"Wow, it's so green here!" I said on my first visits to Seattle. "Wow, it's beautiful with so many trails through the trees and thick forests" I continued to say. Well, guess why? It rains. It rains a lot and when it's not raining it's drizzling and when it's not drizzling it's grey and moist.
What to wear riding? In nice weather for errands and such I'll normally just wear jeans or whatever is on my legs at the time. The secret to happiness and joy in Seattle is wool and/or long winter underwear.
I wrote about the long johns here:
http://madeinusareviews.blogspot.com/2012/04/its-rei-dividend-time.html
I just got a pair of Ibex wool cycling capris:
http://shop.ibex.com/Apparel/Womens-Ride/W-El-Fito-3-4
I love them. The chamois is minimal, I happen to like that. The fit is tight but still of course not restrictive. The length is perfect for me which is hard to find because I'm vertically challenged. Because it's wool if I wear these on an errand or such it does not quite look like I came in out of a spin class. The fabric looks like a quality wool because it is. Just enough stretchy fabric to give a nice fit.
You can search Ibex catalog for Made in USA and they give a cheery little flag on the page of each item that is.
Showing posts with label bicycle commute. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bicycle commute. Show all posts
11/15/12
11/1/12
Miss MUT manners
Maybe you ride a lot already, if so you may wish to skip this. Maybe you want to start. Good. I hope my musings help.
There are unwritten rules on a MUT (multi use trail). They are not hard and fast rules. MUT manners are a combination of behavior based on traffic law and good ol' common sense.
Let's start with a few I feel are based on traffic law.
Most trails are not divided by a center line. If yours isn't imagine the line and stay to the right of it. Within that is another imaginary lane. If you're slower stay to the right. Slower than what? Slower than anyone at any time at any place on the trail. Slower than traffic ahead or even those bringing up the rear (use a mirror for that).
Just like cars we pass on the left.
Ahead of you is a kid with or without doting parents, or me jogging the elderly dog. You're faster than us so you call out and pass on the left.
The traditional cyclist call out is "on your left". I rarely use that. If I'm passing a new or newer rider or a child when I say "on your left" they will move to the left and run right smack dab into me.
Variations we use:
* a cheerful "passing on your left"
* hello! also said cheerfully
* good morning/afternoon/evening ... also cheerful
We prefer to use bells. The bright sound of a bicycle bell is understood by all. It's more fun for you than constantly calling out and it makes people feel good. It's lighthearted and fun.
We often encounter the tri or time trial training cyclist with or without peloton on the MUT. Their call-outs sound like this from afar:
ON.YOUR.LEFT!!!
passing ON.YOUR.LEFT!!!
LEFT.LEFT.LEFT.LEFT.LEFT !!!!!
Dude (it's mostly dudes) the M in MUT is mixed use. Meaning kids, trikkes, roller blades, hybrid bikes, new and newer cyclists. if you're so much faster than everyone else get some sleep and ride very early or late when the traffic is light or get out on the road. Or instead of yelling at us get a cheerful bicycle bell! It will look so Euro racer on your Cervello TT bike.
If you want to ride with us MUT's great!! Slow down, call out or ring your pretty bell, pass and accelerate out. Interval training after all is how you get faster. Insisting on coasting at your same speed to the detriment of the rest of us is not how to train.
There are unwritten rules on a MUT (multi use trail). They are not hard and fast rules. MUT manners are a combination of behavior based on traffic law and good ol' common sense.
Let's start with a few I feel are based on traffic law.
Most trails are not divided by a center line. If yours isn't imagine the line and stay to the right of it. Within that is another imaginary lane. If you're slower stay to the right. Slower than what? Slower than anyone at any time at any place on the trail. Slower than traffic ahead or even those bringing up the rear (use a mirror for that).
Just like cars we pass on the left.
Ahead of you is a kid with or without doting parents, or me jogging the elderly dog. You're faster than us so you call out and pass on the left.
The traditional cyclist call out is "on your left". I rarely use that. If I'm passing a new or newer rider or a child when I say "on your left" they will move to the left and run right smack dab into me.
Variations we use:
* a cheerful "passing on your left"
* hello! also said cheerfully
* good morning/afternoon/evening ... also cheerful
We prefer to use bells. The bright sound of a bicycle bell is understood by all. It's more fun for you than constantly calling out and it makes people feel good. It's lighthearted and fun.
We often encounter the tri or time trial training cyclist with or without peloton on the MUT. Their call-outs sound like this from afar:
ON.YOUR.LEFT!!!
passing ON.YOUR.LEFT!!!
LEFT.LEFT.LEFT.LEFT.LEFT !!!!!
Dude (it's mostly dudes) the M in MUT is mixed use. Meaning kids, trikkes, roller blades, hybrid bikes, new and newer cyclists. if you're so much faster than everyone else get some sleep and ride very early or late when the traffic is light or get out on the road. Or instead of yelling at us get a cheerful bicycle bell! It will look so Euro racer on your Cervello TT bike.
If you want to ride with us MUT's great!! Slow down, call out or ring your pretty bell, pass and accelerate out. Interval training after all is how you get faster. Insisting on coasting at your same speed to the detriment of the rest of us is not how to train.
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