Memorial Ride
On Apr 7, 2016, at 4:53 PM, Edwin Crosswhite <ecrosswhite@cybermesa.com> wrote:
Two Thumbs Up!! Bob has done an exceptional job of organizing the “Support & Remember” ride today. I counted 140 riders so there were easily more than 150 people participating. The program was excellent and there was some press coverage. Be sure and check the local news today. (see links below)
Local News coverage of today’s Memorial Ride:
Click to view:
- Santa Fe New Mexican coverage
- Mayor Gonzales addresses the assembled group (video)
- KRQE News coverage
Memorial Ride Santa Fe Roundhouse.
We’ve Been Invited !!!!
The following from Brian K of Santa Fe Road Riders (SFRR).
“Thursday, April 7, is also the SFRR First Thursday happy hour. Through Bob Bogart I invited the SOBs to join us at Second Street’s Railyard location, beginning at 4 PM, as an expression of solidarity and support from the Road Riders. It may also give those unable to join the Memorial Ride due to the work day event schedule a chance to commune and express solidarity with the SOBs. Bob has graciously accepted our invitation on behalf of the SOBs. This SFRR First Thursday will no doubt be more of an open cycling community event so that Pedal Queens or other riding groups may feel free to join us.”
SOBs, please join in. Thursday April 7, 4pm, 2nd Street Brewery at the Railyard. See you there.
Guidelines for the Memorial Ride from Santa Fe Police Dept. (SFPD)
We will be leaving the Museum Hill parking lot promptly at 10 AM on April 7.
We will ride in one large group. There will be no late starters allowed. If you are not at the start when we leave, then you are not in the ride. There will be a lead motorcycle who will pace the ride based on the cyclists closest to the officer. We need to accommodate all rider abilities. The vast majority of the ride is downhill but most riders will not be used to riding in this type of procession. If you are near the front, keep it slow and safe so everyone can ride together.
There will be a trailing SFPD Community Service vehicle marking the back of the ride. If you are in front of that vehicle you are fine. If you are in back of the trail vehicle you are NOT in the ride. Do NOT attempt to pass the trail vehicle.
Besides the lead and trail vehicles there will be two additional motorcycles that will block the side and cross streets on a rolling basis. Once we have passed through an intersection, the motorcycle officer will then be passing the ride line to set up at the next intersection. Do not freak out if you see a motorcycle passing on the left.
If you have a mechanical. Pull to the right of the road safely. Get up on the sidewalk and deal with your issue. Do not try to rejoin the ride if the trailing vehicle has passed you. You may ride as a lone cyclist after the official ride has passed, if you so desire.
THE SFPD will block Old Santa Fe Trail (OSFT) for us to turn left from Camino Lejo (Museum Hill) onto OSFT. They will do a rolling blockade of all the side streets and cross streets as we travel down OSFT.
They will block Old Pecos at the merge with OSFT.
They will close off Paseo De Peralta so that we cross in one group.
Immediately after crossing Paseo we will be at the Roundhouse and we will turn left and dismount to walk our bikes on the sidewalk up toward the east side of the Roundhouse for a short program.
SFPD has requested that we ride REASONABLY close together. No large gaps in the group. It is totally acceptable, in fact preferred, by SFPD for us to ride 2 or 3 abreast on OSFT (Of course there may be traffic coming towards us so be sure to stay safely to the right of the double yellow). Riding two or three abreast will compact the group and shorten any road closures.
Of course, OBEY ALL DIRECTIONS GIVEN BY SFPD. They are providing us with the escort and we must be courteous and follow their instructions.
Megaphone needed for April 7
Anyone know where we can borrow one. Should be powered. Email admin@sfsob.cosine-santafe.com
Thanks.
New video on Tucson TV
Channel 11 in Tucson posted a video on Monday after Brian Lynch’s arraignment which has some new information. You can access it at tucsonnewsnow.com.
Toxicology Report on Tucson Driver
The Pima County Sheriff has received the toxicology laboratory report on Brian Lynch, the driver who caused the tragic crash in Tucson. The results were positive for methamphetamine and amphetamine.
Accident/Near Miss Reporting
To Enter and Accident or Near Miss Report click here: SafeBicyclingData.org
Tucson arraignment
The driver of the vehicle in Tucson will be arraigned on Monday, March 21. None of us need attend.
SRAM / ZIPP hub and quick release recall
Support and Remember Ride Poster
Jennifer created the Support and Remember Ride poster below, and it has been distributed to our local bike shops. You can download a small JPEG via this link or a full size JPEG via this link.
Tucson Driver Indicted
I received the following e-mail from Deputy Roher of the Pima County Sheriff Department:
Good Afternoon Mr. Mainland,
I issued the case yesterday with the County Attorney and this afternoon presented it to the grand jury. It was true billed. The next hearing I believe is Monday, the 14th. The case has been assigned to Judge Rash in Pima County Superior Court.The charges were2 counts Manslaughter1 count agg assault serious injury3 counts agg assault dangerous instrument4 counts endangerment1 count criminal damage1 count DUIWe are still awaiting a blood result. It could be as soon as next Tuesday.All 9 riders have been named as victims thus the endangerment charges.Let me know if there are any questions. I’ll let you know when we receive the blood results.Thank you. I hope the entire SOB Group is well.
Meeting Update, Sunday Ride
The board met before today’s general meeting. We made the following decisions:
Created Vice President position and Pam R has accepted that role. The VP (as normal) will fill in for the President if the President is unable to attend a board meeting.
Lynn P will be the acting Ride Director. I will assist her.
Approved April 7 Memorial Ride. Subgroup formed to help. We will invite all other local cycling clubs and organizations as well as Cactus Club to participate.
Bill P will update Judy’s status via email list. If you want to be on the list, email Bill or admin@sfsob.cosine-santafe.com and we will add your name. Good progress made today by Judy.
A/B and B/C SUNDAY RIDE
Start time changed to 10.30am due to start of Daylight Saving Time. Ride starts from Caja Del Rio Rec area. See this link for details.
Beware riding on OSFT
From SFRR Robert Mang. Just after noon today I was driving on OSFT where the construction has traffic down to one lane with lots of debris in the road. As I pulled up two paramedic vehicles were leaving. The flagman told me a cyclist went down and was being taken away in the paramedic truck. He wasn’t able to tell me if a car was involved in the accident. He only said it was a “road cyclist”.
I drive on this section of road often as it’s near my house, and I would recommend to all cyclists to AVOID OSFT while all this construction is going on. There is zero shoulder, lots of rocks in the road, construction vehicles…it’s a total mess.
Notes to our email regarding Tucson accident
Here is a collection of notes that we have received at the club email. They are in chronological order from oldest to newest. (Note, I have removed last names and email addresses to protect folks privacy.)
From: Sandy H Subject: Tucson Tragedy Dear friends, I am horrified and saddened by yesterday's tragedy. My condolences to the family and all the SOB community. Best, Sandy H Cambridge Valley Cycling Cambridge, New yourk Hi folks, My name is Cynthia and I was your shuttle driver in Sabino Canyon. I am so sorry to hear on the news about the devastating accident that happened here. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you. Cynthia
From: Diane P Subject: Sad news I just read about the horrific accident here in Tucson. I , too, am a cyclist and have always felt there was safety in numbers--apparently not. I'm writing to offer any assistance I can to the remaining riders. I have a spare bedroom I'd be happy to share. I reside in Marana, just about Turcon. Diane P
From: Kate G Subject: Judy C Hello, I have heard about the tragic accident involving your bicycle club in Tucson. My thoughts are with all of you. I heard Judy C was on the trip. Is she the critically injured Judy? If so can you let me know any details or an appropriate person to contact. I am her room-mate on a Bicycle Adventure Club trip in Argentina iin April. Again. I can't imagine the horror you all must feel over the senseless injuries and loss of life . Kate G
From: Patrick M Subject: condolences I just wanted to express my condolences to your membership regarding the horrible tragedy that happened this week in Tucson AZ. Words can't describe the sorry I feel when someone is killed or injured while out doing something so wholesome as cycling. My thoughts and prayers are with you. God bless, Patrick M longtime cyclist.
From: Lara S Subject: crash in Tucson Just wanted to send out my condolences to you all for the loss of Clare Rhoades. This accident happened right down the street from my place of work and it weighed heavy on the hearts of many customers. It is all people talked about. I am so sorry to your club and her family. Please know that you all are in my prayers.
From: Ruth Ann G Subject: Tucson crash As fellow bicyclists, we extend our condolences to your entire community. We are extremely saddened that this could have happened at all, let alone just four miles from our home. Our prayers are with all of you. Tom and Ruth Ann G Oro Valley, AZ
From: Khalil S Subject: Condolences and wishes Dear SoB's Please accept my condolences for the loss of Claire Rhoades and get well wishes for Judy C. I don't live in Santa Fe and am not retired yet, so will be at work on Thursday. But my heart will be with you all. Khal S Los Alamos BCNM Board Member
Santa Fe bicyclist remembered as dynamic adventurer
For those who didn’t see it, Fridays New Mexican had this article:
Judy C
Barb and I visited Judy today (Saturday). She is still in ICU but plan is to move her out of ICU today or tomorrow. Her sister is here. Judy is doing as well as can be expected under the circumstances. They put a new pin in her arm where the old one was and a plate in her pelvis. Her hip is OK. Her neck is stabilized but from all indications not broken. All her limbs move. We chatted for awhile but she needs lots of rest. Plans for rehab and return to SF are still pending. She may be in Tucson awhile.
Crash update
DUI driver held on 1.5 million bail. Link to story.
SOB Membership meeting
To continue processing our loss, we will have an open membership meeting on Thursday March 10. Location TBD. We will post location soon. Time 10.30 am in place of normal ride. Any and all may speak and share. Richard Hughes, Clare’s husband will join us. Please attend.
Richard has shared the following message with us via Lynn Pickard who confirmed that we could share it.
Lynn–I very much appreciated hearing from you, and your very kind thoughts. Wholly apart from my loss, which is profound, I feel so sorry for the SOBs, and how terribly they must all feel. I am especially concerned about Judy, as Lore told me that she was also seriously injured in the accident.
Clare was an amazing, larger-than-life woman. Biking with the SOBs had become one of her greatest loves. It would be nice if some day when we have begun to get past this grief I could spend some time with the SOBs, just to let them know how much they meant to her. And I wish you the very best in your recovery, and hope that you will be back on your bike in due time. Thank you again. –rwh
Further we have heard that Judy had surgery for hip and arm fractures today, but that her neck is not of great concern per the ER nurse.
Tucson Crash Update
- Lead story in today’s Santa Fe New Mexican:
2. Update on hospitalized rider:
Judy C. is undergoing surgery at the moment (late Friday afternoon) and we will let you know of her condition, when she is able to speak for herself.
Sad news
A number of SOB riders were in Tucson and were involved in a bad accident. 1 SOB was killed. 1 rider from Tucson was killed. 1 SOB is in critical condition in the hospital. 2 were treated and released. We cannot release names at this time.
UPDATE: Driver arrested in deadly accident involving bicyclists – Tucson News Now
March time change reminder
Rides for both Tuesday and Thursday now start at 10.30am. Thursday rides start at 599 RR Sta. Tuesday the usual, DeVargas.
Bike Buying Guide
New bike this season?
Bike Buying Guide 7 minutes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9mzy4lg2A0
Gravel Bike vs. Road Bike 8 minutes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKMVsMqaErs&list=PLUdAMlZtaV12TworwtNz8gIhGit_4Glfj&index=69&feature=iv&src_vid=I9mzy4lg2A0&annotation_id=annotation_1230270863
Is Road harder than Mountain? 6 minutes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBs5_Yf2hrg
Efficiencies pedaling, crank length, Oregon
In 2015, U of San Francisco sponsored a symposium, Medicine of Cycling, Bike Fit Conference. Following are interesting précis on our most asked questions re pedaling rate, crank length, and pushing versus pulling pedal technique. Papers presented are on line at http://www.ucsfcme.com/cycling/bikefit/
The University of California, San Francisco Office of Continuing Medical Education educational opportunities for physicians and allied health care professionals to improve their abilities as practitioners by way of a comprehensive selection of CME activities. UCSF offers over 200 activities each year in all medical specialties serving over 35,000 annual course participants.
Myths and Science in Cycling, John McDaniel, PhD, Kent State University, Jim Martin, PhD – U of Utah Steve Elmer, PhD- Michigan Tech
Summary: Pedaling Rate
For non-competitive cyclists ≈70 rpms is the most metabolically efficient
Cyclists pedal at higher rates to Minimize recruitment of fast twitch fibers, Reduce muscle fatigue, Improve blood flow in the legs
Physiological adaptations with training allow elite cyclists to pedal at higher rates with less neuromuscular fatigue.
