Comments for Bicycling in Bloomington http://bikingbloom.wordpress.com Biking in the Bloomington Indiana Area Mon, 22 Sep 2008 21:06:44 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on On Roads, Off-Road Ride by Ear to the Breeze » Blog Archive » A bike ride http://bikingbloom.wordpress.com/2008/03/16/78/#comment-522 Ear to the Breeze » Blog Archive » A bike ride Mon, 22 Sep 2008 21:06:44 +0000 http://bikingbloom.wordpress.com/2008/03/16/78/#comment-522 [...] end of Friendship Road to see the waterfowl sanctuary and find out what else is there. I remembered reading about it in the Bicycling in Bloomington blog, although I took Lampkins Ridge instead of Gross Road to get [...] [...] end of Friendship Road to see the waterfowl sanctuary and find out what else is there. I remembered reading about it in the Bicycling in Bloomington blog, although I took Lampkins Ridge instead of Gross Road to get [...]

]]> Comment on Hitting the Hills by Editor http://bikingbloom.wordpress.com/2008/09/12/hitting-the-hills/#comment-520 Editor Fri, 12 Sep 2008 18:48:01 +0000 http://bikingbloom.wordpress.com/?p=124#comment-520 I think the 34/27 is what I need. It would make hills much easier. My three smallest cogs are only used by mistake or when I'm on the indoor trainer. I think the 34/27 is what I need. It would make hills much easier.

My three smallest cogs are only used by mistake or when I’m on the indoor trainer.

]]> Comment on Hitting the Hills by William Loring http://bikingbloom.wordpress.com/2008/09/12/hitting-the-hills/#comment-519 William Loring Fri, 12 Sep 2008 18:39:47 +0000 http://bikingbloom.wordpress.com/?p=124#comment-519 I don't know if you need a triple yet... perhaps compact gearing up front (50-34) and a larger ratio in the rear. Perhaps a 12-25, or even a 12-27. I think that would work pretty well for you. Modern road bikes are overgeared for non-racers. Who among us is likely to regularly spin out a 53/11? I am very happy with the 50t ring I put on my crankset last year. Although I'm still stuck with the 39 on the inside. Would have to get a new crank to go smaller than that. 39 works well up here in the flat north. I don’t know if you need a triple yet… perhaps compact gearing up front (50-34) and a larger ratio in the rear. Perhaps a 12-25, or even a 12-27. I think that would work pretty well for you.

Modern road bikes are overgeared for non-racers. Who among us is likely to regularly spin out a 53/11? I am very happy with the 50t ring I put on my crankset last year. Although I’m still stuck with the 39 on the inside. Would have to get a new crank to go smaller than that. 39 works well up here in the flat north.

]]> Comment on Hitting the Hills by Apertome http://bikingbloom.wordpress.com/2008/09/12/hitting-the-hills/#comment-518 Apertome Fri, 12 Sep 2008 04:31:40 +0000 http://bikingbloom.wordpress.com/?p=124#comment-518 Those all sound like fun rides. I'm not fond of Wapehani -- it's just too rough and to me it doesn't pay off. Brown County is great, though. I've never ridden Miller or May, I'll have to try both at some point. Boltinghouse is the one I thought had the reputation for being the hardest, but maybe not. And yes,that North Shore hill is really tough! Which way do you go on Miller, I guess it must be from Shilo to Robinson, and not the other way around? Those all sound like fun rides. I’m not fond of Wapehani — it’s just too rough and to me it doesn’t pay off. Brown County is great, though.

I’ve never ridden Miller or May, I’ll have to try both at some point. Boltinghouse is the one I thought had the reputation for being the hardest, but maybe not. And yes,that North Shore hill is really tough!

Which way do you go on Miller, I guess it must be from Shilo to Robinson, and not the other way around?

]]> Comment on Ridings and Ramblings by William Loring http://bikingbloom.wordpress.com/2008/08/29/ridings-and-ramblings/#comment-515 William Loring Fri, 29 Aug 2008 15:45:57 +0000 http://bikingbloom.wordpress.com/?p=120#comment-515 Another bad tire? Was that on the mountain bike, or on the commuter? Glad that the drivetrains are working well now. Another bad tire? Was that on the mountain bike, or on the commuter?

Glad that the drivetrains are working well now.

]]> Comment on Ridings and Ramblings by Apertome http://bikingbloom.wordpress.com/2008/08/29/ridings-and-ramblings/#comment-513 Apertome Fri, 29 Aug 2008 03:01:47 +0000 http://bikingbloom.wordpress.com/?p=120#comment-513 Friendship is a fun road -- the gravel is indeed a bit loose and sketchy, though. Anyway I went back and read your post from before about Friendship Road, and I chuckled a bit at the comment I left at that time. I have been really enjoying gravel roads lately ... I need to hit some more of them! It's a real joy on my new bike. Friendship is a fun road — the gravel is indeed a bit loose and sketchy, though. Anyway I went back and read your post from before about Friendship Road, and I chuckled a bit at the comment I left at that time. I have been really enjoying gravel roads lately … I need to hit some more of them! It’s a real joy on my new bike.

