Friday Follies ~~ The Wheelie

As a kid, the idea of a “wheelie” did not occur to me.  I had to be introduced to it.  I remember the first time I saw one.

I was in the habit of going to the movies on one Saturday a month.  In those days, I could take the bus, go downtown to the cheepo theater, the one that ran continuous double and triple plays.  An honest to goodness grindhouse.  Bus trip, with transfer to get home, cost 20 cents.  Admission to the theater was around 75 cents.  Add a dollar for a big Coke and popcorn.  A great afternoon. 

Most times the playbill would be grade Z, sci-fi stuff, but occasionally they would run a string of beach party movies.  Annette and Frankie, Eric von Zipperman, surfing, drag racing, and silliness.

I first saw the wheelie in one of those movies.  It was a stunt on a motorcycle.  The idea had never occurred to me.  Likely, the idea of trying it on a bicycle would not have occurred either.

That was the same summer that Schwinn introduced the original Sting Ray bicycles.  My best friend had one immediately.  He’d had the bike for about three days when he demonstrated that he could do a wheelie on it.  Okay.

I tried to wheelie my big  and beloved Schwinn balloon tired bomber.  I could not make that beast do that.  I was in early adolescence, and on the road to recovery from being “the fat kid.”  I had not really discovered athleticism yet.  The combination of weight, height, and simple lack of coordination prevented the trick on the big bike.  My friend let me try it on his.  I promptly went right over on my butt.  My friend didn’t want me to drop his brand new and cherished bike, so I wasn’t afforded that chance again.

I let the idea of a wheelie go, and forgot about it.  For years.

Fast forward to the 80s.  Suddenly mountain bikes were here.  By then I was a confirmed roadie.  I kind of looked at those early mountain bikes as a sort of goofy thing.  Then a friend induced me to go riding them.  Wow!

My friend was really good at getting over and through stuff, and I was having a lot of trouble.  I saw him use the wheelie as a way to get over obstacles.  I determined to learn to do this.  It couldn’t be all that hard could it?

I tried it.  Without much success.  I couldn’t seem to get the hang of getting that front wheel up.  I wasn’t too worried.  I had other things on my mind, like living through the coming descent and the stream crossing at the bottom.

I continued to be wheelie-free for several more years.  Then I read a skills column in a popular cycling magazine.  According to them there were three essential skills in mountain biking.  Linking those skills allowed one to ride almost anything.  They published a detailed set of instructions for doing a wheelie.

Once again, I had the bug.  By that point in time, I had my own mountain bike.  More, the things had evolved a good bit.  They were much more purpose built than the early ones.  Better geometry, better gearing, better components, even shocks that almost worked.

It was a chilly winter day.  We’d just had a snowstorm.  Yes, it happens here in north Georgia.  Everything was closed, and I had an unexpected day off.  I made a decision.  I pulled the beast out and aired it up, lubed the chain, and donned my heavy outer clothing.

I was having a blast, riding up our dirt road in the snow.  Fun!  Then I got to a level stretch.  I slowed and downshifted.  I cranked into the gearing hard, while pulling up on the bars.  The wheel came up about four inches, and then went back down.  Not spectacular, but a start.  Several more attempts, with similar results followed.  I felt that maybe I was getting the hang of this thing.

I started from a dead stop, and, while going super slow, in a very low gear, I stomped it!  The wheel came up.  Fast.  Too fast!  It came up, and kept on coming up!  I landed on my backside.  There wasn’t that much snow on the ground.  Not enough to cushion the landing.  More, the dirt was frozen very hard.  It hurt.

I made two more attempts, with similar results.  I came to the conclusion that I wasn’t having a lot of fun, and I could very well get hurt doing this.

I think that is called “wisdom” and “maturity.”  At any rate, I quit trying that day.  I’ve since made other attempts.  I can get the front wheel a few inches off the ground, and no more, or I can go right on up and over, falling on my keister.  I’ve come to the conclusion that I will never be a “wheelie wizard.”  I’m okay with that.  I can still ride, both on and off the road.  I have a lot of fun.  I’m pretty stable on the bike.  Sometimes, that’s enough.

But I do still sometimes wish I could wheelie.  Just not enough to risk the broken wrists and tailbones, or concussions.

Thursday Thoughts ~~ The Good

That’s a big, deep, and frequently somewhat tedious question among philosophers.  “What is the good?”

I would like to submit a modest attempt at an answer.

Riding is good.  Training is good.  Friends are good.  Work, at something meaningful, is good.

Friends are good.

It’s good to be living in a society where we are allowed to protest, argue, disagree.

Each day brings the opportunity for some lesson.

Each ride is a chance to experience something new, and often something wonderful.

Bikes are good.  Riding them is better.

Summer is good.

Sunny days are good.

Long cold night rides with friends are good.

Long climbs are good.

Long descents are really good.

A day in the deep woods is good.  On a bike it’s really good.

A smooth running bike is good.

Skill is good, learning skill is good, and polishing skill is good.

Time to ride is good.

Riding to make time to ride is good.

Water is good.

A cold drink on a hot day is good indeed.

Good health is a very deep good.

Every weird thing that comes along offers a good, if only a good story.

Being open to good is good.

Smile and laugh…  A lot!

Life is good.

Audax Routes ~~ What to Expect

There are three routes used in this process, two different “Tune Up” rides, and the actual 125 mile Audax Ride route.  The Tune Up routes are, deliberately, a bit tougher terrain than found on the actual Audax Ride.  This is to prepare riders for the full on ride.  It’s nice to know that the actual ride is longer, but generally, not as difficult.

45 Mile Routes:  The same route is used for both of the shorter Tune Up Rides.  (Strong suggestion:  If you are new to this, plan on doing all three of the Tune Up Rides.  This will help you prepare, mentally and physically.) 

The terrain is hilly, but not severe.  This early in the year, expect to face windy riding.  Plan to carry extra clothing on the earlier rides.  Weather can be changeable.

There will be a stop at about 15 miles.  Then there is the option of another stop at around 30 miles.  The objective is to finish these rides in close to three and a half hours.

