tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-245497922024-02-07T18:34:28.768-05:00KC/DC CycleRide to live... live to rideSteve Mohrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18284868771152362138noreply@blogger.comBlogger93125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24549792.post-83070892460634438592024-02-06T13:27:00.000-05:002024-02-06T13:27:01.409-05:00Interracial Relationships<p>Interracial relationships are the best and worst of white supremacy, and various power networks and systems. Man/woman relationships are compounded by patriarchy. International relationships are complex as well, but the power dynamic of race is substantial. I speak to US racialization. The world of race is complex and each country has its own history and slant on the problem. I have been in close relationships with Black women since 1982. My experience is not in academia or in the movement for Black lives. My experience for many years was deep personal relationships. From my perspective at the time I was just present. I didn't push the race issue except to be present and listen, like a spy. I didn't get much trust in the situation. </p><p>I met my first Black girlfriend at a thrift store in Twinbrook. She was the store manager. I have always been a thrift store shopper and still am. It was amazing to get behind the scenes. I don't remember the beginning of our relationship. Toward the end of our relationship I met her parents. She told me about her family. Her brother was in prison for a long time. That relationship lasted 9 months. I was beginning to love her, but she wanted a baby. I made it clear that was not in my plan at that point. That was it. </p><p>I had kissed a Black woman in high school, one of the two Black women at our school. I had dated various white women but those relationships ended. I didn't get into a Black woman only type of streak. At the time I was dating my first Black girlfriend I worked at Merrill Lynch Securities. The department I worked in was managed by a gay Black man. 1982! That was pretty progressive. My supervisor was also Black. I left that job after 3 years. I gave my girlfriend a recommendation and as far as I know she worked there for a while. This had been a very light, short romance. There was no complexity at all on my part. I was young and really didn't learn much from the relationship. </p><p>I met a Black guy shortly afterwards and we became friends. His name was Rudy and also went by Tony. We hung out together at Black clubs for a few years. We would go out as much as 7 nights a week. I wasn't chasing exoticness. We went to jazz clubs, strip clubs, dance clubs. There was one place that would close down at 4 or 5 and shut off the lights. It was there way of getting around the rules of serving alcohol after hours. I rarely danced with anyone and never went home with anyone or brought them home. It was just hanging out in another culture. I enjoyed the culture. </p><p>My latest interracial relationship started in 1998 and continues today. We dated for 5 years and we have been married after that. I have two interracial kids from previous relationships. Only in this longer relationship did we really delve into race stuff. Also, of course, I am older and maybe not so obvious I am more mature. We explored race together as part of a church mission group on racism. We read books and had discussions. We watched movies and went to workshops and other trainings. </p><p>As I spent time learning I threw myself into it. With the wealth of information I gained I was shocked by what I didn't know. I had long felt compassion and an intuitive understanding, but the evidence that was being distributed was overwhelming. The power of Black voices rising was inspiring and shocking for me. </p>Steve Mohrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18284868771152362138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24549792.post-33629523236125905672023-10-06T15:27:00.006-04:002023-10-06T15:31:36.318-04:00Black leadership scrutiny<p>I recently read a Post article about Ibrahim Kendi. It makes for interesting reading. There is also a NY Times piece along the same lines. I have had concerns any time one persons perspective gets too much exposure. We need a variety of thinking on these issues. The issue of racism needs lots of exposure but we have to have exposure of the different layers and experiences of Black people. I believe in gaining guidance from a Black anti-racist leader but some of these leaders are at risk of profiteering or even the look of profiteering. Likewise we need to consider different viewpoints in our group. It does NOT mean we automatically compromise and meet in the middle. I seek truth and truth doesn't meet in the middle. I hear many points of view from my Black friends on Facebook ranging from activists to preachers to Trump supporters. I have said before I tend to read articles which may or may not represent a lot of peoples view but it's not a long trip on a single perspective. Some of the perspectives are shared as video and some as simple as a meme. A lot of the ideas are fairly simple. The history is more complex. The ideas include simple ideas like love your neighbor, treat us like people, I don't want to talk about racism all the time, I'm human. </p>
<p>I tried to share a parallel to this idea in my teaching Sunday. We need to accept the truth that Black leaders share. There's something wrong. We need to hear that deeply. There is something we can do. We need to act with compassion. Even if we make mistakes the action tells Black people we're willing to operate in "dangerous ground". We're willing to expose ourselves to scrutiny. We're going to take a step today and another one tomorrow. Hopefully we won't have to step back because we went the wrong way, but we'll map our journey for others. We'll share our mistakes and our successes. </p>
<p>Others will be able to learn from our journey because we acknowledge and openly share our mistakes. I don't care who walked with Dr King 60 years ago. I care who is in the struggle today especially if they made mistakes before. They can share an understanding and some vital lessons. Our struggle is about life and the life-giving benefit of compassion for one another as Gods creatures. White people need to be given compassion and so do Black people. White people need to face justice individually and as a corporate body. Our white institutions also need to face scrutiny. Progress derailed within the last 60 years and white people by and large ignored it. </p>
<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/books/2023/09/28/ibram-kendi-stamped-center-antiracist-research/">Article about Kendi in WaPo </a><br><br>