Summary: Crank Length and Maximum Power
Small effect
Significant only at extreme lengths
170mm cranks compromise power of the tallest and shortest riders by no more 0.5%
No change in joint power contributions
Summary: Pedaling Technique
Elite cyclists DO NOT pull up more than regional level cyclists
Pulling up is significantly LESS efficient! 7.4% LESS power for same VO2 than preferred pedaling technique
Pedaling is a basic leg extension / leg flexion action likely hard wired in the spinal cord
Oregon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ry9g0iwIsdA
Frozen Four
Four of us braved the cold of ElDorado this morning, Jim, Edwin, Gary, me. Tried to do the loop and sorta succeeded. Never really warmed up till the hot shower. Should be warmer this weekend.
Cycling Brain Injuries
Bill Pollock shares a most interesting article in Bicycling magazine under their Health and Injuries section. We provide the following précis and link to the full article.
http://www.bicycling.com/training/health-injuries/the-truth-about-cycling-and-brain-injuries
BY IAN DILLE FEBRUARY 11, 2016 CTE chronic traumatic encephalopathy
Cycling and Brain Injuries. Doctors weigh in on how likely it is for the average cyclist to experience major brain trauma.
Repeated head impacts, has been associated with impulse control problems, depression, and progressive dementia. Some cyclists worry if they risk CTE. Steve Broglio, director NeuroTrauma Researcher U Michigan, and a masters category bike racer, “concussions are not so different from other bodily injuries if given time to heal properly, athletes can expect a full and complete recovery… CTE becomes a danger when the brain is repeatedly impacted, especially in an already-injured state… effects of CTE can be blown out of proportion… precautionary measures assist in diagnosing and treating injury… for those at higher risk, racers, freestyle riders, or cyclists who’ve previously had a concussion, USA Cycling recommends racers have the SCAT2 or ImPACT cognitive baseline tests administered by a medical professional prior to the racing season. By determining baseline cognitive function prior to a head injury, doctors can better diagnose a concussion, and make sure the cyclist is fully recovered prior to resuming riding.
As for avoiding a concussion in the first place, Broglie… while traditional bike helmets generally do a good job of protecting our skulls, they do little to lessen the rotational forces in a crash responsible for brain injuries. A number of helmet makers now include special liners, like the MIPS Brain Protection System, that claim to lessen the impact of rotational forces in a crash and reduce the potential of a concussion.
George Gamble recovering
Hey Judy and all other SOB’s,
The surgery on Feb. 8 lasted for eight hours. They found more things to
clean up than expected. The consequence of such a long surgery was my heart
went into afib so after the surgery they sent me to the cardiac unit. I’m
now on beta blockers but have not had any heart problems since. We were
released from the hospital on Feb. 12 and drove to Greeley to Dee’s sister.
Yes we are in very good hands for a recovery. Getting the pain under
control was a bit of a trick, but I have been walking outside for three
days so I am getting stronger every day. We will probably be here until
the end of February after being cleared by the doctor and having 14 inches
of staples removed. We should be back in Santa Fe by March 1. Probably I
won’t be riding until end of May or June. In the meantime hope you all
have a great, fun, and safe riding season. My best wishes to all.
George
Humor, Frame Build, Pikes Peak
Hill match
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Aaxd_SkB9c&feature=youtu.be&t=30
Cool down
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajTlrocKwGM
Acceleration
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTf9iVxAF4I
Rowing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pReHYXCGABI
Toyo frame build 4 min
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yYSuICJx7s&ebc=ANyPxKrTUOzxmrLtrR3Vbrgq3dGAxQKVYctixSEwOz3bH-qCj_INvP0jJp7Gb3g8cBhPnVOg4wV8XzqKiLjmDup_AF0J_LboDg
Pikes Peak 9 min
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NECDeWhpL8
Posting of ad hoc rides
Folks are starting to post their ad hoc rides. That is great.
Three things to note. First, in order for emails to go out listing the ride, you have to check off the proper event category (road or off road) AND select the proper Group under Group Ownership. If you do not pick a group then NO emails go out. (The ride will be listed in the ride calendar, but no emails will be sent.) It is a pull down, just click it and you will see a choice of Social, Off-Road, and Road. This is covered in the Help section if you want to review it.
Second, emails can take up to 24 hours to go out. So if you are posting a Saturday ride, Thursday is kinda the latest day to get a good response. (This is because the default email setting is once a day, and the day is set by when the person signed up for the group, not a fixed time of day. So, for example, if someone signed up at noon and you post a ride at 1pm (Not the start time but the time you post it) their email won’t go out until noon the following day. TMI?)
Third, if you want people to sign up for the ride, or just indicate they plan to attend, then check the box under Bookings/Registration to “Enable registration for this event”.
EVERYONE: If you click into an event (you can see what it looks like if you click the Traffic Skills event) just under the location map you will see “Join the Ride”. All you have to do is click “Send your booking” and you are signed up. (This assumes you are logged into the site. If you are not logged in, you can either login or register by entering your information and then clicking “Send your booking”
SOB’s at the Roundhouse Rally
A bunch of us showed for the rally today, Lynn, Rich and Deb were there too but missed the photo. It was pretty much dominated by motorcyclists. Not sure why BCNM wanted to mix it up. The moto men and women were very courteous. Riding was gorgeous. Should be nice all next week as well.
Chute, Bars, Truing
For those planning a Mt. Lemon ride in Tucson. Ed Rios an engineering friend designed a tandem parachute. Tandem rim heat can reach 400 degrees on long descents. Tires have been known to fail at 350 degrees. Tucson long bike riders Bob and Clair Rogers on Zippy testing the drag chute. 2 min
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztLtiyC6qMQ&feature=share
Gibbs Flat versus Riser Bar 8 min
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTQbmXwiavo
Canadian Wheel truing, eh? 6 min
Message from Mark
A Message from Mark Warchol
This message is to inform you that I have successfully completed the American Red Cross course in First Aid/CPR/AED. I am now certified by the American Red Cross in First Aid/CPR/AED. For all of the rides in which I participate I will have my First Aid and CPR supplies with me. Therefore, if I am in your riding group and First Aid and/or CPR is required, do not hesitate to alert me of this need in order that I can provide medical assistance.
HR Final Remarks and 5 videos
Dr. Mirkin -“Maximum heart rate depends on the strength of your legs, not the strength of your heart… the Bainbridge Reflex” http://www.drmirkin.com/fitness/9156.html
The basic M2 watch monitor uses the American College of Sports Medicine formula for their computer algorithm 207 minus (0.7 X Age) But as Dr. Mirkin explains, the result is only an average or base line. My max HR computed to 159.4 is not accurate. In the past we needed to fudge the data when entering age to accurately set less expensive monitors. An impressive feature of the M2 allows one to reset their known max HR manually overriding the algorithm, very cool. HR is used to calculate caloric expenditure and three basic training zones. After the ride one button allows quick scrolling through your information. During the ride with a quick glance it is easy to see the basic training zones. 60-70 percent of max is zone 1, for me up to 127 HR, 70-80 percent is zone 2, up to 145 HR, which for me is maintaining current conditioning a.k.a. tempo. 80-90 percent of max HR is zone 3, the feeling spunky mode. And as one’s conditioning improves it is quite simple to reset max HR… darn it, that means I have to memorize three new zone numbers, almost no muss, no fuss.
The Humble Quick Release 5 minutes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hcq-PwYj3TE
3D Stainless 2 min
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pa4m9JwGzlA
Breezer 5 min
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Zph8tcxTqI
Over the Quaremont 5 min
https://vimeo.com/153690114
Women’s World 5 min
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53vpY6CsH1I
Eldo Loop Rides
Is your 40 degree rule actual temp or feels like temp?
I prefer “feels like”, which includes the “wind-factor”. Warmer permits a quicker warm-up, vasodilation Wiki- ”blood increase due to a decrease in vascular resistance, healthy decrease in blood pressure, intrinsic due to local processes in the surrounding tissue or extrinsic due to hormones or the nervous system. Importantly, the response may be localized to a specific organ depending on the metabolic needs of a particular tissue, as during strenuous exercise, or it may be systemic seen throughout the entire systemic circulation.” In other words, less chance of “stripping a gear”, tearing muscle tissues with strenuous exercise, a.k.a. good stress.
Temps are steadily climbing over the next week, so prognosis looks good. Eldo Loop rides for the coming week are afternoon jaunts from RT (Rail Trail) and Avenida Vista Grande Road parking. Anyone welcome, contact fsg@email.arizona.edu if you wish to hook up as a couple of us will be testing the Galisteo Basin Trails later in the week rather than the paved Eldo Loop jaunt.
A reminder that a small lunch, less than 500 calories for example, a couple hours before afternoon exercise is appropriate for maximum training efforts of one to two hours. A small lunch will kick the metabolic blood sugar up enough so as not to risk bonk, at the same time allow for some fat burning depending on one’s pace or effort.
Dan Potter Eldorado photographer. Double click on photo to enlarge. Quite beautiful.
Bicyclists — Rally for Bike Safety in NM on Feb 13 at State Capitol Roundhouse – 12.15 pm
This message from Bicycle Coalition of New Mexico (BCNM) via Lynn Pickard. Saturday Feb 13th is Bicyclist & Motorcyclist Day at the Legislature in Santa Fe. Please stand with us.
Calling all bicyclists to Make your Voice heard at a Rally at the Roundhouse!
Meet at Bike N Sport, 524 W Cordova Rd, Santa Fe, NM 87505, at 11:15 am February 13, 2016, for free pizza and drinks, courtesy of BikeABQ and BCNM.
Ride to the NM State Capitol Roundhouse, 490 Old Santa Fe Trail, Santa Fe, NM 87501 led by BCNM board members for a rally with motorcyclists, starting at 12:15.
BCNM will provide information on Complete Streets and NMDOT’s fatal policy of Partial Paving for cyclists to leave at her/his legislator’s office, preferably with a note that she / he would like to meet after the session ends.
More information on Partial Paving in NM is at http://www.bikenm.org/posts/3 and Complete Streets at https://www.facebook.com/CompleteStreetsInNewMexico/ or http://completestreetsnm.org/.
Please wear your SOB, BCNM, BikeABQ, or TORGV gear!
Questions? Call Diane Albert at 505.235.2277 or e-mail info@bikenm.org or Lee Ratzliff at 505-659-5569 or leeann@bikeabq.org.
Annual SOB Group Ride from Sept 6th to Sept 10th, 2016.
Annual SOB Group Ride from Sept 6th to Sept 10th, 2016, from Judy.
I am proposing a ride from Santa Fe back to Santa Fe this coming Sept.6th to the 10th.
Lynn Pickard suggested it and I think it will be fun to stay in our State and
experience some cycling right in our own back yard. Please let Judy know if you are
seriously interested. j.costlow@gmail.com or 505-820-1036
Tuesday, Sept 6th, we start from the Glorieta Exit and ride the frontage road to Las Vegas
about 45 miles.
Stay at the Las Vegas Plaza Hotel
Wed Sept 7th -ride to Sipapu about 55 miles – good climb on Holman Hill
Stay at Sipapu Lodging
Thursday, Sept 8th, ride to Taos about 35 miles – good climb up US Hill
Stay at Sagebrush Inn
Friday, Sept 9th, ride to Ojo Caliente about 40 miles on Rim Road with a little climb
Stay Ojo Caliente Resort
Saturday, Sept 10th return to Santa Fe about 56 miles- good climb from Tesuque home!
5 riding days and about 231 miles total give or take a few
Mental Health
Jim would like to share the following. There are some interesting statistics in their included link to the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors.
From Jim:
We spend so much time worrying about the physical health of our senior loved ones that we end up neglecting a key element affecting their overall well being–their mental health.
The CDC notes that 20 percent of people 55 and older experience “some type of mental health concern,” but mental health issues are widely “untreated or under-treated” among seniors. It saddens me to think that our seniors so often feel lonely and forgotten. http://www.cdc.gov/aging/pdf/mental_health.pdf
My wife and I created ElderAction http://elderaction.org/ after we began noticing the decline in mental health of our ailing parents. We’ve worked hard to help our parents be as happy and fulfilled as possible, and we’re hoping to provide other seniors and their loved ones with the support they need to make the most of their golden years.
