Bicycle Diaries
30 years riding, 15 years writing
Heat Advisory
The dog days of summer have arrived.
The only time for outdoor exercise this week is early morning. You can see the temperature gauge rising before your eyes as the sun cuts through the morning haze.
I went out a bit late this morning and paid for it dearly, exhausted after the ride. There were sections of the main gravel trail, where the sun beats down all day, that I felt like I was floating on heat vapors.
Speaking of the main McAlpine trail, two trees were toppled by last night’s rain, the city was out there cutting them up.
MTB: distance 14.36 miles, average speed 13.0 mph.
Trek 5200
7 years in the depths of storage, it comes to life!
The Trek 5200 became my dream bike when I first laid eyes on it in an issue of Bicycling. 3 years of trading up to better rides at the local bike shop, and I had my 1993 black carbon 5200.
Sadly, circumstances led me to live in places that weren’t very bike friendly, so I moth balled the 5200 and rode my mountain bike instead. Since moving to Charlotte, I’d been itching to get back to riding the road bike, but I felt I wasn’t in good enough shape to do it justice.
This afternoon, I went to the LBS and bought a pair of Bontrager Race Lite Hardcase 700×25 tires and matching inner tubes. Put new CR2032 batteries in the Vetta VHR 25 cyclometer and it’s matching heart rate monitor, they still worked to my amazement. Cleaned, oiled and made some minor adjustments and the 5200 was ready to roll.
Slipped on my Sidi shoes and hopped on for a ride around the block. My first thought was oh sh*t, I’m so low, how did I ever ride this thing for miles on end? After a couple of laps around the block, I felt a bit more at ease, so I got dressed up and went for a get re-acquainted ride.
Road: distance 19.9 miles, average speed 12.9 mph.
Adjusted Judy
J2, the Rock Shox front fork on the Trek Fuel 70.
Adjusted the suspension fork, gave it a bit more travel for a plusher ride. My hands were getting numb from the pounding of the trail after riding for an hour, and I wanted to take longer rides.
Though with more travel I get a spongier feel when I get out of the saddle and hammer, it’s well worth the trade off.
Today I rode for 2 hours and my hands felt just fine, the adjustment worked out great. I decided to stay in the saddle for those uphill climbs, good for my quads but tough on the knees.
Rode for 26.34 miles, average speed was 13.2 mph.
Jogging Stroller
Exercise with the whole household.
This afternoon I came upon a woman jogging behind a double stroller. There was a months old baby sleeping and a 2 year old sipping on some juice inside the stroller. Leashed to the handle of the stroller was an Irish Setter looking like he wanted to run off, but reluctantly keeping the same pace. A few feet ahead was a 4 year old boy riding his bike urging his mom to keep up.
Now that’s a workout :)
Rode for 18.31 miles, average speed was 13.5 mph.
Morning Dew
Walk me out in the morning dew today.
Oh, the fresh smell of morning in the air. There’s nothing like riding on the grass and letting the bike tires spray dew onto your body.
Temps in the low 70’s and the cross country runners were out in full force. Memories of my high school days danced in my head, I was glad to be on my bike instead of huffing and puffing to keep up.
Rode for 18.06 miles, average speed was 12.9 mph.
Le Maillot Jaune
Wore my yellow jersey on today’s ride.
Alberto Contador, a fellow Spaniard, wins the 2007 Tour de France. Six Spanish riders finished in the top 10 positions, wonder what they are eating over there?
I’m going to miss getting up early to watch the live feed of the tour and then hopping on my bike afterwards. But I’m glad it inspired me to get off my butt and start riding again, I feel renewed, gracias.
Rode for 19.96 miles, average speed was 12.8 mph.
Le Muddy
Rain came our way last night.
Wherever the trail meets the creek, mud was caked a few inches thick. Had to slow when I encountered le mud, or else it’s all kinds of debris coming off my tires and onto my face and body.
Congrats to Levi, Alberto and the rest of the Discovery team for an incredible time trial, onto Paris.
Rode for 16.32 miles, average speed was 12.7 mph.
Le Distance
Time for more miles in the saddle.
With my average speed going up, I needed more distance in my rides. The more miles I ride, the better my body can cope with going faster.
Distance and speed go hand in hand, so you have to increase one to affect the other.
Rode for 16.33 miles, average speed was 12.7 mph.
Go Speed Racer
Pressing buttons and dusting up the trail.
My legs are coming back, rather than hurting, they are feeling good and my average speed is showing it. I can sustain a good pace on the flat main trail and on the hilly inner trails, I can get out of my seat and pump it.
The only thing that slows me down is if the trail is blocked by walkers or runners, the bell comes in handy.
Rode for 12.72 miles, average speed was 13.1 mph.
Le Rest Day
The Tour de France riders rested today.
So I decided to do the same, did some light work around the yard but for the most part, just chilled.
Then in the afternoon, storms rolled into North Charlotte, no showers hit us but we had much cooler temps.
I just couldn’t resist the inviting weather, even though I was a bit tired from 3 days of riding, I went out and had a really good ride.
Rode for 12.74 miles, average speed was 12.7 mph.
Charlotte, NC
Spent 10 years in Charlotte, a block away from an entrance to the McAlpine Creek Greenway.
Switched to a mountain bike from the road bikes I was accustomed to riding for 15 years.
The time spent on these trails was most appreciated.
Trek Fuel 70
