My story started about a year ago as I was nearing the end of a fairly dysfunctional relationship. Lazy and unmotivated, I had poor eating habits, no energy, and nearly no activity. Through some kind of fluke, or perhaps through providence if you’re the religious type, my relationship was severed and a moment of clarity and realization struck through. Mixed feelings of oddity come over me when I reflect on the rut that I had been in during the few years prior to the breakup.
Unaware of what came over me, I had started taking walks during the evenings after work to relieve stress. This eventually progressed into morning jogs that lasted about 8 months until I injured my ankle from running on the pavement. Having lost 40 pounds, I was determined to continue to improve my level of health. Having adopted a new diet (Read: homemade food, no soda or fast food), I was armed with extra energy and the newfound pool of energy that was continuous, unlike the runners’ high that I had become some vehemently addicted to.
I’m sure all novice cyclists who start seeing results have a boost in confidence and energy that manifests into positive aspects of an improved life. For me, the running had helped to provide increased levels of confidence, the knowledge that I could accomplish any goal that I set my sights on, and the realization that I should continue my education. It was my goal to match this heightened physical activity with challenges for the mind. After starting grad school, I took the initiative to join a swimming class with the goals of bettering my cardiovascular system in a way that’s much friendlier on the joints than running.
Flash-forward 6 months later and I’m, now, writing my first blog on BikeForums. I have always daydreamed about doing some form of trail-biking through the forest. Taking jumps and flying through the clean, fresh wilderness has always been something I’ve found quite appealing. After having done months of research on bikes, I have finally chosen that perfect entry level bike to get me into the sport. My goal was to find something reasonably quick yet durable enough to deal with the rigors of urban riding. I finally settled on a Bianchi Volpe, a cyclocross bike that can easily accommodate a variety of wheel/tire combinations.
In the coming months, my fairly modest goals will be to develop the strength and endurance to quickly power through 50 miles of hill climbs. Once that is done, I hope to have enough knowledge to build/maintain any bike; have met a number of cool people on BF; and have a good idea of whether I’d prefer to compete in a road or cyclocross competition.
I am just ecstatic at the moment because I purchased my first bike earlier this evening and it should only be a matter of time before I start cycling on a regular basis. The waiting game begins now because the LBS had to enter a special order for my bike. It’s time to think of a nickname for the bike and do a ton of research on extra good that I’ll need while riding.
The BikeForums Team
-adv-
This is an archived thread, you can find the full version of this thread, with images, links and more content here.
After what seemed to be the longest 5 days of my life, I called up the bike shop this afternoon to confirm if my bike would be ready by Friday. As it turns out, the bike had already been assembled and was sitting on the showroom floor waiting for its faithful companion to come pick it up. It seemed as if serendipity had struck because my professor ended class early giving me enough time to trek across town just before the bike shop closed. Surprisingly, traffic from CSLA to Hollywood way was extremely painless as I made the drive in less than 20 minutes during rush hour traffic—clandestine.
In an anxious rush to get set up, I quickly chose a helmet, pair of shoes, and some spandex shorts. I had the opportunity to chat it up with the salesperson at the bike shop, who happens to compete in cross races; he was a really cool guy who answered all of my novice questions with patience and a wise depth that beginners can’t really appreciate.
Unfortunately, tomorrows free time will be consumed with an accounting midterm. Luckily the schedule will free up on Friday where I’ll be racking up the miles at the Rose Bowl after work. I’m very curious to see what my fitness level is like. I’m pretty happy right now.
tony
buck65
Odometer: 8.254 miles
Max Speed: 22.3 mph
Avg Cadence: 72 rpms
Never in my life have I had my ass handed to me so quickly. I finally went for my first real bike ride this morning through the streets of Glendale and quickly found out what my physical limitations were. Slightly intimidated by the negligent drivers in LA, I’ve decided to stick to routes lightly populated by vehicles. The nature of this morning’s path was filled with very slight and gradual inclines followed by nice high speeds coasting sessions. I hit a plateau around mile 4 and finally broke (similar to the runner’s high) through around mile 5. I did about 6 miles of riding through the foothills before the saddle pain was too unbearable to continue; this is too bad because I feel I could have gone for at least another 5 or 10 miles. As I’m writing this blog, I’m enjoying the sweetest apply and a cold bottle of water—both are well earned.
