Bicycle Corps: America's Black Army on Wheels - The Documentary

If you are interested in (a) Military History, (b) Bicycle history, (c) African American history (d) American history (e) Adventure/Expedition histories; or (f) All of the above: 

This link is to a PBS documentary you will enjoy:  

Bicycle Corps: America's Black Army on Wheels


Watch it now. You can thank me later.

Photos taken at Fort Missoula 2011 by Iron Rider

April Fool's Day 200K

The NY/NJ Randonneurs opened their 2012 season on April Fools' Day, a Sunday, with the revised Cranbury 200K. Three mornings later, on Wednesday, I woke up to realize "hey, I'm not tired anymore." Three mornings later.

The course was not particularly hard. I read Laurent's thorough, funny and descriptive pre-ride report before riding the course (click HERE to read it). However, my brain only seemed to register the words "flat route." So I decided to ride it on the fixed gear bike. Now, after riding the course on the fixie, my brain agrees with the comment that "there was a hell of a number of hills on this flat route."

But I can't blame the course alone for the long recovery time. The night before the 200k, I rode the brand new 102K Philadelphia to Phoenixville permanent on the fixed gear. And, instead of taking it easy - knowing that the 200k would follow - I rode the 102K at a "spirited" pace - (spirited is a Randonnese term which loosely translates to hauling ass.) Then, after sleeping four hours, I drove out to NJ to ride the 200K. Hmm, after laying the sequence out, it's probably pretty easy tell why just getting out of bed was a big deal for the following three days . . . but the whole thing seemed like a good idea at the time.

Friday Writings for Randos - The Order of Grace

{Friday Writings for Randos - A weekly post that features pieces from other writers that touch some facet of the Randonneuring experience, even if that was not the author's intent. It's stuff that's best read out loud - slowly.} This week it's . . .

The Order of Grace

by Lars Gustafsson

Mantra of the metal mala.

Mananaat traayate iti mantrah*

On a fixed gear bike, the chainring teeth engage each link of the chain.  

Mananaat traayate iti mantrah* 

Legs turn chain, chain turns wheel, wheel turns chain, chain turns legs.

Mananaat traayate iti mantrah*

The madhyama sound of the drive train resonates through the rider.

Mananaat traayate iti mantrah*

 Rosary beads. Komboloi. Japa Mala. Bike chain.

Mananaat traayate iti mantrah*
 

*That which uplifts by constant repetition is a Mantra.  

Blue Mountain 200k

The first ride of my third year of Randonneuring took place around and over Blue Mountain.

The lamb of March arrived early to replace a worn and toothless lion. Last week's string of unseasonably warm temperatures included a record high 80 degrees on Friday. The Pennsylvania Randonneurs' March 200k brevet was scheduled for Saturday. The weather was scheduled to change.

The Saturday forecast called for cooler temperatures and a good chance of showers in the afternoon. A good day for Randonneuring is not what I once imagined. I used to think of bike riding as something to do while wearing shorts and sunscreen - not wool and rain jackets - but I no longer place those limits on myself. I wore the wool and packed a rain jacket. I would deal with whatever the weather would bring.

Friday writings for Randos - True Alpinists

{Friday Writings for Randos - A weekly post that features pieces from other writers that touch some facet of the Randonneuring experience, even if that was not the author's intent. It's stuff that's best read out loud - slowly.} This week it's:.

An excerpt from 

The Rider 

by Tim Krabbe

I've found a cadence. Another twelve kilometers to Camprieu.

Commuter light review - Sigma Lightster v. Planet Bike Blaze 2 Watt

Part One - 

First impressions and light patterns 

(for Part two - "Rain" testing click here)

The Sigma Lightster is a potentially significant new option in battery powered commuter bike lights. Generally, commuter lights are used "to be seen" or "to see". A "to be seen" light is the kind of light you can use in a city where streetlights and other ambient lights provide enough light to ride by. It keeps you from becoming a "bike ninja" by making you more visible.  Since the "to be seen" light is mostly used to get you noticed by others, it can be a one bulb blinky or a small light.

If you ride unlit roads, a blinky won't cut it. You need a light that you can actually use to see where you are going.

The  Lightster is advertised as a "to see" light. It retails for about $35.00. What makes it potentially significant is that it is a shaped light. A shaped light is a light that projects a square or rectangle of light instead of a circle. A shaped light has a distinct top line. Like car headlights on low beam, the light is focused on the ground and not into the eyes of oncoming traffic. For the rider, it means that more of the light is used on the road ahead instead of fading off into the distance. This feature means that this light is one of the few battery powered lights that meets German standards for bike lights. Even more importantly, the Lightster is the ONLY shaped light I am aware of that sells for less than $40.00. Other shaped lights cost far more. 

The Lightster is also advertised as putting out 20 lux of light for 10 hours. A lux is a measure of light. I understand one lux to be about as bright as the light from a full moon. (if that's not right, feel free to comment)  By comparison, the Ixon, which is a very good  battery powered shaped light, puts out 40 lux for 5 hours or 10 lux for about 20 hours. So the Lightster, contrasted with the Ixon, either provides half the lux for twice the length of time as the Ixon high beam, or twice the lux for half the length of time as the Ixon low beam.  But the Ixon also costs well over $100  - enough to buy almost 3 Lightsters!

 I decided to test the Lightster against the Planet Bike Blaze 2 Watt in an under $100 light comparison. The Blaze is a Cree LED commuter light that retails for about $60 dollars. I have used it on overnight rides and it is an acceptable "to see" light for unlit paved roads with no major downhills. For commuting, it is way more than adequate. If the Lightster can hold its own against the Blaze, it's a light worth consideration.