Misfire

Pushing 1700

misfire — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 13:57:52 +0000

Pushing 1700 miles for the year on the Cross-Check. Should be at 2000 by October at the current rate. May even hit 3000 before the year is over. I figured 2500 at one point, but 3000 miles looks possible now.

Another 400+

misfire — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 16:07:01 +0000

This is small potatoes for some, but I’m at over 1450 now. Well on the way to 2500 for the year it would seem, especially with a century ride coming up (and the increased commuting and training for the century).

Wish I could say that biking was actually saving me money.

Just shy of 95

misfire — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 03:28:15 +0000

94.88 miles on the odometer this week commuting into work. That’s three days of round trip. Weather has been decent. It is starting to get muggy, but it’s tolerable.

I’m trying to make the ‘alternate’, the ‘default’ way of commuting. Not because I’m a tree-hugger (hugging a tree means I took a turn too hard mountaing biking), but because …

I like biking
It saves money (well … before you go spend money on gear, bike maintenance, more food,etc.)
There are a number of physical and other benefits.

Will see if I can get 3 days in a row next week … or maybe even 4 days.

1K and counting

misfire — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 21:54:40 +0000

Although unofficially I crossed it a little while back, I *officially* crossed 1000 miles on the Surly’s computer last weekend. This puts me on track for 2K+ this year. I now find myself riding wherever possible. The bike has simply become my preferred mode of transportation.

Although, it’s humbling to think that is approximately the amount that the riders in the tour de france will have ridden when it’s all said and done. Having done 140 miles in two days recently on a Father’s day weekend trip, I have trouble imagining doing that day in and day out over the course of 21 days.

I need a new helmet

misfire — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 21:32:15 +0000

Don't try this at home ... or on the road

First time I’ve ever put a helmet to a good ol’ fashioned field test today. And let me say … OUCH!

I guess I leaned a little much (and came in a little too fast) on a turn that was slicker than I expected. The details are all fuzzy to me (for obvious reasons if you look at the pic), so please excuse me for that.

Guess I’l have to wait until Monday (when stitches should come out) at least to do some more riding. Oh … and if you’ve got pointers on a good helmet sale, pass them along. =)

Consistency through [lack of] gears

misfire — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 02:43:47 +0000

I often find myself gearing up as I ride down a hill to squeeze out every bit of speed possible. Then I find myself drained as i head up the hext hill.

A week or two ago, I rode home most of the way in the same gear. It was refreshing to not fuss with gears and just concentrate on pedaling. Some of the uphills were a little tougher, but I found that I was saving myself on the downhill’s and it compensated pretty well. I picked a gear that worked pretty well overall (I thought). No way I could have done the initial hill in that gear, but that’s a different story entirely.

Now I’m considering moving to singles speed (SS) or even going to flip-flop fixie on the rear wheel. But that will take a little while it it happens at all. Need to test gears and routes a bit more first.

And then there’s overtraining

misfire — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 14:37:47 +0000

I was a little too ambitious the week back with the new bike. Too much activity and now I won’t be riding in for a little bit. Kind of overdid it and need to recoup some overworked muscles. Later in the week will be warming up some (I think). Maybe get another ride in then.

And then there’s that thing we call a ‘head wind’

misfire — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 05:28:56 +0000

… or is it headwind? I can never tel if I’m supposed to use spaces or not anyore. Anyhoo …

After Monday’s ride in on the new Surly, I was eager to ride in again. Yesterday … not so much fun. Average of 14.31 mph with the head wind. Af first, I didn’t see many trees waving, but it just seemed difficult to get momentum going. Then I saw a flag or three wagging in the wind, indicating head and cross winds (no tail winds) on the trail in.

Although I technically would have had a tail wind on the way home, I opted to bum a ride home from a co-worker. Oh well … there’s always next week (or the week after that).

Many miles later … and yes, the bike does make a difference

misfire — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 17:18:03 +0000

Posted last at about 27 commuting miles (that was with the computer actually on the bike). It’s a new year, with a new bike, and even new computer (bike-puter that is).

I put in about 450/500 miles on the specialized and was starting to wear it down with the commuting. That and I was realizing that a new bike really could make a difference.

I was eyeing up a Raleigh Cadent at the local shop (familybikeshop.com), but one of the workers there suggested I try a Surly Cross Check they had on hand. The comparison ride was a no-brainer; the Surly won hands down. I did a few more comparisons to be sure (including a Kona Jake and Jamis Nova Pro). The Jamis was a nice ride, but wasn’t really cut out for the commuting I planned on doing. That and the Cross Check is generally more versatile (gotta love that steel). So … a few discussions later with the budget committee and a few visits to the shop and I had the Surly in hand (Merry Christmas!).

So … how does the bike make a difference? There’s two sides to that …

First, I went mountain biking with Jonathan (owns the shop) and some other guys on my *old* Kona (older than any of my kids and my oldest is twelve … even predates our wedding). I can’t blame it all on the bike, but it was definitely a factor. It’s too small really, plus I don’t have the right tires on for the sort of riding we were doing. And like I said … it’s old (and I’m getting older too ). Plain and simple, got my butt kicked on Saturday. The trail and the group I was riding with were more aggressive than I’m used too as well. To their credit, they were kind and patient with me. I didn’t puke or superman, but I did sort of bonk (time to stock up on some goo) and had to push the bike up at least two hills. My ego hurt as much as (possibly more than) the rest of my body (although … I did recover quite well and feel much better today).

Second … the first commute ride in on the Surly. This was a positive difference. What’s normally a 45 minute ride, I did in 33 minutes (wOOt!). The new computer is nice too. It has a few more features like average speed (the main number I worry myself with). Where my average speed with the Specialized (Crossroads) is about 15 mph, I was approaching 17 this AM (we’ll see how the evening ride goes). The bike just rolls better and is geared much better for the commute ride (not to mention it fits better, weighs less has and better components overall). I haven’t put a rack on it yet, but was carrying my clothes and lunch in a backpack (the same weight I’d normally put in bags on the rack).

Try this again (27.302 miles)

misfire — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 16:57:20 +0000

Been biking again …

First day back on the bike to work (well, not the first 2006, but first in my more recent regular streak of biking), hit 14.006 miles (got a computer now). Today was 13.296.

Averaged about 14.25 mph on the bike today. We’ll see how the ride home goes … usually only do a one-way on the bike.

Since installing the computer on the bike, I’ve ridden just a little over 44 miles.