Post by: jordanread on March 01, 2015, 12:50:43 PM
If you logged miles last month, and selected "Remember Me" on the form, you have been added to this month's sheet already.
If you didn't log miles, or are a new participant
Click here to fill out the form. (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1nGm65SnOANlmECctRUsqB42nT65OK0af9MpTAbC2L90/viewform)
You can access the sheet at this link (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/10jXe2VEHppdrRjw_eIZbRHsN4_FC16I5AfTXhlh_6Fo/edit?usp=sharing).
The historical data on your individual sheets will update from the February challenge a couple times per day, so if you have added miles to last month, and they don't show up, just give it a bit. If they aren't there within a day, or you have any other issues with the sheet, hit me up via email, Google+ Hangouts (http://gplus.to/jordanread), PM, or just comment on this thread.
Happy Cycling!!
Post by: jordanread on March 01, 2015, 12:53:55 PM
Post by: Wolf_Stache on March 01, 2015, 01:11:14 PM
Also I've gotta step up my game. Feb miles were awful between moving and then being horribly sick.
Post by: johnny847 on March 01, 2015, 01:16:22 PM
Also I've gotta step up my game.Me too. I didn't even hit 100 miles last month =/
Post by: jordanread on March 01, 2015, 01:32:51 PM
I am still here!
did not meet my January challenge but am ready for February. Once again my goal is time not miles since I am on a stationary bike. Perhaps I could use a fitbit or phone app to gauge miles?
Wintersun, I apologize for not getting this question answered earlier. I usually un-notify the cycling thread once the new one is up, and I didn't see this until today. If you can clock your average speed, and the amount of time it takes, I can modify your sheet to log 'distance' based on that calculation. A fitbit wouldn't do it, since everyone's metabolism is different, but do you have a speedometer on the stationary bike?
Post by: Thegoblinchief on March 01, 2015, 06:37:50 PM
I rode today too. It was still quite cold, but bright sun in March is a helluva lot warmer than bright sun in January. Starting to hear a lot more birdsong, so here's hoping warmer weather is coming soonish.
Post by: ohyonghao on March 02, 2015, 12:02:30 AM
Post by: jordanread on March 02, 2015, 08:10:30 AM
I'll probably end up cycling significantly less due to a new work project. :(Just fill out the form again, it won't hurt anything. If you didn't log miles, it doesn't bring you forward.
I'll have to do all my cycling during the weekend now. :D
I seem to have messed up somewhere, I no longer have a tab in the spreadsheet.
Post by: jordanread on March 02, 2015, 10:04:12 AM
Tried that twice and I did log miles in February.I'll probably end up cycling significantly less due to a new work project. :(Just fill out the form again, it won't hurt anything. If you didn't log miles, it doesn't bring you forward.
I'll have to do all my cycling during the weekend now. :D
I seem to have messed up somewhere, I no longer have a tab in the spreadsheet.
Yeah, I see you had to enter it twice, plus you should have been imported. I see your sheet on there now, with the imported history. That shouldn't happen again. Sorry about that.
Post by: MidwestBiker on March 02, 2015, 10:30:52 AM
Quote from: MplsIceBiker in Feb Challenge
Challenging myself to ride 800 miles in February. Started off right by riding 30 miles on Feb 1.Was I high when I typed that? Oh well, March is a new month. Thanks for keeping this going Jordan! Pretty awesome to see people planning for 70+ mile days. I think I'll focus on maximizing my days biking to work this month. Commuted 13 out of 17 last month. Some very cold days in there too. Looking forward to more biking and warmer days.
Post by: b4u2 on March 02, 2015, 11:26:39 AM
Post by: njfleck on March 02, 2015, 02:48:58 PM
Post by: Nancy on March 03, 2015, 07:30:50 AM
Post by: b4u2 on March 03, 2015, 08:59:27 AM
Post by: johnny847 on March 03, 2015, 09:00:44 PM
It was my first time biking in the rain. Though it hardly counted as rain. I was surprised though by how much dirt and other nonsense spewed up and stuck to my panniers.
Post by: njfleck on March 04, 2015, 09:02:21 AM
Post by: jordanread on March 04, 2015, 09:27:09 AM
Maybe I am missing something obvious, but I filled out the form a few days back and my name hasn't shown up on the sheet yet.I'll check it as soon as I get home. You can also try again. If it's not there within a minute, it won't show up.
Post by: njfleck on March 04, 2015, 12:32:20 PM
Maybe I am missing something obvious, but I filled out the form a few days back and my name hasn't shown up on the sheet yet.I'll check it as soon as I get home. You can also try again. If it's not there within a minute, it won't show up.
Thanks! I'll give it another try.
Post by: jopiquant on March 04, 2015, 12:48:24 PM
Post by: jordanread on March 04, 2015, 03:04:02 PM
Post by: njfleck on March 04, 2015, 05:04:25 PM
I'm a damn idiot. I apologize. Apparently this month I screwed up and didn't install the form trigger. I apologize. If you don't have a sheet, and you have tried, try one last time. I'll get you taken care of. I am so sorry, this was just dumb ass ness on my part.
Thanks for getting me added!
Post by: johnny847 on March 04, 2015, 08:47:24 PM
I'm a damn idiot. I apologize. Apparently this month I screwed up and didn't install the form trigger. I apologize. If you don't have a sheet, and you have tried, try one last time. I'll get you taken care of. I am so sorry, this was just dumb ass ness on my part.
No apologies needed jordanread! I'm not saying that because I was auto added since I've done these challenges before, but because you are awesome for running them! It definitely encourages me to get out there more.
Post by: ohyonghao on March 05, 2015, 02:11:25 PM
Post by: PindyStache on March 05, 2015, 07:03:45 PM
Really looking forward to this weekend. My wife forgot to purchase an item for her sister while we were shopping at a place 35mi from our house. Because I think it would be ludicrous to drive a car there and back to buy a $50 item, costing $39.20 in wear and tear on the car, I have volunteered to ride there :-D I was planning on a 70mi trip this weekend anyway, now I get to put this 70mi under "Car Replacement Miles" instead of "Recreational Miles" :-D.
Awesome and badass adventure!
