Decided to make the Monday Night Ride
The VeloDuluth Club's Monday Night Ride is one of the few reasons I rode my road bike the past few years. Now that I don't have a so-called road bike in my stable I have to ride something else. Tonight was the night I decided to finally show up at the ride with my Surly LHT. Not only that, I showed up without tight shorts, a multi-colored bicycling jersey, or shoes with cleats on them so big I can hardly walk. I showed up wearing baggy shorts, a solid colored synthetic tee, and mountain biking shoes you can actually walk around in when not on the bike. And to top off the look I had a big-ass rack trunk on the back end.
Here's how some of the conversation went:
Biker #1:"So how heavy is that bike".
Me: "I don't know, I've never weighed it".
Biker #1: "It sure looks heavy".
Biker #2: "This road is very bumpy".
Me: "This bike soaks up those bumps, I hardly notice them".
Biker #2: "It rides like a Cadillac, eh?"
Me: "Even better".
Biker #3: "Is that bike comfortable?"
Me: "It's the most comfortable bike I've ever ridden."
Biker #3: "REALLY?" (As in, how could that be?)
Biker #4: (As he is loading his bike onto his car after the ride and I'm getting ready to ride mine home.) "You really make that thing dance(referring to the LHT)!"
Me: "Thanks"
That last comment was just after I smoked everyone on a short, twisty descent alongside Miller Creek in Lincoln Park. I have yet to find anyone locally that has the fearless descending skills I possess, even when I'm riding a long wheelbase touring bike.
June: 233 mi
2008: 3,393 miles
posted by Doug @ 9:40 PM
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7 Comments:
Sweet. I don't know why, but I also possess the same type of descending skills.
Since I'm such a fat bastard, I can get going pretty damn fast...we have a large hill that I hit 54 mph last year.
Sure wish I was that fast going up.....
I've been wanting to make that ride- it's crazy though how kids and family life cuts into my biking :o) haha...
Sure was a wet ride in today though- that's what I love, riding every day. It's fun to continue to amaze and astonish those who see you ride every day- by riding into work in a downpour. Most would look for other means even when riding home in the rain. I think I like riding in the unpleasant weather much more then the 80+ weather.
P.S. I'm on the lookout for some rain gloves. I'm trying to find something like a thin Gore-type shell only, just to keep the wind and rain off of my hands when it's 40-50 and rainy and windy.
Anyone know of anything out there?
bad ass. have you found anyone in Duluth who has put 3000+ miles in so far this year?
The "Falcon".
The rider matters more than the bike, in general. But an uncomfortable bike sucks.
I get similar odd looks when I show up in comfortable street clothes and mountain bike shoes (I love them!) on my commuter-ized bikes. Especially the road bike with panniers.
While I'm not in excellent physical shape, I do have a lot more miles in my legs this year than most of the club riders. Two weeks worth of odd looks and crass remarks at any club ride and I usually start to get some respect.
Bicycling doesn't have to be a chore, and you really don't need super-swanky gear to ride. It's all in the engine.
Well said Noah!! I agree.
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