Re: Maybe spring

On 4/25/2025 12:16 PM, zen cycle wrote:

On 4/25/2025 4:37 AM, Roger Merriman wrote:

Zen Cycle <funkmaster@hotmail.com> wrote:

On 4/24/2025 6:10 AM, Roger Merriman wrote:

Ted Heise <theise@panix.com> wrote:

On Wed, 23 Apr 2025 15:15:25 -0500,
Mark J cleary <mcleary08@comcast.net> wrote:

Today the first real day that I can say in Central Illinois
spring is upon us for riding. Wind was down early and I am
still in long pants riding. I have some running pants I wear
and find that they are a good option even if warm can protect
skin. Cold does rob the overall speed average but these days I
take any turns with caution,

>
We had temps in the 70s, here in the Lafayette, IN area.  First
short sleeve ride of the year, yay!

>
It’s not quite there yet, in uk the temperatures are getting there though
the wind is still cold! I’m personally in shorts but long sleeve tops, more
importantly much longer days now, as UK is fairly north even if warmed by
the Gulf Stream.

>
>

One thing that for me is relatively harder is a 180 degree turn
on the 2 lane chip seal that I mostly ride. I try to find
intersections to do the turn if I want to go back the opposite
direction. Two things throw me and one is the small gravel that
can accumulate on edges and intersections you can slide. THe
other is my riding skills probably leave much to worked on.
Sometimes a tight turn it is easy to spill a bike. Probably
should unclip the inside leg I am turning on, mostly the left
leg. I don't the best way.

>
Ugh,  I avoid chip and seal as much as possible.  Not only hard to
do 180s on (especially on the tandem!), they are somewhat dicey
just going straight--risk being proportional to freshness.
>

>
All my bikes with exemption of the roadie commuter are off road bikes so
wide tyres so are generally no plussed about surface dressing which I
believe is a cheap upfront cost but more expensive overall as it needs
doing more frequently ie typical political maintenance costing!
>
And clearly if one has road bike such surfaces particularly if you get
ridges or so on if the gravel is pilled up is potentially dangerous!
>
Roger Merriman
>

>
I Had a very nice ride home tuesday..
>
https://www.strava.com/activities/14256779418
>
~ 70F when I left the office, light wind, same for today...
>
>

Nice supposed to be warmer here next week. Im planning as when the military
give the firing times ie open and closed times in May for a Stonehenge and
plains ride as it’s a fantastic place to ride.
>
Roger Merriman
>

 I'm confused by this message. What do you mean by "military give the firing time"? How is the military involved with Stonehenge?

I did not know this either but since I visited, the Crown sold it to English Heritage and yes Ministry of Defence has a security role now.
https://backpackingguys.com/who-currently-owns-stonehenge/
Regulation has upped the game since my disappointment at seeing chain link fences and posted hours in 1973:
https://britishheritage.com/guarding-the-stones/
"[English Heritage], alongside the National Trust, Ministry of Defence, Wiltshire Constabulary and many local farmers and householders, is responsible for implementing the Stonehenge World Heritage Site Management Plan, which covers 2,600 hectares of prehistoric beauty and more than 400 ancient scheduled monuments."
Some of the other comments on English Heritage's page are enlightening if not shocking.
--
Andrew Muzi
am@yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971