***General Cycling Thread***

[cycloner29]

Found out that I have some serious arthritis due to bone on bone in my ankle. The fat pad under my little toe has taken all the weight pressure as my heel bone is not straight up and down and curves inward putting all the pressure on the outside of my foot. May need ankle fusion surgery now. FML!!

 

[DSMCy]

Does anyone around the DM Metro (preferably around WDM/Waukee) have ideas for routes with a few decent hills?

I've done quite a few long rides this summer so going into fall I wanted to switch to get in more elevation, even if the rides are shorter.
This morning I went up and down the hill on Grand Prairie Parkway, between I80 and Mills Civic. That's about 100ft of climb each time.
I've also done South Jordan Creek Pkwy from Grand Avenue up to Athene/Wells Fargo. That was also about 100ft.

Didn't know if others had found an area with a few good hills, without having to ride on the road.
I'm fine going up, turning around, and doing the hill multiple times

 

[cyclonesurveyor]

Does anyone around the DM Metro (preferably around WDM/Waukee) have ideas for routes with a few decent hills?

I've done quite a few long rides this summer so going into fall I wanted to switch to get in more elevation, even if the rides are shorter.
This morning I went up and down the hill on Grand Prairie Parkway, between I80 and Mills Civic. That's about 100ft of climb each time.
I've also done South Jordan Creek Pkwy from Grand Avenue up to Athene/Wells Fargo. That was also about 100ft.

Didn't know if others had found an area with a few good hills, without having to ride on the road.
I'm fine going up, turning around, and doing the hill multiple times

Raccoon Valley Trail? I saw that they just finished the connection with the Trestle Trail.

 

[DSMCy]

Raccoon Valley Trail? I saw that they just finished the connection with the Trestle Trail.

Yes that's exciting! Supposed to open Friday I believe, and there's an inaugural ride/party planned for Saturday.

I've done quite a few 20+ miles rides on RRVT this summer. I really like it for that but it's about as flat of a trail as there is haha
I was hoping to log more elevation climb the rest of the summer/fall of riding.

Talking with friends, I'm not sure there's going to be anything that I'm looking for, that I'm not already aware of, unless I want to ride gravel roads or blacktops, which I'm not comfortable doing.

 

[cyclonesurveyor]

Yes that's exciting! Supposed to open Friday I believe, and there's an inaugural ride/party planned for Saturday.

I've done quite a few 20+ miles rides on RRVT this summer. I really like it for that but it's about as flat of a trail as there is haha
I was hoping to log more elevation climb the rest of the summer/fall of riding.

Talking with friends, I'm not sure there's going to be anything that I'm looking for, that I'm not already aware of, unless I want to ride gravel roads or blacktops, which I'm not comfortable doing.

Sorry - when I was in DSM there wasn't much but I'm at 5000 feet now and have plenty of hills. Happy that DSM is getting more and more loops at least.

 

[Gunnerclone]

Does anyone around the DM Metro (preferably around WDM/Waukee) have ideas for routes with a few decent hills?

I've done quite a few long rides this summer so going into fall I wanted to switch to get in more elevation, even if the rides are shorter.
This morning I went up and down the hill on Grand Prairie Parkway, between I80 and Mills Civic. That's about 100ft of climb each time.
I've also done South Jordan Creek Pkwy from Grand Avenue up to Athene/Wells Fargo. That was also about 100ft.

Didn't know if others had found an area with a few good hills, without having to ride on the road.
I'm fine going up, turning around, and doing the hill multiple times

There’s a hill on the NW side. I can’t remember the street. It starts at Euclid kind of right by the river bridge, then goes up and eventually comes to Lower Beaver. Might be Madison? Aurora?

It’s not going to be that much different than the hills you’re riding but at least it’s new.

Second would be West Des Moines on S 35th starting at Grand and head north and end at Mills Civic. It’s probably around 100ft of ascent because it’s the same valley to ridge top setup as the other WDM rides you mentioned.

Next would be Ute Avenue from Waukee to Booneville (or vice versa.) Busy road but it could be done early in the morning. Lots of ups and downs on that route. The climb out of Booneville would be decent on its own, fairly steep.

This is pretty out of the way but the Winterset day of RAGBRAI the ride up to town from the river is good.

 

[Turn2]

I guess you could get on the Neal Smith trail at the Sycamore Access and go ride up the Saylorville dam over and over again. That never fails to suck the wind out of me. Actually that whole ride up to Big Creek is pretty rolling.

 

[SayMyName]

Anyone checking out this new trail connector, which opens today?

 

[DSMCy]

Anyone checking out this new trail connector, which opens today?

I did!

They had a group ride for the ribbon cutting but I rode it earlier than that.

It’s a nice trail. Curvier than the route from Waukee to Perry, but that’s not unexpected since it was just cut through fields basically, not a rail road track.

It was about 10 miles from Perry to Woodward.

 

[AgronAlum]

Question for the cyclers here. I’m looking to offload a roughly 20 year old Specialized Allez. I’ve gained a ton of weight since I rode regularly and it doesn’t really fit me anymore. I looked at eBay and the things are listed for close to what I paid for it 20 years ago.

This thing has thousands of miles on it, so it has the scuffs and scrapes to prove it. Outside of that it’s in perfect working order. It hasn’t been ridden much since Skunk River serviced it.

What should I be asking for it? Have used bike prices gone crazy? It looks like new bike prices have.

Edit: I forgot it’s an XXL frame so I’m sure it’s probably less valuable.

 

[8thfloor]

Question for the cyclers here. I’m looking to offload a roughly 20 year old Specialized Allez. I’ve gained a ton of weight since I rode regularly and it doesn’t really fit me anymore. I looked at eBay and the things are listed for close to what I paid for it 20 years ago.

