Terry Soft Leather

My new Terry is not as cushy as my old Terry Fly Cromoly, but after just one ride, I felt comfortable. The seat is much lighter and the leather is soft and subtle. My sits bones fit the saddle perfectly and it is much more comfortable than the Selle. I was so excited about experimenting. I had to eliminate some strain in my peroneus longus muscle in my right leg. I rode my bike in conditions favorable for heavy thunderstorms. I lowered the seat about 3mm and moved my right shoe forward by adjusting the cleats on my speed plays. My left leg was perfect, and I suspect one of my legs is shorter than the other by a very miniscule amount. The minor change help me feel much more powerful and the setup felt better. Only a long ride will expose the results of the position change. I am hoping this change will help me to avoid injury. Considering my age I am suspect that I may be experiencing osteoarthritis as is in my family history. I hope to continue cycling for as long as possible. Though I had started out just for a short ride, I was enjoying myself so much that I just kept riding. I decided I had better get home and it started raining hard. I got soaking wet, but the temperature was very warm and I was thrilled with the ride.

Try again

The new saddle looked great, but after a fair test of a little over 18 miles, I couldn't imagine riding 100 miles on the thing. Though padded and well made, the saddle caused me some pain that I honestly felt would not get better, and only worse over time. Because the saddle was very expensive, I had to be assertive and just send it back. My terry chromoly saddle has a split in the cover and has been ridden 3800 miles, so I will try a leather covered Titanium railed Fly. If the formula works, perhaps it is best to use what works. It was sad that the seat was so un forgiving, but a saddle is a very personal thing. I plan to do some long endurance charity rides next year and perhaps a race and I don't need any un-necessary physical problems. I have found small problems become big problems over a long ride. Best to get all the kinks out.

Nemo has a new seat.

Nemo's seat arrived one day after I ordered it from competitive cyclist. She had picked up a lot of dirt as we had to take a brief muddy detour at the end of today's ride. I left the UPS guy a note to just leave the package if I was away and I found it when I got home. I will need to dial it in over a period of time and my butt may have to get use to the new seat. It isn't as cushy as the Terry, and so it may need to be broke in. It is much lighter than my last seat which the covering had started to crack. Like most things, it was very expensive and I hope it is as good as it is hyped up to be. The new 2009 Selle Italia Flite Gel Flow Saddle looks stunning. I tried to match the measurements of the last saddle, but the dimensions are not quiet the same, so I will need to experiment with it. I used a level after cleaning and lubricating the bolts. For fun, I may later experiment with red bar tape like Nemo had when I first got her last year. I have a lot of work to do while it is cold and I am thinking about focusing on charity century rides next year. I may even think about going to Texas to ride in the Live Strong Challenge. Who knows, I may even feel up to Racing in the Joe Martin Stage race in May 2009, but that race is extremely difficult. Time will tell.

Fayetteville Bicycle Trails

It was freezing all day and below 30 degrees F. for most of the day. I did a little laundry and pretty much acted like a slug on the couch. I laid on the couch with my knees bent up motionless to the point that I felt like my heart was almost close to just not pumping, or a least very slow. I fell asleep briefly. I went to a fellowship meeting I attend, showing up late, and by the end of the meeting, the sun felt a little warmer. It had risen to 39 degrees and the sky was bright and clear with the sun piercing my eyes with its late Fall angle. I decided to go home and put on my cold weather riding stuff, which consist of my assos riding shorts, which are one size too small, some synthetic poly something thermal underwear, some long spandex type long riding pants with no cameos, a thermal poly something spandex like thermal underwear top, a white t shirt from the 2008 tour de cure, my riding jersey, a fleece pullover, and leather thinsulate gloves. On my head, I wore a thin toboggan and my helmet, and on my feet I wore merino wool socks which are very snugly and soft, my biking shoes, and descent bike shoe covers. I wore clip on sunglasses. I decided to check out the Fayetteville bike trails everyone was telling me about.

The bike trails were totally amazing and winded for close to 13 or so miles around town. Not only were they well designed, smooth and wide, but they designed some areas that went under the major highway through tunnels. It was a great adventure of which I completely underestimated for their length and freedom from traffic. A person could speed as fast as physically possible or just take it easy. I saw several bikers of all levels and even several people walking which I let know that I was slowly approaching them from behind.

