Movie

Jul

15

Please slow down

Submitted by XL-Network on Fri, 2011-07-15 19:30

After my new camera (the Contour+) had arrived this week it was a matter of trying it out and to wait if something worthwhile comes in front of the lens. Unfortunately that didn't take long. This morning I was on my way to work when I encountered a car that was pushing it in a 30 km/h zone. The junction had a offset center. If he should have stopped for me or another road user he probably couldn't have done so in time. Car drivers often speed at that junction, but this driver was being extra bad. Fortunately I could hear him coming and didn't enter the junction.

Jul

13

ROAM preparations (part 2)

Submitted by XL-Network on Wed, 2011-07-13 18:37

The next preparations are more technical by nature. I was planning to make a time-lapse movie in the 30 days it takes us to cycle from west to east. You have to take a picture every several seconds, but them all behind each other thus creating a sped up movie (like the example below).

Jun

27

A weekend at Cycle Vision 2011

Submitted by XL-Network on Mon, 2011-06-27 22:48

Last weekend I went to FlevOnice in Biddinghuizen for Cycle Vision 2011. Two years ago I visited this event, but then it was all the way on the other side of The Netherlands (in Tilburg). This time I didn't compete because of a injury to my right wrist, so I made myself useful as a volunteer.

Jun

5

My bike is gone

Submitted by XL-Network on Sun, 2011-06-05 12:30

Last Thursday a couple of velonauts came to visit and do some bike riding the next day. It was going to be our last ROAM weekend. Earlier I had done Bennekom and Roermond and the final weekend was in Groningen. Coincidence? No, yesterday we had to deliver our bikes to be shipped to America. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

May

29

Man down

Submitted by XL-Network on Sun, 2011-05-29 21:33

Just like last week I wanted to cycle a bit with the Huneliggers. A week ago there were only two cyclists (me and Marjon) but today that number would double. We were accompanied by Georg and Anton. We had agreed to meet at 11 AM near the little church in Noorddijk (to the upper right of Groningen). But before I got there something went wrong. I just left home about 5 minutes ago when a group of cyclist were coming my way on the cycle path next to the Van Starkenborghkanaal (which is not unusual on a Sunday morning). Just...

May

24

ROAM t-shirts and more

Submitted by XL-Network on Tue, 2011-05-24 20:47

I'll start with the t-shirts... they have arrived. I've ordered some 26 t-shirts for the Dutch delegation of 9 people who are going to America to cycle 5000 kilometers. It all arrived in one big box. Below you can see what a big pile it is and how the front and back look. On the back you can see a image of the route we are taking and which cities we'll be visiting.

May

20

Anticipate and keep going

Submitted by XL-Network on Fri, 2011-05-20 23:08

Another set of movies. In the first you can see a situation where I'm not very visible because of the bush on the left. I anticipate this and always expect a car to pull out of the side street or the main road. The second movie is less shocking, but it happens to me quite a lot. I don't have the right of way, but still receive it. Because I cannot see if the other person has seen me (especially car drivers) I stop. Resulting in... both of us standing still.

May

19

Dude!

Submitted by XL-Network on Thu, 2011-05-19 08:23

... use your indicators! That makes the situation a whole lot clearer for everyone. At first I thought he was going to pull over at the bus stop and I could overtake him. But suddenly he turns left without signaling.

May

14

Pre-ROAM check-up and almost run over

Submitted by XL-Network on Sat, 2011-05-14 22:42

This morning I took my velomobile to the Ligfietsgarage Groningen for a pre-ROAM check-up. Because America has some mountains (like the Rocky's) it seemed a good idea to put in a smaller gear in the middle of the bike. Also, a number of components were checked, lubricated and replaced. The rear chain for instance has been replaced. That being said, it lasted for some 10.686 kilometers. Also the steering block has been replaced because it had a little to much play when I'm speeding down the mountain with 70+ km/h. The last part they have replaced was the bell.

May

13

No parking please

Submitted by XL-Network on Fri, 2011-05-13 00:35

You can stop your car on all sorts of places... for instance on the cycle path.

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