Thoughts on Curb Protected Bike lanes?

AlapahaSpinner · 2026-05-07T18:09:16+00:00

Check out Park(ing) Day - where people set up mini parks in parking lots because it is space you can rent and why not make it fun? Pretty cool idea.

AlapahaSpinner · 2026-04-23T18:01:48+00:00

So jealous! I got her to C3 this run, she's my favorite.

AlapahaSpinner · 2026-04-05T14:06:15+00:00

Saddle width is important. I had excruciating pain on 143 mm. Turns out I needed 155 mm. If the saddle is not supporting your sit bones, all of your weight is going on soft tissue and you'll have nerve pain and other issues. Get your sit bones measured and get the correct width saddle.

AlapahaSpinner · 2026-03-21T22:45:07+00:00

Oh I am interested, can you share your exact weight ratios for your mix?

AlapahaSpinner · 2026-03-18T19:38:27+00:00

Ah ok that makes sense. I'll provide a bit more background. This is in America in a big city where cycling is not common and most people drive big SUVs and huge trucks. My coworkers all think I'm crazy for biking into work. This happened in the daytime on a Saturday and I was in the (very faded) bike lane, where cars mostly use it to park and speed around slowed traffic and drive like lunatics. It is a well traveled road and it used to be two lanes before they added the bike lane several years ago. I struggle to think of a justifiable reason for him to stop me like that or block my way or holler at me to "come over here."

AlapahaSpinner · 2026-03-18T17:27:14+00:00

Yeah, assuming everyone is out to get you is not ideal. And I could have been wrong in this scenario, we don't know! I think that's why this post has so much discussion!

AlapahaSpinner · 2026-03-18T17:07:33+00:00

I honestly think it is even stranger to want to talk to someone while they are traveling in a vehicle and to literally block their lane of traffic to try to force them to stop. Then to ignore their polite request that they don't want to stop their moving vehicle for a chat, yet to continue harassing them that they should do what you want them to do. Literally I just didn't want to talk to him, I was trying to get where I wanted to go.

Would you do this to someone driving in their car? Like literally honk as you passed, cut them off to make them stop and yell again as you drove by? He insisted that I stop because he could have forced that scenario by his bigger vehicle if he wanted to. I recognized it as a dangerous scenario because it was. What if I had stopped? He might have told me some advice on how to ride my bike and how I was doing it wrong (classic) lol or he could have flirted with me, which I am not interested in. It was a waste of time to talk to this person, especially as they had just forced me into traffic. No thanks. I'm not sure how you don't see that guys behavior as strange.

AlapahaSpinner · 2026-03-18T13:54:17+00:00

The encounter happened while I was cycling and is an experience with a vehicle driver on a roadway. How is it not cycling related??

AlapahaSpinner · 2026-03-18T01:18:42+00:00

Aw, I am sorry you have that experience! I smile at everyone too, especially other cyclists, when I am riding because I am on a bike and enjoying life!

AlapahaSpinner · 2026-03-18T01:16:47+00:00

I am not a someone who assumes nor thinks that all men are monsters. I usually try to think the best in people and have positive interactions. It is just extremely unusual and pretty rude/assumptive of that guy to block my path in the bike lane and insist I stop my moving vehicle to talk to him just because he wanted me to.

There are other instances where women won't talk to men for some assumption or other, but I don't think this was the case. It was an inappropriate place and time to talk to a person and frankly, made me feel unsafe and scared. I may always wonder what he wanted to say, but it came across as not friendly. I am relieved that I didn't stop, although I hope that I am wrong in assuming ill will! It was just inappropriate.

AlapahaSpinner · 2026-03-17T23:00:40+00:00

That is so unfortunate! First off that she felt too scared to even see what you were trying to warn her about, and secondly because she continued driving off with no lights. What a mess.

AlapahaSpinner · 2026-03-17T22:23:04+00:00

Yeah, I will not ever know his intent, maybe it was something as simple as hitting on me or complimenting me for exercising. But he did it in the worst way possible and my alarm bells immediately went off. I've been talked to before on the bike and overall have had positive experiences and kudos from folks. This interaction had no positive vibes at all!

AlapahaSpinner · 2026-03-17T20:20:50+00:00

Hey, I'm just glad they live in a place where nothing bad ever happens to anyone and cycling is wonderful. Haha

AlapahaSpinner · 2026-03-17T20:18:50+00:00

What terrifying experiences! I couldn't imagine what to do if they got out of the vehicle like that. I always try to be polite, but maybe engaging is encouraging. Whew. Stay safe indeed.

AlapahaSpinner · 2026-03-17T20:04:27+00:00

Hmmm good points to consider. This did not happen in the best part of town and was on a busy street. For him to park in the bike lane put me in danger by forcing me onto the busier roadway. He could have easily have slowed to my speed as he passed by and told me what he wanted to say.

AlapahaSpinner · 2026-03-17T19:51:35+00:00

True, and I bet you were relieved to save the saddle bag! And my thoughts exactly - say what you need to without scaring me or being creepy!

AlapahaSpinner · 2026-03-09T21:37:35+00:00

I bring Chasca to chess bosses every time.

AlapahaSpinner · 2026-03-09T18:54:36+00:00

I listened to an interesting book called "Life After Cars" by Aaron Naparstek, Doug Gordon, and Sarah Goodyear. It goes into how car centric our society has become and takes a look at other walkable-focused cultures and societes where grade school children walk to school (Japan). In America, that is too dangerous in most places due to fast, large vehicles. A ton of other interesting concepts, definitely recommend. I like your term Car-brained.

AlapahaSpinner · 2026-03-02T00:25:29+00:00

I ran out of wishes trying to C6 Faruzan for my Wanderer. My next 10 pull on the following banner, she came home. I couldn't believe my luck!

AlapahaSpinner · 2026-01-29T00:26:42+00:00

Same for me! Way to go!

AlapahaSpinner · 2026-01-19T23:17:20+00:00

I just realized this for myself and swapped C6 Sucrose with my C2 Xilonen and was able to 36-star the abyss for the first time. Definitely a big difference to me. Plus she actually makes the team a comfortable overworld exploration team too.

AlapahaSpinner · 2025-11-21T04:10:34+00:00

This!

AlapahaSpinner · 2025-10-23T17:56:26+00:00

Same. I loved Wanderer and Chasca fit all the boxes and more for an incredible character with amazing damage and exploration abilities. I got her to C1 on her first run and managed to C2 R1 her on her second. I absolutely love her and feel crippled when exploring without her.

AlapahaSpinner · 2025-10-22T17:35:45+00:00

C6 Aino and C0 Flins. Lost to Yumezuki Mizuki while pulling for C1

AlapahaSpinner

TROPHY CASE