Today's Ride (and what I wish I said)

[MattTuck]

A few pics from today's ride. Got out for a solid 19 miles after work (which is getting harder and harder with the sun setting earlier). Nothing crazy, just a few hills. Feels good to be outside in this cool weather, which makes climbs a joy, and descents slightly frigid. :banana:

Finally riding in Vermont again after completing my challenge to ride every road in Hanover, NH. I think (in this area anyway) Vermont has the better roads for climbing. Less over grown with trees which opens up the riding and creates more views.

I got stopped midway up Beaver Meadow Rd. (a local strava segment) by a flag man due to repaving that was going on (they have better road surfaces too). I wasn't on a super time or anything, so it didn't bother me that he was stopping a "pedal pusher", as he relayed into his radio, despite no other traffic around.

I wish that I had started yelling "Strava!" like a maniac and just pedaled past him. It would have been worth it.

On a related note, my left leg still has lots of speckles of asphalt (or some other paving related debris) that did not come off despite vigorous and extended soapy scrubbing in the shower. Anyone have any idea how to get it off?

Strava link, for those inclined. (http://app.strava.com/rides/25331572)

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-V34J5pIhfcA/UH89yLSkAeI/AAAAAAAACPw/H-pPccFh4DE/s912/IMAG0867.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-kPGwSQ9ma8o/UH89yLecKeI/AAAAAAAACP4/jFLWRd1ffIQ/s912/IMAG0874.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-eXqR3FlYU_U/UH89yBvgRdI/AAAAAAAACP0/ljUpKWvIzUM/s912/IMAG0876.jpg

And finally the Dartmouth rowing team practicing on the river.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-SD8_yqDlFJk/UH89yklClVI/AAAAAAAACQE/AtHjWydbhHY/s912/IMAG0879.jpg

[PaMtbRider]

Nice, I particularly like the Dartmouth rowing team pic. Great day in the north east to be on a bike.

[malcolm]

Great pics. Is that crew teams on the river?

someone answered it for me, thanks

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . just did the local "river loop" and started in daylight. This particular route has most of the second half on the local MUT so it's good to get out of traffic. didn't shoot any pics but it was good to get out.

I really like this NiteRider 600 light . . . this is the first time I've had a light bright enough to really give me confidence in the dark to do 18-20mph without overriding the light coverage.

It's OK to start in daylight and switch to the light halfway through, but starting in the dark? Ack! Depressing . . .

BBD

[MattTuck]

I really like this NiteRider 600 light . . . this is the first time I've had a light bright enough to really give me confidence in the dark to do 18-20mph without overriding the light coverage.


I've been thinking about getting a light. Do you have one mounted to the bike and another on the helmet? How about to the rear? a red flasher?

[firerescuefin]

Nice Pics:)

[bookit]

super bright LED out front, super bright red LED out back.

[thegunner]

i was expecting a shot of your leg covered w/asphalt...

[tch]

After weeks of rain and miserable windy/cold/damp/gray, I, too, got out for a ride. No pics, unfortunately, but as another poster said, it was a great day to be a bike rider in the northeast.

[Louis]

Matt, that's an example of what's known as "L'esprit de l'escalier," or "staircase wit."

(Origin: As you're leaving a party and going down the stairs someone going in says something terribly clever, which leaves you dumbstruck. Only when you reach the bottom of the stairs do you come up with the perfect retort.)

[MattTuck]

i was expecting a shot of your leg covered w/asphalt...

For what it's worth, it is only on my left leg.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ksPaK7K76hU/UH9bg3oHmtI/AAAAAAAACQk/fEbHpW7xwlE/s640/IMAG0882.jpg

[Louis]

http://www.northerntool.com/images/product/images/1591902_lg.jpg

[MattTuck]

http://www.northerntool.com/images/product/images/1591902_lg.jpg

My tires also got a coating of the stuff that seemed to make them 'sticky' for the rest of the ride. it's almost like another outer layer on my tires... guess I get a few bonus miles before I start wearing the rubber again.

[Steve in SLO]

Cool pics...looks like a great ride.

For your leg: first try Baby Oil, vegetable oil or WD-40. If that doesn't work try acetone or other nail polish remover.

Years of running on the beach in Santa Barbara with offshore oil drilling taught me the above tricks.

[Jack Brunk]

25 miles on the Hampsten fixed after work wearing my Maglia Rosa pink jersey for breat cancer awareness. Also had my livestrong helmet on for protection. Only one I have for the road.
Hot today with temps in the high 80's.

[bikinchris]

Try a greasy hand cream to get that asphalt off. Less caustic than th estuff you use for cars to get it off.

[bigman]

Got n about 20 after work, was dark mid way through, for lights ?i use a niterider 600 front light and a blackburn rack mounted mars 4.0 on steady, i use this in conjunction with a helmet mounted vis 360 - fantastic combo.

[malcolm]

Cool pics...looks like a great ride.

For your leg: first try Baby Oil, vegetable oil or WD-40. If that doesn't work try acetone or other nail polish remover.

Years of running on the beach in Santa Barbara with offshore oil drilling taught me the above tricks.

For asphalt, in the ER we used mineral oil, baby oil should also do it. It just softens it. Soak a rag and leave it over your leg for a while. I assume this is spray from the tire and not a fall. If that stuff get in an abrasion it will sometimes leave permanent tattooing. Good luck

[MattTuck]

For asphalt, in the ER we used mineral oil, baby oil should also do it. It just softens it. Soak a rag and leave it over your leg for a while. I assume this is spray from the tire and not a fall. If that stuff get in an abrasion it will sometimes leave permanent tattooing. Good luck

Thanks all for the asphalt removals tips. Will have to pick up some oil today, as I didn't have any handy last night. It was just from spray. No fall, fortunately.

[malcolm]

Mineral oil is also good for super glue

[sc53]

And Goo Gone will take off anything sticky without removing your skin. I use it for everything!

[svelocity]

I've been thinking about getting a light. Do you have one mounted to the bike and another on the helmet? How about to the rear? a red flasher?

As a commuter with some downhill and sketchy dark tunnel sections on my route I can say Niterider are great lights! Plus the customer service is awesome. I think I have a Minewt and the wire to the battery got tugged around one too many times. Niterider replaced no questions asked. I don't even remember if I paid them anything.

I have my niterider on the handlebars plus a Planet Bike Superflash on the rear. I put a mini white flashy on my helmet facing forward and a mini red flashy on my helmet facing to the rear. Since I ride in the city I feel drivers can really see my helmet flashy's over parked autos.

Cheers!