Back at it

Well, back at it after a long layoff. Finals. Holidays. Crazy work schedule. I have lots of excuses, but hard to believe I took a whole month off from riding. I feel ashamed.

I did not gain a single pound!

At least I have that.

I did about 7 miles today. My back, butt and hands were a bit sore, but overall it felt good. At one point in the ride I got passed by a chick on a flat bar, but not long after she could not keep up the pace and I passed her, then powered up this hill on the bike path just north of the College Boulevard bridge. I know I must have looked very impressive. Maybe not. In any case, maybe I didn't get too out of shape during the layoff.

Santa Was Good To John

Santa was good to me. He made it a big cycling Christmas.

My lovely wife gave me a nice pair of Specialized thermal bib tights.

With Christmas money from my parents I bought a Pearl Izumi jacket and I also bought a base layer as a gift to myself.

I have no excuses now. I put all this stuff on and was sweating in 65 degree room air. I also got a gift certificate to Bike Source. I wonder if shoe warmers and lobster gloves are worth the investment? The gift certificate is burning a hole in my pocket, but I'll be patient! I promise...I hope.

Winter Gear

I am truly ready for winter. I received a nice pair of Specialized thermal bib tights for Christmas. I also used some Christmas cash to buy a Pearl Izumi jacket. I have no excuses not to hit the road now!

2012 Ride Calendar

Here is my 2012 Ride Calendar!

April - Half-Century.
May 5 - Vino Fondo, Augusta, MO - 26 mile route.
June 10 - Tour de Cure - Kansas City, KS, - 45 mile route.
July - Katy Trail Ride.
Aug. 5 - Sunflower 2 Roses, Olathe, KS - 34 mile route.
Sept. 22-23 - Bike MS Olathe, KS, to Lawrence, KS/Return - 38 mile route each way.
Oct. 6 - Tour de Barbecue - Kansas City, MO - 62 mile route.
November - Prairie Spirit Rail Trail Ride.

Something to train for

Today I realized that the only way I am going to get out there and ride in this cold is if I have something to train for. Hence, the Vino Fondo May 5. Since this will be my first Gran Fondo with hills, I'll do the mini fondo, only 26 miles, but with more than a half-mile vertical climb. You can also loop the course twice for 52 total miles. Something to consider, but I don't want to get ahead of myself. It includes the Schleusberg climb that was on the Tour of Missouri.


After this ride I plan to graduate to the middle length of most event rides. That's probably at the limit of what I'd want to do on my Allez. I'd want something a bit more comfortable for the 100+ mile days in the saddle. Something like the Secteur or Roubaix - that's what they are made for.


The event is put on by Big Shark, a bike shop in St. Louis. They have a nice picture of Contador climbing the Schleusberg.




Here's the event Web sit.
http://bigshark.com/about/2012-vino-fondo-pg796.htm

Pedal to Properties | Utility Cycling

Pedal to Properties | Utility Cycling

Oh, if I'd only thought about this before changing careers! Seriously, though, good idea.

Winter Trail Commuting by Mountain Bike | Commute by Bike

Winter Trail Commuting by Mountain Bike | Commute by Bike

Hard core.

Globe: Specialized's Cooler Cousin

http://www.specialized.com/us/en/globe/GlobeHome.jsp

Okay, I'll be honest. Trek and Specialized are just more accessible to the average buyer than most other brands. They are names you can generally trust in terms of quality and most bike shops stock one or the other brands along with higher-end specialty bikes. It's no wonder, then, that both manufacturers have a brand of urban bikes. Trek has Pure and Specialized has Globe. I would imagine these business units are in response to Electra, which I think has been able to capture a niche market.

Globe makes some really nice bikes. I particularly like the Daily. I think bikes like this make good second bikes which, let's face it, be you a roady or moutain biker, your main ride is probably not suited for grocery store runs.

Here's a pretty good review that, while a bit old, looks at the Daily. The current model year has similar versions of these bikes.

http://www.bikerumor.com/2010/07/13/specialized-rolls-out-new-globe-daily-city-bicycles/

Trek Store

I treated myself to a visit to the Trek store today. I thought I would check out Specialized's competition. It seems like in America we have two choices for quality manufacturers that have a wide range. These are do-anything manufacturers like Ford and Chevy.