Post by: johnny847 on March 05, 2015, 09:30:25 PM
+1 that is sweet.Really looking forward to this weekend. My wife forgot to purchase an item for her sister while we were shopping at a place 35mi from our house. Because I think it would be ludicrous to drive a car there and back to buy a $50 item, costing $39.20 in wear and tear on the car, I have volunteered to ride there :-D I was planning on a 70mi trip this weekend anyway, now I get to put this 70mi under "Car Replacement Miles" instead of "Recreational Miles" :-D.
Awesome and badass adventure!
Post by: TrMama on March 06, 2015, 11:34:39 AM
Post by: MidwestBiker on March 06, 2015, 12:19:42 PM
Post by: ohyonghao on March 06, 2015, 01:56:33 PM
I am totally loving that I don't need to use my 5 blinky lights or reflective vest anymore. Hello sunshine!
I'm loving the forecast of 68F temps for my long ride tomorrow. The hardest part is starting out at 40F and partly cloudy, but I have some good layering material, shouldn't be an issue.
Post by: ohyonghao on March 07, 2015, 05:23:24 PM
Post by: jordanread on March 07, 2015, 07:17:31 PM
Mission accomplished. Also met a really nice guy who helped refill my water bottle, because today that required 4 750ml bottles and I only refilled one at my turn around point and was running on fumes. Pace picked up a lot after drinking half of it.
That is freaking sweet!! Glad you had a good ride. Water makes such a huge difference. Melalvai called people like that Trail Angels. Fitting term I think.
Post by: Thegoblinchief on March 07, 2015, 07:32:14 PM
Post by: Wolf_Stache on March 07, 2015, 11:01:56 PM
Post by: Mrs. PoP on March 08, 2015, 01:18:22 AM
I think the fenders still count as the #1 most useful upgrade to the bike since starting commuting, but these might be a close second.
Post by: jordanread on March 08, 2015, 08:16:25 PM
Hey Jordan - just wanted to say thanks for the pannier recommendation a month ago! Finally got around to getting them and having Mr PoP mount them and I really like them! I went with the slightly smaller version (http://www.amazon.com/Avenir-Excursion-Small-Panniers-Inches/dp/B00165Q4RG) of the ones you have and they fit everything just perfectly. My 13" laptop (I bring it in once every couple weeks) fits in easily in its padded sleeve with clothes on one side, and plenty of room for lunch, etc on the other side.Outstanding! I'm glad they are working for you. They completely changed my riding habit.
I think the fenders still count as the #1 most useful upgrade to the bike since starting commuting, but these might be a close second.
Post by: mskyle on March 09, 2015, 07:47:44 AM
But I rode in to work today, and it was right around freezing, and spring feels like it's coming, and pretty soon I'm going to have to start watching out for that bike cop who tickets cyclists who ride through the pedestrian light! Woohoo!
Vaguely related: there has been a Surly fat bike in the bike room at work for around a month - ever since the second big snowstorm. It has not been moved once! And it blocks access to half the bike room for everyone else (ok, for me and my one coworker who winter bikes)! And WTF man! It's a snow bike! Why are you leaving it at work when there's 4+ feet of snow on the ground!
(I know, I know, I'm lucky to have a bike room to complain about.)
Post by: ohyonghao on March 09, 2015, 05:31:54 PM
Quote from: The Scientific Annals of Oh Yong Hao
2015/03/08 - Taste testing
Taste testing of the first formula at room temperature (67F) resulted in a concoction that would not be very desirable. After refrigerating to 40F the mix was more palatable, but still lacked any desire for consumption. Diluting this formula with 50% more water, doubling the volume of the sample poured, resulted in a much more palatable drink, though still a little salty. My first thought was I should double the sugar, then realized that by diluting it 50% and doubling the sugar we come full circle to Gatorade.
So now I see that there is a reason for why Gatorade, and other sports drinks, have half the recommended salts and twice the sugar, it is to make it more palatable. With that I do not see any problem with those drinks while exercising, but that should make it more apparent why we shouldn't be drinking these during the sedentary parts of our day.
Now, one variables which may change this could be flavoring. I used apple juice, not from concentrate, as my sugar, measuring the grams of sugar and salt already available, and added a lite salt mix, roughly 50/50 table salt and potassium salt, then added water to get the 1L which the recipe called for. I've thought of maybe adding some lemon to it to help the flavoring, and myself personally loves sour drinks, so this may not require any additional sugar to counteract the citrus.
A friend suggested getting the powdered Gatorade to carry in small packets that could be useful during refills on long rides. Another item to think about is length of ride and weather. Previously I had found that 20-50 miles I drank only 0.5L, but that was during the winter, now with spring giving us 70F days going through 3L and still running out on 75 miles is possible.
Post by: PindyStache on March 09, 2015, 09:28:43 PM
Vaguely related: there has been a Surly fat bike in the bike room at work for around a month - ever since the second big snowstorm. It has not been moved once! And it blocks access to half the bike room for everyone else (ok, for me and my one coworker who winter bikes)! And WTF man! It's a snow bike! Why are you leaving it at work when there's 4+ feet of snow on the ground!
(I know, I know, I'm lucky to have a bike room to complain about.)
The obvious conclusion is that fat bikes are ridden by people driven by irrational cycling patterns. I saw someone riding a fat bike here yesterday. It's been above freezing for several days and pretty much all the snow is gone except for a few places in the shade (and the bike trails, which is where I saw this person riding, are wonderfully cleared all winter long). I don't have a particular problem but do wonder what that such a person thinks when they pull that bike out.
Post by: Nancy on March 10, 2015, 08:10:39 AM
It's also warming up here. It was in the 30s today, so I didn't have to wear my face mask and long john top. The fair weather cyclists are back out, and I'm happy they are because the more people that ride, the more visible we are to drivers and the stronger our case for better infrastructure. Good times!
Post by: crazy jane on March 11, 2015, 07:09:10 AM
Post by: Thegoblinchief on March 11, 2015, 07:27:35 AM
Flix, beautiful pic! Thanks for sharing!
It's also warming up here. It was in the 30s today, so I didn't have to wear my face mask and long john top. The fair weather cyclists are back out, and I'm happy they are because the more people that ride, the more visible we are to drivers and the stronger our case for better infrastructure. Good times!
Yeah, I've seen a few more riders out as well. Still running my daytime lights for extra visibility but probably not necessary in another few weeks if the warmth keeps up.