65 Mile Route:  This one is hilly.  Specifically, there is one long “grinder” between about mile 21 and 24.  Then there is a series of really big “rollers.”  It’s a delightful tour into the Chattahoochee Hill Country and back.  There is, at this date, a bit of uncertainty about the actual route.  This will depend on when (and if) a bridge is repaired.  Don’t worry about this.  There is a decent alternate available, and it will not alter the basic character of this ride.

There will be a stop at about 15 miles.  The second stop is close to the 40 mile mark.  There is an optional stop at about 55 miles.   The objective is to complete this ride near six hours.

Audax Ride Preparations: Riding in Groups

Riding in a group of cyclists can be a real challenge.  It’s hard to know what the “rules” are.  They tend to vary from group to group and ride to ride.  This can be especially challenging for a newer rider.  So let’s discuss some of the aspects of doing this in and Audax style environment.

Audax Riding:  This is a bit different from most group rides.  Many rides tend to become “races without rules.”  Audax riding is not about finishing first, but rather about going the distance and finishing together.

On Audax style rides, it is more important to work together than to try for maximum speed.  If you are unused to riding in a group, don’t feel intimidated.  There is no need to ride extremely close to other riders.  Communication is essential.  Let other riders know what you are going to do.  Call out and point out obstacles.  Announce when you are slowing, stopping, or doing something sudden.  Expect to come to a full stop at stop signs.  Then to proceed in pairs, after each pair has made a full stop.  Don’t worry, the ride will slow, and then re-group after each stop sign.  Stay inside your comfort zone around others.  And be prepared to let them know, politely and early, if you feel crowded.  It’s okay.

Pacing is important.  This is not truly a “no drop” ride.  There is a pace.  There is a schedule.  There is some flexibility, but it is not unlimited.  The spirit of the thing is “One for all, and all for one!”  That said, each individual has a responsibility to aid the group in maintaining good progress.  Pace line riding is not an essential skill for this kind of ride.  More, the Tune Ups are a great place and time to work on those skills.

What we are training for is a rolling average of about 15 miles per hour.  That’s a lot faster than a lot of folks might think.  Rolling average is what the average speed function on most bicycle computers gives us.

I don’t honestly expect to hold that average on the Tune Ups.  It’s a goal.

If a rider is lagging behind the group, I will move that rider to the front of the group, just behnd the lead.  This is not punishment.  The pace of the group is controlled by the best pace that the slowest rider can manage.  More, a slower rider will find that, when drafting behind the group lead, they will have a strong advantage, and overall pace will increase.

There are a couple of places in each of these routes where we relax the “group stays together” rule a bit.  Then we re-group and continue with a common purpose.

Spirit of Compromise:  Every rider has some “specialty,” some area in which they are stronger than others.  Some are climbers, some are great descenders, some can sprint, and some can just diesel along in the flatter terrain.  What happens on these rides is that everyone must limit the thing they are best at, and work a bit harder on their weaker areas.  The objective is to reach the end without over-taxing any member of the group.  It can be a lot of work, but it’s incredibly rewarding.

A word on the routes:  The Tune-Ups are deliberately run over terrain that is more demanding than the actual Audax Ride.  How can that be?  There’s a mountain in the middle of the Audax Ride!  The answer is simple.  There is more climbing, or elevation gain, per mile in the Tune Up routes, than there is on the Audax Ride.

How the Tune-Ups are ridden:  We start out at a very easy pace, to allow warm up on the route.  After 15 to 20 minutes, expect the pace to pick up.  In order to meet the intended average, it is necessary to ride above that speed for most of the ride.  We need to capitalize on every bit of flatter terrain, and every bit of descending.  It’s about efficiency, not about racing.  These are training rides.  We are working on fitness and skills.  But they are not intended to be grim.  Camaraderie is a big part of this whole experience.  It’s fun to ride socially!

Tomorrow:  What to expect from the Tune Up routes

Audax Ride and the Tune Ups

First off, for some of you, the idea of riding 45 miles in a group may be a bit intimidating.  Please don’t be put off by it.    Please read the next paragraphs carefully.

Basic Fitness preparation for the 45 Mile Tune Ups:

Ride your bike…  Regularly!  Each and every week.

Build your time on the bike gradually.

By the beginning of March be averaging 7 to 10 hours of riding every week.

Do at least one three hour ride every week, starting in mid-February.

Take it very easy during the week of March 14 – 20.

Bike & Equipment preparations:

Road bikes please.  I am not a “bike snob.”  I suppose it’s possible to do this kind of ride on a hybrid, fitness, or mountain bike.  However, every time I’ve seen someone try this, sooner or later, they have gotten into trouble.  It’s like showing up with a knife for a gunfight.  It just never ends well.

You will want to have gearing that allows you to climb.  All of these rides are hilly.

Have your bike tuned and inspected before the middle of February.

Plan to carry the following:

Two Water bottles.

Two spare tubes

Your favorite ride food

A bit of money to buy water and munchies at the stops

Any unique spares your particular bike may need

Sunscreen

A wind jacket (possibly a rain shell)

A strong tail light and reflectors are a good idea.

Strong suggestion:  Carry the “stuff” you will carry on the bike.  The bike is your beast of burden.  You have to provide the power to move everything you carry.  You should not have to use energy to support it on your back.  Start practicing, and testing, loading plans and methods now.

Tomorrow:  Riding in Groups

Friday Follies ~~ The Beaten Path, Odysseus, and Alexander

There are several schools of rider leadership.  One school, likely the most common, is the, “Let’s go do the standard ride” school.  Here we all go out and ride a routine and pre-determined route.  Everyone (except the newbie’s) pretty much knows the exact route, distance, turns, start time, and all other details of the ride.

Remember the Odyssey?  First you have the Iliad.  All those Greeks go to Troy.  Much trouble and strife ensue.  It takes a long time to get it done.  And then…  The Big Hero, Odysseus, want to get home.  He takes off, going flat out, fast, and hard.  He’s ready to take on anything that gets in his way.  But..!  Apparently he doesn’t know where he’s going, ‘cause it sure does take him a long time to get there.  Oh sure.  He’s tough and resourceful.  He’s also kind of hard on his team.  A lot of them don’t quite make it all the way, and a fair amount of bad stuff happens to all of them along the trip.

