Where Did Your Hybrid Take You Today?
#2477
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#2478
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Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Northeast USA
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Not photos from today (didn't ride - legs were too sore from yesterday), but here are some shots from within the past three or four days. Going to try it through the forum upload system... (and sorry, none of these shots include my bike, will try to get it in more photos in the future):

Colored "waterfall" beneath the David L. Lawrence conference center in downtown Pittsburgh. The colors slowly changed - it's nice to cycle through the pathway.

Parking area beneath a highway. Good use of space, and reminds me of a palace when empty. It's just a pity that the city never finished a connector between bike trails, forcing us to ride through this as a connector.

Many parts of our trails are now lined with all sorts of flowers. It's nice and the air smells very sweet in certain parts!
Colored "waterfall" beneath the David L. Lawrence conference center in downtown Pittsburgh. The colors slowly changed - it's nice to cycle through the pathway.
Parking area beneath a highway. Good use of space, and reminds me of a palace when empty. It's just a pity that the city never finished a connector between bike trails, forcing us to ride through this as a connector.
Many parts of our trails are now lined with all sorts of flowers. It's nice and the air smells very sweet in certain parts!
#2479
Senior Member
I was going to ride the north shore starting just before the 40th St. bridge and I guess ride out past PNC Park and Heinz Field. Not sure how far I'll be able to ride. I've yet to wear bike shorts and should have a pair arriving on Friday ready for me to come down there to the city to ride maybe Sunday morning. 20ish miles has been my limit so far and I think the legs can go longer if the rear end could be more comfortable going past the 1.5 hour mark.
The Convention Center is approximately on the other side of Veteran St bridge, am I correct? It's been so long since I've been down that way. I worked at HJ Heinz for an internship at the end of school way back in the mid 90's.
Last edited by mrodgers; 06-10-14 at 07:35 PM.
#2480
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Wow, that looks really cool. Which trail is it? I'm on vacation next week and just plan on riding the bike most of the week. I hope to make it down to the Burgh from up here above Butler to ride. I ride so rural it would be a real interesting change. Actually, I don't think you can get much more rural than the Allegheny River Trail up here in Emlenton, lol. Heck, the trails I ride are so rural, while you guys are busy avoiding pedestrians, I'm watching out for Sasquatch when I'm riding, lol.
I was going to ride the north shore starting just before the 40th St. bridge and I guess ride out past PNC Park and Heinz Field.
The Convention Center is approximately on the other side of Veteran St bridge, am I correct? It's been so long since I've been down that way. I worked at HJ Heinz for an internship at the end of school way back in the mid 90's.
I was going to ride the north shore starting just before the 40th St. bridge and I guess ride out past PNC Park and Heinz Field.
The Convention Center is approximately on the other side of Veteran St bridge, am I correct? It's been so long since I've been down that way. I worked at HJ Heinz for an internship at the end of school way back in the mid 90's.

The convention center is along the Strip District Trail, between the Veterans and 8th Street bridges. If I remember right, last year they kept the water running 24/7, but it seems like now they turn it off at night. I've ridden by there some mornings and noted that there was no water or lights, but then when I ride back a bit later in the morning it's running. Hopefully when you visit they'll have it fully running - I've seen some days where only one side has water flowing. I'm guessing they forgot to flip the switch for the other side.
You're probably familiar with it, but BikePGH has some nice maps showing the biking trails, as well as where bike shops are. You can find it here:
Bike Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh Bike Map
It's broken into two files. The convention center is located on the "West" map. Not sure where you'll be coming from, but just as a heads-up, the Strip District Trail above the Veterans Bridge is temporarily closed. The locals say that they're doing some sort of sewer line repair. It was supposed to be reopened in February... I see a lot of cyclists going along the road, but if you're uncomfortable with that (like me), there's a fairly low-traffic series of parking lots that run along the trail. The map indicates that Smallman is a good street to cycle along, up to a point, but I far prefer Railroad Street. Where Railroad Street ends, the parking lots begin.
If you're riding around the area and see a guy on a red Specialized Sirrus riding with a lady on a white Cannondale Quick, give us a wave

#2481
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The John Champion Bicycle Path follows the Truckee River in Reno, NV.
See, it's not all dried up desert.
#2482
Senior Member
And I will certainly give you a wave, or possibly stop and talk to ya. Seems I have a history of meeting people in areas away from home. Had a recommendation for a hotel in Myrtle Beach that I took and while swimming around in the pool with the kids, I look up and recognize a hat from the guy's avatar on the forum. Didn't bother him because of the kids, but met him down on the beach the next morning. Had a good talk with him as we had been forum "acquaintances" for quite some time.
Ha! From your link....
- "Pittsburgh has no traditional urban grid pattern, and the streets that transect the city tend to be busy with fast moving traffic"
Ain't that the truth! When I started working at Heinz, I must have circled around the building 8 times on 8 different roads and couldn't figure out my way to the parking, LOL.
Last edited by mrodgers; 06-12-14 at 11:11 AM.
#2485
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I took this shot of the sunrise this morning on a route I've recently been riding that takes me around through several marinas on a large area lake. It was a great way to start the day.

