. reacts to Armstrong interview - TODAY'S TMJ4
In a two-part interview with Oprah Winfrey, Armstrong admitted using performance-enhancing drugs when he won seven straight Tour de France titles.
Armstrong rode Trek bikes during those wins. The Waterloo-based company dropped him last fall.
 |
| The Alpha Cyclist |
It said they were hopeful for the future of clean cycling and don't plan to "re-engage" with Armstrong. The statement said they "will monitor the developments of his statements." A Trek spokesman didn't immediately answer an email or call Saturday seeking clarification.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports some prominent sponsors may try to recover money paid to Armstrong while he was doping.
Trek Bicycle Corp. reacts to Armstrong interview - TODAY'S TMJ4
Driver inattention cited in fatal bicycle crash
Just as I thought. Another driver suffering from "Head Up the Ass Syndrome".
Officials said that "driver inattention" was likely a factor in the crash that killed a Denton bicyclist in Highland Village on Jan. 7.
According to the crash report from the Texas Department of Public Safety, 64-year-old Bob Pfarr was riding his bicycle just after 4 p.m. southbound on FM 2499 on the edge of the right lane just north of Harlington Drive when he was struck by an Infinity SUV driven by a 19-year-old Highland Village girl.
"The driver said she did not see the bicycle in time, swerved to miss it and struck the cyclist with the right front of her vehicle," said Sgt. Lonny Haschel, public information officer for the Texas Highway Patrol.
Driver inattention was the only reason marked on the crash report that may have contributed to the incident. The report specifically did not indicate cellphone use as a possible cause.
The girl was the only occupant in the vehicle.
Pfarr was taken by CareFlite medical helicopter to Medical Center of Plano where he was pronounced dead the following morning. He was an avid cyclist, and his father was an Olympian bike racer who was inducted into the Bicycling Hall of Fame in 2006.
Haschel said the accident report was submitted to the Denton County District Attorney's office for consideration.
"The actual charge will be criminally negligent homicide if they decide to pursue it, which is punishable by six months up to two years in jail and a $10,000 fine," said Sgt. Haschel.
Driver inattention cited in fatal bicycle crash
Officials said that "driver inattention" was likely a factor in the crash that killed a Denton bicyclist in Highland Village on Jan. 7.
 |
| 19-year-old Highland Village girl |
"The driver said she did not see the bicycle in time, swerved to miss it and struck the cyclist with the right front of her vehicle," said Sgt. Lonny Haschel, public information officer for the Texas Highway Patrol.
Driver inattention was the only reason marked on the crash report that may have contributed to the incident. The report specifically did not indicate cellphone use as a possible cause.
The girl was the only occupant in the vehicle.
Pfarr was taken by CareFlite medical helicopter to Medical Center of Plano where he was pronounced dead the following morning. He was an avid cyclist, and his father was an Olympian bike racer who was inducted into the Bicycling Hall of Fame in 2006.
Haschel said the accident report was submitted to the Denton County District Attorney's office for consideration.
"The actual charge will be criminally negligent homicide if they decide to pursue it, which is punishable by six months up to two years in jail and a $10,000 fine," said Sgt. Haschel.
Driver inattention cited in fatal bicycle crash
Simple bicycle is not so simple | The Daily Texan
Physicists are known to tackle the big problems: How did the universe originate? What is the nature of matter, energy and time? How can we make the rules that work for very small objects (quantum mechanics) not conflict with those that work for very large ones (general relativity)? However, one doesn’t need to reach for such abstract material to find topics that physicists struggle to understand. In fact, you need look no further than right outside your classroom at the common bicycle.
This seemingly simple device, which has existed in its current form for more than a century, is devilishly complicated and there still isn’t a fully intuitive explanation of how it balances on its two wheels.
What makes the question of the bicycle’s stability so perplexing is that the answer seems immediately obvious. It’s stable because somebody’s steering it, right?
Not quite.
A bicycle remains upright even if the user removes his hands from the handlebars, effectively giving up his ability to steer. In fact, a bicycle doesn’t even need a rider at all: bicycles balance perfectly fine without anybody on them, provided they’re moving fast enough (somewhere between eight and 13 miles per hour — a relaxed speed).
