Down to the Rapture

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(loveit @ Apr 1 2007, 12:04 AM) [snapback]415814[/snapback]</div>

How did I end up in Florida? I drove! R-R!

But, yeah, it was the NAVY. I trained in Orlando, and then, when my training time was done, I moved to West Palm Beach. That was in 1984. And as time went on, I kept moving out of Florida, back to VA, back to Florida, for the next few years. I settled in Florida in 1996, with a brief return to VA; just brief, not long enough to have to renew my drivers license here.

I love the weather ten months out of the year. In July and August, it can be warm, but thank God for A/C! I would not live here with out it.

But all the rest of the year, it's rather pleasant, IMHO. Of course, hurricanes ruin your day; and the taxes/insurance one two punch on homes suck. BUT, no tax on food, no income tax, no car inspections...lots of pluses. And I get a resident discount on Walt Disney! So all in all, not bad.

SPEAKING OF BIKES: I went out and got two TREK 21 SPEED BIKES! One for my wife, one for me. It's not as old school as I wanted, but it's nice. We have a lovely park across from us, and we drove seven miles on Saturday night around there.

Here are pics.


That would be mine.



And that would be hers. Now all I need are little fish for them...(You know, to get things BOT, right?)

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(larkinmj @ Mar 30 2007, 06:32 PM) [snapback]415125[/snapback]</div>

I think so too.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(loveit @ Apr 1 2007, 01:04 AM) [snapback]415814[/snapback]</div>

Yes, religiously. I've been an avid cyclist most of my life, and even built my own recumbent many years ago. I've done a fair bit of touring; the furthest ride was to California. I've yet to ride across Canada, but I hope to one summer.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TJandGENESIS @ Apr 1 2007, 04:06 AM) [snapback]415884[/snapback]</div>

Way to go, TJ!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TJandGENESIS @ Apr 1 2007, 03:06 AM) [snapback]415884[/snapback]</div>

Cool TJ! I am glad that you were able to get some bikes and go riding. I bet you and your wife had a great time! It's nice when you can get out and go riding, especially if the weather is cooperative.


<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hyo silver @ Apr 1 2007, 01:10 PM) [snapback]416015[/snapback]</div>

I always thought the recumbent bike looked very easy to ride. Never having been on one before, so what's it like riding? And how is it different for the body when cycling?

I loved Canada as a kid. My dad use to take us up there every other summer and we would stay at Perth, Ontario. There was a lake up there and we would rent a cabin, go into town and get fresh ice cream. Sometimes we would travel into Ottawa and spend the day there sight seeing and shopping.

I love the outdoors.

Then every other summer we would camp. Most of the time it was local but it was great. Dad sometimes would take us out of school on a Friday when the weather started getting warmer in May and we would spend a long weekend camping. That's how I learned to swim, in a deep pond with a pier. Would jump off the pier and do the doggie paddle. One time I went in so deep that my feet got sucked into the mud at the bottom I wasn't sure if I was going to make it back up, but I did.

One summer, we went to the Smokey Mountains. We got situated and I fell asleep in the tent. The folks and my siblings were off somewhere else when I woke up to hear a little kid hollering, momma, momma, there's a bear in the bathroom. Thank God for the kid, there were two entrances to the bathroom so they could get out of there fast!

Haven't been anywhere lately with all the stuff going on at home but this too will pass.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(windstrings @ Apr 1 2007, 01:09 AM) [snapback]415845[/snapback]</div>

I went to Israel and Eqypt right before I met the spouse. Had the chance to eat a St. Peter's fish from the Sea of Galilee. (They cook the fish with the head on. Kind of eerie with the eyeballs staring back at you! <_< :lol: )

But the fish was very good. Roasted over an open fire. I like salmon too. Maybe some day I will be able to go where they actually have fresh water salmon instead of the farm bred stuff. They say that the farm bred stuff has so much toxic chemicals in the feed they give to the fish, I wouldn't be surprised. They say that the fish fed with that stuff is the worse thing for you. Can't improve what nature provided.

