What Kind of Person Enjoys Bicycle Camping?

I've fallen out of sync since my last trip and I didn't bicycle camp during May or July which is a shame because I want to adhere to a at-least-one-bike-camping-trip-per-month standard.  So August it is!  But, back to my point.

Well, just about anyone can enjoy bicycle camping.  That question answers itself.

No, the point to this little essay is really a rhetorical question posed by other campers at the park.  Most campers have RVs and trailers, or are at least tent campers who arrive by car.  Bicycle campers are on the lowest rung of the campground social  hierarchy and people will often look at you with that quizzical expression: what kind of person enjoys bicycle camping?

Groups hope to take over local state parks

Budget cuts target Palomar, San Pasqual for closure next year - 

Sacramento — There is growing community interest in acquiring the keys to two parks in San Diego County that the governor plans to padlock next year.

Organized groups have launched preliminary talks with state parks officials with hopes of saving Palomar Mountain and San Pasqual Battlefield parks if pending legislation passes to permit nonprofits to take over campgrounds, museums and forests. ...

“Palomar is just a very special place of paradise ... It’s a park that offers a lot of natural wonders for families,” said John Summers, a Los Angeles resident who grew up on the mountain and plans to retire there. ...

Toot toot!! Resume the Commute!!

Tomorrow I start commuting to work again.  15 miles each way.  30 miles round trip.

I've been off the bicycle for 6 weeks now; I've put on weight.  I'm getting that out-of-breath feeling of pre-biking days; obviously my blood pressure is creeping back up.  Stay off the bicycle long enough and I start reverting to the out-of-shape sack o' @##$% that I used to be.  Sad.  It doesn't take long, that's for sure.

Fixing the bicycle was easy.  I re-positioned the left brake lever that had been knocked out of whack.  I re-adjusted the brakes.  I re-taped the left handlebar.  I unbent the kinks in the rear fender stay.  I think tonight I'll add a couple drops of oil to the chain. Tomorrow morning before I leave I'll pump up the tires. 

For tomorrow's ride I intend to take it easy.  No point in overdoing it and re-injuring myself.  Already, though, I'm thinking of a camping trip at the beach.  Maybe Carlsbad.  We shall see...

For that matter inland parks like Kumeyaay or Sweetwater could be fun in this hot muggy weather.  Not so much the sweaty ride but rather sleeping without the rain cover on the tent allowing me to enjoy the stars (without worrying about the bugs) while being cooled by a breeze.  Heaven!


Happy 4th, everyone!!

Courteous Mass/Critical Manners

https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=221662541207482

(c) Google.  Somewhere in China...

From the Facebook page:

"[Friday, August 12 · 7:30pm - 10:30pm] This is a bicycle protest to show San Diego that bikes can share the roads and have the same right to be on the road. This is NOT Critical Mass, this is NOT a race, we will ride in a group and stay together by communicating with each other. Be ready to signal when you turn, stop at red lights to regroup and be polite. If we do stop traffic please wave in gratitude that they are being patient, if close enough say "Thank You" Let's show SD that there are bikes out there that want respect and can dish it out. SD prove me right and let's see if we can out number Critical Mass by killing cars with kindness.

Leaving the Fountain at 8pm."

People, wear the helmet!

While I'm off the bike I don't have much to blog about.  I can only clack at the keyboard while trying to think of things to say.  Here's something that occurred to me: I clunked my head in Campo and in spite of knocking myself out I recovered quickly.  Not one bone broken.  No lasting effects (at least none I'm aware of; I still have a follow-up appointment with the neurologist).

So I was lucky.  Lucky that the accident wasn't worse.  And lucky that I was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.

The helmet was split.  It's trash now.  I'm not going to enjoy throwing it in the recycle bin and maybe instead I'll keep it as a reminder to always wear a helmet when riding.

A Walk in the Park

Since I can't ride a bicycle for the time being we decided a casual stroll in Balboa Park would be in order.  Gotta tell ya, not being able to ride the bike really sucks.  Anyway...

Cabrillo Tower, one of the many landmarks of Balboa Park.  You can also see it as you fly into San Diego.

San Diego Noir

Just read about it in this morning's paper in the Books section (not much of a section in comparison to a couple of years ago but... you make do with whatever you make do with...).  I haven't even read one story from it yet.  I just now downloaded the book into my Kindle.