A second explanation may come to mind, for those who have learned some high school physics: the spinning wheels keep the bicycle from falling.
Rotating objects, like the wheels of a bicycle, are stable and the faster they spin, the more stable they become. This gyroscopic effect, as physicists refer to it, explains why tops and yo-yos behave the way they do.
Simple bicycle is not so simple | The Daily Texan
This seemingly simple device, which has existed in its current form for more than a century, is devilishly complicated and there still isn’t a fully intuitive explanation of how it balances on its two wheels.
What makes the question of the bicycle’s stability so perplexing is that the answer seems immediately obvious. It’s stable because somebody’s steering it, right?
A bicycle remains upright even if the user removes his hands from the handlebars, effectively giving up his ability to steer. In fact, a bicycle doesn’t even need a rider at all: bicycles balance perfectly fine without anybody on them, provided they’re moving fast enough (somewhere between eight and 13 miles per hour — a relaxed speed).
A second explanation may come to mind, for those who have learned some high school physics: the spinning wheels keep the bicycle from falling.
Rotating objects, like the wheels of a bicycle, are stable and the faster they spin, the more stable they become. This gyroscopic effect, as physicists refer to it, explains why tops and yo-yos behave the way they do.
Simple bicycle is not so simple | The Daily Texan
Monday, January 28, 2013
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Cyclist dies - no helmet
I am not a helmet Nazi but I make my kids wear a helmet (plus it is a law in Austin). I hate to read this story.
A 13-year-old girl is dead after she fell off her bike and her head hit the concrete. She wasn't wearing a helmet.
Paige Lagahetau was playing on a steep rise outside a relative's home in Papakura when the accident happened in full view of her siblings - who only moments earlier warned her against doing anything risky.
"Children on a bike test the limit and see how far they are going to go," relative Dean Peni said. "Unfortunately, she hopped on a bike and throughout the day decided she was going to give this a go."
Paige's death comes as a child safety group is about to launch a campaign to reduce New Zealand's growing injury rate for children not wearing bike helmets.
Safekids will this year ask children aged 9 and older why they aren't wearing helmets, because director Ann Weaver says efforts so far "aren't getting through".
On Monday, as Paige - who owned a helmet but may not have had it with her - took her bike to the top of the rise, her brother Christopher, 15, told her he knew "what you're going to do" and warned her not to.
"He yelled out, 'Paige stop', and she zoomed past him and was giggling," said Mr Peni. "Not long had she past him, they saw she lost control - by that time she had picked up a lot of speed - and I think panic set in."
Paige's parents, Dez and Rozanne, arrived at hospital unaware how badly hurt she was. Doctors told them there was no chance she would survive, and she died within hours.
"They were right with her 'till the last breath," Mr Peni said. "We were in the room with her ... holding her hand, comforting her, and she passed away in the arms of her parents."
Cyclist dies - no helmet - National - NZ Herald News
A 13-year-old girl is dead after she fell off her bike and her head hit the concrete. She wasn't wearing a helmet.
Paige Lagahetau was playing on a steep rise outside a relative's home in Papakura when the accident happened in full view of her siblings - who only moments earlier warned her against doing anything risky.
"Children on a bike test the limit and see how far they are going to go," relative Dean Peni said. "Unfortunately, she hopped on a bike and throughout the day decided she was going to give this a go."
Paige's death comes as a child safety group is about to launch a campaign to reduce New Zealand's growing injury rate for children not wearing bike helmets.
Safekids will this year ask children aged 9 and older why they aren't wearing helmets, because director Ann Weaver says efforts so far "aren't getting through".
On Monday, as Paige - who owned a helmet but may not have had it with her - took her bike to the top of the rise, her brother Christopher, 15, told her he knew "what you're going to do" and warned her not to.
Paige's parents, Dez and Rozanne, arrived at hospital unaware how badly hurt she was. Doctors told them there was no chance she would survive, and she died within hours.
"They were right with her 'till the last breath," Mr Peni said. "We were in the room with her ... holding her hand, comforting her, and she passed away in the arms of her parents."
