The Water Cooler, Scuttlebutt, Chit Chat Thread
#3226
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Another generation of cyclists.
Daughter tried out her new balance bike today. She sat and pushed and did a pretty good job, only fell once (dropped the bike is more accurate), did okay turning. Didn't coast, that'll come.
Only thing she hates is the helmet. Got her a cool Giro with fancy purple paint job so she'd like it, but then the strap was too tight (thanks dad) and pinched her the first time and after that it was a fight.
Ended up getting a Cruzee. Super light, pretty nice, not the cheapest.
Fun to pass on though.
Daughter tried out her new balance bike today. She sat and pushed and did a pretty good job, only fell once (dropped the bike is more accurate), did okay turning. Didn't coast, that'll come.
Only thing she hates is the helmet. Got her a cool Giro with fancy purple paint job so she'd like it, but then the strap was too tight (thanks dad) and pinched her the first time and after that it was a fight.
Ended up getting a Cruzee. Super light, pretty nice, not the cheapest.
Fun to pass on though.
Last edited by Flatballer; 06-24-18 at 04:02 PM.
#3227
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Friend and BF member Biker395 finished RAAM today as part of a 4 person team, I think 9 weeks after a skiing crash caused him to need surgery on his knee.
Started the race still walking on crutches but with the blessing of his doctor. I'm happy he got to do it but he didn't have much time to prepare. Thankfully he was in great shape and is a veteran of ultra-type racing.
Started the race still walking on crutches but with the blessing of his doctor. I'm happy he got to do it but he didn't have much time to prepare. Thankfully he was in great shape and is a veteran of ultra-type racing.
#3228
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Another generation of cyclists.
Daughter tried out her new balance bike today. She sat and pushed and did a pretty good job, only fell once (dropped the bike is more accurate), did okay turning. Didn't coast, that'll come.
Only thing she hates is the helmet. Got her a cool Giro with fancy purple paint job so she'd like it, but then the strap was too tight (thanks dad) and pinched her the first time and after that it was a fight.
Ended up getting a Cruzee. Super light, pretty nice, not the cheapest.
Fun to pass on though.
Daughter tried out her new balance bike today. She sat and pushed and did a pretty good job, only fell once (dropped the bike is more accurate), did okay turning. Didn't coast, that'll come.
Only thing she hates is the helmet. Got her a cool Giro with fancy purple paint job so she'd like it, but then the strap was too tight (thanks dad) and pinched her the first time and after that it was a fight.
Ended up getting a Cruzee. Super light, pretty nice, not the cheapest.
Fun to pass on though.
With my older daughter, we started later and I just took a 16" giant and removed the crankset. That ended up being too heavy for her at 2.5-3, when we started, so going light is a good idea. I almost went with one of those resin like a bikes for my younger child, but he's a big burly kid so the heavier aluminum frame at 12" didn't slow him down.
Last edited by himespau; 06-25-18 at 09:31 AM.
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We went with the TykesBikes 12 (which now no longer appears to exist), but I had the same helmet issue as you. One pinch and it was a month before I could get it on him again. Then I did the opposite approach, started with it overly loose and have been gradually tightening it until now it fits properly (kind of the whole boiling frog by gently increasing the temp thing).
With my older daughter, we started later and I just took a 16" giant and removed the crankset. That ended up being too heavy for her at 2.5-3, when we started, so going light is a good idea. I almost went with one of those resin like a bikes for my younger child, but he's a big burly kid so the heavier aluminum frame at 12" didn't slow him down.
With my older daughter, we started later and I just took a 16" giant and removed the crankset. That ended up being too heavy for her at 2.5-3, when we started, so going light is a good idea. I almost went with one of those resin like a bikes for my younger child, but he's a big burly kid so the heavier aluminum frame at 12" didn't slow him down.
There was definitely an internal battle going on though. She desperately wanted to ride the bike, but really didn't want to wear the helmet. So she'd ask to ride the bike, we'd say you have to put the helmet on, she'd let us put the helmet on, but then when we'd start to put the strap on she'd take it off and cry. Rinse and repeat for about half an hour.