The ride this morning was extremely enjoyable because of the crisp temperature and the great air quality. The coolest breeze was going by helping regulate body temperature. Powering through the hills was just a blast especially when it was obvious that I could keep up with cars that were coasting by slowly. The pumped feeling in my legs I have right now reminds me of the feeling noticed after those 700 meter swim sessions at school. I think it’s apparent that I’m hooked on cycling. Now, if I could only find a more comfortable seat…
One point to mention was that I was struggling a bit with gearing this morning. While powering up hills, I noticed that the power transfer was acceptable only when the chain was rattling. Leary of the many warnings I’ve received suggesting that this kind of stress would snap a chain or damage gears, I’d quickly change gears to something more suitable on the drivetrain consequently making my trek uphill harder and more taxing on the stamina. I guess I’ll have to spend more time researching. One other note was the “disconnected” feeling during high speed stretches. When driving, you can get off throttle and feel the engine braking giving a “connected” feeling to the road. Also, when driving down a hill off throttle (coasting), the slightest amount of throttle will add power to the floor giving that connected feeling. During those downhill speed stretches, I’d normally coast a bit in order to catch my breath from climbing the hill. It was bit disconcerting when being in high gear because it felt as if that power connection to the road was lost. The only way to bring it back was to peddle with a cadence over 100 (something I’m definitely not in the shape to do for extended periods of time at my current fitness level).
It seemed to me downshifting on the crank (going to the smallest gear) would make the peddling efforts much easier. As a result of being in such a low gear, I’d have to be in the mid to highest gear on the cassette. The oomph (probably called torque) was felt when in the middle crank gear during the ride darting off the line at a red light. I noticed that I typically stayed near the center of the rear cassette during the ride. One last note to mention is that I perceived 15mph is really freaking fast. Liberating and adrenaline filling, the unnerving feeling quickly tensed me up. I’m glad I didn’t do anything stupid that would have induced a crash. I love my bicycle.
merider1
Well, hey, Buck. I just happened over here (first time taking a peek). Nice blog. Now that I know more about you, I might be able to help you. I was new to cycling four years ago, but I haven't forgotten what that was like. To me, it sounds as if you may need better shorts with much better padding (before you purchase a saddle). Also, chamois cream will help and proper alignment. Were you fitted at your lbs? And last but not least, if you're an early riser, I'm going to be at the Rose Bowl this coming week in the mornings doing laps and hill repeats. you are welcome to join me. I might be able to help you with the gearing, although I'll admit that's not my area of expertise.
Oh, and sweet bike! You should come post pics of it over in So Cal.
Look forward to meeting you. :)
buck65
Odometer: 15.526 miles
Max Speed: 20.3 mph
Avg Cadence: 52 rpms
I'm feeling a bit proud of myself today because I convinced my brother in law to go for a bike ride. I'm guessing my new found enthusiasm for fitness is starting to become contagious. My cyclist coworker is excited that I’ve purchased a bike and is starting to make plans for when I’m up to speed. I’ve also go another coworker, who’s going to teach me how to surf this summer, who is really considering picking up a road bike. It just seems like the vibes from all this extra energy are being shared all around.
I tossed the bike on top of the car around 7 this morning and drove over to Azusa this morning to meet my sister and my bro-in-law. We ended up going for a leisurely cruise at the San Gabriel Bike Trail near the 605 and 210. I was really impressed at the lovely views of the mountains, the fact than many different levels of cyclists were attending (from the tour de France guys to the tandem riders with kids on the back), and the amount of families who were there for strolls and jogging sessions. I’m definitely going to start making a point to bring the camera along. Today’s snail pace was exactly what I needed since I was still a bit sore. My bro-in-law had a heavy full suspension mountain bike with knobby tires big enough to trap small woodland creatures within the treads. Suffice it to say, I really couldn’t ride that fast since he wouldn’t have been able to keep up. Luckily I dropped gears and got a fairly decent workout putting along at 8 miles per hour during the first half of the ride.