This thing has thousands of miles on it, so it has the scuffs and scrapes to prove it. Outside of that it’s in perfect working order. It hasn’t been ridden much since Skunk River serviced it.

What should I be asking for it? Have used bike prices gone crazy? It looks like new bike prices have.

Edit: I forgot it’s an XXL frame so I’m sure it’s probably less valuable.

If you have Facebook you could check marketplace too for comparable bikes. If you have the time aim high and you can always lower it.

 

[Yaz]

Question for the cyclers here. I’m looking to offload a roughly 20 year old Specialized Allez. I’ve gained a ton of weight since I rode regularly and it doesn’t really fit me anymore. I looked at eBay and the things are listed for close to what I paid for it 20 years ago.

This thing has thousands of miles on it, so it has the scuffs and scrapes to prove it. Outside of that it’s in perfect working order. It hasn’t been ridden much since Skunk River serviced it.

What should I be asking for it? Have used bike prices gone crazy? It looks like new bike prices have.

Edit: I forgot it’s an XXL frame so I’m sure it’s probably less valuable.

I've listed a couple of links below.
1) First link below is finding the value of your bike. (EDIT: I just saw your frame size XXL...that will either be very easy or very tough to sell. It would require a unicorn. )
2) Second link below is a way to donate the bike if you want to go for a cause.
3) A third option would be to trade it in at a shop wanting to work with you for a new/used bike that fits your current lifestyle. Then get back to riding on a bike and at a speed that matches your current lifestyle.
EDIT 4) Donate to the Dream Team

Keep in mind that the bike market is saturated with lots of bikes and lots of really good bikes. Find your value here.
Check out https://www.bicyclebluebook.com/value-guide/Specialized/Allez/?yearId=2004

You could also donate to the Des Moines Bicycle Collective https://www.dsmstreetcollective.org/our-mission

Donate to https://www.dreamteamdesmoines.org/

 

[BoxsterCy]

I think this local article is WAY understating how much this is turning into a problem on urban bike trails. Keep seeing motor bike blazing around on trail. Not talking low speed e-bikes but true electric motor bikes.

An ‘illegal class’ of e-bike brings friction, complaints on Minnesota trails

Sold as e-bikes, some overpowered models are mixing in with traffic and adding to a challenging scene.

www.startribune.com

 

[FarminCy]

I think this local article is WAY understating how much this is turning into a problem on urban bike trails. Keep seeing motor bike blazing around on trail. Not talking low speed e-bikes but true electric motor bikes.

An ‘illegal class’ of e-bike brings friction, complaints on Minnesota trails

Sold as e-bikes, some overpowered models are mixing in with traffic and adding to a challenging scene.

www.startribune.com

Was just talking about this yesterday. The amount of idiots on the throttle electric dirt bikes/bikes on bike trails is getting insane. Had a couple pass me on a blind corner last year going about 30 mph, forced another biker off the trail. Didn’t apologize or acknowledge, just kept flying.

The other issue I see is the amount of little kids riding what is essentially a motor cycle. A few weeks ago saw a group of 3 going faster than my truck on the sidewalk in Ankeny. Kids couldn’t have been older than 10 or 11. This was with plenty of walkers out including very little kids.

It’s time to treat them for what they are, an electric motorcycle.

 

[BoxsterCy]

Was just talking about this yesterday. The amount of idiots on the throttle electric dirt bikes/bikes on bike trails is getting insane. Had a couple pass me on a blind corner last year going about 30 mph, forced another biker off the trail. Didn’t apologize or acknowledge, just kept flying.

The other issue I see is the amount of little kids riding what is essentially a motor cycle. A few weeks ago saw a group of 3 going faster than my truck on the sidewalk in Ankeny. Kids couldn’t have been older than 10 or 11. This was with plenty of walkers out including very little kids.

It’s time to treat them for what they are, an electric motorcycle.

Well, that's actually what they are but there is no enforcement and parents are buying these for kids, like you noted, that aren't remotely old enough to be out in public on them.

 

[Al_4_State]

The Root River trail has been absolutely overrun by e-bikes in the last couple years. It's at the point where when you meet another actual cyclist there's an acknowledgment.

 

[3TrueFans]

My ebike has pedal assist and throttle, but I mostly just use the throttle for getting going at stop signs when there are cars around, I love it.

 

[Yaz]

This is a problem with all ages on the e-bikes. An ebike trike about took me out last year while i was going about 18mph.

As someone who rides a lot, biking communication is a thing of the past now. No one says on your left anymore and if u do say it, the person you're passing, either riding or walking, has earbuds in and can't hear you.

 

[BoxsterCy]

Maybe about time for me to dust the bike off and see if the bulged disc in my neck will allow me to bike. Could not all last summer but it mostly settled down. Still have some digit numbness, especially my thumb and some upper back/shoulder discomfort but not near the situation of last summer where I could only get comfortable enough to sleep in a recliner. Afraid of going back to last summer situation but also need the exercise and miss biking. Might have to give it a couple of easy 10 mile test rides and see how the neck reacts.

 

[Yaz]

Maybe about time for me to dust the bike off and see if the bulged disc in my neck will allow me to bike. Could not all last summer but it mostly settled down. Still have some digit numbness, especially my thumb and some upper back/shoulder discomfort but not near the situation of last summer where I could only get comfortable enough to sleep in a recliner. Afraid of going back to last summer situation but also need the exercise and miss biking. Might have to give it a couple of easy 10 mile test rides and see how the neck reacts.

Not sure how your bike is setup, but consider raising your stem, get a stem with more rise, look at bars that come back to you, redshift stem, ... Anywho, there are some things you can do to help you get back in the saddle, just don't overdue it and listen to your body. Some people simply have to buy a different bike that has a more upright/touring setup.