I took the Rebel Cycling Skort through an all-terrain test in Vermont’s Green Mountains
Putting the Terry Rebel Skort to the test at Lake St. Catherine, Vermont.
[vertical-spacer] I have been so curious about Terry’s new Rebel skort. Is it comfortable? How’s it look and feel? Will it handle the trails, get stuck on the seat, or rub on the tires? Is there enough padding in the shorts to remain comfortable on a 3 hour ride?
Well folks, at the risk of being cliché, I’m here to tell you this skort rocks on every level. It is such a hoot to actually ride while wearing a skirt! An attached short complete with Terry’s Flex air chamois (the same chamois as Terry’s very popular Holster Hi Rise short) ensures that you will be riding in comfort, even on long-distance rides.
The skort was fun and flowy on paved and gravel roads, and felt flirty and cute for our lunch stop at the Roadside Café. Comments abounded, like: “Where’d you get that skirt????”, or “That just looks so fun!”
But the true test remained: how would the lacy skirt perform on abandoned Vermont roads?
I tested the Rebel in Vermont slate quarry country near Poultney. Vermont pavé is rock strewn, ledge covered, slip-sliding, tire-rolling barrels of fun. This kind of terrain is usually accompanied by steep climbs (13% according to fellow bike geek riders), and more importantly descents, where the rider must constantly shift weight in order to remain balanced and avoid endos (which are unwanted trips over the handle bars). Not one snag, or catch on the saddle incurred during a 2 mile rock fest riff.
I’m sold on this Rebel. It is just so darn fun to ride in!
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Ordinary Dads are great, but cycling Dads are something special! We’re delighted to share and celebrate some of the Dads here on planet Terry. Tell us about yours!
Cheers, Dads!
Serena W. thanks Andy
Cheers to a great dad who loves sharing adventure with his children and partner!
My partner Andy has two wonderful boys (9 & 12) who love all things sports (skiing, biking, lacrosse, soccer, etc…) Lucky me, as a new member of the family they want to include me in all of it! Sooooo for my 40th they gave me a mountain bike.
Andy is an amazing father and partner, and was excited to include me in the family mountain biking weekend trips. (please note I am NEW to mountain biking). He is very supportive when we all have our melt downs on the trail (me included). He has the ability to keep encouraging us up steep rooty climbs, down steep switch back (I absolutely hate those) and patiently waits for me at the bottom. Andy and the boys never get frustrated with my slow pace and always have a smile on their faces. (maybe that is because I promise sweet treats after the ride!) Here’s to many more family mountain bike trips in the future and maybe someday I will be able to keep up on the downhills!
Jeannette S. shares niece Jillian’s appreciation of Greg
Here’s my niece’s family: Greg and Jillian with my grand niece and nephew, playing in the woods on their bikes with their Dad. Jillian wrote a note about their love for the outdoor time with their Dad:
I’m blessed to have a husband who pushes his family a little out of their comfort zone. Mountain biking is his passion and from an early age. He has made it part of our family in the summer time. I remember the first time he brought our daughter Kloe on her first real mountain bike ride, but forgot to tell her about the obstacles she would find in her way, such as roots, rocks, trees, etc. Kloe got into the woods and she started screaming “I’m going to die!” A little over dramatic, but after we had a good laugh, Greg went back to ride with her, and coached her along the way. By the end, we all left the woods with an epic ride, and we all still laugh about it to this day.
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Phil D. recalls one of very many Burley rides
Father’s Day 2009. I miss our Burley rides. It was like riding with a parachute but I loved every minute of it. Always had to have one stuffed animal, 2-3 coloring books, sippy cup and a snack. Never made it through a ride without a nap.
Dave H. and a funny moment on a special ride
My oldest daughter, Meg, is our most active bike rider – here we stopped for a unique photo op, during our father and daughter ceremony ride on her wedding day. On another special occasion – her 30th birthday – my son Chris and I joined her on mountain bikes at Vermont’s Kingdom Trails.
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Paula D. remembers Mr. Shortcut
My Dad, Tony, was always more of a car/motorcycle guy than a bike guy, but he did get me my first bicycle, and instilled in me a sense of two-wheeled adventure that has resulted in a career dedicated to women on wheels. I love this photo of his younger version on leave from the Army in Italy. Mr. Shortcut, because he was always able to find the quickest way in and out of things.
