yes, it's me, liza 🇵🇷 🦛 🦦
boosted
Cycling on Rails
boosted
@cycling_on_rails For some tips about bikes on trains in USA, see part 3, Train Service, in our bike-and-ride section: https://bikemonterey.org/tips-for-tourists/the-bike-and-ride-option
@cycling_on_rails For some tips about bikes on trains in USA, see part 3, Train Service, in our bike-and-ride section: https://bikemonterey.org/tips-for-tourists/the-bike-and-ride-option
riding bikes every day until I can’t for some reason, day 1863
Oh, and Crankbrothers Eggbeater pedals!
Nominally they are mountain bike pedals but after trying several different clipless systems for my commuting and recreational road cycling back in the day I decided they are the best for my usage too, and have put them on every bike I've owned since.
The key for me is the ease of clipping in and out, especially the clipping in. Because you can clip in from any of the four sides of the pedal there is no need to fiddle around making sure it's in the right orientation when setting off, you just push down and go. Bonus, they use two hole recessed cleats so you can use MTB or, better still, cycle trekking shoes and actually walk around when you get off the bike. Another bonus, the pedals need no adjustments and (almost) no maintenance.
While I'm on the topic of things that are great...
The Orbea Vibe H10 EQ is, IMO, a great ebike for commuting. The integrated lighting, included mudguards and included pannier rack make it commute-ready out of the box, but it still looks good and not overly ebike-y.
Ortlieb Back-Roller Classic pannier bags are still the best. So quick and easy to get them on and off the bike, no movement or rattling once they're on the bike, and completely waterproof.
Finally something that most people wouldn't give a second thought, my bike bell. It's a Knog Oi Prima, and it's fantastic. Really loud so it doesn't go unnoticed, but it's still a pleasant sound so it doesn't come across as aggressive (unless you hammer away at it). Perfect if you do much cycling on shared used paths, and regularly need to give pedestrians a courtesy ding or two to warn of your approach.
Some additional context, between about 19 and 12 years ago I was a keen cyclist in pretty good shape. I never got into any kind of racing, but I would cycle to and from work each day and then go for a hilly 80-90 km group ride on the weekend just for fun. Back then a moderately hilly 12 km each way suburban commute was no big deal. OK, I'd regularly have ute drivers almost kill me, but the physical effort required was no problem.
I remember at the time I was sceptical about the utility of ebikes. I accepted that they would be useful for elderly cyclists and other people with mobility issues, but reckoned that for most people the additional weight (and cost) of the e-assist system would outweigh the benefits of having it. To be fair e-assist systems were heavier back then, but I was still wrong.
Then, almost 12 years ago, my son was born, and with a newborn baby I had neither the time nor energy to keep up the cycling. I got out of the habit, and got out of shape and overweight. I have tried several times since then to get back in to the cycle commuting habit, but each time I bounced off it because the hills made the ride just too hard when I wasn't already fit.
If I lived somewhere totally flat and didn't have to mix with motor traffic at all then maybe I could do this by just going slower, but that simply doesn't work when there are unavoidable hills and places where you need to get amongst cars. When you're out of shape those will force you into excessive effort.
Hopefully the combination of the ebike and a somewhat easier commuting route will enable me to stick with it this time, and get back into shape. At which point I wouldn't really need the ebike any more...
#Cycling #UrbanCycling #SydneyCycling #Ebike #CycleCommuting
Trying to make a habit out of riding to work! The commute in already felt a little easier today than it did on my first go on Thursday, and it took less time too. Melville Street in West Ryde is still a git, though. I made it up the climb but I did stop at the top for a few second to catch my breath, take a drink and undo my gilet.
I am going to rave about ebikes at this point. Without the electric assist there is very little chance that an out of shape, overweight person like me could just dive into a cycle commute like this. I know that because I tried it. Years ago I tried to get back into the habit of cycle commuting to the old office using a good quality but not electrically assisted urban/utility bike, but because I was out of shape and there were unavoidable hills it was just too hard. Each climb forced me into the red zone just to keep moving, and I'd end up arriving at work utterly exhausted. The crucial thing that the ebike allows me to do is moderate my effort. It's a proper ebike rather than a dodgy electric motorbike in disguise so the motor is limited to 250 W, and 25 kph, and is torque activated so it only engages when I'm doing at least some of the work myself. I still get a workout riding it, but using the electric assist controIs I can adjust the intensity of that workout to keep it within reasonable bounds for my current level of fitness. That way I can get to the other end having got some exercise but not completely wrecked, and that means, hopefully, that I'm going to be able to maintain motivation and keep doing it.
Neat animation: https://strava.app.link/8OqYfnNY2Wb
#Cycling #UrbanCycling #SydneyCycling #Ebike #CycleCommuting
Lazarou Monkey Terror 🚀💙🌈
boosted
Some very good signs emerging in London - Cargo bike use doubles in #london YouGov poll shows post strike boost in cycling appetite:
https://www.cyclingelectric.com/news/cargo-bike-london-ridership-doubles
Some very good signs emerging in London - Cargo bike use doubles in #london YouGov poll shows post strike boost in cycling appetite:
https://www.cyclingelectric.com/news/cargo-bike-london-ridership-doubles
FINAL Day 19 of my #retirement #bikepacking tour on #Brompton folding #bike : Casalbordino -> San Salvo (the last 35 km - mostly on the fantastic cycle path "Via Verde della Costa dei Trabocchi" which stops here; further South there are only roads with heavy #traffic ).
Thank you for your attention to this matter!
#bikepacking #BikeTooter #cycling #CycleTravel #cyclotourisme #cyclotouring #fahrrad #vélo #radreise #radfahren #cyclisme #criticalmass #radtour #BikeItalia #Italia #Italy
Conclusion of my #retirement #bikepacking tour on #Brompton folding #bike : 1,027 km in 19 stages.Thank you for your patience. Thanks also to bikerouter.de and cyclers.app for routing.The daily post here was intended as incentive for all those over 65 with health issues—like myself—who do not yet dare to go on such long bike tours.
#bikepacking #BikeTooter #cycling #CycleTravel #cyclotourisme #cyclotouring #fahrrad #vélo #radreise #radfahren #cyclisme #criticalmass #radtour #BikeItalia #Italy
FINAL Day 19 of my #retirement #bikepacking tour on #Brompton folding #bike : Casalbordino -> San Salvo (the last 35 km - mostly on the fantastic cycle path "Via Verde della Costa dei Trabocchi" which stops here; further South there are only roads with heavy #traffic ).
Thank you for your attention to this matter!
#bikepacking #BikeTooter #cycling #CycleTravel #cyclotourisme #cyclotouring #fahrrad #vélo #radreise #radfahren #cyclisme #criticalmass #radtour #BikeItalia #Italia #Italy