Post by: mskyle on March 11, 2015, 07:29:41 AM
Then I realized I was standing right next to a bike repair station (I was on/adjacent to a college campus) so I decided to pump up the tire and hope for the best (i.e. that it would get me home, or at least to the next open bike shop). I stopped a couple of times to check on it and it was definitely on the squishy side but I made it! And then I figured if I was taking a tire off I might as well switch out my cross tires for my slicks, because it's SPRING, dammit!
(Definitely a lot more riders on the road this week around here.)
Post by: johnny847 on March 11, 2015, 07:41:10 AM
Realized my rear tire was completely flat about halfway home from work yesterday (likely due to not keeping my tires properly inflated, more fool me) and pulled over to figure out what to do next - there are three more bike shops on the way home (in two miles!) and one a little ways back from where I was, but it was after 6 and some of them close early in the winter...
Then I realized I was standing right next to a bike repair station (I was on/adjacent to a college campus) so I decided to pump up the tire and hope for the best (i.e. that it would get me home, or at least to the next open bike shop). I stopped a couple of times to check on it and it was definitely on the squishy side but I made it! And then I figured if I was taking a tire off I might as well switch out my cross tires for my slicks, because it's SPRING, dammit!
(Definitely a lot more riders on the road this week around here.)
While this seems to have been caused by you not keeping your tires properly inflated, you may get a flat at any time. This is why I recommend carrying around spare tubes, a bike pump, and tire levers at all times. A nice small saddle bag can carry all this.
Post by: Thegoblinchief on March 11, 2015, 08:11:26 AM
While this seems to have been caused by you not keeping your tires properly inflated, you may get a flat at any time. This is why I recommend carrying around spare tubes, a bike pump, and tire levers at all times. A nice small saddle bag can carry all this.
+1. I've gotten plenty of flats, both puncture and snake-bites. I usually care a spare tube instead of a patch kit, then patch the tube at home, testing it enough to make me confident that it can serve as the new spare.
Post by: jordanread on March 11, 2015, 08:51:08 AM
Realized my rear tire was completely flat about halfway home from work yesterday (likely due to not keeping my tires properly inflated, more fool me) and pulled over to figure out what to do next - there are three more bike shops on the way home (in two miles!) and one a little ways back from where I was, but it was after 6 and some of them close early in the winter...
Then I realized I was standing right next to a bike repair station (I was on/adjacent to a college campus) so I decided to pump up the tire and hope for the best (i.e. that it would get me home, or at least to the next open bike shop). I stopped a couple of times to check on it and it was definitely on the squishy side but I made it! And then I figured if I was taking a tire off I might as well switch out my cross tires for my slicks, because it's SPRING, dammit!
(Definitely a lot more riders on the road this week around here.)
While this seems to have been caused by you not keeping your tires properly inflated, you may get a flat at any time. This is why I recommend carrying around spare tubes, a bike pump, and tire levers at all times. A nice small saddle bag can carry all this.
Yeah, I have all of that stuff in one of the pockets of my trunk bag. And definitely spare tubes. I am not confident enough in my ability (lack of practice) in patching on the fly. But with the armadillo tires I have, I haven't gotten a flat in the past year.
So good news on my side. My dual platform pedals arrive today, which will make my new routine that much easier. Since I no longer have a commute, I've decided to step up my ingress play. There are quite a few portals around my house, so I'll have lot's of 3 - 4 mile trips throughout the day. The SPDs are great for riding long distances, but the hassle of putting different shoes on just for a 20 minute ride, where I have to stop and walk sometimes made it difficult to justify heading out. So my miles should be increasing.
Post by: Kmp2 on March 11, 2015, 09:14:49 AM
I am not ready to take off my studs yet - that just seems to be asking for another cold spell, but we are having amazing weather.
There were 4 bikes in the rack at work this morning, double the winter number so far.
Post by: mskyle on March 11, 2015, 10:05:35 AM
While this seems to have been caused by you not keeping your tires properly inflated, you may get a flat at any time. This is why I recommend carrying around spare tubes, a bike pump, and tire levers at all times. A nice small saddle bag can carry all this.
For my commute at least I've made a calculated decision that in case of flats (or other problems) I prefer to either walk the bike home/to work/to the nearest bike shop, or to lock it up to the nearest bike rack/parking meter until I have time and tools to deal with it (and take public transport or and Uber/taxi to where I need to go). My commute is less than four miles, so I'm never more than two miles from home or work, and I'm usually within a quarter mile of a bike shop. Plus I have the option of taking the bike on the bus or subway if necessary (e.g. if it's later and the bike shops are closed). I hate changing my tires, period, never mind on the side of the road or in a snowbank.
On the rare occasions when I go for non-urban rides I do carry tools, etc.
Post by: johnny847 on March 11, 2015, 10:08:54 AM
So good news on my side. My dual platform pedals arrive today, which will make my new routine that much easier. Since I no longer have a commute, I've decided to step up my ingress play. There are quite a few portals around my house, so I'll have lot's of 3 - 4 mile trips throughout the day. The SPDs are great for riding long distances, but the hassle of putting different shoes on just for a 20 minute ride, where I have to stop and walk sometimes made it difficult to justify heading out. So my miles should be increasing.
I love my dual platforms! Though I don't ever wear shoes in the house, so I never really have to switch shoes. Still though, they're handy when I'm going to be walking around a lot after cycling wherever I need to go and I don't want to scuff up the cleats on my shoes.
For my commute at least I've made a calculated decision that in case of flats (or other problems) I prefer to either walk the bike home/to work/to the nearest bike shop, or to lock it up to the nearest bike rack/parking meter until I have time and tools to deal with it (and take public transport or and Uber/taxi to where I need to go). My commute is less than four miles, so I'm never more than two miles from home or work, and I'm usually within a quarter mile of a bike shop. Plus I have the option of taking the bike on the bus or subway if necessary (e.g. if it's later and the bike shops are closed). I hate changing my tires, period, never mind on the side of the road or in a snowbank.
On the rare occasions when I go for non-urban rides I do carry tools, etc.
Wait but you clearly have the capability to carry your tools for non urban rides. Is it just difficult for you to do this or something?
Post by: ohyonghao on March 11, 2015, 12:27:39 PM
While this seems to have been caused by you not keeping your tires properly inflated, you may get a flat at any time. This is why I recommend carrying around spare tubes, a bike pump, and tire levers at all times. A nice small saddle bag can carry all this.