First, let me say, excellent service. I was treated well, the salespeople took time with me and when I asked questions that indicated that I know a thing or two about bikes, they rewarded my knowledge and curiosity with respect and conversation. That's more than I can say for another well-known dealer here in Johnson County that also sells Trek. Of course, my favorite shop is a Specialized dealer.

Okay, now the bad. I realize that these dealers are in business to sell bikes and it doesn't make sense to stock units that will just collect dust, but why can't they have an example of the entire range on hand. I really wanted to look at a Belleville, but they don't stock it. I also wanted to look at a PDX, but again they don't stock it.

They did give me a catalog, which I was appreciated of, and I found out some other disheartening news. I liked the PDX because on the Web site it says it's a steel bike, and I know from bike forums that I visit that this was a steel frame and similar (at least in appeal) the low end of the FX range, which is aluminum. The catalog says the PDX is now aluminum. WTF?

Another disturbing trend. Built in China. I have no issues with bikes that are built in Taiwan and Thailand, but I still am hesitant about bikes built in China. Trek does have a lifetime warranty, so that's some comfort, but again, WTF? It looks like in the FX range, you have to go up to a 7.6 to get something built in Taiwan.

Which suddenly made me panic. Was my Allez built in China? I seem to remember that it was made in Taiwan, but now I'm concerned.

Anyway, wasn't impressed with the overall build quality of the lower end of the range. I realize this might be because Specialized tends to invest in colorful and well executed paint jobs, but I don't know. I looked at a Trek Portland, which is a $1,700 bike and it looked cheap.

It wasn't my mood either, I thought about that too.

So, nice store. I did see a t-shirt I liked and undoubtedly the upper end of the range Madones are good bikes. A bit disappointed in the rest, though.

The Trans Canada Trail

The Trans Canada Trail

Wow, you can ride a bike all the way across Canada, mostly off road. Looks like you have to portage your bike in a few places. It is Canada, after all.

A Decent $15 Bike Light - Kansas Cycling News

A Decent $15 Bike Light - Kansas Cycling News

Being safe doesn't have to cost a lot of money.

Cyclocross Racing

Cyclocross racing season just finished up. I don't know much about this sport, but it looks like a lot of fun. Here's a video that shows a pretty good example of what goes on at one of these races. The guys look gassed at the end, but they also look like they are having a lot of fun.


Behind THE Barriers Season II Episode 9 from Behind The Barriers on Vimeo.

There's a series here in Kansas City that's about four weeks long called Boss Cross. I really want to make it out to one of these races next year. It's kind of an underground sport around here, so it's easy to forget it's coming up. Localcycling.com has training rides on their calendar. I think there is one this Wednesday, but I doubt it will come off if the snow is still on the ground.

Electra Ticino 16D

I talked my wife into a trip to the bike shop after we had lunch. I want her to get a bike when we get our tax refund early next year. The two main brands this shop sells are Specialized and Electra. When we got done looking at bikes for her, we walked around the rest of the shop.

One of the bikes I really like the looks of is the Electra Ticino.



Here's a link to the manufacturer's site.

I am intrigued by this bike for two reasons. First, I like the retro looks. The steel fenders are hammered and while I would strongly consider replacing them with wood fenders, they look pretty awesome. That color is called putty, by the way. Looks fantastic. The bike is begging for a Brooks saddle. The only thing cooler than the bar-end brake pulls would be shifters on the downtube.

Then there is the handlebar issue. There are two things I'm not particularly fond of. The first is front suspension. The second are flat bars on a road bike. This bike has neither.

The bike was handy in the rack so I pulled it off and sat on it. Very comfy. It was cold as a bugger outside or I would have taken it for a spin. Maybe in the future.

The one thing I don't like about this bike is that it is aluminum. Why? The other bike I would compare it to is the Trek Belleville, which is steel. It's a looker too. The only thing it is lacking is a few more gears (it has three), but it has an internal hub, so it can easily be upgraded to a seven. It also sports a front rack. This bike, though I did not look closely, I would assume has 16 gears. Very practical for a neighborhood bike. I wonder if it might suffer as a commuter, though. Something about it makes me think it would be uncomfortable on long journeys, but then again it's a Hell of a lot more bike than they used to race in the 1920s. Except for the aluminum thing.

My Map My Ride Page

I use Map My Ride. Love it. Click on this link to go to my page.

http://www.mapmyride.com/profile/6576712/

Mt. Washington Hill Climbs

Here are three ways to climb Mt. Washington.