Cyclist dies - no helmet - National - NZ Herald News
Robin Williams 'feels like he's been stabbed in the back' in the wake of Lance Armstrong's doping admission after actor staunchly defended the cyclist
Robin Williams feels like he's been stabbed in the back by Lance Armstrong after his close friend admitted he used performance enhancing drugs to achieve his seven Tour de France wins.
The actor is a longtime friend of the Austin-based cyclist and had slammed critics in the past who had accused Armstrong of doping.
Mr Williams is among the scores of celebrities who supported Armstrong's cancer foundation, Livestrong, and many are now red-faced following his tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey in which he admitted to taking drugs.
Williams has not publicly addressed the scandal but an insider told the National Enquirer the Hollywood star is in shock in the wake of Armstrong's confession in an interview with Winfrey on her OWN network that aired Jan. 17 and 18.
'Robin's supported Lance through thick and thin and believed him when he said he wasn't doping. He bought it... Robin didn't doubt Lance's word and told everyone the accusations were hogwash. Now he feels like a fool.'
'He feels like he's been stabbed in the back,' the insider added.
Robin Williams 'feels like he's been stabbed in the back' in the wake of Lance Armstrong's doping admission after actor staunchly defended the cyclist | Mail Online
Lance Armstrong turns down a part on Dancing With The Stars
He may be banned from taking part in certain cycle races in the near future.
But Lance Armstrong could always fill his time with a spot of dancing if he fancied it.
According to reports the cyclist has been offered a place on the upcoming series of Dancing With The Stars but he turned it down.
Entertainment weekly report that the controversial sportsman has in fact been offered a spot on the hit ABC show every year since it’s conception.
The website reports that sources say he is one of the several high-profile stars who are regularly asked to dance.
Lance’s spokesperson confirmed the news saying: ‘Lance has been offered the show each and every year since its inception. Although flattered he has passed on their generous offers.’
He isn’t the only one who doesn’t fancy putting on their dancing shoes though, Lindsay Lohan reportedly rejected $550,000 to take part in this series too.
Lance Armstrong turns down a part on Dancing With The Stars¿and has done every year since the show began | Mail Online
But Lance Armstrong could always fill his time with a spot of dancing if he fancied it.
According to reports the cyclist has been offered a place on the upcoming series of Dancing With The Stars but he turned it down.
Entertainment weekly report that the controversial sportsman has in fact been offered a spot on the hit ABC show every year since it’s conception.
Lance’s spokesperson confirmed the news saying: ‘Lance has been offered the show each and every year since its inception. Although flattered he has passed on their generous offers.’
He isn’t the only one who doesn’t fancy putting on their dancing shoes though, Lindsay Lohan reportedly rejected $550,000 to take part in this series too.
Lance Armstrong turns down a part on Dancing With The Stars¿and has done every year since the show began | Mail Online
Monday, January 21, 2013
The Rules
We are the Keepers of the Cog. In so being, we also maintain the sacred text wherein lie the simple truths of cycling etiquette known as The Rules. It is in our trust to maintain and endorse this list.
For those struggling to understand exactly what it means to be a Rule Holist and embrace all these Rules, please review the following material: Velominati › The Rules
7 Ways to Be a Jerk on a Bike Tour
#1: When passing slower cyclists, keep quiet, and pass close and surprisingly quick.
Polite cyclists prefer to call out "on your left" to let slower riders know they are about to pass. Those riding in a paceline will often call out "line on your left" or "riders on your left". Riders in the line will let the slower riders know there are several more riders passing. Passing riders should give the cyclist enough room on a pass, while being courteous and safe with approaching motorists.
More: 10 Riding Tips for Organized Tours
If you want be a jerk, buzz the slower cyclist while smugly thinking, "I don't need to let them know, after all they should know that they're slow and faster riders will pass them. Additionally, I just get tired of saying 'on your left' all the time. I'm so fast."
#2: Don't look over your left shoulder when you move to pass someone or when you move into a traffic lane.
Cyclists that prefer to remain safe and live to ride another day will look over their left shoulder to see if traffic or other cyclists are approaching before they make a move.
