Dave’s Good Stuff

Looks like the weather is going to hold this weekend… at least as of now. Aside from the requisite stiff wind symptomatic of Kansas residency, it should be a great couple of days for riding!

I plan on going out both days, once for a long ride (>= 80 miles), and again for a shorter ride (< = 40 miles). If I can pull about 120 miles out of the weekend, I'll be one happy camper!

For the shorter route, I'm thinking of taking off from my house and running my standard Renner/Johnson Drive loop. It's not very long, but it's got hill.

For the longer route, I'm debating a couple different routes... An out and back between Legends and Lawrence, or a repeat of the Spring Classic '08 route. Both are very nice routes, combining both distance with elevation gain. I think I like the Spring Classic '08 route a little better, but it's been quite a while since I rode the LL route. One downside to LL is that it saves two of the biggest, most grueling hills for the very end. I actually got off an walked for a little bit the last time I rode it with my brother. I was a bit heavier and far less spritely then, though. No walky walky this time. Another downside is that to keep it to 80ish miles, I need to drive to the starting point. I'm not ready for 110 on my own w/o support just yet, which is what would happen if I left from my driveway.

Another couple of weekends and I'll make a go of it. But not just yet. If I choose LL, I'll drive to Legends and go from there. Driving to the start is a pretty big mark against LL right now, but we'll see.

Maps behind the cut…

This is a little late in coming, but the GF and I were driving to Lawrence the other day, and noticed the KCScout signs had a new message. They said something very much like “Watch for Motorcycles on Our Roads.”

Now, at first glance, that’s a decent thing to say… on the surface it’s just telling drivers to be aware. Awareness is good, no? Look deeper. What’s this about “Our Roads?” Whose roads, exactly? The sign is clearly intended for automobile drivers. Who is seriously going to tell a motorcyclist to look out for motorcycles? Do the roads not belong to motorcyclists as well?

The signs, being on the interstate, do not mention cyclists for obvious reasons, but the same attitude evident towards motorcycles in this example is very much held towards cyclists as well. It’s been called “Car Head” by those much smarter than myself, so I’ll just stick with that.

I didn’t give this subtle but pervasive dismissal of cyclists (and our motorized two wheeled brethren) any thought until recently. Reading that article a few months back made an impression, and I’ve been noticing it more and more often, both in those around me as well as myself.

Even now, sometimes I’ll feel like I don’t belong on the road with the cars. Not because of any safety issue, but because I’m on a lowly bicycle. I waste too much time on thoughts like “They must think I’ve had a DUI…” and “They must think my car was repossessed and I have no friends…” rather than just enjoying the ride, confident in my place among the “big kids” (another example of subtle car-head).

Cars are for adults. Bicycles are for children. Everyone knows that adults make few mistakes compared to children, so when there is a wreck involving a car and a bicycle, the fault must lie with the child on the bike, right? Unless that “child” is truly a child, then the protective instinct may kick in. If that “child” is, in fact, an adult, then “…you should have known better. These are *our* roads…”

I noticed a couple of days ago that the message now reads “Watch for Motorcycles.”

Period.

I wonder if someone complained.

That’s what I thought on Saturday, when I went outside to clean out the old dog kennels we’re putting into the garage sale. After the warm weather we’d had all week, the cold snap was reminiscent of Autumn.

This morning continued the trend, and felt, not like fall, but like winter. I broke out the toe covers and thick gloves again, knowing that I would regret it otherwise. My thinking ahead paid off. Not only was it in the mid 30’s, but the slight SE breeze was all the stiffer and colder for heading into it. Again… cold is fine, and wind is fine, but cold wind is *not* fine.

Fortunately, it looks like KS has given me a reprieve when it comes to tormenting me with headwinds both morning and evening. The wind will remain steady today, giving me a tailwind on the way home.

Tomorrow is supposed to be much warmer at 06:30. Up towards 50°F vs. the 35°F of this morning. I don’t know if last night was a record low or not, but it was cold coming in. Looking at the mid 60’s on the way home, so there’s no doubt we’re still very much in the bitter morning rides, complimented by warm to hot evening rides…

Preparation is the key. Us wily commuters have to dress for the cold of the morning, and pack for the warm of the evening. It makes for slightly bulkier panniers and backpacks, but it’s a small price to pay when the only other option for many of us is to drive. I’ll take the extra weight, thank you very much. It’s like a little extra weight on the bar during strength training…

This past weekend didn’t pan out. Barring wetness, this weekend will. Again, I’m not sure which route I’ll go for, but my goal this weekend is 84-90 miles. Frankly, I don’t care about the route, so long as the mileage logged is up in that range or higher.

Anyone care to join me? It’ll be about 5 hours of good solid riding, maybe slightly more.

I just picked up some new toys.

• Garmin Edge 705 at the Garmin employee discount.
• Campagnolo Record Triple crankset at 40% retail
• Campagnolo Record 111mm ISO Asymmetric Triple Bottom Bracket at 60% of retail
• Campagnolo 2008 Comp Triple at retail

All this in preparation for the Triple Bypass… well, most of it.

The components are to replace my double crank with the triple. Keeping it at the double cranks would be to set myself up to fail on those mountain passes. At least this way, I have a fighting chance. The prices simply could not be beat, either, so I didn’t see any reason to go for Centaur or Chorus on the cranks and bottom bracket, or Race or Champ on the derailleur.

