Well, it's been about three years now since I first began biking, so I celebrated that fact a bit by getting a new pair of bibs and a jersey to make a Louis Garneau kit. After recovering all last week to a pulled tricep in my right arm, this morning, found me fortunate enough to get the offer of child care, so I dropped off the kids then headed out. I was cruising right along, making certain to stop with a foot down at a stop sign I know through blogs and groups that the police are handed out $100 tickets to cyclist for coasting through (or not even slowing).
Continuing on, I noted that I'd been maintaining about 17mph or better average along the way. For some stupid reason, I decided to really push myself and do a bit of a sprint. Yeah, that's where my trouble began. I pulled over at a country driveway to drink and cool back down, but it wasn't happening very fast. I took my inhaler (gotta love cycling with asthma), but things just kept worsening as I tried to add water reasonably. Then I started feeling faint, so I thought the better part of valor might be to scoot up to the patch of grass and sit down (lay down, if necessary) until I was feeling less shaky. Barely coming to a stop, I fell like the proverbial sack of potatoes. Getting back up, like any cyclist, I checked my bike and my brand new kit to make sure everything was okay then did a cursory check of me...still dizzy but upright with some bumps.
I'd planned to take the newly tuned-up bike and my new gear on a nice long ride, but I was barely over nine miles out. With my head swimming, I called my wife. I don't know what I expected her to be able to do beyond talk me out of trying to go on and go home instead. I knew that's what I should do, but I think my ego needed to be told that someone would be too worried to have me try to go on.
Feeling completely stupid, I turned around and headed home at a much slower pace, taking my time and begin very aware of my body lest I get dizzy again and fall into traffic. I have to say, basically passing out off the bike is far worse as far as embarrassing than the failure to clip. On the bright side, I fell in grass this time instead of asphalt, so I'm more bruised and dinged. And being in true cyclist mode this summer, the wounds I did get on my leg were easier to clean up.
In retrospect, I realize that I probably wasn't prepared for being out in 70+ temperatures. For those temps, I should've hydrated a bit before getting on the bike. Plus, while my legs were doing great maintaining higher speeds, the rest of me wasn't at the point and that temperature, so I need to balance things better and probably get out on the bike sooner while it's still cool(er), especially since I feel like I missed some of the natural transition of going from spring to summer temperatures.
On the bright side, I did have several cyclists who passed me double check to see if I was okay. I lied and said I was, but it's nice to know that if I hadn't gotten right back up, someone would've checked my unconscious form by the road. Now off to tend to the bruises on my body (I found more after getting home) and ego....
Tuesday, June 17, 2014
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
June 2, 2014
This has been a challenging year for cycling; between epic flooding followed by arctic blasts and snow then long bouts of illness, I just didn't get out as much as I'd have have hoped. Starting now, though, I'm trying. This last Saturday did include a 36-mile ride, which was refreshing, though it admittedly left me pretty sore after having not been out for about five weeks.
The previous ride included my tire (not just my tube) blowing out, so I've had to get new tires. At the suggestion of a colleague who's a devout cyclist, I put on 25m Vittoria's (up from 23m). They have just a little bit of tread and extra material, which makes a surprising amount of difference, especially when cornering...the tread doesn't actually touch the pavement much except when cornering. They're also Kevlar, so I'm hoping they hold up a lot better in the fall against slashes and the dreaded and demonic goat heads!
On top of all of it, though, we've inherited a trailing bike for the oldest, which I attached to the hybrid last night to take out for the first time:
Honestly, I was a bit terrified at the thought of keeping us both upright, but we did well with only a little wobbling. She, however, freaked out at first. I didn't account for the fact that she's used to going around with training wheels and not having to maintain speed, so there she was, holding on while I was going 5 mph to keep us upright. After the tears, we were fortunate enough to have a neighbor out with his dog, so he paced us as I got going again, and he was able to add enough distraction that we made it to the corner. Soon, she was going like an old trooper. In fact, I was coasting down a hill when she called, "Daddy, you're not pedaling!" When I told her I was just letting us roll, she said, "We'll, I'm pedaling!" No wonder I was accelerating despite the feathering of my brakes! And, along with everything else, I noticed that one of the back brake pads is past the wear mark, so I get to learn how to replace bike pads now!