Years ago, I used to ride with several folks, and one in particular, on long rides.  George was strong and confident.  He’d get out in front and pull you all day long.  It took me a while to figure out that George almost never knew, at least not to any great degree of precision, just where he was.  Further, he had only a vague idea of where he was going.

I made that discovery gradually, and over time, as I learned my way around this area.  Rides with George tended to be fast, and…  interesting.  I learned.  I learned that I had to stay close to my friend, and be ready.  I would see him miss a turn.  It would be a turn that I knew we needed to make.  I chase George down, and ask him if he knew where we were going, and did he have a route change in mind.  No.  Had no clue.  He said, once,  “I figure, sooner or later, someone will tell me if I’m going off course.”

Alexander the Great.  Interesting guy.  Conquered the world.  Sometimes in spite of his army.  At one point, after having taken down Persia, he was working his way through Asia Minor.  There was a bit of discontent among the troops.  (This would happen again later.)  So what does young Alexander do?  He burns the maps.  Now he’s the only one who knows how to get home.  The gang pretty much has to follow him.

Christopher Columbus pulled something similar to Alexander’s stunt with the maps. At one point, in Christopher’s first voyage, his crew weren’t happy with him.  But he was, in addition to being the Boss, also the navigator.  No one else had a clear idea of how to get home without him. 

I have to admit to using the Alexandrian strategy a time or two.  As a kid, and a young cyclist, I was always a fair navigator.  I’ve gotten better with time and study.  I like to know where I am.  I’ve found that folks (most of them) will tend to stay with me, even if they are faster than I am, if I know where we are, and they don’t.  Most cyclists aren’t Odysseus, they don’t charge blindly and heroically into the unknown.  There, however, exceptions.

I’ve met and become friends with some of these.  Here’s the scenario.  It’s one of those “beaten path” rides.  There is a newbie present.  He, she, or they, are new in town, and have no vague clue about the route, or the area.  But they are strong, happy, on a bike, and it’s a nice day.  “Let’s ride!”  While out on the ride, I see them blow a turn.  Not just miss it, but charge past it, head down and all out.  I pursue, ride them down, and the conversation goes like this.

ME:  “Do you know where you’re going?”

NEWBIE:  “Huh?  No.”

ME:  “I didn’t think so.  You just missed the turn, and if you keep going this way, you should reach Macon, just after sunset.”

NEWBIE:  “Oh.  Should we turn around?”

ME:  “Yes.  And I’d suggest you stay with me for the rest of the ride.”

Alexander and Odyesseus together again.

Thursday Thoughts ~~ Bon Voyage Gary Carter

My good friend Gary Carter is leaving us.  It’s good for him, but will be a loss to our community.  Gary has been a prominent member of the local cycling scene for quite some time now.  He has been a booster of our community and a strong and good friend to many of us.

The “skinny old guy on the funny bike” has eaten many a mile and shocked quite a few younger riders.  He is a randonnuer of note.  I’ve ridden, literally thousands of miles with him, through rain, through the nights, in cold and hot, on rough roads and smooth, and sometimes no roads at all.  I’ve seen Gary cheery, and grumpy, in good form and suffering.  I’ve seen him on road bikes, recumbents, single speeds, and mountain bikes.  He and I have spent hours together laughing our heads off, and we’ve had occasions where we managed to seriously annoy each other.  (Then we forgive and forget.)  I’ve never seen him boring.

I don’t remember the exact date that I first met our friend, but I definitely remember the circumstances.  It was a somewhat chilly Saturday morning.  I’d gone to the shop early (before it opened) to let myself in and do a couple of chores before I led the morning group ride.  Gary had pulled up outside the door in his vehicle and unloaded his old Trek road bike.  He had a mysterious and nearly unfixable flat tire on the back, and he was desperate to go riding.  He managed to talk his way in, and the next half hour was spent trying to get Gary’s tire fixed.  We were successful, and he took of in haste.

That’s Gary.  He has always had an urgency about getting on the bike and riding.  And once he’s riding, he wants to keep on riding.  That said, I’ve never seen Gary fail to stop for a stranded or distressed cyclist.  I’ve never seen him fail to be courteous to other riders.  He may leave them gasping in his wake, but he is invariably polite about it.  (He saves the insults and such until he knows you well.)  This is also a man given to great generosity.  He has willing and freely given of his time to make life better for other riders.

This move is a good one for our friend.  He’s going to be moving to Italy, and to a region that is just astonishing for a cyclist.  Few people I know enjoy climbing anywhere near as much as Gary does, and with the Alps and Dolomites close at hand, he will be a happy camper indeed.

Italy’s gain is going to be our loss.

So, bon voyage, Gary Carter.  Bon chance, et bon courage.  Toujours audace et bon route!

Bike Maintenance ~~ A Clean Bike is a Happy Bike

Post Ride Actions…  (Reprinted from the Tuesday Tome 9/8/09)

Ever wonder why some folks have bikes that always look new?  They might have had the machine for years, but it still looks band box fresh.  Why is that?

Let me answer by diverting a bit.  The old cowboys knew that after a hard ride, they had to walk the horse to cool them down, then rub them down, feed them, inspect the hooves and shoes, blanket them, and feed and stable them.  Failure to do this meant that the horse would get sick, or go lame.  That cow hand understood that he depended on his horse, and needed to take care of it first.  The expression “rode hard and put up wet,” comes from this era.  A horse that was treated in this fashion was unhealthy, and looked it.

As a bike mechanic, one of the frustrations I often encounter is bikes that have been repeatedly treated in this fashion.  They are dirty, with encrusted chains and drivelines.  They creak and clank.  They smell bad.  They don’t work right.  Things wear and corrode too quickly.  It’s not so bad if the owner is willing to pay for the damage.  But it gets very frustrating when I’m asked things like,  “How come it’s always breaking, and I need so much work.  I paid a lot of money for this, and it should work.”

