The all about Bicycling thread

I just confirmed that I will be riding in the Afan Forest Park in Wales in about three week's time. I am stoked.


Afan Forest Park


I was going to bring my own bike but it was turning into a hassle so I am going to rent. Regardless, I can't wait!

 

The ride in the Afan Valley was excellent.

Amusingly, when I packed for the trip I tossed my riding stuff into my bad without a second thought: shorts, shirt, shoes and camel-bak. As soon as I hit London I realized my mistake... it was fricken cold! I had brought the stuff I wear when riding on the equator. Holy crap it was cold.

Thankfully I managed to get to a decent bike shop who were happy to sell me warm clothes. And warm clothes were needed! In the parking lot, as we were getting our bikes set up, it started to rain frozen stuff from the sky. I haven't seen sleet in many (many!) years. Thankfully it didn't last and we were off.

The ride was a tonne of fun. The warm gear did its job and I was able to enjoy the trails. The first trail was a 450m climb with an excellent down hill section that as flowing like butter. Just thinking about it makes me want to go again. The second trail was longer and equal in its climb, but stretched out over a much greater distance it wasn't as punishing a climb as the first.

I am looking forward to doing this again.

 

Fuck yeah.

 

Looking forward to attending the largest bicycle swap meet in the mid-Atlantic tomorrow afternoon. I have nothing to sell and am not looking to buy anything, so it'll probably be more of a social event/reunion to hang out with local riding friends, which is always fun.

This year I'll also be attending the Philly Bike Expo for the first time, and I'm stoked.

Anybody else here ever been to a bike trade show?

...Also, even if nobody else responds here, I'm just going to keep yapping and feeding my own personal obsession. Deal.

 

I'll respond...with nothing useful to add.

Yap away!

Edit: You might come home from the swap meet with a banana seat & a sissy bar you don't need. [This thought entered my head for some reason which I don't understand & can't explain.]

 

No banana seat or sissy bar for me—though i did see plenty of both—but I did come home with some nifty caps and a jersey for $5.

 

No Lance Armstrong memorabilia? !

 

Not this time, but I did see someone selling a framed Lance poster. Dunno if he found a buyer.

 

I used to see the books by, and about, Lance Armstrong all the time in thrift & resale stores.

I'll give him credit for one thing:
Lance Armstrong was, by far, the most convincing liar I have ever seen.

Keep in mind I seen many politician's speeches.

 

I’ve never idolized him by any measure, but Lance was indirectly responsible for me discovering my passion for cycling 17 years ago or so, though maybe not in the same way as many other folks.

My cousin was sick with melanoma in 2007, around the time I’d bought my first grown up bike (a dependable Trek hybrid) to commute to and from the train station a mile from my house. I decided I wanted to do something to honor her fight and ultimately her memory when she passed in 2008. The Lance Armstrong Foundation’s Livestrong Challenge rides were going strong at that time, so I signed up for what would end up being the first of three. I felt I needed a “real bike,” one with the curly bars up front, to do this serious, official 45mi bicycle ride. Not long after that, the obsession was born.

 

So I don’t spend much time over in Posting Games and had not realized there was a thread all about riding bikes naked, or close to it. It got me thinking…

The World Naked Bike Ride takes place annually, all over the world, and it’s sparked my curiosity for as long as I’ve known about it.

I have a super comfortable, custom-fitted bike with a seat that’s well broken in and conforms to my sit bones in all the right places, with or without padded bike shorts. I believe I’d be willing to try riding naked, given an appropriate level of social lubrication and dulled inhibitions, maybe among a small group of trusted friends, along a deserted road or trail.

But I don’t know that I’m enough of an exhibitionist to attempt one of these events. Unless, maybe, I had the right people along with me for the ride.

What about you?

 

I've thought about it ever since I found out about it.
Like you, I'd want to have friends along.
It does seem like it would be fun.

 

35 years ago...maybe.

 

I think it would be initially uncomfortable, but if you are surrounded by other naked riders I bet that would go away after 10 minutes.
Like going to a nude beach.
I just don’t think my taint could handle it even on my most comfy Brooks saddle.

 

Wish I could help you out with that!

 

I'm starting to get excited—antsy, really—about our planned bikepacking trip over Memorial Day from Cumberland, MD to Pittsburgh, PA along the Great Allegheny Passage rail trail.

