Category: cycling (Page 6 of 37)

Today was one of the stranger days I’ve had biking. 

Somehow I managed to leave the house today without my contacts in! I’m very nearsighted too. No contacts, no glasses = I can’t see much past the nose on my face.

You might wonder how this happened.

Several months ago I switched to daily contacts where I toss them at the end of the day and put a new pair in the next morning. Some days I don’t bother, like when I’m reading or doing computer work like today because my reading/computer vision is best with no correction. Or other times I just wear my glasses.

I always wear glasses or contacts when driving – and until today when cycling.

When I realized I wasn’t wearing my contacts, not wanting to take the time to go home and get them, (didn’t think it would be a problem) I just pedaled on. Of course I should have gone back because not surprisingly I had trouble seeing once I was actually riding – not cars, I could see those fine, but watching for cracks in pavement, potholes, etc., especially in the shadows, was very difficult.

And when you can’t see well it slows you down, screws with your balance, gives you a headache from eye strain and makes your bike quit shifting!

Okay the last thing is unrelated, but it did happen and provided just another sign to call it a day.

So after covering half the distance of my planned ride I heeded those signs and turned around and headed back.

I felt like Mr. Magoo on a bike.

Time for the sequel to Share the Road.

In fact – it is way past time.

Most drivers now recognize, begrudgingly though it may be for some, that they have to share the roads with bicycles.

They understand that bikes, like cars, trucks, and motorcycles, also have a legal right to the road. They may not like it, but they get it. 

From that standpoint, Share the Road has done its job. Let’s give it up to Share the Road (mild applause).

Now it’s time to move on to a higher level of bicycle signage – the thinking person’s bike signage.

Time to replace all the Share the Road signage with “Must Change lanes to Pass” and “May use Full Lane”.

In fact it is way past time don’t you think.

May Use Full Lane
Change Lanes to Pass

Nice day for a bike ride. Don’t know about you, but autumn is my favorite season for riding. Nice temperatures, light winds, no storms and fall color – pretty perfect.

Stage 2 of the 2014 Tour de France ended with some serious bike racing among the favorites along with a favorite sprinter, Peter Sagan (Cannondale). Surprisingly difficult for such an early stage, with 9 categorized climbs and 12,000 feet of ascent! Stage 2 offered a chance for a GC favorite to gain or lose time.

When Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) jumped with his attack from the back, none of the other GC contenders followed. Possibly because they didn’t want to haul Sagan to the finish only to have him out-sprint them for the win and possibly because it is only Stage 2 and way too early to burn that many matches.

Besides when it was all said and done Nibali’s lead is a mere two seconds on his GC rivals. Still, it was a great bit of racing by Nibali who has had a disappointing spring. Today’s stage win, his first, will be a confidence booster.

I continue to be amazed by the huge throngs of people lining the course during these first two stages! Reportedly England is putting up the largest number of fans to ever watch the Tour and most likely any bike race. Huge crowds everywhere and narrow roads make for a jittery peloton, but beautiful scenes for us fans. Stage 3 is the last stage in England; starting in Cambridge and finishing in London.

These photos are from Getty Images:

Welcome to the new look on For the Love of Bikes blog!

If there was a sarcasm font, the previous statement would be written in it – bolded and in all caps.

I made the mistake of following the prompt to update my theme, Bueno, which I’ve used here for years. Loved that theme and really I was quite fond of the look of my blog. It had taken years to get it the way I wanted, but I had numerous sidebars with a variety of information plus excerpts and photos of bike tour trips, as well as numerous popular posts, blogs I follow, and more – had being the keyword.

ALL GONE.

So, please bear with me while I try to get FTLOB up and running, then hopefully back to some likeness of its former self. Sigh.