Wednesday, May 28, 2014

It's too cold: let's watch the Giro d'Italia!

After their one day spring classics in Europe have finished, elite pro cyclists turn their attention to stage racing.  There is one week left in the Giro d'Italia, a 21 stage race throughout Italy.  (The Tour de France is the most well known of the major stage races; there is a third stage race in August called the Vuelta a EspaƱa.)  These races are some of the most physically grueling of all sports.  Cyclists ride an average of 180km/day, for 21 days, with 2 rest days,  over mountain ranges, and through narrow village streets.  Riders burn roughly 3500-4500 calories during the stage. That's a lot of pasta! (And Gu, and Cokes, and panini...)

Mr. Bryan & I did not make it to Italy to see the Giro this year, but Steep Hill Tv online provides us with the coverage we need.  You can even go to 'non-spoiler alert' to keep from seeing the winners of the stage.  It's cold here in Gloucester, so we are taking a 'trip' to Italy.  Check out the courage, daring and endurance of these racers.  

Saturday, May 24, 2014

Good Morning Gloucester, & Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

Thank you, Joey for the opportunity to promote the new blog and to promote cycling in Gloucester. Check it out HERE:



If you have a bike you love, or a trail you love, or a regular group ride, please share with Man At The Wheel Cycling:
                       Manatthewheelcycling@gmail.com
Photos, maps, routes are all welcome here!

We'll be seeing lots of cyclists on the roads this weekend, so keep your eyes & ears open! 
I am looking forward to riding in the woods of Dogtown on my singlespeed cyclocross bike with Mr. Bryan & our dog, Maru.  The woods are constantly changing this time of year:  fiddleheads turn to ferns, lady slippers emerge and bloom, yellow clintonia is in flower, and the trees and rocks are slowly obscured by beech leaves.  We are blessed to live on this 'island of the woods.'
Clintonia (also known as Bluebead Lily)


Unfurling fiddleheads

The old Saw Mill Brook,
north of Old Rockport Road

Maru, our Puerto Rican 'Sato'

Thursday, May 22, 2014

New Bike Racks & Riding In The Bike Lanes: A short video

Last month, Steve Winslow and I rode throughout Gloucester assessing locations for new Man At the Wheel Bike Racks.  Look for new racks at the following sites sometime this summer:

-Big Mike's Bikes
-Pleasant St. Tea Company
-Rose Baker Senior Center
-City Hall
-Sawyer Free Library
-St. Peter's Square







Where do you think we need more bike racks?
Where do you think we need more bike lanes? Bike signage?

Here's a video of riding in the bike lanes from Latitude 43 to Harbor Loop: as always, be careful riding around those car doors!