Using twitter to help (and hurt) your cycling enjoyment

Posted by On Filed under Races, Racing and Racers 8 Comments

Twitte LogoIt is unquestionable that twitter has had a huge impact on cycling.  It is probably safe to say that a lot of cyclists – both recreational and pro – would have never heard of the social media and microblogging service if it were not for the tweets of a particular American Pro Cyclist.  “Tweets” – or postings to twitter – are increasingly becoming one of the most accurate and timely sources of information on the international racing scene.

There have been many international scene races in the last year or so where numerous fans on the roads have helped to provide up to the minute race coverage.  However, perhaps the power of Twitter as a source of pro cycling news came to a head most poignantly at the 2010 Amgen Tour of California when there were folks tweeting events as they happened – from cars in the pro peloton.  I know that personally, as I was positioned at various finish lines of the race, I became a sudden celeb in the crowd of folks I happened to find myself in.  It was not because of any particular status or insight.  Rather, it was because I was able to capture these up-to-the-minute tweets right there, at the finish line, on my smartphone.  I knew where the peloton was, who was in the breaks, and how many km were left to go.

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Family takes it “easy” biking along the California Coast

Posted by On Filed under Touring and Distance Riding 1 Comment

You may not have heard of them before, but you’ve really got to check out The Woodward Family.  I honestly do not recall how I found these folks initially, but their blog details a ride they did together across the United States – from the east coast to the west coast.  Right now (yes – possibly this very minute) they’re at it again – only this time they are traveling the California coast line.  They are posting blog entries, videos and photos along the way.   You can also keep track of their travels via twitter feeds @zachwoodward and @somewhereonabike.

Join me in wishing them the best of luck, no flats, safe roads and tailwinds all the way.

Top signs you are a cyclist

Posted by On Filed under Witticisms... or not. 1 Comment

Ironically, some of the clearest signs that you are a die hard cyclists actually reveal themselves while you are driving.  If you find yourself doing any of the following behaviors, there is a very good chance you are a cyclist.  If you find yourself doing more than one of these – well, there is no question about it.

You know you are a cyclist if, while you are driving, you:

  • Stick your hand out the window to point out a broken bottle in the road to the drivers behind you
  • Find yourself instinctively veering off the road towards the entrance to the bike trail
  • Get out of your car at a stop light to hit the cross walk button – certain that the light won’t be triggered by your presence in the lane
  • Tuck in behind semi trucks when you start to feel tired
  • Curse the guy directly behind you.  But you don’t call him a tailgater.  You refer to him as “that god damned wheel suck”
  • Yell “car back” whenever anyone passes you on the left – even on the freeway
  • Drink your Starbucks out of the side of your mouth without tilting your head back
  • Gently use your throttle at stop lights on hills instead of your break and refer to this effort as a “prefect trackstand”
  • Try and figure out how to switch your headlights to “flashy mode” in heavy traffic
  • Carefully measure the distance between the back of the driver’s seat and the gas pedal
  • Shift into neutral and drop down with your eyes barely over the steering wheel when going down a “steep hill”
  • Refer to the “steep hill” as a “descent”
  • Wonder why you can’t seem to drop the person in the passenger seat