Oh...this will be one of THOSE learning experiences.
 

Last things first. I finally crossed the 1000 mile mark (started late Feb.) so WooHoo yay me!

So the City of Richardson is starting a cycling team. I showed up for the meeting this morning and found that everyone else is Uber Fit! (Police...Firemen...experienced racers, etc.):twitchy:
Me? I work in the Library.:thumb:
They will be doing some rallies and organized rides though, so I'll stick it out and chase them as much as possible...I mean, I should start developing some speed just from trying to keep them in sight! (If nothing else...I hope to get a cool jersey out of it. That is, of course, if they can get one in 4XL.)

I finally got a rack rigged on my road bike (I know...Sacrilege!) so I could get more rides in with it. I need to take clothes to change into at work. I tried riding in my regular clothing, but I'm wearing out the thighs of my pants.
At Big and Tall prices It gets expensive.:cry:
Anyhoo...I transferred all my night gear from my trusty hardrock over to the Trek and rode into work. Only to find that I'd left the battery for my Retina Burner Headlight at home.
Luckily I've had enough experience with Mr Murphy that I had backup lights in the trunk bag: 2 X 9 LED lights and, a C cell maglite with a High intensity LED replacement bulb.
Rubber Bands fastened the smaller LED's to my helmet and bars, and, Is I dug to the bottom of my bag I found an elastic velcro strap (used for taming errant pant legs) to lash the bigger maglite to the other side of the bars. That gave enough light to cruise home...just not enough to enjoy hitting the speeds I was looking forward to. :( (20+ mph is doable with the halogen setup. Faster than I can maintain at the moment, but achievable in spurts.)
So...let's hear it for being paranoid and having backups for the backups! (and everyone said I was just nuts!):D

Good Man! Stick in there buddy. Soon you'll be running down them fit looking dudes!:thumb:

Hang in there , and dont let the PD or FD intimidate. I spent 15 years teaching Underwater Search/rescue/recovery and I can tell ya some of them are not as fit as they look .

Great work on having backups and being prepared. Good luck in your new club, I'm sure you'll have lots of fun.

Also, add some plastic zip ties into your emergency kit. They have saved me a time or two when clips break or things just plain need an extra securing. Also make sure you have some means of cutting said zip ties while out and about.

For emergency kit, you can get reusable zip ties. They've got a little lever that releases the pawl that holds the tie tight. Very handy for things like strapping a light on for a ride. You dont have to worry about replacing the ones you've used, since they can go back in the kit bag.

Actually, I have re-usable zip ties in my trunkbag (they have an extra protrusion to release the catch) and replace them whenever they have been used a couple times.

EDIT- oops should have read all the responses before responding.

Also in my "just in case" arsenal are duct tape and Dollar sized tyvek strips (cut from mailers).
The tyvek makes a good strong boot when needed.

Oh yeah! I need to put the battery in my bag for tonight! Wheew...glad I signed on before going off to work.:innocent:

Woohoo, I know someone on the Richardson Cycling Team!

But seriously Mikey, are you carrying a roller tool chest for a trunk bag?:roflmao2: I mean, uh, what trunk bag did you get?

I'm trying to picture Jimi the Trek with a rear rack. It actually kind of works, but I gotta ask, is it purple too? I got a rack for the Dawes, but haven't put it on yet. I got it for when I spring for panniers and because it was a good deal.

We seriously need to log some miles now that the heat has broken................

Yeah I gots teh big topeak trunk bag (with fold down panniers...but don't use those a lot) and it is now residing on the purple haze fade beast to which you refer.:roflmao2:

Actually most of the space is taken up with the change of clothes (us big ol boys use lots of material).
When just out riding all lights and trunk stay at home unless I need to carry some extra tools...a couple extra liters of liquid refreshment...a whole roast chicken (protein is important after all...gosh I must be forgetting something...oh yeah, I need to add a kickstand...:roflmao2:

Actually it would be spiffy if the trunk bag was purple. I'll have to post a pic of the trek all fred'ed up.
What a glorious and splendidly horrific sight to behold!

Congrats on passing the 1000 mile mark!

yeah, kickstand -- rarely impresses the carbon fibre crowd, but what the heck! The bike isn't going to stand up on it's own with all that gear on it. (Goodness knows I love my kickstand.)

The cycling team sounds like a great idea. I wish there was a slowpoke women's team in Toronto!

Nothing wrong with starting one on your own. As a matter of fact, I've been contemplating starting a non-intimidating anti-speedy group ride to give those folks who would like to ride, but can't work up the courage, a nudge in the right direction.

I mean...who could remain too self conscious riding with this guy? :D

http://photos-ak.sparkpeople.com/5/8/l589071077.jpg

The commuter bag is a good choice. I think I'm going to hold out until the Christmas sale and try and get my panniers then, unless some pop up at the swap meet next weekend.

Some where 10 Wheels posted a pic of his Felt. It has to be the most well thought out equipped bike I have ever seen. I think someone called it "tactical", which was a good choice. Of course, his casual rides are probably 50 miles on an off day.

I so wish I could commute and live to tell about it. Until they add bike lanes on Shilo between 635 and 190 it's out of the question.