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**Confessions thread**

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Commuting Bicycle commuting is easier than you think, before you know it, you'll be hooked. Learn the tips, hints, equipment, safety requirements for safely riding your bike to work.

**Confessions thread**

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Old 06-28-11, 06:57 PM
  #151  
Igo
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Originally Posted by FunkyStickman
That's just unacceptable... I don't care what the roadies say. They have no clue if you can keep up with them or not, and it's not fair for them to judge you based on not wearing kit. This is the kind of crap that gives roadies a bad name. I guess you did the right thing, but part of me would have ridden with them anyway, and showed them what's up.
I have a cushy seat on a $1500 rig. I ride in swim trunks. I don't care.

Last edited by Igo; 06-28-11 at 08:23 PM.
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Old 06-28-11, 07:46 PM
  #152  
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Originally Posted by Igo
I have a cushy seat on a $1500 rig. I ride in swim trucks. I don't care.
I've yet to see trucks swim. That would be interesting.
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Old 06-28-11, 07:51 PM
  #153  
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Originally Posted by mikeybikes
I've yet to see trucks swim. That would be interesting.


I'm sure it's the highlight of any group ride.
.
.
.

Last edited by borobike; 06-28-11 at 07:56 PM.
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Old 06-30-11, 02:14 PM
  #154  
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Originally Posted by beebe
When people talk to me about commuting in the rain, snow, cold, whatever, I tell them that it's not that bad or too hard, but in my head I'm actually thinking about how badass I am.
LOL I have to confess I do this too. I also accepted compliments on riding "all the time" when honestly I'm down to half the mileage I was clocking a couple of years ago
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Old 06-30-11, 02:55 PM
  #155  
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Originally Posted by Koa C.
-I stand on my pedals to fart sometimes.
I lean forward and lift my cheeks. It's about the only time that you'll see me riding "flat backed."


Originally Posted by beebe
When people talk to me about commuting in the rain, snow, cold, whatever, I tell them that it's not that bad or too hard, but in my head I'm actually thinking about how badass I am.
I have this streak of vanity mixed with false humility running through me as well.
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Old 06-30-11, 03:17 PM
  #156  
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Originally Posted by mikeybikes
I've yet to see trucks swim. That would be interesting.
Even more! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzxuEOxYSLE
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Old 06-30-11, 03:45 PM
  #157  
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I have followed a hot girl for 5 miles, then I had to ask her for directions because I hadn't payed any attention to where I was going.
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Old 06-30-11, 03:45 PM
  #158  
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Originally Posted by NYRhyme
I'm insecure about wearing bike shorts and to this day haven't worn any.
If it gives you any ideas: I'm pretty insecure about it too. I'm quite overweight and it shows in those shorts. What I do is wear a pair of gym shorts over them (the kind that gives you the full range of motion you'll need to ride, don't let the seam restrict your upward pedal). That way I get all the benefits of the padding and chamois, and maybe only lose a little bit of the sweat wicking ability. It also lets me wander around when I'm off my bike feeling a bit more normal.
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Old 06-30-11, 09:40 PM
  #159  
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I don't wear a helmet. I don't like things on my head like hats and helmets. I don't intend to ever wear a helmet on the bicycle. If you are in California, and it ever comes up for a vote, vote to get rid of the mandatory helmet use law for motorcycles. I still do some dumb and unsafe things while riding my bicycle. I am guilty of many of the confessed sins and misdemeanors above. I will try to be a gooder rider tomorrow.
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Old 06-30-11, 09:56 PM
  #160  
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I spent three hours earlier going through the viral video of the day thread... and though it's midnight, I'm about to go back to it.
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Old 06-30-11, 10:02 PM
  #161  
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I raced a tractor today.
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Old 06-30-11, 10:06 PM
  #162  
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I rode in the drops last week.

Just to see what it felt like.
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Old 06-30-11, 10:06 PM
  #163  
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Originally Posted by GoPlayOnTheTrac
I raced a tractor today.
That's so very KENTUCKY of you. Awesome
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Old 07-01-11, 09:35 AM
  #164  
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Originally Posted by MillieKY
That's so very KENTUCKY of you. Awesome
The good thing about racing a tractor is that you can usually win.
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Old 07-01-11, 10:51 AM
  #165  
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Originally Posted by dcrowell
The good thing about racing a tractor is that you can usually win.
Not uphill. Those things are fast climbers!
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Old 07-01-11, 09:03 PM
  #166  
GoPlayOnTheTrac
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Another confession: I race cars... and 99% of the time I lose. Smoking that tractor was a real confidence booster. I think I'm ready for the trash truck.
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Old 07-01-11, 09:13 PM
  #167  
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Originally Posted by SouthFLpix
This is an embarrassing one (to me at least). I showed up to a group ride without the 'cycling uniform' (team jersey and bibs / cycling shorts), and the hardcore 'roadie' group sort of huddled up and then sent someone to very gently speak to me and let me know that this ride was for advanced cyclists. It was only a 30 mile ride, so not really what I would consider a hard ride; but since I didn't want to get into a debate, I just nodded and rode off on my own. That was sort of a pain because I don't have a car and I rode 15 miles just to get to the start of the group ride.
What was the ride billed as?

