July 22, 2013

It has been just over two years since I first started cycling, and here I am on a road bike looking back at that first comfort bike with its clunky shifters and heavy drag (exactly where I needed to start!).  In a lot of ways, I feel much healthier than I have in my life to this point...at least, not since the miles of walking around campus when in college!  Even still, to think that I'm technically an athlete is just weird, and sometimes I find it hard to actually call myself a cyclist because it was always a "them" thing.  I'm far more aware of bicycles on the road, which is a far cry from the person who wondered why the idiot went out in the rain (well, the weather was nicer and clear when s/he left two hours before!).

My elbow wounds....

So, to celebrate making it two years, almost exactly two years to the day of my first crash, and fricking fell off my bike with a failure to unclip.  That's not even close to the seriousness of the first fall, which was a failure to balance with only one hand on the handlebars after a five-mile ride while going about thirteen miles an hour.  This one came toward the end of a thirty-mile ride having gotten up to 40 miles per hour coming down a hill.  I think my legs were a bit tired, and I was in a hurry.  There's driveway toward a lake I sometimes stop at to take a moment of rest, and as I pulled into it, I
coasted in and failed to unclip my shoe.  More embarrassing than anything, I basically just tipped right over on the asphalt.  As soon as I righted myself, my first thought was to my bike (the break hood got a bit scuffed, but the derailleur and gears were fine and no scratches to the frame) and my expensive shorts (no holes or snags!), then finally the gushing wounds on my knee and elbow.  These were nothing to the wounds of a few years ago, but they stung as I cleaned them up to get on and finish going home (one brake hood had shifted inward, but I was able to adjust it back out).  The worst part was that I was calling my wife to see how I was doing on time: did I have time before our swim to get a few more miles in or should I head home?  Of course, after that, I headed home and even went swimming with giant waterproof bandages.

I went back out yesterday and got fifty miles in, and I was very aware of the pedal to make sure I unclipped correctly!  I can't believe I did that...I've come close before, but that was just too much!  I did lower the tension a bit in the right pedal so it'll unclip a bit easier...I did stop at the same driveway without incident.  Though I did find myself looking at the ground as if I'd see ripped off pieces of my flesh or drops of blood!  Heck of an anniversary observation, though...next year I'll just send myself flowers instead of the sympathy flowers my wife brought me after I got home!

June 29, 2013

   First, mapmyride.com is an awesome tool!  I'm using is extensively not only to get estimates of my miles and calories burned but also track my intake of food...excellent, especially since I'm only doing their free version, which also works on my iPad (with a few bugs).
   So, with heading into the final stretch of being two years since I began cycling, I ended this week with three rides but reaching 111 miles with two rides between 44 and 45 miles each!  I'm still spending a little time on the paths, but the bulk of my rides are on the roads now.  Which is how I almost got hit by a car yesterday within my first five miles!
   The light had turned red as I was heading west, so I stopped like a good cyclist should, and of course a car came up next to me.  When the light changed green, I clipped in and began forward.  No surprise, I don't accelerate as fast as the car, and a woman who's going east and turning left pulls out and clearly is paying no attention to me on my bright white bike with my bright white cuffs on my shorts and my bright white helmet...I'd become invisible!  When she finally glanced at me (did she see me yet?), I was swerving not to be hit by her.  But the worst: even as she seemed to finally look at me she didn't slow down!  Two weeks greener on the bike, and I would've probably gone down in my attempt to avoid her...  On a bike, all you have is your voice, and I found myself spewing a few epithets at her as I was pretty shaken up.  Literally as I was shaking.  It was all I could do to throw in the towel and call it good, especially when the ride before that seems to be the one I finally overdid and learned that just because I can does not mean I should.
   The previous long ride on Wednesday saw me getting out on the bike as it the temperatures were climbing (it was already 72 at 7am).  Instead of getting right to the hills, I wanted to make sure I got the distance and so started on the paths, which put me facing the hills about 30 minutes and ten minutes more than if I'd just gone straight there.  So I tackled the hills, but the problem is that I find if there's another cyclist ahead or behind me, I feel inclined to stay caught up or not be passed, so I push myself.  And I did it fine.  I was wearing out, but I was holding my own okay, huffing up the hills.  The being able to actually grab my water bottle without stopping is great to keep going (bad for not getting breaks).  As I finally reach the top of the last major hill, I reward myself by pulling over and getting a drink.  Then almost passing out!  I was dizzy and the world was fading to a tunnel!  I was that cyclist with their head down over their handlebars as I prayed that the world would stop spinning and I'd stay upright.  To their credit, several others asked me if I was okay.  I wasn't, but I laughed and said the hill kicked my butt.  Truthfully, if it hadn't been only gravel on the shoulder in an area known for snakes, I'd have lain down!  As it was, if I couldn't lift my head without wanting to vomit soon, I was going to call for a ride because the last thing I wanted was to get on only to pass out and crash.  But finally, I got enough water in me and cooled down enough to continue.  And I continued for another 20 miles, but I did run out of water in both bottles before I completely got home.  I took the next two days to recover, and when I did head out, except for nearly being hit by a car, I was super cautious about not going too hard and drinking enough.
   And yesterday's ride was also my first time going out despite a bike event...the MS150, which is an awesome cause as a fundraiser.  They cross through the west side of town, and I was worried about getting waylaid by the herds of rides.  My wife assured me that it wouldn't be a problem because they'd be spread out enough.  We were both right.  Going, I did have to wait for a few to pass before I crossed the road they were heading north on as I headed west, but they were well-spread out.  Coming back, though, I went in to head south and saw a long stretch of them and had a hard time turning off the road at the intersection because they were so bunched and so constant, plus the traffic cop seemed to have forgotten to look behind him to see cars and other cyclists waiting.  I did feel a little conspicuous as I was heading home after a long recreational, only-for-me ride while there were all these other people who were doing a ride to celebrate their collection of donations and to bring awareness to people suffering MS...made me feel a bit like a loser.  I was passed by several others out on their roadie rides, though, and they were more conspicuous, plus rude in that not a single one of them announced himself as he passed me!  I wonder when common courtesy fades as you move from being a road cyclist to a roadie?  I don't intend to find out....