I’d love to provide tips and advice on how we can help improve the mental health of the nation’s seniors in an article for santafesobblog.com. I’ll include resources and research so that seniors, loved ones, and caretakers will be better prepared to offer seniors the mental health support they need.
If this offer interests you, please let me know.
Sincerely, Jim Vogel – jim@elderaction.org
www.ElderAction.org
I took the liberty of adding a brief search on aging and exercise studies. Steve
“We do not yet know for sure what the causal relationship between physical activity and depression is like. What is clear is that elderly people who are physically active are less depressed, but higher levels of depression can also lead to less exercise, and this suggests there is a mutual influence,” Dr. Magnus Lindwall, associate professor in exercise and health psychology at the University of Gothenburg. http://psychcentral.com/news/2011/11/02/reduce-risk-of-senior-depression-with-exercise/30983.html
Exercise Compared to Antidepressants: Blumenthal and colleagues carried out a randomized controlled trial to establish the effectiveness on depression of an aerobic exercise program (3 supervised exercise sessions per week, in a group-setting) compared to sertraline (50-200 mg) or combined treatment (exercise plus sertraline) on a sample of 156 depressed volunteers aged 50 years (mean age 57 years). After 16 weeks of treatment, all groups exhibited statistically and clinically significant reductions… Patients receiving medication alone and mildly depressed patients receiving combined treatment exhibited the fastest initial response; however, at the end of treatment, exercise was equally effective in reducing depression. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3758953/
Number One Anti-Aging Medicine “If exercise could be put in a pill it would be the number one anti-aging medicine and the number one anti-depression medicine,” Dr. Robert N. Butler, President of the International Longevity Center, at Mount Sinai Medical School in New York City. “It’s also cheap, and it avoids problems such as the side-effects of medication.” http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Depression/story?id=117946&page=1
The following article in The American Journal of Epidemiology http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/content/156/4/328.full concludes with an extended list, that can be accessed on line, of other aging and exercise articles similar to the following five.
The reciprocal relationship between physical activity and depression in older European adults
Evid. Based Nurs. (2012) 15 (4): 125
Exercise and social support are associated with psychological distress outcomes in a population of community-dwelling older adults
J Health Psychol (2012) 17 (6): 833-844
Physical activity among older people and related factors
Health Education Journal (2012) 71 (2): 144-153
Don’t Worry, be Active: Positive Affect and Habitual Physical Activity
Aust N Z J Psychiatry (2011) 45 (12): 1047-1052
The Association Between Midlife Physical Activity and Depressive Symptoms in Late Life: Age Gene/Environment Susceptibility–Reykjavik Study
J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci (2015) 0 (2015): glv196v1-glv196
Update HR Choice
Well, I looked and looked, reviewed and reviewed, and couldn’t make a decision. As I was falling asleep one evening wrestling with choice turmoil, even considering phooey, maybe I really do not need a HR monitor any more, all of a sudden I remembered the Finnish engineering firm Suunto that makes very high quality compasses, clinometers, GPS and other instruments. I’ve used a few of their instruments over the years and was impressed with their engineering standards. Hopped out of bed and went to the web site. Interesting, because in all previous searching for HR and calorie monitors and counters Suunto never came up, go figure. They have sport HR instruments up to $500 and darn me if they do not make a simple two button HR monitor and calorie counter with a large dial for less than a hundred bucks. Well, don’t that beat all. Exactly… almost my preference with one compromise; have to use a chest strap, but that means I can wear the monitor over sleeves for easy reading. So I ordered the basic M2 for $77 and we shall see.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ED65uEZhf_M#t=58.769698308
Caution descending 73 from Monte Sereno to TVM
We rode this last Saturday. About half-way down from Monte Sereno to Tesuque Village Mkt on county rd 73 there is a pile of hardened cement and rock right on or close to the white line dividing the road and the bike lane. It is hard to see and when you ride over it, the bike gets quite a jolt. If you are not careful you could go down at 30 mph. Given all the gravel in the bike lane you are more likely to be near or over the white line. Be careful.
Cycling’s New Scandal is a Motor – from The Wall Street Journal
Interesting article from Jason Gay, Wall St. Journal.
Cycling Photographer, Japan Ride Videos
Cycling photographer 9 min
Japan 2.5 min
Recent Rides – Wind forecast overblown
Today, the 30th, 7 of us (Brigitte, Alan, Paul, Mark, Barb, Janet, me) started from CoG and rode up to Tano and back. The predicted wind storm did not develop; at the top of Tano it was virtually dead calm. Total of 26.5 miles, 1500 ft climbed, 14 avg
On the 23rd we had 10, J&J, Alan, David, Mark, me, Barb, Janet, Diane, Litz. We started from Caja and it was pretty chill but we managed to warm up. Finished with 22 miles, 2000 ft climbed, 13.5 avg. Jim K had his GoPro and filmed part of the ride. You can see it below or click here (for as much as you can stand of people riding their bikes).
New Mexico Legislature Petition to make driver’s who injure cyclist’s face mandatory license suspension and fees for injuries. Please add your name
All you have to do is click on the link, and if you can, pass the word on to like minded others.
It is way overdue that law enforcement, drivers and even the media reporting cycling accidents take it more seriously. They almost always automatically blame the bike rider by the way they investigate or report the incident.
We all know people who have been injured by irresponsible motorists. Please sign the petition, hopefully it will help bring the problem to the attention of people who work on the rules.
Below is the link to the petition, please add your name. NM Petition regarding motorists who injure cyclists
Thanks to Nancy Balcer for bringing this to my attention.
HR Calorie Monitor
My inexpensive, $40 on sale, heart rate (HR) and calorie monitor gave up the ghost after three years. I’ve spent several hours reading dozens of reviews on dozens of units and I am totally impressed with the amazing new technology. Monitor choices and functions are almost ridiculous as are prices $30 to $300? I like the calorie function, because it helps me honestly track what I burn on a ride. I may think I burned 2,000 calories when in fact I burned only 600, so no, I do not need to consume a 1,000 calorie gooey bar half way through a ride or an extra helping of lasagna at dinner… I hate that calorie counter 🙂 It is also useful on extended events, centuries, in helping decide when to consume at least part of the gooey bar. As expected marketing is geared to young technology savvy folk, “… will turn the heads of everyone in the gym.” Oh yeah, that’s on the top of my list, macho gazpacho, as I recently read elsewhere, but that is another story. Red Sparrow by Jason Matthews
Two deal breakers on my list. One, I will compromise, but I do not need to record four heart zones, altimeter readings, ten different lap counters, iPhone connectivity, three computer apps, V02 consumption, nor the ability to send workout results to everyone in the gym. Two, I really want to get rid of the chest strap and purchase a wrist-only monitor. One very clever HR unit has a pad receiver placed inside the bike helmet or running hat contacting the forehead. The Israeli army uses this technology.
Darn it, there is always a catch, necessity to contact skin. In the winter I wear the wrist monitor over my glove or sleeve, in summer ditto, long sleeves to limit sunscreen chemicals. Wrist only monitors need to skin contact to register arterial dilation, HR blood flow changes. Pulling up my sleeve to view the monitor is acceptable during my riding with one exception. A couple or three times a week when my body allows me to push intensity level for a maximum HR I very much prefer to keep both hands on the handlebars with only an expeditious glance to the wrist.
During my latest learning curve I come across a health professional that may be of interest to some of our group. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RC2W-DF36bc Dr. Mercola is board-certified in family medicine, osteopathic physician a.k.a. DO. Osteopathic physicians practice a “whole person” approach, treating entire person focusing on preventive health care, developing attitudes and lifestyles. An American College of Nutrition (ACN) Fellow, his stated motivation is healthy as one can be, providing up-to-date natural health information and resources, and exposing corporate, government, and mass media hype that diverts away from what is best for health. Two example articles.
Women May Burn More Fat by Eating Before Exercise; Men by Eating After by Adam Collins, Ph.D. nutrition consultant and senior lecturer in nutrition at the University of Surrey… participants took part in three fitness classes a week (high-intensity training, Zumba and spin class). Women burned more fat overall than men, but women who consumed a carbohydrate drink prior to exercise burned up to 22 percent more. Men who consumed the carbohydrate drink after exercise burned up to 8 percent more fat. The discrepancy has to do with body’s preferred fuel source. Men have more muscle, where carbohydrates are stored, their preferred fuel. Women burn fat more readily to conserve carbohydrates. http://fitness.mercola.com/sites/fitness/archive/2016/01/22/eat-before-exercise.aspx
Journal of Applied Physiology study, those who cycled for 40 minutes, alternating four-minute bursts at 90 percent effort with two minutes of rest, improved their cardiovascular fitness by 13 percent, and were able to burn 36 more fat during a later hour-long moderate cycling session.
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/08/16/an-hour-of-exercise-five-times-a-week-is-the-only-way-to-lose-weight.aspx
As to my new HR purchase decision, currently I am stymied. Did you know stymie was originally a golf term where a player’s ball blocks the shot of another? I distract easily.
Ride Schedule for 2016
The ride leaders and board are meeting on Feb 6. Now is the time for everyone to check out the proposed schedule and suggest new rides or revised routes if they want. Here is how you can do that.
- Go to the website and click the Ride Schedule menu item.
- Scroll down until you see April 2016. The Thursday rides start on April 7.
- You can look at all the rides by scrolling down. At the bottom of the page you will have to click “2” to get to the 2nd page.
- I have tried to make it as easy as possible for you to provide your input.
- This blog post will accept comments. If you have a site login, then login, click this link or just find this blog item (the one you are reading), and post your comment(s). There is already one there, mine.
- If that is too difficult, send an email to ridesched@sfsob.cosine-santafe.com That email will go to me, Ian, Judy, and Edwin. I can add your email comments to the blog if you so indicate in your email. The comment will look like it came from me, but I will add your attribution in bold.
- If you don’t have a login and you want one, email admin@sfsob.cosine-santafe.com and we will create one for you.
Eldo Loop Cue Sheet
Dan’s GPS is quite the statistician. 3,199 satellite readings in 90 minutes. We now have a 21.2 mile training route around El Dorado for those who wish to start their outdoor century training. Looks to be about an hour and a half workout for one circuit including a few rollers, 10.4 miles of climbing, 10.9 miles descending pedaling the loop counter clockwise. 1,159 feet climbing elevation, ditto descending. Tuesday 25th, oh god I need a rest day. fsg@email.arizona.edu if you would like to join a jaunt.
There are two or three easy parking areas on the route, RT and Ave. Vista Grande, Playground parking a mile further west near Ave. Vista Grande and De Compadres intersection and a couple more along the Eldo Loop. Following is the counterclockwise route from Rail Trail (RT) and Ave. Vista Grande parking. Maybe Dan can use his magic to add milage markers.
West Ave. Vista Grande Road
North on Ave. Azul to road end, turn around
South half a block
West Encantado Loop around and back to Azul Road
South to Ave. Vista Grande Road West again
South bottom of the Eldo Loop Ave. Casa Del Oro
East Ave. Eldorado Road
South Ave. De Compadres Road, off the El Dorado reservation so to speak, ten meters of dirt
West Mejor Lado Road, out and back to Ave. Eldorado Road
East Ave. Eldorado Road
South Ave. Torreon Road off the reservation into La Paz community another small loop
South La Paz Loop Road back to Torreon Loop within La Paz community all the way back to Ave. Eldorado Road
West Ave. Eldorado Road
North Caliente Road
West Ave. Vista Grande
South Ave. Torreon Road
West Monte Alto Road, loops around back to Ave. Vista Grande
West Ave. Vista Grande RT and parking
Ride Calendar and other info about new website
Hi SOB’s.
Several notes (some repeated) about the new website and the upcoming ride season.
It was suggested that we make it easier to find the Ride Calendar so I changed the name of “Events” in the top level menu to “Ride Calendar”. That page has BOTH scheduled and ad hoc rides, although at present there are no ad hoc rides posted. And it will contain both road and off road rides. As well as Social Events. (NOTE: I have been re-posting all of the 2016 Thursday rides due to a glitch in the website that corrupted the rides that I had posted earlier. I apologize for the repeat email(s) but there is no way to disable it. I will try to do all the remaining rides on one or two days.)
Currently there are about 22 people signed up to receive an email when a road ride is posted and 14 for off road rides. If you have been getting an email digest once a day listing new ride postings then you are signed up. If you have only been getting the “Posts from Santa Fe Seniors on Bikes” emails then you are NOT signed up. If you want to sign up then you need a login to the site. If you were on the old ad hoc site you already have a login. If were not on the old ad hoc site then you need one. Just send an email to admin@sfsob.cosine-santafe.com and I or Ian will create your login.
