Due to the forecast heat advisory w heat indices in excess of 100F, and the limited bailouts on this route, Dave and I regretfully are cancelling the ride.

We'll try it again later this season.

I have a set of several-years-old Cyclops rollers. Love them and use them regularly.

Just started making a horrible loud squeaking noise that hurts my ears. I believe it's from the front roller. I have oiled the connections and the rubber band. It did not immediately correct the problem.

The noise is more intense at the center of the roller. If I ride slightly to the left, no noise.

Anyone familiar with these things & have an idea why it's doing this?

Tomorrow is the first mountain stage in this year's TdF which is why this great contest opens today. You don't have to ride, know anything about riding, or care one bit about bike riding or racing to be the winner. All you have to be is mean-spirited, devious, cynical, and retributive.

http://newyorkbike.com/Jerk_Spectators_Contest.html

This from streetsblog: http://www.streetsblog.org/2013/07/03/the-citi-bike-story-no-ones-talking-about-only-three-injuries-in-500000-rides/

The comments are good - in an informative, informed way, not a snarky way. :)

Transportation Alternatives has an easy e-page for letting cyclists/walkers/street users tell all the current primary candidates that we are supporters of such activities, and vote (of course we do!).

I urge the cyclist community to participate.

And TA sends a handy followup email (of course :>) which enables easy pass-along to others.

Happy cycling,

Susan

https://secure3.convio.net/ta/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&...

Of the 193 riders in today's sprinter's stage, Bob Roll analyzes the reasons why no one is attempting to break away:

Riders with injuries (30), because it would hurt;

Overall contenders (10-15), because the peloton would never let them get away;

Lieutenants of the overall contenders (see above);

Yellow jersey & team (9) - the yellow jersey's team (1) needs to be with him, to help him, (2) would not want to gain time on him, and (3) would in fact want to catch any breakaway that would gain time on him;

Any rider within 2 minutes of the yellow jersey, because again, the peloton would not want them to get away; and

Sprinters and their leadouts (51), who need to save every ounce of energy.

I have about 9,000 miles on my bike and notice that the rear wheel rim is worn slightly concave where the brake pads contact the side of the rim. There is also a slight ridge where from the tire down the rim side about 2-3mm where the brake pad doesn't touch the rim. The front rim is flat. It makes sense that the rear rim is worn more than the front because I use the rear brake to modulate my speed goind downhill and normally use the front brake for coming to a dead stop. The rims are Alex 390. Does anyone know  how to tell when they should be replaced?

OK ok heres the story... riding along hot afternoon upstate NJ near my pals place... slowly freewheeling..hello sky hello clouds .. oh what a beautiful lake... what the f....  ass over tit.. sort of hope no one saw that little twirp twiddle of a fall..  Lay there on the gravel for a bit everything seems in place until I get up and realize tht the left arm is hanging a bit wonky.  Sh,,,,,t.  Get to the local emergency room for xrays and then back a couple o days late to NYC for more Xrays... Separated AC joint.. OW !!

Any thoughts on how to avoid the painful leg cramps that one sometimes gets at night, after a long ride that day?

Looking for a few suggestions for 50-60 mile routes in or around Berkley Heights, Plainfield, or even Morristown NJ