The 'Ville Voice: "Bill the Bike Bully."

I'm glad I don't waste valuable drinking time watching local news broadcasts.

With the topic being "my car as shriveled phallus extension," The 'Ville Voice's Rick Redding comes in right on cue following yesterday's venomous NAC exchange on bicycling, automotive traffic, and which one makes us more American in the eyes of our patriotic countrymen.

Pleasingly, I rode 50 km through the Knobs yesterday. The only problem I had with automotive traffic was on Scottsvile Road, where two Got Junk trucks traveling about 55 m.p.h. in tandem were in a hurry to make their next pickup. They were going too fast for me to catch their "how's my driving" numbers, so I'll say it here: Reckless, but probably just as good as Viagra for what ails ya.

Bill the Bike Bully, by Rick Redding (The Ville Voice blog)

Bill Lamb is always asking for feedback on his on-air editorials. So here’s some.

The other day Lamb was advocating that police start ticketing bicyclists, all because he happens to see some going the wrong way on one-way streets or blowing through stop signs or darting into traffic off sidewalks.

Now, this thinking goes against the general idea of making Louisville a bike-friendly city, but Lamb must have had a near-miss or something that kind of ticked him off about bikers. He claims only to want to do something about the bad bikers, that all of us law-abiding riders would have nothing to worry about. (Just kidding, I’m a dart-into-traffic champ).

Still, Lamb’s anti-biking rant doesn’t sit well with us. But what it really did was give viewers a reason to pop off with some vitriolic anti-bike hatred that shows they’re misinformed, unaware of the law and generally intolerant.

With this kind of mentality, it’s no wonder more people haven’t been killed by cars. The station aired six responses, all exhibiting a deep-seated hatred for bikes in traffic.

Here’s my favorite — “Roads were not designed for bicyclists, they should stay off.”

Then there’s — “Bikes should stay on the sidewalk where they belong (and where it’s illegal to ride)”

Another called wants to require special bike insurance for riders, and one was advocating a required license plate.

Lamb’s little rant elicited the kind of reaction that shows that city leaders — with all their talk about education about bike safety for motorists — have their work cut out for them with the big new safety campaign.

By the way, the Mayor’s Hike & Bike event, which is growing every year, is set for Labor Day morning. This time, we’re off from downtown to Iroquois Park.

Corydon Pike pavement.

Roughly a half-mile stretch of Corydon Pike has been paved. It provided a pleasant surprise during today's 50 km Knobs run -- up CP, down Moser Knob and coffee at HobbKnob along the way. Yesterday was a 42 km day, and with Thursday's mileage, I'm almost over 600 km for August. Note to self: Riding at 244 lbs is waaaay easier than riding at 275 lbs.

Jackie Green in LEO: "Quit blaming cyclists."

While we're on the topic of foreshadowing, last week's LEO contained an excellent commentary by Louisville cycling advocate Jackie Green. It's valuable information for those who have undertaken the daily struggle to co-exist with America's "my car as extension of my phallus" mentality.

Just yesterday, I came close to an encounter that perfectly illustrates Jackie's point. I was riding through Coffeyville northbound on West 7th, and stopped at the Spring Street four-way. Two pickups were headed west. The first stopped as required ahead of me, and rolled on through. The second followed close behind with his blinker (how rare is that?) indicating a turn onto northbound 7th, and I could see from my vantage point that the driver was looking down and to his right (north), without once looking south to see if anyone else (me) was stopped at the intersection.

There were no other cars, so I eased slowly into the intersection. There was never a chance of contact because I was fully aware, but just the same, he never once looked up, and never once came to a full stop until he was within a few feet of me, at which point he finally glanced, slammed on the brakes and motioned at me to go ahead.

Duh.

I could see immediately that (a) he had been talking on the phone using some manner of headphones, and (b) his attention had been distracted by the gyrations of a miniscule dog. As I moved on, I said aloud, "I know," in the sense of yes, it certainly is my turn if you'd bother paying attention. Had I been another vehicle, he'd have known.

Of course, that couldn't be the end of it. He roared a few yards ahead of me, stopped, and began yelling: "You have a problem? I didn't see you! I told you to go on! What's your problem? People make mistakes!"

