Getting back on the saddle after a long break in 1 week

Posted by On Filed under Bikes as a lifestyle, Member Blogs

Guest Post By Alex Bristol

Sometimes in life, we just unexpectedly run into situations that put things on hold. Whether that is having to take time off work because of illness/ injury or being stuck indoors because of the latest pandemic, we all find ourselves not being able to jump on the saddle as much as we’d like to. 

Luckily, pushing those pedals is almost hardwired into our minds once we’ve learned how to ride properly. It becomes a case of finding the right time, the right motivation and the right mindset to start cycling again. 

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Top 7 best bike music videos

Posted by On Filed under Bikes as a lifestyle, Member Blogs, Witticisms... or not.

There is a rather large and growing collection of humours, self-deprecating, but often true songs and music videos that folks have made regarding cycling.  Usually these poke fun at some of the more eccentric aspects and stereotypes of the cycling culture.  I thought it was about time someone put together a list of the best of them. Of course, this is just my opinion, and is therefore fact…

 

 

Number 7: Bike-Friendly City (funny song about bike safety in Toronto)

Obstensibly a bicycle saftey piece, but we all know that no one listens if we talk about bike safety seriously.  So lets try it with a little humor:

Number 6: SRSLY

Just try and make it past the Cliff Shot slurping scene in the beginning…

Number 5: Le Velo

The first entry from Robin Moore – the only guy to make my list not once, but three times.  This video probably would have ranked higher if he had chosen a better wine.

Number 4: Get Dirty

After poking fun at the euro crowd, Robin Moore goes after the MTB set.  Truth be told though, you may want to hold off on watching this one until you’ve watched the rest of the list.  There are references in this video to the number one video on our list.

 

Number 3: All You Haters ( Suck …censored… )

Something about making fun of anger is hysterically funny to me – and a heck of a lot better than actually being angry. Warning – if you would be offended on a Juniur High School camups by the language, you should skip this video…

 

Number 2: Motherf<censored>ing Bike

Yes.  They swear.  A lot. But again, making fun of anger is just too enjoyable. Yes – this is the genesis of that famous “Tour de F*** You.”  Nearly every stereotype of urban cycling culture is in here.  In truth it was a very hard decision to decide the actual order of the top two.  Ultimately it came down to seniority alone.

Ooooh – and it is in HD!

 

Numero Uno: Performance

For me this is the first and still best bicycle music video.  The third entry from Robin Moore.  If you do nothing else in your cycling life, get this stuck in your head on your next ride.  Eminently quotable – ‘Cause its all about performance…

 

 

And speaking of quotable, one final thought:

Use your head while riding

Posted by On Filed under Bike Advocacy, Member Blogs, Misc

Warning – Just Another Cyclist is about to jump into the cycling helmet debate.  If you’ve had about all you can stand of the endless arguing on this issue (and who can blame you really?) then perhaps you’ll find one of my other articles more to your taste.

I also want to point out that you will likely not walk away with a clear impression that I’m on one side of the issue or the other.  I’m decidedly neither pro nor anti helmet.  I wear a helmet when I ride if I feel like it.  I generally always wear it on group rides more out of peer pressure (everybody’s wearing one!) or habit than anything else.  I almost always wear gloves when I ride to protect my hands if (or should I say when) I happen to hit the pavement, and the helmet is kinda in the same category.  On the other hand, I do not ride any differently if I don’t have my helmet on than when I do.

The main reason for my indecision is that I’ve not seen anything that would make me think that one side of the argument or the other is correct.  I decided to do a little more digging into the issue and see what I could come up with.

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Team Type 1 sets goal of Giro for 2011

Posted by On Filed under Member Blogs, Pro Racing

Ben King has moved from the Trek-Livestrong team and signed with Team Type 1.  He is one of six new riders that have joined the ranks of Team Type 1 for the 2011 season.  There has been a long-stated goal of Team Type 1 to be in the Tour de France in 2012, and it would seem they are heading in that direction.  As a step towards that goal they’re targeting the Giro d’Italia in  2011.

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Chris Horner to ride the Sacramento Area

Posted by On Filed under Member Blogs, Organized Rides

Pro cyclist Chris Horner – currently riding for Team Radio Shack – will be in the Sacramento area this coming weekend (September 18) at Clark’s Corner Coffee House and Community Center in Ione, CA.  He will be there in conjunction with a cycling event – the Clark’s Corner Cycling Challenge – where participants can take part in a group ride with Mr Horner himself through Ione.  In addition, there will be a VIP dinner on Friday night, September 17.

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An open letter to Diabetic cyclists

Posted by On Filed under Member Blogs, Misc

It is an unfortunate necessity of being a cyclist with Type 1 diabetes that a fair amount of thought goes into blood sugar levels on the days before, during and after major rides.  Despite all the warm fuzzy “Diabetes doesn’t stop me from doing anything” sentiments – which I in fact do agree with – there is still an inescapable fact of life: Diabetes is a big pain in the ass.  I’ve talked before about some of the challenges that cycling, or any athletic endeavor, can present to a diabetic.  To that end, I’ve decided to share some of my methods of managing my diabetes while I’m riding, and ask for your stories to help me address some of the areas I’m struggling with.

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Finished the Sept 12, 2010 Tour de Tahoe

Posted by On Filed under Member Blogs, Organized Rides

This was a ride that I’ve had on the schedule for most of the year – and one I’ve very much been looking forward to.  The Tour de Tahoe – presented by Bike the West –  is a clockwise loop around Lake Tahoe, covering over 70 miles of road and (depending on who’s data you look at) either 2,100, 3,700 or 6,000 feet of climbing.  I managed to bang it out with 4:42:15 of actual pedaling time (plus 32 minutes of time spent munching at rest stops) for a total elapsed time of about 5 hours and 15 minutes from start to finish.

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Wanna tow 300 lbs with your bike?

Posted by On Filed under Cycling Products / Reviews, Member Blogs

Surly has introduced some of their new products – giving us a sneak peak at what will be available by next year.  Of particular interest to you utilitarian cyclists that like to use your bikes like pickup trucks are a new trailer, and some modifications to the Big Dummy.

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Around the world in 163 days

Posted by On Filed under Member Blogs, Pro Racing, Touring and Distance Riding

It would appear that the circumnavigation attempt – by bicycle – of Vin Cox has been certified by the Guinness Book of World Records as the fastest yet.  The Guinness records site has not yet posted anything regarding this, so I’ve not been able to validate this directly from them.  However, other third parties such as Road Cycling UK are also reporting confirmation of the time of 163 days, 6 hours and 58 minutes as the new fastest.  This bests the previous record holder Mark Beauomont’s time of 194 days, 17 hours.  Potentially of interest is the fact that both Vin Cox and Mark Beauomont are both from the UK.

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Multiple Cycling Disorder

Posted by On Filed under Member Blogs, Witticisms... or not.

Roadie.  Fixie hipster.  Urban velo.  Cycle chic.  Mountain.

As a group, us cyclists sure seem to want to divide ourselves into, well, more groups.  The interesting thing about cyclists is that we often seem to pigeonhole themselves into a single sub-sect and not stray out much.  But why would that be? Keep reading →