Yes, Ive been riding my bike the past couple of weeks. From "Zero" to "Hero" as someone said. I stayed off the bike, completely for about 6mos...long story, wont explain at this point. I told myself I would start riding to work more, mainly on the weekends cause the wife would be home with the boys.
Well, after another set of unfortunate events, ie the wife getting fired from her job, it wound up being that I could put more time in on the bike and commuting to work. It works out pretty good for the most part. I save us 40miles round trip everyday in gas money, and I get to throw myself back into riding again. The only part that sucks is I dont see my boys as much. I leave before they get up in the morning and get home just in time for bed.
Thats ok, cause next week, we're headed to Chi-town for a family trip that has been planned for some time now. Ill be able to hang with them for a super long weekend.
This week my goal is to ride everyday to and from work. That mileage should be around 200 or so. Which from sitting on the couch to throwing that down right off the bat, Id say isnt but so bad. The down side is my legs feel like hell, but I know my body and I know I respond best to completely destroying myself at times.
You can check out the mileage total for this work week on endomondo HERE. Keep in mind my work weeks are Thursday thru Monday. As of today im past half way to my goal. Im really diggin that endomondo app so far. Just wish I could do a really long ride with it, and not have to worry about the battery dying. Android OS kinda sucks the life out of those things.
Anywho...
...boots out.
Showing posts with label Commute. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Commute. Show all posts
March 31, 2012
March 21, 2012
Unexpected Miles
Figured is use this as a test. Anyhow...tomorrow I get to ride into work due to the wife being home from work. This is an unexpected surprise for me and I'm stoked.
Sometimes I feel like this guy...many of you are already familiar with this photo. I'm sure some see me like this, I know I definitely feel like this guy still.
It'll all come in good time I suppose...
...boots out.
Sometimes I feel like this guy...many of you are already familiar with this photo. I'm sure some see me like this, I know I definitely feel like this guy still.
It'll all come in good time I suppose...
...boots out.
March 20, 2012
Commuting
Last week at #bikeschool, there were alot of questions about commuting. Its always a subject somewhere in the cycling world. Someone wants to know how to get from home to work on their bike, what they should carry, what to wear...etc. There's always some "commuter expert" thats out there who "knows best" as well.
I get asked what I carry sometimes, especially back in my messenger days. Yes, thats right, I have Actual street cred when it comes to this one. 10yrs a messenger in Denver CO will teach you how to travel on the bike...all day.
At one point my commute to "work"(downtown Denver) from home was about 45mins each way, work 8hrs/day on the bike and then back home. So, I decided to just throw it out there for people who might wanna know what I carry and how I plan my rides on the bike to work.
Obviously I try to minimize weight, but Id rather be safe than sorry. If Im 100% sure ill be home before dark in the summer, Ill leave the lights at home.
Bag types is a personal thing. Just use whatever doesnt give you shoulder/neck/back pain and feels right. I also bought some iron on reflective stickers and added them to the bag and to an old helmet I used to wear(while I was wearing it, not now, that would be stupid). It definitely helps as you can see in the first pic.
Thats about it...
...boots out.
I get asked what I carry sometimes, especially back in my messenger days. Yes, thats right, I have Actual street cred when it comes to this one. 10yrs a messenger in Denver CO will teach you how to travel on the bike...all day.
At one point my commute to "work"(downtown Denver) from home was about 45mins each way, work 8hrs/day on the bike and then back home. So, I decided to just throw it out there for people who might wanna know what I carry and how I plan my rides on the bike to work.
- Waterproof shoulder courier bag...had mine made custom by a guy here in Denver.
- helmet
- light(s)...I use 2 front...1 strobe, 1 Stella 150 to actually see with and a rear flasher
- work clothes
- Gerber multi tool
- "Saddle bag"(I keep it in my bag, dont like hanging it on the bike)
- cycling clothing...1 layer up/warmer and 1 layer down/colder than whatever the forecast says. I always keep lil things like knee/arm warmers, toe covers, gloves and hats in cause I can deal with a cold body, but a cold head, hands or feet sucks
- malas and Tibetan prayer flag tied with gold yak yarn...given to me by my good friend Bill Fehr from a trip he actually took to Tibet. Its my bit of faith thrown in...just sayin
- u-lock
- food...depending on the length I try and take the appropriate amount.
- phone
- ID
- dinero
- handpump
Thats pretty much the gist of it. Im sure I left something out that Ill remember after I post this. One optional thing is a fender. If there's rain in the forecast I tend to err on the side of caution. Luckily my bag is big enough that if I dont wanna "dork out" the bike with a fender I can put inside.
