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[operaman]

This thread can be a catch-all for cycling. Talk about racing, touring, your gear, suggest trips, whatever you like.

[racechick]

Ok. I'll start. Because I've just had a new bike . I've only seen a picture of it so far, it's been delivered to the UK. It's pretty, pale blue with a basket on the front. The idea is I do the shopping on it. That way, I won't buy loads Of crap, because it won't fit on the bike, so I save money and get fit when I shop

Here in the Alps there's loads if cyclists. Lots of them going up and down the mountains on the roads in Lycra, because its right where the tour de France goes. I'm getting one of those bikes for here for next summer. Hopefully then I can cycle down the mountain to Bourg, spend the day in the outdoor pool, then cycle back up again....that's the hard bit, it's a long, long, long steep twisty way up.

Finally mountain bikes. I've got one of those in the uk, also very pretty, it's pink. but I've not been on it much. I don't like it when the wheels skid on loose rocks. Here in the Alps, they take the bikes up on the ski lifts and cycle down on tracks of varying difficulty. Often they're standing up on the pedals and making the bikes go over jumps. You can hire the bikes and gear for that so I'm going to give it a go next week. I already know I'll be crap.

That's me and bikes

[Hammer278]

Cycling was one of my fav evening past times with neighbourhood friends from kindergarten to end of primary school...and since then I've hardly ever touched a bike, and see no reason to...since everyone's more interested in their iPads, iMacs, iPhones....and most importantly it's hard to pick up chicks while riding a bike. Especially since it only seats one.

[geetface9]

I'm trying to get a job with a local police department. If I get it, I'm gonna use some of my hefty salary increase to buy a road bike and perhaps bike to work for some exercise!

[LRW]

I own a bike.

[andrew]

I too own a ride but have not ridden it for many a year.

[LewEngBridewell]

So, who here used to spend a lot of their childhood riding around with friends on bikes?

I did. Who else?

[bud]

Anyone on Strava here?

[bud]

http://m.pinkbike.com/news/Must-See-Gre ... in-4X.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Best overtake move ever!

[operaman]

I ride about 100 miles a week, all of which is on the roads I can access from home. Although I used to club race, now I only ride for fun and fitness. I no longer train seriously. I have a lot of respect for those who actually use their bikes for daily transport (going to work, shopping and such), and in the future I may buy a bike suitable for those activities.


And for the Dude who finds it hard to meet women on a bike, a hint ..... you meet them in the coffee shops before or after you ride. No I didn't meet my fiance that way, I met her through F1!!!

[operaman]

So, who here used to spend a lot of their childhood riding around with friends on bikes?

I did. Who else?

Me. I did quit riding when I was at university and it took me 20 years (and the TDF on TV) to remember what fun it was.

[geetface9]

I rode almost daily until I was 17 and got a car That's likely the case for a lot of us would be my guess

I have a motorcycle now though, so I'm still rollin' on two wheels

[What's Burning?]

I used to ride a lot to the point of shaving my legs. Fell in love with the sport of cycling in the 80's when the only way to get TDF coverage stateside was to subscribe to Bicycling magazine or catch an hour recap of the week on a Sunday TV show. I built my own Italian bike with Campagnolo components that were so beautifully crafted they were more art than mechanics.

But I think for most the first love of cycling comes with our first bike. It is the first true sense of freedom you taste when you're a kid. The first true sense of speed, going so fast that you almost lose control and fall but you don't and the feeling is empowering. The first time you're able to go around the block around the neighborhood on your own and the feeling is empowering. Doesn't everyone clearly remember finally mastering the balance, learning to ride that bike and feeling empowered?

I still remember my first bike. Purple girl's frame, white banana seat with glitter and flowers on it. It would have been embarrassing but when you're poor and your parents can't buy you a bike, you take anything, yet that bike still made me feel empowered.

[andrew]

So, who here used to spend a lot of their childhood riding around with friends on bikes?

I did. Who else?

I did but moving out of my parents place nearly 10 years ago kind of put an end to it. Once I find a place with somewhere secure to leave a bike that'll hopefully change.

Believe it or not, we had a couple racing bikes in a backload container from a rig a couple weeks ago. Having never ridden a racing bike before I had to have a go and found a new level of respect for guys who can ride several hundred miles on these things. One bump and you're singing soprano for life!

[operaman]

My first bike was a Raleigh with 3-speed Sturmey-Archer gearbox and sit up and beg handlebars. It was painted British Racing Green and I thought it was an amazing device. I loved getting into the biggest gear and seeing how fast I could go. Mostly I raced around my street (a sort of oval) pretending I was in the Indy 500. Funny to think of, but the front wheel of that bike probably weighed more than my entire Pinarello.