@MartyCormack @bikenite A6. There are a lot of stray dogs here AND a lot of dog owners who refuse to leash their dogs.

On my T-Tris 26, my face and arms are at easy biting level for a dog. And one found me this week. It's times like that I REALLY hate the speed governor laws for e-cycles because I could have used a faster speed.

The chasing barking dog was too close for me to have time to stop and get out and get up to look big as possible. It chased for a while & gained on me. So I just turned my head and yelled "NO!!" and that gave it enough pause that I could get away and onto another street.

I hate dog owners who don't leash their dogs in public places or keep them on their own property. It's terrifying to me and with so many strays, rabies is a problem here. Dog owners wouldn't pay for my healthcare, pain, and lost hours, I'm sure.

#BikeNite #Cycling

@puppethead @bikenite

A7

#BikeNite #BikeNite #BikeTooter #Cycling

Most of the busy urban roads I use have 20mph / 32 kph limits - so I ride with the traffic (in line with the motorised not in the gutter) unless there is really good infrastructure.

Less urban roads with higher speeds which I probably know less well - more likely to use cycle paths of whatever description

@bikenite

#BikeNite #BikeNite #BikeTooter #Cycling

A8

Ridiculous heatwave here - unbroken where I have been

Got some amazing riding done in the Cambrian Hills - Wales. Epic and inspiring

@puppethead asks:

I saw a couple of cyclists riding on a traffic-heavy road with no shoulder, correctly riding with the flow of traffic. But there was a separated bike path on the opposite side of the road that seemed much safer.

Q7. Is it better to bike against the traffic flow on a safer path especially if it's separated, or stick to being part of traffic?

#BikeNiteQ #BikeNite #BikeTooter #Cycling #MastoBikes cc @bikenite

And our last question this week: your week in a photo.

Q8. What did you see this week? Reply with a photo if you'd like. Cycling related or not is fine. Tell us about it!

#BikeNiteQ #BikeNite #BikeTooter #Cycling #MastoBikes cc @bikenite

@MartyCormack asks:

Two days this week while riding road bicycle rides, I was harassed by multiple Red-winged Blackbirds that swooped down nearly crashing/landing on my helmet. They're territorial and especially protective of their nests.

Q6. Have you ever been annoyed by, harassed, chased or attacked by critters while cycling?

#BikeNiteQ #BikeNite #BikeTooter #Cycling #MastoBikes cc @bikenite

@realSiegfried asks:

Q3. Do you know about this tradition we have here in Germany (is it common elsewhere, too?) where we leave a white-painted bicycle at the spot where a cyclist was killed by a car-driver?

Do you do something similar where you live?

#BikeNiteQ #BikeNite #BikeTooter #Cycling #MastoBikes cc @bikenite

@bobjonkman asks:

Q4. Do you know what a "Collision Checklist" is? More specifically, what's on it?

#BikeNiteQ #BikeNite #BikeTooter #Cycling #MastoBikes cc @bikenite

ATTN: #Boston #Cycling folks

#CriticalMass Boston rides again TOMORROW, Friday 26 June. Meet at Copley Square at 6:30 PM, ride at 7 PM.

Route will end at the #Cambridge city dance party

#BikeTooter

1/2

We haven’t been doing much night riding lately. After biking in to town to pick up a Father's Day card for two special dads, we have a fresh memory of one of our favorite things about night riding: There are usually far fewer cars on the roads!

Another favorite thing: Being prepared to easily take theft-prone items in with us when we went inside the card store, thanks to having an Ortlieb Vario Lite hybrid backpack-bicycle bag. Having that terrific bag is only because of the kind generosity of Jeff Scully, Ortlieb USA LLC, who donated it in 2025 as part of a thoughtful care package of Ortlieb products, in support of our direct outreach by bike. bikemonterey.org/about/financi…

Another favorite thing: The card store employee who welcomed us to bring our bike indoors. That’s especially appreciated because there’s no bike rack or well-lit, line-of-sight place to lock up.

(continued)

#cycling #biking #BikeCommute #ShopByBike #MontereyCounty #FathersDay #NightRiding

@pete asks:

Q3a. Is it ever acceptable to ride a rental bike in the nude?

theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2

And a follow-up from @FourT4:

Q3b. Have you ever attended a naked bike ride? Would you?

#BikeNiteQ #BikeNite #BikeTooter #Cycling #MastoBikes cc @bikenite

@markn asks:

Q5. Does anybody else have a cycling mascot or lucky charm they take on rides?

My usual companion is a small green dinosaur named Godfrey. He gets a wash once a year, generally I aim for better hygiene standards myself.

