I've lost my nerve on descents
07-10-13, 02:00 PM
#101
curmudgineer
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Chicago SW burbs
Posts: 4,417
Bikes: 2 many 2 fit here
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 263 Post(s)
Liked 112 Times
in
70 Posts
And I thank you for that.
My own limited understanding of physics and hard asphalt assures me that fast can be dangerous and that twice as fast is more than twice as dangerous. But my bicycle is neither a big truck nor a train and cannot do the damage to others that is possible with those vehicles. And I am young (61) and foolish enough to continue in my reckless ways.
Seriously though; I think that there are indeed those who are foolish because they are young and lack the experience to know better. But as I grow older I am discovering that there is a particular brand of foolishness that can come with age. Bicycling has been a big part of my life for 50 years now. I went on my first 50-mile ride in 1965. And I am now at the age where I cannot deny that my cycling abilities are diminishing slowly. From a perspective in which one can look back on 50 years of cycling it is not so hard to look forward 15 or 25 years and see that there will be a day when I will not be able to ride up those big hills and enjoy the high speed descents on the other side. And so I drop my head down towards my stem, move my butt back on the saddle, slide my hands up against the backs of the drops and enjoy every moment of this thrill that I know will end someday...
Not very rational, I know. It certainly doesn't make a whole lot of sense now that I see it written, but I think that at least part of what makes life worth living is the ability to be foolish.
Brent
My own limited understanding of physics and hard asphalt assures me that fast can be dangerous and that twice as fast is more than twice as dangerous. But my bicycle is neither a big truck nor a train and cannot do the damage to others that is possible with those vehicles. And I am young (61) and foolish enough to continue in my reckless ways.
Seriously though; I think that there are indeed those who are foolish because they are young and lack the experience to know better. But as I grow older I am discovering that there is a particular brand of foolishness that can come with age. Bicycling has been a big part of my life for 50 years now. I went on my first 50-mile ride in 1965. And I am now at the age where I cannot deny that my cycling abilities are diminishing slowly. From a perspective in which one can look back on 50 years of cycling it is not so hard to look forward 15 or 25 years and see that there will be a day when I will not be able to ride up those big hills and enjoy the high speed descents on the other side. And so I drop my head down towards my stem, move my butt back on the saddle, slide my hands up against the backs of the drops and enjoy every moment of this thrill that I know will end someday...
Not very rational, I know. It certainly doesn't make a whole lot of sense now that I see it written, but I think that at least part of what makes life worth living is the ability to be foolish.
Brent
07-10-13, 02:11 PM
#103
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: northern michigan
Posts: 13,317
Bikes: '77 Colnago Super, '76 Fuji The Finest, '88 Cannondale Criterium, '86 Trek 760, '87 Miyata 712
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 659 Post(s)
Liked 595 Times
in
313 Posts
07-10-13, 03:20 PM
#104
No longer active
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 1,001
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 89 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
6 Posts
Crompton's for a beer! Been there, done that. BTW. I remember where I got my speeding ticket. It was in Sugarhouse Park. Where, apparently, they have a slow speed limit and I was exceeding it. Not hard to do. But that was also many years ago, probably 1975 or so. I hear you on the crazy youth stunts. Crashed badly one time coming down Big Cottonwood when my front tubular blew and I ended up losing control at speed, and much flesh. That was the descent that spooked me, for life. No wonder I guess.
BTW, back then one of my favorite rides was City Creek Canyon when they used to close it off to cars twice a week. I rode that canyon twice a week for several years.
A fun, spooky descent. Spent a lot of time up there.
Been there, done that. BTW. I remember where I got my speeding ticket. It was in Sugarhouse Park. Where, apparently, they have a slow speed limit and I was exceeding it. Not hard to do. But that was also many years ago, probably 1975 or so. I hear you on the crazy youth stunts. Crashed badly one time coming down Big Cottonwood when my front tubular blew and I ended up losing control at speed, and much flesh. That was the descent that spooked me, for life. No wonder I guess.BTW, back then one of my favorite rides was City Creek Canyon when they used to close it off to cars twice a week. I rode that canyon twice a week for several years.
A fun, spooky descent. Spent a lot of time up there.
As for City Creek, I used to live in West Capitol, so from there to the U. was pretty much my morning ride from mid-May to mid-October. Millcreek & Red Butte were also nice, especially around sunset.
07-10-13, 03:22 PM
#105
No longer active
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 1,001
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 89 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
6 Posts
Total buzz kill. Seeing your spouse on the concrete covered in blood and unconscious does little for one's cheery spirits. Blew the foam out of the side of the helment. Her Rivendell fop chariot of a bike was totally untweaked however. The handlebars I chucked as they got tweaked.
I mean, 'crazy' can be a lot of fun, but personally I've always taken the old Arab proverb into account, "Have faith in Allah, but tie up your camel."
Last edited by DIMcyclist; 07-10-13 at 03:41 PM. Reason: grammer; punctuation
07-10-13, 03:52 PM
#106
Senior Member
The magic number is 90. Age + Speed cannot exceed 90.
