Velo Vol 

Still?
Missed opportunity.

rjones28 

Sure.

rjones28 

Mrs. rjones28 makes a much more pleasant navigator than Google Maps Voice.

Velo Vol 

Are you going on a roadie this not-winter season?

genejockey 

Yesterday, I took the Cannondale down off the wall because it was looking lonely and unloved. Tossed it in the Dodge, drove over to my usual parking spot, and rode 25.5 miles. It felt like the wind was always in my face, like the right gear simply didn't exist, I couldn't spin, and it was like every single slight imperfection in the asphalt was being lovingly passed on to my hands and posterior. It also felt like the saddle was trying to make my perineum choose a side, if you know what I mean. I felt like I was working hard. Got home and uploaded to Strava. Slow AF. HR never went above 139.

I tilted the saddle down a degree or two, and raised it 1/3 of a cm. Let some air out then re-pumped my tires maybe 2-5 psi lower.

Today, same bike. Same route. Same weather. Hell, same jersey! Felt like a cycling god. Spinning was easy, wind in my face didn't bother me. The ride was firm but not uncomfortable, and the saddle felt MUCH better. Got home and uploaded to Strava. Average speed 1.4 mph faster over 25.5 miles. 38 Achievements, mostly PRs, some on long segments I've ridden >300 times.

What a difference a day makes! Yesterday I was wondering if rebuilding the Cannondale was a mistake. Today I was in love with it all over again.

genejockey 

Mrs. GeneJockey can't read a map to save her life. But she can read the directions off her phone to me.

I think she doesn't have a map in her head, so she can't translate where she is on that map to where she is on a map on paper or a screen.

genejockey 

Alternatively, "Charles" and "Free".

Velo Vol 

Sounds like it was mostly mental.

LesterOfPuppets

Got some penetrating epoxy on the mast a couple days ago. Johnny Bench would not approve, as there are several runs, drips and errors. I'll probably do a little sanding and put a topcoat of varnish on there.

Bolted some rigging on there today. Whatever we painted the galvanized stuff with in the 70s sure didn't stick, will probably just strip it and let the galvanized finish show.

Velo Vol 

What are you going to do with said mast in the Valley of the Sun?

LesterOfPuppets

Hit Lake Pleasant and/or Tempe Town Lake and run some sails up it.

genejockey 

I think not, because yesterday I was really looking forward to riding the C'dale, and when it was just such a chore, I was surprised and disappointed. Today I was expecting, or fearing anyway, that it would be the same deal as yesterday, and when it was nothing like that I was surprised and delighted.

I suspect it was more physiological than mental. I was really surprised how low my max HR on that ride was. Average HR was 114 yesterday, and 127 today. Max HR was 139 yesterday vs 158 today. Also, my average cadence was 5 rpm faster.today. I was also just a lot more comfortable on the bike.

Velo Vol 

I rarely see any sailing craft on the numerous nearby lakes.

rjones28 

We'll see.

rjones28 

Fit and tire pressure adjustments are real changes.

rjones28 

Sad

Velo Vol 

People can't remember a 2 psi tyre difference from one day to the next.

Koyote

I mounted some new tires to my gravel bike last week, and took it out for a long ride at 40psi. I like to start new tires with a high psi and work downward. On that first ride, I thought I had made a mistake with those tires - it was like they were fighting me. Today, third or fourth ride, finally worked my way down to about 33f/35r, and I logged my second-fastest ride on a regular route. Sure, weather was different, etc, but bike def felt faster.

tl;dr: it's amazing what a difference you can get from a small tweak or two.

rjones28 

Imagine if people had more than one bike.

LesterOfPuppets

You don't see a whole lot on Tempe Town Lake, but when they get together for sailboat parties it's mayhem!

Velo Vol 

Factors influencing speed variation for same course on consecutive days:

(1) Joint condition
(2) Wind (unless > 10 mph, then it could be 1)
(3 Traffic lights
(4) Temperature
(5) Hydration
(6) Eating
(7) Sleep
(8) Anaemia
. . .
(100) Two psi tyre difference

Velo Vol 

That's not a proper lake.

LesterOfPuppets

What's improper about it?

genejockey 

The other thing is, I don't have a separate pressure gauge, so I'm relying on the one on the pump, which someone on BF pointed out doesn't really tell you what's in the tire, just what's in the hose. It's quite possible the tires were significantly higher. I did notice a 'floatier' quality to the ride. I also intentionally rolled over a couple manhole covers, and again - firm, but not uncomfortable. Could have been 5 or more psi different.

The other thing is, yesterday I felt like I had to reach out for the bar, which suggests 'nose too high'. At the same time I felt 'flat footed' while pedalling. Since I'm a toe pointer, that feels weird to me. Cadences over 95 felt weird, and I normally prefer to spin 95-105. With the adjustments to the saddle, I was easily spinning 100+ rpms without that 'weird' feeling.

ls01

👍ok