More: How to Prepare for an Ultra-Distance Event
Support vehicles tell me that they constantly see cyclists on organized rides behave as if the roads are closed and they can dart into the lane of traffic anytime they please. This kind of behavior is dangerous for everyone involved, but that fact doesn't seem to faze a cycling jerk.
#3: When riding with a group of friends, ride three and four abreast. If the bike lane is big enough to ride three or more abreast, while still allowing room for other cyclists to safely pass your group on the left side without going into traffic, go ahead and ride several riders abreast. Courteous riders will often check over their shoulders to see if they are still sharing the bike lane and being safe, while riding abreast.
Cycling jerks will do their own thing, riding multiple people abreast, while expecting everyone else to accommodate their little group. After all, the jerks paid their fee and now they expect personal privileges and service--dammit!
#4: Your group is riding in a paceline and you are going fast enough that you can pass most other riders. Ride as far left in the bike lane as possible because you're so darn good.
The very best riders are well-mannered. They do indeed ride fast; but after they have made a pass they move as far to the right side of the bike lane or road as possible.
Cycling jerks block other riders and force faster groups to slow down and create a traffic jam; pass on the right side of the jerk group; or force faster riders into the traffic lane even though the bike lane is big enough. Jerks shout out, "This is not a race!" to anyone that rides faster than they do. The biggest jerks force passing riders across rumble strips while taking up the entire five foot shoulder. Yes, big jerks are dangerous to others.
More: How to Train for a Week-Long Bike Tour
#5: When people call out "on your left" and you have plenty of room to move to your right, making it safer for others to pass--don't do it.
Good riders want safety for themselves and others. They would never want to be the cause of harm to another cyclist. When someone calls "on your left" they prepare themselves for the pass by moving as far to the right of the lane as safely possible and they hold a straight line.
Jerks do not want to move at all and don't care if they put others in danger. "They can go around me," the jerks think.
More: How to Successfully Complete a Century
#6: When your group is in a paceline and riding very fast, get around slower riders without slowing your pace--even if that means creating problems for vehicular traffic or making dangerous moves close to slower riders.
Good riders know that they do not need to pass slower riders the instant they cross paths, if doing so puts anyone in danger. They will wait for the appropriate time to pass, even if it means slowing down for a few minutes. The best riders want to ride again tomorrow, so making moves that could cause a crash are simply not worth it.
Cycling jerks do not want to slow down or be impeded by anyone or anything. They are in "the zone" and want to hammer away, regardless of anyone else (traffic or other cyclists). They are in the zone alright, the jerk zone.
More: 10 Tips for Your Fall Century Ride
#7: Do not point out obstacles or hazards in the road.
Civil riders on a big tour know that pointing out hazards is the right thing to do, even if they are pointing out hazards for people they don't know.
Jerks, on the other hand, figure that everyone should be responsible for their own well being and other riders should look out for hazards on their own. Jerks will swerve quickly around a hazard, not alerting other cyclists to the hazard and allowing no time for cyclists behind them to react. In jerk-world it's every rider for his or her self.
On long rides, nearly everyone makes an occasional mistake due to fatigue or low energy. Riders that make knucklehead moves apologize and try not to let it happen again. Jerks have no remorse for bad moves and huge egos override common courtesy.
7 Ways to Be a Jerk on a Bike Tour | Active.com
Polite cyclists prefer to call out "on your left" to let slower riders know they are about to pass. Those riding in a paceline will often call out "line on your left" or "riders on your left". Riders in the line will let the slower riders know there are several more riders passing. Passing riders should give the cyclist enough room on a pass, while being courteous and safe with approaching motorists.
More: 10 Riding Tips for Organized Tours
If you want be a jerk, buzz the slower cyclist while smugly thinking, "I don't need to let them know, after all they should know that they're slow and faster riders will pass them. Additionally, I just get tired of saying 'on your left' all the time. I'm so fast."
#2: Don't look over your left shoulder when you move to pass someone or when you move into a traffic lane.
Cyclists that prefer to remain safe and live to ride another day will look over their left shoulder to see if traffic or other cyclists are approaching before they make a move.
More: How to Prepare for an Ultra-Distance Event
Support vehicles tell me that they constantly see cyclists on organized rides behave as if the roads are closed and they can dart into the lane of traffic anytime they please. This kind of behavior is dangerous for everyone involved, but that fact doesn't seem to faze a cycling jerk.