I used to eat sardines with mustard as a kid with my dad, but have done that lately. I am thinking about getting a can and making me a sardine sandwich!

 

Well, I thought I would let you know that I rode my bike yesterday and was able to do quite well. I was pleased. I rode for about 25 minutes and enjoyed the fresh air and warm weather.

Have a great holiday weekend everyone!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(loveit @ Apr 3 2007, 08:04 AM) [snapback]417000[/snapback]</div>

Excellent!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(airportkid @ Apr 3 2007, 12:25 PM) [snapback]417092[/snapback]</div>

Thanks. I am working on the gears. The lower number for hills and the higher number for going down hills and level. That so far seems to work best for me.

At least there was no "earth shattering" experiences! Thank goodness! :lol:

 

Hey, loveit, it's great you're getting out on your new bike. It really is a wonderful way to get around, and to enjoy life without making too much of an impact on it. You had asked about recumbents earlier. They take a bit of getting used to, at first, and there's a wider variety of styles than there is with so-called 'regular' bikes. They are generally more comfortable, more aerodynamic, and provide a better view. If they hadn't been banned from competition in 1934, they'd be far more prevalent than they are. Try a few websearches if you're interested.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hyo silver @ Apr 3 2007, 03:09 PM) [snapback]417196[/snapback]</div>

Thanks for the reply Silver. Maybe one day in the future I might consider getting a recumbant. I can understand what you mean about a better view.

I am hoping that maybe within the next year or so to do a budget biking tour. But if you have hills to go up, how do you handle those? Do you have to take into consideration the grade of the hills? What has been your experience?

 

i come back expecting a flame war to still be going on in here and get a pleasant surprise!! :lol:

i'm still evaluating the neighborhood between our new apartment and my lab. the multiple shops with heavily barred windows make me wonder but so far it all seems to be ok. another week or so and if things still look ok, i'm gonna try to bike it. of course, it might be insanely hot by then as well. it's 84F/28C right now

 

Hey, no more flame wars here! It's the rapture of cycling thread now. We seem to have agreed to appreciate life/creation/reality instead of arguing about what it's called, where it came from and who, if anyone, is in charge.

Funny how different people's interpretation if insanely hot is. We had a freak snowfall yesterday, and 28C sounds positively wonderful. Of course, if it would warm up to about 40C that would be even better. I think 44C is the hottest I've cycled in. The water seems to leak out of me as fast as I can pour it in, and evaporates so fast it doesn't even feel like I'm sweating.

Hey, galaxee, have you got any cycling associations near you that could give you suggestions for a good route, or even a riding buddy? Carrying some bear spray might not hurt, either, just in case.

I kinda like hills, loveit. I don't mind climbing so much, as long as I get to hit warp speed on the way down. Use the lower gears, obviously, and spin your way up rather than pushing really hard on the pedals. Some skinnier, smoother tires will be easier if you plan on sticking to the pavement. Try a few shorter trips and overnight stays before you tackle any long distance tours, and make sure you have enough tools and experience to fix a flat or adjust a cable. Always carry water and snacks, and plan on a break at a nice spot every once in awhile.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(galaxee @ Apr 3 2007, 04:21 PM) [snapback]417213[/snapback]</div>

They make little canisters of pepper spray that clip onto your bike in case a dog chases you. You could get one of those if it makes you feel safer.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hyo silver @ Apr 3 2007, 04:09 PM) [snapback]417196[/snapback]</div>

The recumbent that I rode was a RANS Rocket. When I first started riding a recumbent, I was amazed at how I blew past other bikes on the bike path. The main disadvantage of a 'bent is that you can't get up off the seat to get more leverage going uphill. So you want to make sure that the gearing is low enough for the terrain you ride. The Rocket is what they call a short wheelbase (the cranks are forward of the stem). which is good for performance, but I would suggest anyone trying out a 'bent start out with a long wheelbase. They are less twitchy and more stable.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(galaxee @ Apr 3 2007, 03:21 PM) [snapback]417213[/snapback]</div>

Make sure that your bike is registered, and do what is necessary to prevent from being stolen or to be able to recover it.