As we age, we don't bounce as well as we did when we were younger. When we were young we had that feeling of invincibility.
Example: 20 yrs old and 70mph and things get 'hairy'. At 55, I don't relish going downhill at 35+
YMMV, Professional driver on closed course - Do not attempt, and other such caveats....
all in good jest!
As we age, we don't bounce as well as we did when we were younger. When we were young we had that feeling of invincibility.
Example: 20 yrs old and 70mph and things get 'hairy'. At 55, I don't relish going downhill at 35+
YMMV, Professional driver on closed course - Do not attempt, and other such caveats....
all in good jest!
07-10-13, 04:36 PM
#107
Senior Member
Indeed! I wish there were some way of correlating this thread with one of the 'Helmet-or-no-helmet' threads... It might save some people a lot of trouble.
I mean, 'crazy' can be a lot of fun, but personally I've always taken the old Arab proverb into account, "Have faith in Allah, but tie up your camel."
I mean, 'crazy' can be a lot of fun, but personally I've always taken the old Arab proverb into account, "Have faith in Allah, but tie up your camel."
Total damage: Concussion, lacerated elbow, bit tongue with permanent damage, dislocated and torn thumb requiring surgery and a pin, road rash with permanent scar on shoulder. Vertigo for 6 weeks. Scar on leg in shape of swastika! No shxt! And, in my opinion, memory loss.
Total Bill: 78,000 dollars. Out of pocket, about 5K.
If you choose not to wear a helmet, help the rest of us by wearing a "Do not resusitate" bracelet, especially if you have no insurance. Thins out the gene pool a little.......
07-10-13, 04:39 PM
#108
Senior Member
Yeah buddy. Who paid the other 73K? The rest of us.,,,,BD
And for the record.. resuscitate
And for the record.. resuscitate
__________________
So many bikes, so little dime.
So many bikes, so little dime.
Last edited by Bikedued; 07-10-13 at 04:42 PM.
07-10-13, 04:48 PM
#109
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Chicago, the leafy NW side
Posts: 2,482
Bikes: 1974 Motobecane Grand Record, 1987 Miyata Pro, 1988 Bob Jackson Lady Mixte (wife's), others in the family
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 125 Post(s)
Liked 160 Times
in
81 Posts
I am sure no disrespect was intended, but this interesting thread could easily go 'pear shaped' if we veer off in that direction.
__________________
I never think I have hit hard, unless it rebounds.
- Dr Samuel Johnson
I never think I have hit hard, unless it rebounds.
- Dr Samuel Johnson
07-10-13, 05:06 PM
#110
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Central Ohio
Posts: 232
Bikes: Franklin Custom Road, Frejus TDF,Bianchi CromoLite Reparto Corse, Trek 470, Specialized Hardrock
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Back on track;
Bears - twice, same road different dates, both maybe 30 yards or less away. Only had time to think 'that's a big friggin' dog...oh, wait". Then they were gone.
Descents - hit 46 once (same road as the bear sightings). I was OK with it until the ER Doc I was riding with zipped past me like I was standing still (he lives up there - NW WI - and knows the road).
THAT scared the crap out of me.
And because iab brought it up -
Phobia - bare feet (but only other peoples')
Bears - twice, same road different dates, both maybe 30 yards or less away. Only had time to think 'that's a big friggin' dog...oh, wait". Then they were gone.
Descents - hit 46 once (same road as the bear sightings). I was OK with it until the ER Doc I was riding with zipped past me like I was standing still (he lives up there - NW WI - and knows the road).
THAT scared the crap out of me.
And because iab brought it up -
Phobia - bare feet (but only other peoples')
07-10-13, 07:40 PM
#111
Senior Member
07-11-13, 06:53 AM
#112
Senior Member
Thanks for assuming I can afford insurance. It's appreciated.,,,BD
.,,,BD
__________________
So many bikes, so little dime.
So many bikes, so little dime.
07-11-13, 09:51 AM
#113
Senior Member
07-11-13, 10:39 AM
#114
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Wherever
Posts: 16,748
Mentioned: 92 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 556 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 132 Times
in
78 Posts
That'd freak the crap outta me, man-- you can really get up to whoop-di-do speeds in Big Cottonwood. Still- that must have been great back when there was less traffic in the canyon.
As for City Creek, I used to live in West Capitol, so from there to the U. was pretty much my morning ride from mid-May to mid-October. Millcreek & Red Butte were also nice, especially around sunset.
As for City Creek, I used to live in West Capitol, so from there to the U. was pretty much my morning ride from mid-May to mid-October. Millcreek & Red Butte were also nice, especially around sunset.
As for crashing in Big Cottonwood, I did lots of crazy things in my 20's, and before helmets were available...unless you wanted to wear a leather hairnet, which I did on occasion.
As with most guys pushing 60, I cringe thinking of some of the stuff I did, and got away with, back in the 70's. Ye gods....