#3: When riding with a group of friends, ride three and four abreast. If the bike lane is big enough to ride three or more abreast, while still allowing room for other cyclists to safely pass your group on the left side without going into traffic, go ahead and ride several riders abreast. Courteous riders will often check over their shoulders to see if they are still sharing the bike lane and being safe, while riding abreast.
Cycling jerks will do their own thing, riding multiple people abreast, while expecting everyone else to accommodate their little group. After all, the jerks paid their fee and now they expect personal privileges and service--dammit!
#4: Your group is riding in a paceline and you are going fast enough that you can pass most other riders. Ride as far left in the bike lane as possible because you're so darn good.
The very best riders are well-mannered. They do indeed ride fast; but after they have made a pass they move as far to the right side of the bike lane or road as possible.
Cycling jerks block other riders and force faster groups to slow down and create a traffic jam; pass on the right side of the jerk group; or force faster riders into the traffic lane even though the bike lane is big enough. Jerks shout out, "This is not a race!" to anyone that rides faster than they do. The biggest jerks force passing riders across rumble strips while taking up the entire five foot shoulder. Yes, big jerks are dangerous to others.
More: How to Train for a Week-Long Bike Tour
#5: When people call out "on your left" and you have plenty of room to move to your right, making it safer for others to pass--don't do it.
Good riders want safety for themselves and others. They would never want to be the cause of harm to another cyclist. When someone calls "on your left" they prepare themselves for the pass by moving as far to the right of the lane as safely possible and they hold a straight line.
Jerks do not want to move at all and don't care if they put others in danger. "They can go around me," the jerks think.
More: How to Successfully Complete a Century
#6: When your group is in a paceline and riding very fast, get around slower riders without slowing your pace--even if that means creating problems for vehicular traffic or making dangerous moves close to slower riders.
Good riders know that they do not need to pass slower riders the instant they cross paths, if doing so puts anyone in danger. They will wait for the appropriate time to pass, even if it means slowing down for a few minutes. The best riders want to ride again tomorrow, so making moves that could cause a crash are simply not worth it.
Cycling jerks do not want to slow down or be impeded by anyone or anything. They are in "the zone" and want to hammer away, regardless of anyone else (traffic or other cyclists). They are in the zone alright, the jerk zone.
More: 10 Tips for Your Fall Century Ride
#7: Do not point out obstacles or hazards in the road.
Civil riders on a big tour know that pointing out hazards is the right thing to do, even if they are pointing out hazards for people they don't know.
Jerks, on the other hand, figure that everyone should be responsible for their own well being and other riders should look out for hazards on their own. Jerks will swerve quickly around a hazard, not alerting other cyclists to the hazard and allowing no time for cyclists behind them to react. In jerk-world it's every rider for his or her self.
On long rides, nearly everyone makes an occasional mistake due to fatigue or low energy. Riders that make knucklehead moves apologize and try not to let it happen again. Jerks have no remorse for bad moves and huge egos override common courtesy.
7 Ways to Be a Jerk on a Bike Tour | Active.com
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Bicycles in the Dictionary
When I go out to ride my Cross-country bicycle I think it is definitely a good idea to have goggles, a fork, a really old rear suspension and some clip-less pedals. If you don't have goggles how are you going to perform acrobatics. Always wear your goggles.
Cross-country bicycle: relatively small, sturdy bicycle designed for performing acrobatics and competing in competitions on rough terrain. Merriam-Webster Visual Dictionary - Cross-Country Bicycle
 |
| Cross-country bicycle |
When riding on a downhill bike forget about the fork or back suspension. The most important items are your chin strap and your raised handlebar.
 |
| Downhill bicycle |
Downhill bicycle: small, very sturdy bicycle for racing on rough ground with steep hills and strewn with obstacles. Merriam-Webster Visual Dictionary - Downhill Bicycle
When riding a road bike it is good to have a frame, a tire or two, a fork and sometimes a chain comes in handy. On a road bike the most important items are the jersey, stretchy pants and gloves. In my opinion pedals are optional but shoes are a must.
 |
| Road-racing bicycle |
Road-racing bicycle: bicycle that is designed for speed; it has narrow tires, a lightweight frame and handlebars conducive to an aerodynamic position for the cyclist.