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/05/opinion/ibram-x-kendi-racism.html">Article about Kendi in NY Times </a>Steve Mohrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18284868771152362138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24549792.post-43325705697156308452022-11-24T08:58:00.001-05:002022-11-24T08:58:11.929-05:00Ride in Raleigh - People who need to give up their driving licenseI went for a ride from my brothers house in North Hills area in Raleigh, NC. I chose a route that we took when we drove down from DC. There are a lot of multi-lane roads here and lots of cyclists ride on these big roads. I ride them when I come. The backroads are far from my brothers house and it takes too much navigating to use them. The other advantage is this route is fairly level. I hadn't been riding much and my legs are not up to climbing a lot. <br><br>I rode out about 8 1/2 miles and stopped to rest. My speed had been about 16 mph which is a little fast for me. It was a beautiful 65 degree day in November. I had some water. I turned around there and headed back towards town on the same road. When I was almost back home a car passed me with great speed IN MY LANE! I claim the lane so there was no room for him to pass. He missed me by an inch at great speed. I'm not one to exaggerate. He passed with such speed and wrecklessness I was shocked. I caught up with him at the next traffic light. He was older and seemed to be clueless as I was adjusting his mirror for him. He didn't respond to any of my rants. Wow. He needs to have his license taken away.Steve Mohrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18284868771152362138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24549792.post-10524185647207417662022-11-21T14:06:00.000-05:002022-11-21T14:06:11.645-05:00Bike PumpWhen we lived in Thailand my twenty year old bike pump died. I may have been able to revive it with parts, but nah! I decided to throw out some money for a brand new one. Twenty years was plenty of service for a vital device. Shopping in Thailand is difficult for hardware. There were a couple of bike shops, but to try to explain to the staff what we needed was a challenge sometimes. I remember going to the hardware store and giving up on something I was looking for. So, I brought my pump in and showed them it didn't work and they got the idea. They had a couple brands. One of them was a Chinese brand I recognized. So I bought it. I had it a week and it stopped working. The valve leaked. I went to return the pump which I had never used but they wouldn't give my money back. I was shocked. I ended up ordering adapters from Alibaba in China. I got 3 delivered for about $2. It's worked ever since 2018. Steve Mohrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18284868771152362138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24549792.post-19747188332193902362022-07-28T10:58:00.001-04:002022-07-28T10:59:53.546-04:00Comfort by Considering Seat and Handlebar AdjustmentsWhen it comes to riding a mechanical contraption we need to adapt the machine to meet the needs of the rider. The three places that can adapt and affect comfort are the handlebars, saddle and pedals. There are several ways to notice that something needs to change. There can be numbness, a crick in the neck or pain in various places. Most times an adjustment of the fit of the bike will help if not solve the problem. Sometimes the size of the frame is the problem. If you've got medical issues, the solution may be a special bike like a recumbent or upright bike. <br><br>
In this article I'm covering the options that are simplest. These options will cost nothing but time if you have tools or a few dollars if you take it to a shop. <br><br>
The saddle <br><br>
Most bike seats or saddles slide forward and back. You loosen the adjustment bolt and the seat will adjust position. This is a fairly minor adjustment but in combination with the other two areas it can contribute to overall comfort. <br><br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbWOMe2lDWPzPCvSlQyaN-x5M_NLdRNAlr1MXuFbW4pPtX3e30p0OyGYF-JZ7Bv7NpqoQoXUrhrQ5MZ1NMjla-CslNgSmUUOqxi9K81_at0lLnaAhv1x5bNo7TeSKnMaU1_4WpTzxmav3lEy72_idUx-XWs6VrilFaUldF3I_tyM8T6y55hhY/s850/bikeFrameParts.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="511" data-original-width="850" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbWOMe2lDWPzPCvSlQyaN-x5M_NLdRNAlr1MXuFbW4pPtX3e30p0OyGYF-JZ7Bv7NpqoQoXUrhrQ5MZ1NMjla-CslNgSmUUOqxi9K81_at0lLnaAhv1x5bNo7TeSKnMaU1_4WpTzxmav3lEy72_idUx-XWs6VrilFaUldF3I_tyM8T6y55hhY/s320/bikeFrameParts.jpeg"/></a></div><br><br>
The pedals/seat height <br><br>
When people are new to cycling there is a bit of fear in balancing a bicycle. We want to be close to the ground. Hence, we often lower the seat so that we're not so far from the ground. Then, if we fall, we won't hurt ourselves. This is great if you're a toddler. I recommend it. If you're not a toddler you want to keep in mind that your leg muscles are most effective when extended fully. Bent double a leg muscle gets probably a tenth of the power out of your leg. When we come to a hill on a traditional bicycle, we often find ourselves rising out of the saddle to power up the hill. That is an example of our intuitive response as kids. We know that standing up gives us power. As an adult we may need to relearn that. In lieu of always standing up to get power we can adjust the seat height which will allow our legs to extend fully without getting out of the saddle. <br><br>
With the proper frame size the seat height makes all the difference. It allows me to overcome most hills without leaving the saddle. Staying in the saddle also gives more stability to the ride. The adjustment of seat height is made by the bolt at the seat post at the top of the frame. You can look it up on youtube. I recommend the higher the better. You'll have to get used to it. I recommend practicing the new height for a while around your neighborhood. As you approach a stopping point come down from the saddle before the stop and stabilize. After a while this will become automatic. <br><br>
Handlebars <br><br>
There are two ways to adjust the handlebar position - forward and back is one method to adjust for comfort while up and down is another. There is lots of flexibility in adjusting the handlebar position. The stem rises from the frame and supports the bars. There are actually two parts: the stem and the stem extension. The stem adjusts vertical and the stem extension is available in different lengths. <br><br>
Sometimes when the bike frame is a little short we can raise the handlebars to create a comfortable ride. I usually prefer a saddle height equal to the bar height. Some might find it better is the handlebar is higher than the saddle. A lower bar height can also put more body weight on your hands. That can make your hands numb or have other adverse effects. <br><br>
When the bike frame is a little small you can adjust the handlebar forward by installing a longer stem extension on the frame. There is another option available to raise the bar position. There is a stem riser you can buy that will extend the vertical height of the bar position. <br><br>
Overall, these different options give you a lot of latitude in adjusting the bike to your body. If any of the three options is out of adjustment to your body, you may experience numbness in hands or feet, joint or nerve pain or neck pain. The saddle does not have to be padded. A saddle that has too much padding can cause chafing between your legs. That is not a happy experience. I find an equal balance of weight distributed between the saddle, bars and pedals makes a world of difference in enjoying a ride. <br><br>Steve Mohrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18284868771152362138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24549792.post-48048400101375514002022-07-09T23:49:00.001-04:002022-07-09T23:49:28.713-04:00Learning about some of the subtleties<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsSfZ2marmIYGdI70_H-p3hxx9ynqAHkBI3weD4uShgsj4CLJN17qFZtT6casVRSsISbcpKLlAEnGIXzVp_WKKrxX7aIpUUQde-qqSxsrH_POLioWB-sxdXRHJdLLLrE7s_rDrs-mwepZr16Gsbf8RNzwVA-DVgVwAyT0wzXazWjDPTTa-N_Q/s1080/bikeRideTGIFgroup.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="455" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsSfZ2marmIYGdI70_H-p3hxx9ynqAHkBI3weD4uShgsj4CLJN17qFZtT6casVRSsISbcpKLlAEnGIXzVp_WKKrxX7aIpUUQde-qqSxsrH_POLioWB-sxdXRHJdLLLrE7s_rDrs-mwepZr16Gsbf8RNzwVA-DVgVwAyT0wzXazWjDPTTa-N_Q/s400/bikeRideTGIFgroup.jpg"/></a></div><br><br>
