Hey Group Riders. There’s a rule that cyclists follow to help them avoid crashes: “The faster you go, the further ahead you look.” Essentially, you don’t want to get caught focusing on the hole right in front of you at the expense of smacking into a tree beyond it.
As is true of so many aspects of cycling, I find that there’s a deeper life lesson here. As we emerge from this pandemic, the world is speeding up again. Already, I’m scheduling events on my calendar for February 2022. I'm guessing you are too. Before we go back to living in fast forward, a gentle reminder to ease up, take a breath, and savor the moment.
– Inhale through the nose...and exhale through the mouth –
Ah, much better. Ok then. Off we go.
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I just finished reading “Subtract: The Untapped Science of Less” by Leidy Klotz. It reveals humans’ tendency to solve problems by adding, rather than taking away. Klotz shares fascinating examples of this from his team’s research, but naturally my favorite real-life example relates to cycling.
For years, the common practice among parents was to acquire or equip a bike with training wheels for their child. Unfortunately, for many kids, training wheels simply didn't work all that well. Instead of riding perfectly upright, kids tended to lean over to one side, putting their weight on one training wheel or the other, never quite familiarizing themselves with that sweet spot in the middle. The "training" part of training wheels was very slow going.
In 2007, a better solution presented itself to a guy named Ryan McFarland: instead of adding wheels, remove the pedals (and the hand brakes too). This approach frees new riders to focus on the sensation of balancing while (mostly) removing the fear of toppling over, since both feet stay on the ground. McFarland's innovation became what we now commonly know as a Strider bike – a brilliantly simple machine that’s also lighter, safer, and less expensive to manufacture and maintain than a pedal-powered bike. Best of all, most children take to these stripped-down bikes immediately, with many balancing effortlessly in as little as an hour.
This gets me thinking about what else we’ve over-engineered on the common bike, and also what barriers we’ve erected – whether by accident or by design – that are preventing more people from falling in love with cycling. On that note...
Crank It
Pass the Dutchie
Photo credit: Gaurav Jain
Amsterdam is a city of cyclists. According to the most recent figures published by the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), in 2015, Amsterdam had 850,000 residents and 847,000 bicycles. (Safe to assume those 3,000 residents sans bike are infants, foreigners, or both.) While planes, trains, and automobiles are very much a thing in Amsterdam, at the same time, they are also very much not.
Interestingly, such a strong cycling culture is rooted in more than breathtaking scenery, spectacular cycling infrastructure, and flat terrain. It’s also about the kinds of bikes that are available – and one in particular. By far the most common bikes in Amsterdam are Dutch bikes, known as “omafiets” (literally translated: grandma bikes), which are designed for transportation. Compared to the U.S., where bikes are primarily used for sport or exercise, Dutch bikes are built for the commuter.
Generally, they have:
An upright riding position – lousy for speed, but oh so comfortable
Steel frames and internal hubs – built to be long lasting and low maintenance
Step-through design – for easy mounting and dismounting
Skirt guard and chain guard – to prevent clothing from getting caught or dirtied
Kickstand and frame lock – convenient for quick stops
Racks – front and/or rear for carrying large loads
Coaster (back-pedal) brakes – arguably more intuitive than hand brakes
Built-in dynamos – to power LED lights simply by moving
A bike with all of these features is both comfortable and reliable for getting from Point A to Point B. Want one?
Not so fast. Supposedly, getting your hands on a bike like this in the U.S. is tougher than you’d think. Fortunately, an organization called the The Plain Bicycle Project is working to change that. They’re importing used Dutch bikes from Amsterdam, one shipping container at a time. Their goal: “A bike culture bomb…the idea was to flood the heart of North America with the hallmark of Dutch cycling culture.”
I don’t know, America. It’s a slippery slope. First, it’s easy-riding bikes. The next thing you know, we’re all sipping Heinekens in a giant field of tulips. On second thought, maybe a little more of The Netherlands is just what we all need.
Coffee Stop
I Know You Are, But What Am I?
Photo credit: Justin Prugh
One thing I like about walking down the snack bar aisle of a grocery store is that there’s always something new to try. In my experience, you never shop the same snack bar aisle twice.
On my latest pass, a bag of Heavenly Hunks Ridiculously Amazing Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bites found its way into my shopping cart. These aptly named little desserts are the answer to the question, “How can I get away with eating cookie dough on a bike ride?” To my surprise and delight, despite being very chewy, these on-the-go indulgences are fully baked, not raw, and shaped into a cube to keep the cookie from drying out.