This is a book of mystery stories all taking place in San Diego.  The editor is a co-owner of Mysterious Galaxy bookstore.  In her intro she makes references to Raymond Chandler, Joseph Wambaugh (both of whom lived in San Diego; Chandler is buried at Mount Hope - as I understand it), and several spectacular murder cases marring the history of this wonderful city.

Yeah, nothing to do with bicycle camping.  But it does concern San Diego.  Since I'm off the bike until July 2 reading the book gives me something to do.

Can't recommend the book until I read it... but I do recommend the premise.  Anything San Diego-oriented is A-OKay in my book!!  (Pun intended).

Some Panoramic Shots from My Most Recent Ride

As you know I've been prohibited from riding a bicycle for 6 weeks from May 21.  Thus, I am ineligible to get back in the saddle until July 2nd.  Bummer.

Since the only "riding" I can do right now is down memory lane, I thought I'd post my full sized panoramic shots from this last trip.  Just click on them to enjoy the detail.


East of Ramona

Santa Ysabel

Pastoral country

Wm Heise Campground



Viewpoint south of Julian



Entering the Sunrise Highway



Preparing to hang-glide



 

Fun at Kumayaay Viewpoint (Sat, May 21, 2011)



Preparing to hang glide and walk off a perfectly good cliff!!

 During my agonizing series of climbs up the Sunrise Highway (at one point I actually got off and walked the bicycle... oy vey!!) I eventually reached the Kumayaay Viewpoint.  By the way, some maps refer to it as the Kwimee Viewpoint.  For our purposes we'll call it "the KV."

Relieved to be off the bike and able to rest for a while, I surveyed the desert below.  Unbelieveably beautiful.  Just over a bump in the trail were three guys preparing hang gliders.  I wandered over and became the sort of annoying pest I hate coming around me.

"Are you guys going to do what I think you're going to do?" I snidely inquired.

Rethinking the Sunrise Highway

Entering the Sunrise Highway from the 79, not too far from Cuyamaca Lake.

In an earlier post I said something like: "A ride from north to south along the Sunrise Highway with a stop at the Kwimee Viewpoint would be a blast!"  Or words to that effect.

Well, what I said is true.  But there are caveats.

Wm Heise Campground (Fri, May 20, 2011)

Wm Heise Campground just southwest of Julian.  Great campground!!  I loved it here... but I didn't love the ride getting here.

Riding up a mountain on a bicycle while hauling 50 pounds of camping gear.  That's the sentence.  No subject, only a gerund, two adverbial prepositional phrases, and a dependent clause.  Because the exercise is purely psychological... it has no meaning outside of the exerciser.  And thus the sentence describing this insane behaviour must forever remain incomplete.

Return to Dos Picos; The Possum from Hell (Thurs, May 19 2011)

You guys know the drill.  I loaded the bicycle the night before.  Thursday I rode to work.  I got the books caught up.  By 2:00 pm I was off to go camping.

Dos Picos is still an absolutely lovely spot.  Not a lot of folks this time... but Memorial Day weekend is nearly here.

I followed the same route as last time (Kearny Villa Road, Miramar Rd. to Pomerado, Scripps Poway Parkway, north on the 67, right on Mossey Grade Dr.).  Set up camp; quick shower.  Sat back and enjoyed the approaching evening.

I made one "newbie" mistake that every boy scout knows not to do: I brought food - In 'n Out Burger, in fact - in a paper sack.  Over the course of that afternoon the smell of those greasy fries and that greasy burger penetrated the sack and left an aroma in my front saddle bag.  Ah well, I wolfed it down shortly after showering.  Food's gone.  What's the harm?

Picking Up the Thread...

Today my wife drove me in the Jeep out to Campo, where we picked up my bike and gear from the CalFire Station.  In addition to being told by the doctors not to ride a bicycle for 6 weeks, I'm also not supposed to drive a car (danger of blackouts).  Since I want to keep both my medical insurance and driver's license, I'm going to adhere to both conditions.  That doesn't, however, mean I have to like it.

Knocked Unconscious in Campo

If you've been following this blog you know I left Thursday (May 19) for a 3 day bicycle camping trip.

Thursday, Dos Picos near Ramona.  Wonderful spot.  Enjoyable... except for my sleep being disturbed by the possum from hell.  But more on that in a later post.

Friday, Wm Heise near Julian.  Happening campground; loved it!!