Brooks Tweed Run

I have to go to this some day. I can't think of anything more awesome. Riding around London in a pair of tweed knickers smoking a meersheimer pipe wearing a deerstalker. Hell yes! Sign me up.

The Never-Ending Quest To Identify A Second Bike

When I take rides like the one today through the neighborhood I dream about having a second bike that's purposed for this type of rambling, grocery store runs and coffee shop trips.

Dont' get me wrong. I love my Allez. For fitness and everyday training rides, this is the perfect bike. It's already feeling like an old friend, and now that I have cycling shoes and clipless pedals, I really feel at one with the bike. It gets better every time I ride it, and the carefully considered tweaks like new Continental GP Four-Season tires just make it all that much better.

In a pinch, this bike can do other things. I could put a rack on the back of it, I suppose. I could also buy a platform kit for my pedals and use it for these short runs.

Ultimately I want a casual bike, though.

Lately I've been combing the Web sites, visiting the shops and reading online reviews. I don't really need a dedicated commuter, but something more suited for this purpose would be nice. I suppose I could also just throw a messenger bag over my shoulders and take the Allez to classes, though. A flat-bar fitness bike or a comfort bike might fit the bill, but they seem kind of boring.

A few bikes from Trek have caught my eye. One is the Belleville. It has a lot of features I like. It's steel. It comes with racks and lights. It looks fantastic. In fact, I think it would look awesome with a pair of wood fenders and accessories from Brooks: A B17 saddle, roll up panniers and a tool roll. I found a company that makes cool crates that fit this bike complete with cup holders. Does it get any better? The downside is that it's only a three speed. But it's an internal hub, and I could switch out the hub for a seven.

 

Another bike I like from Trek is the PDX. It's also steel, is rack and fender compatible and is cheep - about $600. It would make for an excellent grocery-getter, tow vehicle and even commuter. I suppose this bike is more practical, but I just like that styling with the Belleville.

At the end of the day I like the fact the Belleville, which is about $200 more, is a complete package. I also think the mustache bars will be more comfortable. I am not sold on the flat bar concept on the PDX. I do like the fact that this bike is pretty non-descript and has every-day ride written all over it. 

A Ramble around the neighborhood

It's easy to forget how fun it is to just get on a bike and ramble around the neighborhood. I rode over to my sister-in-law's house and back, a trip of about six miles total.On the way back I was feeling pretty chippy so I rode down Sommerset Drive, which is more traffic than I like.

I need to do more of this riding around the neighborhood. I felt a little bit of that joy of discovery that I felt when riding with dad and our neighbor down the street all those years ago.

Plus, those little trips add up.

Best TIme To Ride - If You Are Diabetic

I find the best time for me to ride is about an hour after a meal. Lately I've been riding late in the afternoon, and I just don't seem that into it. I've noticed my blood sugar drops faster this far out from a meal as well.

This time of year, the best time for me to ride is probably one or two in the afternoon during the heat of the day. In the morning it's just too cold.

I see guys out really early, which is a great time to ride because of the absence of traffic, but I don't know how they do it in this cold. Cold and dark is a lot different than cold and sunny. Either way, five miles is still a pretty good after meal ride, and it's not long enough to get really cold.

Anyway, riding about an hour after a meal is probably the best way to maximize the exercise benefit in relation to blood sugars. That's when I'm going to be highest, and riding cuts down on these spikes. Of course the flip side is that you have to be careful to monitor your blood sugar in the next few hours so you don't have a low. By monitor, I mean be in tune with the signs that your sugar is dropping. For me, I get a dull headache about half an hour before I feel that low sugar flush.

I have come a long way. Five miles would have killed me in June. Today it's nothing. The human body is pretty resilient and it's pretty responsive to even a little bit of activity.

Warm Fall Days

I love these warm fall days. It was 65 degrees today, and although it was overcast and I was a little cold at first, I warmed right up. I chose not to wear the beanie under my helmet, but I think would have ended up taking it off mid-ride if I had chosen to do so. I wore my L.L. Bean fleece zip jacket, which is a great garment for this temperature.

I wore my leg warmers and I think I like these better than bib-tights at these temps. It gives you the option of taking them off if you start getting warm. It's much more important to keep your trunk and arms warm. The legs warm up just fine because of all the heat generated by muscle action. The arms and trunk are just sitting there not doing any work, so they tend to get cold.