Once you are logged into the site, you go to Ride Calendar and under the drop down menu select Groups. You will see the 3 groups and you will see the button to Join or Leave a group. Join the ones you want to get emails from. Also read the help section for more information.
Please ask if you have ANY questions.
Pure Science for 2016
Pure science, really? Well, combined with individual cycling experience and one’s perceptions, there is enough science in the following clips to give one the confidence to make pertinent personal choices. Over the years to meet my changing physiology I have adjusted my riding style, crank length, top tube length, saddle height, and gear ratios. Cycling adaptations are key to maintain cycling motivation and excitement.
A quick note re lactic acid theory, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11579166/ Nielsen et al in 2001 and recent research require us to again reevaluate our notions of lactic acidosis and muscle fatigue. There has been some research that suggests lactate acid can be beneficial to intense exercise metabolism. Go figure.
Does crank length matter?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMAxH_Ud8YE
Does cadence matter?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jh-5TYAtJI&feature=iv&src_vid=bT-JOg_oLJk&annotation_id=annotation_914349511
What is more efficient higher or lower saddle?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bT-JOg_oLJk&list=PLUdAMlZtaV11LAqXNLDr38oTXh9RuyiRY&index=1&feature=iv&src_vid=eMAxH_Ud8YE&annotation_id=annotation_4218608499
Which is more efficient clips-in or flat pedals?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNedIJBZpgM&list=PLUdAMlZtaV11LAqXNLDr38oTXh9RuyiRY&index=3&feature=iv&src_vid=-jh-5TYAtJI&annotation_id=annotation_4189258479
Excess body weight versus excess bike weight
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DRQwKREgvI&index=14&list=PLUdAMlZtaV11LAqXNLDr38oTXh9RuyiRY
Aero or light bike?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlz52XW6CMM&feature=iv&src_vid=5DRQwKREgvI&annotation_id=annotation_652646
My first fat tire.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuPnfpfpCdU
Update from Lynn Pickard
The good news – I am healing beautifully and the staples are out. I am not in a back brace or anything. I am not in any pain that Tylenol does not pretty much take care of. I am doing a lot of gentle walking, which is all that I am allowed.
The bad news – my next visit is a month away and I can’t take a bath till then. Then there is another visit with X-rays where they see if the fusion is setting up properly and only if so will I be released for PT or other activity except for the gentle walking. The X-ray visit might not happen till April. I was hoping for early March and back on the bike by April. But apparently not. I’ll still hope.
There’s an amazing network of friends and acquaintances (some SOBs) who are bringing me food and drink, so I don’t want for anything. If you are in the neighborhood and want to visit, call or text me on my cell or email me.
Thanks,
Lynne
He’s baaaack
42 days or 1008 hours later, back out on the road. Doc cleared me this morning, says making great progress. Did an 11 mile local ride before the clouds rolled in. 11.3 avg, 930 ft. and I can still walk! 😉 See you soon.
LA Commute
Shared by our friend Bill Pollock and his Los Angeles Times. http://latimes.com
Los Angeles is on a program to spend billions on improving bicycling commuting. Here is an idea from a reader of the LA Times, The Ray Bradbury Bike Ferry, THE MARVIN BRAUDE Bike Trail along the beach, aka “the bike path,” is the secret freeway of Los Angeles. How else can you get anywhere between Pacific Palisades and the South Bay at rush hour — all without stopping, except for Small World Books and fish tacos. There’s just one hitch: A yacht channel, one you could sail a Frisbee across without half trying, bisects the path at Marina del Rey and sends riders on a detour away from the beach, back onto surface streets.
A bicycle ferry across the “Del Rey Straits” would make possible an unbroken 20-mile oceanfront bike ride between Will Rogers State Beach and Palos Verdes. All it would take is an experiment that coastal towns like Martha’s Vineyard have helpfully piloted for years: a simple, Evinrude bike ferry. Even with liability insurance and dock construction costs, if you charged a dollar at peak hours, this one would surely pay for itself by Labor Day. Why not name it after Ray Bradbury, whose “Fahrenheit 451” is L.A.’s citywide Big Read pick this spring, by the way, and who went carless in L.A. long before it became a fashion statement?
Brake Light
If you ride in a peloton or pace line, as we do on occasion, this is a great idea. $10 and 7 grams. Colors. Check it out. I got one!
Sigma Rear Brake light. A simple little light with a big purpose, safety. Just clip this light on your rear brake cable and it will help alert anyone behind you that you are slowing down. Perfect for kids, commuters, and group rides! Fits u-brakes, v-brakes, canti’s, road calipers, mechanical disk brakes…sorry, won’t fit hydraulics!
Sigma Brake Light
Cycling in Santa Fe – from Mark W.
Cycling article from this mornings New Mexican: (Check out the Comments below the article also)
Incidentally, the “Quick Poll” near the article shows 274 votes, with 193 NO, 67 YES and 14 UNSURE
Catch the Spider
Lynn, our hearts go out to you for a quick recovery.
Bicycle different for your winter viewing. Most from the Ralpha collection, a few experimental films with the help of Ridley Scott of Alien fame. But first, Dan’s battlefield bike from our first winter ride.
Scotland Yeah Luigi 6 minutes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pD0M8b1hAjI&feature=em-subs_digest-vrecs
15 minute spinning music, Germany skinny and fat tire
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPySyDbmRsw
Ah Joo Singapore Bike collector 5 minutes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qWQkjTRzuM
Kappa’s power Japan 6 minutes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_8KnBuRjm0
Catch the Spider Dario Pegoretti 14 minutes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4qKPEX9KX4
Paris Roubaix France 14 minutes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNmQQuHfRHg
Mercier Britian 14 minutes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmFM_UWxdDo
SOB cyclist rear ended by car
Lynn Pickard our Bicycle Advocate was rear ended by a car, yesterday (Monday, Jan 4th) on Bishop’s Lodge Rd as she was biking into town. Three of her vertebrates were compressed and she is to have an operation to realign one of them. The other two will heal on their own. She is not up for visitors right now, as she is awaiting her operation, but would welcome all good thoughts.
First Off Road 2016
Dan’s comment, “Let’s go left, more ice and snow that way… my crazy riding colleagues.” Well, shoot, Angela’s comment was, “Let’s do it,” so we did go left, and there was more ice and snow, thank’s guys 🙂 Dan later e-mailed his bike looked like a WW I battlefield.
Disc Brake Squeal 3 minutes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMk-AiuyfYk&list=PLXWBBaEdFtbInJIh9tjZPFn2guv-A2_JT&index=34
10 Mountain biking techniques 7 minutes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXY8SIEnCdA
Tire Treads Patterns 6 minutes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHCh901_S7w&list=PLXWBBaEdFtbI7up6AUo-2EsIPyTgkjfhp&index=12&feature=iv&src_vid=68x5sbN-qZ8&annotation_id=annotation_2972458741
Shocks setting, sag and rebound, easy way 5 minutes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhTZtLJ79J0&list=PLXWBBaEdFtbInJIh9tjZPFn2guv-A2_JT&feature=iv&src_vid=C3JfuVmKliE&annotation_id=annotation_2278543503
The Rise of the NFL Cycling nerd – from Wall St Journal
Interesting article on an NFL players bicycle training:
Happy New Year
Ian
Sikuak a.k.a. Small Ice
Dan Potter below works his camera magic on a recent basin visit.
I, on the other hand, tested trail conditions closer to home this morning. From the dozens of Inuit words for snow I chose the following one which means crusted snow or small ice, sikuak at least for the RT. Below is not RT, and it is not ready for prime time Off Road. Ok down slope, hike-a-bike up slope.
Below is RT; however, it is also called fouling the track according to Federal GCOR regulations. Don’t do this. If you have a 4 inch fat tire bike, RT is ready to rock and roll. Lucy Bettis used to make neat little 4 inch paths for us, but she moved to Colorado. Where are the fat bikes when you need them?
Two comments re the Iceland clips. One, salty licorice really is not that bad, and two, I lived in Nome, Alaska and thought I was tough, but Icelanders are a breed of their own.
Bali 4 minutes
https://vimeo.com/138673523
JAM builder St. Petersberg 4 minutes
https://vimeo.com/149971481
Iceland midnight ride 3 minutes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qisX-M5wNpU
Seven hours Iceland 4 minutes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0jS8YVXyDQ
Waterfalls chocolate bars 4 minutes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwkBgu_bdVo
Pains, Seat up Seat down
Being snowbound this past week I’ve been searching Tucson Off Road options. Pretty organized rating system.
Hill Rating
1 Slight rolling terrain
2 Rolling hills, no long climbs, low elevation
3 Hilly , longer/more climbs, possible higher elevation
4 Sustained steep climbs and/or higher elevation, advanced riders only
Difficulty Rating
A Smooth trail/jeep road
B Some technical challenges but mostly nontechnical
C Lots of technical challenges (e.g. big/loose rocks, ruts)
D Highly technical, advanced riders only.
Prevent knee pain 4 minutes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9imVeD3ARq4
Prevent neck pain 4 minutes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YYb9vyj6zQ
Seat up, Seat down 7 minutes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9imVeD3ARq4
Tassie 6 minutes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQ0eH1Mh194
Vintage American 8 minutes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeiQuT-3gMs
Off Road Seat Posts
Brief reminder to the beginner Off Roaders. Remember when we dropped your seat posts lower to easier negotiate the intermediate descents? Remember to re-adjust up again on your next ride. Happy Holidays.
Wheel builder California, bike builder California, bike company California, bike trip… Ulannbaatar?
San Fran Wheels 3 minutes
https://vimeo.com/49212143
From Woodsie to Ritchey 18 min.
https://vimeo.com/47207697
Rivendell People 30 min.
https://vimeo.com/57271334
Ulaanbaatar Bikepacking 40 min.
https://vimeo.com/149557122
Brief Clarification re: Events and Comments
Events disappear the day after they occur. So for example, the Tuesday Dec 22 ride has disappeared off the site. A comment made on that event will exist but it will be really difficult for other people to find it and continue the discussion. Comments on upcoming events are fine, they will stay there and be accessible until the event is completed. So if you want to comment on a event that day, I suggest you make a Post instead or we will have to figure some other scheme. Merry Christmas
Winter Stretching
Well, here we are in December, remnants of our second snow storm still on the trail and pave. I am reminded that now is the time to work on my stretching technique for the new year. The more flexible master age riders are, the less chance for injuring soft tissue muscles, ligaments, and tendons, even during an unlucky spill. Lots of internet choices depending on one’s preferences, so no excuses. Here are a few examples that may help motivate.
minimal stretching
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VCM7xnL2QY
more serious yoga stretching
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nI6ddJlh68
nice music
https://vimeo.com/18104897
15 min climbing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPrm_5u-9HM&index=5&list=PLUdAMlZtaV13e3-rJq1W0O1kf2DVlslmC
2016 Thursday Rides
You will see some activity regarding the upcoming 2016 season of Thursday rides. I am loading the ride calendar (from last year but with correct dates). THESE ARE PRELIMINARY! The ride leaders meeting in February will be the time when we formalize the season. However, with our new website you have the ability to comment on any of these PROPOSED rides. If you would like to chime in on a ride you like or don’t like, please do so. If you click on the title of the ride you will see a full page describing the ride. Scroll down until you see the heading “Submit A Comment”. Express yourself (with decorum) and click Submit Comment. There are no guarantees that the Ride Leaders will take all of the comments into account but at least you will have registered your opinion.
Site Login Issues
I had some issues with importing users from the ad hoc site to the new site. I have resolved those issues. I reset EVERYONE’s username to their email address (Except Ian and SteveO). If anyone has logged in between yesterday and today, and you used a username that was not your email, sorry but I just changed your username back to your email. No way to know who knew their old username.
So, to review. Usernames are your email address. User names cannot be changed so if it offends you to use your email address, let me know and I can change it for you. All passwords are (contact me at admin@sfsob.cosine-santafe.com if you need the password). If you did change your password, in the last day or so, it is whatever you changed it to, I did not mess with that. Still recommend that you login and change your password.
If you have ANY issues email admin@sfsob.cosine-santafe.com and I’ll fix it for you. Sorry for the confusion.
New Website/Blogsite
Dear Subscribers,
A month or so back, we decided we needed to simplify our multiple websites, Ad Hoc Ride sites, blog sites and on road/off road groups.
To that end, Bob Bogart and I have designed and built (actually mostly Bob) a new whizbang, combined website/Blogsite and Ad hoc group rides site.