If it was a no drop B ride then they are pricks. If it was a A ride then you probably would have held them back with a lack of speed not a lack of endurance.
Bike shorts give me more numbness issues then cargo shorts. 30 miles is well within my zone where none of my bikes give me must problem.

My confession:
I have a couple times shown up on rides Full on Fred on my Beater 84 Mangalloy Trek 420 in cargo shorts and golf shirts and got the down the nose look from weekend roadies in their matching super hero outfits riding $3k carbon wonders. Understand I could just as easy grab my Cannondale with Campy Proton wheels, GP tires and Ultegra drivetrain just a hair over 20lb (its a 63cm). I may not have that top end speed but As a commuters I am use to cranking a bike that is 30lb or more daily so anytime I ride a empty bike don under 25lb I (we commuters) have power in reserve for hills.

I have a sick love of lunching "weekend roadies" on hills when I am still seated and grind past them while they are standing on the cranks swing the bike back and forth like they are in the alps with Lance. Most of those weekend roadies run more gear then they can handled for the hills around here. We have a Rails to Trail here that they all hit every weekend and never get more then about a 2% grade on their "training ride". I run a 28 low on all but one of my bikes (the Cannondale R300 has a 26 becasue I didnt think the short cage derailleur could handle a 28) and a 39 on the front of most to give me some hill gear if I don't have a triple. I love sneaking up on them "On your left" and seeing them look at the bike and me as I pass and then its even better when their ego gets them and they cant let the "Fred" pass and I just keep grinding and they cant get away. LOL
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Old 07-01-11, 10:34 PM
  #168  
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What'sa Fred?
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Old 07-02-11, 06:06 AM
  #169  
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Originally Posted by Igo
What'sa Fred?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_(bicycling)
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Old 07-02-11, 09:41 AM
  #170  
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Got to exercise my little fun today on a 22 mile ride celebrating the 3 foot law that went into effect yesterday. We tagged onto a Saturday morning Group ride that a LBS puts on.

Did Ride the Cannondale and wore my bike shorts but a Golf shirt and my MTB helmet. About 35 riders and a lot of them on Madone's and other really high end road bikes. I Ended the ride mid pack as there were plenty of real deal riders and we got broke up by some lights and traffic and I was never able to get caught back up with the front half of the ride. I started at the rear so in all a good day. Met a couple nice folks today and had one thank me fore Pulling for a good while.

Fred:
Fred Birchmore who the term was originally coined from Rode around the world in the 30's and has a book about it. The bike he did it on is in the Smithsonian.
He is still alive and will turn 100 in November.
A birthday celebration 5k run is planned.
https://www.active.com/running/athens...e-fun-run-2011
I think a bunch of cyclist need to show up on his Birthday in November.
Video of him from last year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K81V0WA6lPA
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Old 07-02-11, 09:44 AM
  #171  
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Ahh. The Anti-Koolaids.
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Old 07-04-11, 09:54 AM
  #172  
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I've been reading bikeforums (particularly commuting) for many years, but finally signed up for an account today, just to brag that I rode my bike to work for the first time ever today.
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Old 07-04-11, 10:38 AM
  #173  
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Originally Posted by jmilleronaire
I've been reading bikeforums (particularly commuting) for many years, but finally signed up for an account today, just to brag that I rode my bike to work for the first time ever today.
Cool! Start a thread, let us know how it was.
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Old 07-05-11, 04:27 AM
  #174  
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A couple of days after I posted in this thread about hitting a kerb because I was looking at something else, I rode into a ditch at the side of a narrow country road while looking at one of my panniers to see why it was making a noise.
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Old 07-05-11, 07:15 AM
  #175  
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Originally Posted by Airburst
A couple of days after I posted in this thread about hitting a kerb because I was looking at something else, I rode into a ditch at the side of a narrow country road while looking at one of my panniers to see why it was making a noise.
--- LMAO!!!! OMG I almost did that too!!!!

When its really hot I sometimes wear a low cut tank to keep cool but honestly it makes drivers more 'friendly' for some reason?
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