I rode about a half an hour from 107th and Roe to Watts Mill. I'm consistently amazed at the effect riding has on blood sugar. It was about four hours since lunch, and the ride dropped my blood sugar about 100 points.

Short ride due to time issue.

Riding For Fun

If I had to classify my riding, I'd say about 90 percent of it is training rides. Training for what? The next group ride, event ride, whatever.

I need to do more riding for fun. Instead of firing up the Ford, I should be hopping on a bike and riding up to Quick Trip or down to the coffee shop. I used to do these quick runs on the scooter (Note to self, get the scooter running). Riding instead of driving is a lifestyle choice. These short rides are just the kind of thing that makes you healthy. Kind of like taking the stairs instead of the elevator or parking at the far end of the parking lot. Right now I have my wife's voice in my head chastising me for parking two spaces from the handicapped parking. Hey, I can't help it, I've always been lucky that way.

I suppose a fixie is the best sort of bike for this thing. There are no hills between here and the grocery stores, Starbuck's, fast foot joints, bike shop, convenience store, etc. I liked the Townie, but I always wanted just one other gear. I suppose if you have 21 gears, there's always a 22nd that you would like.

A Globe Daily or a Trek Belleville would be the hipster alternative. Pretty cool looking bikes and functional too.

I think back often to those rides I used to do with dad and Mike Smith, this guy down the street. We would ride up to Avila College or The Barstow School. What a sense of freedom. There is nothing better than a dad asking his child "where do you want to go?" and then going there. I love that feeling of freedom when you get on the bike and just go wherever your mood takes you.

Glad I did it

I've been off for a while. It's been a crazy busy week. I didn't feel like riding very far, but I slogged my way through it and I'm glad I did.

I cannot believe I've been off for 10 days. I was starting to feel the effects of not exercising both mentally and physically. I felt it a bit in my legs and core today when I was on the bike.

It is easy to lose conditioning, but it's also easy to get it back thankfully.

I did 8.62 miles in 42 minutes today.

Next Year's Goals

This year I have enjoyed doing the 15-mile routes on the event rides such as Sunflowers to Roses and Tour de BBQ.

In 2012, I want to up my participation to the 30-mile routes and I want to add a couple of rides.

Of course, Tour de Cure is close to my heart being a diabetic for almost a year now. The event is in June and starts out at the Kansas Speedway. I want to do some major fundraising for this event and get a Red Rider jersey.

I suppose Sunflowers 2 Roses will have a place in my heart because it was my first event ride. It's in August and they have a cool jersey.

The big event is Bike MS is September. This is a two-day event, and I think there is a 37-mile route each day starting in Olathe and ending in Lawrence the first day and coming back the second. I'd also like to do fundraising for this one.

October is the fun event. I did Tour de BBQ (another cancer ride) and enjoyed it, though I didn't get much BBQ on the 15-mile route.

There are a couple of other things I want to accomplish. I want to do a couple of rail-trail rides - maybe 30 miles on the Prairie Spirit Trail and two days on the Katy Trail with the family, maybe 30 miles each day. I also want to do a long ride on the Johnson County Streamway. Maybe an out-and-back loop along Tomahawk one way and Indian Creek the other.

Finally, I want to do my first half-century. A 50-mile ride, perhaps to Lawrence in Back. This would be a good thing to do in July, with event rides in June, August, September and October.

Ramble around the old neighborhood

I thought it would be fun to ramble around the old neighborhood today. It is cool, and it's not too far from the start of school. I started at my son's daycare and rode up to my elementary school. Yes, I'm a Red Bridge Roadrunner.

After that, I rode back to our old house on Washington. I discovered - and I don't know how I did not know this - that our driveway was exactly 1 mile from the circle drive at the school.

The neighborhood has not changed much. It's still a great neighborhood. I would like to move back there some day, but we live in the town just across the state line in Kansas that simply has better schools and better services. I feel guilty about not living in Missouri, but in order to be close to my parents we would have to live too far away. Living in Kansas City is difficult if you are already settled in a community that does not have the problems Kansas City has.

I noticed during the ride that I had developed a rattle. Sure enough, after the ride I discovered that I had gone flat. Time for new tires, I think. The Specialized Mondos are not up to the kind of riding that I like to do.

Mileage versus timed riding

Today I tried something different. I wanted to practice hand positioning and climbing out of the saddle, so I planned a 30-minute ramble around the park.

