First Gravel Bike Ride

It has been close to 12 years since I did any riding on what would be considered a `standard' upright / diamond frame bike.  All the bicycling I've done since then has been on one form of recumbent bike or another.  

Rather than get a typical `road' bike with relatively narrow tires and is used for paved, open roads I got a `gravel' bike.  A gravel bike has `fat' tires with lots of knobby protrusions for better traction on dirt or gravelly roads.  

The primary reason I added a gravel bike has to do with a determination to not accumulate `limitations' as I age.  Another reason is that I want to become more physically capable.  The gravel bike will develop upper body strength and overall balance (vestibular system).  Finally, I want options for physical expression.  Living where I do there are enormous opportunities for bicycling in all types of terrain; mountains, paved roads, long stretches of lightly traveled dirt roads.  

Today I took the gravel bike out for the first time.  Here are my impressions.

Balance.  I was concerned that the upright posture would be difficult to adjust to.  It wasn't.  Although sitting on an elevated platform (bicycle seat) is like climbing to the top of a mast on sailboat (rocks more, a more twitchy balancing demand) I adjusted quickly; less than ten minutes.  Paradoxically, my recumbent bikes are more stable being lower to the ground.  

Knees.  I have two fake knees (2018 and 2019).  They're better than the gnashed up, arthritic knees they replaced.  Though recumbent cycling employs leg and hip muscles differently I found no problem.  Of course, I have developed good muscle, tendon and ligament function in the legs because of the stress I put on them in climbing long and steep hills on the recumbent.  

Butt. Sitting on a bicycle seat can hurt.  The longer you do it the more it may hurt.  Also, there is soft tissue chafing that can result in serious `saddle sores.'  Not so on a recumbent bike.  It's like sitting on a comfortable cushion, the weight is distributed on the seat.  

Bike shorts with and without padding.  In order to reduce upright bike saddle sores the bike shorts have a padding (chamois) cushioning the hard saddle-to-butt experience.  Recumbents don't require a chamois.  When I initially put the upright bike shorts on it felt like I was wearing a diaper.  But when I sat on the gravel bike seat that feeling went away as I rode.  The chamois did do the job.  But it is well understood that the longer you sit on an upright bike saddle the more the chafing and the greater the chance you will develop painful saddle sore issues.  

Shoulders, neck and hands.  Perhaps the most common complaint with upright bikes has to do with pain, soreness and even nerve damage to these parts of the body.  Leaning forward to hold the handlebars, shifters and brakes causes stress on the shoulders, neck and hands.  I did experience this while riding the gravel bike today.  And it brought back very unpleasant memories from when I rode upright bikes in the past.  

Rather than be dissuaded from riding the gravel bike due to this problem I will be doing shoulder and neck exercises to hopefully lessen this problem.  

Road surface.  Just because the tires are much wider on a gravel bike it doesn't mean I can safely steer and maintain balance.  The road I was on today had patches of loose sand and rocks.  Despite a big tire up front I still had to be careful.  

All in all I'm happy about the gravel bike.  It will take time to adjust to it but I can already see many hours and miles ahead on the gravel bike.  

DANGEROUS TRUCK DRIVER

February 8, 2021

U.S. Department of Transportation

Director, Office of Enforcement and Compliance

Golden Hills Office Centre
12600 W. Colfax Ave. Suite B-300
Lakewood, CO 80215 

Sir/Madam:

The purpose of the correspondence is to file this formal complaint and report the dangerous and potentially fatal operation of a (---) Road Transport, Inc., eighteen wheel truck and flatbed trailer. I have uploaded videos of this event to a YouTube channel (below)as material evidence.   

I was almost killed by a (---) Road Transport, Inc., truckdriver yesterday while riding my bicycle on a remote Arizona road.

YOUTUBE VIDEO FROM BEHIND:

  Truck Coming From Behind

 - 0:03:12 on video

YOUTUBE VIDEO FROM THE FRONT:

Truck Cutting Me Off In Front

                     - 0:03:20 on video

It was a bright, sunny afternoon with no weather-related problems.  There was no observable traffic coming in the opposite lane.  The driver dangerously entered the opposite lane, crossing a double yellow line, on a blind uphill curve, restricting vision / observation as to whether there was an oncoming vehicle in the other lane.  

I was dressed in bright, hi viz, iridescent yellow cycling clothes. I wore bright white knee length socks as my legs went up and down on the pedals. 

