This Ride: 28.5 miles
Month: 50 miles
2011: 7,119.5 miles
Total since 1/1/2010: 13239.2 miles
The frost was thick this morning. Various thermometers read between 26° & 32° making it the coldest morning this fall. Eight of us were out, five for breakfast, four to Hard Bean. We missed Myna this morning. I attempted a video with my new ContourGPS camera on part of the ride into Annapolis, then set it for still photos some of the way back. Some photos are below. I’ll post a link to the video if I get it to work.
Clint called during breakfast from out of town all excited because while at Ft. Bragg he got to shoot automatic weapons. He tried to send photos, but they never arrived. Dan, Bryan, and Mike C are all riding a 200k tomorrow, so the discussion around breakfast was all about preparations for that ride. At least 10 SPP riders are doing this permanent (new to us) and so it should be a good ride.
While waiting for Mike B at Chick & Ruth’s, a woman bundled up in a thick winter coat commented about how cold it must be to ride a bike in this weather. It really isn’t … as long as you look like Bryan below.
Originally, I planned to ride back with Mike B and accompany him to the airport, but I had nothing this morning in my legs, and my average heart rate of 140 and average speed of 15.2 mph shows it. That’s a great indicator of fatigue. I still accompanied him to my bail off point to go home.
Bryan as we are leaving the Hard Bean
George (crossing guard on left) watches out for us
I love riding up bricked Main Street in the early morning
State Government Buildings on the way off Church Circle
We get our own lane on the Naval Academy Bridge
Reaching the peak of the bridge is always a moment of glory.
The Baltimore Annapolis Trail
The most dangerous intersection on the trail ... and the wettest.
Loving the early morning light and long shadows of sunrise!
This Ride: 21.5 miles
Month: 21.5 miles
2011: 7,091 miles
Total since 1/1/2010: 13210.7 miles
The Bike Doctor had my fixie done a day early, so I swapped bikes with them, installed new rear brake pads, and reassembled all the hardware I removed before taking it to the Dr. The bike was prepped and ready to go this morning, and it rode very smooth (except for the noise introduced when they tensioned the chain just a little too snug).
It was 36° with a brisk northerly breeze but that didn’t deter 8 riders this morning. We broke into two riding groups on Old County hill and maintained that grouping most of the rest of the ride, even though we had a brief meet-up at the turn-around point.
I was also playing with my new Contour GPS camera this morning. I have it mounted on my helmet for now. I got some video early in the ride but for some reason it didn’t want to record on the way back. I wanted to see how it handled the increasing light levels during sunrise and I’m still checking on the aiming and angles from the helmet. I may buy/construct a bike mount after playing more with the helmet mount to see if that works better for me. Watch for links to videos and a review in coming weeks.
My distance goal for December? Originally it was a wimpy 400 miles in order to reach my 8,000 mile goal for the year. After this morning’s ride, I’m 909 miles from the 8,000 mile mark. Four hundred is looking easy. Nine hundred looks nearly impossible in December. I’m going to ride as many days as I can, with longer rides on Fridays and some longer rides near the end of the month … weather permitting.
When I got my fixie, I needed a 15mm wrench to be able to release the nuts holding the wheel to the frame (in the event of a flat or to transport the bike). I bought a Pedro’s Trixie Tool first, but then saw and fell in love with the Surly Jethro Tule.
The photo doesn’t do it justice! The 15mm hex is angled so that this tool is not a knuckle buster nor will it scratch the bike frame when removing the wheel nuts. It is a heavy, substantial tool, short in length but with a broad handle that fits well into my palm giving me plenty of surface area to create the necessary torque to remove and tighten nuts. I really like the hand feel of this tool. It will fit well into a jersey pocket and is even small enough to fit into an under-the-seat tool bag with the spare tube and CO2 cartridge.
As an added plus, the Jethro Tule comes complete with a bottle opener, something every fixie rider needs to have handy.
This is my go-to tool for removing the wheel nuts on the fixie.
I’ve received no compensation for this review, nor was the tool supplied to me for review. The tool was purchased by me for my use and the review is simply based on my experience.
This Ride: 22.1 miles
Month: 524 miles
2011: 7,069.5 miles
Total since 1/1/2010: 13189.2 miles
November is in the books and although I surpassed my goal for the month, 8,000 miles on the year is a long way away.
Last evening Dan and I put out a call for riders and this morning we had 7. That is a safer number, especially when we hit the roadways. Our headlights are often intimidating to oncoming traffic and it is enough taillights to get really noticed when vehicles approach from the rear. I’m curious enough about what it looks like from the rear when we move from two abreast to single file when we notice an approaching car that I’ll likely get out sometime in a car to see it for myself.