I had so much fun not concentrating on speed and mileage. I really relaxed and worked on my skills. So much so, that weather permitting I am going to do another, longer timed ride tomorrow. I am going to go for 50 minutes, which should put me at 10 plus miles. The focus is on time, not speed. I managed an 11 mph plus average speed, so I only dropped a few miles per hour.

There is a big smile on my face right now.

Lazy

Well, the Oklahoma Joe's we had for dinner killed my drive. I will have to move my training schedule back a day. I was planning a thirty minute ramble around the park, but there is no way. That is going to put off my ten-mile ride another day. I might only get one in before the S2R event next weekend, but I am not too concerned about it. The important thing is to get back on track tomorrow.

Electra Camera Mount Test

I have wanted a camera mount for my bike for a while.  I have essentially the top of the line (well, at the time I bought it) point-and-shoot camera. It's a Nikon Coolpix P5100, which shoots up to 12.1 megapixels and can go fully manual. It also shoots excellent video.

I did not want to go with a full camera and mount system like GoPro just yet because of the investment in my Nikon. So, I decided to try the Electra Handlebar Camera Mount. My local bike shop carries Electra and Electra accessories, but does not stock this particular item, so I had to special order it and buy it sight unseen.

My initial reaction upon receiving it is that this is a pretty sturdy mount. It is not light, so there are obviously better options if weight is important to you. However, this mount gives you a lot of bang for the buck as it is priced just shy of $40.

You mount it to your handlebars with a fairly sturdy collar mount that comes apart in two pieces. Electra even provides you a hex wrench for this purpose and rubber shims, which my handlebars did not require the use of. If you have a tripod for your camera, you know how to operate this mount. It is essentially a tripod mount with twist handle to make adjustment easier. The twisting handle also folds up to become flush with the mount, an added bonus.

In short, success. The mount is very sturdy and on my limited road tests so far, the only vibration is from the bike itself. This is something to consider if you want a handlebar as opposed to helmet mount. The video is only going to be as smooth as the road you are riding on. My purpose for shooting video is mainly to have something to watch when I'm on the trainer this winter. For that purpose the Electra Handlebar Camera Mount is perfect. I'd give it four out of four stars.

Here is some video I shot on my first test run. Not the most exciting, I'll admit, but exactly what I'm looking for. And what's up with that guy jogging in middle of the road?

Back on the Bike

Back on the bike after a week off. Really felt it when I started, but got going good after about a mile. I had to cut the ride short because it started pissing down rain after three miles. I could have gone longer and feel guilty about only doing three miles, but it was a good start to what I hope is a week of riding building up to an event ride I am planning on doing in two weeks.

Specialized Allez walkaround

This is a quick walk around my new Specialized Allez road bike. 

A difficult week off the bike

I am changing careers and the past two weeks I have been doing a clinical experience at a long-term care facility for a nursing assistant certificate, which is the first step toward applying for the RN program I am hoping to enter.

This has not left much time for riding. It seems the only time I can ride is when it is 100-plus degrees in the afternoon. It is just too hot. The last time I was on the bike was last Sunday, and that was a ride I had to abandon because of lightning.

I take my state certification exam tomorrow and I am off all next week. I am hoping to ride every day and build up to at least a ten-mile ride the following weekend in anticipation of the Sunflowers to Roses ride in the middle of next month.

In the short amount of time I have been back into riding, I have become addicted. I just don't feel right this week. I have felt a little bit of panic creeping back in at times. Heck, I can't even go two days in a row without riding before I miss it.

The New Bike

This is my new bike - The Specialized Allez. It's an Allez double, which is a pretty basic bike, but I can grow along with it and I don't think I'll outgrow it for a long time. I can upgrade components on this and later upgrade the frameset to a Tarmac or maybe a Roubaix. Note the red sticker on the top tube reminding me to register at Specialized's web site.

Specialized Riders Club - Specialized Bicycle Components

Specialized Riders Club - Specialized Bicycle Components

I would not have known about this Web site if I had not registered like my bike (okay, the sticker on the top tube) told me to do. It's great. Specialized has great branding and this site links to its You Tube and Twitter feeds.

I know it shouldn't matter, but let's face it - branding is important. I guess the choice for most riders in the U.S. is between Trek and Specialized. Trek just does not have the sex appeal of Specialized.

Pride

It was really hot today. At 8 p.m. when I went out the temperature said 92, but with the humidity the feels-like index was well over 100.