Colin D. remembers Dad Michael, and tandem rides with son Abhi
Michael is on the right, his brother Brian second from left.
My Dad Michael was a life-long cyclist, and he passed his enthusiasm on to me. I treasure his collection of snapshots taken on epic adventures all over Britain with his mates, in the 1940s & 50s. I marvel at the terrain they managed on heavy steel bikes, loaded with canvas bags and camping equipment, equipped with Sturmey Archer 3-speeds. When I was a small boy he rode to work every day, and would return with panniers stuffed with veggies and flowers he grew in his allotment garden. I’m not sure my son Abhi has taken to cycling quite the way I did, but we racked up many happy miles with a trail-a-bike when he was younger. He really pulled his weight too – I felt like I had an engine on the back, and we could really fly with a little tailwind!
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Lisa W. celebrates Rob
Here’s Rob, my husband and father of 4, on the Kingdom Trails in Burke, VT!
Colin S. remembers Dad Billy
Here’s my Dad racing along the River Thames… or possibly on an outdoor track. He got into competitive track cycling for a while, as well as tennis, and he played soccer professionally. Of my Dad’s stories, he mostly spoke of the funny times he would be stuck with flat tires!
Karyn L. shares Dave’s Dadly cycling selfie
Husband Dave, racking up happy miles with son Alex, and enjoying the Spring sun on Burlington’s Bike Path.
Kelly K. shares Joel’s enthusiasm for 2 wheels of another variety
For Joel, the bicycle is the gateway to the 2-wheel joys of the motorized kind. 🙂
And while we’re on the subject, Kelly gives a shout out to the Dads who work at Terry
We are blessed to have a few a token males working here at Terry who not only fully support women’s cycling, but also the kids they are raising or have raised. And while rearing these fine young citizens, they’ve managed to instill the joy of two wheels along the way…
Phillip Diehl
Director of Ecommerce, or Dr. Phil as we like to call him.
David Howard
Director of Sales and Sails.
Colin Sturgess
Warehouse Manager, Master Angler and King of the Grill.
Colin Dodgson
Web Marketing Specialist and Lamb Whisperer.
Nik Holm
Product Planning/Purchasing and our Newest Dad.
We salute you guys and wish you a Happy Fathers’ Day!
How a slow-learned lesson from my mis-spent youth can now help you find the right bike seat quickly and easily.
As many of us know from hard, painful experience, with the right saddle on your bike you barely think about your seat at all. When it’s not the right one you can barely think of anything else.
The Yorkshire Dales: My butt may have been hurting most of the time, but at least the views made it worth it.
When I was spending all my spare time touring the Yorkshire Dales in England, my cycling playground as a teen, I rode a certain brand of leather bike saddle. That brand has been revered by generations of touring cyclists – it was the ultimate choice at the time.
I tried and tried to make that saddle work. I treated it with neat’s foot oil, broke it in and well beyond, tinkered with its position endlessly. Its shape had conformed to me and the leather patina was well worn away by the time I gave up on it. I waited thousands of miles too long to try something else because it was supposed to be the best, and it was a significant purchase for me at the time. I was never really comfortable on it.
I learned the hard way how unhelpful it can be to choose a bike saddle based on its reputation or a friend’s recommendation. No matter how great other riders think a seat is, we’re all shaped a little differently and it’s your own butt that has to live with the result. It should be your own posterior that guides the decision.
I should have learned from that experience, but I did it all over again.
Photo of a 1980s racing saddle – the brand is blacked out to avoid pointing fingers, but it was the wrong bike saddle for me. I know because I rode it for about 20 years.
By my late teens I was logging about 10,000 miles a year through the Dales on a fairly spiffy road bike. Many European pros favored a certain model of saddle at that time, and I saved up my pocket money again. It certainly made my bike look fast, and it had a business like firmness and a good shape for climbing, sprinting and everything between.
It was good for a short ride, but anything over a 50 miler called for extra fortitude. I suppose I just didn’t know there could be a better choice out there – since road racing was hard, maybe saddles were supposed to be this way.