On the pursuit bicycle forks, frames, tires, chains, goggles and shoes take a back seat to the seat-tube and handbars/grips. Many people don't realize that without handlebars (for the grips) and a seat-tube (for the seat) it is nearly impossible to ride a pursuit bike.
 |
| Pursuit bicycle |
Pursuit bicycle: bicycle with limited equipment, that is, no brakes, no derailleur (no gears) and no freewheel.
BMX
Merriam-Webster seems to think that you need hands to ride a BMX bike. I think that sounds reasonable.
 |
| BMX bicycle |
When not smoking one some BMX Bicyclists ride on this thing called a pipe. I wonder if a Cross-country bicycle could do acrobatic tricks on one these things?
Half Pipe: A wooden U-shaped track that is set up for performing various acrobatic stunts (such as jumps and slides).
 |
| BMX Half-Pipe |
BMX: A sport that consists of performing freestyle acrobatics using a small, one-speed bicycle.
The Alpha Cyclist strikes again!
I was going to stop with the Lance stuff but I saw this and could not help myself. This guy is defiant until the end. I kind of like that trait. He changed his name from Juan Pelota to Lance Armstrong (probably to protect his future income from his coffee shop) on the popular cycling app Strava. He is making an effort to come clean but he seems to be practicing self defeating behavior. "According to my rivals, peers and teammates I won the Tour de France 7 times." I say champions don't defeat themselves. He's back at square one acting like a rookie. Maybe... try following for a little while.
 |
| Lance Armstrong on Strava |
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Time to get serious!
I must admit that it has been fun making fun of the "Alpha Cyclist" but it is time to get back to the meat and potatoes of Fred's Bike.
Lance Armstrong Quotes: 25 Memorable Statements From Oprah Interview
 |
| Zero Credibility |
Along with issuing this drastic understatement, Armstrong finally confessed to using performance-enhancing drug use during his cycling career, discussed the way in which he bullied those who sought to reveal the truth and got emotional as he discussed coming clean to his 13-year-old son, Luke, about the cheating and the lies.
Here are 24 more of Armstrong's most memorable statements from his interview with Winfrey:
 |
| Sideways Head Turn |
- "I viewed this situation as one big lie that I repeated a lot of times."
- "I know the truth. The truth isn't what was out there. The truth isn't what I said, and now it's gone -- this story was so perfect for so long."
- "It definitely was professional, and it was definitely smart, if you can call it that, but it was very conservative, very risk-averse, very aware of what mattered.
 |
| Lance "Bummed He Got Caught" Armstrong |
 |
| Retroactively, I failed those. |
 |
| 75 Million Dollar Day |
 |
| Lance Armstrong "All Washed Out!" |
- "My cocktail, so to speak, was only EPO, but not a lot, transfusions and testosterone."
- "I thought, surely I'm running low [on testosterone] but there's no true justification."
- "It was win at all costs. When I was diagnosed [with cancer] I would do anything to survive. I took that attitude -- win at all costs -- to cycling. That's bad. I was taking drugs before that but I wasn't a bully."
- "My ruthless desire to win at all costs served me well on the bike but the level it went to, for whatever reason, is a flaw. That desire, that attitude, that arrogance."
- "There was more happiness in the process, in the build, in the preparation. The winning was almost phoned in."
- "Yes, I was a bully. I was a bully in the sense that I tried to control the narrative and if I didn't like what someone said I turned on them."
- "Everybody that gets caught is bummed out they got caught."
- "To be honest, Oprah, we sued so many people, I'm sure we did"
- "I'm not comfortable talking about other people. I don't want to accuse anybody."
- "I went in and just looked up the definition of cheat and the definition of cheat is to gain an advantage on a rival or foe that they don't have. I didn't view it that way. "
- "This is not a good time but it isn't the worst part of my life. You can't compare this to an advanced diagnosis. That sets the bar. It is close but I'm an optimist and I like to look forward. This has caused me to look back and I don't like that."