During a previous ride with this group I bonked. Bonking is just running out of steam. It caused me to fade and crash in energy. I was able to complete the ride, but in terms of energy I was washed out. After reflecting on my day I realized that I had only had a sandwich for lunch. I needed more fuel for my machine.<br><br>
Two weeks later I rode, last Friday, with the same group. I drank some water just before driving over to the ride site. I brought an apple. I brought M&Ms. I ate a peanut butter sandwich just before departing for the drive. I completely replenished about 45 minutes before my drive over to the site. That fuel made all the difference. I was not in that much better shape, and I didn't bonk. I maintained energy and completed the ride.Steve Mohrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18284868771152362138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24549792.post-90178408657422376032022-05-28T08:04:00.000-04:002022-05-28T08:04:18.897-04:00Aging in the saddleI first experienced what relates to my age when I was in Thailand at age 60. I strained a muscle in my chest which effected my ability to climb hills on my bicycle. The act of standing in the saddle and pulling side to side on the handlebars hurt. I rested for a week or two. Then began recovery rides where I didn't strain myself and tried to overcome the pain. Then I had a back injury which effected me the same way. It was not a debilitating back injury but it impacted the comfort of my ride. I think between the two injuries I rode less for several months. At a younger age I wouldn't have had either injury because my upper body was a little stronger and more resilient.
Now I've had another minor injury from working my upper body at the YMCA. I did various weight machines for a total of 10 minutes, very few reps with small amount of weight. The next day I had this hot dull pain in my chest. The pain was bearable but extremely irritating. Of course I was concerned that it could be the sign of a more serious diagnosis like heart something. After a week of suffering I went to the doctor. They did an EKG just to make sure. Everything was fine. When I go for rides my chest is still sensitive. I know if I ride aggressively on a tough hill I will pay for it. Steve Mohrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18284868771152362138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24549792.post-17324558166756389622021-10-27T22:06:00.000-04:002021-10-27T22:06:28.592-04:00Ancient HistoryMy early days of cycling were 1961 when my parents got me a used 20" JC Higgins bicycle. I learned to ride a two-wheeler on that bike. The odyssey began. What I want to talk about today is some of the changes that occurred that modern riders may not be aware of. We wore leather and wool shorts for one thing. The crotch material we're all familiar with nowadays was not synthetic back in the day. The jerseys that are now spandex or some other synthetic were also wool. It was possibly even more expensive to ride in kit then than it is now. I can find a jersey and shorts in the thrift store today. In those days it was impossible. Of course when I was first riding long distances outside my neighborhood I didn't own a helmet either. I didn't have an odometer much less a speedometer. I was a poor rider who got parts from neighbors junk heaps. There was no GPS. I usually rode where I had previously ridden in a car. I might bring a paper map if I had one, otherwise I just asked directions.
All the bikes were steel frame and the shoes went into toe clips. A toe clip pedal was basically a strap around your foot allowing you to pull as well as push to propel the bicycle. My first shoes were BATA canvas shoes with a thick sole that was supposed to prevent numbness in the feet. Then I had a pair of Italian shoes with a name like Setto. They were leather and had a ridge where the pedal rib would help hold it in place.
I borrowed a helmet to participate in a race. It was a soft padded helmet. There was no hard skeleton. That's the kind of helmets they had in 1974. It was a different world. Steve Mohrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18284868771152362138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24549792.post-58425203333332228632021-07-05T00:37:00.002-04:002021-07-05T00:37:40.783-04:00As I rode on the route out to the far end of my route when I was about to turn around I saw a guy in the parking lot of the recreation area repairing his bicycle. He was sitting on the curb with the bike turned upside down in front of him. It looked like he had been there a while. When I came back thru about 10 minutes later he was still working on it.
I pulled over to where he was. He had pulled the chain apart for some reason. He had a big chain tool. The chain was broken apart but he had removed the whole link and the pin out of the link. I told him it was nearly impossible to reset the pin. He needed to take a bit more of the chain off and PARTIALLY remove the pin.
I finished the job in about 3 minutes with the chain together. He said he only spoke french but appreciate my help. He was a big Black man from an African country I assume. He couldn't tell me much, but I felt good helping a fellow cyclistSteve Mohrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18284868771152362138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24549792.post-25826710988962618542020-03-28T10:02:00.002-04:002020-03-28T10:03:14.650-04:00Motivation Nation<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">The transition from Thailand to the US has been very difficult. For once in my life it's about motivation rather than inclination. Motivation has been a challenge. There's so much struggle going on from various parts of life that I'm spending my effort treading water. The culture change was intense but that's just the beginning. We returned in order to take care of my parents who are in their 90s. I got a 3 month contract that paid decent money, but the follow up jobs are not happening. Then the coronavirus. Ha ha ha. So I've finally got some motivation and a decent route here in Northern Virginia. I am also re-evaluating my willingness to take on physical challenges. Some of these climbs are really steep. A steep climb in combination with a route that is just not pretty is a drag. I'm used to dealing with heavy traffic. I've dealt with angry motorists. I'm less tolerant of that as well. I used to get pissed and that helped me cope with a motorist cutting me off or honking loudly. Now I don't feel like dealing with the confrontation anymore. I want to ride without the bother. The trails are still annoying and too often crowded. I had a great route in Thailand - the combination of shade, a decent shoulder, somewhat respectable traffic, a scenic route and a challenge was perfect. I only had one such route but in my time of riding it was a masterpiece. Now I've got a couple of options. Roads here are tight with no shoulders. I've even been willing to ride on sidewalks, god forbid. Trails are really nice with underpasses and bridges at intersections. I can't race like I'd prefer but it's so nice to avoid traffic. First world is nice for cycling.