In terms of progress, I’m becoming very proficient at clipping in and out. Shifting gears is a bit easier but there are the occasional anomalies (read: trying to up shift with the crank but the chain makes the retching sound and ends up down shifting instead). This is fun stuff. I wasn't fatigued at all from todays ride, probably because of the lack of hills, but my seat section was still feeling a bit battered. :p
buck65
Well, hey, Buck. I just happened over here (first time taking a peek). Nice blog. Now that I know more about you, I might be able to help you. I was new to cycling four years ago, but I haven't forgotten what that was like. To me, it sounds as if you may need better shorts with much better padding (before you purchase a saddle). Also, chamois cream will help and proper alignment. Were you fitted at your lbs? And last but not least, if you're an early riser, I'm going to be at the Rose Bowl this coming week in the mornings doing laps and hill repeats. you are welcome to join me. I might be able to help you with the gearing, although I'll admit that's not my area of expertise.
Oh, and sweet bike! You should come post pics of it over in So Cal.
Look forward to meeting you. :)
ME, so glad that you're back on the bike. Thanks for the tips on seating; I'll definitely look into another set of shorts and some chamois cream. I wasn't fitted at the lbs since their registered fit specialist was off when I picked up my bike. She did tell me that she'd give me a fit session when I bring the bike back in for minor adjustment (the suggested doing this between 75-100 miles of riding). I think I would have accumulated enough miles by the weekend after next.
I'm the typical early bird who's usually up around 5am on weekends. Unfortunately I'll be at work all week so I won't be able to do morning laps and hill repeats (work schedule around 6am-4pm). I'll definitely PM you mid week to see if you'll be at the Rose Bowl next Saturday morning...I had already planned on doing interval training there next week as I hear half of the circuit is uphill while the other is downhill.
Looking forward to meeting you too and so glad to hear you're back in the swing of things!
tony
merider1
Thanks, Buck. I'm happy to be back on. :)
No worries on the rides in the morning. Some can do it, but it is early and cold at the Rose Bowl at 6:00am! I can't do next Saturday as I'll be riding the Mulhullond hill thingy, getting it handed to me in more ways than one. But we'll find a day and I'll come meet you and ride with you (assuming you would like some company).
But back on to you (and I'm not going to go on and on in here, since this is your blog), but congrats on the clipping in and out. That's the biggest hurdle for most folks just starting to cycle and it seems you've got that covered. Also, the bike trail in Azusa goes all the way to Seal Beach (and Long Beach) and back. Round trip to Seal Beach is 76 miles and there is a cafe at the end by the water called Rivers End. A ride you might work up to very quickly is to head down there, have lunch, and head back. On a hot day, it's miserable as there is no shade. But on an overcast or cooler day, it's fantastic. It isn't entirely flat and you will definitely get some base miles doing it. There is also a trail over to Whittier Narrows that is 50 miles round trip from Encanto Park. You have so much to get acquainted with! I'll say one word - GMR. :D
buck65
I really don’t have that much to share about cycling this evening. Continuing with the daily drudgery of work and school prevents me from painting, maintaining my relationships, or cycling—so I’ll just post up a couple of pics of things I just purchased. Class let out early this evening so I stopped by the PerformanceBike shop that a friend suggested I visit. I came up on a couple of lights and a storage bag for my saddle.
http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/9643/img3224ld6.jpg
I was fairly pleased on the way home since I'd now be able to run errands on the bike after work. I guess I won't have any excuses about not being able to go for a ride. To add to this little wave of happiness, I checked the mail on the way in and found out my parcel had arrived. I ordered a hoody from one of the bands that I fancy. Nice....real nice.
http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/9021/img3223sz5.jpg
buck65
Odometer: 29.928 miles
Top Speed: 42.6 mph baby!!
Avg Cadence: 63 rpms
So, I decided to play a little hookey today. With cycling on the mind all day at work, I think I visited BF about 20 times. Plus I figured that I just dropped all this money on a bike and gear, why the hell not take her out for a spin to enjoy this cooll windy weather. With a successful stretch of midterms behind me, I decided to indulge on a little fun.