I went out anyway. I decided to ramble around the park and I did six miles despite the heat. Not the fastest ride, but who cares.

It was also threatening rain, which was another reason to just ramble around the park. To think - eight months ago I could not get out of bed very easily.

Today is a good day.

A New Seat for the Townie (Again)

I caved and bought a new seat for the Townie today. It is great. My feet hurt a bit, but my backside felt great. It feels like a new bike.

I am working toward doing eight miles this weekend, and with this seat I feel I can do it. Comfort is so important. Serfas makes some great stuff.

I am going to treat myself to a test ride on Friday, which is my birthday. Jason at BikeSource is going to hook me up to test out a few bikes. My feeling is that I'm not ready for a road bike right now, but we'll see. You never know until you test ride them. I will never ride a bike again without riding it first.

For my needs, a Sirrus might be the most versatile option. I could buy a cheap one and build it up. They also have a good deal on last year's Allez, so I might ride that one too. I could upgrade that bike as time goes along and it would be okay for touring. It's not suited for the trail, though, but even that is doable.

Difficult Workout

Actually experienced a blood sugar increase during today's workout, which is rare. I know the reason, though. I carbed up on a donut before. You have to allow yourself these little pleasures in life. Still, I was only about 170 after the ride, so I don't feel too guilty.

I definitively need to work up to a longer ride. I was not feeling it this morning. I turned around at Nativity for a five-mile ride from Leawood Park. I don't know if it is me or the bike, but I really felt it in my legs and ass today. Probably the bike.

Work to do this week

My goal for this week is to build up to a longer, eight mile ride. I know this might not seem like a lot, but it's a huge step for me as I recover from my illness and years of being out of shape.

My plan is to ride Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. I will shot for one more mile each day - six, seven and finally eight miles.

I have to say. I think this is the limit of what I can do on this bike. I think if I did ten miles on it I would probably lose both legs. Okay, that's a bit dramatic, but my point is this bike is just not comfortable for that long a ride.

I find that I get a second and even third wind on the bike. I tend to huff and puff right out of the box, but then feel great. I wish it wasn't so hot, though. I would love a cool ride in Minneapolis right about now. Not in the cards, though.

I have come a long way in the past month. I can do five miles without a putting a foot down, and that's an accomplishment in its own right. I feel great.

I-Lan Park

I tried a new route today. I rode up from Leawood South Park (119th and Roe) to I-Lan Park off Nall. I think I-Lan is a sister city to Leawood.

Anyway, my starting blood sugar was really high for some reason. It was right at 300. I was only going to do about three miles, but I felt good and rode four miles. The result was that I brought my blood sugar down a full 100 points. I might have had a bad reading at the 300.

My feet hurt again. I find that when I am not pedaling I stand on my right foot (on the pedal) and that makes my right foot hurt. It goes away after I get off the bike, but it is annoying.

I am ready for a new bike, I think.

Trip to the Bike Shop

I went to Bike Source and talked with Jason today. I am conflicted to say the least.

He suggested the Specialized Tricross. This would be a good tourer and would work right along with my goal to do the Biking Across Kansas Ride. You can fit this bike with a nice rear and front rack from Specialized. It has wider tires, but has the geometry of a road bike.

The Secteur is strictly a road bike. The Sirrus is strictly a bike path bike. The Tricross would do road, path and Katy Trail rides, though changing out the tires might be required. The cost for the base model of the Tricross is in line with a decent Secteur build.

One can do a lot on this bike, but I don't have the money right now. This bike plus perhaps a road bike and mountain bike will get you just about anywhere.

I still love those cruisers though. Anyway, I won't know until I ride some bikes, which will be very soon.

Short ride after a long day

Seems like I always get a reward for coming out here. I had a long day in class today and it's hot. This is becoming a lifestyle.

My reward today was another doe. Or maybe it was the same one. She was drinking from the creek as I crossed the bridge.

My feet hurt. It might just be the bike geometry.

Doing the Minimum

For me right now my minimum is five miles every other day. I want to work up to five miles every day, then expand on that. I kind of look at it as a price I must pay for being diabetic. I should probably walk the dog once a day too. If I can do a five miler after breakfast and a nice walk after dinner or before bed, I think I'm doing pretty well. When I'm walking the dog I can smoke one of those little cigars I'm fond of as well.

Eventually I want to work in gym workouts three times a week and longer weekend rides.