Last edited by camjr; 06-14-14 at 02:48 PM.
#2486
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Wow lots of great ride reports coming though lately 
The full story of today's ride here>>> https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...l#post16852386

The full story of today's ride here>>> https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...l#post16852386


#2487
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I've had my 2013 Fuji Absolute 2.1 now for a little over 2 weeks and did my first 25 mile ride this morning in some very windy conditions out around the local lake and environmental preserve. The nice part is I found a short trail through the woods that now means I can access all this when riding from my house and not having to cross an interstate on very narrow, busy bridges. I had been doing 10-15 mile rides during the week and 20-21 on the weekends. I'll take it after just starting a little over a month ago on my old mountain bike and not being able to do more than 5. Here's a couple of shots from my ride this morning before heading back to the house for a Fathers Day breakfast cooked by my kids. This bike is perfect for doing the work. The new Ergon GP2 grips are making a difference now that I switched from my old short fingered leather sailing gloves to some dedicated cycling gloves.
Cheers!



Cheers!




#2488
Senior Member
Well, it didn't take me there because I'm about a 2 hour drive away, but once I finally got to Pittsburgh, my Giant Escape took me all around Pittsburgh. Haven't been in the city for years and years and have never ridden a bike since 1979 on Fallowfield Avenue where I started out as a child.
Rode almost 3 hours because I took the camera with me. I think I ended up with 180 shots or so taking shots of everything and anything. Here are a few with the bike...
On some little extension out into the river.

The USS Requin which is now a museum.

Riding across the Fort Duquesne Bridge to get to Point State Park.

Overlooking the Monongahela River from the Hot Metal Bridge.

Like I mentioned in a post above, Pittsburgh is the City of Bridges, but it's also Overpass Central. Wow, was it loud riding along side this.
Rode almost 3 hours because I took the camera with me. I think I ended up with 180 shots or so taking shots of everything and anything. Here are a few with the bike...
On some little extension out into the river.

The USS Requin which is now a museum.

Riding across the Fort Duquesne Bridge to get to Point State Park.

Overlooking the Monongahela River from the Hot Metal Bridge.

Like I mentioned in a post above, Pittsburgh is the City of Bridges, but it's also Overpass Central. Wow, was it loud riding along side this.

#2489
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coolpix guys, There's nothing wrong with driving to where you start riding. I do it all the time then spend all day exploring and admiring the scenery, it's great fun relaxing and interesting. Great pix from everyone

#2490
Senior Member
Well, on Saturday I set out to do 50 miles on my Cannondale Quick 4. (What would have been a new "longest" for me). Because of some accidental mileage assumptions it ended up being.......66 MILES!!!! 
I was good til about 55 miles. Those last 11 miles were some of the hardest miles I've ever ridden. Including a climb back home that is difficult under normal circumstances, much less spaghetti legs. My legs literally "vibrated" as I climbed the hill back. Anyway, a couple nice pics as the ride took me down So Cal's Pacific Coast Highway.........


I was good til about 55 miles. Those last 11 miles were some of the hardest miles I've ever ridden. Including a climb back home that is difficult under normal circumstances, much less spaghetti legs. My legs literally "vibrated" as I climbed the hill back. Anyway, a couple nice pics as the ride took me down So Cal's Pacific Coast Highway.........


Last edited by loimpact; 06-17-14 at 07:54 AM.
#2491
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Just a couple miles around the neighborhood while I tested my new clipless pedals and getting used to them (first time having them) .. uneventful, and I did avoid the zero mph crash.
Last edited by Vexxer; 06-18-14 at 07:02 PM.
#2492
Senior Member
I biked the Newport Bike Path in Newport, Vermont. It's a four mile (one-way) stone dust trail that runs along the shore of Lake Memphremagog and ends at the Canadian Border. I wanted to do multiple laps but a thunderstorm cut my ride short.

#2493
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#2494
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I finally did the Millington, MI rail trail to Columbiaville (Southern Links Trailway). Its a 10 mile rail trail. The best scenery on the ride is at the end in Columbiaville at the Holloway Reserve. Nicely shaded trail. Lots of forestry along the way. Its like a road paved in the middle of a forest.
Last edited by ps249; 06-22-14 at 12:27 AM.
#2495
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I finally did the Millington, MI rail trail to Columbiaville (Southern Links Trailway). Its a 10 mile rail trail. The best scenery on the ride is at the end in Columbiaville at the Holloway Reserve. Nicely shaded trail. Lots of forestry along the way. Its like a road paved in the middle of a forest.
#2496
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I made my mtb a hybrid today by pumping the tires up to 80psi and installing bar ends.
I rode from the city up into the hills to the eagle on the hill mtb park.

Once I got there I let the tires down for traction and endless tree roots and rocks. I had trouble with the tight hair pin turns using clip in shoes and my seat post was to high, when touching the front brake I nearly went over the bars many times. One thing about the Adelaide Hills is the very steep gradients. In hair pin turns and obstacles it's very hard.
I have plenty pix of easy parts when I wasn't stressed to hard.








I rode from the city up into the hills to the eagle on the hill mtb park.

Once I got there I let the tires down for traction and endless tree roots and rocks. I had trouble with the tight hair pin turns using clip in shoes and my seat post was to high, when touching the front brake I nearly went over the bars many times. One thing about the Adelaide Hills is the very steep gradients. In hair pin turns and obstacles it's very hard.
I have plenty pix of easy parts when I wasn't stressed to hard.








#2498
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Looks like a great ride. That's one reason I didn't get rid of my old steel frame MTB when I started doing road rides on my hybrid.
#2499
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#2500
Senior Member
I road 24 miles on a rail trail. my previous long ride is my usual 10 mile neighborhood route, and I normally average 15.0-15.7 mph. on the ride today I averaged 15.1, but I did take a 10 minute break half way through 
I was exhausted but look forward to doing it again!

I was exhausted but look forward to doing it again!