Spring has sprung. Who's been out riding?

[prolesunited]

I've done a few rides 25 miles or less on my hybrid. I still need to switch out my tire on my road bike as it's flat as a pancake.

I like doing spring training rides on my hybrid since when I finally get on my road bike, it feels so light I'm like a speed demon.

So, what are you up to these days?

[Kolesar]

1. Followed a man riding a unicycle on a paved trail for several miles yesterday

He was making 10 or 12 mph. Crazy.

[veganlush]

2. I've been doing a 20 mile route that I

...improvised over the weekend. I've done it the last three days and I'm about to go out tonight yet. I ran into some ice patches the first day but it's 60+ degrees f out there now. I got brushed by some asshole yesterday, one of those people that resents cyclists on the road. He was doing at least 40mph and came within 2" of my left arm. I'm thinking of getting a paint ball gun mounted of the front for people like that. Maybe he didn't like the Obama sticker hanging from my bike seat. But, troubles aside, it's good to be back in the saddle and riding again. Looking forward to the "One Hell Of A Ride" in Hell, MI in July.:evilgrin:

[happyslug]

3. What who stopped for Winter? and I live in the Mountains of PA.

It was a rough winter, I even had to switch to Studded tires for a few weeks. Studded tires are great on ice, the only problem is the increased road Resistance (i.e. you notice you have to peddle more).

I have to hit some of my local trails, I have posted pictures them before but not in the last year, just been to busy otherwise (Something called "work" which what I am expected to do for my employer in exchange for my paycheck, I tried to talk my employer out of the requirement, but all my employer says, no work no pay so I have to work).

Also I only live three miles from work, so the commute is easy even with Studded tires.

[prolesunited]

16. I wish I could

My lungs don't do well in the winter because I have asthma. Even shoveling can be a problem. I am confined to my Kurt Kinetic trainer in the basement.

I think it's great that you stick with it.

[midnight armadillo]

4. 17 miles last Friday

I will be commuting to work tomorrow, 12.5 miles each way...can't wait!

Via recumbent, of course...why ride anything else?

[Kolesar]

5. In Massachusetts, no less

Tough dude

[midnight armadillo]

6. not so tough

It's raining, and while I have twin Superflash lights on the rear and an LED blink-able flashlight in the front, I lack high-vis clothing. I will put this off til tomorrow and hunt down one of those cheap ANSI yellow vests today.

[Kolesar]

7. I use these strobes, what do you use?

http://www.swps.com/ligpersafstr.html

[midnight armadillo]

9. LED flashlight

In the front I use an inexpensive LED flashlight from dealextreme.com, something like this one:
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.14443
It's on the handlebar with a Twofish Lockblock.

The strobe mode is quite fast, but I like it for daytime use in traffic to add visibility - especially on overcast days. Do you use the LIghtman xenon or LED strobes? I nearly bought a Lightman white xenon for the front but thought the flashlight would have more utility.

[Kolesar]

11. Yellow xenon strobe "on the back"

The product is so bright that I can see it lighting up the reflective street signs in my rear view mirror. That is during daytime/weak-winter-light conditions and nighttime conditions. It has a wide angle of illumination. One on the front and one on the back would have nearly complete coverage. I still don't have one on the front.

I am aware that some governments don't permit any vehicle to use a flashing red light of any sort, so I use a yellow flashing light.

If you buy the "bicycle" versions of that xenon strobe, you will get a product that flashes at a slightly lower rate to enhance battery life. I use AA lithium batteries and a Radio Shack charger. The charger is not very sophisticated: it only has a timer and not a "real" current-sensing circuit.

I use an Opticube 7 led headlight. It is effective at night and I turn it on for enhanced visibility in weak light conditions. I am very satisfied with that product.

[prolesunited]

8. Nice ride.

I like the height. The ones that sit really close to the ground scare me.

[midnight armadillo]

10. I'm at car height

I have no trouble interacting with drivers, even when stopped. My dream bike (carpal tunnel limits my use of regular bikes) is a Rans X-Stream, which sits a few inches lower but should still be easy to handle in traffic. Excellent aerodynamics make it fast too! Pic:

Those lowracers you're thinking of, that are maybe 8-10" off the ground, intrigue me quite a bit but I've never ridden one and am not sure how confident I'd be in an urban area on one!

[Fovea]

14. Why indeed?

When it is so much nicer on the dark side?

You ride a VRex?

[bhikkhu]

12. 220 miles so far this month

527 miles last month, 420 miles the month before....

I am pretty happy the weather is finally turning, as it was starting to get old riding in the snow. I haven't been online much, but I have been enjoying the rides. I spent all winter on a mountain bike, now I can get out on the road bike I built over the winter, on the weekends at least.

[prolesunited]

17. That's awesome.

Are you training for something?

[Fovea]

13. Not just me...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cameraobscura/sets/72157617157312250/

Bipartisan, even.

[wtmusic]

15. Heading out to do the Wildflower Century tomorrow

Man, I love that ride.

http://www.slobc.org/Wildflower.html