Comments for Average Joe's Cycling Blog http://averagejoecyclist.com A Blog for Average People who love to ride bikes Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:59:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Comment on Average Joe Cyclist’s Guide to Cycling the Stanley Park Seawall in Vancouver by Friday Links - Outdoor Vancouver | Outdoor Vancouver http://averagejoecyclist.com/?p=3166#comment-25587 Friday Links - Outdoor Vancouver | Outdoor Vancouver Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:59:10 +0000 http://averagejoecyclist.com/?p=3166#comment-25587 [...] Average Joe Cyclist’s Guide to Cycling the Stanley Park Seawall in Vancouver. [...] [...] Average Joe Cyclist’s Guide to Cycling the Stanley Park Seawall in Vancouver. [...]

]]> Comment on Deer Lake Park: Cyclist’s Paradise for the Whole Family in the Heart of Burnaby by Friday Links | Outdoor Vancouver http://averagejoecyclist.com/?p=2920#comment-14695 Friday Links | Outdoor Vancouver Sat, 08 Oct 2011 15:22:29 +0000 http://averagejoecyclist.com/?p=2920#comment-14695 [...] Deer Lake Park: Cyclist’s Paradise for the Whole Family in the Heart of Burnaby. [...] [...] Deer Lake Park: Cyclist’s Paradise for the Whole Family in the Heart of Burnaby. [...]

]]> Comment on Which Party is the Best Choice for Cyclists? by April Recap & Friday Links | Outdoor Vancouver http://averagejoecyclist.com/?p=2853#comment-13838 April Recap & Friday Links | Outdoor Vancouver Fri, 30 Sep 2011 00:48:01 +0000 http://averagejoecyclist.com/?p=2853#comment-13838 [...] Which Party is the Best Choice for Cyclists? [...] [...] Which Party is the Best Choice for Cyclists? [...]

]]> Comment on Why aren’t more people using Vancouver’s new bike lanes? by Friday Links | Outdoor Vancouver http://averagejoecyclist.com/?p=2729#comment-13837 Friday Links | Outdoor Vancouver Fri, 30 Sep 2011 00:45:56 +0000 http://averagejoecyclist.com/?p=2729#comment-13837 [...] Why aren’t more people using Vancouver’s new bike lanes? [...] [...] Why aren’t more people using Vancouver’s new bike lanes? [...]

]]> Comment on Velopalooza’s Bike the Blossoms a Huge Success! by Friday Links | Outdoor Vancouver http://averagejoecyclist.com/?p=2823#comment-13836 Friday Links | Outdoor Vancouver Fri, 30 Sep 2011 00:45:41 +0000 http://averagejoecyclist.com/?p=2823#comment-13836 [...] Velapalooza’s Bike the Blossoms a Huge Success!. [...] [...] Velapalooza’s Bike the Blossoms a Huge Success!. [...]

]]> Comment on Average Joe Product Review: Specialized Sequoia Elite 2009 Road Bike by Average Joe Cyclist http://averagejoecyclist.com/?p=2723#comment-13631 Average Joe Cyclist Tue, 27 Sep 2011 05:13:59 +0000 http://averagejoecyclist.com/?p=2723#comment-13631 Glad you also like your Sequoia, Tim! It truly is a magnificent bike - and at a fraction of the price people pay for bikes at the top end ... Glad you also like your Sequoia, Tim! It truly is a magnificent bike – and at a fraction of the price people pay for bikes at the top end …

]]> Comment on If a Bike Route is “temporary” for more than a year, is it actually “permanent”? Problems with the Central Valley Greenway by Al http://averagejoecyclist.com/?p=1215#comment-13111 Al Sun, 18 Sep 2011 16:48:59 +0000 http://averagejoecyclist.com/?p=1215#comment-13111 I've been commuting to work regularly on the CVG for about 14 months now. I used to take the CVG all the way to Science World and then over the viaduct to downtown but now head North on Lakewood until I hit Union and then take that to the viaduct. I've really enjoyed the CVG, but don't ride it during the winter when the road can be icy. Heading West on Winston there is part of the road that turns and goes downhill. If I slide on the ice, and trying to turn while you're going downhill on ice can do that, I'd slide right into traffic and get run over. Other than that I had felt relatively safe on the route. But there are spots on Winston where if a car is turning left following traffic will sometimes go around in the bike lane. Last October I did have an incident where a car stopped for me so I could cross the road near the bridge. I was heading East and waited patiently for someone to stop. Someone did and thankfully since I was walking across the intersection and stopped to check 2/3 of the way through I stuck my head out and sure enough a truck was trying to go around the stopped vehicle. Had I been riding this truck would have run me over. Thankfully I just let the truck go buy and walked the rest of the way to the lane when it was safe. I see now a physical barrier has been put there so this can't happen now. I really appreciate all the efforts in making this trail safer! I’ve been commuting to work regularly on the CVG for about 14 months now. I used to take the CVG all the way to Science World and then over the viaduct to downtown but now head North on Lakewood until I hit Union and then take that to the viaduct.

I’ve really enjoyed the CVG, but don’t ride it during the winter when the road can be icy. Heading West on Winston there is part of the road that turns and goes downhill. If I slide on the ice, and trying to turn while you’re going downhill on ice can do that, I’d slide right into traffic and get run over. Other than that I had felt relatively safe on the route. But there are spots on Winston where if a car is turning left following traffic will sometimes go around in the bike lane.

Last October I did have an incident where a car stopped for me so I could cross the road near the bridge. I was heading East and waited patiently for someone to stop. Someone did and thankfully since I was walking across the intersection and stopped to check 2/3 of the way through I stuck my head out and sure enough a truck was trying to go around the stopped vehicle. Had I been riding this truck would have run me over. Thankfully I just let the truck go buy and walked the rest of the way to the lane when it was safe. I see now a physical barrier has been put there so this can’t happen now. I really appreciate all the efforts in making this trail safer!

]]> Comment on Average Joe Product Review: Specialized Sequoia Elite 2009 Road Bike by Tim D. Thome http://averagejoecyclist.com/?p=2723#comment-13102 Tim D. Thome Sun, 18 Sep 2011 14:06:44 +0000 http://averagejoecyclist.com/?p=2723#comment-13102 Hey Joe, Nice write up on the Sequoia. I bought a 2009 Sequoia about 2 months ago (not sure if it is Elite as it does not say this on the frame). The bike had been on layaway but the person never finished paying and did not pick it up, so the bike shop placed it out for sale and I scooped it up that very same day. It has an XL frame and came with the standard equipment. My bar configuration was similar to yours, but I do not like the rams horn bars as I cannot get comfortable with them. My local bike shop (Wheel fast in Chatham IL) had a used set of straight (5 degree sweep) mountain bike bars in the back and I had them switch them for me. I take the sweep built into these bars and point it down. This is a super configuration as it is more in alignment with my arms and wrists. I find this very comfortable and far more ergonomic for the long haul. I replaced the shifters and brakes with the Shimano 9 speed shifter/derailer and added Crane Creek, Flat Top brake levers. Man does this help with the control and power applications needed when riding! I did add a Topeak rack and bag over the back tire as I bought this bike to commute to work. It is 17 miles one way. The terrain is mostly flat to rolling hills along the way. I ride a bike trail about 10 miles the rest is street. In the bikes current configuration it is really responsive and fast, only takes an hour to get to work. The ride home is a little longer as I am not under any time constraints and ride to enjoy myself. I really like the aluminum frame and love the carbon forks with the Zertz inserts; they really absorb the shock and vibrations of riding. I have ridden friends Cervelo's and a few others such as Giants and Raleigh’s and they don't compare in comfort or handling!! That is not to say they aren't great bikes, they are, but I like mine better! I can say that after 632 miles so far, that if the bike does not disintegrate the only way I would part with this is if you pry it from my cold dead hands!! Can you tell I like this bike? Hey Joe,
Nice write up on the Sequoia.
I bought a 2009 Sequoia about 2 months ago (not sure if it is Elite as it does not say this on the frame). The bike had been on layaway but the person never finished paying and did not pick it up, so the bike shop placed it out for sale and I scooped it up that very same day.
It has an XL frame and came with the standard equipment. My bar configuration was similar to yours, but I do not like the rams horn bars as I cannot get comfortable with them. My local bike shop (Wheel fast in Chatham IL) had a used set of straight (5 degree sweep) mountain bike bars in the back and I had them switch them for me. I take the sweep built into these bars and point it down. This is a super configuration as it is more in alignment with my arms and wrists. I find this very comfortable and far more ergonomic for the long haul. I replaced the shifters and brakes with the Shimano 9 speed shifter/derailer and added Crane Creek, Flat Top brake levers. Man does this help with the control and power applications needed when riding!
I did add a Topeak rack and bag over the back tire as I bought this bike to commute to work. It is 17 miles one way. The terrain is mostly flat to rolling hills along the way. I ride a bike trail about 10 miles the rest is street. In the bikes current configuration it is really responsive and fast, only takes an hour to get to work. The ride home is a little longer as I am not under any time constraints and ride to enjoy myself.
I really like the aluminum frame and love the carbon forks with the Zertz inserts; they really absorb the shock and vibrations of riding. I have ridden friends Cervelo’s and a few others such as Giants and Raleigh’s and they don’t compare in comfort or handling!! That is not to say they aren’t great bikes, they are, but I like mine better!
I can say that after 632 miles so far, that if the bike does not disintegrate the only way I would part with this is if you pry it from my cold dead hands!!
Can you tell I like this bike?