Saturday, not such a great day.  Problem #1: the decision to travel 62 miles from Julian to Potrero while pulling 50 pounds of camping gear.  Problem #2: the decision to include a ride over the Sunrise Highway as part of that 62 mile trip.

The Sunrise Highway involves a lot of intense climbing.  I wasn't ready for that... especially while lugging all that gear.  When I finally got to low ground and proceeded along Buckman Springs Rd. I was exhausted.  I wasn't as careful as I should be and I hit sand and crashed.  And knocked myself unconscious.

Extortion, Pure and Simple

Palomar, San Pasqual parks axed by state

By J. Harry Jones and Mike Lee

Originally published May 13, 2011 at 1:08 p.m., updated May 13, 2011 at 5:19 p.m.

Palomar Mountain is a favorite spot in San Diego for people to get away from the urban area. Activities including hiking, camping, birdwatching and fishing. The park is on the state's list of sites to be closed by July 2012.

Back in the Saddle; How They Do Things in Italy

My wife returned from Italy Wednesday and Thursday (yesterday) I was back in the bicycle saddle and commuting to work once more.

Man, a week and a half off the bike.  It doesn't take long before you feel pretty out of shape.  Of course it doesn't help that when I'm living by myself I subsist on sandwiches and other hi-calorie/hi-carbohydrate crap.  Note to self: improve diet!!

My wife brought home a ton of pictures of Italy.  Right off the bat I noticed the following

Bicycle rentals in Milan.  You rent at one station and drop it off at the station nearest your destination.  Excellent idea!  Could you imagine how nice such a system would be for San Diego?

Grocery Getter

As I had mentioned in my last post I'm basically out of commission for a week and a half while my wife is out of town.  I've got cat-sitting duty as well as the usual routine of going to work, preparing my own meals, keeping the house somewhat clean and organized, etc.

The grocery getter... a Raleigh Mojave 4 mountain bike "converted" for performing chores in the city.

Thus my recent bicycling has been confined to trips to the store.  Local rides that don't involve much mileage but do require some carrying capacity.  Appropriately I've outfitted the Raleigh mountain bike (a Mojave 4) to serve as my grocery getter.

Upcoming Bicycle Camping Trip (Best Laid Plans...)

In my previous post I announced I intended to undertake a 4-day trip at various campgrounds in San Diego County.  However, despite my best efforts, I was unable to co-ordinate the next availability at Mt. Laguna campground with my schedule.

So I have booked visits at three campgrounds rather than four.


Dos Picos: I've camped here before and I really found it a beautiful location.



Cats and Campgrounds

My wife and her sister are out-of-country for the next week and a half.  Whenever they head off somewhere I get cat-sitting duty.  We have 2 of the brattiest/sweetest kitties you can imagine. 

Our previous 2 cats were outdoor cats... well, they started as alley cats that "adopted" us... and after 15 wonderful years of their company one suddenly died of FIV (horrible disease).  The other was healthy all his life and we lost him about a year and a half later to old age. We're taking no chances with our current 2 cats.  They are strictly indoor pets.  Much as I feel sorry for their constrained lives it's better for them and us that they not be exposed to other cats or diseases.

Here's Pokemon showing us how adorable he can be...

...but here's his "younger brother" Picachu showing all of us how to do adorable!  This one-upmanship isn't lost on Pokey, let me assure you.


The point to these loveable-cat-photos is that I'm out of commission for the next week and a half.  After that, sometime in May, I'm seriously considering doing a 4 day camping trip: Dos Picos (Ramona), Wm. Heise (Julian), Mt. Laguna campground, and Potrero (near Tecate).

Sign ze petition!! Coronado Bridge bicycle lane.

Just learned about this a few moments ago:


http://www.petitiononline.com/cbaybrid/petition.html

(c) Google

SANDAG Draft Regional Bike Plan

My Gear and How It's Holding Up So Far

My bicycle

I ride a Surly Long Haul Trucker in a frame size of 52 with 26" tires.  This is a pretty common configuration among people who bicycle camp... or so I've been told because I don't personally know anybody who bicycle camps on a regular basis.  For that matter I don't know any bicycle tourers.  But based on my web research the Surly LHT comes highly recommended and is a generally well-thought of bicycle.

Surly Long Haul Trucker with Ortlieb panniers and handlebar bag

Hey! What's the Thing with Loud Radios at Campgrounds!?

