pre-ride rituals
 

you do'nt have to spend too much time at BF to see cyclists can be an odd bunch(at least opinionated).We all have a preride procedure to a certain extent.Do you have a particularily different one?if so please share.I'm sure some people wo'nt think theirs is strange after they read some others.You all will need to know that the oddest ones will not be shared , I'm sure.

I put on my helmet & gloves.

weirdo!!

Eat a banana. Off I go.

Ok, this is the secret to my mojo. This is all I got.
I load my panniers the night before and check that they're secure in the morning and put on my helmet and gloves.
I roll my bike outside. I go back inside to make sure I have the 3 most important things I need to get through the day.
My ritual is I pat down my pockets (think the macarena) and chant, "Got my phone, got my wallet, got my keys, got my uh-uh-um!" You have to pump your pelvis in the air in time with the last part!
I set the alarm and head out the door. :D

/me puts on his cape and wizard hat

Kick the tires; light the fires.

My whole deal is not to forget something that will later make me say, "Ahh Man I forgot THAT!"

This could be my patchkit/pump, house key, or cycling shorts in the middle of summer (that I needed to change into from work cloths latter that day)...before going out the door I usually created a picture of myself in my head and make sure I have every body part covered for cycling attire (that I have to take with me to work by car) latter in the day, proper shoes/socks, cycling shorts, bright yellow shirt, helmet, gloves, sunglasses, patchkit/pump, wallet, housekey, towel.

Daily ride?

Drink water for a few hours before my ride
Eat a banana 30 minutes before my ride / fill water bottles
Pee before I change into my gear
Change into my gear
Pull bike out of truck, quick inspect and fill tires with air
Write down yesterday's ride info from my computer if I didn't already
Ride away

Everything I need to fix a problem should one arise is always on my bike in the seat bag, so no need to remember to grab all this crap before I head out.

minimal stretching, make an offering to ma kali, then i'm off...

I pee. :50:

Pump tires - they always lose a fair amount of air in the week or so between rides.

check tires, brakes, load up and go.

Toughest part is remembering where I'm supposed to be going....

Recharge blinky-light batteries while filling bottles, donning HR monitor strap; IT-Band and back stretch, some deep breaths to relax and focus on pedaling in smooth circles. I wish it came naturally, but I've had some injuries over the years and a leg-strength imbalance resulted.

i wont lie... i smoke a ciggy. bad habit, but i'm trying to quit

I do a rain dance- Nothing works on the magic front in our house so me doing a rain dance keeps the clouds away. And if it doesn't - I get wet.

I masturbate furiously. Why spend money on that Butt'r stuff anyway?

Not the least common thing that I've ever heard, especially from someone who participates in some form of exercise.


I usually eat a bowl of cereal and watch a little TV while hanging out with my cat for a bit. Than I pack my change of clothes for the office, and off I go.

slap on my prepacked trunk bag, lock it up
turn on cycle computer
turn on annoying lights to annoy motor vehicle drivers (think lasers but in flash light form)
hope on the bike,
take on the lane. :D
look at the back frequently to know what's behind and/or if anything is coming up fast (pissed off driver) ;)

Wow, I thought I was the only one who did this sort of thing. Every morning I chant "Glasses, Phone, Wallet, Keys" "Glasses, Phone, Wallet, Keys"

I do it for the ride home as well.

Strange thing is there are some days that I do the ritual and still forget one of the items.

I have a 4 cup a day coffee habit. So, I'm drinking cup one while I load 2, 3 and 4 into the bottle cages. Fire up the lights, click in and spin.

The only ritual in invariably perform for every ride is forgetting something, then returning to get it.

hmm... i forgot to mention something.

now this is more like a real ritual.

every morng I check up weather networks reports, from at least 3 sources., then ask my famous question:

"To Ride or Not To Ride"

i poo twice just to be sure i dont get stuck in the middle of nowhere having to go...