+1. I've gotten plenty of flats, both puncture and snake-bites. I usually care a spare tube instead of a patch kit, then patch the tube at home, testing it enough to make me confident that it can serve as the new spare.
After my recent bought with lots of flats in November/December I learned how to properly patch a tire. Last time I had a flat it was probably quicker, and much less hassle, to patch on the go rather than change for a new tube, but it would depend on the situation. At work I keep a pump for in case I get I have a flat when I get off work. My kit includes CO2 cartridges, which changes how I diagnose the flat.
What I found with the pump is I could pump the tire back up, and listen for where the leak is and pinpoint it. Next I removed just the portion of the tire to work on, found the offending piece of glass and removed it, then matched up where the hole in the inner tube would be and patched it. This was all done without removing the wheel from the bike. This might be harder to do with skinny road tires, but on my wider mountain bike tires there is more than enough room to work with.
A good practice I have gotten into when mounting tires is to place the PSI reading above the valve, this allows for easier diagnosis of the punctured inner tube if you do swap for a new one as you can know where the puncture would be relative to the valve. If you didn't find the cause of puncture you risk puncturing your new inner tube, but hopefully you've made it home before it becomes a problem.
I think it is like a lot of repair skills, at first it can be scary, daunting, and often times frustrating, but with practice and repetition it becomes a very easy task.
Post by: mskyle on March 11, 2015, 12:46:25 PM
Basically, the presence or absence of bike repair paraphenalia is not the limiting factor; my willingness to fix the bike mid-commute is, and I am very, very lazy.
Post by: johnny847 on March 11, 2015, 01:01:05 PM
I think it is like a lot of repair skills, at first it can be scary, daunting, and often times frustrating, but with practice and repetition it becomes a very easy task.
Agreed. I was pretty scared of getting flats, but after getting two on the same ride, I've gotten a lot better at fixing them and don't fear them anymore.
It's not that it's difficult to carry the tools (I carry groceries, I carry books and computers for work, I carry all kinds of stuff!) or even to change the flat, it's just that I will only change a flat by the side of the road as an absolute last resort (my personal preference), and during my commute I generally have about five options I like better. Part of this is that I'm generally cycling in my regular clothes - like last night when I got the flat I was wearing a dress and tights; I'd much rather walk the bike even a mile or two than sit /kneel on the ground in a dress and tights.Ah that makes more sense. I kinda forgot about the whole normal clothes thing - I rarely bike in non cycling clothes. I get funny looks sometimes when I get to my destination but I just ignore them. And I don't need to bike to work since I can walk to it in 7 minutes.
Basically, the presence or absence of bike repair paraphenalia is not the limiting factor; my willingness to fix the bike mid-commute is, and I am very, very lazy.
Post by: b4u2 on March 11, 2015, 01:37:16 PM
Post by: johnny847 on March 11, 2015, 01:48:48 PM
What exactly are bicycle clothes? The tight stuff I see people wear that look like the compete in races? My fat a$$ isn't going into that clothing. If I am riding for exercise or fun I just wear shorts with compression shorts and tshirt. Which is something I am struggling with for riding to work because I wear boots. I have my exercise shoes but not everyday wear to work ride a bicycle in shoes. So now I need to buy shoes? Sigh. Starting up bicycle riding can get expensive it seems.
Pretty much. I swear skintight clothes (or rather, close to skin tight sometimes because I'm super skinny and sometimes even the smallest sizes aren't skintight). I used to wear cotton clothes while riding, and did not enjoy the fact that cotton retains sweat quite well.
You certainly don't need to buy any of this stuff to start up bicycle riding. I ride for fun a lot, and all of that makes me a lot more comfortable.
Post by: mskyle on March 11, 2015, 02:30:21 PM
Post by: netskyblue on March 11, 2015, 03:42:53 PM
I got a helmet, bike lock, bike computer, balaclava, fenders, and head & rear lights for my birthday or Christmas (Nov, Dec). The used bike I bought already had a basket.
Just now that it's warming up am I considering bike-specific clothing.
Post by: johnny847 on March 11, 2015, 03:50:23 PM
Take up biking right before a gift-giving holiday.
I got a helmet, bike lock, bike computer, balaclava, fenders, and head & rear lights for my birthday or Christmas (Nov, Dec). The used bike I bought already had a basket.
Just now that it's warming up am I considering bike-specific clothing.
Haha I like the way you think!
Post by: PindyStache on March 11, 2015, 10:05:32 PM
What exactly are bicycle clothes? The tight stuff I see people wear that look like the compete in races? My fat a$$ isn't going into that clothing. If I am riding for exercise or fun I just wear shorts with compression shorts and tshirt. Which is something I am struggling with for riding to work because I wear boots. I have my exercise shoes but not everyday wear to work ride a bicycle in shoes. So now I need to buy shoes? Sigh. Starting up bicycle riding can get expensive it seems.
No specific clothing is really necessary... When I started commuting I was just in a cotton T-shirt, some old athletic shorts, and tennis shoes (10 mi each way). I certainly wouldn't go back, but it was fine for a while. After a year or so those were pretty shot so I got/was gifted some new things. I still don't really have much bike-specific gear, just some more breathable shirts and a couple things like gloves and other cold-weather gear. I found that clothing made specifically for bikes cost about 3x as much as something similar that was more generically athletic clothing. Maybe I was just looking at the wrong shops though. The breathable shirts were definitely the best bang-for-the-buck during warm weather. Mine aren't even tight really.
Post by: johnny847 on March 11, 2015, 10:10:17 PM
What exactly are bicycle clothes? The tight stuff I see people wear that look like the compete in races? My fat a$$ isn't going into that clothing. If I am riding for exercise or fun I just wear shorts with compression shorts and tshirt. Which is something I am struggling with for riding to work because I wear boots. I have my exercise shoes but not everyday wear to work ride a bicycle in shoes. So now I need to buy shoes? Sigh. Starting up bicycle riding can get expensive it seems.
No specific clothing is really necessary... When I started commuting I was just in a cotton T-shirt, some old athletic shorts, and tennis shoes (10 mi each way). I certainly wouldn't go back, but it was fine for a while. After a year or so those were pretty shot so I got/was gifted some new things. I still don't really have much bike-specific gear, just some more breathable shirts and a couple things like gloves and other cold-weather gear. I found that clothing made specifically for bikes cost about 3x as much as something similar that was more generically athletic clothing. Maybe I was just looking at the wrong shops though. The breathable shirts were definitely the best bang-for-the-buck during warm weather. Mine aren't even tight really.