I'm very fortunate in the respect that I live 3 blocks away from the foothills. One quick 2 minute jaunt is all the warmup time I get before I start to see hills. I decided to zig zag it up and down the hills this afternoon as a means of building up some endurance. I think it's too early to tell, but I really think I'm progressing in stamina and endurance when it comes to riding. Had I not been pressed for time, I could have easily continued up and down the hills for another 5-10 miles. To top things off, the saddle area wasn't feeling bad either. I did have one little unfortunate mishap while riding today though:
http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/4536/img3225fx7.jpg
Don't ask me how but I managed to slip the chain off the crank during a little bit of rambunctious shifting while ascending one of the hills. Here I am peddling like Lance, thinking to myself "yeah....no sweat" then I immediately look down and think oh chit, I snapped the chain. :( What a bummer, this was only about 11 miles into the ride. I then took the opportunity to regroup, take a swig of water, and pose the bike for her glamour shot.
http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/3603/img3227br5.jpg
Sitting down and feeling defeated, I realized the chain hadn't snapped. I can literally take a car's motor a part so a little bike mechanics seemed like childsplay. With much delight, I started to play with the spring loaded rear derailluer thingy and noticed that I could mount the chain again. Back in business!
Feeling triumphant, yet rushed on time because I had wasted 20 minutes of riding time, I decided to hightail it back home to study. The highlight of the trek home was hauling ass downhill at the top of central, full stride, in my tour de France pose. Talk about fun; I wasn't even scared going that fast this time!
merider1
Nice bike shots! I've dropped my chain tons of times and yes, the first time is a shocker. :p Sounds like you're really pushing yourself though, Buck, and that's awesome. :beer: I see you've been acquainted with Performance. So much fun stuff to play with in that store for sure. Are you planning on riding at night? If so, you're going to need a HID or LED light.
buck65
Nice bike shots! I've dropped my chain tons of times and yes, the first time is a shocker. :p Sounds like you're really pushing yourself though, Buck, and that's awesome. :beer: I see you've been acquainted with Performance. So much fun stuff to play with in that store for sure. Are you planning on riding at night? If so, you're going to need a HID or LED light.
Funny that you mention it, I picked up some nightrider rear blinkies and a headlight so for the purposes of riding. There's this NR 15watt halogen dohicky that I fancy but I'm gonna wait on it a bit. I've only gone out through the streets of Glendale, which seem to be pretty well lit.
buck65
Went to pick up a set of gloves tonight at the Sport Chalet near my work and noticed some of the kits they were selling. Took a shot of one with my cell phone camera...
http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/9425/92531904th3.png
It’s 5:43 a.m. and I’m loading the bike on top of my car. It’s 35 degrees outside and I’m quickly shoving blueberries and almonds into my mouth while shivering. A couple minutes later, I’m headed to the Rose Bowl with a clear goal in mind: rack up some miles.
I arrive a little after six and decide to go for a quarter mile jog to warm up. When I get back, I gear up and enjoy the calm silence of the city behind the mountains. It’s still dark outside with the slightest hint of a building sunrise to the east. The joggers are already out in small numbers, trudging by while I’m fooling around, riding in circles. A minute later, James (commuting/cycling coworker who semi-convinced me to get a bike) rides up, fully spandexed out, on his badass Specialized road bike. I show him the new whip and he examines it closely, checking out the gearing and frame. After a quick nod of approval, we clip in and go for a ride.
With the initial goal to going around the bowl 10 times, we started uphill following the direction of traffic flow. Today’s ride was really good because I finally had the confidence to pick gears that would allow me to maintain my target cadence. About 3 laps in, I decided to try to pick a stationary cadence and maintain it whether going uphill or downhill. This worked remarkably well because I found the perfect gear combo on 3 sections of the peripheral.
One thing that I noticed was that James’ bike was just so much faster than mine. Geared almost similarly (both have 50’s on the crank), I had to pedal hard downhill to keep up with him while he was coasting. I instantly attributed it to the knobby tires and extra weight, but he suggested that I was still getting my legs underneath me. I guess we’ll have to see when I rack up a couple hundred more miles.
I’m very pleased with my ability to negotiate today’s ride, albeit at a slow pace. At about 6 laps (18ish miles in 90 minutes), I decided to call it quits due to shoulder, lower back, and neck fatigue. The good news is that, in respect to cardiovascular fitness, I could have continued another 6 laps without any issues (this makes me think I’d be a good endurance rider). During these first 1,000 miles, I really plan to listen to my body’s signs of being over-underworked. I’m convinced that with hard work and time invested on the bike, these aching muscle issues will disappear. As James stated, I really just need to get used to spinning. I’m so lucky to have all of this positive encouragement around me; I’ll definitely be paying it forward when I’m seasoned enough to give advice to beginners. My new goal is to get my legs under me.