That saddle stayed on my bike for years after I no longer raced, and slowly discouraged me from riding at all as I found it more uncomfortable to ride even short distances.
Lucky break: discovering “The World’s Most Comfortable Bike Saddles”
I finally swapped that torture device for a series of “ergonomic” saddles – an innovative choice that hadn’t been available before. Better, but not great. Fast forward a few more years and finally, as an employee, I discovered Terry saddles.
Aaaaaahhh!
In my family we have about 7 bikes between us, and they are all equipped with Terry saddles now. Every single one is about one hundred times more comfortable than either of my sad early choices.
Your mileage will vary of course, but my own favorites are FLX and FLX Carbon for my road-style commuter and road bike, and Liberator Race for my mountain bike. I’ll be trying out the new Raven saddle this year, which I’m hoping will feel as efficient as the FLX but give me a little more cushion on my commuter.
As an aside, I also find the Butterfly on my wife’s mountain bike perfectly comfortable – a little piece of anecdotal evidence that the exact width of a saddle is less important than its profile’s accommodation of a variety of riders’ widths.
Memories of my own pain inspired my quest to get you on the right bike saddle
I’m lucky – I was able to try a lot of Terry saddles to find the ones that work best for me, but I know our customers don’t have that advantage.
As the web development guy at Terry, I wanted to create a way for our customers to narrow the choices and find their ideal bike seats. I’m happy to say we now have a Saddle Selector page to help you do just that.
The team here at Terry worked hard to figure out the essential questions to ask, and exactly how each saddle model matches any particular set of riding preferences.
Now we have a good answer to the question, “How do I know which is the right bike saddle for me?”
We think our Saddle Selector works almost as well as a conversation with our saddle recommendation gurus in Terry Customer Service. We tried to make it quick and easy, while still collecting enough detail to make an accurate recommendation.
Time to Replace a Well Worn, Well Loved Terry Liberator Saddle
A customer reached out to us recently with a not-too-unusual request: “I need to replace this old saddle. The leather is starting to pull away from the frame. What model do you recommend?”
We had to find out a little more about this long-lived saddle, and this is what Doug told us.
Contributed by Doug Peterson
I was a 2x Olympic Nordic skier in 1976 (Innsbruck) and Lake Placid (1980) and cycled a lot as part of my training. Sorry to say, back then I did not use a Terry saddle.
After retiring from the US Ski Team in 1988, having coached the Team at the 1984 (Sarajevo) and 1988 (Calgary) Olympics, I moved to Maui, Hawaii for a job opportunity.
Got married and raised my family, which didn’t leave time for cycling.
Once the kids were out of the nest, I finally had some time to get back in the saddle in 2014 (mostly to get in shape for an upcoming demanding elk hunt in Wyoming) and bought a used carbon race bike from a friend that was leaving the Island and needed to sell his bike to buy his ticket to the mainland.
That old Liberator was on that bike and had been “ridden hard and put away wet” many times before I owned it. Not sure when it was originally purchased but guessing probably around 2002 or 2003. The saddle was in good shape when I started riding it and has served me well ever since, climbing many, many times up to the top of Haleakala (10,025’) on Maui.
I moved back to my roots of Minnesota in 2017 to take care of an aging mother, and still climb into that saddle 3-4 times per week when there is no snow on the roads, to stay in shape for the winter months of nordic skiing.
Love the saddle, but just like our bodies, things do wear out, and it is time to replace that old workhorse. It has served me well with so many wonderful and comfortable rides.
Sure wished I had a Terry Saddle on my bike way back in the days when I was training for the Olympics.
Bella Bike Shorts Lined Up with the Best of the Best
Bicycling Magazine ran a round up of the best in shorts for every type of rider, and featured – ahem – us!
For “The Best Cycling Shorts for Every Type of Rider” the Bicycling Editors say they “tested everything from thermal bibs to ultra-thin summer kit to find your next favorite pair of cycling shorts”.
Of course, we’re delighted that our Bella Short made their list of the best choices in women’s bike shorts.
We like their one-liner summary of Bella Bike Shorts: “Comfy shorts without bib straps just for women,” and as they put it, “The Bella shorts come in at a reasonable price and won’t intimidate newer riders who are leery of bib-short options.”