- "I didn’t fail a test. Retroactively, I failed those."
- "The Foundation is like my sixth child and to make that decision and to step aside was big. It was the best thing for the organization but it hurt like hell. That was the lowest."
- "I've lost all future income. You could look at the day and a half when people left. You asked me the cost. I don't like thinking about it but it was a $75 million day. All gone and probably never coming back."
- "This is not a good time but it isn't the worst part of my life. You can't compare this to an advanced diagnosis. That sets the bar. It is close but I'm an optimist and I like to look forward. This has caused me to look back and I don't like that."
- "If you're asking me if I want to compete again, the answer is hell yes, I'm a competitor."
 |
| The Almost Tearful Alpha Lance |
- "The biggest hope and intention was the wellbeing of my children. The older kids need to not be living with this issue in my life. "
- "I deserve to be punished. Not sure I deserve a death penalty."
- I told Luke 'don't defend me anymore, don't'."
- "I'm deeply sorry for what I did. I can say that thousands of times. It may never be enough to come back."
- "And then the ultimate crime is the betrayal of these people who support me and believed in me and they got lied to."
 |
| Cheater, Doper and All Around Good Guy! |
Lance Armstrong Quotes: 25 Memorable Statements From Oprah Interview
Cycle Of Lies: The Fall Of Lance Armstrong
J.J. Abrams is preparing to make a movie about Lance Armstrong, Deadline reports. Abrams' production company, Bad Robot, along with Paramount Pictures, just closed a deal to acquire the rights to a forthcoming book about the disgraced cyclist.
Cycle Of Lies: The Fall Of Lance Armstrong, is the work of Juliet Macur, a New York Times sports writer who has been reporting on Armstrong's career for more than a decade, covering everything from his recovery from cancer to his denial of the doping allegations that he finally admitted to during an interview with Oprah Winfrey last week. The book is due out this June from HarperCollins.
Lance Armstrong Admits Doping in Oprah Interview
Deadline previously reported that Sony Pictures had been planning a feature on Armstrong for years, with Jake Gyllenhaal attached to star as the cyclist. That project appeared to fade away when Armstrong stopped fighting the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency's charges.
J.J. Abrams to Make Lance Armstrong Biopic | Movies News | Rolling Stone
Cycle Of Lies: The Fall Of Lance Armstrong, is the work of Juliet Macur, a New York Times sports writer who has been reporting on Armstrong's career for more than a decade, covering everything from his recovery from cancer to his denial of the doping allegations that he finally admitted to during an interview with Oprah Winfrey last week. The book is due out this June from HarperCollins.
 |
| J.J. Abrams |
Deadline previously reported that Sony Pictures had been planning a feature on Armstrong for years, with Jake Gyllenhaal attached to star as the cyclist. That project appeared to fade away when Armstrong stopped fighting the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency's charges.
J.J. Abrams to Make Lance Armstrong Biopic | Movies News | Rolling Stone
Lance Armstrong - What Really Happened!
Jan 25, 2011
Lance Armstrong remains adamant that he never cheated in the wake of a Sports Illustrated article detailing allegations of systematic doping during a career that saw the cyclist recover from testicular cancer and win the Tour de France a record seven times.
Armstrong has always denied taking performance-enhancing drugs and points out that he has never tested positive for them.
"Great to hear that USADA is investigating some of SI's claims. I look forward to being vindicated," Armstrong tweeted after the story was published online.
Lance Armstrong has inspired cancer patients around the world and raised millions of dollars for cancer research through his Livestrong foundation.
How would his legacy be affected — and how would his fans feel — if any of the allegations against him are proven true?
Oct 18, 2012 Lance Armstrong has stepped down as chairman of the Livestrong Foundation. His move proves even his own charity is mad at him. Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NMAtv Webpage: http://www.nma.tv/ Twitter @nmatv: https://twitter.com/#!/nmatv Tumblr: http://nmatv.tumblr.com/ Lance Armstrong is no stranger to controversy, but the latest evidence released by the United States Anti-Doping Agency makes his claims of innocence even harder to believe. According to the report, Armstrong was at the center of a highly sophisticated doping ring when he participated in the Tour de France. A week after the report went public, Armstrong issued a statement saying he was stepping down from his role as chairman of the Livestrong Foundation "to spare the foundation any negative effects as a result of controversy surrounding [his] cycling career." Shortly after he resigned, Nike also decided to drop him from their sponsorship. This was a surprising move considering the sporting giant has stuck with Armstrong through the past 10 years of controversy. Although Lance Armstrong has lived an incredible life and helped millions of people through his Livestrong Foundation, the latest allegations have cost him many supporters.
