Saving Daylight

Well, it's that time of year again. Wait a minute, no it's not. It's early for DST but what the hell, it just makes it so I can ride after work earlier so I'm not complaining one bit. This morning I took the Raleigh out for a good one. Did about 32 miles and change. Not many cars out and quite tolerable weather. Around 50 and overcast. Wet roads like crazy. I had this uneasy feeling that my tires were sliding out from under me a few times. I'm not sure if they were or if I'm jsut crazy, it was a quite unsettling feeling. I wasn't imagining it when I rode over the metal grate bridge at the Salmon preserve. I was distracted with nature and almost went down twice. That would not have been pretty at all. I've heard of people going down on those things and I know I don't want to do it. I guess I'm going to call this the official start of the riding season for me. DST will allow me much more flexibility in riding, and I should be able to start riding to work again this week.

On the wrenching side of things. Jim sent in measurements to Gunnar so now he's waiting in the verdict; custom or stock frame. I will likely soon move my moustache bars to the Raleigh, and I have decided instead of putting the triple back on the Bridgestone, I will probably get a Surly stainless single ring for the front, and run 1x7.

Calm before the [next] storm

Well, the last couple of days have been gorgeous, mid day temps in the 40s, bright sunshine, and clear roads. I brought in the newly reconfigured Pirate Bike. I changed the handlebar to a flat bar with Ritchey grips like came stock on my Mtn bike in 92, and changed the lever to a proper V-brake lever. I can stop like crazy now. So I brought the bike to work and rode at lunch the last two days, putting me over 100 miles for the new year. Unfortunately, there is a blizzard coming tomorrow, so I will likely not be able to ride again outdoors for at least a week or two. C'est la vie. I am considering changing the bar on the Raleigh tour bike to the moustache bar formerly on the PB, for some classic touring stylee. Though if I do that, I might want a shorter stem on that bike.

Also on the horizon is a custom build for Jim who is ready to upgrade his aluminum Cannondale, to a Gunnar Roadie, that we will assemble with a full Ultegra kit (oh baby). So we'll see what the weather brings us tomorrow. Hopefully I'll be riding more soon.

But baby, it's cold ouside.

Saturday made for a bitter cold ride. I went out on the newly reconfigured Bridgestone. Reconfigured back to MB riding, that is. A new Dart classic graces he front wheel, some old Kenda mb tire on the back, new Exage Mountain rear derailleur. When I the the gumption, I'll put a flat bar back on it, and maybe, just maybe, the front derailleur, and if I'm feeling really into it, I've got an old Alivio crankset to completely regear the thing since I'm only running a 40t ring up front. Ah, but I digress.Last week on sunday, after my leg cramp inducing ride, I went out in the snow for 11 on the Bridgestone, the snow is what brought on this bout of wrenching, I am starting to remember how much fun offraod riding is and want to get back into it after 10 years of roadiedom.

When I set out I had planned to explore 2 dirt roads. Unfortunately, it turns out the Russel Road is what I had suspected, a summer-only road not plowed in the middle section that is like all too many back roads in Maine. The road was very rutty and made for a good work out with packed snow. That rear tire leaves a little to be desired in terms of snow traction but I knew that. I had one near miss with a rut on the side of the main road. It was a good reminder that you can't take the "surface" for granted in the winter. The wind did me in as I doubled back up Russel. On 126, the wind was so strong from the west, that I could barely pedal against it. I had planned a 12 mile ride but cut it short to 8 miles and change. It was 18°F, with the wind, I have no idea what it "felt like". I had on tights, Gore-Tex pants, Ski parka, fleece jersey, Duofold longjohn shirt, windstopper gloves, fleece balaclava, merino socks, and Salomon shoes. Feet cold, hands warm, head cold, chest warm, pants cold.

Winter's Here?

So yesterday I did 25 miles on the PB. I still love the big 700X32 Panaracers I put on last week the one extra gear inch it gives makes the gearing great. I set out on a circle of unknown distance; I was pretty sure it wasn't more than 30 miles. It was a good loop, I will ride it again, it provides a good mix of descents, climbs, a few short flat stretches but mostly the usual rolling terrain. The only problem was that it was 35°F and I was riding into the wind for 75% of the ride. The kind of wind Garrison Keilor quotes as saying, "I'm gonna kill you , Boy." I had to stop 3 times to stretch my calves due to the descents.
This was one of those rides that makes you feel old. Amanda dug out her old yearbook later on in the evening from her mom's house. Looking through at the photos from the year I was in the best shape of my life is not great for the ego, when you get back from a ride like this. This morning I feel like someone beat the crap out of me. I suspect it's easier to feel young when it's warm.

It was a good mind clearing ride and I did actually half-assedly invent a new piece of bike tech: A single sided hub that would mount both a freewheel and fixed cog on the same side. I'm still working out the details in my brain. I got the idea from the White Industries Dos freewheel unit. I doubt I have the technical capacity to create this from old parts. Though there is also the possibility of modifying a freehub to accomplish the same task via a locking pin(s). I need to disassemble one to figure this out. I assume I could modify a freehub easier than a freewheel mechanism. The idea would be so that it would be more practical to switch between fixed/free on a really long ride.

Global Warming

Yeah, it's here. 60°F this is January, in Maine. Today I changed the tires on the PB out in the garage. I put on some all black Panaracer Urban Max tires 700x32. This is notable more for the fact that I was not wearing gloves at the time and I was in the unheated garage. Even more notable was when I finished, I took the Raleigh out for 17.5 miles and I wore shorts and a longsleeve jersey! January! This is really just a bit ridiculous. I saw joggers, walkers, horse riders. It was like Spring. I'm enjoying being able to ride, this was my first ride of 2007, but jeez, this weather ain't right.

Happy New Year!

I was hoping to go for a ride today, but Old Man Winter finally delivered some serious anti-biking weather. 33°F and rain/snowing. I did get to ride yesterday. I took out the Bridgestone with the rear derailleur back on it making a 7 speed mtn bike. With the high limit pin gone (completely seized, had to drill it out) it makes for some twitchy shifting. Looking to replace that derailleur with an old XT model hopefully. The roads were completely covered with packed snow. I only rode up to the end of the road and back, but it was nice to get out. The new tires came in for the PB, 700x32, unfortunately, I bought the wrong size innertubes. Doesn't much matter, since anything but knobbies can't go for a while here. So here's to a new year. Happy riding to all.

12-27-2006

After hemming and hawing about whether or not I was going to ride at all, I ended up riding the PB to my parents house which makes for about a 27 mile ride. I managed to make a new benchmark for myself riding fixed on this ride. I didn't touch the brakes once. Today my left Achilles tendon is a bit tight but it was pretty cool coming down the biggest hill on the way and not using brakes. It makes me want to go brake-less just for the aesthetic, but I know that would just be foolish and asking for trouble at this point. By the time I got there I was pretty out of juice.

Today I will likely go for a fairly easy ride to loosen up my tight leg. I need to do a little shop time too, to clean up, get the tools all in order and re-clear out my work space, for the 90,000,000th time.