They were nice enough to add that “Terry is also known for providing a wide range of sizes and styles for all different body types, not just the racer build that often gets the most focus from brands.”
Our Bella bike shorts were named by Bicycling as the Editor’s Choice winner for women’s shorts in the past. One tester enjoyed features such as the Bella’s “distinctive hot-pink perforated chamois, which delivered on its promise for increased comfort and breathability by wicking away moisture so I didn’t feel like ‘I’d wet my shorts after a ride’.”
Bella Bike Shorts are also available in a short version, great for shorter riders and those who prefer higher tan lines.
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Since Bella Bike Shorts first caught the eye of the Bicycling Editors, we have introduced some exciting new options in women’s cycling shorts. If you are interested in comfort and function be sure to take a look at our Chill 7 and Holster Hi-Rise bike shorts.
Terry/BCBS Wellness Revolution Finale Ride, Kicks Off With the Winner of the Bike Drawing
It was late May in Vermont: still cool, cloudy and recently much too rainy for comfort. Luckily, Mother Nature smiled on us for the last day of the Spring Wellness Revolution session, and gave us bright, sunny conditions – great for a group ride for our graduating program participants.
Everyone had their choice of distances: 5, 10, or 20 miles on undulating suburban and rural roads south of Burlington Vermont. The Terry team rode as group leaders or supporters, and everyone rocked the ride, celebrating new skills and confidence with new friends. As usual, those distinctive green helmets helped everyone stand out!
An early highlight of the day was the presentation of the prize drawing. One lucky participant was able to enjoy a first ride on a brand new Terry bicycle!
Congratulations to Gale, lucky winner of a new Terry Symmetry Drop Bar bicycle.
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Winner announced, Gale steps forward to claim her new bike.
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High fives all round – Gale is congratulated by Liz Robert, CEO of Terry Bicycles, and Megan Peek, Director, Community Relations & Health Promotion at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont
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Gale gets some bike set up pointers from Karyn Lewis, Terry Customer Service Ace and Group Leader.
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Style in symmetry: participants included an entire team from Burlington’s Cathedral Square – Joi Manley, Jennifer Hunter, Annie McCormick, Kerstin Hanson, and Pilar Paulsen.
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Gale’s new Symmetry already at home in a very urban setting.
City cycling tips from Wellness Revolution, plus a bonus tip for incident-free cycling anywhere
The skills to ride safely in an urban setting are an important part of what we teach in our Wellness Revolution program, run in conjunction with Blue Cross Blue Shield VT. They are essential for gaining (or regaining) confidence on a bike, and that’s a key to actually enjoying the ride.
These tips for safer city cycling are adapted from our urban cycling workshop session, led by program partners Local Motion. We hope they will help many more new cyclists ride safely and happily around traffic, and give experienced riders a few valuable reminders.
1. Respect the Law
It’s a good idea to find out what laws and ordinances apply to cyclists in your area. For example, here in Burlington, Vermont, it’s illegal to ride on the sidewalk in much of the city, but it’s permitted in other places. Ordinances allowing cyclists to perform “rolling stops” at stop signs are becoming more common in some parts of the U.S., but that’s illegal in most places.
In any case, follow the rules you would if you were driving. Cyclists who ignore the rules of the road place themselves and others at risk, and give drivers more reasons to think of all cyclists as a nuisance.
Your safety and the perception of cyclists depend on you.
You have the same rights and duties as drivers.
Obey traffic signals and stop signs.
Ride with traffic and use the rightmost lane headed in the direction you are going.
2. Be Predictable
This means riding so that other road users have a good idea of what you are going to do before you do it, and don’t have to react to sudden, unexpected moves. No surprises for others means safer cycling for you.
Make your intentions clear to everyone on the road – give clear signals.
Ride in a straight line and don’t swerve between parked cars.
Signal turns, checking behind you well before making a turn or changing lanes.
Confirm for yourself that other road users have seen you: check for eye contact, slowing down or giving you space, etc. If you can’t be sure, adjust for your own safety. For example if that car is not slowing down even though you have the right of way, get ready to avoid it yourself since you’re the vulnerable one.
Ride where people can see you and wear bright clothing.
Use a front white light, rear red light, and reflectors – lights are optional but strongly recommended in the daytime, but don’t even think of riding without lights after dusk.