Photo of Godfrey: mastodonapp.uk/@markn/11677326…

#BikeNiteQ #BikeNite #BikeTooter #Cycling #MastoBikes cc @bikenite

#MontereyCounty / #CondadoDeMonterey #ActiveTransport Plan schedule toward 2027 ATP, includes a June 24, 2026 kickoff meeting in Salinas, 6-8pm. Food provided. Zoom option available. For more info, contact: Janneke Strause, Senior Transportation Planner at Transportation Agency for Monterey County (TAMC): tamcmonterey.org/janneke-strau…

"Monterey County Active Transportation Plan (ATP) will serve as a roadmap for making #Monterey County safer, more accessible, and more connected for people of all ages and abilities who #walk, #bike, or use other forms of #ActiveTransportation. This update builds on the County’s previous ATP, adopted in 2018, incorporating new analysis and community priorities and needs.
…
"Join the ATP Kickoff Meeting on June 24, 2026 at 6:00 pm. We seek your input and participation as we work together to improve #walking, #biking, and rolling throughout Monterey County. "

#cycling #pedestrian #skate #scoot #transportation

@semitones asks:

Q2. Has anyone experienced low back pain with biking, or is familiar with it? I've tried switching to a bike where I sit upright in the saddle and it helps with acute pain but I still hurt the next day. This is for bike commuting.

How can one avoid lower back pain?

#BikeNiteQ #BikeNite #BikeTooter #Cycling #MastoBikes cc @bikenite

And our last question this week, your week in a photo:

Q8. What did you see this week? Reply with a photo if you'd like. Cycling related or not is fine. Tell us about it!

#BikeNiteQ #BikeNite #BikeTooter #Cycling #MastoBikes cc @bikenite

@grammasaurus asks:

I’ll be taking a one week fully supported bike trip in July (yeah, could be a HOT one), and I’m curious what little thing I‘m likely to forget.

I already figured out clothing (I think), and that I’ll really miss having a fan at night (we’ll be in tents) to make sleeping more comfortable….but what am I overlooking that makes a big difference?

Q3. What's easy to forget when packing for a bike trip?

#BikeNiteQ #BikeNite #BikeTooter #Cycling cc @bikenite

@cptbutton asks

I wear a generic backpack while riding, which means in warm weather my back is soaking wet at the end because there is no air circulation under the backpack.

I have a vague idea that there are backpacks with some kind of mesh standoff that lets air through and avoids this problem.

Q4. Do such backpacks actually exist? If so, what are they called? Any recommendations in the US market?

#BikeNiteQ #BikeNite #BikeTooter #Cycling #MastoBikes cc @bikenite

@bobjonkman @bikenite

Q2. I have one bike that I leave locked up in town outside cafes, shops, the cinema etc. It's very old and intentionally (hopefully) unattractive to attempt to steal. I use a Litelok X3 which cost many times the value of the bike, so economically very disproportionate. I took into account the hassle factor of it getting stolen, having to find something to replace it etc. and then the price of the lock made more sense to me.

#BikeNite #Cycling

@wesley @bikenite A7.

Advantages of conversion:

You can choose the cycle that you already ride and love. You can choose the kit you like regardless of whatever partnerships an e-bike maker is fond of.

Disadvantages of conversion:

Kit parts can be janky (although this has improved VASTLY since I converted mine in the 2010s).

Advantage of purpose-built:

The motor and parts tend to fit better with the frame because the frame should be designed around them. You often have the choice of powering other things off the battery as well.

Disadvantage of purpose-built:

They build out of aluminum to save weight, but it's not as tough (I think) and its built bigger and bulkier to make up for things, which negates the point. A purpose-built long e-bike is heavier than my converted Bridgestone with Xtracycle Free Radical was.

You can be locked into their choice of e-system, which can include DRM, app use.

#BikeNite #Cycling

And our last question this week:

Q8. What did you see this week? Reply with a photo if you'd like. Cycling related or not is fine. Tell us about it!

#BikeNiteQ #BikeNite #BikeTooter #Cycling #MastoBikes cc @bikenite

@trouble asks about bike parking racks:

Q4. Can you show show me 2 pictures? One of the best and one of the worst bike racks you've ever encountered.

Despite seeing lots of these, there's always something new!

#BikeNiteQ #BikeNite #BikeTooter #Cycling #MastoBikes cc @bikenite

@wesley asks:

Q7. Anybody have strong opinions on the merits of getting a purpose-built e-bike vs. a conversion?

#BikeNiteQ #BikeNite #BikeTooter #Cycling #MastoBikes cc @bikenite

@i_cannot_today had an interesting thought, via @PamelaSchure about repair vs new purchase when there's not much money to spend:

Q6. Could it be worth it to not bother with bike maintenance and just buy new super-cheap bikes when an old one breaks? Without hurting oneself? (and I assume aside from environmental considerations)?

(original context here: beige.party/@i_cannot_today/11…)

#BikeNiteQ #BikeNite #BikeTooter #Cycling #MastoBikes cc @bikenite

@ravenbait asks:

Q3. Are there any jobs you would always (or normally) take to your friendly LBS, even if you consider yourself reasonably competent at most maintenance tasks?

#BikeNiteQ #BikeNite #BikeTooter #Cycling #MastoBikes cc @bikenite

@bobjonkman asks:

Something has gone wrong with my U-lock. I can't get the key into the lock, and was lucky it hadn't locked properly so I could get it off (and lucky my bike wasn't stolen).

Q2. What do BikeNiters recommend for securing their cycles?