The bike had three (3) bright, flashing white and red strobe lights rear-facing, and one (1) bright white front-facing strobe lights.  

I was traveling at 30 mph, having just descended a steep hill, as far to the right as possible without being forced off the road into guard rail and steep ditch. 

A (---) Road Transport, Inc., Cab # 2677 18 wheeled flatbed truck was hauling steel railroad rails to Kirkland, Arizona.  (At 0:03:26​ on video).  It was traveling eastbound on Yavapai County Road 15 (Bagdad Road) on Saturday, February 6, 2021, at 2:30 PM. 

 
The truckdriver, traveling in excess of the stated speed limit (50 mph), pulled within three (3) feet of me from behind on bicycle. He then abruptly crossed into the opposite lane on a blind uphill curve, and then sharply cut back into the eastbound lane with the truck trailer within one (1) foot of hitting me. 

No traffic was observable by me on the limited observable section of the blind uphill curve in opposite lane. No vehicles were behind the truck. No vehicles were in front of me.  The limited observable road appeared free of traffic or any obstructions or impediments.

I am requesting that you investigate this incident to determine if there were actions on the part of the driver that were not lawful and were dangerous.  I will fully comply with any requests you make of me in this investigation.

• Truckdriver in CAB # 2677.
• Cab License Plate: PA10743 (Issuing State not readable)
• Trailer License Plates: 9194SU (Alaska?); TA09934 (Issuing State not readable)
• USDOT No.: 30161

Attachment: USDOT Correspondence: Review No.: 837404/CR, November 12, 2010.
 
CC:   

U.S. Department of Transportation
Director, Office of Enforcement and Compliance
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE
Washington, DC 20590

SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME:

This morning (less than 30 hours after I contacted the corporate headquarters of the (---) Road Transport, Inc. in Copenhagen, Denmark) I received this email:

Mr. Fallon

I received the email below from our corporate office. Please know that we have reviewed the video, we have identified the contractor/driver and we have issued cancellation of his lease agreement.

 

Please accept our apologies for his actions and know that we take safety very seriously.

 

I would like to request that you remove the Youtube video. One guy's action is not reflective of the entire fleet's behavior and it is a detrimental to the remainder of our contractors.

 

If you would like to discuss further, feel free to give me a call at your convenience. 

 

Best regards,

 

(Name)

Manager of Safety

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

I've removed the name of the truck company but these videos can be very useful in advocacy to make the roads safer.  Ideally, all roads should include a wide shoulder on both sides for non-motorized travel, including running, walking, cycling.   

HOW TO REPORT DANGEROUS DRIVERS USING A VIDEO CAMERA

 

January 16, 2021 

Yavapai County Sherriff’s Office

255 E. Gurley Street

Prescott, Arizona 86301

Sir / Madam: 

I had earlier (01-15-2021) sent you an email about a cycling incident that occurred on Friday, January 15, 11:40 AM on the road directly in front of (west) the Mormon Temple (7785 Iron Springs Rd) In Kirkland, Az. 

I have enclosed a USB / thumb drive with the following video files and picture: 

·        1-FALLON-011521-FRONT (MP4) – video

·        2-FALLON-011521-REAR (MP4) – video

·        3-FALLON-011521-FrontStrobeLight (MP4) – video

·        4-FALLON-011521-RearStrobeLight (MP4) – video

·        5-STROBE – (MP4) - video

·        6-REAR-3STROBES – (JPG) – pic 

DESCRIPTION OF EVENT: 

I was beginning a cycling training session heading south on Iron Springs Road immediately west of the Mormon Temple.  My bike was situated to the right (west) of the white fog line on the road.  I had not yet engaged the pedals (clipless) and the bike was not moving.  I was sitting on the `saddle’ / seat of the bike.  I was stationary. 

I noted a few vehicles on Iron Springs Road moving / heading north.  I looked up and saw a line of vehicles in the opposite lane approaching my position. They had not yet crossed the bridge.   I was waiting for the vehicles to pass me.  I never begin or stop a cycling training session when vehicles are approaching. 

I was looking at the front (big) ring on the bike and cycling computer to assure I was in the correct gear and that the computer was in the `ON’ status.    At that `instant’ I noted a white passenger vehicle that had moved out of the northbound lane and into `my’ southbound lane, accelerating to approximately 45 mph in an effort to pass the vehicle in front of it.  On review of the video (2-FALLON-011521-REAR (MP4)) this vehicle had an Arizona license plate # XXXXXXXXX (0:03:15).  The vehicle had already crossed the double solid yellow lines and was moving further west toward me, still to the right of the white fog line (1-FALLON-011521-FRONT (MP4)) – (0:02:48). 