General purpose athletic clothing is good, but if you care about
One nice thing about purpose-made bicycle clothes (of which I currently own none) is that the pants are cut higher in the back and the tops are cut longer in the back so your bum doesn't hang out too much. More of an issue for tall/long-torsoed people, but it's definitely nice to have sometimes.then only cycling clothing is going to fit the bill (at least, as far as I know). Which I do care about on a particularly windy day.
Post by: b4u2 on March 12, 2015, 08:08:00 AM
I tuned up (I hope correctly) my mountain bike. It's a Schwinn Frontier GS. I assume it's big enough for me. It feels odd and I am not sure why. I had one of the neighbor kids take it for a ride and he thought it was perfect. He didn't try changing gears. I am still trying to get the hang of tuning the derailers. It's better than what it was but not perfect yet. I don't have reflectors, lights, fenders, anything to carry stuff in.
Still trying to decide which bike will be better so I will test out both bikes. The kids have spring break in another week so I won't have to worry about picking up kids and I can get a baseline for time.
Post by: aksoleil on March 12, 2015, 11:15:16 AM
Post by: b4u2 on March 12, 2015, 01:54:59 PM
I'm hoping my gps works on my phone. I went for a run Monday night and it never found a signal for some reason. Luckily my wife had hers on and it worked.
Big ride didn't happen. No one to watch the youngest. Went for a 3 mile ride while my wife jogged. I should have just ran with her.
Post by: ohyonghao on March 13, 2015, 02:29:43 PM
What exactly are bicycle clothes? The tight stuff I see people wear that look like the compete in races? My fat a$$ isn't going into that clothing. If I am riding for exercise or fun I just wear shorts with compression shorts and tshirt. Which is something I am struggling with for riding to work because I wear boots. I have my exercise shoes but not everyday wear to work ride a bicycle in shoes. So now I need to buy shoes? Sigh. Starting up bicycle riding can get expensive it seems.
No specific clothing is really necessary... When I started commuting I was just in a cotton T-shirt, some old athletic shorts, and tennis shoes (10 mi each way). I certainly wouldn't go back, but it was fine for a while. After a year or so those were pretty shot so I got/was gifted some new things. I still don't really have much bike-specific gear, just some more breathable shirts and a couple things like gloves and other cold-weather gear. I found that clothing made specifically for bikes cost about 3x as much as something similar that was more generically athletic clothing. Maybe I was just looking at the wrong shops though. The breathable shirts were definitely the best bang-for-the-buck during warm weather. Mine aren't even tight really.
General purpose athletic clothing is good, but if you care aboutOne nice thing about purpose-made bicycle clothes (of which I currently own none) is that the pants are cut higher in the back and the tops are cut longer in the back so your bum doesn't hang out too much. More of an issue for tall/long-torsoed people, but it's definitely nice to have sometimes.then only cycling clothing is going to fit the bill (at least, as far as I know). Which I do care about on a particularly windy day.
For commuting my 3.1 miles I don't go very fancy, jeans, t-shirt, over shirt, running shoes, and rain gear. Even my rain pants aren't cycling pants, just the cheapest pair I found on Amazon.
For cycling on the weekends where I do the 30+ mile rides, or like last weekend doing 75mi the bike specific clothing is really nice to have. Specifically the jersey I just got is awesome. 3 Pockets in the back to hold cellphone (including backup battery), stuff, and food (going left to right) which is easily accessible while riding. The shorts I'm still not totally convinced they make that big of a difference, I was riding 30+ in kahki before getting cycling bibs. The only really big difference is that being skin tight there is less drag, and won't get caught on my chain or bottle holder. My rain coat (GoreTex, spendy, but keeps me dry) is cycling specific and has longer arms which happen to come up to just about my wrists when in cycling position, but are slightly long when not riding, and gets used for both commuting and recreational. My cycling shoes came with the bike when I got it, along with the SPD pedals.
I try to find the clothing as cheap as possible, but since I only wear them while cycling long distances I figure they will last a long time and if my hobby is cycling for recreation then spending a little bit into it isn't bad, but I weigh each purchase (not for cutting grams) with the utility it will provide. Right now I'm thinking of a cycling specific GPS because going 75mi I went through my cell phone's battery, as much recharge I could get while at the destination, the backup Anker battery (single full charge), and got home with 3% battery left. I'm giving this hobby time to make sure I'll be sticking with it before putting a lot in, which considering my recent bike purchase last year I'm pretty sure I'm past the point of putting a lot in. Nashbar has been a good source for cheap cycling clothing, combined with 20% off coupons and free shipping.
Post by: b4u2 on March 15, 2015, 11:46:57 AM
Post by: Thegoblinchief on March 15, 2015, 06:23:01 PM
Yesterday was our 6 year anniversary. We drove (I know but ti was fun) to Davenport and rode he Duck Creek Trail 13 miles. We started to turn around but looked on Google maps and realized it joined another trail and eventually made a big loop to where we started. So we rode the whole darn thing! 3 hours, 31.5 miles, A few wrong turns and pulling up Google maps but it was fun! I need a holder for my Note 3 so I can have the map up while we ride.
Awesome! There are some seriously long trails I hope to explore further this year. I won't get the whole thing, but there's one trail network that, except for about 4 miles of city streets from my house to the nearest junction, goes a good 80 miles or more on asphalt or gravel.
Right now we're limited more by the kids, but they do great for their age (5,7,8). Tomorrow will be our first family ride of the year. Last year I got them up to 16 miles RT (5 year old was on the trail-a-bike).
Post by: b4u2 on March 16, 2015, 08:06:43 AM
I have the Schwinn Frontier GS but not sure it's the right bike for me to ride daily.
Post by: mskyle on March 16, 2015, 10:33:36 AM
I have the Schwinn Frontier GS but not sure it's the right bike for me to ride daily.