("All bikes weigh 20 kilograms. A 15 kilo bike needs a 5 kilo lock, a 5 kilo bike needs a 15 kilo lock. A 20 kilo bike doesn't need a lock.")

#BikeNiteQ #BikeNite #BikeTooter #Cycling #MastoBikes cc @bikenite

On a long ride today, I was signaling left on a main(ish) road and using the whole lane to make sure someone didn't try to pass me while I was turning.

The car behind me passed on the right instead, going onto the shoulder.

I didn't like that.

#cycling #biketooter

@gcvsa @bikenite

A3. Handlebars, like bikes, are best when suited to a type of riding. The closest I have to a favourite is liking drop handlebars on road bikes that have a flatter top. I find them more comfortable than round tubes.

When I used to race mountain bikes, I thought bar ends were ace. The forward-facing hand position was great for climbing and sprinting, which I suppose is like bars that sweep forward, so I'm in! I've still got some X-Lite and Ritchey bar ends tucked away...

#Cycling #BikeNite

And our last question this week:

Q8. It's the last #BikeNite of May. What did you see this week? Reply with a photo if you'd like. Cycling related or not is fine. Tell us about it!

#BikeNiteQ #BikeNite #BikeTooter #Cycling #MastoBikes cc @bikenite

@LovesTha asks:

I recently rebuilt a wheel with all new spokes (and nipples) and I had a successful 12k ride with some child towing involved last weekend. Today 10k into a ride the tyre had started rubbing. Checking the wheel, 3~4 spokes on the brake side (rear wheel) were completely loose. So much thread showing on one I was surprised the nipple was still attached.

Q7. What did I do wrong when building the wheel?

#BikeNiteQ #BikeNite #BikeTooter #Cycling #MastoBikes cc @bikenite

And a nicely sort of related question from @TicklishHoneyBee:

I'm curious about peoples' cockpit setups: specifically bags, bottles, and tech.

Q4. Do you have bottle or snack bags on your handlebars or stem? A phone holder? Bike computer? What do you have, where did you get it, and what would you like to have or change? (Pictures welcome)

#BikeNiteQ #BikeNite #BikeTooter #Cycling #MastoBikes cc @bikenite

@gcvsa asks:

Q3. What is your favorite style of handlebar, and why? Why do most handlebars sweep backward, when that direction is counter to the natural position of the human wrist, when your arms are held in front of you? Have you ever tried handlebars mounted so that they sweep forward?

#BikeNiteQ #BikeNite #BikeTooter #Cycling #MastoBikes cc @bikenite

@jfparis @bikenite

#BikeNite #BikeTooter #Cycling #MastoBikes

A7

Never stand when you can sit, never sit when you can lie down.

Once you're home plain water and real food is a better combo than store bought electrolytes . If you're still on the road then still lots of fluids but some form of supplement. Even on road I tend to have sweets, bananas and a sachet of miso soup which between them have most of what I need and are much more palatable / digestible (for me)

@jfparis and @f09fa681 ask:

Elevated heartbeat, elevated temperature, muscle soreness..

Q7. How do you recover afterward if you've overextended yourself physically while riding?

#BikeNiteQ #BikeNite #BikeTooter #Cycling #MastoBikes cc @bikenite

@meganL asks:

As I struggle to find a mail order cycle supply that will ship to Albania, it occurs to me it would be useful to have people's recommendations for cycle supply places that carry a variety of cycles & accessories and have good customer support, suggestions for each continent we've got #BikeNite community on.

Q4. Which mail-order supply shops do you recommend?

#BikeNiteQ #BikeTooter #Cycling #MastoBikes cc @bikenite

@viq asks:

Q6. How do you deal with hydration while #biking when the air quality is bad?

Simple answer is "wear a mask", but then instead of sipping from bottle as you ride, you need to stop, take everything off (possibly including helmet), then gear back up before continuing. "Don't bother with a mask" is also an option that exists, but, well. Anyone has any advice?

#BikeNiteQ #BikeNite #BikeTooter #Cycling #MastoBikes cc @bikenite

Q2. Have you had any interesting experiences with bugs or insects while riding?

(Inspired by a discussion with @Brownian_motion and @MartyCormack many BikeNites ago)

#BikeNiteQ #BikeNite #BikeTooter #Cycling #MastoBikes cc @bikenite

Slowly getting to the point where I'm happy with the Eddy Merckx Strada OS bike project.

New alu Fulcrum racing 4 wheels work well on this frame. They balance aero with weight nicely, although dedicated climbing wheels might be something I'll look into.

Final thing will probably be Ritchey Butano handle bars, replacing the Ergomax setup, which is a bit too tall and wide.

#bike #bikestodon #bicycle #cycling #bikeTooter #steelisreal

@rand @bikenite A6) I do not use a camera to record my rides. I often thought about it; but then the personal experience of a good friend ( @mhoye ) being hit by a car, capturing the event in high fidelity, and submitting the evidence to the local police *and repeatedly getting national press coverage* resulted in him being given the runaround for years with no results.

I bought motorcycle armor.

mastodon.social/@gnomon/113014…

#BikeNiteA #BikeNite #BikeTooter #Cycling #Mastobikes #bikeTO