Well, I rode last week - only twice - on a mountain bike in Colorado - visiting my daughter and helping her in her new home. I did get in 150 miles the week before and they felt great! But, going from 100 to 150 hard riding miles in one week was a little too much for my knees. I now have "runners knee". The good news is that the cure for "runners knees" is cycling! Well, I can do that, but must add more stretching!
Off to a good week in Texas and home to my road bike. Just hope those thunder storms are well placed in the day and do not interfer with the much needed training!
Monday, March 23, 2009
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
My First Bike! and the Gator Ride
OK, I was 2 1/2 and my sister (5 1/2 years older than me) was tired of me trying to ride her bike!
Training:
Rode in the Gator Ride this weekend and it was great..... The first part was the Fred Hartman Bridge and it was a piece-of-cake! I thought "WOW", this is going to be an easy 40 miles! Yes, I only set a goal of 40 miles for Saturday! Well.... the first 20 miles were great - 20+ tailwind. Yes there is a price to be paid for such a luxury - 20 miles with a 20+ headwind. Things were not so great. I was peddling as hard and fast as I could! I looked down at my speedometer and lo and behold - I was only going 13 miles per hour! I finished and that is all I am saying about that!
Training:
Rode in the Gator Ride this weekend and it was great..... The first part was the Fred Hartman Bridge and it was a piece-of-cake! I thought "WOW", this is going to be an easy 40 miles! Yes, I only set a goal of 40 miles for Saturday! Well.... the first 20 miles were great - 20+ tailwind. Yes there is a price to be paid for such a luxury - 20 miles with a 20+ headwind. Things were not so great. I was peddling as hard and fast as I could! I looked down at my speedometer and lo and behold - I was only going 13 miles per hour! I finished and that is all I am saying about that!
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Wow! The difference new parts make!
Got my bike rehabbed! New gears, chain, tires, etc. I didn’t realize how bad shifting had gotten! So, I really didn’t need a new bike. I knew that – one can always dream….
I have a great bike – I know – but just looking at all the gleaming cool colors… Oh? Color not a good criteria for judging a new bike? – hmmm. Reminiscing about my first road bike...
But, training – going great guns and feeling good. No lose of energy, electrolytes all good – no muscle cramps – consuming as much raw spinach as any person can (iron!!!) – day- light savings time around the corner!
Now, back to reminiscing… My first road bike. Trek. Ice Blue. Renyolds 531….
I remember the specs for every component on that bike! I built it piece by piece! Back in 1978 I could not find a comfortable fit to replace that old upright 10 speed Schwinn – the one I had put 1000’s of miles on in the 60’s & 70’s – while no one else was riding! But, it is now 1978 ish and everyone is riding - riding cross country – road racing …and I have a job with real money! Shopped & shopped for that new bike – finally found a beautiful Trek frame – gorgeous ice blue! I can go faster on a pretty bike – right? Did not know how that frame would feel as a bike, but I fell in love and there was no turning back. Took it home, begged, borrowed, and st?l? parts from cast-offs in friends garages! Presto! Rideable Bike! I did buy my own saddle (Avocet women’s). Over time, I bought new parts and gave back those old (rejected) parts from friend’s garages. I can itemize each and every part (like you care): avocet single forged crank, double walled wheels with sealed bearing hubs (not all good bikes came with those in the 70’s), still cheap spokes (like I knew better), finger tip shifters……Off to lala land…..
Ok, back to training…Took off early yesterday, taking off early today – more later.
I have a great bike – I know – but just looking at all the gleaming cool colors… Oh? Color not a good criteria for judging a new bike? – hmmm. Reminiscing about my first road bike...
But, training – going great guns and feeling good. No lose of energy, electrolytes all good – no muscle cramps – consuming as much raw spinach as any person can (iron!!!) – day- light savings time around the corner!
Now, back to reminiscing… My first road bike. Trek. Ice Blue. Renyolds 531….
I remember the specs for every component on that bike! I built it piece by piece! Back in 1978 I could not find a comfortable fit to replace that old upright 10 speed Schwinn – the one I had put 1000’s of miles on in the 60’s & 70’s – while no one else was riding! But, it is now 1978 ish and everyone is riding - riding cross country – road racing …and I have a job with real money! Shopped & shopped for that new bike – finally found a beautiful Trek frame – gorgeous ice blue! I can go faster on a pretty bike – right? Did not know how that frame would feel as a bike, but I fell in love and there was no turning back. Took it home, begged, borrowed, and st?l? parts from cast-offs in friends garages! Presto! Rideable Bike! I did buy my own saddle (Avocet women’s). Over time, I bought new parts and gave back those old (rejected) parts from friend’s garages. I can itemize each and every part (like you care): avocet single forged crank, double walled wheels with sealed bearing hubs (not all good bikes came with those in the 70’s), still cheap spokes (like I knew better), finger tip shifters……Off to lala land…..
Ok, back to training…Took off early yesterday, taking off early today – more later.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Back at it!!!
I have maintained over the winter and now I am going gangbusters - as time allows -Oh!and, as body allows!
Got out for 60 miles this weekend. Looked at all of those new bikes.... in the April isssue of Bicycling - new bike reviews..... Fred said NO new bike - so off I go with my bike to Bikebarn.
Looking forward to better shifting and faster miles - Because, of course, new stuff will make my bike faster and thus me faster - right? Maybe I can talk the mechanics into having my bike ready by 2:00 today and I can get a quick ride in this afternoon!
Got out for 60 miles this weekend. Looked at all of those new bikes.... in the April isssue of Bicycling - new bike reviews..... Fred said NO new bike - so off I go with my bike to Bikebarn.
Looking forward to better shifting and faster miles - Because, of course, new stuff will make my bike faster and thus me faster - right? Maybe I can talk the mechanics into having my bike ready by 2:00 today and I can get a quick ride in this afternoon!
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