Well you already have this bike... what do you have to lose by trying to ride it daily for a week or two? Even if you dislike riding it daily, after you've ridden it daily for a while you'll know what you like and dislike about it and you'll be able to make a better decision.
tl;dr: JUST GET ON THE DAMN BIKE
:P
Post by: b4u2 on March 16, 2015, 10:51:31 AM
The Schwinn Frontier is a 21 inch frame so no idea why it feels small to me. My Schwinn Prelude is 22 inches and feels fine. I don't like the ram horn handle bars though.
Post by: ohyonghao on March 16, 2015, 11:46:24 AM
I have ridden and it just seems to small. I also don't like the grip shift. It's a twist type shifter on the handle bar on inside edge of grip. The bike works in a pinch but I am also looking for something I can use while camping as well. Most of the campgrounds are paved but some are gravel so I need a hybrid or mt bike.
The Schwinn Frontier is a 21 inch frame so no idea why it feels small to me. My Schwinn Prelude is 22 inches and feels fine. I don't like the ram horn handle bars though.
Saying too small is a little vague. You might just need to fit the bike, raising handle bars, get a stem extension to put them further away, and maybe raise the seat. If you don't like the grip shifters you could also change those out for easy fire, I definitely like the easy fire shifters much better than grip shifters. It looks like the newer ones I saw when googling used the easy fire shifters.
After saying all that, the Trek 820 comes with the easy fire shifters. The crankset has slightly more teeth on the front and the back, which might balance itself out for gain ratio (haven't bothered to calculate gain ratio on both), but with both ending with a 14 as the smallest cog you would see an overall higher speed on the Trek 820, while possibly maintaining the same climbing ability (still depends on gain ratio of 28:34 vs 24:32). Both have same level of components with Shimano Tourney.
Really the difference is what I said in the first paragraph, shifters, and if you get a new one get one that fits, or get it fitted to you.
Post by: b4u2 on March 16, 2015, 12:13:17 PM
I have ridden and it just seems to small. I also don't like the grip shift. It's a twist type shifter on the handle bar on inside edge of grip. The bike works in a pinch but I am also looking for something I can use while camping as well. Most of the campgrounds are paved but some are gravel so I need a hybrid or mt bike.
The Schwinn Frontier is a 21 inch frame so no idea why it feels small to me. My Schwinn Prelude is 22 inches and feels fine. I don't like the ram horn handle bars though.
Saying too small is a little vague. You might just need to fit the bike, raising handle bars, get a stem extension to put them further away, and maybe raise the seat. If you don't like the grip shifters you could also change those out for easy fire, I definitely like the easy fire shifters much better than grip shifters. It looks like the newer ones I saw when googling used the easy fire shifters.
After saying all that, the Trek 820 comes with the easy fire shifters. The crankset has slightly more teeth on the front and the back, which might balance itself out for gain ratio (haven't bothered to calculate gain ratio on both), but with both ending with a 14 as the smallest cog you would see an overall higher speed on the Trek 820, while possibly maintaining the same climbing ability (still depends on gain ratio of 28:34 vs 24:32). Both have same level of components with Shimano Tourney.
Really the difference is what I said in the first paragraph, shifters, and if you get a new one get one that fits, or get it fitted to you.
My feet seem to hit the front tire when I make turns. I could try some adjustments on it. My wife seems fine riding it so it may be her camp bike and I'll go get the Trek 820. Looks very clean and it's $120 which is decent price for this area. It also has a rear rack already on it.
I never thought about changing the shifters. I could look into that as well if I decide not to buy.
Post by: mskyle on March 17, 2015, 06:10:43 AM
This has not been a very high-mileage month for me and I don't know how likely I am to make it up (uninspiring weather) but I've only driven my car two days/30 miles this month, and I haven't driven at all for ten days! And if I make it through today I will probably make it to the weekend.
Post by: Armer Student on March 17, 2015, 03:46:14 PM
Post by: ohyonghao on March 21, 2015, 10:01:44 PM
Post by: Thegoblinchief on March 22, 2015, 06:36:49 AM
Post by: johnny847 on March 22, 2015, 09:08:21 AM
Gonna stretch my legs and do Costco today. 26 miles. A lot of my errands lately have been way too bulky to do by bike, but despite being Costco I only need a few things, just things that are so ridiculously cheaper there that it makes sense to bike out for them.
Whoo!
I just did a 26 mile ride yesterday to the Korean grocery store. It was a beautiful day yesterday - 50s in the morning, 70s by the time I was heading home. The only problem was I didn't realize how strong the sun was, and now my arms and hands are sunburnt =/
Post by: Thegoblinchief on March 22, 2015, 10:32:12 AM
Post by: b4u2 on March 23, 2015, 05:01:23 AM
I bought the Trek 820 last week. I had 2 reasons. 1 was I needed a 2nd mt bike for camping. 2 the bike came with a rear rack and I got it for $100 in perfect condition. I ordered lights for it, front and rear. I was all lined up to ride to work this week, I was fully prepared....except for rain, freezing rain, ice, and snow. Not sure how I forgot about all that, it is Iowa of course. This is supposed to continue all week and temps will stay in the 30's.
Post by: Nancy on March 23, 2015, 07:29:35 AM
Ugh. Was waaaaay under dressed for once. Feel like a human icicle. Should really have worn my winter layers instead of my lighter stuff, and my new trainers let way more wind through than my old ones. Oh well. I am alive!
Sorry about the coldness, GC, but how wonderful to be alive and be able to know and feel it!
Post by: ohyonghao on March 23, 2015, 12:14:43 PM
Best bicycle related investment:I've been thinking about getting Gatorskin or some other tire, I'll have to add this to the list I'll look at when my tires get worn. What was the reason for choosing this brand over competitors?
Schwalbe Marathon Plus (http://www.schwalbe.com/gb/tour-reader/marathon-plus.html)
(http://i.imgur.com/AVsra4Bl.jpg)
No hint of a flat tire since.
Yay for grocery store runs! I haven't done as many as I would like. Way to go both of you!Gonna stretch my legs and do Costco today. 26 miles. A lot of my errands lately have been way too bulky to do by bike, but despite being Costco I only need a few things, just things that are so ridiculously cheaper there that it makes sense to bike out for them.
Whoo!
I just did a 26 mile ride yesterday to the Korean grocery store. It was a beautiful day yesterday - 50s in the morning, 70s by the time I was heading home. The only problem was I didn't realize how strong the sun was, and now my arms and hands are sunburnt =/
Post by: Thegoblinchief on March 23, 2015, 12:53:54 PM
Finished a 74mi bike ride yesterday. Got home and found that the GPS data is missing for about 9mi, but at least the ride was wonderful! Got done and felt like I could have kept going another 10-15mi, and this is just the day after doing 67mi. I might try to do a century next weekend, supposed to be in the 70's.