We have made the new site live tonight and this email is coming from the new site, with the good news that if you wish to continue to receive an email when new content appears on the Blog, you need do nothing.
Your current subscription has been carried over to the new site.
Please check out our work at the following link: https://santafesobs.com
This will bring up the Home Page of the new Web-site and from the top toolbar you can navigate to the new Blogsite, visit the Events tab, including the Ride groups,
The new Blogsite can also be accessed from the`following link: http://santafesobblog.com
For a trial period, we have opened the posts for comments, which you can enter at the bottom of each post, and of course we would love to get you impressions, not only of each post, but also how you feel about the new site.
Happy Holidays,
Ian & Bob
Winter Day Videos
Winter day videos
Boneshaker
https://vimeo.com/147850452
Road vs gravel bike
http://velonews.competitor.com/2015/10/news/road/video-gravel-bike-vs-road-bike-whats-the-difference_386973
Stealing championships
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yTFiP_co0U
Keirin training
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eby2-gXMUYw&feature=cards&src_vid=g3ri1th4dBg&annotation_id=d7c76c79-4179-4e35-ae1d-c004df95cf69
Mountain bike touring company
http://www.sacredrides.com
Hit & Run driver strikes cyclist on Old Las Vegas Highway
Hit & Run driver strikes cyclist on Old Las Vegas Highway.
Please click the link below for details
Bob Bogart injured on ride.
Today, a group of ten riders met at La Bajada to ride an on road/off road gravel ride to Madrid, Cerrillos, Waldo Canyon loop.
About half way round the loop, Bob took a tumble and fell heavily on his side on the hard packed rocky road. It appeared his front wheel caught in the loose sand and he fell in front of us. We made him comfortable, but he was unable to stand and move his leg, so called for his wife (Barb) to come and pick him up.
The accident occurred in a remote area in the hills behind Madrid, but Barb picked him up and they left for medical treatment in Santa Fe.
I just received advice from Barb that Bob has a broken hip, is going to have surgery tonight (Tuesday) and will likely be out of action for three months. I am sure I speak for all of us in wishing Bob well and a fast (as possible) recovery.
Ian
Disc Brake Technology
http://www.bbinstitute.com/images/bbi/files/Bedtime_for_disc_brakes_pt_2.pdf?
Above is the link to the full eleven page article in November’s Barnett Bicycle Institute http://bbinstitute.com disc brake technology or research article. Best brake wear article I’ve read. Rather long tech précis.
Bed-in or burn-in refers to properly breaking-in disc brakes. Shimano has specific bed-in recommendations for their equipment as do some other manufacturers. See end of blog.
Interesting technology to consider and much disc brake and pad testing comes from car racing engineers. Among their vast research Barnett purchased $40 and relied heavily on a science-research paper, “The Role of Transfer Layers on Friction Characteristics in the Sliding Interface between Friction Materials against Gray Iron Brake Disks” (Tribology Letters, Vol. 20, No. 2, October 2005), published by Springer Science+Business Media, Inc. http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11249-005-8299-6
Conclusion first, to identify my bias on the disc brake bed-in subject after five years of tandem, and half-bike experience with disc brakes… and Barnett’s research. The vast majority of master age riders do not need to be overly concerned with bed-in for average mountain bike off road rides. Similar to aerodynamic road riding components, unless one can pedal their bike along smartly above 20 miles an hour, “aero make’a no diff”. The bed-in discussion really is academic. Barnett “… we’ve been doing considerable amounts of fascinating reading and testing… subject couldn’t be more complex.”
Complex because engineers need to measure, study, and conclude disc brake information from all of the following, weight, friction heat, weather temperature, friction time, gradient, speed, steel composition, and pad materials.
Previous thinking, brake pads are made with different phenolic resins to produce friction after a layer of pad resin has been transferred to the rotor. Latest thinking, this transfer layer may be critical for friction, but it consists of any number of things EXCEPT melted phenolic resin. Thermoset plastic cannot melt. It softens with heat and them becomes permanently hard. “When phenolic resin gets exposed to more heat than it can withstand, it breaks down into its chemical parts carbon ash, elemental gases, and hydrocarbon gases. Where did my break pad go?
Shimano’s “burn-in” procedure is described in S-Tec Video “HDB: Burn-In Procedure”. They recommend hard decelerations, but not full stops, “from a good speed”, while observing that braking power steadily increases with each stop. With fresh pads Barnett accelerated their Shimano test bike repeatedly to 14–15 mph, then decelerated hard to walking speed eight times, the recommended number. One should observe the gradual increase in stopping power that occurs with each repetition of the deceleration cycle and Barnett did experience this improvement in braking. The burn-in technique successfully replaced the rotor’s new manufacturing grinding lines with concentric wear lines, which means the rotor was fully conformed to the pad surfaces. Their test rider was 220 pounds, bike was 28 pounds with 160 mm rotors, and ambient temperature was 55 degrees.
Measurement complexities are pad composition, weight, surface friction size, time, and temperature. It takes more energy to slow heavy riders than their unmanly counterparts and longer friction time to wear down a larger rotor to the same degree. Softer resin compound pads conform fully to the rotor with as little as one hard deceleration. Harder metallic pad conformity takes more deceleration cycles, but metallic pads are more abrasive, so rotor conformity should develop more rapidly. Lower ambient temperatures cool the rotor more quickly, which reduces pad heating and slows down the rate of pad wear. Hmmmm.
Rotor color: Barnett observed their rotor braking track turned a brown/purple color, with the spider arms showing the brown color fading to a lighter yellow/brown discoloration extending to the spider arms. Steel goes through a series of predictable color changes that correspond to temperature achieved. In this case between 500 – 540 degrees F. Steel tempered reduces hardness and its resistance to abrasive wear. As important is the time the steel is held at the maximum temperature and the rate at which the steel cools. Brown/purple color indicates that some tempering has occurred. The rotor may only wear 10% faster, or the wear rate could be more dramatic. When the rotor wears out months later, no way exists to know if it wore out prematurely due to a temper change, or due to any number of other issues that increase rotor wear. Light yellow/brown color on the spider arms just inward from the brake track indicates a maximum temperature of 400 degrees F. Only very moderate tempering occurs at this temperature. It is normal and acceptable when yellow/brown tint appears on the rotor’s brake track.
Transfer layer: Can one tell it’s been properly established? No, and Barnett concludes the question is largely academic. Pad technology combines different materials, chemical binders, reinforcing fibers, abrasives, lubricants, and friction modifiers. Ingredients are mixed, compressed to a backing plate with pressure and heat to form the friction pad. Binders, such as the phenolic resin, glues the composition. Reinforcing fibers, nylon or Kevlar, gives structural integrity and the fibers resist pad crumbling. Abrasives, silica or zircon crystals, create friction against the rotor, a sandpaper affect. Lubricants, dry compounds of graphite powder, balance the abrasive’s friction, and friction modifiers, rubber powder, is a less aggressive abrasive component.
Friction wears pad material to dust debris. With intense braking heat some debris gets melded to the rotor as atomic, chemical, and electrostatic bonding. Barnett’s research show thickness 8 – 20 microns (.008mm to .020mm). That transfer layer might add to the slight rotor color change, as perhaps light reflection on the concentric wear lines. “… no conclusions about the presence or absence of the transfer layer can be based on visual evaluation. The transfer layer constantly builds up and breaks down. At low temperatures abrasives gouge the transfer layer, a desirable friction. Higher temperatures add debris dust to transfer layer to a certain point when the layer begins to soften and chemically break down, thinning the layer. Both too low and too high braking temperatures degrade the transfer layer. Test results show a temperature-range sweet spot for maintaining the transfer layer as narrow as 125 degrees F. Try to monitor this component on your next trail ride 🙂 In a single ride, the transfer layer may be created and eliminated multiple times.
Oh, one more complexity reducing brake efficiency is contamination such as skin oils, dirty mechanic hands, lube overspray, normal road detritus, car oils, dust… Clean rotors with alcohol. Barnett says the friction material on the pad is porous, so no effective method exists for cleaning contaminated pads…futility of cleaning pads. When cleaning fails to eliminate problems, pad replacement may be the only solution, but when the rotor is substantially worn new pads will wear out much faster. Pads and rotors should often be replaced as a set.
A different breaking in recommendation if interested.
http://blog.performancebike.com/2010/03/23/spin-doc-tech-tip-breaking-in-disc-brakes/
Weather Station AcuRite
Bill Polleck shares the following information. A couple of weeks ago I was in the Albuquerque Costco store and found a new weather station for homes. Data included are temps, wind speed, rain amount, forecasts, etc. It’s wireless and can connect to your desk top with a separate “I-pad-size” screen, it keeps historical reports, averages speed and temperature. And one can connect to other weather apps, such as Weather Underground, which I did. One also can add a program app to a smart phone showing weather at your home from anywhere in the world.
The manufacturer is AcuRite. The “5-in-1” station on their web site costs $150. I purchased the AcuRite from Costco for $79, as long as supplies last. Even better, Costco’s web site today says you get another $20 off through Nov 26.
I am authorizing Weather Underground to make my station available on its application. Not there yet, but soon you will be able to see my weather when you plan a visit to Eldorado to ride your bike, bring gifts, etc. Costco web site:
http://www.costco.com/AcuRite-5-in-1-Color-Weather-Station-with-PC-Connect.product.100228431.html
eine kleine trailmusik
Below the technical riding north rim in the GBP (Galisteo Basin Preserve) are miles of enjoyable less anxious cycling trails. A half dozen Off Road Seniors on Bikes Ken, Thomas, MarcoPolo, Adrian, Dan, Judy occasionally spend a couple hours repairing particularly badder trail destructions. Sunday morning among the equestrians and several family groups including youngsters on their 24 inch wheeled bikes, two merry band of Off Road pedaling mistrals worked one arroyo trail section.
With permission of the land manager, last year as a learning exercise and experiment, Adrian engineered a unique lattice and rock dam structure, which we had fun constructing across one small arroyo. Over the season we monitored the design and arroyo for wear and tear, and we have good news and we have bad news. The operation was a success, but the patient died. As is Southwest normal, monsoons create huge water volumes that quickly drain through arroyo systems. Neither good nor bad, it is what it is. We learn to work with nature and accept all trails are a work in progress. It is an outdoor serenade. Here you see how the monsoon waters diverted around both sides of the test structure worsening this section of trail with each storm. That’s Dan.
Thirty minutes to remove the most excellent lattice dam structure, relocating THE mighty big boulder to protect largest washout. Those clouds look ominous. Can you say monsoon?
The arroyo shuffle a.k.a. packing dirt. The sky is getting darker and darker. Pick up the beat trail guy.
Dan’s yellow Pulaski, behind his elbow, marks where once stood THE mighty big boulder and Hadrian’s… Adrian’s Wall. At arroyo crossings we try to spread thus slow water, which drops sediment across and on tread before channeling again on the down hill side.
Hey trail guy, where are we? A Seattle-type drizzle has started, soon to become… dare I say?
New Google Map App
Bill Pollock shares this mapping application from the LA Times. http://latimes.com This new Google map could help hikers and bicyclists.
Google map app to work offline
BY DAVID PIERSON
A map app is only as good as your access to the Internet. Now drivers who have ever been frustrated by losing navigation can use Google Maps offline and still have access to directions. The latest version of Google’s map app enables users to download city maps so that streets and businesses will be stored on their mobile devices. The app automatically goes into offline mode when it detects little or no signal.
The offline version still provides information such as a business’ hours of operations, contact information and ratings. But it can’t offer real-time traffic patterns to help determine driving routes. “When a connection is found, it will switch back online so you can easily access the full version of Maps, including live traffic conditions for your current route,” Google Product Manager Amanda Bishop wrote in a blog post Tuesday. “By default, we’ll only download areas to your device when you are on a Wi-Fi connection to prevent large data fees.” Google first previewed the new features during its developers conference Google I/O in May. The company said more offline features were in the works.
The update is only available for Android users, but will come to Apple iOS soon. Google Maps is the No. 1 downloaded map app. The Mountain View, Calif., company also owns Waze, another popular map app that Google bought in 2013 for about $1 billion. Apple also features a navigation app called Maps, but it has long been dismissed as inferior to Waze and Google Maps. david.pierson@latimes.com Twitter: @dhpierson
Extreme Exercise Dangers
Adrian VanderHave sent in an article re dangers of over-exercise from the Wall Street Journal. Interesting to find out about the difference between soft and dense artery plaque. If the first two paragraphs whet your interest link will take you to the full monty. Enjoy.
