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06-30-01, 11:08 PM
When I awoke this morning, the most important thing in the world for me was to put 62 more miles on my bike. You see, I have put 318 miles on my Sagres and 620 on my Roubaix, so 62 miles would put me at 1000 since I started riding on the 1st of April. Maybe not a big deal for some, but it was kind of a milestone for me, and I wanted to do it. As I laid in bed last night, I was mentally composing this post to share this event with all my friends on Bike Forums who have been so great at cheering me on.
I got up, and headed off to my LBS, Cycle Sports, which is 95 miles away. When I got there, Patty, the owner, helped me overhaul my bike. We tore it down to the frame, and cleaned and repacked all the bearings, and reassembled it. Patty replaced the chain, and adjusted everything that could be adjusted. While I was fooling around there was this 14 year old boy who was hanging around the shop, and occasionally ran erands for Patty. There was a ride planned for the day, 50 miles, and I had checked out the route, and I knew that there was a place where I could double back for a ways, and then continue on the route, and end up with my 62 miles. While we were talking about the ride, I told Patty about my plans, and I told her that I was going to start early since I had a little extra riding I wanted to do. The boy, who is quite overweight (and reminded me of me when I was his age!) overheard my plans, and asked if he could ride with me. As almost all of my riding is done solo, I welcomed the opportunity to have some company. As it was noon, I told the boy that I was going to eat lunch, and we would take off right after that.
When I got back to the LBS, sure enough, there was the boy, all ready to go. We took off, and he did real well at first. As we left North Platte, there was a stiff wind blowing right in our face, and our first obstacle was a long hill. The boy made it up the hill, but I knew this was going to be a long day! We rode for 6 miles, and he said that he had to stop. So, we stopped and rested, then took off again. My Roubaix doesn't have a grannie gear, so I have learned to get a good cadence going, and charge up the hills. Unfortunately, the boys bike has the lower gears, and he used them to help him work the hills. He was going up the hills at a much slower pace than I can manage, so I would ride ahead of him for half a mile or so, then go back and ride with him for a while. About every 6 or 7 miles, he would have to stop again.
I noticed that when he went down hills, he just stopped pedalling and coasted. I explained to him that it was actually better for him to keep his legs moving (I read that somewhere!) so his legs would be ready for the next uphill section. I told him to just grab the biggest gear he had, and keep spinning. I tried to make sure that I was always with him at the tops of the hills so I could encourage him to keep spinning.
He did pretty well, but finally when a support vehicle pulled up, he took the chance to ride in it the rest of the trip. I continued riding for another hour, but it was getting late, and I also took a ride to the ending point of the ride (that's where the cold beer was!) with only a litte over 40 miles on the bike.
Later, Patty told me that the boy had started hanging around the bike shop a while back. She said that since he had started riding, his grades had went from F's to B's and C's, and at first he was talking about quitting school, but now he is planning on finishing High School, and maybe even going on to college.
Somehow, my initial goal for the day seemed pretty insignificant when compared with the chance to maybe help a kid along lifes way on two wheels.
Turned out to be a pretty good day after all, and heck, I will get the miles in next week!
I got up, and headed off to my LBS, Cycle Sports, which is 95 miles away. When I got there, Patty, the owner, helped me overhaul my bike. We tore it down to the frame, and cleaned and repacked all the bearings, and reassembled it. Patty replaced the chain, and adjusted everything that could be adjusted. While I was fooling around there was this 14 year old boy who was hanging around the shop, and occasionally ran erands for Patty. There was a ride planned for the day, 50 miles, and I had checked out the route, and I knew that there was a place where I could double back for a ways, and then continue on the route, and end up with my 62 miles. While we were talking about the ride, I told Patty about my plans, and I told her that I was going to start early since I had a little extra riding I wanted to do. The boy, who is quite overweight (and reminded me of me when I was his age!) overheard my plans, and asked if he could ride with me. As almost all of my riding is done solo, I welcomed the opportunity to have some company. As it was noon, I told the boy that I was going to eat lunch, and we would take off right after that.
When I got back to the LBS, sure enough, there was the boy, all ready to go. We took off, and he did real well at first. As we left North Platte, there was a stiff wind blowing right in our face, and our first obstacle was a long hill. The boy made it up the hill, but I knew this was going to be a long day! We rode for 6 miles, and he said that he had to stop. So, we stopped and rested, then took off again. My Roubaix doesn't have a grannie gear, so I have learned to get a good cadence going, and charge up the hills. Unfortunately, the boys bike has the lower gears, and he used them to help him work the hills. He was going up the hills at a much slower pace than I can manage, so I would ride ahead of him for half a mile or so, then go back and ride with him for a while. About every 6 or 7 miles, he would have to stop again.
I noticed that when he went down hills, he just stopped pedalling and coasted. I explained to him that it was actually better for him to keep his legs moving (I read that somewhere!) so his legs would be ready for the next uphill section. I told him to just grab the biggest gear he had, and keep spinning. I tried to make sure that I was always with him at the tops of the hills so I could encourage him to keep spinning.
He did pretty well, but finally when a support vehicle pulled up, he took the chance to ride in it the rest of the trip. I continued riding for another hour, but it was getting late, and I also took a ride to the ending point of the ride (that's where the cold beer was!) with only a litte over 40 miles on the bike.
Later, Patty told me that the boy had started hanging around the bike shop a while back. She said that since he had started riding, his grades had went from F's to B's and C's, and at first he was talking about quitting school, but now he is planning on finishing High School, and maybe even going on to college.
Somehow, my initial goal for the day seemed pretty insignificant when compared with the chance to maybe help a kid along lifes way on two wheels.
Turned out to be a pretty good day after all, and heck, I will get the miles in next week!