merider1
:beer: You will get your legs stronger and stronger in no time, Buck. Trust me. I met a gal today who is also a "newbie," and it was nice riding with someone and watching her process and ride a ride she's never been on before. The wonderment, frustration (on the hills), joy and overall pride she experienced (and shared with me) on that ride was priceless and brought me back to when I was a "newbie" myself. You should listen to your body and keep getting your wits about you on the bike. Eventually, you will trade the knobbies for the slicks (not that there is anything wrong with knobbies, mind you), and you'll be flying! Great entry today, and hats off to you for going out in the cold. Some less committed probably rolled over and hit their snooze buttons this morning. ;)
buck65
Odometer: 64.788
I haven’t had anything remarkable to write about during the past couple of days. Aside from doing schoolwork, I have been spending a lot of time doing research on bike mechanics. I also stumbled across a number of thread talking about the merits and fun involved with operating a fixed gear bike. Long story short, I plan to build a beater fixed gear bike for commuting and errands. In the meantime, I picked up a set of pedal inserts for days that I don’t really feel like putting on cycling shoes. Here’s a pic:
They’re a bit flimsy, but what do you expect for five bucks. It’s funny because as soon as I clipped them in, a small shaving of plastic scraped off. Oh well…a couple sets of these will do until I build a beater. Part of the desire for a fixie stemmed from a lot of the youtube videos I’ve been seeing of these urban kids racing against each other….just looked like so much fun.
buck65
Odometer: 76.372
With no epic rides to write home about, I figured I’d revisit some of the things I learned during the past couple of days. Cycling during the past couple of days has been in short bursts fit between swim sessions and readings on weighted average costs and aging schedules. Sneaking out for a short 5 mile trip around the neighborhood is the perfect complement to the drudgery of beginner accounting classes.
I finally went in for my fitting today and found out that my seat was 2.5 inches too low! I was amazed to feel how easy the power transfer was when I had the seat set at a proper height. I also got a rundown on proper pedaling techniques, lower back exercise suggestions, and some info on good posture. Needless to say, I think I’m going to be very busy during the next big ride trying to train myself to maintain proper form when riding.
On the topic of plastic pedal inserts: they’re junk and currently are in the trash. After clipping them in and out with a couple of cycles, they’ve lost integrity and do not stay in place anymore. Also, riding clipless is just so much better since you have the use of that upwards pull. That full range of motion makes like so much easier when on the bike.
I was really lucky to go for a short ride on this Friday night because the rain had subsided and the roads were dry and clear. The streets seemed fairly empty, which makes me glad. Instead of spending time in the club, I was breaking a sweat and regulating serotonin levels with bursts of endorphins and activity. I’m really grateful to have the health and ability to engage in these fun activities.
Well, I've successfully managed to finagle my brother in law to purchase a bike after committing to go on rides with him during every other weekend.
Bro-in-law's red 07 Lemond Tourmalet (oh so light...I wants!). Then there's my 08 Bianchi Volpe (love that gold!).
http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/7773/pic5ph2.jpg
Some sign at the bike trail.
http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/6458/pic3uc5.jpg
1/4 mile stretch of the bike trail...just love those rocks.
http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/5549/pic4wi6.jpg
Bro-in-law laughing at my big cassette, small crank, and knobby tires. We'll see who'll be laughing if he follows me offroad. :D
http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/8383/pic1pi7.jpg
And finally, here's our post ride pose.
http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/8126/pic6re8.jpg
I was very impressed with the bro-in-law laying down 25 miles today...not to shabby for a first ride. I'm pretty glad I got out there today because I've been inundated with school obligations preventing me from riding. I'm hoping the weather looks nicer tomorrow as I might do an exhibition run of the City of Angels Funride (http://www.coafunride.com/).
buck65
Odometer: 147.586
Nothing really substantial to post other than the daydreams I have about getting a designated road/fitness bike now. I was riding my buddy's carbon/aluminum road bike with slicks and 53/38 ultegra crank and absolutely flew yesterday afternoon! So used to pushing off on my steel bike, I absent-mindedly used the same amount of force when on by buddy's bike and the front end jumped off the ground as the back end got out from under me. :D Haha, almost had a little spill.