(yap yap yap, went the little dog/rat)

To Jackie's list of tips for survival on local roads, I'd add this: Learn to use a rearview mirror. I use one that clips onto my eyeglasses, and there are models for attaching to the helmet (wear one!) and the handlebars.

Bicycling safety and the law

Recent cyclist deaths and the newly launched “Street Sense” campaign — a city-backed program promoting road awareness — demand an alternative perspective.

Cyclists are threatened, injured and killed because:

1) Drivers drink; 2) car brakes fail; 3) roads are not always dry; 4) passengers, food, phones and on-board electronics distract drivers; 5) drivers are blinded by sunlight, car lights, and dirty, wet or icy windshields; 6) drivers lose control of their vehicles; 7) the medicated, the angry, the infirm and the stupid all drive cars.

None of the above is dependent upon “respect” commanded by the behavior of cyclists. Quit blaming cyclists.

Drafting

Way, way back, before we were even married, my hubby and I used to jog together. This is really hilarious if you could see us. He's a 6 ft 1 ex football player and I'm 5ft 5 with much shorter leg span of course. It had to be soooo hard for him to just slog along next to me, but I guess that's what he had to do for 'courtin' purposes. :)

Anyway, this is one reason I love biking, it's much easier for people of different sizes and fitness levels to just ride along together and have fun. And the distance we can cover sort of makes up for him having to go at a speed less than he is able.

However, lately, we've been experimenting with drafting, where I get behind him and follow closely while he provides a barrier to the wind. Supposedly this save 30% of the energy for the person in the back. It's working quite well and so far we've found we can increase our average speed by 2mph and I think I can get even better with more practice. So now he can get a better fitness workout this way rather than only going the speed I can handle.

Plus, it makes me feel like a professional tour de france biker. :)

UPDATE ON MY SURVEY:

The score before our ride today was 14 to 6 but now I have a dilemma. I did a stupid move at the top of a hill today and caused minor trouble for a car so what should I do? I thought maybe I should subtract one from each side so that the number of car idiots goes down since today I was the idiot. What do you think?

Bum Scrum--Wednesday A.M.

It's so nice to hear people out on their wheels (sorry about the fracture, Tommy) and expressing enthusiasm.

Last week on Wednesday morning, I got out with Roger and Tim for the 16 mile New Albany loop Ed Parrish posted years back and both pace and camaraderie were good. So was the humor about spandex snobbery and how plain T-shirts instead of billboard jerseys for sure make one less of target for rage-crazed drivers. The beginning of the "Bum Theory" (I mean that affectionately since I still don't get why cyclists have claimed the dubious position that dressing in worse taste than a golfer is somehow cool.) Still, abundant corollaries will flow.

We're going to roll again this Wednesday, August 19, starting 9:30 a.m. from in front of the NABC Bank Street Brewhouse. We feel like going for a coffee at Perkfection in Jeffersonville (Maple & Spring Sts.) and back. No big altitude adjustments, just good miles in about 2 hours, max. (Roger hasn't yet mentioned what day he likes to do the Corydon Pike climb.)

Lightning will probably deter us if its storming.

Time for an update: Mileage up, pounds down.

My average mileage for June and July was around 530 km, and I'm on track to beat that in August. My approach hasn't changed. I try to ride every day, and ride more when time allows. I'm down almost 30 lbs since June 1, and whereas I gained it back the last time (2007), this time I'm feeling better about my chances to keep it off. Don't worry: I'm still enjoying my beer and the food I like, the latter in smaller doses, and the former with a better view of what choices cost. I'm not unhappy at all about making a few minor sacrifices along the way.

Having the YMCA open for cooler, rainier weather will help. Last evening we both went and were schooled by the trainer as to using the weights. I'll slowly transition toward toning as we draw closer to winter, but I plan to return to the year-round outdoor bicycling even if it's just short distances. My butt's coming back, and I don't want to lose it by giving up saddle time.

The real joy for me was a day like yesterday, because the variable that has changed in the fitness program is the biking itself. In 2007, I shed the weight by dieting and walking, because I couldn't ride owing to my rotator cuff problem and the surgery to repair it. By the time I got back on the bike, I was lighter but regaining the weight.