I had no time to move the bike or `jump’ off the bike into the shoulder of the road.  As the video shows (0:02:48) the vehicle continued to approach me.  

At the time of this incident it appeared that the vehicle was veering further to the west and would likely collide with me.  At the last second (to my immediate left / east) the vehicle abruptly `jerked’ back toward the northbound lane.  

1. This vehicle initiated passing the vehicle ahead of it while crossing the double yellow line;
2. This vehicle was, in my estimate, traveling far in excess of the 25 – 35 mph speed limit;
3. The driver of this vehicle failed to respond to the very, very bright forward facing flashing strobe light affixed to the front of my bike;
4. The driver of this vehicle failed to respond to the fact that I was wearing a high viz iridescent yellow jacket, long bright white stockings and shorts that were emblazoned with equally high viz iridescent yellow stripes;
5. I estimate that the vehicle passed me with less than twelve (12) inches between us.
6. The vehicle did not have the front headlights on. 

The videos and picture I have provided in the USB / thumb drive show the bright, flashing white and red strobe lights (1 strobe light in front, 3 strobe lights in back, 2 of which are in red) affixed to my bike.  

I am requesting that you investigate this incident to determine if there were actions on the part of the driver that were not lawful and were dangerous.  I will fully comply with any requests you make of me in this investigation. 

Again, thank you.  You can be certain that I will not abuse your time and energy with less grave incidents. 

 

 

 

Change of Plans...

 From a recent FB post I made:

So ... the funny thing is ... as a certified slow learner it has recently dawned on me. Bicycling more than 12 hours isn't hard ... it's just dreadfully boring. Boring boring and boring.

Only two events were beyond my physical ability at that time. Race Across the West in 2010 (415 miles in 24 hrs) and the Race Around Ireland in 2017 (208 hours in about the same amount of time).

The rest ... I stopped because I ... just ... lost ... interest.

Funny it has taken this long for me to `get' that.

A sense of `relief' in some ways.  Clearly there was a time when doing (or attempting) massive endurance cycling things was important.  To `prove' my manhood?  To show my capacity for doing extremely difficult physical and mental things?  To employ an activity that consumed my anxious energy, grinding anxiety of existence.  (No doubt about that last one).

For whatever reason I think I have the `grinding anxiety' under control.  It's not so `grinding' at this point.  And I don't think it has anything to do with age and the physiological realities of aging.  

Over the next indeterminate period of time I'm going to see what substituting `intensity' for `volume' does for cycling satisfaction.  It's definitely going to be difficult (it hurts to push the body into tempo pace for long periods of time). 

1. A fourteen mile, 800 feet of climbing, out and back course (Kirkland-Canyon Out & Back) will serve as the `intensity' based training course;

2. One warm-up lap at average of 14.3 mph.

3. One or more `tempo' pace laps at no less than 15.5 mph. 

And then see what that does in the way of physical stamina.  

RESULTS:

Must have been a good day.

Lap 1: Goal 14.3 mph; Actual 15.2 mph

Lap 2: Goal 15.5 mph; Actual 17.5 mph.

Had a great time.  

==========================

This is an exciting development for me.  It means that the `strain' of time commitments and sense of neglect I've experienced for quite a while is likely to end.  

Even more, given the actual results of this `change of plan,' I'm looking forward to doing better on the bike.  For so, so, so long I struggled and equivocated with putting up big miles on the `board.'  Though that may happen it will not be my only goal.

I'll be 3/4 of a century old in a few weeks.  Of course, I don't `feel it.' And I think that has as much to do with genetics as diet, exercise and wonderful family.  

I'll be paying attention to numbers: weight, bpm, blood pressure, comparative performance over decided courses.  And then, with a few organized events coming up (12 hours at 24 Hours In The Canyon in June, 12 hours at the World Time Trial Championship in October) I'll see what I can deliver.  Twelve hours is not so long that I'll lose interest and start thinking about family, work, family ... work.

Altogether this is a good new development.  

The Necessity of Staying Upright / Balancing

A few years ago I walked up the first half mile of a climb out of a canyon (https://24hoursinthecanyon.org/) while a fellow my own age passed me on his trike. Too steep and too soon after knee surgery. But ... I was frustrated and was determined to ride my Bacchetta CA3 up that climb the next year. That `next' year was 2020 and the event was rightly canceled.