By KEVIN HELLIKER
A new study finds that exercise that is extreme in either volume or intensity may be associated with high levels of atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries.
The study, presented in August at a meeting of the European Society of Cardiology, studied 169 veteran competitive endurance athletes against a control group of 171 relatively sedentary subjects. Compared with the control group, the study found lower levels of coronary artery calcium in athletes who ran fewer than 35 miles a week or cycled fewer than 150 kilometers a week. But athletes who ran or cycled beyond that threshold were found to harbor higher levels of coronary artery calcium than did the control group.
Winter Tuesday – Thursday Road Riding Guidelines – from Bob B.
| Author: Bob Bogart
| Title: Suggested Winter Guiding Ridelines
| Summary:
Or Winter Tuesday – Thursday Riding Guidelines:
Please chime in if you want to suggest changes. Note that conditions change
quickly.
Road conditions: Dry or mostly dry, absolutely no snow on road or shoulder.
Projected Air Temperature at start time: >= 38 with bright sun, mid 40s if
significant cloud cover. (Air Temp is a very personal decision, these are
kind of my working guidelines and you probably won’t see me if temps are
lower than this. Your mileage may vary.)
Wind: <= sustained 15 at start time. Wind forecasts are very variable and
inaccurate so look outside.
| LINK:
http://sobrideblog.cosine-santafe.com/groups/ride/suggested-winter-guiding-ridelines
|
| Comments: 1
| —————————————————
| New comment:
| Author: Bob Bogart
| Title: Guidelines – just that
Thanks for the feedback. My goal was to try to avoid having to send out
emails before each winter ride discussing the conditions. Thus some
guidelines that we could all understand for when “most?” folks are likely to
show for a ride and when conditions are just too harsh for “most” but if you
are inclined to ride, then you take your chances that you may be one of a
very select (and hardy) few. These numbers are not cast in stone. For
example, >32<38 with 2 mph wind might be reasonably comfortable but >32<38
with 10 mph, not so much. We could revise the temp to be wind chill and say
wind chill has to be >32 ??? I am happy to lower the standalone wind number
so let’s say 12.5 mph as a compromise. Just remember actual wind conditions
vary, calm at DeVargas might be gale force at 599. Wind forecast for speed
is also inaccurate IMHO. I’ll create a new post with the revised guidelines
in a day or so after some time elapses for additional comments.
| LINK: http://sobrideblog.cosine-santafe.com/comment/379#comment-379
| —————————————————
Valles Caldera National Preserve
Valles Caldera fee $20 per vehicle except for appropriate pass. Hours 8 A.M.- 6 P.M., 5 P.M. Saturday Sunday, Closed Thanksgiving Christmas.
http://www.nps.gov/vall/planyourvisit/basicinfo.htm
$10 Lifetime pass
For U.S. citizens or permanent residents age 62 or over. May be obtained in person at a federal recreation site or through the mail using this application form. The cost of obtaining a Senior Pass through the mail is twenty dollars ($20). Ten ($10) for the Senior Pass and ten ($10) for processing the application. Applicants must provide documentation of age and residency or citizenship. May provide a 50 percent discount on some amenity fees charged for facilities and services such as camping, swimming, boat launch, and specialized interpretive services. Generally does NOT cover or reduce special recreation permit fees or fees charged by concessioners. Note: Golden Age Passports are no longer sold. However, these passes will continue to be honored according to the provisions of the pass.
La Tierra TH Info
Couple people have asked for La Tierra TH directions and other info; ergo, an update.
Google.com/maps/La Tierra Trails Santa Fe for an interactive map that shows at least eight THs including THE La Tierra TH. If I am lucky, the previous sentence is hot linked to said trail map, testing, one, two, three, testing…
There are at least ten trail heads (TH) on that west side open space called La Tierra Trails. The official map does not have the “mailbox” a.k.a. THE La Tierra TH, which is just off the map on the lower left side.
THE La Tierra TH a.k.a. “mailboxes” is on Camino La Tierra Road about a mile/kilometer+ west of 599. West side of 599 a.k.a. Veteran’s Memorial Highway road is Camino La Tierra, east side of 599 road is called Paseo Nopal.
Re tire size. Couple of us have ridden La Tierra on cross bikes with 35c tire size, but it was difficult on some of the more technical rocky trails. For less experienced riders, if on a cross bike 40c tires approximately 1.5 inch width would be my recommendation.
Ad Hoc Ride Schedule through March 2016
Winter Riding Schedule (Road Rides)
March – 10.30 AM
Thursdays – meet as below, same times
January – Museum Hill, 11 am
February – El Dorado, 11 am
March – 599 RR Sta, 10.30 am
Moab Tour – 2016 from Judy
Hi All, Some SOB members were asking if we might do a road bike tour in Moab. Well, as a member of Bicycle Adventure Club, I read of such a trip. To join the trip, you must be a member of the club which is $50 the first year and $25 each year following. Then, you can sign up for any of their tours, but they fill up almost as soon as they are posted. So, I am suggesting that this may be a fun and fairly close tour and very reasonably priced. Several SOB are considering it. You do have to commit at least with the first deposit of $250. You can read (if you are a member) the description of the rides and also of the cancellation policy by going to the web site – Bicycle Adventure Club. But, as I say it will fill up practically the day it is posted. I am going to try to sign up for it, but I will be in India, on a BAC trip, so not sure.
Judy
Magnificent Moab – 2016
This ride has been approved and will be released on the first business day of the month
Arrival
10/23/2016
Departure
10/28/2016
Ride Director
Christopher Marsh
Ride Co-Director
Janis Marsh
Starting Location
Moab, Utah
Finishing Location
Moab, Utah
Estimated Cost
$950
Deposit
$250
Number of Riders
2 (min. 18 /max. 24)
Space Available
22
No. of Pending Riders
0
Ride Rating
2B Warning – Read the Description Carefully
Map data ©2015 Google
Ride Description
OVERVIEW: The area around Moab offers incredible scenery and bicycle friendly roads with low traffic. This is a fixed based road bike tour, with rides in Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, and along the Colorado River. In addition to riding, Moab also offers excellent hiking and rafting. We will meet in the evening on Sunday, October 23 at the Canyonlands Inn for our first social hour and welcome dinner. The organized rides will be from Monday, October 24 to Friday, October 28.
We will spend five nights (Sunday night – Friday morning) at the Best Western Canyonlands Inn that is centrally located in town, within walking distance of good restaurants and bike shops. The Canyonlands Inn has a complimentary full hot breakfast, high speed internet, bike storage and repair facilities, laundry, heated pool, and jacuzzi.
RIDE RATING: Maps and cue sheets will be provided for several on-road routes with multiple options. For the five core rides that will be offered the average elevation gain is 1,500 feet with an average distance 40 miles – a 2B rating. Three of the rides are flat while one has over 3,200 feet of climbing. There is a short steep climb into Arches National Park. The ratings for the five core rides are: 1B, 2A, 1A, 3B and 1A. Most of the rides are out and back so they can be made shorter with less climbing if desired. Longer options are also available (with additional climbing). In addition to the core rides, there are other optional rides available — some from remote starts that require transportation. Note that Moab is at 4,000 feet in elevation and some of the rides reach elevations of over 6,000 feet.
Ojo Calliente Accident follow up from SF Roadriders
Brian K. BikeRider and Charles Bouldin posted in Santa Fe Road Riders.
Below is a copy of the email I sent this evening to the Bicycle Coalition of New Mexico regarding the shoulder paving situation that has been discussed down the page. — Brian
_________________________________________
Board of Directors, Bicycle Coalition of New Mexico
John Hooker, President
Diane Albert, Vice President
Stephen Newhall, Treasurer
Jackie Shane, Secretary
Tim Rogers
Eugene Dougherty
William Thompson
All:
On October 1, 2015, Pam Reynolds posted the following on the Santa Fe Road Riders Facebook page describing a recent accident that occurred on a ride by the Santa Fe Seniors on Bikes: “If you are thinking of riding the Ojo Caliente-El Rito loop, please be aware that a stretch of Hwy 84 from 285 (Hernandez) to 554 (El Rito turnoff) has been newly paved. As in, leaving at least a two inch lip between the travel lane and the shoulder. Two riders on the Seniors on Bikes ride today went down because of it, sending one to the ER and another to urgent care. They’ll be ok, but it was scary.”
On October 10, as part of a Santa Fe Road Riders bicycle ride, I had a chance to ride south on US 84 from NM 554 and observe the partial shoulder paving. The new paving ended at the south end of the Rio del Oso bridge. After the ride, I drove back to that section of US 84 and took photographs. Two of those images from October 10 are attached to this email.
Image 1 is looking south where US 84 crosses the Rio del Oso bridge. As you can see in the image, the shoulder completely disappears as you approach the bridge and any cyclist is required to vault a 3+ inch lip differential between the crumbling shoulder and the newly paved travel lane.
Image 2 also looks south and shows multiple travel lane pavement layers next to old style rumble strips. One may only conclude that the travel lanes have been paved at least twice previously without the shoulder being fully paved.
In addition to the road hazard created by the partial shoulder paving, failing to pave the shoulders here did not allow the NMDOT to redo the rumble strips shown in the photo to bring them in compliance with Appendix D of the NMDOT’s own January 2009 Bicycle-Pedestrian-Equestrian Advisory Plan: http://s3.amazonaws.com/zanran_storage/dot.state.nm.us/ContentPages/18959442.pdf
So here we have a clear example of harm caused by the NMDOT’s failure to pave and maintain the full road shoulder. The question then becomes what’s to be done about it before there are yet more victims of the NMDOT’s deficient and hazardous paving practices. The answer of course is full shoulder paving. What we don’t want is asphalt cold patching to address the most egregious flaws.
Please advise as to what your intentions are to directly address this situation on US 84.
Yours very truly,
—————————————————–
Brian Kreimendahl
Edgewood, New Mexico
—————————————————–
cc: Santa Fe Road Riders Facebook page
New Bicycle Assembly
Her first grasshopper.
Excerpt from Barnett’s latest newsletter article “Excellence, or Expediency?” http://bbinstitute.com
When the bicycle leaves a factory, it has considerable potential, but if the right things don’t happen between the factory and the purchase by the rider, that potential doesn’t even get close to being fully realized.
Here’s what we know from our cumulative century-plus of experience:
From the factory, virtually not a single adjustable bearing (in a hub, a bottom bracket, or headset) was ever correctly adjusted.
From the factory, not a single derailleur would not have benefited from a few minutes of attention from a highly-skilled mechanic.
From the factory, not a single wheel is as well tensioned or as straight as any fully-skilled mechanic would make a wheel for use on his or her own bike.
And these are just a few salient examples. In summary, not a single bike we have ever seen come out of a box could not have been improved in every single adjustable area by a mechanic with a top-level skill set.
The implication of this is enormous. Very few consumers have ever ridden a bicycle performing at it’s maximum performance potential.
Just how impractical could it be to see that a bicycle leaves the store in optimum condition? The difference between a “expedient” bike assembly and an “excellent” assembly is a matter of a couple of hours of a fully-capable mechanic’s attention. At the going rate for service in today’s bicycle retail industry, that’s a difference of more than $100, but probably not more than $200. Will the consumer pay that? In fact, in some of the more sophisticated (and successful) bike shops, consumers do pay extra for an excellent assembly. In these cases, either the bike is priced at the suggested retail, and the charge for assembly is added on, or the bike is priced above suggested retail and the higher price includes the cost of assembly.
News Update from Santa Fe MPO
First Flat Tire Ever … Lessons Learned – from Ward
First Flat Tire Ever … Lessons Learned
This is old hat to many – most – of the readers here, but there might be a few who don’t yet know some of these really esoteric points. They were certainly new to me, not having owned (or even ridden) a bicycle between 1967 and 2013.
Monday the 7th, I was out on a pre-ride of the B– route with Bob G., who will be leading it on the 10th. About 4 miles short of the end I had a rear wheel flat. I cussed for a moment, but that ended when I realized I have ridden with the SOBs for over two and a half seasons, plus all my personal riding, with nary a flat … not too shabby. We walked 100 yards or so to a good no-traffic area to handle the repair, and broke out the tools.
Because there were two of us with different tool kits, I did not have to call home for a ride … if I had been alone, I’d have been S.O.L. Here are the things I learned.
· This first item was my primary source of pain … bicycle tire tubes have stems of different lengths! I never knew that, although about 3 seconds of thinking about the different wheel designs I have seen made it pretty obvious that would be the case. My flat tube’s stem was 1-3/8″ long; the spare tube’s stem … 1-1/8″.