This time, I'm shedding the weight as I ride, and being 30 lbs lighter is making it demonstrably easier to climb Corydon Pike once a week. Yesterday I didn't do the hill profile, but I felt strong doing a series of urban loops totaling 35 km.

For me, there's nothing like that bike to induce exhilaration. The weight loss dynamic this time around is equally pleasing. By next June, I should be in top shape for Danish beercycling.

July 31, 2009

this blog needs some love, so i just wanted to post that its friday, we have a few hours of wonderful weather and i hope you get out and ride two wheels today! if not, you have tomorrow, then its seattle weather's last day here in the area for awhile and our regular 90 degree humid weather comesback after an extended vacation from seattle.

Hard to get a cup of coffee on a holiday

Rode to Henryville yesterday, 42 miles total.

Then today we had a big plan to ride up Corydon Pike again and have the usual coffee stop that hubby likes. So we make our way up the hill, down 62 and turn right at Korner Kitchen and up N. Luther to Duffy to Highlander point area.

But umm, it's a holiday so Bean Street was closed. Oops.

So hubby said, let's see if Hobb Knobb is open. So we headed down there. Arrived at 12:08 and they were open from 8 to 12 today. Oops.

So we just went across the stree to the Marathon and he had his coffee. Gotta love those gas station/quick stops that never close.

Then we made our way home going down Scottsville, to St. Mary's road, Campion, Atkins, Von Allman, Skyline rd. and down St. Joe. It was sprinkling ever since we were up Corydon Pike so got home pretty wet.

Total miles were about 35.

Plan another ride tomorrow to Highland coffee in Louisville, hope the weather cooperates.

And hope the coffee shop is open. :)

NOTE: The score of the license plate calculation is now at...
Dangerous and nasty-to-biker drivers that have In God We Trust on their license:
13

Dangerous and nasty-to-biker drivers that have just regular plates:
6

happy 4th!

although i'm posting on the 3rd, i wanted to wish all a long and calm weekend. i hope there's some bike riding for everyone. just make sure you're wearing your helmets on your fancy bicycles..lol...check comments for inside joke...

other than that, the cast on my hand is driving me insane! it's so hard watching the races online and not being part of them. speaking of races, the TOUR gets underway this weekend. i sure hope Lance can baffle the frenchies again and have them wondering, "how can zee Lance ridez izz bizykle zoooo fast?"

celebrate your 4th any way you like...just celebrate!

A comeback of a month.

Rehab continues. Almost certainly June, 2009 will be my best biking month since September, 2006 (when we were cycling from Prague to Vienna). I should come in at around 500 km for June, after having only 457 km for January-May.

I'm sticking to my usual routine: 10-15 km a day maintenance, 20-30 km a day if time and energy permits, and alternating flat ground and hill profiles. I made it up Corydon Pike for the fourth time yesterday, but the heat sapped me, so today I'll stay on the flood plain and walk a bit, too.

It still doesn't sound like much compared with previous times, but gradually things are returning to focus. Progress is being made. I've lost about 15 lbs since returning from holiday on May 27, and with luck, another 10-15 will go by the time the Great Taste of the Midwest beer festival takes place in Madison WI on August 8.

No biking for that one. Just beer.

update from the 20 inch side...

this summer has been a roller coaster of emotions in the bmx racing scene for me. i went in the span of of three days of making elite open main events, to having a comminuted fracture of the L 1rst metacarpal.

i was hoping to make a late summer run at the vet pro title and the training was paying off, until i had a crash at the home track doing a pretty basic move.

rode by the new spot downtown...looks good. the people however had a look on their face like, "...please don't stop here dirty bmxer...please don't stop here dirty bmxer..." so i kept on...

here's some photo samples of the highs and lows...

New link.

I've added a link: Copenhagen Cycle Chic.

We're not quite that glamorous in these parts ... but it's a great site about urban bicycling.

Going up.

Sunday was my first trip of the year up Corydon Pike.

From my house on Spring Street, down Main, up Corydon Pike, onto Quarry Road, then down Old Vincennes into Silver Hills ... down the gleaming new Spring Street Hill road into Coffeyville, then to the river for a cruise up to Moser Tannery and back home. It was right at 30 km, my year's longest stint in the saddle without stopping, and I haven't given up on 500 km for June.

It made me sore.

Monday I was out of town. Progress is ongoing, but awfully slow.

