Why Cows Are Smarter Than Cyclists
Dairy Cow = Smarter Than Cyclists
Roadie Tipping is very similar to Cow Tipping in that a road cyclist falls over while attached to their bicycle. What is peculiar about Roadie Tipping though is that it can occur whether you’re sleeping on the bike or not and almost always happens while your not moving. Here are some examples:
- Playing chicken. You roll up to a four-way stop the same time a car does. Being the good cyclist you are you come to a full-stop and execute the perfect track stand so the car can go. The only problem is that your track stand endurance is about two seconds. Meanwhile, the drive of the car is waiting on you to bust a move. Or maybe they’re just blown away by your epic track stand awesomeness. Whatever it is, your two seconds of bike handling skills are gone in a flash and before you know it you’re laying on your side and have now become a Roadie Tipping statistic. Meanwhile, the car driver just shakes their head and drives off. Or they could add insult to injury, roll down their window, and ask if you’re OK.
- Rolling from a stop. If you successfully negotiated the chicken deul with the car at the stop sign you still aren’t home free. When getting rolling again from that stop you are very susceptible to Roadie Tipping. Why? Because if you don’t give it a big enough push to actually turn the pedals over then you could easily find yourself not moving with both feet clipped in. Add in other factors like a car that’s just pulled up behind you and a slight incline that kills your momentum and you’re a prime candidate for Roadie Tipping.
- Practicing Bike Handling Skills. Ever worked on those figure-eight drills where you roll around in a figure-eight pattern to practice turning in tight spaces and shifting your weight while cornering? If not, their good practice but can also be high on the Roadie Tipping Hazard Scale. You’ll quickly realize, after two whole figure eights, that you’ve mastered this skill immediately and wonder if you’ve missed your calling as a professional cyclist. Next you set about trying to carve the tightest turn you can. That’s when it gets dangerous and you end up the way of the sleeping bovine plus some road rash.
Cow Tipping is a myth (cows don’t sleep standing up) but Roadie Tipping isn’t. It’s also a popular myth that it’s easy to tip over a cow because their dim-witted and weak in the legs (kinda reminds of a cyclist I know). This is also untrue. It is true though that a cow has tipped a cyclist.
Read MoreAn open letter to my bicycle
Dear Bicycle,
I purchased you over 15 years ago to help me raise money for children. You supported me well during that ride and have ever since. Recently, though, I don’t think I’ve given you the credit you deserve.
After that initial charity ride I shunned you and relegated you to a life of collecting dust, rust and cobwebs. I kept you inside, out of the elements, but you were always kept hidden behind the couch or in a dark shed. Over the next 12 years you only saw the light of day once or twice but never complained. Sure, you developed flat tires and rusty gears but you always remained faithful. Ready to be ridden when called upon. Several times you’ve been ungraciously knocked to the ground due to my poor riding abilities. Scratches formed in your beautiful paint but you wear them with pride like battle scars.
Over the last several months I’ve exposed you to riding your designers would have never thought you capable of. Bearing my weight you’ve powered on like a champ completing each ride and eagerly wanting more. The static and dynamic pressures I’ve placed on your frame have pushed you to the limit but you’ve responded with grace and poise. I’ve ridden you through water, mud and dog crap and you never complained aside from an occasional squeaky spoke.
Even though you’ve remained faithful to me after all these years, I must admit that my mind and hands have wandered with yearns for aero wheels and dura ace. Sleeker, younger models dressed in carbon fiber and titanium have caught my eye. I’ve caressed them in the local bike shops and often find myself daydreaming of a time when I’ll be able to actually sit on one of these lithe machines. During our recent rides together my eyes have wandered to the state of the art rigs that pass us by. Even though my devotion was wavered you’ve always carried me with no questions asked. Any cyclist would be lucky to have you.
Over the next two months you and I will be together more than we have in years as I complete my century training and get ready for my first 100 mile ride. I only ask that you not treat me that way I’ve treated you and to help me as I push both of us to our physical limits.
You’ll always be my first bicycle love.
Read MoreJuan Pelota VS El Pistolero: A fistful of words
Sounds like some kind of old school western showdown doesn’t it? With the 2009 Tour de France now over the war of words between Lance Armstrong (Juan Pelota) and Alberto Contador (El Pistolero) has already heated up.
Juan Pelota
I love it. Personally, I’m not a fan of Contador. I think he’s got a lot to learn before he comes a great cycling champion (I really just don’t like his grin). The sport of cycling needs a good rivalry like this and, even though Contador is nearly 12 years younger than Armstrong, next year is already shaping up to be a great year of cycling.
El Pistolero
I’m glad too because somebody needs to wipe that cheesy grin off Contador’s face.
What do you think? Is this rivalry good for cycling? Am I too hard on AC? Am I a LA fan boy?
Read MoreWhy I’ll be a Team Radio Shack Fan
If you’re a cycling fan, and not living under a rock, you’ve probably heard by now that Lance Armstrong’s new cycling team will be Team Radio Shack (@teamradioshack). I for one was very surprised to hear that it was someone other than Oracle or Nike. Now that we know it’s Radio Shack I can honestly say I’m a fan but probably not for the reason you expect.
Sure, Lance is going to be on the team and that’s a great reason to be a fan. Radio Shack will partner with the LAF and LiveStrong in the fight against cancer which is another great reason to be a fan. The real reason I’ll be a fan though is because of my Dad.
My Dad was an electronics genius. He learned the trade at an early age and held several jobs that saw him develop his skills including installing electrical systems on airplanes and performing electronics work on Minuteman Missiles. When I was a kid he had his own business installing satellite tv systems. As a hobby he was a Citizens Band (CB) and Ham Radio expert. He rarely bought new radios but choose instead to either build his own or repair broken ones he would find at flea markets or garage sales.
So, what does my Dad and Team Radio Shack have in common? My Dad was a loyal Radio Shack customer. If he needed parts or tools for a radio or CB he would go to our local Radio Shack store. When Radio Shack would receive returned electronics that were broken, and not covered by warranty, who did they call? My Dad.
Image Courtesy of TeamRadioShack.com
One of the big things going on right now is speculation on who will be on the team. We know Lance will be there but who will be his support cast? I’ve already heard rumors of Cadel Evans on Twitter. Who would you like to see on Team Radio Shack? I bet we see Chris Horner on there. Read More
A few random cycling questions & thoughts
- Resting heart rate. I’m familiar with resting heart rate and how it’s related to your fitness (the lower it is generally the more fit you are; some say a better gage is heart rate recovery). Today I decided to check mine and it was 56 bpm. That is a huge improvement for me since the last time I can remember having my heart rate taken I was well above 70 bpm. This is great news for me since there are studies out there that a resting heart rate above 70 bpm is a significant risk factor in heart disease. Do you track your resting heart rate?
June 26 Waterspout in Jacksonville, Florida (pics)
I first heard about this from @metamarshall via twitter and had a quick look at weather.com to check out the weather since my wife and kids still live in Jacksonville. There were several reports of a waterspout and I saw one pic on Friday that looked pretty amazing. Today, a friend of mine sent me four pics of the waterspout that are stunning.
Being in the Navy for such a long time I’ve seen lots of waterspouts, including three at one time off the coast of Virginia on one stormy day, but these pictures simply blew me away. Maybe it’s because of its proximity to downtown. There’s a blog entry over on weather.com that talks about this particular waterspout (it also has links to videos). Here’s a local news story with more pics.
I don’t know who the pics below were taken by so I can’t give proper credit. Check’em out. See that glass building on the left of the last pic? I used to work in there.
Jacksonville, FL Waterspout
Jacksonville, FL Waterspout
Jacksonville, FL Waterspout
Jacksonville, FL Waterspout
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