My schedule this fall is a bit uncertain. I know I will be going to school, mostly in the evening, but I'll also be working part-time at least. It's going to be very important to work in my exercise. I simply have to do this to combat my diabetes. I have seen the benefits in my blood sugars. This is not a luxury. It is a lifestyle I must live.

My hardest battle ahead will be shifting to a lower fat, low carb diet that is nutritious. Right now I get buy limiting my carbs for the most part, but I still eat like crap. I have allowed myself to take a pass on this issue as I get other areas of my life in line, but this is something I need to do sooner, rather than later.

Ick

I put a new seat on the Townie. It was a cheap road bike seat I got from that bike shop I don't like that shall remain nameless.

I did my routine five miles. I was still a bit sleepy when I started the ride and never really got better. I do feel a sense of accomplish getting the ride in.

The seat is not so good. You need to be forward on the perineum for a seat like this. My feet went a bit numb. Must be pressing down on something back there. A little bit of sciatic nerve pain too. Perhaps if I angle the seat forward a bit, but that might just exacerbate the circulation problems.

Nice day though.

A Rewarding Ride

It's been really hot, so I got up early this morning to get a ride in. My plan was to ride four or five miles. My routine workout.

I really wasn't feeling it, but I got on the bike and just did it. At the turn around point I started feeling better. I always (well, usually) do.

On the ride back a doe crossed my path about ten yards ahead then paused there and let me pass close enough to touch her. I felt this was a little reward from nature or God or whatever for persevering. Some days you know you are just living right.

I see this as a sign that I am on the right track. I was really sick over the winter with the gall stones/pancreatitis. I see this as a sign that everything will be okay. I will beat the diabetes and be around for my kids.

Bicycling is the one sport I've done my whole life. Some of my fondest memories are bike rides with dad and a neighbor down the street. I want this for my children as well. I want them to be healthy and to have those great memories.

Bicycle Magazines

I started picking up some bicycle magazines. Some are better than others, but right now they all provide me with the cycle porn I so strongly desire.

The two magazines I like the most are Velo News (which has rebranded itself as Velo) and Bicycle Times, which is kind of a commuter/cruiser or alt bike culture magazine. It's put out by the DirtRag people, which is another great magazine.

Bicycling is okay. It's a magazine that tries to be all things to all riders, which has its obvious problems, but that's okay. I understand their issue. It does have some pretty good reviews of bikes, etc., and it's the kind of magazine you want around for the ads.

Bike is a pretty good mountain bike magazine. Mountain Bike Action is kind of the Velo News of moutain biking. I good mag in its own right.

Bike also produces a magazine called Paved, which as far as I know you can't subscribe to right now. It's for road bikes. Not bad.

Peleton is a great magazine. Racing, history of cycling, etc.

What is lacking is a good touring magazine. At least I have not found one. I think the Adventure Cycling Association might have one.

So far I have subscribed to Velo News, Bicycle Times and Bicycling. I think Peleton will be next and I might join the ACA to get their magazine. I suppose the mountain bike mags will be next. I have forgone my motorcycle magazine subscriptions in favor of cycling. It must be official - I'm hooked. I love Back Street Choppers. I'll have to pick that one up to satisfy my motorcycle porn urges.

Just Get On The BIke

I am really proud of this workout. It was hot and humid, about 90 degrees, but it felt a lot hotter.

I just got on the bike and rode around the park for 20 minutes. About five miles total and 120 point drop in blood sugar.

I can't say it to myself enough. Just get on the bike and ride. I did more than planned today. I thought I would just get on the bike and ride a few miles to do something. But I did it. I did more than I planned because I started feeling good.

I have noticed that I am in a much better mood and I don't panic as often (at all really) when I am driving. This is starting to become a routine.

Another Trip to the Bike Shop

I used to be into motorcycle porn, but lately it's all bicycle porn. I can't get enough of bike magazines and I obsess over the Specialized Road and Mountain catalogs. I can't wait until the new ones come out.

I love the Bike Source shop they built up at Ranchmart. I mostly work with Jason who has promised to put me on  few different bikes when I when I am ready to buy. A great guy. I feel guilty going in there so much, so I try to buy something each time I go in.

Today I was talking with this girl about the Secteur. She just about convinced me that this is the bike I should buy. I see that it has its merits. It's a bit more than I'm ready to spend, but it would make a great bike for Centuries or Gran Fondos, something I want to eventually do a lot of. Of course, the Roubaix is the carbon version. A tricked out Secteur or maybe a Roubaix is probably the dream bike for me to buy some day. The Tarmac is a great race bike, but it's not as versatile.

