Conference noted::bicycle

    I bought a copy of this book back in July.  Though I have only taken
    3 or 4 rides from the book, I found that the maps/directions were
    pretty bad, mainly in terms of misnamed roads.  Luckily I was always
    in familiar territory so I knew ahead of time that the roads he
    mentioned did not exist.
    
    Hopefully some of these mistakes have been cleared up in the new
    edition.
    
    Otherwise, it's an interesting book.  The rides tend to go on real,
    honest to goodness back roads.  I would take my "old bike" out to
    go on most of the rides, since the alot of the rides would be on
    such bumpy roads that I din't want to risk denting a wheel or
    something.
    
    For amusing information, in the beginning of the book, the author
    tells you to budget 2 hours for a 15 mile ride, and he recommends
    putting something like a 32 tooth freewheel on your bike to make
    hill climbing easier.  He's definitely trying to attract the people
    who haven't sat on their bicycle in quite a while.
    
    	-Nancy
    

    re: .1  I recommend to many riders, active or not, to use a 32 tooth
    freewheel.  I believe most bikes today are overgeared, especially
    for the hilly terrain in Central Mass, NH, and Vt.  Older knees
    can sure use the help sometimes.
    
    The author was attempting to keep the book attractive for a wide
    audience.  If you are a rider just getting into the sport, hitting
    some hills in Central Mass with a racing cog could make your experience
    unpleasant.
    
    steve

    re .2	Errr, excuse ME  -  but are you the same Steve Fuller
    that rides a DeRosa with a 12-17 straight block and about a 45-53
    up front ?
    
    	Reg
    

    re: .3  That me, although I've moderated in my old age.
    
    Seriously, bikes should be set up for the use intended.  My racing
    bike has appropriate gears for going fast.  My touring bike is
    equiped with a 39x48 12x32 14 speed setup. I use and enjoy both
    bikes for their own purpose.  I think a lot of beginners will get
    discouraged put on a 1 mile climb with a 50 inch low gear.
    
    steve

>< Note 890.4 by AKOV11::FULLER >
>                          -< yea...I'm getting lazy >-
>
>    re: .3  That me, although I've moderated in my old age.
>    
>    Seriously, bikes should be set up for the use intended.  My racing
>    bike has appropriate gears for going fast.  My touring bike is
>    equiped with a 39x48 12x32 14 speed setup. I use and enjoy both
>    bikes for their own purpose.  I think a lot of beginners will get
>    discouraged put on a 1 mile climb with a 50 inch low gear.
>    
>    steve


Lets here it for people who realize that it is possible to have fun on a
bike at subsonic speeds. There is a large contingent of people (like
myself) that are truly weekend riders. I have been riding for quite a
while and have never enjoyed killing myself on hills, or flats for that
matter. Going up Green Street in Northboro, MA the hard way would be no
picnick with a 13-26/42-52 with a 30 lb kid on the back. My 32 makes it
possible. I have ridden several centuries climbed many mountains gone on
lots of camping tours etc. etc. Just at 12-14 mph, not 20-23. I have to 
agree that for some people to enjoy pleasure riding in central mass a 32 
is sound advice. 


Lets hear it for the slow pokes! :-)

JC

    I am curious, has anyone taken their 30lb kid on a quarter-century?
    
    I stripped my bike for doing half C's, and still have this years
    goal of a metric C (next year a full C! ;-)).  But think the kid
    would get crazy on a ride over 3 hours.
    
    I've been giving some thought to the quarter C with the kid
    though.
    
    Last year my wife and I used the Ayer-Pepperal covered bridge
    route out of the Short Ride Book (27 mile version) with both
    kids on the back and DIED!  We obviously did not do enough
    conditioning, but the book made it look like an EASY ride!
    
    It was a tactical disaster as far as family rides go, I have
    yet to get my wife to do more than 5 miles this year. :-(
    
    Her bike is geared to high as far as I'm concerend, but the
    trap is she won't get a new bike cause she dosn't ride enough.
    
    If I can just get her to look at a Terry!
    
    Dave

I have never really called a 25 mile ride a quarter C, but it sure 
sounds better. At the pace I ride with the 30 lb kid a 25 mile ride is 
about 2 hours. This is a little long, but it can be done with planning. 
I have had the best succes with long rides by planning a picnick at the 
halfway point. This gives the kid a chance to get his/her "wiggles" out. 
This also gives the parents a chance to rest a bit too. The other key is 
raisins in little boxes. David will eat two or three on this type of 
ride. This will help occupy the time. I also spend a lot of time talking 
to David. "look at the cows", "what do they say?", "see the truck about 
to hit us?" etc. Make it fun.

As far as tactical errors go it may be a long time before you will get 
your wife into it again. The only thing I can suggest is to make long 
rides out of short ones. For example instead of going for an 8 mile 
ride, lets go for a picknick that is only 4 miles each way. Break them 
up. Getting conditioned for strength is largely cumulative at this 
point so nothing is lost by stopping to rest. 

You don't need to buy a new bike to gear your wife's bike lower. A new 
cluster will do the same thing. They are inexpensive.

Good luck!

Some day you will be complaining that you can't keep up with your child.

JC

    I have gone on rides of up to 3 hours with my 4 year old, but we
    usually only go for about 1 and 1/2 hours.  To break it up we stop
    at parks that we pass.  Trying to stop about every hour or so. 
    
    I also find it helps to point out sites and animals as we pass them.
    My son knows where all the possible cow sitings are on all our rides
    and it gives him something to look forward to. 
    
    You can get a trailer cart (bugger II?) that will hold 2 kids of
    up to 40 lbs each.  Then you can do all the pulling, that might
    help getting your wife to go with you.  
    
    neil

    	I have a bugger that i pulled a 60# kid in. Some things you need
    to look out for is up hills and down hills. You need low gears to
    go up hill, I have 28 front and 34 rear. For down hill you realy
    need good breaks.
    	I have solved my problem she now rides the back of my tandem.
        

    RE: .6
    I did the Ayer/Pepperell covered bridge route by myself.  I thought
    I was in pretty good condition but it exhausted me too.
    
    I found the book to be very accurate on the two rides I have used
    so far.
    
    Bob

    I may buy the book...but not from Steve