RR: Road again but with mtb. relevance



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Doug Taylor

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Still raining in the northeast and the trails are not rideable.

So, another road ride in drizzle/rain conditions this a.m., with one twist. One steep climb by road
standards (13.5% grade for about .7 mile) not only was wet but still had patches of sand left over
from winter road maintenance.

Only rarely climbing on a road bike do you encounter such conditions as rear wheel spinning and/or
front wheel coming off the ground, which, as we know, are commonplace climbing steep stuff off-road.
Mostly, there are very few paved roads steep enough for either to occur. Off-road, we climb more
gnarly grades, and learn instinctively and instantly to shift mass fore and aft to keep the rubber
on the ground, traction, and balance, so as to clean the hill without having to dismount.

So, I'm climbing standing in the wet and sand, and my rear wheel spun more than a few times up this
grade. I figure if I didn't have an off-road backround, I wouldn't have had a clue how shift back
quickly but smoothly so as to get traction and keep moving . I probably would have mashed and laid
rubber, and ended up off the bike and walking. Particularly demeaning for a roadie.

--dt
 
On Sat, 29 Mar 2003 11:34:56 -0500, Doug Taylor wrote:

> So, I'm climbing standing in the wet and sand, and my rear wheel spun more than a few times up
> this grade. I figure if I didn't have an off-road backround, I wouldn't have had a clue how shift
> back quickly but smoothly so as to get traction and keep moving.

I don't do a lot of road riding (and when I do, its on an MTB), but I've found that MTB skills
occasionally help when the road is not so clean & smooth. I've also found that road riding has
helped me know the most efficient gearing (lots of time to focus on that while road riding, since
boredom is the main challenge).

Oregon's had rain for 28 days straight. Its finally slowed some so I can get in some pre-season
riding on wet pavement. No rain yesterday, and I added in some fireroad miles. Its climbing about
80-90% of the time (5mph up, 30mph down), and I'm pretty sore! Guess I'm getting old.

--
-BB- To reply to me, drop the attitude (from my e-mail address, at least)
 
In article <[email protected]>, BB <[email protected]> wrote:

> I don't do a lot of road riding

Well, I do. Six of us had a great road ride today from Jamestown, CA to Coulterville and back. 58
breathtaking miles with 5100' of climbing. The highlight was returning along Marshes Flat Road which
gave a feeling of remoteness and beauty rivalling many a mountain bike trail. 80F high, wildflowers
and trees in full bloom, creeks trickling down stony courses--well, you get the picture.

Great Mexican food in Jamestown afterward.

TD

--
[email protected] World Without Cars Dictionary of Vandemisms (2001) is available at:
http://trekkiedad.freeservers.com/wwc.html ICQ# available on request
 
"Trekkie Dad" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> In article <[email protected]>, BB <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > I don't do a lot of road riding
>
> Well, I do. Six of us had a great road ride today from Jamestown, CA to Coulterville and back. 58
> breathtaking miles with 5100' of climbing. The highlight was returning along Marshes Flat Road
> which gave a feeling of remoteness and beauty rivalling many a mountain bike trail. 80F high,
> wildflowers and trees in full bloom, creeks trickling down stony courses--well, you get the
> picture.
>
> Great Mexican food in Jamestown afterward.
>
> TD

Come now boys! Y'all just scarin' me now... all this stuff 'n' nonsense 'bout road ridin'...
--
Westie
 
In article <[email protected]>, "Westie" <[email protected]> wrote:

> "Trekkie Dad" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > In article <[email protected]>, BB <[email protected]> wrote:
> >
> > > I don't do a lot of road riding
> >
> > Well, I do. Six of us had a great road ride today from Jamestown, CA to Coulterville and back.
> > 58 breathtaking miles with 5100' of climbing. The highlight was returning along Marshes Flat
> > Road which gave a feeling of remoteness and beauty rivalling many a mountain bike trail. 80F
> > high, wildflowers and trees in full bloom, creeks trickling down stony courses--well, you get
> > the picture.
> >
> > Great Mexican food in Jamestown afterward.
> >
> > TD
>
>
> Come now boys! Y'all just scarin' me now... all this stuff 'n' nonsense 'bout road ridin'...
> --
> Westie
>
>
>

You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile!

TD

--
[email protected] World Without Cars Dictionary of Vandemisms (2001) is available at:
http://trekkiedad.freeservers.com/wwc.html ICQ# available on request
 
"Westie" <[email protected]> wrote:

>Come now boys! Y'all just scarin' me now... all this stuff 'n' nonsense 'bout road ridin'...

