And our last question of the week:
Q8. Do you have any photos, cycling related or not, to share from the past week? Tell us about it!
#BikeNiteQ #BikeNite #BikeTooter #Cycling #MastoBikes cc @bikenite
And our last question of the week:
Q8. Do you have any photos, cycling related or not, to share from the past week? Tell us about it!
#BikeNiteQ #BikeNite #BikeTooter #Cycling #MastoBikes cc @bikenite
@ascentale @bikenite #bikenite A8. Heading south on an exposed straight gravel road, leaning to the right into near gale-force winds from the west, and trying to stay out of the deep sand sections. After taking over an hour for 16km it stopped being fun so i called family to come and collect me
@ajft @ascentale @bikenite I had a similar experience yesterday on my return along the Arakawa. Beautiful day otherwise.
A8. This sign stands at the entrance to the Arakawa cycling course next to the Toda Bridge (which is where I most often join the course). It marks the beginning and also the end of the "proper" bike ride (i.e., along the river rather than in traffic). The lettering has long since faded. I was amused yesterday to see people have been tagging it by writing in the dust.
@ascentale @bikenite
Took a walk on Hennepin Ave earlier this week. Minneapolis just completed a 2-year makeover between Lake Street & Franklin Ave. It's a major improvement, providing good infrastructure for walk & bike & autos in that ~1 mi stretch. Also of note: The City has done a good job keeping the three (walk, bike, auto) types of lanes clear of snow & ice in this stretch, in contrast to surrounding neighborhoods.
Additional detail in alt text for each pic. #BikeNite A8 #MNastodon 1/2
@MarkBrigham @ascentale @bikenite On my ride yesterday I couldn't go more than a couple of blocks between cars parked in the bike line. (NB for the most part just sharrows along the curb.) The parked vehicles would sometimes cause a back-up in traffic too as car changed lanes to get around.
This looks a lot better.
@ascentale @bikenite 2/2
continued: Hennepin Av South of Lake street gets worse from a wintertime bike & walk perspective. One block (between 31st and Lake) is decent. South of 31st, and it's poorly shoveled sidewalks and bike lanes, with cars winning out. Details in alt text. #BikeNite A8 #MNastodon
@ascentale @bikenite #BikeNite A8: The first picture is from my morning commute this Thursday. I discovered that now a Kindergarten sledge run seems to run over my usual commute route.
Unfortunately in the evening most snow was either gone or converted to slippery and partially icy slush. Friday was even a bit warmer, but now it gets colder again. ☃️🥳
The other two pictures are from #BikeTouring during my winter holidays in the 2 weeks after Christmas. (So yes, not really from the past week. 😇)
@ascentale @bikenite A8 #BikeNite We've had a spell of freezing but still dry weather that made for some amazing riding. I met some inquisitive—may one day trample me to death—cattle on a trail the other day and had fun picking a line through them before they gave up chasing and just stood and stared again.
@pete @ascentale @bikenite Last time I was cycling in England the path took us right through a herd of grazing cattle. And (ulp!) some had horns!
I very carefully ascertained that all had udders before continuing.
@oheso @pete @ascentale @bikenite Here in Austria, somebody gets killed by alpine cattle almost every year. And it's very rarely a bull. Cows with calves are the most dangerous. Often set off by someone showing up with a dog.
@twobiscuits @oheso @pete @ascentale @bikenite Around here the forest service lets ranchers graze bulls as well as cows on public land (despite the fact that there's a big problem with feral cattle in areas where they're not supposed to be, and you'd think allowing bulls out there would lead to more feral cattle). We've had to deal with bulls on hikes, though I haven't encountered any while biking. But @twobiscuits is right, cows can be pretty dangerous too.
@akkana @twobiscuits @oheso @ascentale @bikenite I think there’s only certain ‘safe’ breeds they’re allowed to have in fields with access, but I’m still wary around them. It’s scary when they get spooked and stampede alongside you.
@pete @akkana @twobiscuits @oheso @ascentale @bikenite
One of the issues in the UK (I say confidently as a towny) is that people are used to seeing cows on the other side of the fence, and assume they're always docile lumps eating grass.
I've been lucky that the worst cow related incident I've had was one very persistently trying to eat my hood.
@ascentale @bikenite A8. The bike lane I was in today when the BMW cut in front of me to enter the parking lot. Maybe there is too much of a buffer here? Of all the places I thought I might get wacked, this was not on the list. #BikeNite
A8
Last few days were nice fat biking in woods with decent snow cover. 42°F tonight, I can just *feel* the snow melting. 🫠
#BikeTooter #BikeNite
@ascentale @bikenite A8: here’s one from my commute this morning. #BikeNite
@ascentale @bikenite #BikeNite A8. Not a photo, a screenshot of data from the National Safety Council on bicycle-related injuries and fatalities, showing nonfatal bicycle injuries are disproportionately suffered by young males, fatal bicycle injuries are disproportionately suffered by males aged 50-74, and a dramatic rise in the number of fatalities among males, as well as disproportionate rates of injury and fatality suffered by males, from 1999-2023. Be careful out there, gentlemen!
@gcvsa @ascentale @bikenite Excellent. I'm in peak death years.
(Wonder what this looks like when normalized to number of riders in the respective groups. Probably even worse for my cohort ... )
A8. Today was good.
#BikeNite
#RootRiverTrail #Minnesota #MNastodon
@ascentale @bikenite I've been trying to figure out how to get these "mounting disks" to clip on regardless of spoke diameter. Several iterations later and I have something that works for spokes from 1.8mm to 2.4mm.
They're purple because that's what color filament was in the 3D printer that day.
@yantor3d @ascentale @bikenite they look cool but what are they for?
@moira @ascentale @bikenite They're for the bike wheel light kit I designed. The current mounting disks only fit 2mm spokes.
https://www.instructables.com/DIY-3D-Printed-Rechargeable-Bike-Wheel-Lights/
@ascentale @bikenite
A8.
This is the view from my new house; that embankment at the far back is the Trans-Canada Trail. I can't wait for the snow to melt so we can get our bikes out there.
@ascentale @bikenite A8: Anna got me turn signals for new year's! I've got 'em on bike AND on new trailer! 😁 😁 :D
Those are cool! Who makes them?
@theantlady @ascentale @bikenite Lumos. You need the remote also, which is separate, because normally these are all accessories to the helmet. (Which includes a remote if you buy it.)
You don't get the automatic brake lights without the helmet, tho'. Apparently that's where the accelerometer lives.
@moira @theantlady @ascentale @bikenite I’m definitely interested if I can afford them and get them shipped here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGE9OZC80U8 #BikeNite
YouTube