The increased fitness is definitely getting noticeable, especially after repeatedly riding up the hills at the police academy by Dodger Stadium. The novel thoughts of using my Volpe as a commuter with non-clipless pedals sounds like fun since I've been running errands frequently on the bike...it'd be so nice to ride it with regular shoes and a pair of jeans. Now, if I could only rationalize the purchase of the $2,500 Cannondale I have been lusting over for the past year, I'd really be flying. It's funny how 30 miles per hour just isn't that fast any more. :)
merider1
And finally, here's our post ride pose.
http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/8126/pic6re8.jpg
I was very impressed with the bro-in-law laying down 25 miles today...not to shabby for a first ride. I'm pretty glad I got out there today because I've been inundated with school obligations preventing me from riding. I'm hoping the weather looks nicer tomorrow as I might do an exhibition run of the City of Angels Funride (http://www.coafunride.com/).
:beer: Nice, Buck! You are so cute and nice bike. 25 miles isn't too shabby in the least and I rode SGRT recently myself. As for the City of Angels ride, I loved that last year. I rode it with a So Cal BF buddy and it was really nice to end up on Sunset and Hollywood with the streets blocked off to traffic. You don't get that every day. Keep up the cycling (;)) and please keep blogging too. :)
knatchwa
Keep it interesting by sharing the experience. Life can be dull otherwise.
buck65
:beer: Nice, Buck! You are so cute and nice bike. 25 miles isn't too shabby in the least and I rode SGRT recently myself. As for the City of Angels ride, I loved that last year. I rode it with a So Cal BF buddy and it was really nice to end up on Sunset and Hollywood with the streets blocked off to traffic. You don't get that every day. Keep up the cycling (;)) and please keep blogging too. :)
Prep for these accounting finals has been killing me but I'll be sure to be on the bike all next week, strapped with my camera, and ready to take TONS of pics. :D
As for the City of Angels ride, I think it's perfect for anyone who's any form of moderate shape. My coworker turned me on to the ride and how cyclist friendly it is....police escorted; proceeds go to a good cause; rest stop has a bunch of cookies, bagels, drinks and fresh fruit; lot's of give-aways at the end of the ride; and a dynamite post ride meal! Mention the food and I'm there.
Keep it interesting by sharing the experience. Life can be dull otherwise.
I'll be sure to continue to post. Cheers!
knatchwa
bring out the drinks :)
buck65
Odometer: 184.89
Although I am not intimidated about riding the streets of my city, I have become increasingly chagrined as a result of the behavior of motorists around here. During the past week or so, I have really started to do a number of “around-town” errands on the bike and have subsequently realized that I really dislike the way cyclist rights are not considered. With a number of daily near-misses; getting honked at because my 18 mph pace is too slow; and the uneasy feeling when someone following me slams on the brakes a couple feet away from me as a result of not seeing me, I have decided that I really don’t like commuting during certain times of the day. When I just started cycling, I had a certain amount of vigilance when going about my way on the streets. Sadly, this vigilance has become increasingly skewed to the point of near paranoia as I look over my shoulder at what feels like every 3 seconds. I really don’t like riding on the streets anymore because the fun of riding has been substituted with the proactive measures of not getting killed. I should just move to Portland now and finish grad school there. Sigh…
Onto more positive news: I finally encouraged a coworker to purchase a road bike. During the past couple of days where the bike was in his possession, he’s taken a number of short rides to help the saddle training. With Good Friday around the corner (floating holiday at work: Yay for me!), a couple coworkers and I will be visiting the RoseBowl for some fitness laps. I’ve decided to make this an excellent workout opportunity where I hope to rack up another 30 miles or so. I plan on biking in from Glendale to Pasadena (a nice 3-5 mile uphill climb), followed by 15-20 miles of intervals at the Bowl. After this, I plan to trek up to La Canada (another 3-5 mile grueling climb) where I can finally start my decent leading into Glendale (bombing down the hill at speeds nearing 25 mph). I couldn’t think of a better way to start out a Friday.
And for posterity’s sake, here’s the obligatory picture post:
http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/7797/speedmk2.jpg
And just answer questions ahead of time: NO, this isn't a joke. YES, I'm going to wear this in public.
buck65
bring out the drinks :)
If you're ever in LA, pass by...first round of NewCastle's on my tab! Thanks for reading. :D
buck65
Odometer: 253.13
I was lucky enough to have a floating holiday this past Friday due to the holiday. Two of my coworkers and I set out early in the morning for a nice ride around the Rose Bowl followed by some coffee shop banter. Had I strapped the camera, I definitely would have taken shots of some poses.