The owner is right.  It should work.  Unfortunately there is no diplomatic way to say, you keep a filthy bike, which you sweat all over, ride in bad weather, and don’t take care of.  Worse, frequently, when we try to explain the idea of regular owner maintenance, we get something like,  “I don’t have time for all that.”

Most of us don’t depend on our bikes to do our jobs, but we do depend on them.  For recreation, fitness, health, escape, for any number of reasons.  We’ve worked hard for them.  We’ve saved and scrimped to put aside the money to purchase them.  We expect them to last for years.  And with reasonable care, they will.  But our bikes are machines.  They have moving parts.  Parts that wear, corrode, and deteriorate.  Dirt and corrosives are the bike’s enemies.  Not just from an appearance standpoint, but from the long term, return on investment perspective, it makes sense to take care of them.

The thing is, it shouldn’t take a lot of time.  Not if done regularly.

Let’s get back to those folks who always seem to have nice looking, good running bikes.  For many of them the “secret” is in post ride action.  They have learned to take a few minutes, after a ride, and before they hang the bike, to do some quick maintenance.

Think about adopting the “7 minute drill” to the very end of your ride.

Like everything else, this works best if you take a bit of time to prepare it.  It’s worth doing.  The time spent setting this up will pay you back in a cleaner and better running bike.

Supplies Needed:

• Two buckets.  (optional)  One five gallon “job bucket” and one smaller one gallon “painter’s"
• Supply of clean shop rags
• Assortment of brushes
• Q-tips
• Simple Green Bike cleaner
• Safety-Clean Degreaser
• Rock ‘N Roll chain lube
• T-9 Boeshield (aerosol works best)
• Bottle of denatured alcohol (rubbing alcohol)

Keep all this stuff where the bike is stored.  Some of you have bikes that co-habit with you in a living room.  That may not be ideal.  So store the stuff in the buckets, and keep it some place where you can access it readily at the end of a ride.

The following drill will take you a bit longer the first few times you do it, but with practice it resolves down to a set of habitual movements.

7 Minute Drill:

0:00  Remove water bottles, cues sheet holders, lights, bags, etc.  Bottles will go inside with you for cleaning and filling later.  Bags and other accessories get re-installed or put away at the end of the drill.

0:30  Use brushes to knock any grit, grime, dust, sand, or dirt off the bike while it is still dry.

1:15  Apply Simple Green to saddle and handlebar tape.  Scrub with clean rag.

1:30  Apply Simple Green to Frame, and wipe down with clean rags.  Start at top and work down.  Pay particular attention to areas below seatpost, along seat tube, around bottle cages, and in bottom bracket region.

3:00  Apply liberal amount of alcohol to rag and then scrub brake surfaces of wheels.  Inspect tires for cuts, and imbedded foreign matter while doing this.  Turn rag often.  The idea is to remove all the brake dust and “spooge” from the rims.

3:30  Shift chain to middle of cassette and onto the big chainring, then spray chain with Safety Clean degreaser, and wipe thoroughly with rag.  (It’s okay to use one of the rags you’ve already used to clean the frame.)

4:30  Spray rear derailleur pulleys and body with Safety clean and wipe away excess gunk.  Repeat with front derailleur, wiping out the interior of the cage, and wiping gunk and grit away from the pivots.  (use Q-Tips for the hard to reach spots.)

5:30  Shift rear to lowest gear (yes that’s the biggest cog) and front to the big ring.  Then, without turning the cranks, repeatedly click shifters in the other direction.  This will slack the cables.  Use a light application of Boeshield and a rag to wipe down all exposed cables.  Now click the shifters to get them back to the Rear-Low/Front-high postion.  Wipe any excess lube from frame with clean rag.

6:00  Apply a small amount of Boeshield to the pivots of both derailleurs, and the brake pivots.  Use your other hand and a rag to shield the rest of the bike from overspray.  (You don’t want this stuff dripping around, and you definitely do not want it getting on brake pads or braking surfaces of the rims.

6:30  Shift to the middle of the cassette and the big ring.  Shake your bottle of Rock ‘N Roll chain lube thoroughly.  Back turn the cranks and drip a drop of  chain lube on each link.  Continue until all of the chain is lubed.  Wipe chain dry.  Be sure to wipe the derailleur pulleys clean too.  Shift to small chain ring and wipe the excess residue off of the big ring.

7:00  Bike is ready to hang.  Put the cleaning and lube supplies back in your buckets.  Toss the dirty rags aside for washing or disposal.  You can replenish them from your supply of clean ones when you put the buckets away.  Put the bike away, pick up your bottles and accessories and take them inside to replenish, clean and put away. 

Go get a nice warm shower and an adult beverage, you’ve earned it.

Thank Heavens for Tri-athletes!

That title may surprise folks who know this rider at all well.  It’s true that “trikes” sometimes vex me.  The thing is, some (certainly not all) of them regard our sport differently.  They tend not to share the passion for the bike, and they ride in ways that are by turns, amusing or infuriating.  On the other hand, the overwhelming majority of tri-athletes are good and decent people, and they do ride.  That makes them my people, my friends.

What is it that gets to me about tri-athletes?  A couple of things come to mind.

There are times when, as I ride back into town after a good long trip of seven or eight hours, I see one behind me.  I know what is going to happen next.  That goof is going to hammer it and overtake me.

The fact of being overtaken by another rider really doesn’t bother me.  Even “secret racers,” don’t really bother me.  It’s not about speed, after all.  But it’s the way that tri-athlete is going to go about it that does it.

They are all bent over in the aerobars.  They’re flat pounding it out, on their 20 mile afternoon ride.  And as they pass, without a word of courtesy, they will look over with that goofy grin.  The body language says,  “Look at me, roadie!  I’m faster than you are.  Nyah! Nyah!”  I do find this annoying.

Having said all that, I basically like and admire tri-athletes.  Consider, they swim, ride a bike, and run.  And no one is making them do it.  They volunteer.  They train.  Hard.  It takes a lot of dedication (and insanity) to prepare in three disciplines.

But I owe the “trikes” a real debt of gratitude.  If it weren’t for them, the bar-end shifter might have passed into extinction.