· That missing 1/4″ made it impossible to thread the outside retaining nut onto the stem, which in turn made it difficult to be sure the tire bead was fully seated in the wheel rim at the stem. (I figured out that with the nut loosely in place as a retainer I could have pushed the stem up into the tire while seating the rim, then pulled it back out to tighten and inflate. Easy stuff … with the correct stem length!)
· After getting the tube in place, inflation then became a problem. Bob and I both carry CO2 inflators of different styles, but with the shorter-than-intended stem neither one would seal onto that little stub of stem. (Here’s where I would have been calling home if I’d been alone.)
· Enter the hand pump. This was able to attach to the little bit of stem and air flowed as intended. The one Bob carries is a neat little pump (REI) that threads onto the valve stem. It creates a tight seal that I judge might be hard to maintain with a clip-on style connector. It also has a short flexible hose between the pump and the valve stem that eliminates the movement that would occur during pumping strokes if there were a rigid connection.
So, today I’m off to buy the right tubes, and maybe a pump. Bulging tires, wrong tube stems … I wonder what will be the next cycling thing I learn the hard way.
Ward
Classic Steel
Senor Polleck shares a Bicycling article of classic proportions. There is a niche market in classic steel bikes that includes baby-boomers, generation X-ers, and generation Y, a.k.a. millennials. Nostalgic baby-boomers will scrounge an old discarded frame and spend time and money on a traditional expensive refurbish or younger folk will adapt modern components to their classic iron steed resulting in unlimited and unique iterations. Manufacturers Masi, Bianchi, Waterford (originally the Schwinn family store) have produced small runs of their beautiful old steel racing bicycles and recently the nephew of Ernesto Colnago found a stock of his uncle’s classic lugs in the factory warehouse. http://www.bicycling.com/bikes-gear/previews/how-box-old-lugs-reviving-colnagos-arabesque?cid=NL_BIK_-_09042015_colnago_arabesque
http://theradavist.com/2015/08/marks-black-cat-gatto-nero-grinduro-disc-all-road-derek-yarra/#1
Tube Patch Video
Bill Pollock supposes one can always use more info on patching a tube, especially if one can look at a video at home when convenient.
http://www.bicycling.com/video/how-patch-inner-tube?cid=NL_BIK_-_08282015_patch_tube
Now from the blokes with big blades down under.
SOB 2015 Official Picture
Tread a.k.a. Q factor
What has become known as the Q factor, correct term is “tread”, is the distance between pedals at the inside of the crank arms. Tread or Q factor theory arises from anatomical studies measuring our stance distance when walking and running. Humans tend to place their foot towards the body line center for balance and most efficient force to propel us forward. Most efficient includes less stress to knee joint anatomy.
In order to fit triple chainring cranks without hitting the frame chain stays the BB must be wider setting the chainrings away from the frame; ergo, the “tread”/Q factor is farther apart i.e. 168 mm. Two ring cranks allow for narrower tread, one chainring cranks allow even narrower tread 156 mm among the smallest.
The other related crank number 150, 155, 160, 165, 170, 172.5, 175, 180 etcetera, refers to the milimeter length of the crank arm measured from center of BB hole to center of the pedal spindle hole. Again for avid senior riders there is an added benefit of less knee joint stress from shorter crank length, because smaller pedal revolution diameter reduces torque (stress) on the knee joint. Young riders with healthy and strong knees can support larger rotational stress for years.
Lots of anatomy, physiology, and sports studies are available touting crank length efficiency. My personal experience and that of older racing buddies support the shorter crank is definitely less painful for avid senior riders. Aside from the academic research, two weeks ago I listened to another common anecdote that supports efficiency of crank length theory. An avid female cyclist joined us on our Tuesday Off Road GBP excursion. She told us she could not climb steep grades until she had DaVinci make her some 155 mm cranks and viola, her climbing ability improved a hundred percent.
Tread a.k.a. Q factor from Wiki:
The Q Factor of a bicycle is the distance between the pedal attachment points on the crank arms, when measured parallel to the bottom bracket axle. It may also be referred to as the “tread” of the crankset. The term was coined by Grant Petersen during his time at Bridgestone Bicycles.
Q Factor is a function of both the bottom bracket width (axle length) and the crank arms. Bottom brackets axles vary in length from 102mm to 127mm. Mountain bike cranks are typically about 20mm wider than road cranks.
A larger Q Factor (wider tread) will mean less cornering clearance while pedaling for the same bottom bracket height and crank arm length. A smaller Q Factor (narrower tread) is desirable on faired recumbent bicycles because then the fairing can also be narrower, hence smaller and lighter. Sheldon Brown said that a narrower tread is ergonomically superior because it more closely matches the nearly-inline track of human footsteps.
Though it seems intuitive that a narrower tread is superior since a walking person must put their foot more to the centerline of the body to balance, this is not the case when pedaling a bicycle, where the “steps” are so very close together and balance a non-issue.[citation needed]
Scientific research has emerged from The University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom that shows narrower Q Factors are more efficient, likely due to improved application of force during the pedal stroke, as well the potential for reduced knee variability and risk of injury.
New Cycling Apps
From Mr. Bill Pollock Review in LA Times http://www.latimes.com new applications geared for mountain bikers may be promising.
MTB Project iOS, Android, free http://www.mtbproject.com
Produced by Adventure Projects, the same company that produces Mountain Project, MTB Project is the go-to app for mountain bikers. Its user-friendly interface allows you to quickly search for mountain bike trails near you. Once you download an area onto your phone, you have access to maps and photos of bike trails as well as their description, difficulty level and vertical profile. Your location is tracked along the trail so you know where you are and how far you have to go. The social component of MTB Project connects you to a community of mountain bike-minded folks.
Strava iOs, Android, free https://www.strava.com/mobile
https://www.youtube.com/user/StravaInc
With motivation and camaraderie as a goal, the idea behind Strava is outdoor social fitness. The app is geared to runners and cyclists, featuring an easy-to-use interface that tracks your route, time, rate and elevation gain. You can analyze your performance and compare your data with that of friends and professional athletes or with your personal best. Strava ranks you against others who’ve completed a particular route segment, awarding the top scorer with the title “King (or Queen) of the Mountain.” You can find the most popular routes in your area, join a race community or partake in a Strava Challenge.
Introducing the world’s first ‘unstealable bike’ – Telegraph (UK)
Passed on by Sandra Blakeslee. Very cool.
Carbon Bike Lifespan
Below are two paragraphs from the full article to whet the appetite of carbon fiber a.k.a. composite bicycle owners.
What is the lifespan of a carbon frame? by Matt Wikstrom August 1, 2015 http://cyclingtips.com.au/2015/08/what-is-the-lifespan-of-a-carbon-frame/
The bicycle industry has embraced carbon fibre in the same way that steel once served traditional manufacturers. Renowned for its high strength to weight ratio, carbon has revolutionized the bicycle industry, but how long can a buyer expect a frame to last? CTech editor Matt Wikstrom investigates the answer by talking with three engineers working in the bicycle industry. Almost three decades have passed since the emergence of carbon fibre and while the material dominates all but the low end of the road bike market, the reputation of carbon fibre still seems marred by the industry’s early efforts. I regularly encounter owners concerned about the robustness and longevity of their carbon bikes while others expect to retire their bikes after just a few years of use.
The impact resistance of carbon composites has improved in recent years to the point where MTBers are now truly embracing the material. The advances are largely due to innovations in resin technology. “We have the materials that are stiff enough,” said Benoit Grelier, “but the goal is now to work with some materials that have strength in case of an impact. We have had some good results by playing with the resin and nano-components.” “Standard resin is like oil and nano-resin is like water,” explained Grelier. “If you throw oil onto a mesh, it won’t go inside because it is thicker, whereas the water will go directly inside the mesh. If I use a nano-resin, it will go deeper into the fibres and the final bonding will be better.”
Cycling to extremes – VeloNews.com from Clare
http://velonews.competitor.
This is a long but very interesting article.
WD-40
Bill Polleck shares an article on some bicyclist’s favorite chain lube.
LA Times http://latimes.com ON THE RECORD Behind WD-40’s slick success
‘Secret sauce’ formula and a worldwide market are key, CEO Garry Ridge says.
BY JAMES F. PELTZ
Never mind smart-phones, biotechnology and streaming video. If you wanted to handily beat the stock market over the last decade, you should have bought WD-40 Co. The San Diego maker of the decidedly unglamorous WD-40 lubricant, rust protector and squeak eliminator keeps growing steadily, notably in foreign markets.
Its stock keeps rising in lockstep with its sales. While the benchmark Standard & Poor’s 500 index has gained about 70% in the last10 years, WD-40’s stock is up more than 200%.
Sales totaled $383 million in its fiscal year ended last August. The company also makes 3-In-One oil, Lava soap and other products, but WD-40 remains its dominant brand. So what is WD-40 doing that keeps, well, greasing the wheels?
We asked its chief executive, Garry Ridge, to explain. Here’s an excerpt: What does the name WD-40 mean? It stands for water displacement, 40th formula. It was invented back in the 1950s to stop corrosion on the skin of the Atlas space rocket. The chemists who worked on it tried 39 times to find the right formula and on the 40th time they were successful. The formula remains secret? Yes, it’s locked in a vault in a bank on Rosecrans Street in San Diego. The original formula is actually written in pencil on a notepad. How many employees do you have? We have 101 in San Diego and 427 worldwide. You sell WD-40 in how many countries? 176. Where is the product made? We only blend the concentrate, or the “secret sauce,” in four places: San Diego, Louisiana, the United Kingdom and Australia. Aside from blending the concentrate ourselves, we outsource all of our manufacturing operations. Once the concentrate is blended it is shipped to our fillers, who mix in a few additional ingredients and put the completed formula into the famous blue-and-yellow can with the little red cap.
Many people use WD-40, put it on a shelf and then perhaps don’t buy another can for months or years. So how does the company keep growing? Two ways: Today more than 65% of our revenue is outside the United States. Secondly, it depends who you are as a user. You and I probably use about 41 cents’ worth of WD-40 a year. But those working commercially or in factories are using between $40 and $70 of WD-40 a year. Our heavy-end users, such as artisans, repair-and-overhaul people, construction trades and automotive people, are using many, many cans a year. How is WD-40 marketed? We have a very simple set of questions we ask ourselves: Do you need me? Do you know me? Can you buy me? WD-40 is a big brand globally, but in any particular sales channel it’s not that big. We don’t position ourselves as a lubricant or a de-penetrant or as a water displacer or as a rust-preventive product. We position ourselves as a multiuse product, which means we can go anywhere we want.
You can buy WD-40 in an automotive store, a hardware store, a grocery store, a drugstore. That’s the secret for part of our success. The world and technology change so rapidly, but WD-40 seems to do well by mostly sticking to its knitting. True? Focus is so important. You have to know what you understand and what you don’t understand. A lot of companies like to diversify but we call it “de-worsify,” where you keep looking for that shiny new penny because what we’re doing sometimes gets boring.
We’ve doubled our business in the last 10 years and we know we can double it again in the next 10. All it takes is focus. You were once quoted saying, “We’re everyday folks doing our job and making money for our shareholders.” What did you mean? I don’t take myself too seriously. So often hubris and ego take over from reality. We are everyday folks. We say please and thank you. We respect people. Profit is the applause of doing good work and having engaged employees, and that’s what I’m most proud of. The stock price will take care of itself. Your website lists some strange ways people have used WD-40, like removing a python from the undercarriage of a bus. What’s your favorite story? There was a lady in the Midwest who had a bird feeder in her backyard and squirrels use to run up the pole and eat the bird feed. So she sprayed the pole with WD-40. Can you imagine those little squirrels trying to climb up that lubricated pole? james.peltz@latimes.com Twitter: @PeltzLATimes
Ten Old Cyclists
From a cycling friend…searching for some info about senior sports and ended up at your site.
Having seen http://santafesobblog.com/, I was thinking that maybe you want to see the article we have written about 10 very inspirering senior cyclists:
http://www.icebike.org/10-old-people-who-will-inspire-you-to-never-stop-biking/
Maybe it’s worth a mention on your site?