The previous ride included my tire (not just my tube) blowing out, so I've had to get new tires. At the suggestion of a colleague who's a devout cyclist, I put on 25m Vittoria's (up from 23m). They have just a little bit of tread and extra material, which makes a surprising amount of difference, especially when cornering...the tread doesn't actually touch the pavement much except when cornering. They're also Kevlar, so I'm hoping they hold up a lot better in the fall against slashes and the dreaded and demonic goat heads!
On top of all of it, though, we've inherited a trailing bike for the oldest, which I attached to the hybrid last night to take out for the first time:
Honestly, I was a bit terrified at the thought of keeping us both upright, but we did well with only a little wobbling. She, however, freaked out at first. I didn't account for the fact that she's used to going around with training wheels and not having to maintain speed, so there she was, holding on while I was going 5 mph to keep us upright. After the tears, we were fortunate enough to have a neighbor out with his dog, so he paced us as I got going again, and he was able to add enough distraction that we made it to the corner. Soon, she was going like an old trooper. In fact, I was coasting down a hill when she called, "Daddy, you're not pedaling!" When I told her I was just letting us roll, she said, "We'll, I'm pedaling!" No wonder I was accelerating despite the feathering of my brakes! And, along with everything else, I noticed that one of the back brake pads is past the wear mark, so I get to learn how to replace bike pads now!
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
September 15, 2013--weathering the Colorado Flooding of 2013
It's amazing how quickly things can change! Last weekend, I went on the longest and most rewarding ride I'd ever made, going up to Hwy 36 then down into Lyons to do the "Fruit Loops." I wish I'd stopped to take pictures because now the "Fruit Loops" are under water, the road I used to get there is destroyed, and the town I went to--the first time getting to another city--has been evacuated. So many people have been left wondering what to do next, it's just devastating to think about as we watch the news each night and see the images of the houses and cars under water. A week ago, everything was fine and carrying on as usual when I stopped in Lyons to refill my water bottle. The rain started that evening. It was refreshing. Then it continued. And continued. It wasn't anything that seemed that unusual until schools and county offices were closed on Thursday due to rising waters. It was just rain! Then the fullness of the problems revealed themselves as roads began to get closed.
Now, the water is receding and revealing the level of devastation. Homes lost and badly damaged, bridges over rivers out, businesses damaged. It's truly a mess. To the focus of my blog, a city engineer has stated what I feared: the St. Vrain Greenway is a loss. It's very sad to see the chunks of 20 to 50 feet of sidewalk that just stop and bridges that lead to no where. One area had such devastation that the paved path is hanging out over the rushing river and the bridge is half-gone. Having to rebuild bridges and roads is obviously and necessarily first priority, but at this level of damage, it makes it uncertain when the greenway will be addressed for repair since it's not so much fixing it as much as it is completely rebuilding the entire system. I feel selfish that it's one of my concerns, but it's something I (and my family) have grown to look forward to! Of course, just over two years ago, I didn't even know that path was there, but now it's just one more thing the flood destroyed in our town. The St. Vrain Greenway was described as the jewel of Longmont's recreational paths, and now it's not there. The irony is that the thing that made it so beautiful is why it's gone: the St. Vrain River that it followed! Now I have to figure out a new way to take the family for our weekend ride as we bemoan the last time we went being the last time we went. At least for now. They're calling it a 500-year-event (so, what, .5% chance of it happening?). I could've lived without ever having to live through it! I was a baby when the Big Thompson flooded in 1976, and now I've seen it do it again and a whole lot more.
For the road cycling, much of my routes were also damaged and/or are closed, so I need to figure out how to get a good ride in still...I've come too far to give up on it now. I've come to love cycling so much that it's hard to imagine not doing it anymore. But it's going to be a challenge. But beyond the flood, I continue to struggle with a sinus infection, so that'll be my excuse for not right now so that there is still hope to get back out next weekend....
On the bright side, I've lost about five pounds in the last month. Between being back to work and the activity it brings, getting a couple nice long rides in, and watching my caloric intake, I've managed to get back on the right path. I was down to 171 two years ago but then put back on a few pounds last year, so now it's time to surpass that and keep it that way (though my wife would say to shut up and move on since it was never more than 8 pounds that I re-gained)!