Jan 15, 2013 Lance Armstrong has agreed to an interview with Oprah Winfrey at his Austin mansion that will be aired nationally on Thursday for Oprah's show Oprah's Next Chapter. There's speculation that Armstrong will partially admit to the charges brought against him in the US Anti-Doping Agency's report.
Reports say Armstrong will make a limited confession about doping and apologize during the 90-minute "no holds barred" sit-down with Oprah. Armstrong has said he's ready to speak candidly, but after a decade of lying and not being caught, can we really trust him? Especially since he's only admitting to something the rest of the world has known for quite some time.
Oct 18, 2012 Lance Armstrong has stepped down as chairman of the Livestrong Foundation. His move proves even his own charity is mad at him. Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NMAtv Webpage: http://www.nma.tv/ Twitter @nmatv: https://twitter.com/#!/nmatv Tumblr: http://nmatv.tumblr.com/ Lance Armstrong is no stranger to controversy, but the latest evidence released by the United States Anti-Doping Agency makes his claims of innocence even harder to believe. According to the report, Armstrong was at the center of a highly sophisticated doping ring when he participated in the Tour de France. A week after the report went public, Armstrong issued a statement saying he was stepping down from his role as chairman of the Livestrong Foundation "to spare the foundation any negative effects as a result of controversy surrounding [his] cycling career." Shortly after he resigned, Nike also decided to drop him from their sponsorship. This was a surprising move considering the sporting giant has stuck with Armstrong through the past 10 years of controversy. Although Lance Armstrong has lived an incredible life and helped millions of people through his Livestrong Foundation, the latest allegations have cost him many supporters.
Jan 15, 2013 Lance Armstrong has agreed to an interview with Oprah Winfrey at his Austin mansion that will be aired nationally on Thursday for Oprah's show Oprah's Next Chapter. There's speculation that Armstrong will partially admit to the charges brought against him in the US Anti-Doping Agency's report.
Reports say Armstrong will make a limited confession about doping and apologize during the 90-minute "no holds barred" sit-down with Oprah. Armstrong has said he's ready to speak candidly, but after a decade of lying and not being caught, can we really trust him? Especially since he's only admitting to something the rest of the world has known for quite some time.
Friday, January 18, 2013
Lance Armstrong May Have Lied to Oprah to Cover Crimes: Investigators - ABC News
 |
| I'm gonna knock you out! |
 |
| Not a happy camper- Lance Armstrong |
 |
| Old Skool Oprah |
Lance Armstrong may have lied to Oprah Winfrey during his so-called confession Thursday night about his doping during the Tour de France bicycle race, investigators told ABC News today.
Armstrong, 41, admitted for the first time that his decade-long dominance of cycling and seven wins in the Tour de France were owed, in part, to performance-enhancing drugs and oxygen-boosting blood transfusions. He told Winfrey that he was taking the opportunity to confess to everything he had done wrong, including angrily denying reports for years claiming that he had doped.
 |
| hmm... |
"That's the only thing in this whole report that upset me," Armstrong said during the interview. "The accusation and alleged proof that they said I doped [in 2009] is not true. The last time I crossed the line, that line was 2005."
"You did not do a blood transfusion in 2009?" Winfrey asked.
 |
| A submissive alpha Lance |
 |
| The "I'm almost scared" Oprah. |
Investigators said this was proof that he received a transfusion of mature red blood cells.
 |
| As you can clearly see...that's how it went! |
 |
| No gift for you! |
If Armstrong lied about the 2009 race, it could be to protect himself criminally, investigators said.
Lance Armstrong May Have Lied to Oprah to Cover Crimes: Investigators - ABC News
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)