For my most recent bike tours, I've started keeping detailed packing lists for all my gear; I'm including the current one here in case anyone's interested. Each list is trip-specific, catered to the general nature and duration of the trip (will there be camping? what's the weather going to be like? etc.), so I can modify what I'm bringing and/or how it's being packed, depending on how things are expected to shake out.

This list assumes we'll be camping at least one night, and that I'll need to bring one or more full (dehydrated) meals along the way. That may change depending where there is access to meals along the way, in which case a cook kit and camp meals might not be needed.

I'm happy to provide links/resources to specific products, given any interest therein.

May 2025 Cumberland to PGH (Camping)

DAY 1, Friday 5/23: Cumberland to Meyersdale – 32.5mi
DAY 2, Saturday 5/24: Meyersdale to Ohiopyle – 44mi
DAY 3, Sunday, 5/25: Ohiopyle to West Newton – 46mi
DAY 4, Monday 5/26: West Newton to PGH – 35mi

Seat bag (11L)

• CYCLING KIT COMPRESSION SACK
  • 1 tank base layer
    • + wear 1 tank base layer
  • 1 SS jersey
    • + wear 1 SS jersey
  • 1 pair cargo bike shorts
    • + wear 1 pair cargo bike shorts
  • 1 pair cycling socks
    • + wear 1 pair cycling socks
  • 1 SS wool jersey
  • + wear 1 sports bra
• COOL GEAR COMPRESSION SACK
  • 1 wool gaiter
  • 1 pair arm warmers
  • 1 pair knee warmers
  • 1 wind vest
  • 1 rain jacket
  • 1 puffy jacket
• STREET CLOTHES COMPRESSION SACK
  • 1 wool knickers (sleep)
  • 1 wool SS base layer shirt
  • 1 wool LS base layer shirt
  • 2 pair wool socks
  • 1 pair ASRV pants

• Stuff sack for dirty street clothes (navy)
• Stuff sack for dirty kit (teal)
• Black mesh bag for re-wear clothes
• Flip flops or Chacos (dangle)

Handlebar roll (9L)*

• Tent & rain fly (compressed)
• Tent footprint
• Tent stakes

Handlebar accessory pouch

• Snacks
• Flask
• Hitch & Timber Pocket Tool Pouch
  • Knife sharpening stone
  • Fountain pens & ink cartridges
  • Mechanical pencil & leads
  • Eraser
  • Spare camera battery (charged)
  • Ti Cobb
  • Mini Moleskine
• Moleskine pocket notebook
• Charger bank and wall plug with cables
• Water filter

Half frame bag (3L)

• Rain seat covers
• Headlamp w/ batteries
• Zip ties
• Bike tool roll
  • Tire plug kit
  • Spare 27.5 tubes
• Chamois cream (small)
• Tire sealant
• Filtration drops
• First Aid tin
• Tick key

Downtube canister

• Voile straps (various)
• Spare cleats and cleat bolts
• Chain lube

Front Pannier, left (non-drive side): Bedroom* – my exact model of panniers is discontinued, but this is a close enough equivalent

• Sleeping bag (compressed)
• Compact tent poles
• Camp pillow
• Air mattress

Front pannier, right (drive side): Kitchen/Living*

• TOILETRIES*
  • Tweezers
  • Contact lens case
  • Eyeglass case (compact)
  • Travel size saline
  • Deodorant
  • Athlete’s foot cream
  • Sunblock roll-on
  • Campsuds - refill -
  • Small nail clippers
  • Dental floss
  • Toothpaste
  • Toothbrush
  • Menstrual cup
• COOK SET*
  • Titanium pot (750ml)*
    • Titanium spork
    • Titanium cup
    • Matches in waterproof container
    • Ferro rod & striker
    • Bellows
    • Army can opener
    • Fireforks (2)
    • Bandanna
  • Trangia alcohol stove
  • Alcohol fuel (2 small bottles)
  • Esbit stove & tabs
  • Wind screen
  • Water straw
  • Camp meals

• Bushcraft knife
• PackTowl

Hydration pack

• Camera (attached via Capture Clip on strap)
• Wet wipes
• Hydration bladder
• Camp trowel
• Portable bidet
• GoGirl
• Tissue packs

 

Very cool.
We have lists like this for backpacking and canoe camping. My wife handles packing details on those trips and she has the lists laminated so she can check items off with a non-permanent marker and reuse.
You should see what the load of gear looks like for a family of 5 plus a dog to go canoe camping for 5 days......