Normally, when I see “gluten-free” and “dairy-free” on a box of cookies, I roll my eyes and inwardly complain about how these treats will be sub-optimal, but this product once again proves that these concerns are entirely misguided. I think the way they compensate for the lack of butter is with the incorporation of shredded coconut, which provides an even more decadent flavor – and now has me sprinkling shredded coconut on practically everything.
Though not what I’d consider a nutritious snack, Heavenly Hunks deliver a satisfying energy boost and a smile to go along with it. Also available in enticing flavors such as Birthday Cake and Peanut Butter Chocolate. Check ‘em out.
Jaunt Back
No Stone Unturned
Photo credit: Justin Prugh
I consider myself a decent climber on a mountain bike, but lately I’ve been struggling with one little segment in San Diego’s Balboa Park (pictured above). The grade of the slope isn’t what makes it challenging (although I’d describe it as “pitchy”). It’s that there doesn’t seem to be a good way through the mess. The main obstacle is a big river-rock garden which keeps my tires from finding ample traction. Normally, I’d dismiss this as no big deal and go around it, but the narrow trail doubles as a gully that forces you right into the mine field. Add in a few extra good-sized roots and ruts, and it all adds up to be quite a technical challenge that I can’t get through without putting a foot down.
As a result, I’ve been brushing up on videos and articles about how to navigate technical climbs. Per their advice, I’ve walked the segment, studied the points where I slip or lose momentum, experimented with different gears, ascended the trail at a gentle crawl as well as with more speed, put more weight over my saddle for maximum traction and stood up for optimal power and balance. Good progress so far, but no luck.
On Saturday, I hit that section of trail with a guy named Axel. Axel works at my local bike shop, and trust me when I say that he commands a mountain bike like a Benihana chef wields a griddle spatula. Once again, I had to put my feet down before reaching the top. Meanwhile, Axel floated by me like he’d ridden up it 100 times.
I wish I could just chalk it up to his youth (he’s 26) or his more capable mountain bike (Trek Fuel EX 9.9), but the truth is that neither of those things explain his masterful summit. The difference, as pro cyclist Georgia Gould attests, is practice. Axel grew up in the rocky desert of Tucson, Arizona, and he told me he’s been riding trails just like this one since the age of 12. Whereas I took a decade-long hiatus from mountain biking, Axel doubled down as a teenager and continued to push himself as a rider, climbing increasingly technical trails and building up his skills.
The household cleaner called 409 came about because of the hard work and perseverance of “two young Detroit scientists hell-bent on formulating the greatest grease-cutting, dirt-destroying, bacteria cutting cleaner on the planet.” Supposedly, it took 409 attempts to get the formula just right, and that’s the one that you’ll find in the bottles today. In that spirt, I’ll continue to learn from my failures and tinker with my approach on this segment until I have the breakthrough formula I’m looking for. Hopefully it doesn’t take me 400 more tries to find success.
Cool Down
Fresh Kicks
Photo credit: Ashley de Lotz
I’ve had the same pair of Specialized clipless shoes since 2010, which is a rather long time for an American to own anything these days, let alone something that gets as much use as a pair of shoes. Granted, by their very nature, cycling shoes have a much easier path to longevity than typical shoes. They rarely make contact with the ground, and when they do, it’s usually just to get through the queue at the bakery.
While my 11-year-old shoes remain functional, they’re just now beginning to show their age. I started browsing the assortment from the usual heavy hitters in the space: Giro, Shimano, Pearl Izumi, etc. Then I checked out less traditional options and took great joy from seeing SPD Crocs and SPD Vans. While neither of these options is my cup of tea, I certainly appreciate the effort to make functional cycling gear that’s suitable for the destination as well as journey.
On second thought, you know who might be really into more fashionable cycling shoes like that? The Dutch.
Peel Off
Giphy
Well, here it is. My last day as a 34-year-old. Thanks to everyone who helped to make this year so meaningful and memorable.
I hope to get out on a bike with each and every one of you as I make my next trip around the sun. Until then, see you on the next Group Ride.
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Group Ride is a newsletter for the social cyclist. I curate content from bike manufacturers, shops and media sources to bring you information and inspiration to ride more confidently and comfortably.