Several riders are anticipating a 200k this weekend … “The Last Train to Clarksburg”. It is sounding like there will be a good group. We had more discussion about our planned Boxing Day ride, and I’ll do some research today to explore ride options and willingness of route owners to remain flexible with us. We will register for several different rides early, then as the date approaches, we can decide based on the weather. Some of the routes run over roads that may not be cleared until days after a heavy snow. Yes, it’s getting that time of year again when cold and snow will figure into the equations.
I took the Kona in to the Bike Doctor yesterday and talked to them about replacing my bottom bracket and refurbishing the rear hub. Since a bottom bracket needs to be ordered, I’ll take the Kona in when I pick up the fixie so I’ll not be without a bike to ride. Now there’s an advantage to having at least two bikes!
[Technical Language Translation: A “bottom bracket” is the part that is essentially the axle between the pedals. It runs through the frame, houses bearings, and is a critical moving component of the bicycle.]
I also learned today that I am considered a “core member” of the Severna Park Peloton. I’ve thought of myself that way for a while now, but it is nice to have it affirmed by others.
For the past two years I’ve kept a riding log. Initially I used it for the basics but now it has evolved into a rather complicated multi-worksheet Excel spreadsheet. Maintaining it is fairly easy and it generates a lot of information.
The Log Entry Page
The key data points of each ride are logged onto my “front page”. Included on this page are 12 data entry points (copied from my Garmin) and 6 calculated data points:
- Date (Each day of the year has a separate line so that I can see the days with no rides at a glance.)
- Distance (Multiple ride days have total distance entered.)
- Time (Length of Ride in time)
- Average Speed
- Maximum Speed
- Bike Ridden
- Calories Burned
- Average Heart Rate
- Conditions
- Route
- Goal of the Ride
- Impressions/Notes
- Maintenance Alert [Calculated Field]
- Weekly Distance [Calculated Field]
- Moving 7 Day Distance [Calculated Field]
- Moving 30 Day Distance [Calculated Field]
- Annual Cumulative Distance [Calculated Field]
- Annual Cumulative Time [Calculated Field]
This page supplies the data for most of the other worksheets in the spreadsheet. With 18 columns of information, I can get a quick overview of my rides and my history.
I highlight those rides which are my fastest, longest, or otherwise noteworthy.
Data Overview Page
Information on this page relies on the entries of the previous page. Once the page is set up, all data fields are calculated. Columns here include:
- Date
- Monthly Distance
- Annual Distance
- Decade Distance
- Columns to track goals
- Columns for each bike’s mileage
This page is helpful in giving me a good overview and additional motivation. I spend time looking at my monthly goals for distance, then input them at the beginning of the year. A calculated column lets me know how far ahead or behind I am today for the goal I set. I’ve also got a column which gives me a countdown to the miles needed to complete a circumnavigation of the globe (just for fun).
Maintenance Log
On this page, I started simply noting the date, mileage, and types of maintenance performed on each bike, separately. Later, I added a section which takes the bike’s current mileage, compares it to the recommended maintenance schedule and the last time the maintenance was performed, and gives me the miles to (or past) the next recommended maintenance. The real helpful addition to this was to create a formula on the Log Entry Page that alerts me to when a maintenance item is due and what it is. That item will fill the Maintenance Alert column on the Log Entry Page until I reset the maintenance log reminder. I’m always amazed at how often an alert pops up, and as a result I’m much more aware of preventative maintenance needs.
Month to Month and Goals
I’ve got a simple worksheet that lets me input my goals for each month of the year and see my progress toward those goals. The sheet also lets me see my monthly mileage compared to the same month in previous years.
Clothing Chart
The Clothing Chart is simply a self designed chart broken down by 5° F increments that reminds me what clothing I need for a particular temperature.
Brevet Log
This worksheet contains all my Randonneuring dates, times, distances, and the like. I also have a section of the worksheet designed to calculate what my control departure times will be for different average speeds.
Other
I occasionally use other pages of the spreadsheet for lists of things to pack, needed or wanted items to purchase, or what materials I have in stock. These pages are only intermittently used and are often out of date.
At another time, I hope to discuss how I use all this information (beyond bragging, of course!).
Do you have suggestions about what to include? What data have I left out that you find essential in your cycling log?
This Ride: 21.5 miles
Month: 501.9 miles
2011: 7,044.1 miles
Total since 1/1/2010: 13163.8 miles
It started out great. It was 60° F at 5:30 am. The rain overnight had ended and the stars were out bright. There was a little light fog. Into all that I overdressed and I suffered as a result.
