Extreme cold forces Springfield man to withdraw from Itidarod bicycle race
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
According to a Springfield News-Leader article:
It might be a while before Aaron Benetti looks to the Great White North for bicycling adventure.
The 29-year-old Springfield plumber is back home nursing frostbitten toes on both feet after a second attempt at the 350-mile Iditarod Trail Invitational race in Alaska.
He made it past the first checkpoint this year — a total of 70 miles — before equipment failure and extreme cold forced him to stop.
How cold was it?
"It hit minus 30 degrees that first night," Benetti said Monday, a few hours after a 12-hour flight from Alaska to Springfield.
"Everybody's GPS devices quit working," he said. "My MP3 player froze. Ice got into my bike chain and kept me pedaling in just one gear. At minus 30 degrees your body just goes numb, and so does your mind."
"I reached a point where I just wasn't active," said Benetti, 29. "I'd go to work, go home, sit and eat."
At 230 pounds, the Springfield plumber knew he had to find a healthier outlet.
He turned to mountain biking - in a big way.
Two years later and now 60 pounds lighter, Benetti today is flying to Alaska, where he'll compete in one of the toughest bicycle competitions on earth. . . .
Alaskans Kathi and Bill Merchant organize the annual Iditarod Trail Invitational, which includes 350-mile and 1,150-mile races for hikers, skiers and bicyclists.
Of the 50 people who applied this year, only 36 were invited to participate.
Welcome to KC Cycling. This is a forum set up for those interested in cycling. This is a venue for cyclists to post their gripes, praise, questions, and comments on all things cycling (especially, but not limited to Kansas City and Missouri area cycling).
If you are a casual cyclist who rides on weekends, if the mood strikes you, you might as well skip the special pedal systems altogether. Platform pedals and recreational cycling shoes will meet your needs.
If you’re a serious road cyclist, clipless will give you the most control and power, so it’s definitely the best way to go. You’re also in the best position to stay clipped in, since there’s less reason to stop on a long, endurance ride. Get shoes that match the clipless system you prefer.
If you’re a mountain biker, you could go either way. Clipless is going to give you the best performance. You’ll be able to stay more tightly linked to your bike for jumps, hops and wheelies. But you’ll fall more. If that bugs you, get clips.
Most of all, get shoes that are comfortable. Try them on in the store, make sure they work with the socks you plan to wear and check the heel retention as you walk. Think about how you ride and what you can afford. Then make your choice.
It's January and very cold in most of the northern hemisphere, but some innovative and persistent cyclists have found a way to keep pedaling even in the foulest weather.
The human-powered vehicles they employ are called velomobiles -- fully enclosed recumbent bicycles that usually have three wheels, a chair-like seat and a standard bicycle drivetrain. The modern velomobile is the closest that anyone has come to building a truly practical all-weather, human-powered vehicle.
These vaguely egg-shaped vehicles may never become a common sight on the world's roadways, but with increasing gas prices and never-ending gridlock, short-distance commuters are starting to take them more seriously.
Their origins can be traced back to early 20th-century France, but modern velomobiles bear almost no resemblance to those pioneering designs with their steel-tube frames and wooden bodywork.
Contemporary machines have carbon fiber or fiberglass monocoque chassis, full suspension and integrated lighting. Electric power-assist systems driven by rechargeable batteries are increasingly popular and will continue to be a design focus for these vehicles, which can weigh 65 pounds and up.
Show your disapproval to City Hall by eliminating most of the revenue they may generate from you no longer driving (ie, speeding tickets, gas tax, etc.) Concerned about privacy? Riding this time of year I'm wearing a hat and helmet, neck gator pulled up over my nose, sunglasses, and winter clothing that covers all recognizable tattoos or birthmarks. With no laws about bicycle identification I'm completely untraceable.
The honest truth is when you become a cyclist you become a better driver. When you view the stupid things drivers do from the vantage point of a bicycle seat, you eliminate that stupidity from your own driving, and your friends and family often follow suit.
Wired News has an interesting article about the rise of the Velomobile in the U.S.:
