your daily bicycle log

it's almost time to post pix of my calves gentlemen

xmas eve day ride in central park 3hrs endurance, this was torture at first but eventually i got into a great tempo

flying down a desolate bike path along an arroyo
slow burbling creek on my left
train tracks and occasional freighter on my right
80 degrees and huffin
back tire blows out
enough to blow the bead out and over the rim
"hello? hi it's Steve. yeah uh... can someone come get me?"

PIX PLZ

guys guys i just went on a tandem for the first time EVER, awesome fun! only like 25 or 30km around country lanes in the dordogne but so ace!

No riding today, but- 20 mins ago in treacherous riding conditions:

me: *walking on v. v. icy/snow sidewalk, crossing over dedicated bus lane as bus approaches. move a foot or so to left to ensure not being hit by bus*

small voice behind me: "on your left" *nearly simultaneous bike crash sound*

me: *look over shoulder, prepare to ask "are you ok?"*

little woman in balaclava on _decked_ Primus Mootry cx rig: *picking self up* "Oh, gee thanks."

me: *dander rising* "was i in your way?"

lwodpmcb: "i said 'on your left'!"

me: "WHAT!? WHY ARE YOU ON THE SIDEWALK? WHY ARE _YOU_ EVEN ON A BIKE? DON'T TRY TO LAY THAT ON ME. nice cross bike tho." *spins on heel, continues walking."

its the most smugly self-righteous ive been in... hours, i was angry and embarrassed at the same time. im sure to her i just looked like some douchebag in a suit.

i visited my pops in south carolina and got to some biking! 12 miles or so, which is just about how long i can go before getting bored.

i started out riding my stepmom's Giant bike, which is sweet, then switched and rode my dad's pedal-backwards-to-brake bike. also my dad fell off his bike once.

next summer will be the summer of biking. so excited you guys.

awesome!

MADISON TO CHICAGO. THINK ABOUT IT.

I got like $150 worth of bike tools for Christmas but except for one cone wrench basically NONE of them will be of use on my cotter-pinned, threaded-freewheel babies. I had to take everything back. The LBS they came from did not have a lock ring wrench, a third hand, cloth bar tape, or anything I needed for sale. ;__;

I realize this is all my fault for having obsolete machines but I can't help that right now.

<3 u

MADISON TO CHICAGO. THINK ABOUT IT.

wow. how long do you think that would take?

its like 150mi right?

that's about right. so maybe 13 - 15 hours or something?

Why are bike lanes on the left in nyc?

one-ways?

driver on left of car, easier to see you

Ugh - haven't touched my bike for 6 days due to social and alcoholic commitments, and now we're forecast freezing winds so there's no chance of me getting out on the open road. Also I have a cold so the trainer isn't likely to get much use either. Kinda pathetic to have lost my bike fitness by the start of January.

First time on bike in month! Desperate bid to get fit again before skiing holiday! Titanic struggle to get out of bed in time for work after over a week off! Only 35 minutes late!

Freezing winds, what, when?!?

Today, in theory! Except the forecast snow hasn't come and it was cold but still this morning.

Bike lane on the left is basically mandatory on bus routes, the bus spends whole time weaving back and forth across where lane would be if on the right.

Bugger me it is cold today. Biked from bushwick to willamsburg to get wifi and still felt the chill, especially beneath my all too summery shoes.

I'm out of work so here for another week.

Plus side of the cold - I can really justify this bourbon with my tea.

Minus side of things, wifi broken in this bar. Anyone know a good free wifi place near metropolitan av and roebling st?

Ed, I don't know how you're biking today. Fucking no way. Of course my lungs are fucked so the cold air makes me choke, so I'm biased.

Wrapping something in front of the face helps a lot. Extremeties were in pain though. Might not try it again though but I think the coldest passes today.

i just went running!

new night time safety setup practice run in 5 mins...will report back

i need headlamp that isnt 15yrx old

i've been off the bike all week sick.

hunter please assure me i didn't lose the entirety of my fitness from september :/

gnarly storm next few days
ain't no biking in my near future

Apparently -12C in NYC yesterday: http://bikesnobnyc.blogspot.com/2008/01/something-to-ponder-is-there-fixed-gear.html

nuh uh you dint lose it! see how easy that was?

one of my teammates was a phd exercise physiology guy and he said that it is rather bad to be totally sedentary (meaning actually like, IN BED). but being sick, off the bike, but semi functional wasnt so bad a setback.

always remember that training = work + rest. if you dont rest you wont get the compensatory overresponse that makes you stronger/fitter. you weren't sick, your were resting then. i sometimes felt like two weeks after illness i might even be ahead of my previous curve.

and i know you know you can't "make up" the lost time by training twice as much for this week. just resume the plan as yr coach advises. youll do great, and most of yr competition is probably just marking up their training calendar-its the first week of january.

Probably old hat to you guys but FUCK ME!!! going over the bridges in New York is Fun. I want to do them all has the George Washington got a Bike Deck?

Also, where to find good bike shop I feel the need for a pair of gloves.

Bridges are fun! I remember the first time I took the Bklyn Bridge, it was at night and it was LIKE WO. The bike entrances on the Bk side of the Manhat & Bk Bridges can be kind of hard to find, tho -- did you manage?

I biked to club on NYE but a) first time I FORGOT MY LOCK and had to go home, and b) on my trip back my blinker popped off and into the road and a police car ran over it GO SMASH. So I'm out a blinker.

How they didn't see a flashing red thing fall off and lie in the road in front of them and then me turn around with a big "OH NOOOES" face and wave my arms at them, I'LL NEVER KNOW, but I was half waiting for them to pull me over for safety violations and I was about mad enough to hope they did.

ed the george washington bridge is how you get to the 9W/nyack ride. do it!

9w/nyack?

Off to Brentford in a minute. I hope my lungs work.

Phew! That was fun. Just over 20 miles, not much in the way of hills, a bit blowy, good temperature for riding. Here's the route (starting out heading west):

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/biondino/cycle050108.jpg

fuck it
riding to work in the rain is no big deal

makeshift rear fender out of jumbosize paper soda cup = DIY no more soggy butt

wearing a big jacket and 21oz jeans (<- this is the key)
found an old pair of goretex trail trainers
i am in business

i repeat,
NOBIGDEAL

WHAT ARE 21 OUNCE JEANS? FUTURE JEANS MEASURED IN LIQUID?

http://sewing.about.com/library/weekly/aa102505.htm

how do you bend your knees enough to ride in those!!

http://dontmix.blogspot.com/2007/11/self-edge-x-iron-heart-cycling-denim.html
oh whoa

Reinforced crotch rivet

I know all those dudes and they're all really short.

I have regular Iron Heart 21oz. though... much cheaper than those "cycling jeans" (1/2 the price) and they do the trick just fine:

http://www.ironheart.jp/products/634S.html

I hate riding in regular jeans because their lack of movement makes me feel like I'm fighting against my trousers as well as the road, wind etc. 21 oz jeans must be crazy!