Make eye contact with other road users and don’t ride on sidewalks.
4. Think Ahead
Avoid having to react to surprises yourself, by paying attention to what other road users around you are doing. Paying attention to road conditions ahead also allows you to follow tip number 2 – Be Predictable.
Anticipate what drivers, pedestrians, and other people on bikes will do next.
Watch for turning vehicles and ride outside the door zone (The space where a
motorist can open their door) of parked cars.
Look out for debris, potholes, and other road hazards ahead, so you can plan your path around them in advance, allowing for other vehicles.
Cross railroad tracks at right angles, so your wheel doesn’t get caught by the rails.
Watch out for grates and access covers in the road, especially when roads are wet or icy.
If you use clip in pedals or toe clips, anticipate ahead of time when you might need to release a foot so you can stop safely. [Editor’s note: If I had a dollar for every time I’ve toppled over at a stop because I didn’t work my foot loose soon enough, I’d have enough for a welding mask to hide my embarrassment.]
5. Ride Ready
Take a few moments to prepare yourself and your bike before the ride, so you don’t have to spend any time beside the road dealing with unexpected problems.
Before you ride, do your ABC Quick Check – tip 6.
Make sure any bags or load you are carrying are closed and attached securely.
Carry tools and supplies that are appropriate for your ride.
Adjust or secure any clothing that could get entangled with any part of the bike – scarf, loose pant leg or skirt.
Wear a properly adjusted helmet!
6. ABC Quick Check
Performing this basic bike check before you ride will ensure your bike is in good condition and safe to ride. Timely bike maintenance can prevent crashes.
A (air)
To test the air, push on the tires to see if they give. If you can push the tire in more than about 1/4 of an inch with your thumb, it needs to be refilled. Most bike pumps have an air pressure gauge on them. Pump until the number on the gauge is a few pounds under the pounds per square inch (PSI) number written on the side of the tire. Check out this post by Georgena about the best tire pressure for speed and comfort. While checking the pressure, take a moment to look for damage on the sidewalls or tread of the tire. If you can see loose threads, the tire should be replaced.
B (Brakes)
Look to see that the brake pads are not worn thinner than 1/8 of an inch. When you squeeze the brake levers firmly, there should be a thumb width’s gap between the lever and the handlebar. If this gap is too small, the brakes need to be adjusted. When the lever is released it should snap back into position. Also, squeeze the brakes to make certain that, when applied, the pads are parallel and aligned with the rim.
C (Chain, Cranks, Cassette)
When checking the chain, turn the pedals backward and look to see that it’s clean and does not squeak. The chain should not have any rust. To check the cranks, wiggle both the left and right crank arms away from the bike frame. There should be no lateral movement. If they’re loose, Tighten the bolts. Look to see that the cassette, which holds the gears in the rear wheel, is clean and moves freely.
Quick release
Your bike may have quick release levers used to secure the seat post, wheels, and/or brakes to the bike. Check to make sure that all quick releases are securely closed. If the quick release is loose, hold the open lever with one hand while gradually tightening the adjusting nut in a clockwise direction with the other hand. Try closing the lever to test it. Tighten the nut until you feel slight resistance to the lever and then use the palm of your hand to close it fully. It should close firmly and securely, but loosen the nut a little if it is hard to close the lever – it should not be over tight.
Check
Before you set out, take a brief, slow ride to check that your bike is working properly and feels right.
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Photo of solo cyclist riding in city by Max Bender on Unsplash
Photo of urban cyclists at end of bike lane by Timelynx from Pixabay
Hemp is one of the oldest utilitarian crops in the world. Its fibers were used to make ropes and sails for Columbus, paper for Gutenberg’s Bible and clothing for humans long before we even had calendars. After the 1950s, hemp sort of slipped into obscurity, but interest has grown steadily in recent years because there is virtually no other natural material that has such a positive ecological balance while still providing such outstanding functional qualities.
When Maloja decided to add yet another natural material to their collection of fabulous performance fabrics, they reinvented hemp. Its fibers inherently reduce sweat and odor, regulate moisture and repel dirt – an ideal combination for functional clothing. On top of that, hemp materials are extremely durable and tear-resistant, so they are perfectly suited to sports like mountain biking and bouldering that require a bit of protection against abrasion.