At a couple of parks I've been disturbed by the sound of someone's radio, thumping and hissing in the background, not blasting but certainly loud enough that I'm forced to hear it and be immensely irritated by it.

Don't get me wrong.  I enjoy music.  Hell, I'm a musician... no longer full-time but I still file a Schedule C every year cataloging my music income (which isn't very much anymore).  So this isn't an anti-music thing with me.

Definitely NOT what you want to see at your next camping trip.

The Way Home

Last week when I left Green Valley Falls there was snow on the ground and occasional flurries that stung my face. It was... great!

Looking back - leaving low Dehesa Rd. and climbing into El Cajon.  In fact, I could have taken Willow Glen Rd. (intersection showing in the extreme right) and wound up in the same place.

Layout of the Land (San Diego County, That Is)

On the west edge of San Diego County are beaches.  Not surprisingly, when you stand on the beach you are at sea level.  At the east edge of San Diego County is the desert.  Before you get down into the desert, though, there are mountains.  Today's discussion involves traveling from beaches to the mountains, vice versa, and traveling either north or south in San Diego County.

With regard to the mountains, on a clear day you can sit on the top of Mt. Cuyamaca and (with the help of a pair of binoculars) looking west, you can see all the way to the airport.  The airport, incidentally, sits at sea level.

Thus, concering the distance from the beaches to the mountains: San Diego County slopes east to west.

Beaches to the left (west); mountains to the right (east).  Incidentally, the flags indicate black bear sightings up through the year 2000 (glad I didn't know that before planning my camping trip!) (c) San Diego Natural History Museum

Green Valley Campground

Green Valley Campground

Hwy 79

Use Fee: 30.00

Reservation Fee: 8.00

Total Fee: 38.00

Visiting campgrounds close to the city is fun... it's nice... it makes for a great ride.  But for real excitement you have to visit San Diego's east county.

The weather is wildly unpredictable.  And it can be unforgiving.

Green Valley Campground is in the lower Cuyamacas.  It's a little farther to ride but it really is an amazing place.

Lake Jennings Park & Campground

Lake Jennings Park & Campground
10108 Bass Rd.
Lakeside, CA 92040

Use Fee: 25.00
Reservation Fee: 8.00
Total Charge: 33.00
Note: Lake Jennings Campground does NOT offer a hike 'n bike rate.

Nice little spot with a gorgeous view of the lake.

Packing the Bicycle for Camping: A Pictorial Essay



Bicycle with panniers mounted... ready to tour!



Tomorrow I'm hitting Lake Jennings Campground.  The following day I'll be at Green Valley Falls.  Today I took some time to pack the bicycle and I took a few pictures while doing so.

Winter Bicycle Camping vrs Summer Bicycle Camping in San Diego County

Winter bicycle camping in San Diego County

I suggest that during winter in San Diego you stay within the city when bicycle camping.  Winter - whatever images that may evoke to those of you who don't live here - is extremely mild in our fair city.  It generally amounts to a little rain, nothing more.  Some occasional flooding.  But snow within the greater San Diego area is virtually unheard of.

Greatest weather in the country.  Bar none.

To those unfamiliar with our little corner of the world, though, in wintertime San Diego's east county does indeed get snow.  That fact may be amazing to some people who believe 100% of San Diego is 100% warm 100% of the time.  Well, I'm afraid nothing is 100%.

The San Diego skyline is dwarfed by the snow-capped Cuyamaca Mountains on Monday, March 13 [2011]. The photo is shot from Rosecrans National Cemetary in Point Loma.  (c) NANCEE E. LEWIS / Union-Tribune

The east county in the months preceding and following winter can get some pretty severe rainstorms, some nasty winds, it can get plenty cold.  But in comparison to much of the rest of the country the nastiness is short-lived and soon things are once again serene and beautiful.  Lovely little county we have here.

Upcoming Bicycle Camping Trip

I've already made my reservations for two locations.

On April 6 (a Wednesday) I'll be at Lake Jennings Campground just to the east of El Cajon.  I plan to ride to work that morning in Kearny Mesa (15 miles) and that afternoon ride out to the campground (20 miles) and thus, my first day's mileage will be 35 miles.  Nice and easy; I don't anticipate a difficult ride and thus far it seems the weather will be nice.

