***General Cycling Thread***

[Al_4_State]

Did my first 100 miler on the Root River trail on Saturday. Couldn't have been better weather. Toughest part was around mile 75 or so. I was just tired and kinda tensed up. Stopped for a burger in Rushford around mile 82 and then rolled into Lanesboro where I finished, and had a couple beers at Sylvan.

 

[Turn2]

I cycle enough to know this isn't a thing, but DSM placed remarkably well in this fabricated ranking. Eagerness of Iowans to see naked people looks like the primary reason. My takeaway; avoid cycling in Florida or Texas.

2024’s Best Cities for Naked Biking - Lawnstarter - LawnStarter Ranking

Where can you bike ride in the buff and stay on the right side of the law? See the best cities for cycling naked ahead of the World Naked Bike Ride.

www.lawnstarter.com

 

[BoxsterCy]

Finally got the roadie out, been riding the hybrid. Put the new Grand Prix 5000's on last night after buying them in April. I take procrastination to pro level. Damn, not easy tires to mount, crazy tight. Glad I bought the little rim/tire jack tool thingie that someone here recommended. Made me think about how hard a flat would be on the road so stuck that little tool in jersey pocket.

Slight adjustment to the seat and brakes. The hybrid has the disc brakes and I got used to them the last couple of months.

 

[NWICY]

Finally got the roadie out, been riding the hybrid. Put the new Grand Prix 5000's on last night after buying them in April. I take procrastination to pro level. Damn, not easy tires to mount, crazy tight. Glad I bought the little rim/tire jack tool thingie that someone here recommended. Made me think about how hard a flat would be on the road so stuck that little tool in jersey pocket.

Slight adjustment to the seat and brakes. The hybrid has the disc brakes and I got used to them the last couple of months.

Sliding down to do the Ames to Des Moines section of Ragbrai?

 

[BoxsterCy]

Sliding down to do the Ames to Des Moines section of Ragbrai?

Negative. Chronic intestinal stuff makes that impossible. Can't do morning rides. Will try to avoid heat exhaustion on an alumni ride here next week that I am helping with.

 

[BoxsterCy]

Canada smoke is back. Only "YELLOW" but you can smell it. DND

 

[BigBake]

Did my first 100 miler on the Root River trail on Saturday. Couldn't have been better weather. Toughest part was around mile 75 or so. I was just tired and kinda tensed up. Stopped for a burger in Rushford around mile 82 and then rolled into Lanesboro where I finished, and had a couple beers at Sylvan.

Just rode up there last weekend. Really impressed with that trail system. Only section we didn't get in was the south trail to Preston. Also didn't get any further east of Rushford. Definitely my reason to go back.

 

[Al_4_State]

Just rode up there last weekend. Really impressed with that trail system. Only section we didn't get in was the south trail to Preston. Also didn't get any further east of Rushford. Definitely my reason to go back.

You covered the well maintained portions. East of Rushford and the entire Preston/Harmony spur are in terrible shape. Like you need to dismount at bridges.

Night and day from the Fountain to Rushford piece.

To be fair, I understand the reality behind this. There just isn’t much traffic on those other stretches, but the disrepair is unfortunate given how pretty both are

 

[BoxsterCy]

None of my friends and age peers bike anymore so I have no one to talk to about it so you guys in the thread get stuck with it!

Per geek sheet I am way behind on miles versus 2023. Going to blame chronic intestinal stuff not being good to me, poor AQI from the fires, crazy ass wind, such much hot days and a strong 2023 inner sloth. Did get out for 28 miles yesterday prior to heat stroke weather today.

Ride notes:

• I spy cherry mid-1960's(1965?) red GTO at Lake of the Isles. Sweet
• Annoying when I am occasionally passed by someone leisurely "pedaling" away at like 40 rpm. It reminds of Flo's sister pedaling in slow motion on the exercise bike in that one insurance commercial.
• Wind gusts to 28 mph but they were not frequent so less annoying than I thought they would be.
• And had another annoying Strava tracking when it didn't pause when I stopped for 20 minutes and visited with neighbors a block from my house on my way home.
• DND

 

[BoxsterCy]

Don't think I've had anyone try to kill me all summer. Till yesterday and it was twice. Riding along the road near the curb and getting ready to turn left a 90 degree residential street corner when the oncoming soccer mom in her SUV cut the corner so much she drove me into the curb. Don't know if she was just reckless or on her cell phone. She did stop at least.

Than was trying to cross a busy 4-way stop (on the regional trail with big bright lime green signs on the road noting YIELD) at the bike/pedestrian crossing. I stopped even though there is no stop sign for the trail crossing and than tried to cross at the trail crosswalk. Couldn't make eye contact with one guy because of his ******* dark tinted windows. Never trust an ass with deep tinted windows, should have known better. In addition to almost hitting me he had to yell some ****.

 

[BoxsterCy]

Got in a 31 mile ride to celebrate my old man birthday. Did not die. Sort of bummed I am hundreds of miles off my miles of the past few summers. Not thinking I will catch up unless September runs into November.

I Spy game was sort of slow but ended up interesting. No corgi's or other cool dogs other than the small dog in the backpack of one guy I passed. No cool cars either, however, there was the one topless gal at the Cedar Lake beach. Nice tan.

 

[BigBake]

Trying for my first century tomorrow. Wish the RRVT loop was open so probably be Woodward to Mingo and back.

 

[NWICY]

Trying for my first century tomorrow. Wish the RRVT loop was open so probably be Woodward to Mingo and back.

Good weather for it, make sure you have your water stops figured out.

 

[BoxsterCy]

Think I am acclimated to heat. Yesterday was 100% cloudy, maybe 69, with some intermittent cold sprinkles thrown in and I felt chilled even with long sleeved jersey on. Had a hard time getting warm after the ride. Even drank some java.

 

[BigBake]

First time ride on the Heart of Iowa trail today in central Iowa. Pretty cool rail trail with a mixture of surfaces. Huxley to Cambridge is buttery smooth concrete and then it turns to crushed limestone after that. Stopped at Collins and turned around, wife didn't want to ride the gravel road section to connect to the last bit of trail. It's an old rail trail but it's not 100% straight, got a few curves and bends to keep you awake.

 

[BigBake]

Good weather for it, make sure you have your water stops figured out.

Casey's in Ankeny and Bondurant were a must hit. That and the little ice cream shop in downtown Ankeny on the way back thru for that last bit of energy.

 

[BoxsterCy]

First time ride on the Heart of Iowa trail today in central Iowa. Pretty cool rail trail with a mixture of surfaces. Huxley to Cambridge is buttery smooth concrete and then it turns to crushed limestone after that. Stopped at Collins and turned around, wife didn't want to ride the gravel road section to connect to the last bit of trail. It's an old rail trail but it's not 100% straight, got a few curves and bends to keep you awake.

Good to see your 100 miler last week did not kill you!

 

[BigBake]

Good to see your 100 miler last week did not kill you!

Lol, nope, I survived. I did some Ragbrai's way back in the early 2000s but couldn't remember if I ever did 100. I for whatever reason remember a 90 something mile day but never a 100. I've done some long mtn bike days but a 100 mile road bike ride just hits different.

 

[simply1]

I’ll save you my pictures from the naked bike ride this year

 

[Cmonwhatarewedoinghereman]

I know this this isn’t a professional bike thread but I’m happy for Sepp Kuss, a kid from Colorado who won the Vuelta today. He seems like a good guy who deserves it