Biking in Maine (Deer Isle: store, safe, food)

[Shuffler]

Originally Posted by Maineah

I have nothing against bicycles. I own three. I do call them bicycles so as not to confuse my friends when talking about real bikes (motorcycles). As for excercise Bruce Jenner used to train riding motocross as he said there was no better physical workout on the planet. He's just an olympic medalist after all so why would he know anything.
I equate the influx of helmet and spandex clad ninnies in our state parks as nothing less than annoying. Equal to that of skateboard nerds in the city. You could make a bicycle out of unobtanium if you want to but it's still a bicycle in the end. Adults should act like adults and kids should act like kids. Watching "grown ups" doing things on bicycles that we did as 10 years olds (because we were not old enough for a REAL motorcycle) makes me cringe."Mommy look at me I went over the big bump on my mountain bike!!" Grow up...and get out of the parks with the damn things! Spandex cowboys! I still do find pleasure in roosting mud and rocks at bicycle babies when ever I see one on an ATV or real dirtbike trail. Some people never grow up I guess.

Maineh I won't dispute MX racers as being among the fittest athletes out there...anybody who's ridden a 20+ lap moto will know what I'm talking about.

Would you roost Ricky Carmichael if you saw him out on his mtn bike and call him a spandex-clad ninny? The Champ happens to ride bicycles as a key part of his MX training, and so do all the other elite racers.

I hope you were kidding about roosting cyclists...roost hurts bad enough when I've got my riding gear on, now imagine being pelted in the face, neck, and chest with roost and no protection. Dude, that is very, very un-cool. Of course, so is poaching singletrack on an ATV, but that's getting off-topic.

You should probably change your attitude if you want to preserve our sport, otherwise hoardes of 'ninnies' will gladly speak out and make sure we never ride trails again...

[peachie_in_maine]

Originally Posted by Boomerang

Forgot to tell you - you might want to read this link:
Bicycle Saddles
Mr. Brown's site is often mentioned as a good all-round source of cycling info.
Good luck! If you have a good local bike shop they should be able to help fit you but I'd also look for a return policy if possible.

My hindquarters are still smarting from the weekend rides, but less as time goes on. I just toodle along on my hybrid bike, no stunting, no jumping (well, not intentionally). I'm using the saddle that came with my bike last year. If it doesn't get a lot better in a few weeks, I'll be shopping with you

Thanks... I'll check that out. I don't really have a bike shop around me. I would enjoy biking again.
Oh I am sure your aching. I know over time, your body will get use to it. If it doesn't I'll save you a place in line at the check out counter.
Thanks again!!

Originally Posted by mollysmiles

A few years back (wow, time flies! must be about 10 years now!) he bought a hybrid bike from Bean's and loves it! Peachie I'll ask him about the seat

Wow, thanks.
If he doesn't it's okay.
I'm working on some yard work right now so I'm keeping busy. I got stones to lay and working on a new path to the fire "deck".
You have to see it to really understand what I mean.
Tami~peachie

[deerislesmile]

Originally Posted by AustinB

We used to have Vermont Cycleing Tours ride through town in the summer. Thank God they don't do that any more. There is nothing better than being stuck behind a string of cyclists on these narrow winding roads.

Now, having said that, I was thinking about getting a bike myself. Sometimes riding the old Honda 750 just isn't cheap enough.

I particularly enjoyed them on the Deer Isle causeway...

I am glad that the tours don't come down to Deer Isle anymore- I know they have a right to the road, and that what they are doing is healthy, but we have narrow roads, no bike lanes, and lots of blind hills and corners- it's just too dangerous to have pack of cyclists here.

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by Shuffler

Maineh I won't dispute MX racers as being among the fittest athletes out there...anybody who's ridden a 20+ lap moto will know what I'm talking about.

Would you roost Ricky Carmichael if you saw him out on his mtn bike and call him a spandex-clad ninny? The Champ happens to ride bicycles as a key part of his MX training, and so do all the other elite racers.

I hope you were kidding about roosting cyclists...roost hurts bad enough when I've got my riding gear on, now imagine being pelted in the face, neck, and chest with roost and no protection. Dude, that is very, very un-cool. Of course, so is poaching singletrack on an ATV, but that's getting off-topic.

You should probably change your attitude if you want to preserve our sport, otherwise hoardes of 'ninnies' will gladly speak out and make sure we never ride trails again...