So, a road bike, an endurance bike, a cruiser and Rockhopper. I'll be set. Amy is going to be pissed! A lot cheaper than a Harley, though. I want one of those too, which is the problem.

A full 100 points

Great workout today. I dropped my blood sugar a full 100 points by riding 5 miles in about 25 minutes.

The single speed gives you a great workout. I did the whole 5-mile ride from Leawood Park to the Nativity Bridge, stopping only long enough at the turnaround to take on some water.

On this route along the Tomahawk Creek trail there is this killer hill right before you pass under College Blvd. I was able to climb it without putting a foot down and walking the last little bit. A small thing, but a great sense of accomplishment.

I think I can ride the Townie pretty well. I can do about 10 mph on this bike. It needs some things though. I don't like the bars and then there is that seat. Urgh!

My Butt Hurts

Urgh. I hate this seat.

The Townie is comfortable, but I hate the stock seat. It hurts after a few miles and creaks like an old bed.

I really had to slog through it today. Just was not feeling it. I ate a donut before the ride, so my blood sugar only dropped about 40 points. I did do about 4 miles in 25 minutes, so I got through it.

These road bikes tempt me. I see these people on bikes with drop bars and I understand the need to have several places to put your hands.

Biking Across Kansas

A long-term goal is to do the Biking Across Kansas ride. This ride is held every June and is about 475 miles in length. The ride takes eight days, which makes the average around 60 miles a day.

I'm not sure if I will be ready by next year. There are other things I want to do before that, such as group rides and some event rides. In particular there is a beginners group ride of about 16 miles that goes from Waldo to Prairie Village and back. That might be a good ride to do to meet some people. I am planning on doing a group ride in August which has a pretty short route. Of course my main focus is to start doing the Tour de Cure on a regular basis. The Tour is also in June and has several routes, the longest of which is a Century.

When I do the Ride Across Kansas I want to do it with one or more diabetics. We can wear Red Rider jerseys the first and last day!

The best bike to do this is probably a Specialized Tricross. That's going to be a second bike, which is more of a reason to wait a couple of years. The ride is fully supported, so the camping gear and clothes can be thrown on the support truck.

Anyway, something to think about when I'm out there riding.

Specialized Sirrus and Hybrids

My Electra Townie is a funny duck. It is very comfortable when you weigh a lot and putting pressure on a narrow bicycle seat is painful. However, this upright riding position is not comfortable for too long.

For the longest time I wanted a flat-bar road bike. Namely, the Specialized Sirrus. The last bike I had before the Townie was a department store bike, an L.L. Bean Arcadia Cruiser, which is made by Schwinn. I hated it. It had a front suspension that would not lock out. I attributed my hating the bike to this fork.

But now that I ride the Townie, which is pretty comfortable, though it needs a better seat, I realize that the upright position does not serve you well on long rides. I am rethinking the Sirrus thing.

This is all the more reason to try out a number of bikes before buying. I did not ride the L.L. Bean bike and that was a mistake.

The Tomahawk Creek Trail

Did a 30 minute four-mile ride on the Tomahawk Cree trail. Met my friend Joni about half way. I had not seen Joni since I got sick. It was nice to see her and her son. It was also nice to get a compliment on my looks. I've lost 40 pounds since I last saw her. There are not too many people in my life I have not seen in that time and it's always nice to hear you are on the right track.

I photographed a crane at the turnaround. The wildlife here is not afraid of you, which is nice. There are a lot of Canada goose and deer. They come right up to you.

I used to walk this trail about 15 years ago and it's falling apart in places. Leawood is not maintaining it like they used to. It's a shame. There are bad utility cuts and rough spots, though it's better than on the Kansas City side.I realize money is tight with cities these days and this trail gets a lot of use, but it needs a good overlay now and then.

Dropped the blood sugar something like 90 points. Nice.

Indian Creek Ride

I rode the Electra Townie from Leawood Park to behind my junior high school (now Center Middle School) on the Indian Creek trail. The trail is pretty rough in spots, proving that Kansas City, Mo., cannot maintain any patch of pavement.

I stopped to take pictures and video of the ducks just below the old Watts Mill.

The ride was only 30 minutes, but I dropped my blood sugar 80 points. Exercise is the best insulin you can have.