A Really Cool Feature of Map-My-Ride

In this post I told you about Map-My-Ride which is a very useful program for planning bicycling routes because in addition to mileage it displays the severity of that route's climbs.  Believe me, when you're hauling a lot of camping gear you want no surprises when encountering steep terrain.

Another feature of Map-My-Ride is called "Course Fly-By Video."  Here's how it works:

As an example, I have mapped a route from National City (which is just below San Diego) to Green Valley Falls in the Cuyamaca Mountains.  Overall distance is some 46 miles and considering that I am riding up into the mountains there are some fairly steep climbs.

http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/30341356

A Crappy Ol' Rainy Day

Weather-wise we don't have a lot to complain about here in San Diego County.  We do get the occasional rain storm and as a bicyclist I've learned my lesson about attempting to commute 15 miles each way in the rain.

Today is that rainy day... a crappy ol' rainy day.  I always look forward to my hour and a half bicycle commute - it does wonders for clearing the head - but as it happens my commute takes me through Mission Valley.  And when it rains the roads in Mission Valley get flooded.  Last time I tried commuting in the rain I got boxed in; the whole Mission Valley area was underwater and my boss had to come fetch me in his truck.  Not something I want to make a habit of.

A crappy ol' rainy day.  Wet, drizzly, miserable.  Ugh!  The view from my front yard.

Sweetwater Regional Park & Campground

Late afternoon at Sweetwater campground.

Sweetwater Regional Park & Campground
3218 Summit Meadow Road
Bonita, CA 91902

Use fee: $24.00
Reservation fee: $5.00
Total Charge: $29.00

Strong/Lukewarm Feelings about Sleeping Bags and Sleeping Bag Pads

Coleman Taos "Extreme Weather" Sleeping Bag.  Extreme weather....?

Sweetwater Regional Park improvements are complete

By Ashly McGlone

Thursday, March 10, 2011 at 6 a.m.

San Diego Union-Tribune

Mr. Slo, What Exactly Is Bicycle Camping?

Interesting question hahaha.  Well, to me bicycle camping is as simple as riding your bicycle somewhere outdoors and hanging out and spending at least one night.  If you don’t spend the night then there’d be no way to distinguish what you’re doing from a picnic… or a rest break… or some creepy thing you do while hiding behind bushes hahaha.

San Elijo redux

Hands down my favorite campsite!

Dos Picos

Dos Picos Campground is located just to the west of Ramona.

Dos Picos campground is truly one of the loveliest facilities I've encountered in San Diego County.

Friday, March 4, 2011: Having packed all my gear I left for work as I normally do on Friday.  I traveled from National City to Kearny Mesa, a distance of some 15 miles.  

SD Bike Commuter Discount Program Launch Party

...hoping to hit this on my way home from Cardiff Sunday afternoon.

Video of S24O from San Francisco

I realize the title of this blog is Bicycle Camping in San Diego County but I thought I'd include this video for reference purposes to show you how much fun bike camping is.  Here's how it's done up in the Frisco area:

Man, that is some beautiful country!!  Check out the blue Ortliebs on that one guy's bike.

Thoughts About Climbing Hills

Something I said in the post regarding selecting routes for bicycle camping has left me pensive.  Basically I said our object as bicycle campers should be to pick relatively flat routes because climbing hills - even those of moderate steepness - is no easy thing when loaded down with camping gear.

I want to re-calibrate that philosophy.  There are at least 2 ways of reconsidering that statement.  

First, difficulty in climbing is partly a function of how much extra stuff you're carrying.  One option: carry less stuff.

Second, what is the physical configuration of your bicycle?  Does it facilitate or complicate the climbing of hills?

Picking a Tent for Bicycle Camping

This is a subject I don't know a whole lot about so the best I can do is relate my personal experience.

As I stated before, a tent isn't absolutely necessary to bike camp.  Some folks make do with what's called a bivy sack (basically a weather-resistant cocoon for your sleeping bag; it also covers your face so no part of you is exposed to the elements).  It seems a bivy sack would be ideal for stealth camping (sleeping in an area not designated for camping) because it's quick... and a quick getaway may be in order when stealth camping.

For longer, impromptu trips I'm thinking a tent plus a bivy sack would be the best way to go.  The tent is wonderful for when you're booked in a campground.  The bivy sack is useful for when you have no choice but to stealth camp.  Weight isn't an issue in carrying both the tent and the bivy sack because MSR makes a bivy sack that weighs next to nothing and fits into a soda-can sized stuff sack:  MSR E-Bivy

So much for bivy sacks.  Our discussion concerns picking a tent.