#3230
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My son got really good at the balance bike (while trying to keep up with his big sister on her 16") last year. This year, he wanted a pedal bike, so I got him one. The thing is, he's never learned how to pedal. I've tried putting training wheels on, but that seemed a step back after he learned to balance/glide. I got a followme tandem setup to attach his bike to mine or my wife's, hoping he could learn to pedal with use, but also go on his own. Now, he'll only go on a bike ride if the bikes are coupled and then he just sits back and rings his bell other than occasionally laying on his coaster brake or laughing at me because I'm pedaling so fast but the wheel is going so slow when we're going up significant grades. The only thing he's seemed to learn is how to not do any work. I guess it's good resistance work for me, but my fast bike isn't set up to use that coupler.
If you have ideas for that next step, I'd love to hear it. He was always too big for whatever tricycle we or his daycare put him on, so he always pushed them with his feet rather than using the pedals. I might just have to go back to the training wheels and then hope he hasn't forgotten how to balance.
If you have ideas for that next step, I'd love to hear it. He was always too big for whatever tricycle we or his daycare put him on, so he always pushed them with his feet rather than using the pedals. I might just have to go back to the training wheels and then hope he hasn't forgotten how to balance.
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Since this is my first, and I don't remember my own adventures at learning to ride, I don't know that I have any advice yet.
That is interesting though. The experts say to teach them how to balance and the pedaling is simple later, but apparently that's not always the case. If he's on a bike with pedals will he at least put his feet on them and balance and stuff like a coaster? If so, it might just be a case of having him keep riding that and eventually he'll want to go farther/faster and try out the pedals. But I dunno.
Laying on the coaster brake while coupled is pretty funny though, I'll give him that. Once you both fall over I assume it will get less funny.
That is interesting though. The experts say to teach them how to balance and the pedaling is simple later, but apparently that's not always the case. If he's on a bike with pedals will he at least put his feet on them and balance and stuff like a coaster? If so, it might just be a case of having him keep riding that and eventually he'll want to go farther/faster and try out the pedals. But I dunno.
Laying on the coaster brake while coupled is pretty funny though, I'll give him that. Once you both fall over I assume it will get less funny.
#3232
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Anyone else watching the World Cup? Its gotta suck being Korean American, sitting down with the family to watch Korea vs Mexico on Fox with nonobjective commentary and then hearing the announcers forget where they are and start screaming in Spanish every time Mexico makes a play...
Also that Germany Goal
Also that Germany Goal
#3233
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Since this is my first, and I don't remember my own adventures at learning to ride, I don't know that I have any advice yet.
That is interesting though. The experts say to teach them how to balance and the pedaling is simple later, but apparently that's not always the case. If he's on a bike with pedals will he at least put his feet on them and balance and stuff like a coaster? If so, it might just be a case of having him keep riding that and eventually he'll want to go farther/faster and try out the pedals. But I dunno.
Laying on the coaster brake while coupled is pretty funny though, I'll give him that. Once you both fall over I assume it will get less funny.
That is interesting though. The experts say to teach them how to balance and the pedaling is simple later, but apparently that's not always the case. If he's on a bike with pedals will he at least put his feet on them and balance and stuff like a coaster? If so, it might just be a case of having him keep riding that and eventually he'll want to go farther/faster and try out the pedals. But I dunno.
Laying on the coaster brake while coupled is pretty funny though, I'll give him that. Once you both fall over I assume it will get less funny.
When I'm just holding the seat and trying to push him to get him to get the feel for pedaling, he'll push forward or backwards about equally. I'm 6'3 with a bad-ish back, so I can't stoop over pushing him like that forever, so that's why we're doing the coupled bike. Like you said, I hope he decides to start pedaling on his own (up the steep grades would be nice). I like the followme setup because, theoretically, eventually, we can ride separately to the park or something, and then, when he's tired, I can couple the bikes and we can ride home with me doing most of the work. The easy on/off ability to couple mid-ride (plus connection at the hub rather than seatpost for lower center of gravity), are why I went with it instead of cheaper systems. We'll see if I ever use it that way, but I'm hoping that I can use it for use to take on vacation next year to do some family rides.
Last edited by himespau; 06-25-18 at 02:01 PM.
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My son got really good at the balance bike (while trying to keep up with his big sister on her 16") last year. This year, he wanted a pedal bike, so I got him one. The thing is, he's never learned how to pedal. I've tried putting training wheels on, but that seemed a step back after he learned to balance/glide. I got a followme tandem setup to attach his bike to mine or my wife's, hoping he could learn to pedal with use, but also go on his own. Now, he'll only go on a bike ride if the bikes are coupled and then he just sits back and rings his bell other than occasionally laying on his coaster brake or laughing at me because I'm pedaling so fast but the wheel is going so slow when we're going up significant grades. The only thing he's seemed to learn is how to not do any work. I guess it's good resistance work for me, but my fast bike isn't set up to use that coupler.
