Internal Combustion Defeated As Bicyclist Passes Motorcycles


I've overtaken motor traffic while on a loaded touring bike, but not on camera.

I couldn't catch the one-horse Amish buggy going up the short-but-steep hills near my house, last night! Jacob kept whipping the old nag every time I got close!

Unless the traffic is really slow I will take the lane so I have more operating room. I once descended Monarch Pass behind a cattle truck while touring in CO. The driver actually waved me around but I signaled back that I wanted to follow him. The shoulder was a bit banged up so it was nice to be able to taker the entire lane. If you ever do something like that, make sure you keep your distance in case one of the critters decides to take a leak.

Heh. I got dropped by an Amish buggy in Lancaster County. In my defense, I was riding a fully loaded touring bike.

Those buggies are deceptively fast! I caught up on the downhills, and could have passed, but I was enjoying the smiles of the little girls waving from the back of the cart. Probably laughing at me. Little sh*ts.

Last week you were making Fred nervous, this week you are making the cows nervous.
I was going to put a mirror on, but now just forget it. Besides, I'd have to move my bell out of reach.

Someday I will find the hidden factory where they make those sickeningly cute kids. But as a riding buddy of mine once quipped: The only thing the Amish haven't figured out how to do well is make good looking women.

1. Fred was several weeks ago. The cattle truck was 16 years ago during a tour from Seattle, WA to Cortez, CO via Glacier National Park.


2. Fred didn't have a mirror.


3. You would need a metal wire basket, canti brakes and touring-style shoes to emulate him.


Try to keep up, would you?


And to put to rest any doubt about my touring activities, feast you eyes on these, which were taken during my nearly 550 mile tour in SW Montana back in June:


https://www.flickr.com/photos/105349...57667672266654


Headed to Vermont next Friday for a week-long tour home. I'm too legit to quit.

Cool! I'd ride Montana on a motorcycle. Would have to eat some beef though.
Vermont's leaves should be turning soon, watch out for the meese.

I've seen a couple of very good-looking young Amish women (early 20's, at a guess), one of which was blonde, and stunningly attractive, even in her quite plain dress, but they are exceedingly rare, in my experience.

The buggy I was desperately trying to catch, last night, had turn signals. LED, no less. No brake lights, though.

Wow this thread got off topic quickly. hahaha

I find it hilarious that the bikers were so happy to see the cyclist. They were having a grand old time. haha

Great pics!

I was just hiking in NH and it's already starting. This drought has been brutal.

I have seen lights like that on buggies in Lancaster County. I have also seen some undercarriage illumination. Pimp my buggy! The Amish that are left in that area of PA tend to be less strict than in other areas. Maybe a decade or so ago an Amish guy from a strict sect in central PA was jailed for refusing to attach even a reflective triangle to his buggy. Cannot remember how it was resolved.

Pretty sure they keep the good looking ones well-hidden, or at least well-disguised. That whole, "Thou shall not covet" thing.

This week I noticed that some trees are shedding their brown and dead leaves here in Philly. We have had a lack of rain in this area. The river through town is slow and full of algae in places. The Delaware up around west central NJ is running only about 3'-5' deep in many places.


I will only be in VT for a short bit. Brattleboro is far south. Taking the train up Friday, staying in a motel in town and will start riding Saturday morning. I will cross into MA and ride through my old high school town (Deerfield) on the first day.

I had to stop at the Farmer's Daughter and buy some maple syrup.
They had a display of some old hit and miss engines nearby.

Nice! Enjoy!

I think you are doing some bike rider truth_- stretching, as Amish never whip a horse. I have
beaten a cow that was grazing.

He had on the traditional garb, as did the woman and the children, they were riding in a one-horse buggy, with wooden spoked wheels, a yellow cloth top, LED turn signals, and he had a fairly long quirt (3-4 feet), with red leather tip. I gain nothing from making this up.

No idea why one would beat a grazing cow. Seems ...unnecessary.

There is (was?) an Old Machinery outdoor exhibit every year in Kent CT. Old tractors, hit & miss engines .... all kinds of cool stuff.

I spent a good part of the day on you tube looking at hit and miss engines after I wrote that.

One guy was converting a Briggs and Stratton engine to a hit and miss engine.

Probably an old-order Mennonite. The only way you can tell them from Amish is by the seam down the middle of the Amish women's bonnet (Mennonites bonnets have no seam).

I never got that close!

Probably a Mennonite, they quirt their horses! Some even ride bikes, mustache handlebars,coaster brakes and single speeds!