The Martina is our favorite new all-sport bottom, combining Euro styling with super deep rear pockets, re-imagined hemp that feels amazing, ergonomic construction including a bike-friendly rear stretch panel, and unlimited activewear functionality. Feels good, fits well, performs beautifully, in 2 ideal colors.
Especially for our own Moms and all the Moms we love – thank you for getting us rolling on our training wheels, cheering us on when we outgrew them, and inspiring us to ride toward our greatest goals.
Here’s to you, Moms!
Paula appreciates a favorite Mom, Kathy
My BFF and I grew up in the same neighborhood, went to school together and moved to CA many years ago. She became the mom I never did and gave me the greatest gift a friend ever could – letting me be godmother to lovely Anna. Although they live thousands of miles away, we make a point to meet up and ride whenever possible.
New Dad Nik celebrates with new Mom, Dani
It has been a goal of Dani’s to get back on her bike since Andreas was born. In part what has prevented her has been the long winter we had in Vermont, but also because a newborn is a perfect distraction to all other things that used to take priority. However, on Dani’s first Mother’s Day, eight weeks and six days after Andreas was born, she will take to the road to feel the sense of freedom and independence only a bike ride can give you. That is, not before a stop at our local bike shop to get Andreas a bike carrier of his own for future family adventures.
Colin S’s Mom, Sheila, recalls hair raising adventures on a bike
In 1944 I was 16 and I would cycle every day from Fulham, where I lived, to Putney, where I went to High school. With no helmet or special clothing, my school uniform skirt flapping around my knees,
I would ride with my books on my back in a ruck sack and a tennis racket balanced across my handle bars, through rush hour traffic up Putney High street, stopping behind the buses and dodging around parked trucks. When I look back it sounds so dangerous.
Did I mention that WW 2 was still on and we needed to look out for “doodle bugs,” the pilot-less planes that the Germans were sending over which would come down and explode when they got over London?
How come I remember being so happy? It must have been a great bicycle!
Jeannette’s Mom, Gertrude, Rocking her Terry
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At 83 years young and two hip replacements later – my mother continues to enjoy taking her Soleil for a walk. Here she is wearing our Soleil Flow Spokes/Lavender from 2018.
My mother also pitches in when our summer season gets busy here at our Customer Service call center and Warehouse. Here she is watching over the Terry Warehouse Dog, Nellie.
Lisa celebrates two cycling Moms: Pat and Ronni
My Mom, Pat, was born and raised in Lockport, NY, a great little town on the Erie Canal. She has fond memories of jumping on her bike to go wherever she wanted, whenever she wanted! Her favorite bicycle was her “Victory“, a piece of WW II history. Her childhood love of cycling carried forward to our love of cycling. In this photo, this is me (Lisa from Customer Service) riding with my little sister Cynnie, in the New North End section of Burlington, Vermont… Home of Terry Bicycles!
My mother-in-law, Ronni, is an avid indoor spinner. She rides three to four times a week to keep a tricky knee healthy and strong. She is quite fond of the Terry Spinnaker bottoms, which she fondly calls her “Exercise Trousers.” She pairs them with a bright, stylish Soleil Flow top for a classy club look!
Colin D’s Mom, Lorna, remembered
I miss her gentle, steady encouragement when things were tough, and her keen sense of beauty in all natural things. She was not a life-long cyclist by any means, but she did ride a tandem around the English countryside with my Dad in the years after they were married. Maybe I inherited my cycling passion from them. We often chatted about the places she loved to go hiking and rambling in the Yorkshire Dales, and later enjoyed in the car as my sister took her for day trips – over the same roads and twisty, 25% grade climbs I had ridden as a teenager. Love always, Mum!
Kelly welcomes Mom, Sally, home
Thank you, Mom.
Truly amazed by her grit and determination – not to mention her feline-like lives, I am beyond grateful that the woman who taught me to love and play in the great outdoors is finally home after a long hospital stay. And just in time for Mothers’ Day, with all her children near! It’s been quite a journey and taken its toll. The physical scars soon will heal, but the mind will continue to let go. A stark reminder to embrace the present and quick-release the pressures from the day, and tomorrow’s yet to come. As I look to ways for being more in the “present”, my mind drifts to a familiar bike ride on an open trail and I know she’s leading the way… thanks, Mom.
