The ride this morning was nice, but difficult. The weather was a little crisp, I think about 58 or 59 degrees when I began, but I was mostly prepared for that. The problem turned out to be, and this always works this way, that about the halfway point I changed directions into a very strong headwind. It kicked my butt pretty much immediately, and I slowed to a crawl.

A side effect of the wind is that it chilled my legs. I wasn’t uncomfortable, but I felt that whenever I hit a hill that I needed to stand to climb my legs were not warmed up. Like I had just gotten out of bed, not like I’d been riding for an hour already.

So, I just settled down and did my ride as comfortably as possible. The final distance was 32 miles with an average speed of 16 mph.

Technorati Tags: bicycle, Cycling, ride, route, weather

I’m updating later than usual. My normal procedure is to get back from a ride and document it pretty much right away, but this morning I started surfing the web, and making pancakes, and then napping through the Panthers game, and I just didn’t get an update written.

So, to answer…yes, I did ride. It was a chilly but pleasant morning. I think the temperature was right around 50 when I left the house, and it was foggy again. Very beautiful, actually, when the sun started piercing through the clouds and lighting up the foggy fields. I rode about 32 miles with an average speed of 16.8. Not bad…not where I was right before the Tour to Tanglewood…I’ve lost a step between then and now, but not too much.

I was just checking the weather reports for tomorrow morning to see what the commute might look like, and I think it should be a nice morning to ride in. I just hope I can get hot water at the office shower. On Friday when I rode I couldn’t, and it was a bracing experience. The water wasn’t icy, but it certainly wasn’t warm either. I was very awake and alert for the morning.

I’ve been watching videos on youtube related to riding a fixie. Things like people doing skid stops, and track stands, and urban alleycat races. Some of it is pretty fascinating. I linked to a video on my pownce page showing a competition of people doing track stands. Crazy when they go no-handed. I can’t even do one at all yet, though I was getting pretty close yesterday until I gashed my ankle open on a pedal. It’s not a big deal, I slipped, it happens. It’s just my first injury on the new bike. Frankly I’m surprised I haven’t fallen off the thing yet, but boy, it is fun to ride.

I also took a couple of the decals off the fixie. I left the model name “Lager” on the top tube, but I removed the big brand name “SE” from the downtube. I also removed the brand badge from the steering tube. So it’s looking a little more streamlined. I may eventually remove more of the decals, there are two more on the seat tube with frame size indicators and such. I should try and post some pictures soon as I make changes to the bike. I’ve bought some fenders, but haven’t installed them yet. I figure I’ll wait and see how the fall shapes up, and what the weather is like. The one key investment I’ll likely have to make soon is in a good headlight. The days are getting shorter.

Okay, that’s enough rambling for now about the bikes. Maybe some day I’ll start posting things about something other than bikes again. Believe it or not I sometimes do.

Technorati Tags: bicycle, commute, Cycling, route, weather

It seems that the Tour to Tanglewood is going to be disrupted by tropical storm Hanna which is currently forecast to be passing across NC on Saturday. As of right now we’ve been told that Saturday’s bike ride has been cancelled. At this time there are plans for a newly designed Sunday ride of 25, 50 or 75 mile lengths.

The Saturday cancellation is certainly disappointing, but this isn’t an ordinary Saturday rain shower we are talking about. If there are high winds it would certainly impact the safety of the bicyclists as well as traffic on the planned route. So, I think the decision is understandable. Hopefully we’ll have a beautiful post Hanna Sunday and still have a terrific ride. I will most likely do the 50 mile ride on Sunday in that event.

By the way, I just wanted to thank everyone who has contributed their support for my ride. To date I have raised $376.40. I hope you will be satisfied that the Sunday ride remains scheduled.

On a personal note, the cancellation may be somewhat beneficial to me from a health standpoint. About mid-week I suddenly started experiencing a sore throat, cough, with mild congestion. I think it is passing, and that I’m already past the worst, but it was still alarming to be coming down with something right before the ride, and I’ve been worried that it would hamper my performance.

I’ll provide further updates as I learn more, and please check back after Sunday to learn how the ride actually went.

Technorati Tags: bicycle, charity, Cycling, ride, tanglewood

I just finished my first ride on my now officially “fixie” singlespeed. The gear came in last week and was installed on Friday. I just got out and rode around the neighborhood for a little over five miles to test things out and to get comfortable before I did the ride to work tomorrow morning.

Everything seemed fine and I didn’t throw myself off the bike yet, but we’ll see what happens when I panic at an intersection or get in a weird situation and forget. I’m sure I’ll get thrown at some point or another.

I haven’t figured out the skid-stop yet, but maybe I haven’t had the balls yet to try it at a fast enough speed. There is definitely some kick in the pedals when you try to stand up and stop turning.

I’ll keep you posted on whether I eat any pavement tomorrow. My plan is to ride to work in the morning.

Technorati Tags: bicycle, Cycling, fixie

I finally managed to complete the route that I tried way back on June 29th when I ran through a patch of glass and blew a tire. This time I avoided the glass and had a very satisfying ride—49 miles with an average speed of 17.2. That’s the longest ride I’ve accomplished in a long time, and for me a very good average speed.

I think this was good training for the upcoming MS: BB&T Tour to Tanglewood Ride 2008. Which, by the way, if you want to make a donation please click here. I would appreciate it very much. The cause is good. In an upcoming entry I’ll post some links that tell more about the ride and also some links to maps of the route.

I also think that just two weeks of three days each of commuting in to work on the single-speed bike have made a big difference already. I felt strong, stronger than usual, for the first 25 miles, and still good for much of the ride after that. I didn’t start to really feel the effects until the final 10 miles, and then the biggest problem I had was my lower back started to ache some. That will only be resolved by spending more time on the bike for longer distances.

All in all I’m very happy with today’s ride.

Technorati Tags: bicycle, bike, Cycling, route, training