Re: [MonBikeClub] Sunday, 9 am Road Ride

[csha...@aol.com]

I eally wanted to be with you, 4rank, but I was out at Coooper's with my baby boy and the rest of the Riff-Raff, doing the Riff-Raff Run, which we do every year with the TRI (gay people's Alliance) Club.   The weather for late nNov. was none other than dead solid perfect.  I ran one ten-mile loop, then the boy and I rode all over creation...every trail is ridable and dry...so git out there while the gittin's good!

 

As for the the A*&hole on the road, I too have encountered several of those lately, and I too have inadvertantly let fly with a bawdy expletive or five.   I know thqt this does not help the collective psyche of the local populace, but it makes me feel a hell of a lot better....and I refuse to be run off the road, or for that matter to ride in the ditch for anybody.

 

Ride on , Bruthas and Sistas!!!

-----Original Message-----
From: 4ank <fgme...@verizon.net>
To: Mon Bike Club <monbi...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Sun, Nov 22, 2009 2:00 pm
Subject: [MonBikeClub] Sunday, 9 am Road Ride

3 cyclists: Jack, Don and Frank did today's regular 9 am Sunday Road
Ride from the Courthouse.  Although the temp on the Citizens Bank
clock said 43F, the bright sun made it feel warmer.

We headed up River Road South to shirk the chill.  We studied the road
repair job and wondered if and how they're draining water and just
plain marveled at the construction with the huge I-beams and concrete
panels.  BTW, the road bed is covered with crushed limestone of
various sizes so you can walk or even ride through there if they're
not working.  (The last time I went through there, I collected about
10 lb of sucky clay on each of my shoes and so much between my tires
and fenders that I had to dig it out with a stick before the wheels
would even turn.)

Of course, the ride all the way along River Road keeps you warm as
after the slightest chill on a descent, there's always another climb
to warm you up again.  You might even break a sweat if Don's setting
the pace.

At Rt. 19, we headed out the Hagans Road.  Have you ever noticed the
patches of native stone pavement peaking out of the scant asphalt on
the hill up to Behler?  We wished we had some of our geologist friends
along to tell if the stone came from the same rock that must have been
cut from the hillside to make the road in the first place.  Wonder
when that was?  Somebody did a heck of a lot of hard work!  The stone
pavement is barely wider than the space between two wagon wheels.  I
wondered what it would be like descending that on your 700x23c's with
120 psi.

We descended Pedlar Run and then climbed up Henderson Ridge.  About
3/4 of the way up, we questioned the wisdom of that route as many
gunshots fired around us.  We discussed being the first casualties of
the hunting season and whether we'd be dying from bullets or
buckshot.  From the sound of some of those shots, some of those guys
were sighting in their weapons for 500 lb. squirrels.

The Mooresville Road was rough as usual but easily road bike
rideable.  It wasn't quite as peaceful as usual though as we
encountered at least 6 motor vehicles along the way.

Along the Mooresville Road and the Buckeye Road, we discussed the dogs
on the Dairy Barn road.  One of them bit me a couple months ago.  Don
said they harassed him and some others who rode there recently.  We
discussed if it would be better to avoid that road but concluded that
we have a right to ride there and a few doses of pepper spray might
discourage the dogs.  There's still the question of whether it would
be more effective to pepper spray the dogs or the owner.

On the Buckeye Road, just around a bend where the rode turns abruptly
up, Jack dropped his chain.  I turned around and was coming back down
on the shoulder when a pickup truck came around the bend, swung wide
to avoid Jack and Don who were still on the road, and yelled at me,
"Get off the god damned road".  Seeing as how I was off the road, not
thinking of the more appropriate response of just keeping my mouth
shut, I blurted out, "Fuck You!"  Stupid thing to do as then I had to
keep watching for that silver pickup the rest of the way home.  Also,
not a great move to win the respect of motorists as we've decided is
the single most important thing to improve cycling around here.

I guess it wasn't my day.  As we rolled up to the intersection of W.
Park and Holland Avenues waiting for a break in the traffic, I
couldn't disengage my cleat and fell down.  I wish the guy in the
silver pickup had seen it, because it might have made the mean SOB
laugh.  That've taught him a lesson, eh?

Anyway, it turned out to be a sunny balmy perfect cycling day,
incredible for November.  Where were you?!

Happy Thanksgiving!