I hate you ;)
Quote
I've been thinking about getting Gatorskin or some other tire, I'll have to add this to the list I'll look at when my tires get worn. What was the reason for choosing this brand over competitors?
I don't have any Schwalbe summer tires, but I have been impressed with their winter tires from the same series. A Gatorskin will be faster as it's practically a smooth tread. I have had zero puncture flats on mine, though have had a few snakebite flats, probably from incorrect pressure for the load I was carrying.
Post by: PindyStache on March 23, 2015, 07:40:17 PM
Wife and I did 16.5 miles on Friday. It was a nice day for the ride.
I bought the Trek 820 last week. I had 2 reasons. 1 was I needed a 2nd mt bike for camping. 2 the bike came with a rear rack and I got it for $100 in perfect condition. I ordered lights for it, front and rear. I was all lined up to ride to work this week, I was fully prepared....except for rain, freezing rain, ice, and snow. Not sure how I forgot about all that, it is Iowa of course. This is supposed to continue all week and temps will stay in the 30's.
Sounds like a great deal! Having those extras come with a bike can really make a difference.
Post by: mskyle on March 25, 2015, 08:21:27 AM
Last night was the first time in about two months that I rode to my chorus rehearsal a couple of towns over. Hooray for shrunken snowbanks! Now if we could just get those potholes filled in.
Post by: b4u2 on March 26, 2015, 08:52:44 AM
Post by: dycker1978 on March 26, 2015, 10:19:22 AM
Post by: TrMama on March 26, 2015, 10:45:36 AM
Not much consideration went into the decision. A colleague recommended them to me and Schwalbe do seem to be the go to brand in Germany.Best bicycle related investment:I've been thinking about getting Gatorskin or some other tire, I'll have to add this to the list I'll look at when my tires get worn. What was the reason for choosing this brand over competitors?
Schwalbe Marathon Plus (http://www.schwalbe.com/gb/tour-reader/marathon-plus.html)
(http://i.imgur.com/AVsra4Bl.jpg)
No hint of a flat tire since.
Anyway no regrets on my part, I never mind paying a price for quality that will save me headaches and money in the long run.
I also had a coworker recommend those tires to me. The only reason I didn't get them was that they are really stiff and hard to get on. I have wimpy girl hands and can't get stiff tires like that on or off myself. This means that if I do get a flat on the road, I can't fix it myself. Since creepy men tend to stop and offer to "help" when I'm in that position I opted for a more flexible Schwalbe tire. If you're a guy or have a decent backup strategy for irreparable flats, this is a great tire.
Post by: Thegoblinchief on March 26, 2015, 07:25:37 PM
I also had a coworker recommend those tires to me. The only reason I didn't get them was that they are really stiff and hard to get on. I have wimpy girl hands and can't get stiff tires like that on or off myself. This means that if I do get a flat on the road, I can't fix it myself. Since creepy men tend to stop and offer to "help" when I'm in that position I opted for a more flexible Schwalbe tire. If you're a guy or have a decent backup strategy for irreparable flats, this is a great tire.
Heh, I'm a guy but because of surgeries I have pathetically weak grip strength, so for especially stiff tires I just use a bead jack.
----
Definitely have lost endurance with my lazy winter but had a good ride tonight considering there was a stiff breeze and it was only 34F. Did 27 miles a touch under 13mph average, and according to Strava I hit a personal record on 3 segments of my ride. Pretty spent towards the end, so I have a long ways to go if I want to make a century this year. Then again, better temps will no doubt help as well.
Post by: jordanread on March 27, 2015, 07:48:37 AM
The spread sheet wont let me add any more km or anything. It says that I am not authorised to make changes. Any advise?
Sorry for the delay man. I don't see anything different with the changes. Can you try again, and let me know if it works? What device are you accessing it on? Mobile, tablet, or desktop?
Post by: dycker1978 on March 27, 2015, 08:27:09 AM
The spread sheet wont let me add any more km or anything. It says that I am not authorised to make changes. Any advise?
Sorry for the delay man. I don't see anything different with the changes. Can you try again, and let me know if it works? What device are you accessing it on? Mobile, tablet, or desktop?
No worries, it started working again last night. It was not working on mobile, or desktop, but is on both now.
Thanks
Post by: b4u2 on March 27, 2015, 09:17:35 AM
Cell phone holder for GPS? I use a Note 3 any suggestions? ALso what about bike lock? I have a huge cable and circle lock that is just too big, bulky, and heavy. What do you use?
Post by: johnny847 on March 27, 2015, 09:28:25 AM
Couple of bike questions.
Cell phone holder for GPS? I use a Note 3 any suggestions? ALso what about bike lock? I have a huge cable and circle lock that is just too big, bulky, and heavy. What do you use?
I dont have a recommendation for the cell phone holder - that's a huge phone.
I use a kryotonite U lock. I usually put it through the top of my rack. I also keep a simple cable lock on my rack at all times because sometimes I rush out the door and forget my U lock
Post by: Thegoblinchief on March 27, 2015, 09:29:09 AM
Couple of bike questions.
Cell phone holder for GPS? I use a Note 3 any suggestions? ALso what about bike lock? I have a huge cable and circle lock that is just too big, bulky, and heavy. What do you use?
GPS - do you need to see the display or just log miles? If just logging, get an armband, as they are more secure and can be used also when doing other exercise.
Lock - unfortunately, all decent locks will be quite heavy. I have a Kryptonite u-lock that included an extra cable which is occasionally needed for locking up the kids bike to mine, or when there's only very thick objects to lock the bike to.
Post by: b4u2 on March 27, 2015, 09:41:31 AM
Couple of bike questions.
Cell phone holder for GPS? I use a Note 3 any suggestions? ALso what about bike lock? I have a huge cable and circle lock that is just too big, bulky, and heavy. What do you use?
GPS - do you need to see the display or just log miles? If just logging, get an armband, as they are more secure and can be used also when doing other exercise.
Lock - unfortunately, all decent locks will be quite heavy. I have a Kryptonite u-lock that included an extra cable which is occasionally needed for locking up the kids bike to mine, or when there's only very thick objects to lock the bike to.
