Riding Tips For Classic Antique Bicycles

[bricycle]

When was the last time you felt like you did when you were 10 years old?
We can't do most of the things we did as a child; but feelings are still in there.
It's a cheap child-like rush that makes me smile.
There is some things that are so simple; but feel like nothing else.
I don't think I can explain it. Try it.

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I don't mean to Poo Poo your fun, just would hate to see any of you get road rash or worse. Friend of mine compound fractured his arm doing stuff he knew better not to do.

 

[fordmike65]

If you have a really nice bike dont park it next to a bike with a drop stand on a windy day.lol

Or a freaking basket

 

[bulldog1935]

I stopped carrying a wallet in the back pocket 15 years ago.. What a difference!

Randi Jo bartender bag - have one on every bike in the house for wallet, keys and cellphone, and it doubles as an extra water bottle holder

RandiJoFab version is the waxed canvas yuppie, etc. $39 bar bag - Randi Jo is sweet as pecan brittle, does wonderful work, and she always has a queue of work.
https://www.randijofab.com/collections/bags/products/bartender-bag-1
but there are other versions out there, JandD bottle and grub bag, Revelate Designs feed bag, Carsick Designs goodie bag.
Here, I found one brand that is a little cheaper:
https://www.biketiresdirect.com/product/acepac-bottle-bag?v=grey000&adl=1
and available in different colors from different vendor inventories
https://www.google.com/search?q=Ace...i60l2j69i61.3809j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

 

[birdzgarage]

Or a freaking basket

Lol, they went down like dominos. You made one hell of an effort to save yours, mad props for that!

 

[tripple3]

I don't mean to Poo Poo your fun, just would hate to see any of you get road rash or worse. Friend of mine compound fractured his arm doing stuff he knew better not to do.

I am sorry for your friend; it sucks to go down.
You are getting personal with the idea.
Imagine a 10 year old boy with big imaginations, dreams and beliefs.
Pictures himself riding into super-natural dimension on his 2 Wheeler to battle evil. Arms raised like Moses riding behind his invincible shield of Belief in his left hand, and a double edged sWord in his right; armed in Light that can not be hidden. Super natural beings fighting each other all around as the darkness gets pushed back by The Light.
It's comic-book style story I'm hoping my buddy Mike can draw.
I enjoy riding. I can explain better in person.
Let's Ride!

 

[GTV]

Do not attempt. Professional rider on closed course.

 

[rusty_apache]

I pick my times on the greenways to minimize pedestrian traffic, know where to expect it, know all the blind curves, climbs, drops, bridges. The crowded trails on the weekends I completely avoid. Always happy to see a confident, well-trained heel hound (mine always were). One nice thing, is many dog-training classes meet at the trailhead parks - those dogs and owners are wonderful, and a good example to the lame. Aside from being the bane of greenways, leashes longer than 6' aren't legal, but that doesn't stop the mindless from creating hazards. Cycling groups larger than 2 or 3 people are also dangerous, because they pass pedestrians as a mindless herd, on bridges, etc.
San Antonio is doing a really good job on our greenways, and eventually we will have 150 miles connected, making it easy to choose good remote rides.
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We have one trail that is a national park, connecting the 5 missions, though don't make the mistake of riding this mid-day in the summer, because there is like only two trees remaining along the lower San Antonio River - the channel was scoured long ago for flood drainage from downtown - though they have built some nice gazebos along the trail. The trailhead is also at one of the better brewpubs in San Antonio, Blue Star, and there's a nice bike shop there, as well.
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https://www.nps.gov/saan/planyourvisit/hikebike.htm
http://www.sanantonioriver.org/images/SARIP-map/SARIP Full Map-web1.pdf
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Guess that brings up another tip - know the weather and plan for it. Clouds, sun, wind, rain, temperature swings. Look ahead hour-by-hour on the weather channel website or somewhere to know what to expect in the ride your're planning. Sailing 10 miles downwind, then turning around can be a shock, and a test of your late-ride endurance (especially for families with young riders).

Our Missions are now a world heritage site!

 

[Duchess]

The other problem with some of these rail trails are the wannabe racers who do 30 in packs through unsteady kids trying to learn to ride, pedestrians, people riding at normal speeds, etc. They're why I prefer unpaved trails—those tools wouldn't set tire on dirt unless they bring out their specific $6k gravel bike with its "custom gravel geometry", "specially woven CF frame to match the increased strain of gravel riding", and 4mm wider tires. And, ironically, because there are less people on them, riding at a higher speed isn't so sociopathic as you'll get stretches where there's no one else around.

As for lighting, I'm a big fan of 12V systems. Small lithium ion packs are cheap and compact and 12V lights for motorcycles/trucks/cars are a lot cheaper/lumen than 3-6V bicycle specific systems. The trade off is that they're heavier and often larger, but most of us are riding tanks, anyway.

 

[bulldog1935]

stopped on the greenway (the guy on the left is a Trail Steward - what a great part-time job)

to watch a water moccasin eat a robin

The thing is, little kids don't travel even a mile from the trailhead park, so prudent cycling doesn't avert a healthy pace over the 30+ miles you are planning to knock out.
It's possible to ride smart, and just like driving your car, anticipate mindless acts of ignorance, along with control freaks.

Saturday morning, I met Lou and his group in Alamo Heights, and we rode an hour through Terrell Hills (some of those houses have multiple addresses). After that, since it was close, hauled my bike to the remote Lower Salado trailhead, knocked out 18 mi in exactly 60 min. I saw 2 pedestrians in that ride, both near the downtown KOA.

If you're with somebody, also know their riding habits. I made the mistake one day of inviting aggressive John (a weekday) on the bit more crowded upper Salado and Walker Ranch trails. Every time I slowed down for a blind twisty (usually crowning a short grade) he thought I was wussing out, passed me on the right, forcing me to go exactly where I didn't want to be.

In addition to my bell, a couple of call-outs I keep in my pocket - Down ladder, make a hole (when they don't give you a choice, left or right) - plus, I never got to use it in the Navy - and Planet Earth (for the wholly oblivious)
and I always thank people who pay attention and make polite choices.

You also get to make friends with walkers who regularly pace out distance on the greenways. A bike bell is always well-received.

 

[SKIDKINGSVBC]