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Icycle Bicycle 2013 * * * * * * * *

It's that time of year. This is a great ride.


Who's in?


http://bike-pgh.org/blog/2012/12/06/2013-icycle-bicycle-ride-new-years-day/


pseudacris
2012-12-12 16:43:17

Me


jonawebb
2012-12-12 16:47:30

The wheelmen site says this ride has been going since the 1970s. Does that make it the city's longest standing group ride?


pseudacris
2012-12-12 16:49:14

in


marko82
2012-12-12 17:11:05

If i can't make it I'll send Mrs. marvelous in my place


marvelousm3
2012-12-12 17:15:35

In...would love to say hello to many of you, whom I've never met before. I'll wear something recognizable and unique!


ajbooth
2012-12-12 17:30:48

Sounds like fun, but I'm not sure if I'll be back in Pittsburgh at that point. I bought a one way ticket to FL for the holidays to visit my family so that I could be flexible for new years plans.


2012-12-12 17:37:31

In.

Also in email contact with ejwme, who said she's a likely.


stuinmccandless
2012-12-12 17:37:36

Im not quite sure where ill be, but does/will/could this ride include the ploar bear plunge at the MOn WHarf?


the-beast
2012-12-12 17:39:57

The Polar Bear Plunge is much earlier - I think around 8 or 9.


pinky
2012-12-12 17:55:33

So, obviously, if you are really tough you'll do the Polar Bear plunge, then Icicle Bicycle, then, I don't know, sunbathe nude on the Point.


jonawebb
2012-12-12 18:17:19

I'm in


josgood
2012-12-12 19:14:55

In!


stefb
2012-12-12 20:37:31

This would be fun to do in an abominable snowman costume.


edmonds59
2012-12-12 21:27:57

dammit. i really should know better than to leave town for holidays. this time i get back on the 4th.


epanastrophe
2012-12-12 22:06:03

glad i finally worked out my glove situation.


2012-12-12 22:07:45

if tending bar on new years eve doesn't completely destroy me, i think i'm in.


parvipica
2012-12-12 22:49:29

I'm probable.


vannever
2012-12-13 00:05:09

most likely, yes.


teamdecafweekend
2012-12-13 00:42:19

ill be there as long as theres no ice or snow on the roads i dont wanna wipe out and and break a hip or something


bear250220
2012-12-13 03:02:06

I know how to fix fractured hips. You're covered!


stefb
2012-12-13 10:23:13

@ajbooth - I hope "unique" will with the helmet from your avatar! That would be so cool!!


I'm a gametime decision. Planning yes but......


sew
2012-12-13 12:56:12

@Stef, i'll pack an extra pocketknife and some ducktape.

roadside hip setting ftw.


2012-12-13 17:12:57

Planning.


2012-12-13 23:11:57

^Yes, well written (thanks for posting), but Oh, that sounds so awful. I do not want to bike in -40 temperatures, ever. no. not even for the glory of having done it. Yeesh.


Would I feel/be bad ass if I ever did ride at -40, hell yes!!! I'd tattoo it somewhere.


teamdecafweekend
2012-12-15 03:36:10

I plan going unless really hung over


dbacklover
2012-12-15 04:16:26

How fast/slow is this ride? Trying to 1) decide on our plans and 2) decide which bike to bring if we come.


pinky
2012-12-15 23:25:39

Slow. I wasn't there last year, but the year before we rode maybe 12 miles and stopped at least 3 times for hot chocolate or some other reason; the pace was super-casual when riding.


teamdecafweekend
2012-12-15 23:42:24

There is sometimes a faster post-ride ride


stefb
2012-12-16 01:55:15

Bruce is thinking about night light up Jan 1st. :) I don't know if it's going to happen yet. He wanted to blast an e-mail to WPW list too.


2012-12-16 01:59:34

in-unless I have to work or something.


igo
2012-12-22 04:59:18

Nice, thanks for that tip. Raccoon is very nice, wish I could do both! That reminds me, I need to do some winter camping.


edmonds59
2012-12-27 16:35:29

Looking like this year is the real deal!! Some years are wet or warm-ish.