And then I started noticing the flood of interest in trikes (which had been going on for a few years ... I just didn't pay attention).

Today, on a climby (several long, steep ascents and descents) ride (https://ridewithgps.com/trips/59948708) I realized why I am so committed to two wheels: the necessity of staying upright / balance. Last week's bike handling challenge at a local industrial park (https://ridewithgps.com/trips/59824617) was hard, a little scary and very satisfying.

Pushing up 8 and 9 degree hills requires me to manage staying upright and in a (relatively) straight line. I have to minimize the wobbles: gearing, power, breathing and heart rate.

Descending into a crosswind at 40+ mph challenges my handling of braking, steering, accounting for the `push' of the crosswind.

I know that I wouldn't be so drawn to cycling if I didn't have the exciting `risk' of balance of the 2 wheel recumbent. I wouldn't spend as much time in physical intensity. My interest in tweaking the bikes wouldn't be there. I'd probably put more time and energy into indoor rowing (https://www.concept2.com/indoor-rowers) but the boredom factor of indoor work would be a major limiter.

No `dig' against trikes. Just another discovery that cycling has given me over the course of the last 74 years.

PICS OF THE BACCHETTA PELSO - BREVET

• Rail Gun seat 
• Tiller 
• Bullhorn handlebar 
• SRAM TT shifter / levers
• Top pull brake levers 
• Front and rear disc brake 
• 700 wheels 
• Front: Compact 50/34 
• Rear: Ten speed 11/36
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Descending on A Bacchetta CA3

• Descending on a Bacchetta CA3 
• Five Minutes of Cycling Heaven while on the return leg of THIS

Beat Him Over the Head with a Bicycle Inner Tube

So, it was about five years ago.  A bright Sunday morning.  Riding my Bacchetta Ti Aero recumbent bike.  It was the last hill after eighteen miles of climbing.  A long 6% grade of twisty two lane mountain road (the White Spars in Prescott National Forest, Arizona).  

Well, it was slow.  But I was well to the side of the road so that motorized vehicles had the whole lane to themselves.  

Along comes one of those gigantic pick up trucks.  It was huge. Massive tires. And it was loud. And it was shiny black, spotless. Completely empty with the exception of two guys in the front, the passenger side window down with a man's arm resting on the window frame.

As the pick up approaches me the driver downshifts.  A suffocating cloud of black diesel smoke comes out the tail pipe.  He leans on the horn and veers to his right, coming within inches of me.  I could hear both guys laughing while the passenger flips me the bird and yells "Get off the road, faggot." 

My reaction was instant.  Didn't give it a nanosecond of thought.  I flip BOTH of them the bird, too.  And yell, "Go **** yourself!!!" and keep pedaling.  

And then it happened.  

The entire back end of the truck flashes RED.  It comes to a sudden stop.  Like a giant wall of TRUCK dead in the middle of the road.  

I stop, too.  Thinking, "Oh ****!  They're coming after me."  And then bright white backup lights flash and the truck starts to rapidly reverse towards me.  

Me, I'm flummoxed.  Worried.  Chastising myself for `taking the bait' and reacting.  "How do I defend myself?"  

Under the frame I had a long black tool bag containing two little plastic tire levers, a few CO2 cartridges, a few inner tubes and patches. And, of course, several sheets of toilet paper.  In case I got a flat tire...or something more serious.

So, while the truck is backing up I nervously reach under my bike for the tool bag, unzip it and what? pull out an inner tube or something?!!!  Threaten them with toilet paper?!!!

And then the monster pickup truck comes to a sudden stop, about 10 yards ahead of me.  It sits there for about 20 lonnng seconds.  I can see the two guys looking back at me, talking to each other.  

The backup lights go out.  No brake lights either.  The pickup truck literally burns rubber accelerating up the hill.  It looked like they were escaping.

First, I'm relieved. Then, I'm wondering.  What the hell just happened?  They could have yelled, threatened, thrown water and trash at me.  Even beaten me up.  But, No.  Nothing.  In fact, it looked like they were frightened and sped off.  

----

A few years go by.  

And then, cycling up that same hill, I see an old small pickup truck on the side of the road with an older fellow sitting next to it in a lawn and garden chair.  On the ground in front of him was a cardboard box on which he wrote, in big black letters, GUNS.  He waves at me.  I wave at him. Yeah. He was selling rifles and handguns from his pickup truck on the side of the road.  LOTS of them  In broad daylight.  All day long.