Here’s the item I’m referring to…

Tri-athlete Aerobar setup

Bar End Shifter:  As used by a tri-athlete

See, tri-athletes like to ride bikes all bent over and using these funny handlebars.  It’s difficult to reach a shifter from this setup, so they demand shifters in the ends of those long sticky out in front bars.  Oddly, this is an adaptation of an older use of the same device.  Bar-end shifters were first developed and used by roadies.  This was done so that they would not have to take hands off of the bars and reach all the way down to the down tube to make a shift.

Bar End Shifter: As used by roadies.

You see, with the advent of “integrated” brake/shift levers

for road bikes, the wonderful bar-end was passing out of existence.  But then the tri-athletes came along and revived it!

And just why does this make me happy?  Because it makes it possible for me to run the setup you saw up above in the second photo.  Why would I care?  Well it’s like this,  the integrated brake/shift levers have only a 1-to-1 pull.  That’s fine if you are running dual pivot road type brakes.  But a loaded tourist…

…is heavier, carries a heavier load, and needs stronger brakes.  By splitting the shifting function off, and putting on the end of the bars, it is possible to use brake levers that have the required 2-to1 pull for mountain bike type “linear pull” brakes.  And that makes me happy!

Bar-end shifters, or “barcons” have a couple of other stellar features.  They are light, simple, and reliable.  If the indexing messes up, it’s possible to switch them over and continue to use them as a friction shifter.  Compared to integrated brake/shift levers…

…they are not nearly as likely to cause shift cables to break.  And if a shift cable does happen to break, it doesn’t cause a lot of trouble inside a barcon.  If the cable breaks inside an integrated control, it must be dealt with, and quickly, and the condition is likely to damage the control.

I’m not anti-intebrated shifters.  I have them on a couple of my bikes.  I like them.  But they are more maintenance sensitive, and less reliable.  For touring purposed I prefer the barcons.  I’m really glad there are tri-athletes, and that they demand the bar end controls.  They’ve kept them alive for me.  So I send out a big “Thank you!” to all of the tri-athletes in the world.  You’ve done something right!

It’s Time to Set Some Dates!

Yes, it’s that time again.  Let’s plan some stuff.  I want to lead a multi-day tour.  I need some input from those interested in going along.  That’s where you come in.  Read on, and then contact me, either by comment on this blog, or by email at The.Road.Dragon@gmail.com    Please let me know which tour you are most interested in, and help me refine dates.

The basic tour concept:  We do a group tour.  The group stays together on the road, and stops at common destinations.  We self-support, but we intend to sleep in hotels along the way.  (Camping is nice, but there is a lot to be said for hot water and clean sheets at the end of a long day on the bike.)

We’ve discussed some possibilities.  Here’s a sample:

• Blue Ridge Parkway North to South (approx 1 week)
• Summit Ride to the highest point in a neighboring state and back  (approx 4 days to a week)
• Savannah Adventure:  To Savannah, GA, stay and play for a day, ride back  (approx 5 to 6 days)
• Cheaha Challenge 2:  Do the same ride we did last year, but add a day and either go out, or return via the Silver Comet/Chief Ladiga Trail.  (Approx 3 days)
• Challenge the MS 150 Challenge:  Ride to Pine Mountain on Friday, ride the two days of the Bike MS ride, then ride back from Pine Mountain on Monday.  (4 days)

Possible dates:  This depends a bit on which ride we are doing. 

Challenge the Bike MS ride would be September 10, 11, 12, and 13.

If we do the Blue Ridge Parkway trip, we’d want to go in late September, or the very beginning of October.  That way the weather is temperate, and we miss the big tourist influx to watch the fall colors.  (Much less traffic.)

The other suggestions work pretty well for the same timeframe as the Blue Ridge trip.

So there you have it.  Think about it, and get in touch.  Let me know if you plan to go.  (This isn’t a firm commit.)  Let me know when you would like to do what.  I’ll tally the results and post a decision next week.

Friday Follies ~~ Once upon a time…

It is no secret that I like warm weather.  “Like” is no where near strong enough.  I love it.  The hotter the better.  I am, to put it mildly, cold weather-averse.  I come by it honestly.  It runs in the family.  My mother hated the cold.  My father was not given to complaining.  But even he was heard to allow that he didn’t like Winter much, and he was always a lot happier and easier to be around in Summer.

My poor daughter has it worse than I do.  She is actually, literally, allergic to cold.  If her skin is exposed to temps much below 50 degrees F, she will break out into hives.  (Let me say here, I am proud her!  She is tough.  She is living on the bike, in this winter!)

Some years ago, when my daughter was about fifteen, we took a trip up to the north-east, to visit relatives.  It was July.  They were experiencing an unprecedented heat wave.  Temps were going above 100 on a daily basis, and people were seriously suffering.  This is an area where a “severe heat wave” is defined as three consecutive days above 90.

So it was hot.  Do I need to mention that we’d brought our bikes along?

It was getting boring, so my  daughter and I decided to go for a ride.  Our family (particularly the northern branch) expressed horror.  “It’s so hot out there!  Why the airconditioner is on full blast, and it’s hot in here!”  they all said.  I’m afraid that my wonderful child and I gave them blank looks in return.  What they were saying sounded like English, but the words didn’t make any sense.

There was another salvo fired.  The nephews were going to be competing in a swim meet.  We promised to be there.  We knew where the event was to be, and we promised to ride there while we were out.  The meet was to start at noon, and the boys wouldn’t be swimming until around 2:00 PM.  We promised that we would be there in time.

The two of us went out into the sultry hot day, and proceeded to have a really nice ride.  Yes, we were warm, but we were on our bikes, and staying hydrated and doused.  There were plenty of stores around, so we could duck in and cool down if necessary, while replenishing our water.

We watched the time.  We changed our routing, and arrived at the swim club at 2:45 PM.  Surprise!  The parking lot was empty!  There was no one in sight.  I was beginning to wonder if I’d managed to commit one of those huge, and politically catastrophic “family foux passé.”  My while I was fumbling in my underseat bag for my phone (they were a lot bigger and clumsier then) my daughter noticed a sign on the club gate.  Suddenly she was roaring with laughter!