Ask the locals the places where they DON'T GO, and that will give you a good idea of what parts you should stay away from.

 

well, there's really only one reasonable way to get there. things are looking okay overall, pretty quiet in the mornings and looks like mostly families out on their porches in the evening. i may try it next week once my grant is done. it's about 3 miles each way, which is doable. the first couple rides will be rough since i'm definitely not in the prime shape i used to be in! i'm giving the pepper or bear spray some thought too, just in case.

i've got a locked storage area at home and a place to lock my bike when i get to work. i haven't had a bike stolen since i was a kid, and i like this one too much to be careless with it!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(galaxee @ Apr 4 2007, 03:44 PM) [snapback]417766[/snapback]</div>

Even if where you work is in a good area (I assume that it's a university campus), I'd suggest bringing your bike inside when you ride to work. If you can't make sure you have a really good lock (e.g., Kryptonite). The cheap ones are worse than worthless.

 

i work on the duke med center campus. the only folks walking around this part of DUMC are employees and grad students going in and out of the vivarium, really. and our area is pretty secluded. the boss rides her super nice bike to work all the time, locks it outside with no trouble. but i do have a good lock.

 

Wow. What a pleasant change of thread. I happen to have a garage, but don't have a lock on my bike. Now, if I did ride it around and had to leave it outside somewhere, I would have a lock.

 

My city is what is "called" the Bicycle capital of the midwest. We have multiple bike trails extending from Cincinnati, to Dayton, to Columbus, to Cleveland all converge here.

They are all paved trails as well. the "Rails to Trails" thing kinda got statred here way back when. The path is about 3/4 mile from my house.

Xenia, OH

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TJandGENESIS @ Apr 5 2007, 01:51 AM) [snapback]418090[/snapback]</div>

Still praying for your health TJ. How are you doing?

Still doing lots of practice on the biking thing. I enjoy it.

Are you able to do much riding with the wife? I hope so.

Weather is starting to get nice. A little nippy with the snow showers today but April's for rain anyway. I wouldn't want it to get too hot before summer. Summer will be warm enough when it comes.

How do you find the weather in Miami during July and August? I think I read in one of your previous posts that you were glad that you had A.C.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Schmika @ Apr 5 2007, 11:53 AM) [snapback]418257[/snapback]</div>

oh yeah? sparta, wi (not too far from my college town) is the bicycling capital of america! just givin' ya a hard time

the rails to trails program is pretty cool, we've got the american tobacco trail down here and it's nice.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(galaxee @ Apr 5 2007, 06:33 PM) [snapback]418557[/snapback]</div>

I love Rails to Trails and give them $1-200 every year, but there are places where the concept turns out to be a dud - for bicyclists, anyway. A reclaimed rail right of way called the Iron Horse runs about 9 miles from Walnut Creek to Pleasanton through heavily suburban landscape. The scenery along the trail is actually nice: it's wide and filled with bordering trees so you don't notice the houses and shopping centers too much. But being suburbia, the railway crosses an avenue or road every quarter to half mile, and, unlike the trains that simply swept unhindered across these intersections behind the safety of crossing gates, cyclists have to yield to the cross traffic, which means coming to a full stop every quarter to half mile. Mile after mile of this gets old really fast. At 7 miles I quit and turned around, dreading the 7 miles I had to endure just to get back out of the thing (the boulevards that parallel the railway suffer the same problem: stop sign controlled intersections, so either route was an exercise in tedium).

On the other hand, on a ride from Seattle to Washington DC some of the reclaimed railways we used were magnificent. In Pennsylvania they kept us off the coal truck infested, narrow, steep roads and treated us to some spectacular trestle crossings (one more than a mile long). And through mountainous terrain you ride the railway serene in the knowledge that the grade will NEVER exceed 3%.

Mark Baird
Alameda CA