ascentale, to random
@ascentale@sfba.social avatar

And the last question (hope it's okay that this ended up being a Q8, @trouble)

Q8. What's the most recent thing you bought/added to your bike? Or clothing, or any cycling related thing. Anything new or fun?

moira,
@moira@mastodon.murkworks.net avatar

@ascentale @trouble A8: depends on how you count it! Either the spoke reflectors or if you include the cargo carrier I’ve been modding with new parts, the latest version of the front wheel mounting system. Less noise now, which I think we can all agree is good ^_^

ai6yr,

@ascentale @trouble A8. Rear cargo rack I found at a garage sale for $2. AWESOMENESS! Now I'm thinking fenders and panniers for full utility bike geekery! WOOOHOO!

marcprecipice,
@marcprecipice@xoxo.zone avatar

@ascentale @trouble A8. Uhhhhhh I added a bubble machine on the back of my bike trailer. 🫣🚲🫧 My friend Molly had one and I asked her about it. It was very popular at and at ! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B019QDNC92

enobacon,
@enobacon@urbanists.social avatar

@lkanies @marcprecipice @ascentale @trouble seems a bit overpowered though, as bubble-making goes, I clicked through expecting to see something much much less serious like the device would be a clown holding a pinwheel of bubble wands, mine is a duck and it quacks while dispensing bubbles, I never quite got the mounting and remote activation worked out on the xtracycle though, someone should make one with a 7/8-ish clamp and wire to a remote button.

ascentale, to random
@ascentale@sfba.social avatar

@SRLevine asks about flat tires:

Q7. How do you define a pinch flat?

I always thought it was having a classic "snakebite" pattern and that other things don't use that term, but the shop I went to this week seems to use it differently (in a more rubbing situation maybe?), so I think my definition is maybe too restrictive.

(Do you have any pinch flat stories?)

MartyCormack,
@MartyCormack@urbanists.social avatar

@ascentale @SRLevine
A7:
My best pinch flat story is the time that I first did a road ride in 95+F weather. I did not adjust the tire inflation to account to the heat and then I was inflating a bit too much back then anyway. It started getting really hot and when I hit a bump, "POP!" It was so hot that whenever I looked down to work on the replacement tube, the sweat rolled off my forehead like I turned on a faucet!

ai6yr,

@ascentale @SRLevine A7. That would be the giant hole in the side of the tube I put in about the first 4 or 5 tires I changed when I was in high school... and not until recently did I figure out why I was doing tire changes wrong (thanks, YouTube!). I really could have used some help when I was a kid on these kinds of things, but I was basically a loner who had to figure things out myself.

ascentale, to random
@ascentale@sfba.social avatar

@pete asks about group rides with electric + non-electric cycles:

Q6. We have problems making group MTB rides work when eBikers join us for fastish-paced rides: essentially they’re too fast on the ups and too slow on the flats for group cohesion. Anyone have any tips for making mixed eeb/regular groups work?

]

ai6yr,

@ascentale @pete : A6. Uhh.. decided not to mention anything lest the e-bikers pile on again 🤪

ascentale, to random
@ascentale@sfba.social avatar

@MartyCormack asks:

Q4. Most cyclists drive motor vehicles at least sometimes, and some more frequently.

How has your cycling affected the way you drive? Are you slower and more careful? Do you do anything differently when encountering cyclists on the streets?

meganL,
@meganL@mas.to avatar

@ascentale @MartyCormack A4. Not so much changed as formed it - I've been cycling ever since I was old enough to ride a bicycle unassisted. I learned to drive when I was 15 - 16. So I learned to drive as someone who'd already done bicycle touring on busy streets and rural roads.

Driver education tells us to look around constantly but lots of ppl don't do it. I do. (cont'd)

moira,
@moira@mastodon.murkworks.net avatar

@meganL @ascentale @MartyCormack ah yeah I didn’t learn to drive until I was in… no! Almost in grad school but not quite yet.

ai6yr,

@ascentale @MartyCormack A4. Most certainly. I am guilty of being a car-centric person until very recently (thanks to all the toots here, LOL... you all convinced me to get on the bike again). Definitely slower, and I also am a LOT more aware of areas I should be watching out for cyclists (ie, places where I find myself being very careful due to traffic).

ascentale, to random
@ascentale@sfba.social avatar

This is a question from @RossA that I had missed from a while ago:

Q3. I'm currently struggling to find the ‘mojo’ to get out cycling regularly. What do others do to keep the cycling fresh and fun?

