It might have to do with where I ride but it is infinitely safer for me to be able to hear cars approaching, hear other cyclists coming up behind me and to pay attention to other audio clues that are going on around me.
You're absolutely right. I just keep one ear bud in because I'm stubborn and love to listen to music when I exercise.
Agree. Even on a trail it pisses me off some when I'm passing someone and they have ear buds in, particularly when they can't hold a line and act all surprised someone's trying to get around them. Happens at least once a day on my commute home. Get a portable speaker and mount it on your bars. yeah, you'll annoy people with your shitty music, but at least you'll be able to hear "on your left" or an uber driver riding your wheel.
running up the the bike store yesterday I ran into a dude on his way to the Wednesday night crit. He was kitted and ready togo I was not. He took one look at my legs and asked if I was cat 2.
55 miles wih 2000' of climbing while the heat index was 101, won't be doing that again anytime soon...
Game changer. I used to drop a chain once every 50 miles. Have not dropped a chain in over a year. Effortless and perfect shift every time.
Bike tune-up day. Also getting new chain and cassette along with the bottom bracket being serviced. Goodbye to that creaky noise when the non-drive side crank hits 6 oclock.
Thanks for the props on Strava. Think I've gotten the pre ride breakfast and snack while riding down a bit to stay fueled up. Really helps. Feels good to push the tempo up a bit
lol, this was my bike for a while and then I donated it to a friend who needed a bike to get to work. Got stolen last week... Shocker it ended up in Baltimore. https://baltimore.craigslist.org/bik/6192021293.html
People are fucking assholes around here. Had a few idiots yell at me to get off the road last time I was out. Lots of cyclists on the main highway, may have to try out there once the volume of tourists decreases after the fourth. Nebraska was way better for biking than this place.
Yeah that's what I plan to do after the holidays end. Running on the beach isn't a terrible substitute but I'd rather bike.
Decided to just ride to the hills instead of drive there. Finished with 107+ miles and 3500'+ of climbing . Not a bad solo ride and I kept my heart rate under a 140 average. Thank you light rain and unseasonably cool temps this morning, you the real mvp. Now I'm just tryna unpiss off the wife...
Had one particular climb today that stopped me dead in my tracks. I hit it in the wrong gear thinking I could maintain since it was a really short ramp towards the end of a long climb. I was basically doing a track stand for a couple of seconds in the middle of the road to regain some strenth in my legs as I had no possibility of shifting at that point. Just went back and looked at it on Strava and it topped out at a 34.2% gradient. I will be shifting into a different gear next time before I hit that ramp.
Does anyone ever get pain in their Achilles tendon after riding? This is a new pain for me but I can barely walk after ~30 miles.
it's not uncommon. I get foot and Achilles pain; most of which is due to a non-bike related injury, but can be aggravated by riding. Good friend of mine - who is a much more serious rider than I am -- was recently off his bike for a couple months due to this. See a Dr. if the pain is severe, obviously - he or she will likely recommend physical therapy, which will do wonders. Find a good fitter if you haven't already. (Cleat too far forward on shoe, saddle too far back / forward, saddle height too low == all possibilities). Mash less. Stretch religiously (calf stretches, chair stretch with one leg over the other, toe grab while lying on your back, etc.). Massage. Something else to think about: http://www.velofitpt.com/blog/the-beautiful-foot-cycle
So I pulled a total newbie move and didnt feel like spending a few bucks on a repair kit to take with me. My first thought was, "eh, at least I'm only ~4.5 miles from home" and my last thought was, "holy shit walking 4.5 miles with a bicycle sucks."
You running clinchers I am guessing? If so, this. Tire tools and spare tubes (I always carry 2) go in a compact saddle bag and pump can be attached to the frame somewhere.
Lifeiskilingme79 don't get a hand pump just use co2. go to your local bike shop and ask them for a fix a flat set up
Here are some pics I took while in the hill country last weekend. I can not recommend the riding there enough. Beautiful, can vary from easy to pretty challenging depending on the routes you create. Also, nice rest stops you can make with cold rivers to cool off in. And seriously, every time I return from a trip there my cycling metrics markedly improve. Favorite pic was the last. Took it while in the saddle and going up the 3rd cat 3 climb of the day and the blurriness nicely represents how I was feeling at that moment in time.