]]> Comment on Springboard Trail in Belcarra Park: Only for Seriously Fit Cyclists, or for Those who Seriously Want to be Fit by Ryan Surface http://averagejoecyclist.com/?p=3250#comment-11872 Ryan Surface Tue, 30 Aug 2011 21:33:52 +0000 http://averagejoecyclist.com/?p=3250#comment-11872 No problem glad to know I am not the only one who is confused by the website. Appreciate the info on the other trails -Stanley Park is on the "must do list" thanks for the great Blog No problem glad to know I am not the only one who is confused by the website. Appreciate the info on the other trails -Stanley Park is on the “must do list” thanks for the great Blog

]]> Comment on Springboard Trail in Belcarra Park: Only for Seriously Fit Cyclists, or for Those who Seriously Want to be Fit by Average Joe Cyclist http://averagejoecyclist.com/?p=3250#comment-11765 Average Joe Cyclist Mon, 29 Aug 2011 04:41:51 +0000 http://averagejoecyclist.com/?p=3250#comment-11765 Hi Ryan. Honestly, I am totally confused about the Trans Canada trail. I find the web info about it hopeless and disjointed. Whenever I try to explore the trail in Vancouver and surrounding area, I invariably find it coming to a complete dead end in the middle of nowhere. Sometimes it picks up again after a block or two or ten - but you need to be Sherlock Holmes to find it. I think it's a great idea, but pathetically executed. In effect, it seems to be a whole lot of individual trails, but they do NOT link up, and one expects them to, given the term "trans-Canada." I have in on my "to do" list to try and make sense of the trail in the Vancouver area, and write a post about it. But right now I am off my bike due to some health issues. In the meantime, the best I can say is do the Stanley Park trail, plus the Hornby and Dunsmuir bike routes, and the rest of the Seawall trail ... and also of course do the <a href="http://averagejoecyclist.com/?p=825" rel="nofollow">Central Valley Greenway</a>, which takes you from Vancouver to New Westminster via Burnaby. Sorry not to be of more help ... Hi Ryan. Honestly, I am totally confused about the Trans Canada trail. I find the web info about it hopeless and disjointed. Whenever I try to explore the trail in Vancouver and surrounding area, I invariably find it coming to a complete dead end in the middle of nowhere. Sometimes it picks up again after a block or two or ten – but you need to be Sherlock Holmes to find it. I think it’s a great idea, but pathetically executed. In effect, it seems to be a whole lot of individual trails, but they do NOT link up, and one expects them to, given the term “trans-Canada.”

I have in on my “to do” list to try and make sense of the trail in the Vancouver area, and write a post about it. But right now I am off my bike due to some health issues. In the meantime, the best I can say is do the Stanley Park trail, plus the Hornby and Dunsmuir bike routes, and the rest of the Seawall trail … and also of course do the Central Valley Greenway, which takes you from Vancouver to New Westminster via Burnaby.

Sorry not to be of more help …

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