<br /></div>
Steve Mohrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18284868771152362138noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24549792.post-1128259561592134812020-03-04T14:22:00.000-05:002020-03-04T14:26:30.989-05:00Luck of the draw<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">A few years ago I rode with a longtime friend. He was inexperienced so we did a nominal route and it was a beautiful day... until we were just about home. My friend is apparently clumsy. When I signaled that he was getting ahead of me he glanced back and somehow went flying over the handlebars onto his head. It was terrifying for me to see. He was knocked out. I called an ambulance. Later his wife told me there was some brain damage. She's a psychologist so she is more in tune with that medical pathology. To me it was just scary to realize how quickly a nice comfortable ride could change. <br><br>Over my 58 years of riding (since 1961) I have been relatively fortunate especially considering I lived in dense suburbs near a big city for most of my life and rode motorcycles for 20 years. This friend was fairly inexperienced in riding, a few years older than me. We were not racing or doing anything especially dangerous. It was just an unfortunate event. It's been a few years now and we haven't talked about it since though we see each other all the time. I felt bad to be associated with that experience in his life. Since then I've ridden down huge hills passing cars without pedaling, ridden on Thai roadways jammed with cars, trucks, motorbikes and huge busses. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikcVpbMQLWl2dXupaoJxvJYCDxyQOAkiGOatAfN-agK6xwh1cqa1OJWHms-TMaUkjliUyJc1pky-9RuY4agvQqS7KhKwKjIWiLIcYn3cRifLRK5-6OAhl8qTknktRCTdl3aLSE3g/s1600/blur_0043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikcVpbMQLWl2dXupaoJxvJYCDxyQOAkiGOatAfN-agK6xwh1cqa1OJWHms-TMaUkjliUyJc1pky-9RuY4agvQqS7KhKwKjIWiLIcYn3cRifLRK5-6OAhl8qTknktRCTdl3aLSE3g/s320/blur_0043.jpg" width="240" height="320" data-original-width="1200" data-original-height="1600" /></a><br><br>At some point I will need to retire from my active sport and find something less dangerous. The thrill is not worth the risk at some point. I'd much rather retire with a good record than the alternative. I like my brain and limbs.</div>
<br /></div>
Steve Mohrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18284868771152362138noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24549792.post-11052451695615774702020-02-27T10:09:00.001-05:002020-02-27T11:12:53.290-05:00Danger on the road and dealing with age<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Pedestrian fatalies on US roads has increased by 50 percent in the last decade according to an article I'm reading (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/distractions-drinking-and-darkness-contribute-to-rise-in-pedestrian-deaths-report-says/2020/02/26/71a93408-58f0-11ea-9b35-def5a027d470_story.html">in the Washington Post</a>). In these statistics I believe bicycles are included as pedestrians. That is a significant increase in danger. I was hit once in 1970 and bumped in 2017. Those are my statistics of riding on the road. I take the full lane. It irritates drivers but they see me. That's where I find my safety which seems to work well considering the amount of riding on busy city streets I've done. I also ride all year and often at night. Since moving to Alexandria, VA I've been using their bike trails. I have NEVER liked bike trails so much. I always rode in the street. One reason is that it's illegal in most jurisdictions to ride on sidewalks. There are few trails, so it's hard to find a way to get anywhere. I tend to ride with a purpose to get to a destination. The trails I've used in Northern VA have served this purpose. Not only are they off the road for the most part but when they cross roads it often goes under or over the road so there's no traffic interaction. These trails also follow streams and creeks so the grade is fairly level. I have been very happy to use these trails altho I'd prefer they be a little wider.<br><br>The other issue I'm dealing with has to do with age. We returned from Thailand without my bikes. It took two months for our delivery to arrive that contained my bikes. Once the bikes were here I was living in a new very congested urban area with a lot of steep hills. The trail near our house had been destroyed by a flood in July. A good half or three quarters of a mile of the trail is unusable. All of it was the closest part of the trail to our apartment. I explored an area a little north/upstream and the trail was nicer. The problem was that when I rode at night there are four stream crossings. One I would have to dismount and carry my bike across in the dark. There were no lights. Others I could ride across, but in the dark it was precarious. My first adventure up that trail at night it had rained. There was 6 inches of swift flowing water on the pilons I was supposed to walk on. Not going to happen! I had to loop back and go the long way thru a neighborhood. Much later I found out that this area was the only area not repaired. Other than near our place the trail is in great shape.<br><br>That two months, plus the stress of acclimating to US culture and jobs and a new area to live took a heavy toll on my health and vitality. I have struggled with depression and lack of motivation. I have never been in worse shape. The last week or so I've really gotten back to riding form. I've ridden 30-40 miles this week, taken some hills, enjoyed the ride. I'm nowhere near the power I was it in Thailand but I'm now 62. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="http://www.mohrnet.com/images/thai/bike/xsanger/favbike066.jpg" width="250" /></div>
<br /></div>
