Strava...before and after....

Ok, I'm just posting this because I happened across it (and I thought it was funny).  The sad part is that it's kind of true.



Now for the record, I'm not a Strava guy.  I definitely record all my rides on a garmin, just because it's my speedometer and I do enjoy taking a look at the ride stats.  However, mostly it's just to see just how much climbing I did or what type of pace I maintained.  I don't share the data with anyone unless it happens to be posted here to show the route. 

I don't think it's bad if people what to share their efforts with everyone else.  Lord knows that if we're on a ride and it seems like there's someone who is pushing the pace, I'll be right there with them to see if they really want to play the game. 

However, there are more and more people out on the trails who exhibit a bit of the behavior that is joked at here.   So let's all try to remember that it's bicycling and it's supposed to be fun!!

Don't tailgate cyclists...Local PD might just be watching.

Justice served.  If you want to see the good part you can fast forward to about 1 minute in. 

Random things in Reno post.

I seem to have an odd collection of pics floating around on my phone from the last 3 or 4 days, so that's what you're getting this morning.  I guess I'll rehash them in the order that they occurred.

Food truck Friday at Idlewild. 

The music (and bicycles) at food truck Friday.

If this isn't a bicycle family SUB (Sport Utility Bicycle) I don't know what is!

Later that same night....a very fuzzy picture.  Why....because the second beer from the bottom of the draft list is BELL's from Kalamazoo, Michigan.  My original brewery!!!

Saturday morning brewing at my house (a Citra hopped Session IPA).  Note my system is now a one man operation due to the addition of a block and tackle for the transfer to the fermenter.

And that leads us up to yesterday's commute home.  Yep, it was raining up in my neighborhood....and more than a sprinkle.  I might have gotten wet, but it sure felt good on a 90+ degree day!

Ok, that clears out my back log.  Hope you've had as much fun over the last few days!

The Ultimate Utility Bicycle....

Recently there was a competition for the "Ultimate Urban Utility Bicycle".  Five cities entered including Portland, San Francisco, Seattle, New York, and Chicago.  Below are are the video summaries of each of the rides.  From a design perspective they are all interesting to say the least (thank you 3d printing technology).  However, because many of them don't quite have what I'll call traditional geometry and style, I don't quite fall in love with the look of them.  I guess that makes me  old fashioned (which I'm usually not).  Either way they are all cool ideas, so have a look and see what you think.

(The material below is taken from Bikeportland.org....)

 Here’s the Portland video:

San Francisco: Huge Design x 4130 Cycle Works – “EVO” – a hybrid bicycle that leverages a modular accessory platform for ultimate flexibility.

Seattle: TEAGUE x Sizemore Bicycle – “DENNY” – a bicycle to enable travel through the very diverse and unpredictable city that is Seattle.

New York City: Pensa x Horse Cycles – “MERGE” – an urban bicycle loaded with integrated functionality at your fingertips so you can RIDE YOUR WAY.

Chicago: MINIMAL x Method Bicycle –“BLACKLINE” – a bike for cruising during the summer months and able to contend with the rugged Windy City winters.

Things you should practice this weekend.

Ok, not really.  I can't decide if I wish I had these kinds of skills.....or if this guy just deserves the crash that is probably coming his way shortly!

Biking to the music!

Ok, I saw this one Wednesday on my ride home.

Yes, it's a fuzzy picture.

 Wednesday, 5:30ish and Wingfield Island is rocking out with Art Town music....and it's packed.  Absolutely fabulous.  Anway, it was just cool to ride by, stop for a second and listen to the band jamming out.  If you haven't made it out to Art Town events you might want to do so this weekend.  It's the final round of events over the next week.

Inspiration to do an epic ride.....

Every year I intend to do this type of thing.  And then what we'll refer to as "real life" seems to get in the way. You know...vacation time is limited, need to visit family, blah, blah, blah....



One way or the other I'm doing at least a short trip this year.  I finally have a buddy who wants to commit, so maybe this year will be there year it happens!  Either way....if this is your cup of tea, this video for the Blackburn Rangers should get you excited to make it happen.