How to Plan a Route When Going Bicycle Camping

Let's start with our basic situation.... bicycle camping is fun - yes, it is! - but it involves (a) hauling weight (b) over relatively long distances.  Both parameters present issues.

Neither is particularly burdensome when riding on flat terrain.  But the problems compound exponentially the moment you start to climb a hill.  Thus, the strategy becomes: keep your route relatively flat.

Now, I can already hear the scoffing, the clucking of tongues, from the athletic crowd.  Sticking to "flat routes" doesn't sound very manly, now does it?  No, and if you're simply piloting a bare bike I say climb away!  But we bike campers can be carrying up to 50 pounds of camping gear and thus we are subject to a whole host of unique considerations.

So yes, I'm going to stick with my premise.  The strategy for us bicycle campers is to keep our routes relatively flat.

How to Pack When Bicycle Camping

I haven't been bicycle camping for very long.  There are still so many places in San Diego County I want to visit... every time I take a "spin" on Google maps I discover another park, or country road, or an area that for whatever reason just looks interesting.

The few times I have gone bike camping have been fun but I can see I have much to learn.  For instance, I tended to pack too much stuff... including things I might be able to do without. Today I have my gear list pretty finely honed... although you might feel that I still bring too much.

A basic list.  The key word here is "minimal."  You don't need much.  Basic gear should include the following:

San Elijo Campground

Well, there's nothing like camping at or near the beach.  The morning I pedaled away from Dixon Lake (Feb. 5, 2011) I thought about riding to San Elijo with the goal of camping there that night.

There were, though, a couple of things I wanted to accomplish on the way.  I wanted to check out Guajome Park as a potential future camping trip and I wanted to ride the San Luis Rey River Trail into Oceanside.

After breakfast and side trip to the bank in Escondido I was on my way.  I followed Mission Ave. into San Marcos where it eventually became S. Santa Fe.  I followed that right on through San Marcos into Vista and continued into Oceanside.  Eventually I reached Guajome Park.  Very nice.  Great camping spots although the emphasis does seem to be on RV campers.

Dixon Lake

This is truly a beautiful location just above Escondido at the same general access point as Daley Ranch.  Warning for cyclists: the last half-mile getting up to this access point is a killer; it's extremely steep!  Loaded as I was with all my camping gear I chose to walk the bike up this hill.  Even at that I was puffing and panting.  YMMV.

Packing a folding bike into a suitcase

Note: whereas not technically bicycle camping, this is still interesting from a "traveling with a bicycle" perspective.  From a post I made to www.sdbikecommuter.com on Nov. 20, 2010:

Possibly this has been covered before. But I think some of you folks will find this interesting.

Wednesday I'm off to San Jose to visit my brother's family for Thanksgiving. I'll get there around 7:30am.

"Should I meet you at the airport and pick you up?" asks my brother. I know there's no damn way he's looking forward to that. So I make my little "announcement."

"No need," said I, exuding a confidence I didn't actually feel. "I'll be bringing a bike and I'll ride from the airport to your place."

"No, seriously, do you want me to meet you at the -"

"Seriously! I'm bringing a bike and I'll ride it to your place."

"It's your funeral."

Camp Kumeyaay

The 3 underlying premises to this blog

Premise 1: bicycling as a lifestyle

I do not regard riding a bicycle as a "sport."  I regard it as a lifestyle.  For purposes of this blog that is a very important distinction.

The sports bicyclist.  Ride along the coast on any Saturday morning; you'll see hundreds of them.  They ride very fast, rather expensive bikes.  These sports bicyclists also tend to dress "funny," that is they wear spandex and lots of it.  In bright colors.  They tend to have athletic builds and they enjoy riding in groups... pace groups or what have you.  They are very healthy, very visible, very fast, very competitive.

This, to say the least, does not describe how I ride.

Please note that I do not denigrate, belittle, mock, dismiss, chastise, etc. etc. etc. people who ride for sport.  They are often wonderfully friendly people doing what they love to do best.  I admire their athleticism but I don't aspire to it... at least to the extent that I need to be a fast rider.  I am a strong rider albeit a slow one.  I differ from them purely philosophically... that's all.  Please refer to Premise 3.