Rant

Announcement: motorists of Pittsburgh...bikes get the road, too!!! I'm getting really tired of slamming on my brakes so I can swerve to miss your vehicles. Tonight, coming home from the gym just a half mile from home, two motorists decided to demonstrate their Pittsburgh lefts and their inability to account for cyclists. I was pedaling down Negley when the first oncoming vehicle decided to turn quickly left onto Ellsworth in front of me (this was as I was practically in the intersection). After stopping to say a few choice words, I began to clip into my pedal again. To my surprise, the second vehicle behind the other car, opted to turn in front of me as well. I couldn't believe it! After the first incident, how could the person in the second car not notice me? Are you that inept and clueless?
Driving a motor vehicle is a big responsibility. It requires thought, skill, and some coordination. Drivers that are using their cell phones to chat or text are only further distracted. On several past occasions, I've swerved or slammed on my brakes to avoid talking/texting drivers. About a month ago on my way to work, a car behind me bumped into my rear bumper. He evidently was looking at his planner on his lap. Just focus on the task at hand...driving. Sorry, but I had to get this off my chest.

4th time is a charm

Finally, after 3 previous criteriums, I was able to crack the top 10. As a matter of fact, I proudly finished 8th this evening. Tough race, though...we averaged around 25 mph. I won a primes for fastest lap, and should have one at least one more. In fact, I came within inches of winning 3 primes (laps). So, after several attempts at cracking the top 10, and sadly finishing in the middle of the pack, I accomplished my goal at the last crit of the season.
Note on the crit track/course. Pittsburgh has a designated track called the Washington Oval (because it's off Washington Boulevard). This track was formerly where one would take their driver's license test. Therefore, the course has banked turns into the corners. Makes for an interesting race when one is flying into these turns at 20+ miles per hour in an attempt to avaide other cyclists, hold a line, and not crash. It's quite the lung-burning race that's an adrenaline rush.

3 Parks in 3 Days

The picture is deceiving....the Surly did not make the 3 adventures into the parks this weekend (I took this picture on my first visit to the park in August). Instead, the Fisher 29'er had fun playing in the fast, flowing singletrack of Hartwood Acres, Frick Park, and Boyce Park. All were different and unique. Hartwood was a good mix of technical obstacles and smooth-flowing dirt. Frick has an excellent roller coaster section, some leg-burning climbs, and some tricky off-camber trails. Oh, and the super-steep descent off a chute was a bit nerve-racking. Boyce is all about the logs. There are tons of log crossings throughout the park. Plus, a number of bridges and obstacles that add to the technical difficulty. Fortunately, I met up with some guys riding Hartwood on Friday night, so they could lead me around the park. Same guys were nice enough to invite me out to Boyce on Sunday. Overall, some great riding and the weather could not have been any better.

Mural ride and my first Critical Mass

So evidently the Burgh has a number of murals throughout the city. For Bike Fest, a week-long cycling event, we did a ride that toured us around the city to observe these works of art. Our group of roughly 30 riders took in some pretty cool stuff.









Critical Mass was absolutely a huge mass of riders. About 40 participants got together to demonstrate bike advocacy. I loved when people on the streets yelled to us to ask what we were or what we were doing. My favorite was when one lady started clapping and cheering us on. You see - there are other means of transportation, specifically my pedaled two-wheel friend. It's all about being in the moment...where it's just you and the bike gliding along in motion. If you need to stop, you stop. If you need to sprint, you sprint. If you need to climb a massive hill like Canton Ave, you can certainly try. You can just do your thing on the bike. That's the simplicity of it, and that's what makes it great.

Riding...and yet more riding

For the last couple of weeks, my bikes and I have really bonded. It's a very mature relationship, because we've been through a lot over the last month. 1) A move to a major metropolitan city - Pittsburgh (time spent in the back of a Penske truck. 2) Singletrack and city streets that are completely unfamiliar to the tires. And 3) The hills of the Burgh! (killer on the bikes' bottom brackets). Speaking of hills, Sarah and I ventured out to the southside of town to attempt a very specific hill. This hill is argueably the steepest hill in the world (it is the steepest hill in the US). At a 37% grade, the cobblestone makes it only more difficult to climb. I had difficulties going down the slick road, let alone riding up the thing. After 3 failed attempts at the monster hill, I was humbled and slightly humiliated. The Surly (and the rider on the Surly) just could not do it. Next time, I'm bringing the 29'er so I can drop into the granny gear and utilize the knobbier tires on the rough terrain. Here's a few pics, but they really don't do it justice...

Cheat Mountain Challenge - Snowshoe, West Virginia

Rewind 2 weeks...the Cheat Mountain Challenge ride at Snowshoe resort in West Virginia. With over 10,000 feet of climbing, amazing descents, and beautiful Appalachian Mountain vistas, this ride was definitely worth it. Chris and I decided on the metric century (80 miles) after a relatively tough first 15 miles. These climbs were steady and lengthy, but offered up some excellent descents through narrow back-country roads. Fortunately, this ride has rest stops every 15 miles or so. The ride is completely supported, so riders can stock up on PB&J, power bars, chips, fruit, and other goodies at every stop. The route ends with a grueling climb up Snowshoe Mountain. This is climb itself is 2,000 feet. To say the least, I was in the smallest gear the entire way, and required one stop during the way up the mountain. Overall, a fantastic ride and fun trip.

My new home...the Burgh

So it's been 2 weeks since I left Nebraska and have begun a new chapter of my life in Pittsburgh. Thus far, it's been amazing. There's so much to do in the city...several huge parks, excellent cafes and restaurants, unique neighborhoods, beautiful bridges all over, old churches, and hill after hill of leg-building enjoyment.
I've been riding a lot. It gives me a great excuse to get out and explore the city. I've been to Riverview, Highland, Point State, Schenley, and Frick Parks. Riverview has an excellent bike lane that runs around the entire park. A great crit for the road bike. Point State Park is where the 3 rivers meet. And, Frick Park has some amazing singletrack. It's techinical in areas, but mainly rolling dirt trails. I had the chance of riding it on Saturday and Sunday with group rides. Took a good fall (endo) on Saturday on a downhill descent (the decents are much steeper here). Aside from the parks, the city has sufficient on-street bike lanes. Many of these are in gorgeous neighborhoods where you can get a glimpse at all the old homes. Sarah and I have also ventured down to the bike trails along the river. These are either paved or crushed limestone. Our favorite trail is probably the on the North Shore because it overlooks the city and runs along the stadiums.
We've also experienced the Burgh's food. We ate the famous Pittsburgher at Primanti Bros this last Saturday. When my parents were in town, we took them to the Church Brew Works...an old church that has been converted into a brewery. Sarah and I have done a few dinner dates at local neighborhood restaurants. We have discovered that Ellsworth Ave and Walnut Ave (Shadyside) have some good eats.
This weekend, I have plans to do the Cheat Mountain Challenge at Snowshoe Resort in West Virginia. It's 75 miles of Appalachian mountain climbs. I'm meeting up with an former co-worker from the bike store in Lincoln. If the weather cooperates, we're going to make this trip happen.
Exciting stuff going on here. Sarah and I are having a blast!