I'm sure the guys mean everything in the spirit of fun -- the reason people do things like that is that they like having you, Brandy, and other women who can handle being outnumbered about 100 to 1 around. I just brought that up because some people get put off when they get too much individual treatment and we do have a record of scaring off women.

Back to the Mt Doom thread. I really would ride that on one of my bents.

You DO have a recumbent, don't you? And you admit it on BF. That's even worse.

I'll be taking one of mine out for a few hours today. However, I think that a racing bike is more comfortable than a bent so bent riders don't trust me any more than the Road Nazis. Only Freds think I have any sense.

What is it your trying to bend again?

All you Freds need

Get 'Bent

T-shirts.

You have more than one?

One for you, one for pcad. Group 'bent ride up pcad's hill! Take photos, please

Beth

If I see recumbents riding up my hill, I'm borrowing my neighbor's Hummer and mowin' 'em down.



His other car is a Toyota Prius. Of course.

Be sure to put a cow catcher on the front of that thing so all evidence can easily be pushed off to the side of the road.

Beth

I have a friend who is very proud of his Prius, but he has a huge gas hog truck to tow his boat on the trailer. One problem with small efficient hybrids is, lots of people need another vehicle. That kind of ruins the whole concept.

Yeah, but I have multiple uprights too -- can't have too many bikes.

Group bent ride up pcad's hill sounds just like the ticket.

Hey pcad! I have a trike I'd be happy to lend you since I know the old folks go for those...

It won't work. I'll see him coming in my Fred mirror and easily dodge...

You don't know me very well...do you? I'm just kidding. One of the great things about being a woman here in the road forum is that I get to hang with the boys and when someone thinks that people have crossed a line with me, there's always someone to come to my rescue. Like the knights in shining lycra.

I don't really fit in on most forums that are geared for women. Threads complaining about the "booth babes" at Interbike have me searching for pictures so that I can ogle them too instead of of uniting in sisterhood against the "piggish men" and sex sells mentality. Whatever. I don't take stuff like that too seriously...I'm just here to have fun.

I wonder if anyone can actually ride a recumbent up a 17% grade?

Sure. We don't have any sections that go for miles like that in our area, but there are a few shorter sections that get up there. On short hills, I can leg press my way up. With a CF seat to brace against on my highracer, I have plenty of leverage. On extended climbs, it's slower than a road bike, but I still drop most roadies (we're talking the sort that show up to recreational centuries and double centuries rather than hard core racers). On short climbs, I'm actually faster than I am on the road bike.

Even for steeper grades (over 6%) that go for miles, you just gear down and spin. My highracer weighs only 21 lbs with pedals and has 30x27 so it's pretty easy to move. The trike has a triple ring and a 20" wheel -- I could tow a boat with the stupid low gear inch numbers that yields.

It's refreshing to hang out with people who can take mindless fun in the spirit intended and don't have their self esteem shattered at the first comment that can be interpreted the wrong way -- we need more like you

Found this in another forum talking about a steep hill called Las Flores something about 20% grade.

Thank you

You could always adopt a sense of humor since God has seen fit to deprive you a genetic one.

Of course.

That has got to be an ugly sight. And then all that creaking and groaning from a frame and power-train not designed for climbing more than, say, 5%.

How much climbing have you done with others? In most cases, the loudest creaking and groaning comes from the engine rather than the frame and drive train...

You must come up and do Las Flores.

p.s. And when you get here I'll convince you to do Tuna Canyon, then sit back and watch the carnage.

Others? Like anyone can keep up :sniff:

I hate to break this to you, but if you have enough experience to hear the creaking and groaning of slow 'bent frames and you don't see other riders, it's because they're way in front of you, not behind....

Actually, on the hills I climb, no 'bents would even attempt. Therefore, alone