4th / Victorian Way....the Great Basin Express.

Ok, so after work yesterday I headed over to Great Basin to meet some friends for a beer.  I was tired before I even headed over and a couple beers probably didn't help the energy levels.  Anyway, I decided the river path was boring (and not direct enough given my energy levels) so I headed home to Reno via Victorian Ave. and 4th St. through downtown Reno.

Victorian Ave.....nice bike lanes.....good job Sparks!

4th St.....plenty of room to stripe a bike lane right now....no bike lane....bad job Reno!

The term express in the title was NOT in effect for me.  The route may be direct but it is also unprotected from the steady head wind I was fighting.  I think I average about 11 or 12 mph the entire way and probably slowed even further climbing the 300 feet up the hill to the house.  While this definitely qualifies as pathetic....at least the beer made the pain bearable.

So, if you need an alternate on your way to or from Sparks....give the 4th St. corridor a try.  It's relatively light traffic, interesting people watching, and the most direct route you can find.

BPAC Meeting tomorrow night.

Tomorrow night  in the Regional Transportation Commission Boardroom 2050 Villanova Drive,
Reno, NV 89502 at 6:30 pm.  If you want a say in what happens with Bicycles in Reno this is a good place to start!

What's your excuse?

The bike lanes have been kinda empty lately.  What gives people....It's perfect riding weather in the mornings.  I know you'll sweat a bit on the ride home, but just think how much more you'll appreciate that AC when you walk in the door.  And....you'll have earned that beer your heading for after work!  So let's do this people.  Get out there and use the 150 miles of bike lanes Reno has to offer!

Rolling on the River. Bike Parking!

Friday evening on the way home from work I stopped off at the Rolling on the River concert series to hang out with some friends.  The series has been around for a while now and it's become really popular (if you didn't know).  And due to this fact and that there's no parking lot that really serves it, parking can be a problem.  Folks know this by now and it has spawned a new problem.....even bicycle parking is maxed out!!!  Talk about a good problem!

A full parking lot!

Another full parking lot.  Note the organizers made a rather large mistake of blocking off half the bike racks here!

Music in full effect.

Required supplies....a blanked (check), wine bladder (check), water (check), whiskey (check), food stuff (check).

Update on the Cave Rock Truck vs. Bike Collision.

From KTVN:

Cyclist hit at Cave Rock this morning.

From KTVN:

Cross your fingers for this cyclist....doesn't sound good.  Ironically, there are signs that say watch for cyclists in tunnel.  I wonder if we'll actually see a citation to the driver?

Motivation....and music!

Over the long weekend I attended High Sierra Music festival up in Quincy with some good friends.  In addition to being exposed to some great music, we took a really nice bike ride.  I have zero pictures of the ride.  Don't know why it didn't occur to me to take the phone.

As a short description of the ride.....we were on Xtracycles that weigh 50 plus pounds each.  We took a beautiful "leisurely" ride that climbs and descends a lot.  I don't have a granny gear on my Xtra.....  I think the preacher enjoyed this fact just a little bit!!  The turn around point has an awesome hidden spring to fill up your water bottle with really cold water and it's at a beautiful riverside camp site.  There were speeds of 40+ mph!! on the downhills.  So grinding the hills was totally worth it!

To be honest, it wasn't that much elevation gain.  It just comes at you in steep intervals.  While I definitely stood more than usual to climb....it wasn't that bad even on the xtra.



The general vibe of the festival event looked something like this:
 

Plan you band schedule....

Hang out in camp....bicycles ready for action in the background.

Mandatory beers and jungle juice on tap....

Listen to a ton of great music....

Repeat....

Crash back at camp.

This little ad was in the RGJ this morning!

A hospital promoting bicycling right in our own little newspaper!  Look how far we've come!

Beer and Bike Park....sheer genius!

Found this little article over at DirtRagMag.....click on the image for the whole thing.

How is it that someone in the Sierra's hasn't done this!!!???

A little infographic on the benefits of biking.