Author Topic: June Cycling Challenge 2015  (Read 23895 times)

MLKnits

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 276
Re: June Cycling Challenge 2015
« Reply #100 on: June 24, 2015, 06:09:20 AM »
Unbelievable headwind on my bike home yesterday afternoon. It was wretched, but also had some of the classic hallmarks of badassity; I felt pretty damn good after I got off the bike (including the pride of some effort-related soreness in the old gluteus muscles), and also found myself wanting to understand the mechanics of wind better than I currently do. Inside my car, I might have some awareness of the wind (though less than SUV drivers), but it's of minimal importance, and never stirs my curiosity. It's nice to spend a chunk of each day really interacting with the natural world ... even when it's damned exhausting.

grantmeaname

  • CM*MW 2023 Attendees
  • Walrus Stache
  • *
  • Posts: 5960
  • Age: 31
  • Location: Middle West
  • Cast me away from yesterday's things
Re: June Cycling Challenge 2015
« Reply #101 on: June 24, 2015, 09:00:09 AM »
I was really hoping to get some more miles this month than I did in May but I had a minor surgery Monday so I'm not allowed to exercise for the next handful of weeks. That'll take me to halfway through July, and I've got a big move at the beginning of August. But once I'm settled in for that I'll finally be commuting by bike again, so I should start putting up some real miles.

Le Poisson

  • CM*MW 2024 Attendees
  • Senior Mustachian
  • *
  • Posts: 16253
Re: June Cycling Challenge 2015
« Reply #102 on: June 24, 2015, 07:42:22 PM »
My cycling numbers are sucking this month, but a couple good things have come up...

Our department took my bike for a day and went around testing loops with it. Surprise! Some can't pick it up no matter what they try. So yeah, detection may suck. Viva la push button!

Also, I went to an engineering-for-bikes workshop. It was fun to be in a room with a bunch of like-minded people in the same profession. Hopefully we see things change over the next few years.


ohyonghao

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 638
  • Age: 39
  • Location: Hillsboro, OR
Re: June Cycling Challenge 2015
« Reply #103 on: June 26, 2015, 12:41:54 PM »
Temperatures are to reach 100* on Saturday, planning to start riding by 7am to beat the heat.  I have a 6mi uphill TT coming up mid July and what the road race last Sunday taught me is that I suck at climbing hills.

Last night on a group ride my chain got trapped between the lower jockey wheel and its cage.  That shoved the jockey wheel out of alignment causing that problem to happen over and over again until we realized what the problem was.  Forced the jockey wheel back over and heard a click, so hopefully it stays put, but the question is what caused the original incident?

Cookie78

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1888
  • Location: Canada
Re: June Cycling Challenge 2015
« Reply #104 on: June 29, 2015, 10:00:24 AM »
Looks like my goal to bike each day to work this month is going to succeed. One and a half more days to go. The first 2 weeks it took some perseverance, but the rest of the month it would have taken a LOT for me to want to take the bus instead. This morning I got on my bike after a long weekend (I had Friday off) and within a 1/4 block I had a smile on my face and a happy feeling in my chest. What a pleasant ride in this morning. So much so that I was even feeling happy to get to work on a Monday morning. :)

grantmeaname

  • CM*MW 2023 Attendees
  • Walrus Stache
  • *
  • Posts: 5960
  • Age: 31
  • Location: Middle West
  • Cast me away from yesterday's things
Re: June Cycling Challenge 2015
« Reply #105 on: June 29, 2015, 10:03:23 AM »
FYDK, we've got one more badass in our ranks!

mskyle

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 691
Re: June Cycling Challenge 2015
« Reply #106 on: June 29, 2015, 10:28:25 AM »
Thanks to forgetting my laptop at home this morning and having to double back, I'm (just barely) on track to beat my January and March numbers, but nowhere near my April and May totals. A few out-of-town family events really cut into my weekend riding, and I missed a few days of work due to illness, which cut into my commute miles. We're entering July with some beautiful cycling weather, though (highs only in the 70s) so hopefully that will get me back out there.

ohyonghao

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 638
  • Age: 39
  • Location: Hillsboro, OR
Re: June Cycling Challenge 2015
« Reply #107 on: June 29, 2015, 02:18:21 PM »
Looks like my goal to bike each day to work this month is going to succeed. One and a half more days to go. The first 2 weeks it took some perseverance, but the rest of the month it would have taken a LOT for me to want to take the bus instead. This morning I got on my bike after a long weekend (I had Friday off) and within a 1/4 block I had a smile on my face and a happy feeling in my chest. What a pleasant ride in this morning. So much so that I was even feeling happy to get to work on a Monday morning. :)

Congratulations on making it a full month!

On Friday I took my road bike back out a gain, and had the same problem happen while climbing a 17% hill, but this time I know the culprit.  Recently I had added some links back to my chain because I think I took too many off.  I guess the action of doing that so many times caused one of the link's pins to become loose.  The loose pin had worked itself out a ways, pushing itself against one side of the cage, and the link this time got split on the other side, causing the jam.  Luckily I happen to carry a multitool which includes a chain link tool.  So I got to the side of the road, pulled off the now bent link, and got the chain put back together.  I've ridden 70 miles since and no trouble.

The best feelings have come recently in the midst of adversity, where I had bike trouble and instead of getting discouraged, figured out how to fix it.  Flats used to be discouraging, now they are just a temporary delay.  I also was having noise in my bottom bracket on my commuter.  I washed both bikes this weekend, and was looking into what could be the problem.  I took apart the bottom bracket, and when I got to one bolt which holds the left crank arm on I noticed it was extremely loose.  This is the one which is responsible for keeping the two arms together.  After cleaning everything, greasing things that should be greased, and putting it back together I now have no noise.  Didn't even need a Youtube video this time.

margaretstewart.work

  • 5 O'Clock Shadow
  • *
  • Posts: 7
Re: June Cycling Challenge 2015
« Reply #108 on: June 30, 2015, 07:55:12 AM »
I don't mind cycling in the pouring rain- as long as one is careful of potholes. Its actually preferable over a strong headwind any day.

TrMama

  • Guest
Re: June Cycling Challenge 2015
« Reply #109 on: June 30, 2015, 11:25:00 AM »
Holy Hades it's hot out. How on earth do people survive in hot climates? I'm in the PNW and it was 87F for my ride home yesterday. There was also a nice headwind that made it feel like riding in a blast furnace.

ohyonghao

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 638
  • Age: 39
  • Location: Hillsboro, OR
Re: June Cycling Challenge 2015
« Reply #110 on: June 30, 2015, 11:43:09 AM »
Holy Hades it's hot out. How on earth do people survive in hot climates? I'm in the PNW and it was 87F for my ride home yesterday. There was also a nice headwind that made it feel like riding in a blast furnace.

I think we adapt to it.  I've actually found the weather quite enjoyable, and was disappointed it never reached 100F.  Inside it's gotten up to 80F or so and we find it nice inside.  Sometimes we'll turn on a fan.  So far we've gone 18 months and no AC.

I did do my Saturday ride at 6am so I could finish before it got hot outside.  Got back shortly before 9am and it was still below 80F outside.  I think of 87F as pleasent, and I don't need to bring a coat just in case, unless I'm going somewhere inside that will be air conditioned.  It became apparent that I'm the weird one when I left a fast food place with take out and was putting everything in my bike and the other guy exclaims upon leaving, "oh this is awful, stepping out of that air conditioned place to this heat!" and all I'm thinking is, "this feels so much better, I was freezing inside, glad to be out in the sun."

Maya

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 256
  • Location: Canada
Re: June Cycling Challenge 2015
« Reply #111 on: June 30, 2015, 06:53:33 PM »
Added my numbers, but full disclosure, it's may (320) and june (120 km) together as I wasn't able to update earlier.

Cycling Stache

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 470
  • Age: 48
Re: June Cycling Challenge 2015
« Reply #112 on: July 01, 2015, 04:52:00 PM »
Final tally was 472 miles for me.  Not counting library trips.  Those are just fun and shouldn't count!

Mrs. PoP

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 421
    • Planting Our Pennies
Re: June Cycling Challenge 2015
« Reply #113 on: July 01, 2015, 06:53:57 PM »
Holy Hades it's hot out. How on earth do people survive in hot climates? I'm in the PNW and it was 87F for my ride home yesterday. There was also a nice headwind that made it feel like riding in a blast furnace.

Eh, you go slower when it's really hot, but don't worry too much about getting sweaty on the ride home and just concentrate on moving so the breeze is maintained.  If it's truly insanely hot, jump in the pool or shower immediately upon arrival at home.  But that's a rarity for biking.

jordanread

  • Guest
Re: June Cycling Challenge 2015
« Reply #114 on: July 01, 2015, 09:14:14 PM »
Team, I'll get the new month up first thing tomorrow. Remember your miles for today.

jordanread

  • Guest
Re: June Cycling Challenge 2015
« Reply #115 on: July 02, 2015, 01:22:02 PM »
The new challenge is up!!!.

Join in and happy cycling!!!