The Garmin was because I wanted to, and I could. I’m selling my 305 to a friend, so I’m recouping some of the cost, and he’ll get the benefit of a much nicer bike comp than what he has, for not much more money. If he doesn’t end up wanting it, I have other ideas about where it’ll go.

I’m really looking forward to the Edge 705. Honestly, the 305 does what I want it to, and has been stellar in it’s performance and resiliency, but I want a larger color screen, the increased storage capacity, the better physical UI, the improved mapping features, and the possibility of using a power meter in the future.

Toys! Woot!

Kent has a pretty nice take on wearing a helmet, the role of the Government in our lives, and parenting.

It boils down to the idea that your rights end where mine begin. If you’re out on the streets on two wheels without a helmet… so be it, you endanger no one (except *possibly* yourself). It’s your choice. If you’re out there on four wheels driving at 200mph through neighborhoods, you endanger many, and take the choice to be safe away from others. That’s not ok.

The Government should, perhaps, enact laws giving those charged with law enforcement the power to prevent you from driving like a maniac, or spraying bullets around fast food restaurants, but they government should not enact laws that prevent you from making choices about your life that affect only you (family notwithstanding). In other words, protect me from others, but not from myself.

Finally, the parenting tip, which I found interesting b/c family is definitely in my future was as simple and basic as leading by example. Kids don’t listen, but they do observe. They may not do what you tell them to do, but they will definitely do what you do. Act accordingly.

Given the choice on wearing a helmet or not, I would much rather not. I love the feel of wind in my (lessening) hair and I don’t particularly care for how helmets feel. They’re a bit constricting. They’re not uncomfortable; they’re less comfortable. I wear one b/c I think I’d like the feeling of a broken noggin less. I can see situations where they could save a lot of pain and trouble, but I can’t see situations where they’d cause it. In the spectrum of “Safety Theater” vs. “Real Safety”, I believe helmets fall more in the “Real Safety” realm, and so I act accordingly.

Yet another weekend has come and gone with little in the way of riding. At this rate, I won’t even make it up the first pass.

Saturday was about cleaning the house, putting stuff out to the curb for the bi-annual free trash pickup day, and relaxing in front of the television. The GF was amazed at how many people drove around the neighborhood with trucks and trailers waiting to see what people would put out on their lawn. It’s dumpster diving on steroids. We had a spare mattress and box spring that we had no use and no room for. They were nice, but they were the least of what we had, and they were taking up room we needed for other things. Out to the front lawn they went, and maybe 30 minutes later, they were strapped to the top of a van, on their way to a good home. I love free trash pick up day.

I did get on the rollers for about 50 minutes on Sunday. Laid them out in front of the television and rolled to a BtVS episode. Hush, to be exact. It wasn’t an epic ride, by any means, but it got me worked out. The motionbased.com activity is pretty funny. If you look at the map, you’ll see what looks like me frantically darting around the house and across the street for an hour.

Recumbum has finally passed me on bikejournal.com. I’m really going to have to step it up. ;)

I just found this today. It’s a bit old, so you may have already seen it. There are 23 parts to the series at this point. I’ve seen the first two so far.

Why do people laugh at creationists?

Only creationists don’t know.

Tonight is busy, so tomorrow night I’m going to have to clean up both the Kona and the Torelli.

The Kona b/c it’s exhibiting the tell tale signs of grit in the drive train. Sloppy shifting, chain slippage… all the signs of a dirty and badly worn chain and cassette. At some point I’m either going to have to bite the bullet and get that new commuter I’ve been drooling over, or stick with the Kona and replace the drivetrain… it’s the original components, and I’m sure they’re about ready to step down. They’ve done their duty and need a rest.

The Torelli was falling into it’s old habits of shifting poorly and creaking again last weekend. I think some minor adjustments and a little tightening of the rear brake might do the trick. I hope so, but if not, I’ll be converting it to a triple crankset for the Triple Bypass in the next couple of weeks, so who cares? I think the headset needs some looking into as well.

Until then, I’m planning another 80+ miler this weekend… anyone care to join me? Not sure what the route will be, but I might give the Spring Classic route another shot. I really did like that one. I found it to be a great combination of distance and hills. Another option is the KC Legends to Lawrence route via 24/40 and K32. The only question is… do I include the Clinton Lake Dam loop? That’s a leg buster to be sure.

As always, to see the map… Read the rest of this entry »

It was a touch on the damp side this morning. Not the sloppy wet of a downpour, but the damp of a downpour recently passed. It rained pretty hard last night, with a couple booms of thunder, but by the time I got out on the road, most of the standing water gave way to surface dew. I was expecting rain, as my car had what looked like recent evidence on it, but it was not to be.

Traffic was also a little heavier this morning because I got out about an hour later than usual. I have the benefit of being able (in some cases, having no choice but) to come in late to work on Thursday. Most Thursdays I leave after rush hour. This morning I was smack in the middle of it.

Still, the cars were very considerate and gave me plenty of room. This sometimes astounds me on Quivira. When I’m driving down that God Forsaken artery, I’m amazed that cars can even pass a cyclist with any room to spare, much less the comfortable 3′ or more. The lanes just don’t feel that wide while in a car. On my saddle, however, it feels just fine. I still minimize my time on the road whenever possible. I don’t think it’s unsafe, but I don’t feel nearly as comfortable as on the residential roads that make of the remainder of my route. Why test fate any more than I do already?

The dampness this morning left me with a sort of gritty feeling, which I maintain even now. Perfect for the Board Meeting presentation I have to give later this afternoon.