Road Cycling - Strange question....

One of my random thoughts from the road... I commute about 45 miles per day, all alone, in the cornfields from Indy to a little town south of here. Maybe it's just an inferiority complex from being a nerdy urban planner; and on my commute, I'm surrounded by farm guys in pickup trucks. Anyway, I find myself staring at my shadow for long periods of time. I'll study my form and see my legs pumping, marveling at he fact that they're making me travel at speeds up to 30 and 40 mph. It's sort of poetic in a way. Am I the only one here who loves my shadow?

You're lucky to live where you can ride in the peace and quiet and take time to notice things like your shadow.
I live in Atlanta and only have time to outrun some jerk trying to run me off the road. :fight:
Maybe someday I'll live where the riding and lifestyle are a little more laid back. :)

I generally don't notice my shadow but I just love to hear the sound of the chain spinning or the hum of the wheels as I ride. Unfortuanatly where I live & ride I don't get to hear it too often. I especially enjoy riding in the country for this very reason.

Dan.

when i'm on my road bike, i'm generally too busy thinking about how hungry i am and what and when i'm going to eat next, but when i'm on my fixie, i like catching a glimpse of a shadow and sometimes thinking "hey... sleek form, there, champ..."

I always look at my showdow and also look for the shadows of others when the sun is in the right direction. Our shadow is the closest thing to a mirror we have.

My favorite shadow is just before sunset when I'm riding north or south. The shadow of the bottom of the tire and rim is about a foot long on the road and the rest of the wheel is a long oval going off the side of the road. Extra cool is when your shadow is long and thin until it hits some crops then it stands up straight and rides along with you.

Another cool one is when the shadow of the tip of your brake lever is right on the center of your front tire. Or when the sun is above and behind you and bits of your bike stick out from the shadow of your body.

I love my shadow. I ride the straight and lonely roads of Illinois.

"Me.....and my sha-a-a-dow"

sounds like a song i know...

lucky you


"Me.....and my sha-a-a-dow"

sounds like a song i know...

My favorite shadow is just before sunset when I'm riding north or south. The shadow of the bottom of the tire and rim is about a foot long on the road and the rest of the wheel is a long oval going off the side of the road. Extra cool is when your shadow is long and thin until it hits some crops then it stands up straight and rides along with you.

Another cool one is when the shadow of the tip of your brake lever is right on the center of your front tire. Or when the sun is above and behind you and bits of your bike stick out from the shadow of your body.

I love my shadow. I ride the straight and lonely roads of Illinois.

How tall is the corn in Illinois. It was really short here in Indiana until all of those rains we had. Now it's probably about six feet tall. If there were traffic down here, it would be a driving hazard!

<snip>I love my shadow. I ride the straight and lonely roads of Illinois.

I use my shadow to "see" what I look like on the bike. Its the only way I have to see my form. I never have anyone taking photos of me, so I have to use the shadow.

I ride the winding lonely roads of Central Montana. :rolleyes:

One of my random thoughts from the road... I commute about 45 miles per day, all alone, in the cornfields from Indy to a little town south of here. Maybe it's just an inferiority complex from being a nerdy urban planner; and on my commute, I'm surrounded by farm guys in pickup trucks. Anyway, I find myself staring at my shadow for long periods of time. I'll study my form and see my legs pumping, marveling at he fact that they're making me travel at speeds up to 30 and 40 mph. It's sort of poetic in a way. Am I the only one here who loves my shadow?
Ahhh you got Zenned out on your ride. I love when that happens.

I'll study my form and see my legs pumping, marveling at he fact that they're making me travel at speeds up to 30 and 40 mph.

30 to 40 mph? I'd be studying the chunks of lung I'd spew if I could ride that fast.

How tall is the corn in Illinois. It was really short here in Indiana until all of those rains we had. Now it's probably about six feet tall. If there were traffic down here, it would be a driving hazard!
The corn has just gotten tall enough to hide a car. As many of the country roads have completely uncontrolled intersections with no stop signs in either direction, common sense says that you should slow down to look around the corner, but people have been able to see what's coming for the last six months, so they don't.

There's very little traffic so people get away with it most of the time, but every year, there are a couple of fatal car crashes.

Funny you should mention the shadow thing. Last week on my morning commute I was noticing how cool my shadow looked. I was wishing I could take a picture of it. I know a little corny but it was what I was thinking at the time.

One of my random thoughts from the road... I commute about 45 miles per day, all alone, in the cornfields from Indy to a little town south of here. Maybe it's just an inferiority complex from being a nerdy urban planner; and on my commute, I'm surrounded by farm guys in pickup trucks. Anyway, I find myself staring at my shadow for long periods of time. I'll study my form and see my legs pumping, marveling at he fact that they're making me travel at speeds up to 30 and 40 mph. It's sort of poetic in a way. Am I the only one here who loves my shadow?


No, bpohl, I :love: your shadow, too!

When I am riding east to west, my shadow looks very muscular and fit, bulging triceps and shoulders. When I am riding more north and south, my shadow looks like a tub of lard. Now which is it? Best -

Sometimes I try to look at my shadow but I always seem to head toward the side of the road and nearly crash.

Now, I prefer to yell "Moooooooo!" when I pass cows during a ride. That's the shiznit!

Pj

How tall is the corn in Illinois. It was really short here in Indiana until all of those rains we had. Now it's probably about six feet tall. If there were traffic down here, it would be a driving hazard!
The best thing about living in corn country is the fact that you can find roads with no traffic, and of course, that tall corn can be marvelous for blocking the wind :)