Steve Mohrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18284868771152362138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24549792.post-5766590030934742412019-12-17T17:12:00.001-05:002020-02-27T11:13:41.133-05:00Two wheels can be dangerous<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Staying safe in foreign lands is a challenge in reading cultural traits such as safety and acceptable behavior. Besides my 55+ years of riding bicycles in the US and Thailand I have twenty years of motorcycling. Knowing your own inclinations and the bicycles behavior are in addition to what other vehicles do. I have spent a lot of time focusing on staying safe. At some point I will gracefully retire from cycling; hopefully it will happen prior to any serious accidents. I had a minor but terrifying bump while riding my bicycle when a motorbike passed too close. Then I experienced almost 3 years of problem free riding on motorbike and bicycle. The day we left I mentioned the period of safety and how each day I focused on keeping us safe. When I was young I took more risks. I was lucky. When you have a few scrapes you should at least have the common sense to temper your behavior.<br />
<br />
</div>
Steve Mohrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18284868771152362138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24549792.post-55068228791037017282019-07-22T12:43:00.000-04:002019-07-22T12:43:50.058-04:00Riding on the road - early horror<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
One of my early memories of riding on the road was riding with my father. We took a few rides with a group of neighborhood guys. There was a moment in that ride where I was next to dad while we traveled downhill increasing in speed. As I rode beside him I saw the front brake dislodge from it's position on the front fork. BOOM! He sailed through the air and landed flat on his back... I helped him to the side of the road and he laid there. I don't remember more of the details. We went to a house nearby where we called mom to pick us up. I don't know if dad went to the doctor or hospital. This was the days before helmets. He was lucky to not have hurt his head. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfJfvVFdFw_9KbReoPill3YdirFBt1xvedI0AthYykXUVqh58SK8DtH_30w6XUimFSCIlqk7ydUBvX13klHrZtlCEjjKauy4c7N-79k75bettPvkTWE6Vrr_5uXrsUUpK_bUHMVA/s1600/bike_9065.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfJfvVFdFw_9KbReoPill3YdirFBt1xvedI0AthYykXUVqh58SK8DtH_30w6XUimFSCIlqk7ydUBvX13klHrZtlCEjjKauy4c7N-79k75bettPvkTWE6Vrr_5uXrsUUpK_bUHMVA/s320/bike_9065.jpg" width="240" height="320" data-original-width="840" data-original-height="1120" /></a></div><br /></div>
Steve Mohrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18284868771152362138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24549792.post-2689331575184163592019-07-16T22:37:00.000-04:002019-07-16T22:38:40.066-04:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I think what I discovered in dealing with my Facebook bicycling group is that my bicycle group is very conservative. It is an international group of cyclists over 60. Someone had complained about the US flag being in the cover photo. The comments supporting the flag included that "it's not political", that they "love their country". I said of course it's political. There are people in our group that may hate our American flag. I said every flag is political. I posted the ISIS flag. I talked about free speech to post everything we are thinking about. That was it. In one of the trainings we had on racism the trainers said one of the signs of gentrification was bike shops. I was kind of shocked. I'm a bicyclist, but not the casual yuppie kind of cyclist. I go places. I do errands. I get exercise. I don't spend a lot of time cleaning it. I don't go out and buy the latest trendy thing. In light of my experience with this bike group I'm considering that the anti racism trainers were right. Bicyclists tend to be elitist. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNK8Pn0p9VjLd3uYkQLFTXU90ySLWmej2mM5_Guj7zBa1EOHNBujcXg_TaZsKfs3BV4KViAjWPfy84jTA91KoJOmkyVrPg9k_oPKjuXIcqAkj5Km1UGbRvGU7r3EXP__Psz500ww/s1600/IMG_8800.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNK8Pn0p9VjLd3uYkQLFTXU90ySLWmej2mM5_Guj7zBa1EOHNBujcXg_TaZsKfs3BV4KViAjWPfy84jTA91KoJOmkyVrPg9k_oPKjuXIcqAkj5Km1UGbRvGU7r3EXP__Psz500ww/s320/IMG_8800.JPG" width="320" height="213" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1067" /></a></div><br /></div>
Steve Mohrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18284868771152362138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24549792.post-57694223843449887032019-07-12T03:56:00.001-04:002019-07-15T00:47:29.213-04:00Gear: water bottleOne decision I made decades ago but didn't explicitly share here was how much plastic tasting water is nasty. Plastic water bottles were one of the first bicycle specific accessories I bought as a young rider. I was not a big drinker of the water but I liked to make sure I had it out on the road. I was a minimalist in gear on the road until I needed something and got stuck. Warm plastic tasting water and a tube repair kit were essentials even before I got a helmet. <br><br>After getting the water bottle I got a frame holder for it. Before the frame holder I carried the water bottle in a bag on my back. I tried putting ice in the bottle but the water turned warm pretty quickly. I stopped using the water bottle because it just tasted nasty, especially when warm. I did shorter rides. Eventually I got enough regular income that I upgraded to an insulated plastic water bottle. I bought a few of these and spent time adding ice to cold water but it still didn't last too long. I found a solution to the bad taste of plastic bottles finally about 10 years ago. I now use stainless steel water bottles.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7I46kDkM1_sI69ulIiPc90VDsN53LudKkks1y_t4csStOHIZMUpjeF8ruAhdNXtpuGzzxiS7-bdvCLfmwBZJLDV8UTbZgk51mJIoyWMPlJOaK_RMVpE-bVoVqB6LjeVHRRyR2vw/s1600/majorTaylor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7I46kDkM1_sI69ulIiPc90VDsN53LudKkks1y_t4csStOHIZMUpjeF8ruAhdNXtpuGzzxiS7-bdvCLfmwBZJLDV8UTbZgk51mJIoyWMPlJOaK_RMVpE-bVoVqB6LjeVHRRyR2vw/s320/majorTaylor.jpg" width="215" height="320" data-original-width="644" data-original-height="960" /></a></div><br /></div>
Steve Mohrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18284868771152362138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24549792.post-36371633360727016672019-07-10T20:34:00.000-04:002019-12-17T17:13:11.825-05:00A novice on the roads in Kathu?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