2 - sounds like a future sprinter!
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"take a pull, son!!!"
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I'm working with a sleep therapist to address my insomnia.
Step one is to restrict my sleep. I'm not allowed to go to bed or lie down in a bed until midnight. I want to go to sleep now though.
Step one is to restrict my sleep. I'm not allowed to go to bed or lie down in a bed until midnight. I want to go to sleep now though.
#3237
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Anyone else watching the World Cup? Its gotta suck being Korean American, sitting down with the family to watch Korea vs Mexico on Fox with nonobjective commentary and then hearing the announcers forget where they are and start screaming in Spanish every time Mexico makes a play...
Also that Germany Goal
Also that Germany Goal
announcers, i actually like the spanish duo best, and Kate Abdo, not too shabby!
Kroos' goal for Germany, now that was world class. Die Mannschaft!
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the MDcatV crew has watched most of the games, we watch a ton of soccer. it's interesting to watch wc as the quality of play is multiple notches below regular euro club play except for maybe the set pieces, but the tension is so, so high!
announcers, i actually like the spanish duo best, and Kate Abdo, not too shabby!
Kroos' goal for Germany, now that was world class. Die Mannschaft!
announcers, i actually like the spanish duo best, and Kate Abdo, not too shabby!
Kroos' goal for Germany, now that was world class. Die Mannschaft!
The national teams can't keep a backline together to save their lives, someone is always 10 yards farther back. I feel like the top euro teams are always stepping up as a unit to draw an offside instead of getting beat by a pass.
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I feel like the offense is worse, but the defending is more worse, which makes things more interesting.
The national teams can't keep a backline together to save their lives, someone is always 10 yards farther back. I feel like the top euro teams are always stepping up as a unit to draw an offside instead of getting beat by a pass.
The national teams can't keep a backline together to save their lives, someone is always 10 yards farther back. I feel like the top euro teams are always stepping up as a unit to draw an offside instead of getting beat by a pass.
that absence of continuity is super obvious on both sides of the midfield. in some cases it's painful, like with ARG and Messi, where no one knows how to play with him so they all stand around and watch him. if someone just watched this tourney, they'd wonder what all the fuss over Messi was, which is a shame, because he's a gift, but ARG has been unwatchably bad.
#bffootballtakover
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the MDcatV crew has watched most of the games, we watch a ton of soccer. it's interesting to watch wc as the quality of play is multiple notches below regular euro club play except for maybe the set pieces, but the tension is so, so high!
announcers, i actually like the spanish duo best, and Kate Abdo, not too shabby!
Kroos' goal for Germany, now that was world class. Die Mannschaft!
announcers, i actually like the spanish duo best, and Kate Abdo, not too shabby!
Kroos' goal for Germany, now that was world class. Die Mannschaft!
I still don't know who to root for, just salty the US and Wales didn't make it. I have some Mexican relatives so maybe, but it also feels wrong rooting for a rival.
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@furiousferret - generally agree historically, but certainly not for 2018
#3244
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One thing that gets vastly understated in the World Cup is Germany's huge advantage, which is the German team for years has always been Bayern Munich + a few dudes. That's not even counting the guys that went to that academy, or played there at some point.
I still don't know who to root for, just salty the US and Wales didn't make it. I have some Mexican relatives so maybe, but it also feels wrong rooting for a rival.
I still don't know who to root for, just salty the US and Wales didn't make it. I have some Mexican relatives so maybe, but it also feels wrong rooting for a rival.
I was also pulling for Iceland, but, ya know, that's probably going to end shortly. I'll switch up to follow England plus Mexico in the knockout probably. They're playing well and fun to watch.
#3247
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Welcome to the Celo Inn
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I'm also going to give a shout out to Banner Elk, NC. Cycling friendly town with lots of great riding in the area.
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Thanks @kensuf and @topflightpro. I'm looking at a week and was thinking holding up in one place as a base camp, but now I'm thinking I might have to do a few nights in different places over the course of the week and explore the different scenes.