“Dad!”  she yelled,  “You’re not gonna believe this!  They cancelled the swim meet and closed the pool!  Because it’s too hot to swim!”

We later learned that the temperature then was a (for that area) record high of 105 degrees F.  We were out riding our bikes on a day when Delawareans considered it too hot to swim.  Joy!

~ ~ ~

The first practical uses I put a bicycle to were going to school, going to the pool, and running small errands for my mother.

That last one was great.  Mom was a light tipper, but she did tip.  And it got me out of the house, and allowed me to ride my bike.  Both good things.  A ride to the store beats doing chores or homework…  hands down!

I wasn’t always fond of going to school, but the time on the bike was great.

Going to the pool was wonderful!  A hot summer day.  I could take myself to the pool.  I wasn’t dependent on parental transport.  I could go when I wanted, stay (within limits) as long as I liked, and come home when I chose, and by  any route that pleased me.  At age ten and up this was freedom and independence.

I made mistakes.  I learned from them.  Sometimes I got home late, or neglected to inform parental authorities of my departures and whereabouts.  I learned responsibility from that.  I found that actions had consequences, choices always had implications, and to always cover my backside.  Valuable stuff.

That’s a lot of what I remember about my young summers.  Later on, my world would widen.  I went farther on summer days.  I could get out into the untraveled countryside.  I found favorite fishing holes.  I found wonderful creeks and streams to swim in.  Some of this activity was unauthorized, and would have been frowned on, but I hurt no one, and no one was ever the wiser.

It wasn’t all idyllic.  I had the occasional flat or mechanical problem.  I learned to cope with those.

I would ride the bike to the woods, and then along fire roads, and trails.  I may have even been “mountain biking,” but that hadn’t been invented yet.

I made a discovery.  It can be far too hot to cut the lawn, but it is almost never too hot to ride a bike.

Thursday Thoughts ~~ Politics

Whoa there!  Before we go any further…  We are not about to embark on a Democrat vs Republican, or Liberal vs Conservative rant here.  In fact just the opposite.  We are going to urge each and every one of you to strongly resist the actions of parties or factions who wish to claim us.  The truth is, cycling and cyclists are far more difficult to characterize, and our issues and concerns cut across party lines and ideologies.

We have friends, and enemies, on both sides of the aisle, and at all points of the political spectrum.  The thing is, cycling doesn’t necessarily put us in any particular camp, but it does tend to become political.

One uncomfortable fact, cyclists tend to be voters.  That is, cyclists, as a group, are far more likely to register to vote, and then to actually show up on election day.  That gives us a certain amount of clout, if we are willing to get organized and use it.

Liberals tend to go with the assumption that they own cycling.  Cyclists are “green,” aren’t they?  Cyclists are “for the environment.”  Cyclists are an identifiable group, who choose to avoid cars and SUVs.  They must be liberals.

Wrong!  The truth is (much as I might not like it) that the majority of American cyclists are recreational riders.  They ride machines that have a significant purchase price.  They have the leisure to do so.  Those two things tend to imply folks who are fairly financially solvent, and firmly in the middle class.  That’s not necessarily a liberal demographic.  You and I both know lots of folks who ride, and who are strongly conservative, drive SUVs, and are staunch Republicans.

Conservatives tend to think in terms of individuals, and cyclists are certainly an individualistic bunch.  Some enlightened conservatives realize that there are a lot of utility cyclists out there, riding to conserve capitol and improve health.  These folks like to think the “bikers” (I hate being called that) are solidly on their side.  It just ain’t necessarily so.  I know plenty of rugged, year-round commuters who make Bill Clinton look like a libertarian.

And what about the “urban-freeride-fixie crowd”?  They are young, and at first blush appear to be a liberal group.  That’s a really dangerous generalization.  Politically, those folks range from all the way across the spectrum, from apathetic and uninvolved, to wildly activist at both ends of almost any issue.

Issues:  This is where the discussion can get really interesting.  There are some distinct issues concerning cyclists, and they will be coming up in our future.

Big Projects:  It’s a fact, elected officials like to cut ribbons.  They like to “bring back the bacon.”  This gives big projects a strong appeal…  to them!  Big projects include things like mass transit, light rail, and heavy rail.  We are often promised a lot of pie when these things are offered.  “They will make life better for cyclists,” we are told.  Has anyone else out there had the joy of playing in traffic near a MARTA bus?  How about the fun of trying to find one’s way around a tracking right of way?

We’ve seen a lot of very pretty artist’s renditions of heavy rail, and rail bus hybrid projects, and if we look closely, there’s usually a depiction of a couple of cyclists along a pretty path.  It’s a nice fantasy.  The record doesn’t stand up to scrutiny.  The various “big projects” just somehow seem to consume an enormous amount of money, and we pedestrians and cyclists end up with little or nothing to show for it.

Facilities Cycling:  Many of us, here in North Georgia, and especially in Peachtree City, are often in this category.  Facilities cycling is riding on a facility provided for the use of cyclists.  The Silver Comet Trail, and Peachtree City’s path network are prime examples.  There are some folks who are just plain happy as can be in this kind of environment.

The potential danger is that once the facilities exist, we are often expected to confine our activity to them.  Has anyone else out there had a motorist shout at them,  “Get  on the path!”  (And believe me, that’s the polite version.)  Seriously, the reasoning goes something like this;  “We gave you cyclists (subtext, slow and in the way) this nice ________ (park, sidewalk, trail, etc.) so why are you unhappy?  And why aren’t you content to stay there?”  We are then expected to be “good little indians” and stay on the reservation.  This is fine if the cyclist in question is happy that way, but many of us choose to use our bikes to go farther and do more.

Law Enforcement:  Often the police are not trained to deal with us as they should, even under the laws of our states.  You all know all kinds of stories.  Some of them are true.  (I’ve had a few negative experiences with police, while I was on the bike.  They do happen.)  On the other hand, if police are trained, and if they actually enforce the law, equally and correctly, they can be a powerful force for educating both motorists and cyclists.  When a motorist gets a ticket and pays a fine for following a cyclist too closely, or for failing to yield at a stop, they tend to remember it.  Maybe not happily, but they get it.  The same applies to cyclists.  Get a few points on your license for moving violations, while riding your bike, and maybe you get the picture.  The system works best if it is applied equally to all.