I started off in Glendale at 5:20am, meeting my coworker at the Swork in Eagle Rock about 20 minutes later. From there, we took the short trek up Colorado Blvd into Pasadena (nice warm-up climb). A little after 6:00, we had arrived and met my other coworker at the Bowl. Our makeshift group did three laps around the Bowl until with started zigzagging up and down the adjacent hills of the bowl. Our group effort eventually ended at a Starbucks in Pasadena when I was complimented on my Speed Racer jersey while onlookers getting their early morning coffee fixes before work eye out bikes and unusual clothing. Here are a couple of cell phone camera pics of the bikes. Unfortunately, I didn’t get that good of a shot of my on friend’s Fuji Roubaiux Pro (funny how his 50cm bike seems dwarfed by my 52cm).
After leaving the Starbucks in Pasadena, the three amigos parted ways as my one friend and I decided to trek up to Altadena. Our other friend, exhausted from the hills and the 9 miles around the Bowl, went home to go back to sleep. Fueled by cookies, a mocha latte, and a banana, I was feeling pretty good about the climb into Altadena. Our exploits eventually took us into La Crescenta/Tujunga as we continued up the slopes of Foothill Blvd.
After 3-4 mile downhill blast (oh sweet gratification), it became apparent that a new set of tires would be needed as I could only reach speeds around 32-35 miles per hour. These knobs are just killing my top speed capabilities. My friend and I eventually parted ways near Glendale College as I took to the hills on my way home and he followed route back to Eagle Rock.
After leaving the Starbucks in Pasadena, the three amigos parted ways as my one friend and I decided to trek up to Altadena. Our other friend, exhausted from the hills and the 9 miles around the Bowl, went home to go back to sleep. Fueled by cookies, a mocha latte, and a banana, I was feeling pretty good about the climb into Altadena. Our exploits eventually took us into La Crescenta/Tujunga as we continued up the slopes of Foothill Blvd.
After 3-4 mile downhill blast (oh sweet gratification), it became apparent that a new set of tires would be needed as I could only reach speeds around 32-35 miles per hour. These knobs are just killing my top speed capabilities. My friend and I eventually parted ways near Glendale College as I took to the hills on my way home and he followed route back to Eagle Rock. Friday's ride was decent 40 mile ride that was pretty fun. I enjoy cycling in the warm sun. :D
Things I've Picked Up or Learned
As each day goes by, I learn things about being on the bike. I’m really enjoying this period because I’m learning how to walk (in essence). This is an exciting period but it has been a bit intimidating as there is so much more to this sport than just jumping onto a bike. For the sake of this reason, I thought it would be a good idea to jot down a couple of these revelations in the event that a beginning cyclist, like myself, were to stumble across these words.
1) Hydration, hydration, hydration! Keeping fluids hand (preferable some form of electrolyte water) is so important for any type of cycling over 10 minutes in duration. As my rides increase in time length, I upsized to a pair of 1 liter bottles that are perfect for the 90 degree rides that I go one (like earlier this afternoon). The night before any long ride is usually when I prepare my drinks (I like to freeze a bottle of electrolyte water, and a bottle of regular water). I like to keep a chilled bottle of water in my seat bag to use during the beginning of my rides. Once I’ve put down about 20-30 miles, that first little bottle has been consumed. Luckily, I have two icy cold bottles of water just waiting to sustain me for the next 20-40 miles. I find warm liquids (especially sour electrolyte water) nauseating on hot days. Chilly water is just so pleasing when it feels like you’re sweating gallons.
2) Gear! I’m past the whole self-conscious phase and prefer some spandex on the longer rides. Wind is a drag (pun intended) when you’re riding. Any method that you can use to help you cycle more efficiently will make your life easier. Also, the rear pockets in jerseys are just so convenient because they provide easy access to cell phones, cameras, snacks, car keys, wallets, and whatever else you can shove in there. I see other cyclists with chilly water bottles (read #1 above), jackets, and tools sticking out of their jersey pockets on a regular basis. And of course, comfy shorts and gloves are great because the longer rides can be a negotiation between fatigue in the seat, hands, and feet area.
