Typical commute through UW-Madison

This is my most common school-to-home route on UW-Madison campus (sped up 4x). Notice the lady running a stop sign around 3:05. Notice me talking to her about it around 3:20.

UW Commute from Spencer Morse on Vimeo.

Bike Signage: "Traffic" & "Except Bikes"

I have many times heard the argument of frustrated motorists that cyclists should not be on the road, for they interfere with traffic. Their argument fails to properly define the term "traffic." For many, traffic = personal automobile. I hold fast to the fact that bikes make up a portion of traffic, or are included underneath the umbrella term "traffic." Here is some evidence that folks in charge of infrastructure in Madison understand the concept:

This notice is intended to caution motorists and bicyclists alike of the right-of-way held by bicycle cross-TRAFFIC.

On another note, I quite enjoy one of the three signs on the post in the picture below. Can you guess which one? Look closely!

Today's reason for Why I Ride a bike: Intelligent traffic planning can increase safety for all forms of traffic, including bicycles. I enjoy increased safety and awareness. 

Sharrows and the like

Just a quick note to share a feature I enjoy on part of a commute route I occasionally take.

The picture was taken in a traffic-calmed neighborhood, where a bike path is integrated into the street. I like how they handled the flow of bicycle traffic around the tree-filled circle. The path continues to the back right of the picture. I enjoy being taken seriously as part of traffic.

Something is Missing: Merino Portfolio Management

I sweat. Lots. That, and I ride some sort of distance daily. Some rides are transportational in nature, others recreational. In either case, I use some form or another of cycling specific clothing and/or accessories. Fact: synthetics smell terrible when mixed with human sweat (I haven't tried lycra on any animals, yet). Therefore, synthetic articles of clothing require frequent washings, if one is to ride frequently. Words such as annoying, inconvenient, putrid, among others, come to mind when I think of stinky synthetics.

I was first introduced to moisture/odor/temperature management via fabric with Smartwool socks. The results were fantastic. Quite possibly, my marriage was saved, as were several pairs of shoes. Before long, as my addiction to Keen footwear grew, I added more and more of their Merino wool socks to the wardrobe. Before long, I saw the merits of Merino for an increasing breadth of activities, including the act of staying alive.

To begin, here's a snapshot of my current portfolio of Merino wool goodness:

From skullcap to socks, but something's missing . . . 

Obviously (hopefully it's obvious), something is missing from the portfolio. That's right, shorts (bibs for me, please). 

Here's the rundown of what I use:

Skullcap and neck gaiter

Salsa jersey, by Earth Wind & Rider (thicker weave)

Bontrager (Trek) long sleeve sweater. Another EWNR product.

Ibex gloves. 

Ibex arm warmers.

Ibex leg warmers.

Most of my socks. From Chrome, Keen, Smartwool, & Wigwam. 

I missed a closeup picture of the casual sweater that is to the left of the Salsa jersey in the first picture. Looks like once I add a set of bibs, I have a good start. Wish me luck.

Tour de Tonka 100, version 2011

'Twas late summer 2009 when what started as a seed of an idea burst into full form inside my brain: "ride the Ulcer." Why would I do such a thing? My "training" on the road at this point consisted of a grueling 4-mile round trip commute to the shop. We're talking roughly 20 miles per week. The Ulcer was about two weeks away at that point, so of course I could be in shape to manage a 111-mile "century." Not only did my training lack any realistic base, I would be riding my 25+ lb. Salsa Casseroll, and I somehow convinced my baby brother and his buddy to ride with me . . . on their fixies.

Well, we finished. I finished third of our group, which grew to be known affectionately as "Fixies & Fenders," since my Casseroll boasted SKS Chromoplastics at the time. This is what the finish looked like:

Mitch (baby bro.), some guy, Todd "Vans" Earl

I think Todd was standing on something in this picture. Clearly we're not that short. Apparently, my bib shorts are doing all they can to ensure proper placement of my bowels. Not sure how else to explain that phenomenon.

FAST FORWARD TO JULY 2011

Now I found myself in Minneapolis, as a summer intern at Best Buy, and I saw a billboard requesting my presence at this event. With 6 or 7 weeks to train, and roughly 100-115 miles per week over 6 weeks, I liked my odds. This time, however, I upped the ante. Could I ride the century without stopping? Up to that point in time, my longest nonstop ride was 60 miler. Not too bad. I would need to continue testing all the variables that I would need to control (nutrition, water, riding positions, pace, etc.) in order to complete a nonstop century. 

I eventually arrived with the following nutrition/hydration plan for riding nonstop:

• 7 water bottles (3 in the cages, 4 in the handlebar bag)
• 4 packs of Clif Bar Shot Bloks (roughly 2 bloks/half bottle)
• 3 smashed PB&Honey sandwiches

The nutrition went like this: Finish a pack of Bloks over 1.5 bottles. As I was finishing the next 0.5 bottle, I would eat a PB&H. For every 2 bottles, I was consuming roughly 550 calories. With roughly 2 bottles/hour, this puts me at 275ish calories per hour. It worked quite well. Turns out I only grabbed 6 bottles that morning, and ran out of agua with about 2 miles to go. The last rest stop was at mile 88, at which point I had about 1/3 bottle left, just enough for 12 miles, I figured. 

Alas, I arrived at the finish line at 5:45 nonstop. My goal was 6:30, since my total Ulcer time in 2009 was in the neighborhood of 8-8.5 hours. Turns out, since I was running my hub generator-powered lighting system, I probably would have picked up 1-2 mph on my average (a technical enlightenment I discovered post Minneapolis). I assumed the literature I had read on the Schmidt Sondelux was all I needed to know. Turns out a 17mph average with the light system turns into a 19ish mph average sans light. The literature suggests a  hit of about 0.5mph. Oh well. 

Here are a couple shots from the event (I'll add more as I find them):

Those legs are difficult to resist. 

Agua. Now. Greasy pizza? Not so much . . . 

Brompton Abuse: Manuals, bar spins, 360's, etc!

I don't see myself doing this anytime soon . . .