Land Access:  This is a big issue, and it applies to a lot of us.  Public lands.  Should they be used for a BMX park, a mountain bike trail, a golf course, a paved multi-use pathway, a transportation alternative to the road?  It takes a lot of work to make any of these things happen.  It take informing oneself, and going to endless meetings.  It’s tough.  If you want it, be prepared to roll up your sleeves.

Vehicular Cycling:  Simply put this means using the bike as a vehicle.  That means that when riding on the road, the cyclist behaves as an operator of a vehicle.  This means following the law.  Honest, I believe this is our best protection.  But even here, there is no clear answer.  Bikes and cars don’t co-exist well if the speeds are greatly different.  Some roads simply should not have cyclists on them.  But all vehicle operators benefit from good, well constructed, safe roads.  There’s a lot here.  It can get very technical.

Here’s a case in point.  Our county is bound and determined to build the “West Fayetteville Bypass.”  As of this writing, no provisions are being made for cyclists on this project.  It will be, in effect, a large highway.  It cuts across a lot of good cycling roads.  It puts an obstacle in the way of a lot of ridable road, and directs traffic onto roads that now do not carry much.  Is this a good thing, or a bad one.  The answer isn’t clear.  What do you think?

Summary:  All of the issues discussed here are, at some level, political issues.  Often they are not party politics, but rather local politics.  We get what we are willing to work for, and have the political will and strength to achieve.  I’d advise joining up, and getting organized.  Become informed, and be willing to do some of the work.  The alternative?  Failure to plan is planning to fail.

And Now….

I just want to take a few moments to express something.

It’s been a bit busy, and slightly stressful around here.  I’m recovering from a bit of prostatitis.  No, it’s not serious.  It’s treatable with antibiotics.  It takes me off the bike for a bit.  I hate that.  But I find I must follow my own advice, and follow the doctor’s instructions.  To the letter.  I want to heal well and quickly, and get this behind me.

I’ve been on a whirlwind trip this past weekend, not returning until quite late Monday night.  With a bit of luck, I’ll be caught up by the end of Friday.

So in the very near future, you will again see the kind of stuff I usually post in this blog.

Now to the matter at hand…  Those of you who get my weekly “Tuesday Tome” already know that I’ve been working to arrange relief efforts for a lady who had a nasty cycling accident.  I have been deeply gratified by the way the community has reached out to our new friend.  The amount of response has been incredible.

I am so glad to be a part of this community, to know you all, and to call you friends.

Words actually fail me.  (Difficult to believe, but true.)  So I must simply say,

THANK YOU.  KEEP IT UP, AND THANK YOU.

Audax Ride ~~ Why do it?

Why not?

It’s a day on the bike.

The food is amazing.

It beats cutting the grass.

After this the rest of the year should be easy.

Bragging rights.

If you can do this, you can do touring rides.

I think I can.  I think I can.  I think I can.

They already think I’m crazy, so why not.

Because I don’t want to do a triathlon.

Because I’m thinking of doing a hard triathlon.

I’d like to do a ride, with a group, and the group doesn’t turn it into a race.

It’s a nice way to warm up for a really long ride.

It’s fun seeing looks on the other people’s faces at the lunch stop.

I’ve never laughed so much on bike.


A bad day on the bike beats a great day at the office, home, or yard.

It feels so good when you stop.

I can drink a guilt-free beer at the end!

I look good in lycra.

I want to look good in lycra.

I don’t give a rat’s behind how I look in lycra.

It’s cool to ride with men who shave their legs.

It's cool to ride with women who shave their legs.

I need to spend some quality time with my bike.

I’ve never done anything like this.

They said it couldn’t be done.

I haven’t done enough of this.

The only people who know how far they can go are those who dare to go too far.

Audax means bold and daring.

Audax Ride ~~ A Training Schedule

Here it is, the training program that will get you ready to ride a 200K, in May, and do it in style.

Before we go further, here is one important item to note.  Long distance riding can be intimidating.  Please do not let this be so.  Everyone rides their first long ride by first riding a lot of shorter ones.  That’s the case here.  A large number of first time Audax 200K riders have never ridden a 100 mile ride before doing the full on 125 miler.  This is a great way to get into the spirit of “going long.”

A big part of the training schedule I’m outlining below is that one thing leads to another.  Each step gets one ready for the next.  It is consistency that is the golden key here.  It’s possible to miss an occasional activity or workout, and still be okay.  But remember always, it is just not possible to be consistent only part of the time.

With that in mind, I’m pleased to present the following strong suggestions.

January:

In last Wednesday’s post we recommended the following weekly training program.  Follow this for the month of January.

Monday:  ½ hour Core work

Tuesday:  1 hour Spin Class

Wednesday: ½ hour Core work & 1 hour Strength training

Thursday:  1 hour Spin Class

Friday:  ½ hour Core work. & 1 hour Strength training

Saturday or Sunday:  2 to 3 hours integration riding

Time Commitment = 7.5 to 8.5 hours per week.

February:

Weather will be a challenge this month, but we’re not upping the ante all that much. 

Monday:  45 minute Core work

Tuesday:  1 hour Spin Class

Wednesday: ½ hour Core work & 1 ¼ hour Strength training & 1 hour easy ride

Thursday:  1 hour Spin Class

Friday:  45 minute Core work. & 1 hour Strength training

Saturday or Sunday:  2 to 3 hours integration riding

Time Commitment = 9.25 to 10.25 hours per week.

March:

Monday:  45 minute Core work

Tuesday:  1 hour Spin Class

Wednesday: ½ hour Core work & 1 hour easy ride

Thursday:  1 hour Spin Class

Friday:  45 minute Core work.

Saturday: One hour easy low intensity

Sunday:  3 to 4 hours integration riding

Time Commitment = 9 to 10 hours per week.

Note:  Do the “45 mile Tune Up” on March 21!

