Friends in low places

I know a local guy who's a transportation planner who's famous for his e-mail blasts on, predictably, transportation and planning issues. He's nice enough to include me, so here's an article he sent today from Governing magazine that fits with cycledork's passions. If bike friendlier muncipalities are your sort of thing, complete the survey noted in this public service announcement from the Town of Cary regarding updates to the town's transportation plan. Make your opinions clear. To see how the League of American Bicyclists considers these matters, check out its page and links on Bicycle Friendly Communities — of which Cary is one. Even though there's been support for cyclists from Cary for the past several years, it's up to us to make sure that help is maintained or improved.

Meet cyclebuddy

Most of my riding I do by myself. It's not that I'm antisocial; it's that I don't like getting up on Saturday morning. I'll do the occasional charity ride but I'd rather get out after lunch and hammer for two or three hours. But over the last year and a half there's been one guy that I've meshed with, even to the point of sacrificing Saturday morning sleep. We've missed connections though over the last several months and weren't staying in touch the way we should have. So yesterday I was out at the edge of nowhere in northeastern Chatham County pedalling back toward somewhere when I saw a recumbent cruising toward me. It was none other than cyclebuddy. We rode together for about four miles and he smoked me over the flats. We talked for a few minutes after we got back to his far west Cary driveway and talked about riding over the next couple of weekends. Today, I was a few miles farther west in nowhere and here he comes hauling ass toward me. Same routine as yesterday: more smoke followed by more catching up. The great thing about cyclebuddy is his enthusiasm combined with an ungodly ability to get the most out of his machine (there's more coming on the recumbent). The upshot of today's ride was a firm commitment to ride this Saturday. Route to be determined; check back on Friday.

CD's Saturday cycling tip: let your fingers do it

… by letting others on the road know what you're doing and where you're going. It's so easy: stick your right arm straight out with a pointed index finger if you plan to turn right. Stick your left arm straight out with a pointed index finger if you plan to turn left. Do these things whether you're making a full 90-degree turn or shifting from the shoulder to the lane. Turn your left hand so your palm faces backward if you slow down. Our bargain for using the road, according to the State of North Carolina, is that we need to follow the rules even if it means watching our motorized counterparts ignore them as we do right.

C'dork's Friday ride guide

There are as many weekend group rides in western Wake County as Carter's has little pills. For instance, tomorrow, you can roll out of Cycling Spoken Here's Cary store, 1377 N.W. Maynard Road in Cary, at 9:30 a.m. for one of three road rides — 17-18 mph, 19+ mph and women only. Two more rides take off at 10 a.m. Sunday. A mountain bike ride gears up at the store at 10 a.m. Sunday as well.

CD's Saturday cycling tip: float away

There's a reason why every cycling-information source browbeats us about staying hydrated. If you don't you'll, at the very least, feel crappy on and off the bike. My own cautionary tale: I took the week off and rode the 2100 a grand total of once. I was out of town for a couple of days. Most of the rest of the time I just slept late, had a headache, read baseball blogs (here's a favorite) and lifted weights. I was eating the way I usually do — coffee and fruit for breakfast; peanut butter and fruit for lunch; nuts, dried fruit, cheese and crackers to snack on; and whatever was for dinner, typically with a beer or two. So what was missing? Water. Lots of water. I've always got a pint of water going at my desk at work but I've kept cycledork central unusually arid. Jacking up my fluid intake over the last 36 hours has done wonders for my headache and my mood. See you on the road.

Road toasty but seeking more sensation

The temperature won't make it over 35 today. But with bright sun and good layers I managed to break a sweat during a short ride. To keep the heat in on top I donned a Headsweats chili peppers skullcap under my helmet. For thoracic comfort I wore a Patagonia wicking t-shirt, Canari Paceline long-sleeve jersey and the Ibex pullover. The breeze cut right through but was only nippy for the first couple of miles. Below I had on old Canari shorts under Cannondale padless fleecy tights. The only surprise was the full-fingered Primalwear gloves. My hands were fine but my fingers, even fully covered, were mofo cold. And as useless as the Pearl Izumi covers are in the wet they did a good job of keeping the cold off my feet. Even though the cleats obviously aren't affected, wearing shoe covers, wet or dry, regardless of brand, is like having foot condoms on. Yeah, I can still pedal, but I wish I could feel more. But stay tuned. There is discussion here at cycledork central that a secret weapon, perhaps arriving at Christmas, could have my feet bareback again, so to speak.

CD's Saturday cycling tip: glow in the dark

If you ride at night, as I do from time to time, make sure drivers — you know, those heavy right footers with cell phones I mentioned last week — can see you. I've had the 2100 outfitted with a red flasher on the back and a white flasher on the front. I also wear an orange flasher on the back of my helmet that greets drivers behind me like an unfurling finger. All three lights have a variety of steady and flashing settings but I leave 'em flashing to wake up sleeping motorists. It's not just lights, either. I wear bright — either red, orange or yellow — on top and reflective pants (remember the almost waterproof Illuminite from last week?) on the bottom. Oh yeah, and I think I mentioned the reflective ankle bands too. The backs of my Sidi shoes are reflective as well. So what does all this count for? A few weeks ago I was riding home a couple of hours after dark. As I approached a light a guy in a Toyota passed me and yelled, "Thanks for the light!" I caught up with him at the traffic signal and asked him if he was sarcastic or sincere. He made it clear he was definitely sincere. "I don't know how I would live with myself if I hit a cyclist," he said as we both pulled away.