June 14, 2013

   I remember last summer when I thought it was hardly worth going out if I didn't get at least twenty miles.  It was my second summer cycling, but I don't know if it was sincerely the case or if I was just making up an excuse for not going out.  I have been struggling to get out five times a week (I have to get up by no later than 5:45am to be on the bike at no later than 6:10 to be back by no later than 7:10 so my wife can head to work), but I'm doing better this year with the idea that any mileage is good mileage during the week, so about 11.5 miles a day on average has been good with the weekend being whatever I can get in.
   Along with a new outlook, I've gone back to some old routes, specifically going out onto the country road that connects to my subdivision.  It was not quite two years ago when I started going that way with my Walmart special, but I avoided it last year except to see how the hybrid handled the same route the other bike.  But I've gone back to it, and I realize now that it's actually a great route because it's a perfectly straight road with some  hills and very little traffic (which is good, because it's also got very little shoulder).  What just dawned on me this morning while on the ride, though, is it's not just a quick seven miles (round trip), but it also give me a chance to practice things like going down on the drops and pulling the water bottle without stopping--with little traffic, it doesn't matter if I swerve a little bit in trying these new mundane activities.  Of course, the other side of it reinforces the idea that I am having to learn the road bike!  And that plays into going out daily, too, I guess, because it's practicing those things so I can do it smoothly.  I know that it's a matter of learning how the center of gravity and shifting of balances work, which is what creates the learning curve I'm experiencing.
   I also switched my bike saddle...I'd bought a new one for my hybrid because the stock seat I'd put back onto it was like riding around on a giant cushion.  I've realized, though, that it's a bit sleeker, a bit firmer than the one I've been using, so I ended up switching them out, so the slightly larger and more cushioned saddle is back on the hybrid.  I'm imagining that by Christmas, I'll be ready for something sleeker, but I also want to keep a saddle with the anatomical cut-out...numbness and pain and other more serious issues don't sound appealing, and if that saddle has the best chance of avoiding these problems, then it's worth it!  Unfortunately, the more I get into it, the more expensive the items I want and need...right now, though, this saddle is working and isn't so thick-looking.  It does declare itself a Nishiki, but that's fine.
    So, here's hoping for some nice long rides this weekend!  Happy riding :)

June 9, 2013

Upon my return after 45 miles!

   I finally broke 40 miles again and then some by a bit!  I actually made it basically to 45, which was quite an undertaking!  I began with breaking the pin inside my Presta valve!  Thankfully, it stayed in place and held air through the ride.  I've discvered the wonders of using MapMyRide.com to track my mileage and calories.  I've enjoyed using the mapping tool, so I planned the ride ahead of time to make sure I had something that was about 40 miles.  It and my cyclocomputer are usually within .5 - 1 mile of each other, so I figure that's pretty good.  I know the cyclocomputer can be affected by how I corner and any side stops I make versus the online tool, that's using stalite imagery and average mileage input.
   So, once I decided to try the ride, I started out the ride with my old ride out into the country and back then out to the greenway as I made my way to the highway.  The road I take up to the Foothills Highway is definitely hilly.  It's amazing what a hill looks like compared to a bike, and by the time I got there, I'd already truly gone 20 miles, so it kicked my butt to get up some of those hills, but no snakes or flats this time, so that was a bonus!
   I did get passed a few times on the climb up then on the ride back down.  I'd say only about 50% of people announce themselves as they come up on you, which I find surprising and rude.  On the greenway, people mostly do, but it's so much more dangerous out on the road going much faster in much more dangerous conditions with cars and cliffs...
   The only other downside is that I forgot my protein bar, so I was pretty much starving by the time I got home.  I need to make sure that a bar begins being part of my regular equipment when I leave.  I've also gotten very good at changing the tubes on the bikes.  Unfortunately.
   Now if the scale would start reflecting all my hard work....