Early April:

Monday:  15 minute Core work

Tuesday: 2 hour low intensity ride

Wednesday: 15 minute Core work & 1 hour easy ride

Thursday: 1 ½ hour workout ride

Friday:  15 minute Core work.

Saturday: 1 hour easy low intensity

Sunday:  4 to 4.5 hours integration riding

Time Commitment = 10.25 to 10.75 hours per week.

Note 1:  “Workout Rides”  15 minute warm up, 1 hour at mid aerobic ranges with three to four each 3 minute bursts at high aerobic effort.  15 minute warm down

Note 2:  Do the “45 mile Tune Up” on April 11!

Late April:

Monday:  15 minute Core work

Tuesday: 2 hour low intensity ride

Wednesday: 15 minute Core work & 1 hour easy ride

Thursday: 1 ½ hour workout ride

Friday:  15 minute Core work.  1 hour ride, spinning easy

Saturday: 2 hour easy low intensity

Sunday:  4 to 4.5 hours integration riding

Time Commitment = 12.25 to 13.75 hours per week.

Note:  Do the “65 mile Tune Up” on April 25

26 April through 2 May:  Keep the same schedule as Late April

3 May through 9 may:  Dial it down!  Keep the core work, ride only 7 to 8 hours

9 May to 15 May:

Monday: Rest Day

Tuesday:  2 hours very easy

Wednesday:  1 hour easy

Thursday:  1 to 1.5 hours easy

Friday:  NO!

Saturday:  REALLY  NO!

Sunday:  Do the Audax Ride and enjoy your day!

Friday Follies ~~ The Long Hot Ride

Some of the best rides I’ve ever done have been some of the worst rides I’ve ever done.

It was a blistering hot day in North Texas…

I moved to the Dallas, Texas area in the Spring of 1980.  I did not know I was moving into a record breaking drought and heat wave, but that was in the future and would be followed by record breaking rains and floods.  Such is life in North Texas.

Prior to the move, I’d been living, working, and cycling in the Delaware Valley.  I’d lived in northern Delaware, and in Southeastern Pennsylvania for seven long years.  I’d enjoyed the benefits of a rich cycling community.  But I hadn’t much liked the northeast.  When the chance came to join a large “silicon prairie” defense contractor and live in Texas, I’d jumped at it.

The move was a flurry of activity.  Winding up one job, closing and packing a household, and then jumping over a thousand miles to a new and completely unknown location, where challenges.  Upon arrival in Texas, the first task was to find a cheap temporary apartment, and begin to integrate into the local life.  When the moving truck came, I spent a long and grueling weekend, sorting out what would stay in that apartment, and what would go into storage.  Sadly, one of the choices was to store my bicycle.  (I would later learn never to let a moving company so much as touch a bicycle.)

We were busy.  I had a new and demanding job to learn.  It was seriously challenging work.  In some small “spare time” my wife and I searched for a more permanent residence.  Once located, that entailed another move, and the resulting chaos of finding, sorting, etc.

It was Summer.  It hadn’t rained in a long time, and looked like it never would again.  I was jonesing for a ride.  I hadn’t been on the bike in more than two months.  I had a rare Saturday off work.  (We tended to think that a six day week was normal.)

First I had to find some clothing.  Not easy after a double move.  And worse, most of my old bike clothes either didn’t fit, or were too moth eaten to wear.  Then I turned my attention to the bike.  That was when I discovered that it hadn’t survived the move in prime condition.  Okay, find tools.  Find parts.  Clear workspace.  Work on bike.  It was ready to ride by sundown.  Sunday then.  After church.

That first ride in Texas was both a joy and a disappointment.  The joy came from once again being aboard my old friend.  The disappointment came from…  Well I was in terrible shape, and I didn’t know my way around.  It was a short ride.  I vowed to fix both of those things soon.

I did start riding.  Just not with much regularity.  I mostly rode in the evenings.  It was hot, but I like heat.  These were, by necessity, shorter rides.  I worked long hours, and I didn’t own any lights then.

So, high summer came.  We were seeing temps in the 100+ range on a daily basis.  I had another free Saturday.  This time I was ready.

It was a blistering hot day in North Texas.  The thermometer was reading in the mid 90s by the time I mounted up at 9:00.  That was when the “honey do” list kicked in.  I had to postpone the ride.  I cleared the accumulated chores and errands by late afternoon.

The temp had passed the high, but was still well into the 100s when I finally saddled up.  I was carrying two water bottles.  I wasn’t afraid.

I went “bingo” on water less than two hours later, but there was a store in sight.  I got off the bike, on somewhat quivery legs, and refilled bottles, drank one dry, and refilled again.  I had the thought that I should probably start for home.  The problem was, I didn’t know exactly where home was.  I was that new to Denton County, Texas.  I’d been too consumed by work to do much exploring.  I knew, generally, in which direction home lay, but the roads weren’t cooperating with me.  Worse, I was in mostly empty ranchland.  No services, buildings, or signs of habitation in sight.

The situation was closing in on serious.  That was when another cyclist appeared in the distance behind me.  I watched a bit.  He was moving well, and gaining.  I sat up, and went into low cruise mode.  The other rider overtook me and slowed, grinning.  “You okay?” he asked.

I admitted that I was almost out of water, and didn’t know where I was.  He laughed and said,  “I thought you looked like a Yankee.”  (Ed Note:  In Texas, if you are not from Texas, you are a Yankee.)  Then he handed me his extra bottle and said,  “Stay with me.  It’s only about fifteen miles to the shop.  There’s a country church up ahead where we can fill the bottles up.”

That rider was Jim Hoyt.  He had only recently purchased the bike store in Richardson, and changed the name to the Richardson Bike Mart.  That would have a lot of influence on my life in the future, and would ultimately lead to me being dropped hard by a punk kid named, of all things, Armstrong.

Jim opened the store, and I called home.  I hate calling home for a ride, but this was definitely one of those times.  I didn’t know how to get from Richardson to Lewisville.  I was sunburned, dehydrated, over-exerted, near exhausted, and besides I was whipped.  But I had found a friend, and a bike-home in Texas.

That was one seriously tough ride.  Thanks Jim.