4ank

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[Nick Hein]

Frank, et y'all,
Sorry I couldn't make the morning ride. I did my own commute ride home this
evening as the sun set westbound on Hwy 7 to Crossroads Rd W of Blacksville
and home to Zeb Haught Rd. I was on the low recumbent Zox20 replica - must
have had a tailwind because I was smoking down the road. Completed the 25
mi ride in about 90 minutes. Not sure about you guys but that's faster than
usual for me.
Traffic was light, drivers were polite. I've been doing the ride often
enough now that some of them call me by name and wave (all 5 fingers even).
Hope your ride was as delightful.
Nick

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19:41:00

[Nick Hein]

Good evening,

Over the last few weeks I've been giving free private cycling instruction to a young (30yo) man in town who's been stricken with MS over the past 5 years.  In only 3 sessions he was able to re-learn balance on the bike with only partial control of his legs.  He did so well that we rode from Seneca Center to Star City and back on the trail, I gave him a few pushes toward the end as he tired out a little but I expect with regular riding he'll get stronger.  It was remarkable to see this guy who normally gets around on a scooter, and had to struggle to get on the bike.  But once he was on and away he looked as able-bodied as anyone else riding.  Here's what his friend said after talking to him on the phone.

 

"Talked to otho last night and he said he was able to ride from wamsley's to star city and back, with a little help from you i guess on the way back. thank you so much! oh you should have heard him talking about how good it felt to be riding, with the wind moving past his face and how much he liked being able to look as things as he rode by. He said he realizes now that maybe riding a two wheeler might not be a good idea for him , as his endurance and energy levels are so unpredicatable. I have thought that all along but didn't want to say a thing to discourage him. it's really good he was able to try it with you there. I wish there was some sort of vehicle that would give him that freedom of movement he loved so much, as well as the exercise and the possiblility of being outdoors, yet be safe enough with some sort of motor back up for when his damnable old nervous system gives out."

 

I'll be putting pictures up on the Positive Spin blog.  It really was pretty cool.  I'm not taking any credit here btw.  He did all the work, I just provided a little guidance.  It gave me a new appreciation for my own good health and other peoples' strength of spirit.

 

Nick

[Dan Cas]

Nick

 Thanks for relaying this to the list. MS is a brutal disease and it great to hear of his success riding.

dan

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www.casdorphpiano.com

"May the fourth be with you"

[Craig Weimer]

In the Buchannon bike store they have a very nice motorized bicycle for cheap. 

[Graber, Stephen]

Although not inexpensive, Wamsley's in Morgantown has a nice power assisted electric Trek that might also be ideal.  Besides being renewable, the cool thing about the Trek is  that the electric motor provides a boost while you pedal & can be set to contribute from 0 - 200% (I think those are the numbers) of your input effort.  At 200% it requires almost no effort to pedal.

 

---

From: Craig Weimer [craig...@yahoo.com]
Sent: Monday, November 23, 2009 8:59 AM
To: monbi...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: [MonBikeClub] There's something about riding...

[Nick Hein]

Butch,

I've test-ridden that bike in the parking lot.  The drive system is similar to one I've used before and it's GREAT!  You could ride up any hill in Morgantown on an 80 deg day without breaking a sweat, on a vehicle that weighs 60 lb instead of 6000 and can be stored in your office.  Although the price of this one puts it out of reach for Otho, it would definitely be a fair-weather vehicle for anyone who can shell out the bucks (about 2500 I think).  Chip is using it as his personal commuter - it's only in the showroom because he is too when he's not riding it.

 

Nick

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[chip wamsley]

Trek makes four models of pedelecs from $2-3000..  It also has a regenerative mode to recharge the lithium ion batteries when going down hill, and assist braking.  The MDA (muscular dystrophy association)  helps folks with MS and may know of sources of funding to aid folks with quality of life issues. I also just read in the fall IRS bulletin that the govt is now issuing tax credits for 2 & 3 wheel electic assisted vehicles, but have not found out the details. Electric assist bikes are becoming a more visable option.

Chip

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[Nick Hein]

Thanks Chip, I'll look into it further. 

Here's what I found in a quick check.  Doesn't sound good.

http://www.bikeforums.net/archive/index.php/t-595142.html

 

We have that single-speed, non-regen electric trike and it might work for Otho - for now at least - but he'll need financial assistance to pay for it.  Tony Ratliff used it to recover from his stroke and now rides an EZ-Sport 2-wheel recumbent. Do you have contact info for local MS offices that might be able to help?

[chip wamsley]

check with the MDA offices in Charleston--Bob Walker, 800-248-4050