Low 16

High 32


igo
2012-12-30 01:24:02

The weather psychics were forecasting a high probability of snowfall as well.

Dress warm for this one.


2012-12-30 12:47:24

It's about time!


stefb
2012-12-30 12:47:56

I posted in the Facebook event, but I will also let those of you not on Facebook know that the trails (at least the jail trail) are still covered with ice and snow this morning. The route appears to take the jail trail and the south side trail for a majority of it. I am not sure if the route would be changed to road only, but if it isn't, bring fat, knobby tires/studded tires for the trail, unless you have good bike handling skills on slick skinnier on icy footprints and tire grooves that go every direction.


stefb
2012-12-31 13:30:30

Looks like I'm letting a few pounds out of the tires tonight then. Swapping out equipment is not gonna happen.


I normally run 65-80 pounds; might drop it to about 40. (On the unicycle at college, in the winter I had the tire at about 25#.)


stuinmccandless
2012-12-31 13:59:05

Got an email from Marc (guy heading the ride) about the ride.


It starts at REI Southside at 11 a.m. From there it crosses over to the Eliza Furnace Trail and heads downtown. We end up on the North Side and go to the 16th St or 31st St bridge. Then downtown and cross the Smithfield St bridge to South Side Trail/Carson st back to REI. Come early for coffee/tea/hot chocolate."


dbacklover
2012-12-31 14:30:56

I put in a 311 request that it be cleared, but there is no certainty that they will even get the request today (is the City working?)


Additional 311 requests might be motivational..... maybe.


swalfoort
2012-12-31 16:17:11

I just exchanged emails with Marc Yergin, who says the route is adapted to Probably Carson to Smithfield to 6th Street Bridge to General Robinson to River to 16th St Bridge. See yinz all tomorrow.


vannever
2012-12-31 17:24:10

Thanks. Remember we are supposed to get additional acumulatiom by tomorrow. Hoping that the streets don't turn to shit again.


stefb
2012-12-31 17:57:23

I tried to ride in to town on 700 x 28's on the trail this morning, but bailed part way and took 2nd Ave the rest of the way. I will not be riding home on that in the dark tonight on New Years Eve.

If anyone is out riding, and you make it out towards the Science Center, there is a rack on the trail side of the building and it will be open. You can use the cafeteria without coming all the way into the building.


helen-s
2012-12-31 18:38:06

Looks like an inch and change, and sub-freezing the whole time, so just enough to make things {pick one: interesting | difficult | chancy | slippy | type 2 fun}.


stuinmccandless
2012-12-31 18:40:30

I'll take "What are Soggy Britches" for $200, Alex.


2012-12-31 19:16:07

Hubby and I are in, but now I'm debating if I should switch to the knobby tires on my pink bike, or bring my new ride that I got for xmas. What is everyone else riding, given the route change and current snow predictions?


pinky
2012-12-31 21:47:29

Not an ideal solution, but the 'qualified' public use sjovels are now in place along EFT. Email/PM me if you want access/combination.


swalfoort
2012-12-31 22:12:03

I don't have knobby tires or a mtb, but i'm hoping to come along anyway...Hmmm..


cpollack
2012-12-31 22:20:33

I made a test run on the unicycle. It might just work.


stuinmccandless
2013-01-01 00:52:04

I just put knobies on the MTB. It's a little slow, but probably safer than the 25's.


marko82
2013-01-01 02:09:47

Im gonna do my best to make it in. Its not the ride. But the ride to the that is making me wonder. @marko. Call me if im not there by the start


dbacklover
2013-01-01 12:26:18

So is anyone using a bike with slick skinnies? My street is just wet, but I am not sure about other streets.


stefb
2013-01-01 12:28:51

My streets, including the alley on the corner, are also just wet. Hubby is riding on slick skinnies for sure. I'm still undecided.


pinky
2013-01-01 12:45:31

Dammit there is snow on the road again.


stefb
2013-01-01 13:57:30

Peering out the window of Carnegie Science Center around 11:40, I saw what I assume was this group- 32 cyclists coming from the casino heading towards town.

