Dick Frantzreb	Archive

How long have you been biking?

I obviously rode as a kid, but as an adult I only started riding again 12 years ago. I had my own business at the time and initially it was a way to get some exercise and to lose some weight. But I also just enjoy riding. It is a good way to explore the neighborhoods. It’s easier to find my way around and it helps me find short cuts when I travel by car, too. Riding is just pure fun!

Now that I am retired I don’t see myself stopping. While I was running my own business I had a flexible schedule, but sometimes work was just too busy so I didn’t get a chance to ride much. Nowadays I get on my bike very frequently.

What kind of riding do you do?

Mostly recreational riding. I usually go out about 3 times a week for 50min to an hour and try to ride hard enough that I get a little bit out of breath. I don’t use a heart rate monitor. But I do keep a log of every ride I do. I record the route, the time of day I rode, the temperature, my weight and how much sleep I got. I also log if I had any problems such as numbness anywhere, a particularly hilly route or if it was extremely windy. I do all this to see what works and what doesn’t for my physical development. Oh, and I also keep track of when I checked the tire pressure and lubricated my chain. I use a self-made form on a large sheet of paper and I can go back to every single ride I did in the past twelve years.

What kind of bike do you ride?

I use a mountain bike with fat tires. I feel more secure on it than with the skinny road bikes. And in terms of workouts it really doesn’t matter if I cover 15 or 25 miles as long as I spent the same amount of energy.

You are currently taking a bike safety class through the League of American Bicyclists. Has this been helpful?

Yes, it has been very helpful. I am more alert and more thoughtful when I am out on the road. I am planning maneuvers, such as left turns, more carefully now and I hope in general I will develop some new habits. I do take the lane more often when it is necessary for my own safety. Despite riding with a mirror I also scan (i.e. looking back to check for traffic from behind) more often which is a great way of signaling intentions to motorists and is an additional means of communicating with the surrounding traffic.

Tell me about some of the challenges when riding in Roseville?

I have noticed an increase in traffic in the last few years, so it’s harder to make left turns on those wide, multi-lane boulevards. I also think it’s hard to find a good cross-town route. Roads like Cirby or Douglas are challenging. It’s especially hard to cross I-80. The Atlantic-Eureka overpass is tricky.

Despite having learned in the class how to trigger lights, I still have some problems at various intersections. Sometimes the loop seems to be hidden under the left-turn arrows. I am also noticing some overgrowth on a few bike paths. And the street sweeping should be done more often. Some trails have broken glass on them.

I also noticed that the bike map is a few years old. If it’s too long in between updates it would be nice to at least have a list of the newly added trails, maybe on the City’s web site.

What are your favorite rides?

I really enjoy the off-road trails such as the Miner’s Ravine bike path. I can’t wait until it connects to Royer Park. I also like to take Douglas out to Folsom Lake. And I recently discovered Mariposa in Citrus Heights. It’s a residential area that doesn’t carry much traffic.

But more than a particular route I actually enjoy a good ride: discovering new streets and trails that I hadn’t been on before. And seeing the wild life. Birds flying by, a flock of geese or wild turkey.

How did you hear about BikingRoseville and is it useful to you?

I read an article in the Roseville Press-Tribune about a year ago. Since I’m comfortable with the Internet, it was easy for me to find the Yahoo group.

I think the group is a great idea. Personally I haven’t picked up too many things, though. Most of it I either knew or it didn’t apply. A lot of the discussions were around West Roseville, where I rarely ride.

And last but not least an off-topic question: Tomorrow Lance Armstrong will be running his first-ever marathon. What are your thoughts on that?

I think it’s great! I am a fan of Lance Armstrong and I think it’s wonderful that he stepped aside and made room for the up and coming talents of the sport. I also admire any athlete that can switch sports.