For the road cycling, much of my routes were also damaged and/or are closed, so I need to figure out how to get a good ride in still...I've come too far to give up on it now. I've come to love cycling so much that it's hard to imagine not doing it anymore. But it's going to be a challenge. But beyond the flood, I continue to struggle with a sinus infection, so that'll be my excuse for not right now so that there is still hope to get back out next weekend....
On the bright side, I've lost about five pounds in the last month. Between being back to work and the activity it brings, getting a couple nice long rides in, and watching my caloric intake, I've managed to get back on the right path. I was down to 171 two years ago but then put back on a few pounds last year, so now it's time to surpass that and keep it that way (though my wife would say to shut up and move on since it was never more than 8 pounds that I re-gained)!
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
September 4, 2013--To Group or Not to Group?
I've been faced with growing a bit bored with my usual routes. I wouldn't have thought that would happen, but it starts feeling like I'm not being challenged always doing the same way. Plus, with part of it on the greenway, I get tired of always having to announce myself to pedestrians. I've looked a lot at mapmyride.com to find rides nearby that others have created, but it's a lot to sort through, plus many of them are basically variants on going to Carter Lake, which doesn't appeal to me for it's lack of shoulder and tight curves.
I've joined a couple MeetUps that do group rides in the area, but I've mostly been lurking. One seems to spend most of its time on the path, which doesn't have as much appeal, and the other is road bikes, which has more appeal but comes with it fear I might not be able to keep up, especially since they've passed me before! Fortunately, one of my colleagues is a member of that group (The St. Vrain Chain Gang), and he encouraged me to join, especially since their ride this last weekend was one that I was curious about: what's known as the Fruit Loops in Lyons. Life conspired against me, though, with a little one that was sick and kept us up on Satirday night, so I overslept on Sunday. I was a bit nervous about it, though, so probably about any excuse not to go, I suppose. I worry that I'm not fast enough and that I'm not familiar with group etiquette...plus bike riding is partly about being out by myself. I've still got to decide, but it won't be this weekend since they're heading up to Carter Lake! Oh well...I like to drive a new route once before biking it so I can get an idea of traffic and shoulders, so I've driven the route the group took on Sunday, so I'm ready to go. I do need to make myself go out since it's getting harder to get all rides in with the return to work. My plans for rides over the long weekend became none when it was all said and done, though.
On the bright side, I did bike to and from work today, adding a few extra miles on the way home to get me to a bit over 21 miles for the day...not too bad for the middle of the week! Now to just get in a couple more rides this weekend. And decide about doing a darn group ride...
I've joined a couple MeetUps that do group rides in the area, but I've mostly been lurking. One seems to spend most of its time on the path, which doesn't have as much appeal, and the other is road bikes, which has more appeal but comes with it fear I might not be able to keep up, especially since they've passed me before! Fortunately, one of my colleagues is a member of that group (The St. Vrain Chain Gang), and he encouraged me to join, especially since their ride this last weekend was one that I was curious about: what's known as the Fruit Loops in Lyons. Life conspired against me, though, with a little one that was sick and kept us up on Satirday night, so I overslept on Sunday. I was a bit nervous about it, though, so probably about any excuse not to go, I suppose. I worry that I'm not fast enough and that I'm not familiar with group etiquette...plus bike riding is partly about being out by myself. I've still got to decide, but it won't be this weekend since they're heading up to Carter Lake! Oh well...I like to drive a new route once before biking it so I can get an idea of traffic and shoulders, so I've driven the route the group took on Sunday, so I'm ready to go. I do need to make myself go out since it's getting harder to get all rides in with the return to work. My plans for rides over the long weekend became none when it was all said and done, though.
On the bright side, I did bike to and from work today, adding a few extra miles on the way home to get me to a bit over 21 miles for the day...not too bad for the middle of the week! Now to just get in a couple more rides this weekend. And decide about doing a darn group ride...
Monday, July 22, 2013
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!).
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!
 |
| My elbow wounds.... |
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!
Sunday, June 30, 2013
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....
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....
Friday, June 14, 2013
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 :)
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 :)
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