May 24, 2013

I still can hardly believe that I'm officially riding a road bike!  I biked in to work today, though my timing was a bit off as far as getting in to work, but it was a great morning. Then leaving work, I rode the long way and got in about twenty more miles, getting in about 31 miles for the day!  It did kick my butt, and I did et past by a couple people.  It still freaks the hell out of me to go over 30 mph, but I also love it--the promise of that speed is what keeps me going up those endless hills!

One of the more interesting things I've noticed is that I get waves and nods now that I didn't get as often on the hybrid.  Of course, I can only nod back since I'm still not taking my hands off he handlebars much yet...I still have to stop to drink water!  My goal is to eventually be able to move my hands on to the drops now that I can shift my hands a little more easily on top.  Maybe in the next couple weeks?  I know my crash on the first bike is keeping e more cautious, but I rather be cautious than broken because I did something before I was ready...

May 12, 2013

We left from home for the very first time as a family...it was a big deal for my wife to go that far: just over 18 miles!  Of course, one of the last stretches of the way home is a hill...I think we've concluded that we're uphill from about everywhere.  It was unavoidable, though it could've been mitigated better.  I thought there was something wrong with my bike as I'd shifted all the way to 1 and was about to switch to the granny-gear, but it does occur to me after that it was probably gravity working on the 80 pounds I was dragging!  It was a good thing that, among other things, we had stopped for a picnic!

I've had the road bike for a couple months now, but I've pretty much kept to my usual routes on the paths.  In fact, we did our first long family ride yesterday, taking the hybrid and attaching the kids in the trailer to go to the local farmer's market via the trails.  However, the city is using the greenway trails for an event (CycloFemme), so it behooved me to get out of my comfort zone and go a new route that was completely road.  I'd even driven the chosen route on Thursday after work, thinking it wasn't too bad (a few hills, but manageable .

Despite its being Mother's Day, I set out early (maybe because of the day?) and headed toward the new trail that would take me on a road out of town to meet up with a highway that runs along the foothills.  Really, logic wasn't on my side or I would've thought about how UP that would all have to be.  I'm pretty sure it was mostly climbing for five plus miles in there, so I was pretty warn out in a new way when I finally reached the highway, which still left me just under twenty miles to get home!

But when I finally got to go down...well, I remember when it was a big deal when I was reaching twenty, but I didn't even check until after to know that I hit about 33mph heading down toward Lyons!  I admit, it was terrifying and totally fun all at once as I made my way down all that altitude I'd gained.  There were a few more hills on the way home on Highway 66, but I made it.  And now I'm sore in ways that I haven't been in some time; plus, I'm exhausted.  Oh well, now I've done it and now know that I can!  It was only about 30 miles as opposed to the 40 I've been aiming for, but those 30 were much harder fought than 40 tootling around on greenway trails....

March 31, 2013

   Despite the holiday (Easter), I went out on the bike after a bit of a hiccup...gotta love washing machines that decide to leak and have to be replaced!  But after getting back from Lowes, we had lunch, then I donned my gear (70F, so shorts and short-sleeve jersey!) and headed out onto the trails on the new road bike.
    It's amazing how much easier it is to get up to higher speeds with the road bike, to the point that down is still somewhat intimidating!  I felt more natural on it this time as I made it through town in a lot less time than it usually takes, and did I mention that it was 70F?  WOW!  I did mess up at a tricky intersection (not very busy, so it sometimes doesn't change) as I dropped my water bottle as the light changed and had to wait until more cars came along to trigger it, and then another cyclist came up behind me.  As I took off from the light, I was keenly aware of two things: there was someone behind me who was probably either pacing me or passing me; and I couldn't see them or the cars at all as I'm still not confident enough in the new posture to look over my should on the new bike.  I kept up at about 18-20 mph until I reached the trail head and pulled over, only to see that another cyclist than the one I remembered was behind me and the other one was way behind.  Nice!
     I did two laps of the greenway path, then I headed back onto the busy road, a bit tired and sore: my neck and hands were definitely feeling it!  I have found that going up the hills is far easier than it was on the heavier hybrid bike, though I'm still not quite there with standing on this bike to climb.  Toward the end of the ride, though, is a hill that I have to also turn left while going down, and I was again keenly aware of no mirror and jerked the handlebars in a way that scared me as I looked over my shoulder (or tried to).  So, upon further reflection on the desire to not meet a car on the road, I moved the mirror from the hybrid to the road bike and look forward to seeing how it works.
     In the meantime, I made it home from Easter dinner.  So I made 32 miles on the bike...and the perma-sleeves, gloves, and shorts that had been fading with the winter months out of the sun?  Well, I unfortunately reinforced them all with a bit of a sunburn...I will definitely be doing better about putting on sunblock in the future....