Santa Cruz, CA 2009

Belated weekend report.

Last weekend I managed roughly 25 km on Saturday and 40 km on Sunday. Both rides were back and forth from my home to beer festivals, first to Clarksville and then Baxter Avenue. The rain this week has wreaked havoc on the daily maintenance biking schedule, but I got in some walking, too. I believe it's time for a Knobs run on Sunday.

In conjunction with the biking and walking, there has been a drastic curtailment in calories, both food and drink. The net loss since my return from holiday is 12 lbs. The only real objective this time is to keep it in the 250's. We'll see.

First Time This Year Up Corydon Pike

We went up Corydon Pike yesterday for a total 34 mile ride. This is definitely the earliest we've gone up the hill since we began biking. I love the feeling of having climbed a hill up the knobs. This one isn't really that hard, I just put it in a low gear and take my time.

As to the survey, here's where we stand. During the ride above, at one point we were at 6 to 1, but then we had a really nice and polite "In God We Trust" car driver so we decided to subtract one.

By the way one of the In God We Trust-ers was a really dangerous little old lady who whipped around us with a car coming the other way and then she ran a red light, all before pulling into her church parking lot.

Then there was a van who raced by us and then blew his horn twice obnoxiously right before HE pulled into his church's parking lot. On that one, I almost stopped to "chat" with him. John said we should have went down and asked him WWJD?

Anyway, score now for idiot drivers is:

In God We Trust Plates: 5
Regular Indiana Plates: 1

75 mph fastball, but no arm pain.

Okay ... that's seven of the last eight days out on the street, with a year's record (to date) of 24 km on Wednesday, and 20 more today. Thursday was a rainout, so I went for an evening walk instead. On Wednesday and today, I went up the newly refurbished Spring Street Hill road. I had to stop twice on Wednesday, but only once today.

All this is remarkably paltry compared to past performance, but it's important for me to honestly record my progress as a means of boosting the rehab. Legs, butt and wind are gone, and it will take a bit to get them back.

It may be boring, but I'll continue to check in here every now and then.

Mathematical Oddity?

Okay, so we biked 26 miles on both Saturday and Sunday with no problems as far as stupid drivers. That's 52 miles and no issues.

Tonight we went for a quick 9 miler and had 3 idiots.

Total score so far in my experiment for idiot drivers:

In God We Trust License plates: 3

Regular Indiana License plates: 1

Beercycling Denmark 2010 is being plotted. Want to take part?

Having returned from my first visit to Copenhagen in a decade, I’m suitably pumped. The Danish contingent of Kim & Kim are doing reconnaissance, and we’re in the initial planning stages of what is hoped to be Beercycling 2010 in Denmark, a ten or so day festival of bicycles and beer.

Why Denmark? We haven’t done it there previously. It’s a bike-friendly country. The past ten years have witnessed a remarkable flowering of Danish beer culture. We know people there. And, the country is filled to the brim with wonderful herring.

Consequently, Kim “Big Kim” Andersen is researching three or four beer- and brewing-related itineraries, including Copenhagen and the countryside. These would be daytrip-style arrangements, using a hub and using rental bikes to sightsee and visit breweries, perhaps with light touring in between, or trains used if necessary. If possible, the sag wagon/support vehicle notion will be incorporated, so those interested in the trip but not in cycling are very much welcomed so long as some one is willing to drive. We’ll all divide the costs.

Considering the climate, we feel that late June or early July would be the best time even though it’s high season. There is sentiment for a Bamberg side trip at the end. Finally, know that this trip will be expensive because Denmark itself is expensive. We’ll do what we can to cut costs, but understand that budget travel isn’t really an option.

If this interests you, please let me know via the usual channels. I will begin building an e-mail list and considering options. Of course, there is no obligation.

My butt hurts big time.

Okay, campers: I'm back from non-biking holiday, following my usual post-holiday program of alcohol rehab and weight loss, and finally eager to get my lazy butt back in the saddle and get something done.

It isn't much compared to what I'm capable of doing, but I made it onto the street the past three days, roughly 15 km each day. You gotta start somewhere, and I've fallen fairly far, so the plan is to use the first part of June to work back into some semblance of shape before clipping off too much.

Translation: Kindergarten saddle time, then upwards.