If I had not been a skilled cycling enthusiast prior to Thailand would I enjoy riding here? After each ride I am drenched in sweat. I carry two sweat rags, one in each hand. Both are soaked when I return home. Another method I use is to dip in the pool before my ride. The heat is oppressive. The humidity is high. The sun is brutal. Then there's the traffic with its noise, the lack of route options. This is extreme cycling. A novice cyclist would not do the route that I enjoy. I enjoy it because I have good shade probably half the route. There is an excellent section of flat wide pavement and a decent section of perfect country road with shoulders. To connect to the various perfect sections of road you have to run the gauntlet. I hate the noise of traffic. I hate cars whizzing by too close. I was warned early in my riding here by a motorbike who actually hit me. They pass too close. <br><br>A novice would have to contend with the noise. A novice would have to deal with the crowded streets and be prepared to get up before dawn and possibly ride in the dark to avoid the challenges of the climate here. A short ride would be enjoyable. If you have a car and transported the bike you could have some alternatives. There are ways to manage cycling here to make it enjoyable. There are some serious local road bike riders who take on the challenge. <br><br>Check out my route and pictures of my usual ride on my website linked below:<a href="http://www.mohrnet.com/images/thai/bike/BR01.htm">View site</a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_VbarjqvCsPYPnf_rQn4QzTc3dRiJQiJR4-W1EoSjTmRls8eyZd6IOMvcI914wvJ7TvfbCZhM46QzM-QoIL-4vW8xmD3jdtyZdLsopfDV9WtBD_Y_89R2PBFwTOxc6U7q2n_Cpg/s1600/FAVbikeRide_4371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_VbarjqvCsPYPnf_rQn4QzTc3dRiJQiJR4-W1EoSjTmRls8eyZd6IOMvcI914wvJ7TvfbCZhM46QzM-QoIL-4vW8xmD3jdtyZdLsopfDV9WtBD_Y_89R2PBFwTOxc6U7q2n_Cpg/s400/FAVbikeRide_4371.JPG" width="300" height="400" data-original-width="816" data-original-height="1088" /></a></div></div></div>Steve Mohrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18284868771152362138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24549792.post-55530085974504178832019-07-08T02:10:00.000-04:002019-07-09T06:51:00.430-04:00Electrolytes<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
As I struggled to recover from minor injuries I considered options for recovery and enhancing performance. I can barely keep hydrated so anything including getting enough fluids is an enhancement. I have not been disciplined about stretching either but I don't see this as a deal to help this situation. Hydration and electrolytes are definitely options that could help me. Here in the tropics I pour sweat like never before. For over a year it didn't impede my riding performance. I always avoided the hottest, sunniest part of the day. That seemed to work, but in combination with injury recovery I felt I needed to try some of the options I knew were low hanging fruit. So I tried electrolytes and hydrated a little better than I have in the past. Since the injuries have ceased to hinder me the only things holding me back were bad habits and the need for electrolytes since I sweat so much here. This improvement in my strategy seems to be making a difference. Two days ago I struggled and napped after the same bike ride. Today I feel stronger afterwards. I really sprinted a few times during my 22 mile bike ride. Another statistic was my elevation climb of 1890 feet for the ride. There's one stretch where the climb is 11%! Down that slope I reached 42 mph even without pedaling. I'm using a couple of phone apps to add some dimension to my portrayal of my experience. I have an app that measures my distance, elevation and various speed parameters called Runtastic. The slope measurement is done with Angle meter app. I've just begun using them and it's great to have. No need to buy a GPS or speedometer. I hope to use the history feature on the Runtastic app to see my cumulative progress.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitRX9CFjfA9lmSuI4js1oGTq_2pfsm8vubICLGZ_PnXVTPhsdJ6wlFQDLSHzaxsbhSdLnNfP7gsP8WNDVr90Ckz2lKU8eMHcX55staX5p7YyQ1M-PeaS-VDTYtqPQycjKhG4WlWw/s1600/foodBreakfastKetho.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitRX9CFjfA9lmSuI4js1oGTq_2pfsm8vubICLGZ_PnXVTPhsdJ6wlFQDLSHzaxsbhSdLnNfP7gsP8WNDVr90Ckz2lKU8eMHcX55staX5p7YyQ1M-PeaS-VDTYtqPQycjKhG4WlWw/s320/foodBreakfastKetho.JPG" width="240" height="320" data-original-width="1200" data-original-height="1600" /></a></div></div>
Steve Mohrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18284868771152362138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24549792.post-77145553355614619152019-07-07T06:44:00.000-04:002019-07-07T06:49:43.193-04:00Communication, Translation, Transliteration and Diplomacy<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Living in Thailand we are often learning new vocabulary or names. We make notes of the names of foods we like so we can order them again. We're always struggling with writing down words in our best effort to remember something. We also read menus and signs that attempt to represent Thai words and names. We also laugh when we English words spelled differently on different signs. It's not that they're spelled wrong, the issue is that you can't write it accurately in English. We don't have the same sounds in our language. We don't have the letters to accurately represent alternative sounds. Is there a difference between nuang and nueng? What about tun and tan? What we try to do is subject to constant mistakes. The notes we make are only rough equivalents. Even translating English to American we need a dictionary. We were talking to a British friend today and she was describing a baby shower. They decided to give the young mother nappies. "You can always use nappies", she said. I translated for Karen: diapers. That's just English to American. Imagine the challenges of entirely different languages. The Thai language has its' own alphabet, grammar and speaking practice. A letter can have different meaning when pronounced with different tones. It's like a long O versus a short O or a hard G and a soft G. In Thai, every syllable is pronounced in one of five tones: low, mid, high, falling, or rising. The tone must be spoken correctly for the intended meaning of a word to be understood. Since every word has a particular mandatory tone, we say that the Thai language has obligatory lexical tone.