I found that these trails will make a perfect place to build up fitness after being off the bike. It is also mostly out of the wind as opposed to the road, and very easy to just relax and pedal slow. I did loose contact with the trail at the end of my ride which took me about 8 miles from my house, so I just took the road which immediately let my body know I was totally out of shape. I had to sprint in traffic after the light and I was in the cold wind which was very hard on my lungs.

All in all, I never regret my rides when I make the effort to get out on my bike Nemo. I do feel like all the clothing restricts my movement, but I am also out of shape. So my focus will need to be core strength and it will be time to get a head start on my base miles and general form.

It amazes me how out of shape I felt, but I did climb well enough at the end of the ride back to my house. That is always the real test and it won't take too much time to get back into riding form. The biggest benifit from making my lazy butt get out on the bike is how inspired and enthusiastic I am when I get back. It puts me in a better frame of mind. I'm definitely exploring tomorrow as it is suppose to be a high of 51 degrees F.

Rough ride

This is actually a picture of White Rock Mountain, but it pretty much describes the conditions of my mountain bike ride. My favorite trail at Devils Den State Park was far Rockier and rough than it has ever been. The Huricane that passed over the state a couple months ago ravished many large trees as they layed across the trail about every 20 to 50 feet apart. The trees are huge and not just a technical challenge, but several were at chest level or full of limbs and debree. Aside from the extreme number of small to large jagged rocks on the trail, everything is covered with leaves which hides any true line that might present itself. Because I haven't ridden a mountain bike in a long time, or at least the technical sections I use to ride, I had to walk several sections because they were too dangerous or the trail was blocked by large trees that had been blown over and ripped from the ground from their roots. As I rode on, my mountain biking instincts began to come back and my technical skills were not that bad. However, because I was riding a borrowed bike that I was not use to, and that seemed to sag the bottom bracket too low for rocky conditions, I found my pedal hitting rocks and I just didn't feel set up for some of the more challenging and scary spots, so I just used good old common sense and hiked the scary sections. I got some really good down hill experience where my balance and forward scanning came back into play, but I felt I needed to be extra careful being away from medical help if I needed it. If I get a mountain bike in the future, it will definitely be a full suspension as a hard tail would have beaten me to death. Very hard work out. I felt strong and my endurance was good, but the trail was too rough and needs attention. Besides the very cold north wind, it was a glorious day to be out in nature and on the bike.

Cool Mountain Ride

Thursday morning I am going to borrow my friend, Ranger Tim Scott's mountain bike and visit my favorite mountain bike trail. Mountain biking use to be my only form of riding and I put a great deal of energy and time into it. Well since then I sold my equipment and then later migrated to Road riding. What I loved about mountain biking was the fact that I had to focus and get into a zone, not only physically, but mentally or I would suffer possibly hazardous results. It use to be my form of meditation where after an hour or so, the problems I felt took a back seat to living in the moment. I look forward to my ride tomorrow. It is suppose to be colder than the last few days, but being in the trees deep in the woods shouldn't be too bad. It will certainly be a change of pace.

Fall

Well now it is getting cooler. I am less motivated, and I have never really enjoyed cooler air. I would do more on my bike, but I don't want to put a lock on my road bike to do errands. I am thinking about getting a light cable lock and putting a terry cloth around it so it won't scratch my bike. I am considering finding a place to do weight training or core exercises during the up coming winter months. My big goal is to get my truck fixed and taken care of as I certainly can't afford to get another one. Anyway, this picture pretty much describes my mood lately, tumultuous. I am needing something positive to focus on, so I think I will just go for a ride as a good form of meditation, come home, and clean my house. The tour de cure ride went well, but the wind the second half of the century was murder for everyone. The roads in Missouri were rough. I took a wrong turn at the end of the ride just a few miles from the end and ended up doing 105.36 miles. I did ride a little before the event to warm up, but most of the added miles were from getting lost. I felt pretty good except for a little tendinitis from working so hard in the wind. I rode 13 the next day, and then did 40 the next week, and then 35 the next week. I guess I need some cross training, and I am thinking of borrowing a mountain bike to do some single track next week.