Mostly to see the display. When we did the 30 mile ride we got "lost" a few times. I had it on my arm band but couldn't see the display.
I'll look for a lock that includes a cable as well then.
Post by: Thegoblinchief on March 27, 2015, 10:29:45 AM
Just make sure your handlebars are round and less than 33mm per the spec. When installed, triple check. All of these have decent horror stories of the phone falling out into the road, hence my prior recommendation of an armband.
Keep in mind also how fast the battery will get chewed up with both display and GPS on.
Post by: johnny847 on March 27, 2015, 10:31:16 AM
Couple of bike questions.
Cell phone holder for GPS? I use a Note 3 any suggestions? ALso what about bike lock? I have a huge cable and circle lock that is just too big, bulky, and heavy. What do you use?
GPS - do you need to see the display or just log miles? If just logging, get an armband, as they are more secure and can be used also when doing other exercise.
Lock - unfortunately, all decent locks will be quite heavy. I have a Kryptonite u-lock that included an extra cable which is occasionally needed for locking up the kids bike to mine, or when there's only very thick objects to lock the bike to.
Mostly to see the display. When we did the 30 mile ride we got "lost" a few times. I had it on my arm band but couldn't see the display.
I'll look for a lock that includes a cable as well then.
I have a cell phone mount for my bike, but my cell phone just plays music - I don't use the GPS on it. But, I do write my riding directions on a slip of paper and then put that on top of my phone. It works great.
And if I do go off course, I can always pull over and use my phone GPS to get my bearings.
Post by: ohyonghao on March 27, 2015, 10:34:46 AM
I'll third the Kryptonite lock. Mine came with something to mount it on the bike so it's always on there, and a cable which I loop through my front tire.Couple of bike questions.
Cell phone holder for GPS? I use a Note 3 any suggestions? ALso what about bike lock? I have a huge cable and circle lock that is just too big, bulky, and heavy. What do you use?
GPS - do you need to see the display or just log miles? If just logging, get an armband, as they are more secure and can be used also when doing other exercise.
Lock - unfortunately, all decent locks will be quite heavy. I have a Kryptonite u-lock that included an extra cable which is occasionally needed for locking up the kids bike to mine, or when there's only very thick objects to lock the bike to.
Mostly to see the display. When we did the 30 mile ride we got "lost" a few times. I had it on my arm band but couldn't see the display.
I'll look for a lock that includes a cable as well then.
For GPS I keep my phone in my pocket, though I really want to get a Garmin for those century rides. I saw someone in my cycling group with a handlebar bag that had a clear flap to put a phone in that then drapes over the bars towards you so you can see it. On 75+mi rides my phone gets drained, and I bring a USB recharger with me which gives me an extra charge. 75-100mi may be my limit for logging GPS miles for now unless I get a second backup charger, solar panels, or a dedicated device.
Here's something that sort of has the idea.
http://www.amazon.com/Cycling-Bicycle-Handlebar-Front-Basket/dp/B0098HAT34/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1427474030&sr=8-1&keywords=handlebar+bag (http://www.amazon.com/Cycling-Bicycle-Handlebar-Front-Basket/dp/B0098HAT34/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1427474030&sr=8-1&keywords=handlebar+bag)
Post by: mskyle on March 27, 2015, 10:35:21 AM
Bike locks are like insurance - they come with costs (not just money, also weight and convenience) and you have to decide on your own risk tolerance and the cost you're willing to put up with to reduce that risk. So you can get away with a very lightweight lock if you're mostly concerned with discouraging casual thievery on your moderately-priced bike, but you will need a heavier lock if you want to (nearly) eliminate your risk of having your beloved custom bike being ripped off by serious thieves. Likewise if you're locking your bike up every day in a busy or sketchy area you probably want a more serious lock than if you're toting a lock along on long-distance rides and you'll leave the bike parked for 45 minutes outside the place where you eat lunch.
Post by: WerKater on March 28, 2015, 02:14:10 AM
I have been lurking on the forum for a while and now I am entering the challenge for the first time. I am currently commuting ~25km (bike route) or ~28km (car route) each way in a metropolitan region with way too much clown car traffic in Germany.
I biked to work quite a bit last year already but am trying to step it up further this year.
My target is to usually bike each monday, wednesday and friday. I will allow myself to deviate from that if it is necessary because of the occasional busines trip, vacation or seriously bad weather. However, in any week which has N work days where I do commute to the office, I will not be allowed to drive the car more than floor(N/2) days. I will put a comment in the spreadsheet for each week signifying whether I achieved that goal.
As I am becoming more badass, I hope to even go beyond that goal, of course.
And thanks a lot to jordanread for the cool spreadsheet.
Happy Riding!
Post by: Thegoblinchief on March 28, 2015, 07:05:08 AM
Post by: WerKater on March 28, 2015, 09:03:11 AM
Welcome WerKater! That's a hefty commute - good on you for doing it.Thanks! I hope to live up to my plans :)
Post by: Mistah Cash Lion on March 29, 2015, 06:56:34 AM
Post by: Thegoblinchief on March 31, 2015, 02:51:14 PM
Post by: Mistah Cash Lion on March 31, 2015, 08:00:00 PM
Post by: WerKater on April 01, 2015, 08:45:10 AM
Had to climb over a fallen tree on the way back.
Total in March: 460km. Not bad for the first real cycling month of the year.
Attached is the altitude profile of my morning rides, by the way.
Post by: jordanread on April 01, 2015, 10:28:50 AM
Post by: Armer Student on April 01, 2015, 04:11:55 PM
Post by: Taswegian on April 02, 2015, 06:32:59 AM
New to forums & this bit. Im in Australia, so target is 5,000k for the year. Breaking that into miles/month its +/- 3200 miles for the year or 265 miles/ month. Im on 4 days/week commute (5 miles round trip) + a weekender (30-50 miles) at the moment, but headong out of Southern summer makes it less appealing from now on until October...
Post by: Taswegian on April 02, 2015, 06:36:03 AM
Post by: jordanread on April 02, 2015, 05:15:45 PM
Post by: WerKater on April 06, 2015, 04:22:47 AM
@WerKater: Looks quite challenging, I like it. :) Where in germany do you ride your bike?Between two medium-sized cities south of Stuttgart.