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-B7wvKcEQkcm4Z5cuxHZw4DTNkAJxxqi1jWzkVr7R0LyTFHZg6M7sU7WXCYe48Q_H6UOxkhpv0qz5J3d5r76BSWYUP9vVn7twlVnzhWM2nW2PXitdULD9iWlB0bkPWbvk_wq0yA/s1600/IMG_9328.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-B7wvKcEQkcm4Z5cuxHZw4DTNkAJxxqi1jWzkVr7R0LyTFHZg6M7sU7WXCYe48Q_H6UOxkhpv0qz5J3d5r76BSWYUP9vVn7twlVnzhWM2nW2PXitdULD9iWlB0bkPWbvk_wq0yA/s320/IMG_9328.HEIC" width="240" height="320" data-original-width="1200" data-original-height="1600" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg41IBGXzSoYfd0uQIyAjM2wXOKF1awzJ3F3EDOqNA-Moocc9tFKogAi03UivhnE4viRTKd4nFwW1pT70kUE500F8ZtekW_idQbJz2k7MujqIL5x6DrOZ8s5N5l-3J3z0yJGkOKqQ/s1600/IMG_9316.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg41IBGXzSoYfd0uQIyAjM2wXOKF1awzJ3F3EDOqNA-Moocc9tFKogAi03UivhnE4viRTKd4nFwW1pT70kUE500F8ZtekW_idQbJz2k7MujqIL5x6DrOZ8s5N5l-3J3z0yJGkOKqQ/s320/IMG_9316.HEIC" width="320" height="162" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="809" /></a></div><br /></div>
Steve Mohrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18284868771152362138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24549792.post-36549800449239746412019-07-05T00:40:00.000-04:002019-07-12T04:32:04.002-04:00Recovery complete<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I had a great bike ride. Recovery has been really slow at my age. I had two injuries and it's really kept me out of my groove for almost 6 months. In my life of riding this is unique. I've never been off the bike a week except on a very few vacations to China, Morocco, Yellowstone, Key West and Grand Canyon. Many vacations I've brought my bicycle. So this period of recovery has been excruciating and scary. The pain from the injuries was negligible. The fear in my mind is daunting. As I age, how will my body rebound from future injuries? My bicycling as exercise keeps me young. Injuries accelerate deteriorate my body. <br><br>Today, though, was amazing. I did my BIS ride in full all the way to the airport road and back. I realize from this recovery experience that my fitness was very high indeed prior to the injuries. Climbing these 10-11 degree slopes on the back of sustained 7 degree slopes really takes a lot out of me. It's a grueling feat to achieve. But I'm back. In this assessment I also came to realize that the sun takes a lot out of me. I do not consume enough water as a bad habit, but I may want to add electrolyte supplements to the 'good idea' list. I had been really discouraged by my slow rate of recovery and was doubting my ability to even recover fully. Now I just need to learn from my experience of recovering as an older person. I know it will take longer than when I was 10 years younger.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8KirpZCvNAr4MZ864Tip0CvueSsrcX_q196Tf9Yts_dQkEzCRFAY1qrWooBjfdjXG6Hb-GZK_Hpv9MIHI7zfGb9cYCC_K0M3QLGEgiI2rnbBTbA5PEk9WycT6qa0UJj7YQ1jQnQ/s1600/bikeOrangeKrate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8KirpZCvNAr4MZ864Tip0CvueSsrcX_q196Tf9Yts_dQkEzCRFAY1qrWooBjfdjXG6Hb-GZK_Hpv9MIHI7zfGb9cYCC_K0M3QLGEgiI2rnbBTbA5PEk9WycT6qa0UJj7YQ1jQnQ/s320/bikeOrangeKrate.jpg" width="320" height="240" data-original-width="600" data-original-height="450" /></a></div></div>
Steve Mohrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18284868771152362138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24549792.post-85733492259061214262019-07-04T01:09:00.000-04:002019-07-15T00:57:53.988-04:00Using slope app and bike ride data from phone<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I had been wondering about the steep slope on my Thai standard bike ride for a while. I had struggled with the idea of getting a carpenters level and measuring distances and calculating to arrive at a slope number. The slope on my bike ride is the steepest I can remember. The climb is not long but it is steep. I had looked around unsuccessfully at GPS apps that require subscriptions or that cost money. I would probably use this one time. It's mostly flat here but I wanted some record of the slope of part of my normal route. When I do the out part of the out and back route I do the big downhill portion. I can easily pass cars on the section of road without pedaling. The steepest downhill is maybe 1/8 mile ending in a hairpin curve. <br><br>I found that brief downhill to be 11% grade. That's about what I thought, but it's nice to know. On the other side going up it only registered 10% grade for the return portion. The return is part of a 617 foot climb in elevation. So the length and slope are somewhat significant for an 8 mile route one way. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSChSl0Xhvxyt5_BfIT8w9d3X3myE_gUXctXogkc85sLO1TTwCijdiaZaEu2Ard6s1RIpiXxcgxUCb1BnDdn04ONRaht5Jdk1x2ctlf9z2iGbvM4u53I40hEilXl2zpAcJWAgQvw/s1600/bikeShadow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSChSl0Xhvxyt5_BfIT8w9d3X3myE_gUXctXogkc85sLO1TTwCijdiaZaEu2Ard6s1RIpiXxcgxUCb1BnDdn04ONRaht5Jdk1x2ctlf9z2iGbvM4u53I40hEilXl2zpAcJWAgQvw/s320/bikeShadow.jpg" width="320" height="240" data-original-width="660" data-original-height="495" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0CgOJVUweQjBKjyxyY6TCRBKJj7xNKtnIPv58JRs3LY0Kznp8uINIv2qkzOTvZ5tFtFYNtPRSm_LllxpHit2pCMvKVy73Ev-u3Uv95QuUQzU1L9tdrhjBNopfjZuJNyvCAbJLpQ/s1600/runtastic.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0CgOJVUweQjBKjyxyY6TCRBKJj7xNKtnIPv58JRs3LY0Kznp8uINIv2qkzOTvZ5tFtFYNtPRSm_LllxpHit2pCMvKVy73Ev-u3Uv95QuUQzU1L9tdrhjBNopfjZuJNyvCAbJLpQ/s320/runtastic.jpeg" width="148" height="320" data-original-width="740" data-original-height="1600" /></a></div></div><br /></div>
Steve Mohrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18284868771152362138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24549792.post-8754943118267013322019-06-24T03:05:00.000-04:002019-07-04T01:12:07.461-04:00Freedom<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The on going debate about cyclists inconveniencing motorists, not wearing helmets, jumping red lights etc etc.....yawn.....zzzzzz.
