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.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
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.
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.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
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!
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!
Sunday, June 26, 2011
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.
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.
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.
Friday, June 24, 2011
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.
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.
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.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
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.
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.
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