I don’t do well when I’m overly warm. So the ride this morning was not as pleasant as it could have been, but I was out, and accomplished my original mileage goal for November a day early. Time to tweek my clothing chart.
There were four of us out. Dan and Scott were patient with Mike C and I until the hill at Old County Road, then they took off and disappeared. Mike and I rode the rest of the way together, talking up winter riding and the Fleche in April. He’s in. I need to see if I can find coverage for that ride, then I’m a definite too.
Thank you patient readers for your continuing persistence with these posts. I’m soon going to take this blog in a little different direction. It will still have ride logs and accounts, but I’m hoping to add some other interesting pieces, especially for novice riders. I’ve come a long way in a couple of years, and it is time to do more giving back.
It is a significant day for bike maintenance today.
The easy part was washing and de-greasing and lubing the Kona. While doing that I discovered that the bottom bracket is either failing or is in need of some maintenance. It offers some resistance multiple places around the pedal stroke. I’ll get that in next week.
The Origin8 (fixie) went in to the Bike Doctor. It needs new sealed bearing headset, new sealed bearing bottom bracket, and the wheel hubs need to be fixed. There is a lot of play in them, I discovered as I took the bike in. It will be Thursday before I pick it up and should be as good as new … well, it needs new brake pads too, but I’ll do that once I get it back.
I’ve really improved my ability to do chain maintenance on the Kona. Here are my steps.
- Use a biodegradable de-greaser on the chain, cassette, rings, and jockey wheels.
- Use a brush to loosen the old lubricating material.
- Use the chain cleaning tool for better cleaning.
- Use a bike wash solvent on the frame, and a paper towel or soft brush to eliminate crud.
- Gently use the hose to wash down/rinse all the components with water. The combination of de-greaser and water works great!
- Allow the bike to air dry.
- Re-lube the drive chain.
This system saves me at least 30-60 minutes over the old rag in between the cogs to get all the old junk out.
This Ride: 22.9 miles
Month: 480.5 miles
2011: 7,022.7 miles
Total since 1/1/2010: 13142.4 miles
Another milestone passed! I’ve logged over 7,000 miles this year on the bike. My annual goal has been 8,000 and I doubt I’ll make that one, but this is no small feat.
It was a great morning for our weekly Mosey Monday Ride. I was surprised that at 5:45 there was only one lone light on the horizon and I was the only one on the bridge. It was 51°, so that shouldn’t have stopped anyone. I stayed up late and watched the game last night. Bill C was the rider pulling up, and we both marveled at how few were out. Soon enough, we picked up Dan, Clif, and Chip and so we had good conversational groups. I rode the fixie again.
The sunrise was spectacular. It started with the deepest, darkest reds, gradually brightening as the morning progressed. Soon enough our ride will be started and ended in the dark again. But for now, we get to see great sunrises. Ours was a little quicker pace than most Mosey Mondays, but it felt good, and it feels like the rib is mending enough that I can be back out consistently again.
On the way home, I cut a light a little tight, causing some cars to brake, and with the extra shot of adrenaline that gave me, I was able to power up Ritchie Highway home with my personal best speed.
Oh how I love that first hour home after a good ride like this morning! Those endorphins are the best.
If the weather holds today, I’ll get my bikes out for a much needed cleaning and degreasing. I’ll also be making an appointment for the fixie at the Bike Doctor so I can get sealed bearings installed for my winter riding adventures.
This Ride: 26.5 miles
Month: 457.6 miles
2011: 6,999.8 miles
Total since 1/1/2010: 13119.5 miles
Sunday afternoon with no meetings! Outdoor temps are 70° F. Lori is gone out of town and the “honey-do” list has nothing on it. It’s time for a ride!
I got out shortly after 2:00 wearing my bib shorts and a short sleeve jersey and was amazed not only how many others were out enjoying the warm end of November weather, but how overdressed they were. I saw coats, balaclavas, long pants and long fingered gloves on cyclists. Of course, the speed most were going meant that the only sweat being generated was the overheating variety. I had an easy pace, and was not passed by a single rider over many miles of trails. Yes, I passed plenty of people.
I was out on the fixie. This was the first time I’ve ridden it since my return from the crash where I broke the rib. The rib gave me no trouble on the ride, but the ride did wear me out! I’m a lot tireder post-ride than I expected.
The temperatures were marvelous. The wind was a little gusty, but since that is what brought the warm temperatures, I’m not going to complain.
It would have been nice to ride with someone … but that will come tomorrow. I’m off work all week, and I intend to get some miles in.
Had I known I was 0.2 miles from 7,000 miles on the year, I would have pushed on just a little further. Oh well, tomorrow.
Rev Rider 