This past week the weather around the Colorado Front Range did not lend itself to very good riding outdoors but there was still plenty of news happening around the riding community to talk about.
For example, did you know that the Colorado Bicycle Safety Bill 148 passed the Colorado House of Representatives? The Bill was drafted to create a safer environment for motorists and bicyclists on public roads. It still has some wording that could be left to one’s interpretation but it is a step in the right direction and still has to clear some hurdles before it is made into law. Even if passed and made into law the big dilemma is how to educate people and enforce it. Just last weekend I was on my bike in the left turn lane at an intersection and a motorist approached me from behind blasting his horn while telling me I didn’t belong in the lane. Many of us have probably had that experience and it’s not the law that will change that drivers’ attitude. Still, some legal muscle would help!
Also, Fort Collins is now the home of the new Overland Mountain Bike Club. This club has grown from the roots of the very active and well known Diamond Peaks Mountain Bike Patrol. The mission of the group is simple — Preserve the Northern Colorado Mountain Biking Experience. Wow! That is quite a mission! As an active member of the DPMBP and now a member of the new OMBC, I can tell you first hand there is no better way to get involved with the direction of the mountain bike scene around Northern Colorado and Southern Wyoming than being a part of this group. If you are new to mountain biking, they have two group social rides planned each week where you can meet new friends, learn new skills or just ride. For more information check out their website at http://overlandmtb.org . By the way, the DPMBP is still active within the Overland Mountain Bike Club and still provides medical service along the trails. You know, ‘cos life happens…..
Ok, now if you’re a mountain biker you may want to sit down for the next bit of news….. President Obama recently signed a bill closing over 2 million public acres to mountain bikers and OHVs deeming them as wilderness areas. 2,000,000 + acres! The IMBA did have influence on some of these closures and was not totally against the closures but says more needs to be done in states where new land protection bills are gaining momentum. The Overland Mountain Bike Club addresses our local mountain bike needs and has direct links to the IMBA. Another good reason to get involved!
Now, back to that pesky weather…..some helpful hints from yours truly…
Simple magnetic trainer
Yes, after beginning to build up your base miles for the coming year it would be a shame to waste them due to the recent stretch of bad weather! If you don’t have access to a gym, a great way to keep your legs in tune and get some miles in, is to set your favorite bike up on a stationary trainer indoors. These trainers are pretty inexpensive and compact. If you can stand the stationary part of it and purchase a model with variable resistance, the trainer can be just as demanding as riding outdoors. While on the stationary trainer, work on your pedal stroke aka “pedaling in a box”, “scraping the mud off your shoe”, “smooth circles” whatever you want to call it…
Now for the “Tip of the Week:
Here’s something I learned a few weekends ago –using a heart rate monitor while riding with a partner helps set and keep pace together. It also prevents losing your partner! To start, have the weaker rider lead for a bit while the stronger rider gets a baseline of his/her own heart rate. While the stronger rider leads, use this baseline heart rate instead of speed to keep pace. This is the only method I’ve found to work while riding with my wife…..I won’t tell who is doing the pacing. I’ll leave that to your imagination!
See you on the trails!
Steve Lacey