07-11-13, 11:50 AM
#115
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Bastrop Texas
Posts: 4,502
Bikes: Univega, Peu P6, Peu PR-10, Ted Williams, Peu UO-8, Peu UO-18 Mixte, Peu Dolomites
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 978 Post(s)
Liked 1,641 Times
in
1,054 Posts
07-11-13, 12:18 PM
#117
Senior Member
07-11-13, 04:13 PM
#119
Senior Member
Maybe.... How do you get raised white letters on a 25mm tire!
07-11-13, 07:01 PM
#120
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Normal, Illinois
Posts: 2,714
Bikes: Trek 600 ,1980Raleigh Competition G.S., 1986 Schwinn Passage, Facet Biotour 2000, Falcon San Remo 531,Schwinn Sierra, Sun Seeker tricycle recumbent,1985 Bianchi Squadra
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 33 Post(s)
Liked 12 Times
in
9 Posts
I believe Firestone did own Bridgestone at one time. Don't know if they still do or not. I should, I live like a mile or two from a Bridgestone Factory.
07-11-13, 07:06 PM
#121
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Normal, Illinois
Posts: 2,714
Bikes: Trek 600 ,1980Raleigh Competition G.S., 1986 Schwinn Passage, Facet Biotour 2000, Falcon San Remo 531,Schwinn Sierra, Sun Seeker tricycle recumbent,1985 Bianchi Squadra
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 33 Post(s)
Liked 12 Times
in
9 Posts
BTW, I think Henry Ford, Harvey Firestone, and Thomas Edison were all pals, back in the day. Went camping together and such.
07-12-13, 04:30 AM
#123
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Normal, Illinois
Posts: 2,714
Bikes: Trek 600 ,1980Raleigh Competition G.S., 1986 Schwinn Passage, Facet Biotour 2000, Falcon San Remo 531,Schwinn Sierra, Sun Seeker tricycle recumbent,1985 Bianchi Squadra
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 33 Post(s)
Liked 12 Times
in
9 Posts
On wheels.
07-12-13, 06:21 AM
#124
Hopelessly addicted...
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Central Maryland
Posts: 4,955
Bikes: 1949 Hercules Kestrel, 1950 Norman Rapide, 1970 Schwinn Collegiate, 1972 Peugeot UE-8, 1976 Raleigh Sports, 1977 Raleigh Sports, 1977 Jack Taylor Tandem, 1984 Davidson Tandem, 2010 Bilenky "BQ" 650B Constructeur Tandem, 2011 Linus Mixte
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 10 Times
in
9 Posts
The magic number is 90. Age + Speed cannot exceed 90.
As we age, we don't bounce as well as we did when we were younger. When we were young we had that feeling of invincibility.
Example: 20 yrs old and 70mph and things get 'hairy'. At 55, I don't relish going downhill at 35+
YMMV, Professional driver on closed course - Do not attempt, and other such caveats....
all in good jest!
As we age, we don't bounce as well as we did when we were younger. When we were young we had that feeling of invincibility.
Example: 20 yrs old and 70mph and things get 'hairy'. At 55, I don't relish going downhill at 35+
YMMV, Professional driver on closed course - Do not attempt, and other such caveats....
all in good jest!
I must admit that I have gotten to a point where I really like to bomb down hills. There came a point after several rides when I noticed over and over that I'd be way ahead at the bottom of the hill. Since he has a 2x9 wide range setup I knew he could continue pedaling after I spun out my 4-speed IGH. Finally, my curiosity got the best of me and I had to ask, 'how do I end up so far ahead of you by the time we get to the bottom of the hill?' His reply, 'I'm hitting the brakes to slow down.' BTW, I'm post-45 and he's pre-45, age wise.
07-12-13, 06:56 AM
#125
1991 PBP Anciens
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Elburn, Illannoy
Posts: 633
Bikes: 1954 Robin Hood, 1964 Dunelt, 1968 Raleigh Superbe, 1969 Robin Hood, 197? Gitane, 1973 Raleigh SuperCourse, 1981 Miyata 710, 1990 Miyata 600GT, 2007 Rivendell Bleriot
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 66 Post(s)
Liked 319 Times
in
124 Posts
Don't know if I've lost my nerve or just gained wisdom with age.
At 35, I hit 66mph while riding PBP in 91. All I though was, That was cool!
At 45, while descending a hill in SE Ohio, I was approaching 50mph when my 'dad with kid in college' brain kicked in and said, "take it easy, buster."
At 57, while descending the back side of Bay City Hill on the Lake Pepin 3 Speed Tour, I find myself more on the brakes than not. Yet some folks are flying pasts me on DL-1s.
At 35, I hit 66mph while riding PBP in 91. All I though was, That was cool!
At 45, while descending a hill in SE Ohio, I was approaching 50mph when my 'dad with kid in college' brain kicked in and said, "take it easy, buster."
At 57, while descending the back side of Bay City Hill on the Lake Pepin 3 Speed Tour, I find myself more on the brakes than not. Yet some folks are flying pasts me on DL-1s.