I thought, Well, this wouldn't happen back home in Chicago.  I'm in `Arizona.'  

----

So, it took a few years to pass.  And I was still wondering how I escaped being pummeled by two faux macho guys in a giant tank-like pickup truck. 

It dawns on me.  

When they saw me reaching into a long black bag under the frame of my bike ... they figured I was `reaching into a holster for my gun.'  

Reaching for my gun!  

Me!

On my bicycle.

And they feared a gunfight.  

Like I was gonna shoot them.  

----

Arizona.  

Selling guns out of a pickup truck.  

On the side of the road.  

In a lawn and garden chair.

Arizona.  

Natchez Trace 180

Last week I entered an event called the Natchez Trace 444. From Nashville Tennessee to Natchez Mississippi on a national park called the `Natchez Trace.' The Natchez Trace is one long two lane road with no stop signs, no stop lights, no commercial enterprises and no commercial traffic. In most respects the road quality was excellent. There were a few sections that were `lumpy' but didn't have potholes. Some bridge sections had rough separators that caused me some worry about a pinch flat. 

The weather for this event was unusual. A cold snap resulted in temps in the mid-60's (F) during the day and all the way down to 39F at night. When descending at 25-35 mph into an ambient temp of 39F the wind chill is makes it feel like 25F on `dry' skin. With sweat it felt like it was in the teens. 

I had hopes for completing the event in under 35 hours; but my realistic expectation was that I'd not complete the entire 444 miles. As it turned out I completed 180 miles and 7,000 feet of climbing in 14 hours of cycling.  After 12 hours of cycling it was 1:00 AM and extremely cold.  I took a 2.5 hour break in the crew vehicle.  Back on the road at 3:30 AM I rode another 2 hours (25 miles) before I called it.  At that point I was exhausted.  Of course, there were more miles `in the tank' but it would simply have been pointless to risk physical destruction to add another 25 or 50 miles.  

A few candidates to explain the lack of stamina.  First my age: 74.  Another the weather: it was so cold that I wore five pair of socks, four leg coverings, five jerseys and jackets and three head coverings and thick, insulated lobster gloves.   Finally, insufficient training for such an endurance event.  

Of these `candidates' I'm least inclined to accept age as a major limiting factor.  But I will be putting this to a test in mid-November.  I plan to do a solo 24 hour on the World Time Trial Championship course in Borrego Springs, CA.  The temperature there should be far less cold at night.  The climbing (feet per mile) will be half of that on the 180 miles of the Natchez Trace (19 ft per mile v. 39 ft per mile).

It was worth it.  So many cycling events have been canceled this season due to the Covid-19 pandemic.  

My crew was exceptional.  Attentive, extremely capable and very supportive.  The bike was mostly flawless.  At one point a link on the chain `hooked' on something metallic and didn't allow me to pedal.  I stopped, reversed the rotation and that issue was resolved, allowing me to continue on.  Clothing for the cold was as good as it could be.  Layered with a final jacket of rainproof / windproof material.  

Not much more to say about this event.  I've heard that several other cyclists didn't finish due to the extreme cold.  At the third time station (1:00 AM) I noted that the van of likely the strongest rider was parked and remained there even after I rested and resumed the event at 3:30 AM.  Wise.  

Desert Training

Desert training gear. Air horn and buck knife. Horn to scare critters (coyotes, mountain lions, javelina, skunks, rednecks). Buck knife to ... cut things.

This is a link to a 5 minute Youtube vid of this environment (today's training ride).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rWo9OvoVQo

Natchez Trace 444

TS NAME MILE POST CUM MILES TS to TS MILES TS - TS CLIMB TS - TS DESCENT 0. Start 444 0 0 0 0 1. Merriwether Lewis 385 59 59    4,406 (4,524) 2. Colbert Ferry 327 117 58    2,379 (2,626) 3. Donovan Slough 283 161 44    2,385 (2,633) 4. Witch Dance 233 211 50    1,757 (1,780) 5. Kosciusko 160 284 73    2,294 (2,248) 6. Choctaw Agency 100 344 60    1,198 (1,190) 7. Rocky Springs 54 390 46    1,742 (1,868) 8. End of Trace - Natchez Grand Hotel 0 444 54    2,576 (2,678) 444  18,737 (19,547)