Geezer Ride Time Changes

Saturday, August 16, 2008 -- Jerry Bell has given the word! It’s getting light later in the morning, and the heat is not longer quite as extreme as it was in July. Consequentially, the various Geezer rides will start at 6:30 a.m. beginning with the on August 23. For those of you who participate in the Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday rides, they will continue to start at 6 a.m. this week and will change to 6:30 a.m. next week. Once again, the time change for all rides begins on Saturday, August 23. – Jack Quinn

The Fall of the Geezers and the Rise of the Extreme Geezers?

Friday, August 15, 2008 – On Saturday mornings, more and more riders are abandoning the Geezer ride, which starts and the Camelback Inn, and riding instead with the Extreme Geezers, who begin their ride at the roundabout at Northern and Invergordon. The Extreme Geezers’ ride was started for people couldn’t or didn’t want to ride fast. The idea was to give the slower Extreme Geezers’ a head start. The Geezers used to catch the Extremists on Mountain View before the climb up to Hidden Hills.

Since more and more faster riders have started riding with the Extreme Geezers, the pace of this ride has picked up, and the regular Geezers’ Ride has been reduced to a handful of riders. The net effect has been a takeover of the Extreme Geezers ride by faster cyclists, which leaves the original Extreme Geezers gasping for breath and off the back. Those who would prefer to start at the Camelback Inn with the regular Geezers find that there are fewer riders meeting there, so they move over to the Extreme Geezers, and the process snowballs.

I admit to being one of the guilty parties who is riding with the Extreme Geezers. I started riding with them last fall with the idea of riding more slowly during the winter. In spring, I had planned to move back to the regular Geezers’ ride, but somehow inertia took over, and I never made the move. I will move back to the Geezers if enough riders will join me.

Is there a different solution to this problem? Is there a way to reestablish the slower Extreme Geezers’ Ride? Suggestions are welcome. Please click on the word COMMENTS below this blog entry and give us your ideas, or communicate your suggestions to Jerry Bell. Thanks in advance. – Jack Quinn

Look Keo Peddal Recal

Richard Fisher, noting that many Geezers ride Look Keo pedals, suggested that we send out this information from the RoadBikeRider.com newsletter about a recall. We wouldn’t want any of our riders to fall on their noses due to a breaking axle, especially any riders in front of me in the paceline. There is a link below to the recall Website. As a bonus, there is also a link below to the newsletter, which in turn links to NBC’s schedule of its broadcasts of cycling events at the Olympics. – Jack Quinn

Click http://www.roadbikerider.com/currentissue.htm to read the full and enhanced version of this newsletter.
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In This Issue

1. Weekly Dispatch: Breathing in Beijing; Electric Dura-Ace
2. Cycling Shorts: Keo Pedal Recall
3. Scott's Spin: Big Help
4. Classifieds (2 new)
5. Best of Coach Fred: How Should Older Riders Train?
6. Racing Roundup: "Green Bullet" Gunning for Gold
7. Uncle Al: The Lowdown on Gearing Down
8. Try This on Your Next Ride: Rev Up for Fall Rides
9. RBR eBookstore: HOT LIST: August's Bestsellers


---Product recall: Keo pedals. Look Cycle USA is recalling 40,000 pairs of Keo pedals following reports of breaking axles. Fourteen incidents have come to light, resulting in various injuries to riders. All recalled pedals are black and include the Keo Classic, Keo Sprint, Keo HM and Keo Carbon. The model name is printed in white on the side of the pedal. Date codes between January 2004 and December 2005 are included in this recall. These French-made pedals were sold at U.S. bike shops from January 2004 through July 2007 for between $100 and $500. If you have recalled pedals, stop riding them and return them to the place of purchase, or contact Look Cycle USA at http://www.lookcycle-usa.com/keoupgrade/index.html to arrange for free repair or replacement. The website shows where to find date codes to determine if pedals are part of the recall.