]]> Comment on Fun Week and Riding Was a Big Part of It by indytriple http://bikingbloom.wordpress.com/2008/07/31/fun-week-and-riding-was-a-big-part-of-it/#comment-506 indytriple Sat, 02 Aug 2008 12:52:29 +0000 http://bikingbloom.wordpress.com/?p=116#comment-506 Glad to hear that you had a nice ride! The Brown County mountain bike trail system is becoming popular with an awful lot of folks, including out-of-state folks. As new and different trails open, the popularity is certain to increase. Apertome is right, you should check out the new trails across the street from Hesitation Point. There is a really nice trail that leads from there all the way around past Walnut Shelter then on to Hoosier's Nest and all the way around to the campground. There are some very tough sections, but there are also some really flowy, fun sections. It's worth checking out. In a few months, they will also open the new, amazing expert trail that will connect to this and form a loop. Check out this forum thread on HMBA that describes in detail their progress and what they are doing. I've hiked and ridden portions of it already, and all I can say is "Wow!". <a href="http://www.hmba.org/smf/index.php?topic=4630.msg34214#msg34214" rel="nofollow">HMBA BCSP Trailbuilding Thread</a> The official spot and the best cache of info on BC mountain biking is always <a href="http://www.browncountymountainbiking.com" rel="nofollow">browncountymountainbiking.com</a> Glad to hear that you had a nice ride! The Brown County mountain bike trail system is becoming popular with an awful lot of folks, including out-of-state folks. As new and different trails open, the popularity is certain to increase. Apertome is right, you should check out the new trails across the street from Hesitation Point. There is a really nice trail that leads from there all the way around past Walnut Shelter then on to Hoosier’s Nest and all the way around to the campground. There are some very tough sections, but there are also some really flowy, fun sections. It’s worth checking out. In a few months, they will also open the new, amazing expert trail that will connect to this and form a loop. Check out this forum thread on HMBA that describes in detail their progress and what they are doing. I’ve hiked and ridden portions of it already, and all I can say is “Wow!”.

HMBA BCSP Trailbuilding Thread

The official spot and the best cache of info on BC mountain biking is always browncountymountainbiking.com

]]> Comment on Fun Week and Riding Was a Big Part of It by Apertome http://bikingbloom.wordpress.com/2008/07/31/fun-week-and-riding-was-a-big-part-of-it/#comment-505 Apertome Thu, 31 Jul 2008 16:32:44 +0000 http://bikingbloom.wordpress.com/?p=116#comment-505 I love those trails. You should go over and ride the new ones that start across from Hesitation Point. I haven't been able to go mountain biking since I injured my hand, and it's driving me nuts! I love those trails. You should go over and ride the new ones that start across from Hesitation Point.

I haven’t been able to go mountain biking since I injured my hand, and it’s driving me nuts!

]]> Comment on Out with the OWLS Again by William Loring http://bikingbloom.wordpress.com/2008/07/12/out-with-the-owls-again/#comment-499 William Loring Mon, 14 Jul 2008 12:34:36 +0000 http://bikingbloom.wordpress.com/?p=108#comment-499 Sorry to hear about the lack of MTB riding. I've not done much up here either, but I just had a very nice ride up at T.K. Lawless on Sunday. The trails are in pretty good shape. Some roots on the climbs, but that's not unusual. There were a couple of damp spots, but nothing that got me dirty. It was a very windy day, so I was happy to be in the woods, rather than out on the road suffering with winds. Sorry to hear about the lack of MTB riding. I’ve not done much up here either, but I just had a very nice ride up at T.K. Lawless on Sunday. The trails are in pretty good shape. Some roots on the climbs, but that’s not unusual. There were a couple of damp spots, but nothing that got me dirty. It was a very windy day, so I was happy to be in the woods, rather than out on the road suffering with winds.

]]> Comment on Monroe County Roads, Part 1 by Out with the OWLS Again « Bicycling in Bloomington http://bikingbloom.wordpress.com/2007/09/05/monroe-county-roads-part-1/#comment-498 Out with the OWLS Again « Bicycling in Bloomington Sat, 12 Jul 2008 01:12:49 +0000 http://bikingbloom.wordpress.com/2007/09/05/monroe-county-roads-part-1/#comment-498 [...] Rockport Rd is always a challenge with its rolling hills. (I reported on ride last year on Rockport Rd.) The hills are just as steep this [...] [...] Rockport Rd is always a challenge with its rolling hills. (I reported on ride last year on Rockport Rd.) The hills are just as steep this [...]

]]>