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| my good friend, fellow messenger from Charlotte NC gave me the prayer flag. Ive always carried the prayer beads...Malas. Just cause I dont talk about doesnt mean I dont have an "exit strategy" |
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| the saddle bag has the spare tube, co2 and multi tool |
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| Light N Motion makes some really awesome commuter lights. Ive loved this thing. Unfortunately I have to buy a new charger as I cant find the OG! |
Bag types is a personal thing. Just use whatever doesnt give you shoulder/neck/back pain and feels right. I also bought some iron on reflective stickers and added them to the bag and to an old helmet I used to wear(while I was wearing it, not now, that would be stupid). It definitely helps as you can see in the first pic.
Thats about it...
...boots out.
March 17, 2012
I Got New Rubber
Im not the best at "keeping" up with the seasons, much less equipment choices for those seasons. I decided today I would get some new rubber at the shop. Ive been riding some Vittoria CX file tread tires for as long as I can remember(within the past year), and theyve been great. Im not out training with groups or worried about my tire contact patch or any of that stuff. I wanted a new comfy ride with some low rolling resistance and something that would go through minor snow falls and trail rides...hence the cx tires.
Ive been wanting to put some "road" tires on the bike, but the vain part of me just cant stand the way std road tires look on cross bikes. They also handle differently than on a road bike..guess cuz theyre "made" for road riding right?
I eyed a pair of these Challenge Paris/Roubaix tires when I first set foot in Creekside. Well, today, after much research and deliberation, I snagged a pair of them...big ole 27mm suckers! I was super pleased with the way they felt, way faster than some file tread with meat on the side cx tire thats for sure.
The crappy thing was that as I got on the bike path about half a mile from the shop, a small hole that had been sealed with the stans I run in my tubes, from an earlier ride began to bubble and blew out real quick like. Luckily I stopped the bike just after it blew...unluckily my new rear tire has a nice lil scuff on it now...bah humbug!
Anywho...they were nice and once I get the pressure thing dialed in, i think Ill ride these bad boys till cx season.
...boots out.
Ive been wanting to put some "road" tires on the bike, but the vain part of me just cant stand the way std road tires look on cross bikes. They also handle differently than on a road bike..guess cuz theyre "made" for road riding right?
I eyed a pair of these Challenge Paris/Roubaix tires when I first set foot in Creekside. Well, today, after much research and deliberation, I snagged a pair of them...big ole 27mm suckers! I was super pleased with the way they felt, way faster than some file tread with meat on the side cx tire thats for sure.
The crappy thing was that as I got on the bike path about half a mile from the shop, a small hole that had been sealed with the stans I run in my tubes, from an earlier ride began to bubble and blew out real quick like. Luckily I stopped the bike just after it blew...unluckily my new rear tire has a nice lil scuff on it now...bah humbug!
Anywho...they were nice and once I get the pressure thing dialed in, i think Ill ride these bad boys till cx season.
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| nice lil "OG" gumwall action and some big comfy pillows for me |
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| luckily its not detrimental to the tire itself...yet |
June 13, 2011
The "Short" Long Commute
The commute home tonight sucked...period. Ive been giving it a good go the past week and a half with the new commutes, and today I put them both together. The morning was great. Sunny, wind at my back, no traffic. The commute home was the complete antithesis of that. 30-45 mph headwind from the shop to the golf course at Cherry Creek Res, lightning overhead, thunder so loud it drowned out my headphones, a flat tire right as the light went down, and then pouring down rain the last 3 miles.
The plus side is that im feeling like the bike isnt riding me, and Im riding the bike for the first time in a few years. Tomorrow I think will be an easy day...the "standard" commute in with a stop at Rise and Shine Biscuit Cafe(which was started by a fellow NC'er out here) at their Crestmoor location to visit with Greg, who's back from his trip to Spain and has gone down to part time since starting Grad school recently.
Anywho...Ive got a couple months to put down a good weight-dropping base before cross season, and then im hoping to use the first few races as my "interval" training.
The plus side is that im feeling like the bike isnt riding me, and Im riding the bike for the first time in a few years. Tomorrow I think will be an easy day...the "standard" commute in with a stop at Rise and Shine Biscuit Cafe(which was started by a fellow NC'er out here) at their Crestmoor location to visit with Greg, who's back from his trip to Spain and has gone down to part time since starting Grad school recently.
Anywho...Ive got a couple months to put down a good weight-dropping base before cross season, and then im hoping to use the first few races as my "interval" training.
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