The fact is that motorists drive under licence (generally) and are therefore subject to all the road relative statutes. They drive by privilege granted by the authorities.<br><br>
Cyclists however in a common law jurisdiction like UK ride on the queens highway by inalienable right under common law and are therefore not actually subject to the statutes. They are not obliged to wear helmets and not actually obliged to stop at traffic lights for the sake of it. All common law required is that we don’t cause harm to anyone.<br><br>
The definition of free is that we don’t answer to anyone but the one that created us, and we answer only to his law, Gods law. There is therefore no one with sufficient standing on this earth to issue you with a licence (permission). <br><br>
When we drive we generally accept (usually without realising it) driving under licence using the identification created by the government (the legal person) and therefore become the property of the state, who can then impose all manner of unreasonable impositions on us. And they do.
While your cycling your a free man. The moment you get behind the wheel your not, so belt up, don’t pick your phone up, and stop at that red light at 2 o’clock in the morning when there’s only you and mr fox out playing. I on the other hand on my bike will use my senses to determine whether I wait for green or not.<br><br>
I’m of to put my helmet on before I’m killed by some irate motorists.<br><br>Reg Dee from my Cycling over 60 group<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc8t9QNrvmJbytOXBtQdJMsIdhI-uwnOO7ODPLkOT8vNKu8_hyphenhyphen_FR1fxUYIrChNYG5tdALoliI6bVXKj1mxsghnUYcvYNm50s38Pvk0I9-8h5Pifn3qX_w0FNlNtsXhSRb_EcmRg/s1600/twoTired.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc8t9QNrvmJbytOXBtQdJMsIdhI-uwnOO7ODPLkOT8vNKu8_hyphenhyphen_FR1fxUYIrChNYG5tdALoliI6bVXKj1mxsghnUYcvYNm50s38Pvk0I9-8h5Pifn3qX_w0FNlNtsXhSRb_EcmRg/s320/twoTired.jpg" width="320" height="239" data-original-width="1024" data-original-height="764" /></a></div><br /></div>
Steve Mohrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18284868771152362138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24549792.post-15447413229415264882019-06-24T01:27:00.000-04:002019-07-04T20:36:45.149-04:00Growing old gracefully<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I went for a nice bike ride. It was 81° when I started and 85˚ when I got back. I'm recovering from a couple very minor injuries that kept me from riding much for 5-6 months. Age is a factor in both the capacity to function after the injury and my body's ability to recover strength and stamina. It took some mental work to allow for this recovery time. As a younger person I would bounce back, without a thot, to full capacity. Now I have to really mentally and physically wrangle with what I can handle. Here in the tropics heat is a huge factor although temps are moderated by the ocean air within 3 miles. It varies between 75-85 all year. The heat wouldn't be as big a factor if it wasn't for the searing sun. I grew up where humidity was high and heat occasionally went to 100 in the summer without the humidity index. Here near the equator we experience that sun more as it's almost directly overhead. I am nearly recovered to my full capacity now. I ride up a steep mountain so that tests my strength. I ride for exercise and enjoyment. After the mountain portion of my ride I circle the reservoir which has lots of shade, it's level and the scenery is gorgeous.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUQOduBL-ERaCPSIBFL_p9GWXxomfu7stdyS5DD8Xbl1hSHJKkQYIndTuUtN29SAmdiI9-joGlwhmn1hwSYuLxq0stayRrXjjHilN0xxW5rRrvu0spYdPWJIk8OEQh-KCsxooMBw/s1600/bikeGate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUQOduBL-ERaCPSIBFL_p9GWXxomfu7stdyS5DD8Xbl1hSHJKkQYIndTuUtN29SAmdiI9-joGlwhmn1hwSYuLxq0stayRrXjjHilN0xxW5rRrvu0spYdPWJIk8OEQh-KCsxooMBw/s320/bikeGate.jpg" width="283" height="320" data-original-width="815" data-original-height="922" /></a></div><br /></div>
Steve Mohrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18284868771152362138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24549792.post-60592372462408802982019-06-11T23:50:00.003-04:002019-06-11T23:58:40.480-04:00Have you worn out or totaled a bike?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I totaled a 1980 Austro Daimler Vent Noir after I had it for 15 years. I had just test rode another bike I was thinking of buying. I was coming down a big hill anticipating the climb ahead. I had a clear lane thru the intersection and a bus blocked those turning right. A car hopped out in front of me from behind the bus. I swerved left and missed that car. There was another car in the left lane. I swerved further left and missed that car and went head on into an oncoming truck. No helmet, but I was clipped in which absorbed the impact but it pushed my forks back which ultimately bent my frame in two places: top tube and down tube. <br><br>
Prior to that I jumped in front of a car on a left turn as a teenage. That impact bent the fork of my Schwinn Continental. I was able to bend them back and use the bike again.<br /></div>
Steve Mohrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18284868771152362138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24549792.post-14484601035720290322019-06-09T00:54:00.000-04:002019-07-09T06:23:57.581-04:00Advice to new or returning riders<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Someone asked about advice we give on bicycling:<br><br>If you're a new rider I have different recommendations than an experienced rider. The best lessons are those you learn yourself so get some experience before trying city riding. Ease yourself into road riding by spending time on trails. Ride with someone experienced for a while. They can give you tips on your local area. Make sure your bike is in good shape and you know how it operates. Know, for instance, that the front brake does more of the stopping, but if you rely on it too much it can throw you off balance. Know what it feels like to have things wear out or spend more and have someone maintain it for you. When parts are worn there are more hazards.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGvaoKL7i-4jqGdceZuhbkJOoDdpz3dknORbogEgSdR3swr01YtzFYvY93L0WnONNV-NbjzPQyBQP8xfU_c_dgGpZVHSX-EYffJRWuw2dKGtvqvx_5vuS_cCdhVs2jyBXuMsqtJQ/s1600/BagwadDam_9330.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGvaoKL7i-4jqGdceZuhbkJOoDdpz3dknORbogEgSdR3swr01YtzFYvY93L0WnONNV-NbjzPQyBQP8xfU_c_dgGpZVHSX-EYffJRWuw2dKGtvqvx_5vuS_cCdhVs2jyBXuMsqtJQ/s320/BagwadDam_9330.HEIC" width="320" height="128" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="639" /></a></div></div>
Steve Mohrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18284868771152362138noreply@blogger.com0