tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post8318773080996810572..comments2024-02-27T01:52:06.519-08:00Comments on Kent's Bike Blog: Life at Twelve Miles Per HourKent Petersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12906603746565831689noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-57407806356012731232009-06-17T19:11:09.678-07:002009-06-17T19:11:09.678-07:00What a nice, nice post. Thank you.What a nice, nice post. Thank you.Some Guyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11334013629367530537noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-52462570690238654922007-05-25T18:19:00.000-07:002007-05-25T18:19:00.000-07:00Thanks for a great post. I found your blog from a ...Thanks for a great post. I found your blog from a link from Crazy Biker Chick to your Cue Sheet post. I just got a nice fast bike, and I love it, and I also love my older sturdy hybrid. Like you say, it's life on the bike I like more than speed. I found when looking for bikes and bike stuff that many people and many bike-shop employees are always trying to move (me) up to the next level. I had a good idea of what level I wanted and tried to stay there, at a comfortable speed.Alexishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15019989788721036349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-33083290757874882752007-05-11T19:11:00.000-07:002007-05-11T19:11:00.000-07:00Kent ...Great commentary on "simplicity" ... I som...Kent ...<BR/><BR/>Great commentary on "simplicity" ... I sometimes find myself wondering why I don't long for all the bells, whistles, carbon fiber and $250 cycling shoes that I see other riders using ... typically to no avail (they really don’t seem all that more efficient). I admit, I love tinkering with my bikes and getting new stuff for 'em, however, my latest component was MKS Touring pedals, with no retention, for my Redline 925. As practical as I think Power Grips are, and I did have them on my bike all last year, I think I’m subconsciously , perhaps purposely , trying to take my riding experience to its simplest form. <BR/><BR/>I still feel somewhat like a outsider when I ride as I look decidely different than the vast majority of the “Lance” wannabees on the road … but, the more I do my own thing and ignore the hype, the more I think I’m right with my philosophy … keep up the thoughtful incite, it's really refreshing.<BR/><BR/>Chris / Novi, MIAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-79644666534435392372007-05-11T15:25:00.000-07:002007-05-11T15:25:00.000-07:00I do a couple of things that began by accident but...I do a couple of things that began by accident but now I see they might be by design as well.<BR/><BR/>1. I use a mechanical cyclometer, that mounts to the right side of my fork dropout. It's far enough away from my eyes that I only glance at it periodically. Since affixing a handlebar bag to my bike, the cyclometer has become hard to see wthout turning my head oddly, so I look at it even less now. I just use to tell me how many miles I rode that day.<BR/><BR/>2. I always make sure that the first thing I write in my bike log each day is NOT miles ridden, but how I felt or what I saw or heard along the way. (And of course, I write by hand in a recycled notebook, which slows down my thinking some and helps me relax.)<BR/><BR/>My cruising speed is between 9 and 10 mph (I'm an even slower turtle than you!) and most days that feels okay. Maybe not fast enough for a brevet but still enough like floating that, unless I'm late for work or something, it suits me fine.<BR/><BR/>It's all about riding your bike. Thanks for the reminder.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-67446088772182314282007-05-11T10:37:00.000-07:002007-05-11T10:37:00.000-07:00On my first 200k this season I was riding my recen...On my first 200k this season I was riding my recently rebuilt brevet bike. It is a large frame with high bars and the magnet was to far from the computer. No speed read out. Since I stopped to fiddle with things I was now off the back with no other riders in site. I continued on my way in a bit of a funk. I contemplated just calling it a day. Then I thought what would I do in the middle of a PBP if my computer failed? I realized the clock was still working on the computer and figured 12mph or 5 min miles was about right. It worked well, I navigated through the first half of the course on my own with no problems. At that point I caught some other riders and road with them the rest of the ride.Larryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12331752619520724148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-65387146794250985452007-05-10T12:49:00.000-07:002007-05-10T12:49:00.000-07:00Well stated. Einstein said, "Keep it as simple as ...Well stated. Einstein said, "Keep it as simple as possible, but not one bit simpler"Dr. Loganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16542493767359114575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-62268031896747710172007-05-10T08:33:00.000-07:002007-05-10T08:33:00.000-07:00Amen Kent. The older I get, the less I care how m...Amen Kent. The older I get, the less I care how much the bike cost, or how "cool" the parts. I watch some people dropping $5k on a road or mountain bike, with the intent of going faster, being lighter, more suspension travel, etc....<BR/><BR/>Been there done that. Never made me happier, faster, or better. Just poorer!<BR/><BR/>I prefer 14mph myself...<BR/><BR/>: )monk3y mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14814335144217621505noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-78113650913055909662007-05-10T07:50:00.000-07:002007-05-10T07:50:00.000-07:00You are my teacher.You are my teacher.Hjaltihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11098720682343665763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-12735161440307871162007-05-09T20:54:00.000-07:002007-05-09T20:54:00.000-07:00Slow is nice!Good stuff Kent!Slow is nice!<BR/><BR/>Good stuff Kent!FixieDavehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04685170404057881390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-19573993191774823492007-05-09T17:05:00.000-07:002007-05-09T17:05:00.000-07:00Kent: I figured about five minutes per mile, kept ...Kent: <BR/>I figured about five minutes per mile, kept my eyes open for the next turn and really enjoyed looking at the scenery instead of staring at the numbers on a cycle-computer.<BR/><BR/>Me: <BR/>You do that too?<BR/><BR/>I might adjust the time a little for riding pace on a brevet, but I estimate 5 MPM and have a clock (from Aerostich) on my stem for backup. I don't give a hoot about other data, I just care about not missing the turn.<BR/><BR/>How far to the next turn?<BR/>I check the cue sheet.<BR/>A quick and easy calculation in my head and that distance becomes a time. Add it to the current time and I get my turn time.<BR/><BR/>I ride on and glance at the watch every now and then, but typically once just before my turn.<BR/><BR/>I won't get a minute beyond a missed turn unless the cue sheet is wrong. Watching for road signs usually prevents that.<BR/><BR/>My estimation of distance and time while riding has become more acute with practice. If I'm fast or slow due to grade, I'll nudge my "look-for-the-turn mark" a little.<BR/><BR/>If anything I'm usually alerted to the turn a wee bit early.<BR/><BR/>It works out fine and I pay more attention to the ride environment and how my body feels.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-48024619018037045632007-05-09T11:26:00.000-07:002007-05-09T11:26:00.000-07:00If you read through my old randonneuring and touri...If you read through my old randonneuring and touring reports, you'll see that I've done full brevet series on fixies, including the Rocky Mountain 1200 twice on a fixed gear. And I did that fixed gear tour back to Minnesota a few years ago. And that single speed GDR thing.<BR/><BR/>So yeah, that simple bike thing is kind of a recuring theme with me!Kent Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01607372827627527450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-73465193798932364962007-05-09T11:20:00.000-07:002007-05-09T11:20:00.000-07:00true indeed, simplicity is a better goal than havi...true indeed, simplicity is a better goal than having the next un-obtanium frame or the latest oakley aero-glasses.<BR/><BR/>ever thought of trying a single-speed or fixed gear on the brevets? fixies are the height of simplicity, although they can be a knee-killer for sure! i rode the (two day) Seattle-to-Portland on a fixie, it was great not having to shift at all.<BR/><BR/>keep up the milage!!matt mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16714669646251289155noreply@blogger.com