It’s Too Cold To Be Doing This

Went on a really fun ride in Lewis County / Weston today, and ended up by Stonecoal lake. The waterfall was flowing very fast, and since we were ahead of schedule, Tiffin and I decided to stop for a photo opportunity.

Last year, the waterfall was trickling like a leaky sink by August, so it is always exciting to see it flow this fast!

Click for Larger Image

Thank God for this beautiful weather, and I hope the snow stays away! I need to lose a couple pounds!

Read Full Post »

Good Country People = Salt of the Earth

Went of a long ride today which took me to a part of the next town that has not yet thawed out. Going a bit further, I passed by the largest body of water I have ever seen that was frozen over. I had to take photos, unfortunately the roads turned to pure packed snow/ice mixture. It was a mess.

A mess it was.

Frozen Lake Footage:

I rushed up back from the shoreline when I heard a vehicle approaching from afar, making sure that my carbon fibre wonder was going to be okay and in my sight. (That’s right, I treat it like a child.) When the vehicle arrived, I was still messing around with my camera, trying to place it in my waterproof bag, and put it in my rear zip pocket. The big, roaring junky old Bronco stopped in front of me and a little old lady started talking. She went on about of I went out toward her way, there were some loose dogs. I asked her if she lived in the area I was headed to, she said no, wished me good luck and went on her way.

I thought to myself, Well, wasn’t that awkwardly nice of her warning me of some loose dogs? I personally wouldn’t have thought about warning a cyclist about that. Not that I’m a jackass or anything, but it just wouldn’t have came across my mind. I was glad she was willing to stop and take the time to do so; it really made the ride worth a little bit more that day.

Read Full Post »

Sunday Post – Week in Review: Girls, Chains, Tents, GPS, Driving, and Freebies

It has been an interesting week here at wvcycling.net

In review, we have posted about:

Monday – Snow Chains / Tire Chains For Your Bicycle!

Tuesday – How to Go Bike Camping!

Wednesday – Driving To a Ride Location: What Do You Bring?

Thursday – Falling… for a fellow rider

Friday – Contest: Freebies for Grabs

Saturday – Saturday Post: Got a Got a Got a Got a Garmin

with 596 views on Monday (highest) and well, a lot less on Saturday’s post. I’m just hoping everyone was out doing something or on the trainer that day…

Random, but really… Can you believe it is 2010 already? Just a little bit ago, I was in the woods with friends:

Stonecoal Wildlife Reserve Ride #1

Stonecoal Wildlife Reserve Ride #2

Location? Here:View Larger Map

Read Full Post »

How to Go Bike Camping!

I love the idea of bike camping, cyclocamping, velocamping, or whatever you want to call it. I’ve even bought special gear to go out and ride as far as I want to and settle down for the night. The only problem is that I’ve only gone out a few times.

It not because I am not experienced at camping, nor is it that there is a lack of places I could set up camp at… it’s just camping isn’t fun all by yourself. And really… who the hell wants to just go ride somewhere with twenty or thirty pounds of supplies so you can sleep on the ground and cook hot dogs.

Bringing people creates comradely and great stories  This post is becoming Grant Peterson’s wet dream in the making. Proof of this Here and Here.

Surprisingly enough there are a lot of sites with sections dedicated to bike camping. These dudes are pretty extreme. I chatted it up with a few of them a few years ago. They have logged many hours and miles doing things like this. Like I said, I’m savvy and interested… but still wet behind the ears. Some people live out on their bikes with camping supplies enough to be misjudged as homeless folk. Seriously, and they love it. I don’t think I want to be one of these guys either. I just want to be able to bring an overnight backpack and be able to drink and chill with some friends.

Take a look at how many places there are around here:

Read Full Post »

Local Bike Shop Interview: Fat Tire Cycle

Today’s post is an interview with a LBS in Buckhannon, WV: Fat Tire Cycle with owner Gene Wells.

Gene Wells is well… a swell guy (see what I did there?) He is active in many aspects of his community as a business person should, but you can also tell he cares about everything he does. He can also kick most of the people in town’s butt in speed and distance on a bike, yet he chooses not to. (sometimes!)

(I’ll let you know before this interview gets through that he is my main mechanic, I was sponsored by him during my tenure as President of the Cycling Club/Team at West Virginia Wesleyan College with the standard collegiate store discount. I have also purchased a pretty sweet rig from him, my ’09 Gary Fisher Cobia. All in all, we have a pretty good relationship by means of business and also friendship.)

With that out-of-the-way, let’s get to the Q&A!

1.) First of all, tell us about your history, how did you get into cycling?

Well, I got into cycling in 1972. I was doing a lot of cross-country racing, and touring in the area around Pleasantville, Pennsylvania. I remember getting my first road bike in that town in 1973.

Read Full Post »