Anyone have any idea whaqt kind of shape the jail trail is in?


helen-s
2013-01-01 17:11:49

Skipped out on doing this official ride, but Emma and I went out on our own first day ride. We rode from Bloomfield to Downtown and then decided to check out the state of the jail trail. From the jail parking lot it was clear that the trail was uncleared, but there appeared to be a bit of a trail worked in it, so we decided to give it a go. That "trail" ended about 100' in, but we kept on. It is passable, but you probably want some beefier tires. i think we both have 32's. We slipped around a lot but we slowly made our way to the other end and then through Junction Hollow as well.


Was fun, but the trail certainly isn't commuter ready.


2013-01-01 17:30:35

this is the basic state of the trails...



2013-01-01 17:49:15

The temperature is going to start dropping, so the mildly impassable mush will soon turn into completely impassable ice ruts. Yay!


edmonds59
2013-01-01 19:33:55

Everything was very smooth and easy today. The weather was warmer than expected, I think, around freezing, and we stayed on the roads, which were merely wet. It was a very nice Icicle Bicycle.


jonawebb
2013-01-01 20:06:46

Everything was very nice.


2013-01-01 20:12:38

Anybody got any online pictures from today's ride? TIA.


vannever
2013-01-01 20:39:08

the jail trial looks better than it has been. when i was through there yesterday morning, there were already frozen track marks and foot prints everywhere.


i have some blurry pictures of people standing around before the ride. none on the ride, as it is painful to take my gloves off to use my phone to take pictures.





stu had a flat. did you get that fixed before the ride, stu?






stefb
2013-01-01 21:10:45

i am very happy with the large turnout. there had to have been over 100 people there on a cold day with snow on the ground. i think this reflects the increase in number people who have started to bicycle. this is very exciting.


i believe it is channel 11 that interviewed Dan B. just know that i was behind the camera man interviewing him trying to make Dan laugh. It was either that, or do the Pee-Wee herman dance in the background, but I wanted the footage to be used.


stefb
2013-01-01 21:23:12

Great ride. So happy i went. It was one of my goals for the year. Now to the rest of them


dbacklover
2013-01-01 21:42:24

The Cheescake Factory kitchen crew kept peeking out the door at us -- great turnout.


pseudacris
2013-01-01 22:35:50

so glad i went, unsure how i ended up as route relay - pseudo marshal, but i guess its just how i end up rolling on these rides.


still amazed i swapped a detective innertube inside of 4 min. #madpowersftw.


2013-01-01 23:21:56

Great ride today and a very impressive turnout. Does anyone have an official headcount?


josgood
2013-01-01 23:31:08

I believe it was 125


hooty2
2013-01-01 23:41:12

IcycleBicycleScreen


Not a great video, but shows a little about the day.


Yes, some parts are in fast motion to get through it quicker.


teamdecafweekend
2013-01-01 23:46:50

hooty, your facebook is locked down and i can't see the photos.


dan, nice video. I always enjoy them. I kept trying to look up while watching the video to see more, but it didn't work haha.


stefb
2013-01-02 00:21:05

^Yeah, I need to raise my camera mount, jeesh.


teamdecafweekend
2013-01-02 00:44:30

i do this with my camera sometimes and i try to look up while watching it, too! do you have a certain program you like to use to edit these?


stefb
2013-01-02 00:49:48

perhaps changing from a headmount to a handlebar mount.


2013-01-02 01:09:46

@stefb - iMovie for editing - built-in with the MacBook Pro. It's fairly easy to get started and edit at the low levels I use.


@pbeaver - yeah, might be a good idea - easier to turn off and on too, I bet.


teamdecafweekend
2013-01-02 02:05:34