Well, where I live the trails are covered with 4 inches of new snow on top of 4 inches of mud. The
roads are clear, as is the only choice if you want to ride a bike and not ******** IMBA, the people
who maintain the trails, and anyone who rides them after the soil dries up in 3 or 4 weeks.

Surely you're suggesting I ride a bike trainer?

--dt
 
"Doug Taylor" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> Still raining in the northeast and the trails are not rideable.
>
> So, another road ride in drizzle/rain conditions this a.m., with one twist. One steep climb by
> road standards (13.5% grade for about .7 mile) not only was wet but still had patches of sand left
> over from winter road maintenance.
>
> Only rarely climbing on a road bike do you encounter such conditions as rear wheel spinning and/or
> front wheel coming off the ground, which, as we know, are commonplace climbing steep stuff
> off-road. Mostly, there are very few paved roads steep enough for either to occur. Off-road, we
> climb more gnarly grades, and learn instinctively and instantly to shift mass fore and aft to keep
> the rubber on the ground, traction, and balance, so as to clean the hill without having to
> dismount.
>
> So, I'm climbing standing in the wet and sand, and my rear wheel spun more than a few times up
> this grade. I figure if I didn't have an off-road backround, I wouldn't have had a clue how shift
> back quickly but smoothly so as to get traction and keep moving . I probably would have mashed and
> laid rubber, and ended up off the bike and walking. Particularly demeaning for a roadie.
>
> --dt

Maybe you could hire a shaman to do a "no rain" dance. I rode halfway up our ski hill road the other
day just for the training, and if it wasn't for dodging the maniacs coming down and crossing into my
lane, the views and the cold wind that had me at a 45 degree angle at times, it would have been
painfully boring.

Paladin "the road to hell is paved . . . "
 
On 31 Mar 2003 11:47:18 -0800, Paladin wrote:

> Paladin "the road to hell is paved . . . "

Hehe, I like that one. I've been spending too much time on the road (well, fireroads also), and have
a lot more to go before this place dries out. Nearly got my ass whipped by a young'en (well, 36)
yesterday. Seems it takes a lot longer to get in shape than it used to.

--
-BB- To reply to me, drop the attitude (from my e-mail address, at least)
 
"BB" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> On 31 Mar 2003 11:47:18 -0800, Paladin wrote:
>
> > Paladin "the road to hell is paved . . . "
>
> Hehe, I like that one. I've been spending too much time on the road (well, fireroads also), and
> have a lot more to go before this place dries out. Nearly got my ass whipped by a young'en (well,
> 36) yesterday. Seems it takes a lot longer to get in shape than it used to.
>
> --
> -BB- To reply to me, drop the attitude (from my e-mail address, at least)
Been able to get a few trail rides in over the past week, a weekend with the family in Moab (kid's
spring break and all) and one of the few dry trails here in town. I have put on a few hundred road
miles this season training for a local race and I must say, the road to hell may be paved, but it
sure has improved my early season mountain biking conditioning.
--
Craig Brossman, Durango Colorado
 
BB <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> On 31 Mar 2003 11:47:18 -0800, Paladin wrote:
>
> > Paladin "the road to hell is paved . . . "
>
> Hehe, I like that one. I've been spending too much time on the road (well, fireroads also), and
> have a lot more to go before this place dries out. Nearly got my ass whipped by a young'en (well,
> 36) yesterday. Seems it takes a lot longer to get in shape than it used to.

I know. This guy I started in the sport riding just 2 years ago led the ride last night and I even
lost sight of him a couple times. I was hoping he was a lot younger, but I learned that I only had
him whipped by 4 years, and I've tried hard to stay in shape this winter! He's a deputy, chopper
pilot, all that macho stuff, so maybe he's just in better shape over all. I'll chalk it up to better
metabolism or something. ??? Some secret Amway product. That's it!

Paladin
 
"Craig Brossman" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:<[email protected]>...
> "BB" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> > On 31 Mar 2003 11:47:18 -0800, Paladin wrote:
> >
> > > Paladin "the road to hell is paved . . . "
> >
> > Hehe, I like that one. I've been spending too much time on the road (well, fireroads also), and
> > have a lot more to go before this place dries out. Nearly got my ass whipped by a young'en
> > (well, 36) yesterday. Seems it takes a lot longer to get in shape than it used to.
> >
> > --
> > -BB- To reply to me, drop the attitude (from my e-mail address, at least)
> Been able to get a few trail rides in over the past week, a weekend with the family in Moab (kid's
> spring break and all) and one of the few dry trails here in town. I have put on a few hundred road
> miles this season training for a local race and I must say, the road to hell may be paved, but it
> sure has improved my early season mountain biking conditioning.

They also say tofu is good for you... Paladin
 
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