(If I've missed your question before, don't feel bad if you need to remind me as I have missed a few. Using the BikeNitePQ hashtag helps)

meganL,
@meganL@mas.to avatar

@ascentale @RossA A3. When I developed a lunchtime exercise habit back when I worked a 9 - 5 job, it really put me in touch with seasonal changes, especially of plants. I had to take the same route due to lack of time for lunch. So I got to observe changes in the same front gardens over the weeks. I learned a lot!

So I'd say that plant and/or animal spotting can really make it more interesting. I also do infrastructure spotting - "reading" our sub/urban and rural landscapes.

moira,
@moira@mastodon.murkworks.net avatar

@ascentale @RossA A3: I bike like most Americans drive BUT new routes (even minor variations) to the same places are good, so is finding other new ways to do things, e.g. my ongoing cargo trailer adventures and if you go far enough you might start making bike maps

nickzoic,
@nickzoic@aus.social avatar

@meganL @ascentale @RossA A3: hey that's a good one, next time I can't get enthused about I'll try and convince myself I'm going on a :-)

skyfaller, (edited )
@skyfaller@jawns.club avatar

@nickzoic @meganL @ascentale @RossA A3: I stopped to eat an apple on my bike ride home today, and I saw what I'm pretty sure is a warbling vireo.

I think bike commuting is a great way to bird watch; you can just stop when you hear birdsong you don't recognize, and your mode of transportation is quiet enough you don't drown out the birds.

EDIT: Also sign up for nature walks in parks you haven't visited before, then use your bike to get there.

skyfaller,
@skyfaller@jawns.club avatar

@ascentale @RossA A3: I hesitate to recommend a potentially addicting game, but I used to be a heavy player of AR game Ingress (predecessor of Pokemon Go): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ingress_%28video_game%29

You travel to real world locations to take in-game actions, which made me visit places I never would have otherwise, like random cemeteries, or main streets that aren't on my regular commuting corridors.

Bicycles are very powerful in Ingress, especially in cities where bikes are faster/nimbler than cars.

ascentale, to random
@ascentale@sfba.social avatar

Next question is from @heapy via @edd:

Q2. I'm thinking of getting a folding bike on the cycle to work scheme, to help with each end of a mainly train-based commute once or twice a month. Any recommendations/avoids for a hefty 6ft3 chunky monkey? (Me)

ascentale, to random
@ascentale@sfba.social avatar

Welcome to the May 17th BikeNite! Thanks for joining, and I hope we all enjoy chatting about cycle stuff! Feel free to answer whenever at your convenience. Anyone can join, now or later. Reply to what you like, and boost for visibility.

We'll start out with our introduction (with help from @jfparis)

Q1. Where are you posting from today? How long was your last ride? And how long is your usual ride to work/uni/school/whatever?

moira,
@moira@mastodon.murkworks.net avatar

@ascentale @jfparis A1: I am posting from a bit east of here in North King County!

also idk uh this one is… 14 miles? no “usual” though the short just to do it is 8mi.

ai6yr,

@ascentale @jfparis A1. Ventura County, California. My last ride was... long. I am sore. 8 miles... with lots of hills and dodging semis. Oops! I usually ride a fraction of that--3 miles, at most. I am tempted to take a hot shower and go to sleep, and it's only 5:22 pm today (ride was yesterday). Do not recommend, LOL.

ascentale, to random
@ascentale@sfba.social avatar

@carolski asks:

Q6. It be a little niche, but my is about hauling things. Can anyone speak from experience on the use of a bike trailer for hauling a kayak or SUP short (or long) distances? Especially if there were small hills involved.Thanks!

(And if you haven't, do you know of any other interesting purpose built hauling apparatus that connects to a cycle?)

skinnylatte,
@skinnylatte@hachyderm.io avatar

@epu @ascentale @carolski i don't know where you are but i'm in SF, i might come by the east bay some time and arrange something with folks perhaps?

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