Thanks,
Mads Phikamphon
Schwalbe tire experience – from Ward
Some of you know I bought Joe’s Fuji GranFondo bike back in May. After I took it for several rides – and changed my mind a couple of times – I bought it. The first thing that needed attention was the gearing, so I went to SpinDoc for a new cassette/derailleur set up. While Kirk was working on the bike, he called me and said the rear tire had a herniation. He added that 3 years ago he discovered the same tire model had identical failures on many customer bikes, and he recalled them all for replacement with different models. Further, he said he returned them all to Schwalbe with every scrap of supporting info he could. (We who know Kirk, know the body of info he sent would not have been trivial!)
After he blew off some steam at Schwalbe in a 2-3 minute rant of supreme frustration, he encouraged an immediate replacement, which I approved, of course. (Ignore Kirk? Umm, No!) Now here’s the fun part … I was hanging up my bike after the En Medio ride, and noticed 2 bulges in my front tire! There’s one on each side about 3-4 inches apart, making a cute little s-shaped wiggle in the tire.
The tires were new when I bought the bike from Joe. I had under 200 miles on the rear when it was replaced, and I doubt I have more than 500 miles on the front now. I don’t think I have had any hard hits on pot holes, and never had a flat. Here’s the full info from my tire side wall … Schwalbe Lugano Active K-Guard 25-622. I’m on Continental Gatorskins now, and I won’t be buying any Luganos. I guess Schwalbe never read Kirk’s memo!!
(For readers not in the Santa Fe, NM area, SpinDoc is one of our local bike shops and a Santa Fe SOB club sponsor. (http://www.spindoc.com) SpinDoc is owned by Kirk and Chandler Rhinehart, and I suspect they know more about cycling and cycling-based fitness than any 30 other people combined. If you are in the area, stop in there and say Hi … great folks.)
Ward
Ward P. Freeman
Ward@WardFreeman.com
Editors note:
Click here for the review of the Schwalbe Lugano from Roadbikereview.com
Interesting Web Site
Bill McGann’s website http://BikeRaceInfo.com includes thousands of pages of cycling and racing information. Complete race results for the Tour de France going back to first 1903, every edition Giro d’Italia, Paris-Roubaix, Tour of Flanders… photos from cycling’s beginnings. Interviews, from Fiorenzo Magni to Greg LeMond, and bicycle artisans like Cino Cinelli and Antonio Mondonico. Articles on bike tech, training, cycling travel, nutrition, rosters of world climbs, real-time race results and photos for races, daily racing news, including women’s events.
Why am I doing this? I love cycling. After high school, I owned a bicycle shop for 12 years. Then I built and owned Torelli Imports from 1981 until I retired in 2007. I couldn’t stay away, so I started http://BikeRaceInfo.com It’s grown to a million visitors a year. If you would like more information, contact me at bill2@bikeraceinfo.com. Enjoy the road, Bill
Accident avoidance – from Judy/Bill
This is a good reminder for all of us:
Santa Fe Road Riders
Robert Mang
June 29 at 5:46pm
In light of last Saturday’s A-Ride accident that resulted in some body damage, and some bike damage, it seemed like a good idea to repost these Group Riding Guidelines. If these were followed, there is a good chance we would have all stayed on our bikes.
Ostensibly, the 4 cyclists went down due to the uncertainty created by a van leaving the freeway onto the 285 just past Café Fina. The intentions of the van changed, and were not clear, which resulted in several riders in our group quickly adjusting their line and pace. This, by and large, resulted in the crashes.
Sure, accidents, by definition, happen, especially when it involves the uncertainty brought on by oncoming vehicles. But, that doesn’t mean we can’t, as a group, do a better job of following some riding rules to mitigate this from happening in the future. If we were more spaced out, none of these crashes would have happened. And as we’re amateurs, keeping space between our bikes should be the main rule.
The guidelines are in the attached PDF:
Off Road Caldera
Off Road mid-season report. With eight rides remaining this year our intrepid dirt riders are considering other venues in addition to the standby Rail Trail, which by the way, will be officially opening the new five mile upgrade segments sometime in July offering Santa Fe almost nine miles each way of class 5 multi-user trail. Also in July the bid to upgrade 1.7 more miles, segment 4 will be posted. Segment 4 crosses through the El Dorado community from Avenida Vista Grande to El Dorado Road. Completion of this segment is expected spring of 2016. The dirt riders have had as many as thirteen Tuesdays riders and as little as three Saturday riders. The first three rides were rained or snowed out.
One optional dirt venue adventure in the works is an outing to the Valles Caldera National Preserve, officially administratively transferred to the National Park Service on October 1, 2015. Distance from El Dorado to the Bull Pen staging area and home is 155 miles. Before an open invite to the club at large is offered, we thought it best to send an exploration party to veni vidi vici the riding realities. It is dang good we did too.This past weekend three senior riders, beginner, intermediate, and experienced stalwarts went a-scouting. They came, they saw, but perhaps did not completely conquer in the traditional sense, but lots was learned on the exciting if somewhat perilous journey. Our beginner, Meriwether Levy, valiant and ballsy scout, reported he walked more than pedaled the uphills, which was half the total recon; however, in the true spirit of outdoor adventure, he was thrilled with the trip and was glad to participate.
Meriwether Levy- “This was not a ride for SOB beginners. Wash outs, lots of rocks, part of the ride on single track, or no trail to speak of. I had an added challenge of vertigo, which is difficult to pedal on the side of a steep hill. Half the ride was climbing which I feel was too strenuous for a newbee. Even though I walked much of the climbing sections I enjoyed it. The scenery was fantastic.”
Meriwether Levy
The nine mile recommended beginner’s loop is not a senior’s beginner’s loop. In IMBA nomenclature it is mostly blue circle, intermediate difficulty, with spots of black diamond, advanced difficulty, climbing, and washout terrain. Sacagawea Martinez, our indomitable intermediate scout, now understands the purpose and value of full-suspension designed mountain bikes stating at trip’s end her body felt every single terrain rock, root, and hole vibration. Sacagawea Martinez- “The terrain was mainly rough and in many places the only evidence of a path was freshly mowed narrow swath of grass. We rolled over rocks and downed trees. There were some sandy areas that caused a small fish tail experience. The switchbacks often were sharp twists and steep in grade requiring rapid fire gear shifting or torture standing out of the saddle. While I am generally good at anticipating steep grade and down shifting, initial experiences proved challenging to watch the immediate challenges of ruts and gullies and upcoming steeper grade. All in all a lifetime experience. Hats off to Steve for organizing. The views are awesome and grand! GoPro directorial debut.”
Sacawagea Martinez with Caldera Recreational Supervisor Lance Weinbrenner.
Expedition perceptions of experienced scout. Beginners would have an exuberant outdoor experience provided their route stays on the main preserve dirt roads a choice of approximately 25 miles, no hazards, minimal climbing grades, and several staging areas or choices for re-groups, or a picnic lunch in the outback or on the porch of a couple cabin structures. Intermediate and advanced level dirt riders would have an unlimited energetic and joyful adventure on endless trails and high country lumber roads, provided they stay within their capabilities. For example, regardless of route, stick to a time limit, perhaps 60-90 minutes out and head for the barn. Fall and its brisk weather would be the best season, September, perhaps as late as October.
Bull Pen, SOB scout staging area 700 or 800 feet below expedition route.
Meriwether Levy and Longmire
SOB Group B- short video Bandolier Loop ride
Video from Ian’s helmet cam June 18th 2015.
Flat versus Drop Bars
Engineer Georgena Terry has been designing women specific bicycles for for thirty years. Twenty-five years ago my wife and I both rode her classic Butterfly saddles, an expensive $60 at the time, on our tandem, and I found that saddle design fit me better than the racing models available, and for years I rode Terry saddles on all my bikes. I wonder what that says about my butt anatomy? Butt that is another story. What I would like to share with you is her four minute video discussing flat bars versus drop bars.
Master age riders who do not maintain spinal flexibility in their cervical, thoracic, or lumbar regions may still find cycling comfort with a bit of bar, stem, and spacer research, to wit the following informative video. Ms. Terry makes valid efficiency points for curved or drop bars; however, most master age avid riders eventually become more concerned with comfort on our bikes versus racing or ergonomic efficiency.
If you are one of us who prefer comfort over speed these days, a couple viewings will give you food for thought. Her example body angle using the same bicycle cockpit length from the horizontal are:
Flat bars spine approximately 52 degrees
Drop bars hands on bar top spine approx. 47 degrees
Drop bars hands on hoods 44 degrees
Drop bars hand in the drops 31 degrees
Four or five degrees may not be much of an adjustment for our 12 thoracic vertebra; however, even two or three degrees do make a discernible difference to only 7 cervical vertebra vis-a-vis supporting 10 pounds of skull and brains, eyeballs, tongue, teeth… as much as 8 to 10 percent of our body weight. Think of it this way. The most comfortable head position is balanced on the spine with eyes looking straight ahead. As the spine angle changes our six very small ocular muscles quickly become strained when the eyes are continually rotated from the level position; ergo, cervical muscles compensate to keep the eyes in a level position. Herein rests the compromise decision between flat and drop bars for master age riders. https://youtu.be/fNNWH2C-Muc
http://www.terrybicycles.com/About-Us
Flat versus Drop Bars
Engineer Georgena Terry has been designing women specific bicycles for for thirty years. Twenty-five years ago my wife and I both rode her classic Butterfly saddles, an expensive $60 at the time, on our tandem, and I found that saddle design fit me better than the racing models available, and for years I rode Terry saddles on all my bikes. I wonder what that says about my butt anatomy? Butt that is another story. What I would like to share with you is her four minute video discussing flat bars versus drop bars.
Master age riders who do not maintain spinal flexibility in their cervical, thoracic, or lumbar regions may still find cycling comfort with a bit of bar, stem, and spacer research, to wit the following informative video. Ms. Terry makes valid efficiency points for curved or drop bars; however, most master age avid riders eventually become more concerned with comfort on our bikes versus racing or ergonomic efficiency.
If you are one of us who prefer comfort over speed these days, a couple viewings will give you food for thought. Her example body angle using the same bicycle cockpit length from the horizontal are:
Flat bars spine approximately 52 degrees
Drop bars hands on bar top spine approx. 47 degrees
Drop bars hands on hoods 44 degrees
Drop bars hand in the drops 31 degrees
Four or five degrees may not be much of an adjustment for our 12 thoracic vertebra; however, even two or three degrees do make a discernible difference to only 7 cervical vertebra vis-a-vis supporting 10 pounds of skull and brains, eyeballs, tongue, teeth… as much as 8 to 10 percent of our body weight. Think of it this way. The most comfortable head position is balanced on the spine with eyes looking straight ahead. As the spine angle changes our six very small ocular muscles quickly become strained when the eyes are continually rotated from the level position; ergo, cervical muscles compensate to keep the eyes in a level position. Herein rests the compromise decision between flat and drop bars for master age riders. https://youtu.be/fNNWH2C-Muc
http://www.terrybicycles.com/About-Us
Santa Fe Installs New Mexico’s First On-Street Bicycle Corral
A partnership between the City of Santa Fe Parking Division, Economic Development Division and the Santa Fe Metropolitan Planning Organization helped to further implement the 2012 Metropolitan Bicycle Master Plan by installing a Bicycle Corral along the South Guadalupe Business District.
The Bicycle Corral is a pilot project that will be monitored over the course of a year by the Santa Fe MPO. Safety issues were the primary driver of the location and design, however the purpose of the corral falls in line with a fundamental premise that corrals and other on-street bicycle facilities promote both bicycling and an increase in the economic livelihood of business districts.
Communities that have invested in corrals “have seen considerable economic benefits by attracting businesses, tourism and active residents,” according to Advocacy Advance – a partnership of the League of American Bicyclists and the Alliance for Biking & Walking.
On the launch of Santa Fe and New Mexico’s first ever Bicycle Corral, Mayor Javier M. Gonzales said, “This is big. First, it’s a meaningful part of our ongoing commitment to lower greenhouse gas emissions by encouraging Santa Feans to hop on a bike before they reach for their car keys. But it also promotes an active, outdoor economy that embraces and supports small, local businesses.”
He added, “Santa Feans should know their city is committed to becoming one of the most bikeable in the country, and initiatives like this send that signal loud and clear.”
The South Guadalupe Street Bike Corral can accommodate up to twelve bicycles, leaving the sidewalks open for pedestrians and sending a positive message to tourists and locals that Santa Fe is a bicycle friendly community. The owners of The Cowgirl BBQ have been supportive and enthusiastic since discussions of the project first began last year.
The City and the MPO will also be testing green pavement markings for bicycle routes along Camino Carlos Rey from Zia to Cerrillos Road this summer. For more information about bicycle corrals and other innovative bicycle investments please visit www.santafempo.org.
###