3) Bike maintenance! I’ve got this pesky squeak during each revolution that I suspect is part of the pedal bearing. I’ve also accumulated a lot of gunk, dust, and debris near the brakes and drivetrain of the bike during the past month that I’ve had it. I highly recommend that cleaning your bike whenever possible as it will keep it looking lovely and will probably prevent premature wear and corrosion. One other thing to mention is that my rear tire was very low on air pressure. I like to keep one of the stand-up pumps with a pressure gauge in the trunk of my car. I make it common practice to check the air pressure before any ride over 10 miles in length. Preemptive measures can make your life so much more pleasant.
buck65
I sure love shopping, especially when it comes to shoes. There’s nothing like the fun of purchasing new gear (clothes) when you want to change it up. Considering how I used to rock a 38 inch waist, I’ve really enjoyed shrinking down to normal sizes as it gives me the opportunity to go shopping. Having shrunk down to a 30-32 inch waist, I’ve finally found a plateau that will allow me to purchase clothes that will fit me for a time period longer than 6 months. Talk about a perfect time to visit www.1lesscar.com!
Fascinated by the simplicity of the logos and the message, I found some of the stickers wildy sardonic and very truthful. I couldn't resist putting one of the stickers on my car as a way of illustrating some of the hypocrisy I engage in from time to time.
http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/4961/picxb3.jpg
I really enjoy having items of a cycling related nature as a part of my lifestyle. I really enjoy taking trips to the girlfriend's house on my bike. I've let go of the anxiety of locking up my bike near places I run errands. I've got bikes on the brains and cannot avoid a conversation at work where someone inevitibly asks about some of my recent exploits. Just for giggles, here's a picture in my biking gear:
It's funny because I used to laugh at all the guys in spandex but now I refuse to do any ride over 10 miles without gear like this. The versatility of the pockets next to my back, the low wind drag benefits, and the light feel of the clothes due to evaporative fabrics makes these silly looking things enjoyable for me to wear. My friend get a real kick out of me wearing a Speed Racer top.
knatchwa
the wonders of conversion :) yeah those are good stickers. Have not reached that point whereby I updated my entire wardrobe but in time who knows.
I'm a big time vehicle enthusiast. Whether it be a bicycle, auto, or a scooter, I can talk about it until I get blue in the face. One of my Subaru enthusiast buddies and I went for a nice 20 mile round trip bike ride through Pine Canyon Road near Lake Hughes earlier today. Today was my first "real" day of climbing as we ascended and decended a thousand feet repeatedly during those treacherous climbs and gratifying coast sessions.
My buddy, and avid bike enthusiast and moonlighting cyclocross racer was the one who initially convinced me to pick up a cross bike as opposed to a road bike. Today, he brought out his 11 year old Waterfrord cross bike. Naturally, I couldn't resist the opportunity to snap a couple of gorgeous bike. Have a look at the small details of his bike:
http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/1888/wf1tw5.jpg
My buddy is pretty old school when it comes to bikes. He thinks pain is a good thing, enjoys a sturdy steel frame, and is an incredible cyclist. He doesn't use a computer on his bike, carries all of his supplies and food on his back, and just exudes an air of coolness when it comes to bikes. I really like the simplicity of his bike, especially how there isn't any "junk" clogging up the frame.
I honestly have half the mind to dump all my bike repair gear into my Camelback, ditch the saddlebag and bottle holders, while continuing to rock my knobbies. He brought up an excellent point today when mentioning that anybody can make a bike with slicks go fast and that it would take a real athlete to make any type of bike go fast.
Having put nearly 300 miles on my bike, I think it's time for a major cleaning and perhaps a reconditioning of the drivetrain. As I type this blog, I periodically look over at my bike, parked faithfully in the corner waiting to be used, and think that I just want to get rid of all the junk attached to it.
buck65
Odometer: 566 miles
It’s been a while since I’ve posted due to preoccupations with school, fitness, and social obligations. As seen in previous posts, my enthusiasm with all things bike related has continued to grow during the past couple months.
Aside from spending those rare occasions of free time riding, I have spent time learning a lot about cycling culture from the past 70 years. I’ve developed an infatuation with ornate steel framed bikes with lugged designs. I plan on purchasing a Rivendell bike as a graduation present for myself. I go on social rides now, plan to race cross this fall, and am in great shape as a result of my dedication towards riding. What can I say….life is good.