A long way from NYC.
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Chris recently rode Death Valley solo after his friend bailed on the ride. He lives and rides in NYC and is a strong supporter of Terry saddles. Here’s his perspective on his ride through some of the harshest conditions in the world.
Watch out for the desert people…
Desert people? Who are these desert people? Where do they live? Watch out for? Serious advice from unconnected individuals in LA., seemingly well meaning.
I live and ride everyday in Manhattan, I must have seen everything by now.
No advice on what they look like, how to protect yourself, just watch out.
Joshua tree near Vegas.
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We all know it’s fairly straightforward to ride the desert. Make sure you have enough water, sunscreen, food, bars, clothing, tubes.
Check the wind forecast the night before against your route. Bring your extra battery.
Have you noticed that every image that comes in your eyes is new when exploring new places on your bicycle?
You can watch your mind label new things.
Yoga class they are always focused on watching the breath, as it is a barometer of mentally stability in a difficult asana.
Riding isolated areas long distance solo is a meditation.
It gives us an opportunity to observe the mind and naturally allows concentration to rest on the breath. Exactly the Shamata meditation progression, the basic building block of many meditative traditions.
Maybe the new meditation retreats will be long bicycle adventures through isolated sections of the landscape, instead of sitting all day on a cushion in an old cold drafty monastery, I’ll sit on my Terry Century saddle.
Start in Santa Monica, where riders looked like greyhounds, beautiful animals perched and balanced.
City riding in California involves long red lights versus NYC. Plenty of fun pink and blue hair.
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Saddles of a different variety.
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Everyone in Silverlake has a dog which brunches. Stylish. Rt 66. San Gabriel River Trail. Cajon Pass. Victorville. Oro Grande. (Forgotton, but not dead)
I encountered a desert person riding into Barstow. A lone male walking against traffic (no cars to the horizon) who lunged at me while I rode by. His intentions were not friendly. I understood now.
The Mojave scenery is austere, quiet, brightly colored, spacious, and ever changing, even jaw dropping at times.
The mid April air is a pungent bloom of the wildflowers, something people in an 80 mph car probably miss.
Strangely, zero friendly waves from passing cars, perhaps because no one is riding these roads. I’m just a weirdo, all alone in the middle of nowhere. Everything you would expect. Pavement is generally perfect. Red Rock Canyon near Las Vegas.
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The desert starts in Kramer Junction CA. and continues. Wind became important. Traffic disappears. You can hear a car from half a mile away.
Riding towards and into Death Valley from the CA side is visually stunning, invoking both big climbs and incredible descents.
Think spun out for 20 miles. Travel light, stay in motels, and make the big climbs. The views and sense of accomplishment are worth it.
Coming into Death Valley over Towne Pass is a 5000 foot climb at 9 percent. Hundreds of caterpillars and butterflies makes you look like a drunken sailor weaving slowly around the local inhabitants. Summit temp in April is 42 degrees. Eyes forward, it’s 17 miles downhill to Stovepipe Wells from the Summit of Towne pass.
And into Death Valley. Where the temps are 50 degrees warmer than the summits. It’s the only place you can be still shivering while looking at the thermometer saying 90.
Leaving Death Valley is a 3 hour climb from -190 below sea level to 4000 feet above, and a smooth quiet road headed toward Death Valley Junction. The temps drop quickly as you climb, which is a natural air conditioning effect.
As you crest the summit and leave Death Valley you see hundreds of miles in every direction. Snow capped peaks, valley floors, stretching 50 miles across.
The desolate scenery is the prized possession of this ride are the areas close to Death Valley are the place to remember. You are riding without a net.
I ride Terry saddles exclusively, both in NYC (Raven) and on long road rides (Century). They are tested and durable. They are comfortable and designed to keep going when your friends bail on a ride.
I have been so curious about Terry’s new Rebel skort. Is it comfortable? How’s it look and feel? Will it handle the trails, get stuck on the seat, or rub on the tires? Is there enough padding in the shorts to remain comfortable on a 3 hour ride?