Yes I'd roost Carmichael, McGrath a or ANY OTHER spandex clad ninnie I see on the trails. Too many mountain bikes have already ruined the state parks and now I see them on the ATV trails and motorcycle trails where they're taking their life in their own hands. If there is anything more sickening then a bunch of supposedly grown men on bicycles attempting to imitate motocross I don't know what it is. I think it is nothing but a bunch of immature clowns mocking the history and root of a true motorsport. By sheer numbers they will most likely take over the existing trails.
I don't want to spend my time on the trail worrying about some idiot on a bicycle around the next corner. These people gripe and moan about the mean motorcycles running them off the trails when it is they who are the real intruders. I equate them with cross country skiers on snowmobile trails.
They shouldn't be there and they darn sure shouldn't complain when a motorized vehicle assumes the right of way.
There should be little bicycle parks where these morons can pretend to be riding in an enduro or a motocross race and keep the real trails for the real motorcycles. If they used their own trails ,which would be too small and slow for real bikes, I would have no complaint. It's when they are on dirtbike trails atv trails or walking trails that I have a problem with them. At least Carmichael and the majority of people who train on mountain bikes stick to trails and facilities designed for them. And no I don't plan to change my attitude.

[RANGER.101ST]

I Had A Bicycle Once I Was 10 It Was Red And Blue Had Alot Of Fun On It.then I Got A Honda 80cc For My Birthday And Never Looked Back .

[island mermaid]

Originally Posted by deerislesmile

I particularly enjoyed them on the Deer Isle causeway...

I am glad that the tours don't come down to Deer Isle anymore- I know they have a right to the road, and that what they are doing is healthy, but we have narrow roads, no bike lanes, and lots of blind hills and corners- it's just too dangerous to have pack of cyclists here.

LOL, true! Barely enough room for two normal sized cars to pass each other. Never mind two SUV's or BIG trucks, I've been scared to death on that road more than once! Not a lot of room for error there...

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by RANGER.101ST

I Had A Bicycle Once I Was 10 It Was Red And Blue Had Alot Of Fun On It.then I Got A Honda 80cc For My Birthday And Never Looked Back .

Someone else gets it! YAY! I had several bicycles too when I was a kid. I spent literally years on them! We used to go to the dump with a bag of wrenches and bring home a ton of parts. We bent out the handle bars and installed center braces, painted them flat black and raced them all around town doing wheelies , jumps and powerslides...but we were 10 years old. I got a Rupp mini-bike when I was 11 and a Honda 70 when I was 13. Then it was several 125cc Suzuki race bikes, a Can -Am 125 race bike and so on and so on including some Husqvarna four strokes and a Yamaha WR 400 the first year they came out. I raced motocross for several years as well and have been a member of Pine Tree Trail Riders and New England Trail Riders Association for years. Bicycles are fun for kids. Kids should have them. Adults should grow up.

[rossco17]

Originally Posted by Maineah

Someone else gets it! YAY! I had several bicycles too when I was a kid. I spent literally years on them! We used to go to the dump with a bag of wrenches and bring home a ton of parts. We bent out the handle bars and installed center braces, painted them flat black and raced them all around town doing wheelies , jumps and powerslides...but we were 10 years old. I got a Rupp mini-bike when I was 11 and a Honda 70 when I was 13. Then it was several 125cc Suzuki race bikes, a Can -Am 125 race bike and so on and so on including some Husqvarna four strokes and a Yamaha WR 400 the first year they came out. I raced motocross for several years as well and have been a member of Pine Tree Trail Riders and New England Trail Riders Association for years. Bicycles are fun for kids. Kids should have them. Adults should grow up.

Moderator cut: Opinions are welcome......personal jibes are not

Plenty of adults ride bikes because they enjoy it and it can be good exercise at the same time. i may tell them to stop wearing advertisement-clad spandex outfits, but i don't think telling them to grow up makes one bit of sense. plus, it's obnoxious.

[Cornerguy1]

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[Boomerang]

Originally Posted by Maineah

Bicycles are fun for kids. Kids should have them. Adults should grow up.

I wholeheartedly agree that adults should act their age.
Including all the 18+ "kids" raising cain and acting irresponsibly immature while operating their motorized toys (Like the ATV'er who ran over a property owner this week, for example).

Maine would benefit from efforts to provide more commuter cycling lanes/paths. It's a shame that we cannot safely use many of the roadways due to thoughtless or careless motorists - heck, even pedestrians can't safely walk along the roadways. There are many places I would gladly ride a bike rather than take a car if it were safe to do so.

Side note: on my way home today I stopped at a bike shop to pick up a combined rack and carrying bag (attaches to the seat post) so I don't have to kill my back carrying a backpack anymore. The sales associate told me that bikes have been flying out of the store this year, because people are trying to cut down on their driving due to gas prices. Healthy both physically and financially. Sound common sense.

On a personal note, I have an additional reason for cycling since a severe foot injury last year put me on crutches and kept me limping until just a couple months ago. The foot is still painful but improving really well through the exercise of pedalling. Until you've spent a summer not being able to get basic necessities like food and other staples unless you go to a store that offers an electric cart, you won't appreciate how wonderful it is to be able to get around under your own physical power....