I have a goal/link

It's good to have goals...

I just signed up for the Lance Armstrong Foundation's Ride for the Roses. I'm currently in the 25 mile, 2-3 hour group. I hope to do better than that, but Mary Alice helped me realize that signing up for 40 miles with less than two months to train, conflicts with a class weekend, and a football game on October 16th might be a bad idea.

If anyone out there would like to make a donation to the cause, they can do so here. I'm fully paid up, but I know the Foundation appreciates any support it can get.

I'm looking forward to my first organized ride, as well as making my own little contribution to cancer survivorship and research.

New speed record!/life

Today I managed to go for a ride that was shorter than the time I spent preparing for it. I haven't patched the leak in my back tire yet, but I aired it up last night and it still seemed to be relatively firm today. I topped it off and headed up the hills. After about six blocks I decided to check and make sure it was still retaining air.

I'm new at this and all, but I'm pretty sure stuff isn't supposed to bubble through the sidewalls of my tires.

I headed back home and logged a ride for the record books.

[updated 9/2/2004]

My package from Nashbar finally came in last night.

1 Cateye Astrale 8 Computer
1 Topeak Aero Wedge
1 Innovations Slim Jim Pump/Inflator
1 Nashbar Big Red Floor Pump
3 Continental Road Tube
1 Cannondale Metro Jersey L
1 Nashbar Rim Strips R
1 Zefal Twin Gauge

The new tube was the first to go on, followed by the "Aero Wedge" (an underseat bag). I had to fight with the old tube a little, but the next one should go much more quickly. The gauge is pretty nice, it locks in the highest pressure until you reset it. I unpacked the Cateye, but I decided that it would take to long to install properly and it was already 10:00. That's a project for Sunday.

It's nice to not see that flat tire on the back every time I get home.

I've got a bike/life

you can ride it if you like.
It's got a basket, a bell that rings
And things to make it look good.
I'd give it to you if I could, but I borrowed it.

Actually, I bought it. And it doesn't have a basket, and all of the things to make it look good are on order from nashbar. But you can borrow it if you want, as long as you study up on how to not get hit by cars first.

My new (to me) Fuji Roubaix of indeterminable year was purchased from a listing in the Austin Chronicle. I'm still learning all of the basics of cycling and its terminology, with much help from Mike. The bike has a True Temper steel frame, Shimano 105 components, a carbon fork, and a Selle Italia saddle (which your people call a seat). These are supposedly good things.

I have to say part of the inspiration for the purchase was the Tour de France, despite only watching about 10 minutes of coverage in the last three years combined. I've read Lance's book though, and I'd love to have a fraction of the drive he exhibits. (And yes, I know 1/1000000 is a fraction.)

I've also been wanting to get in better shape. I have my weight where it needs to be, but I get bored running and the terrain around here is perfect for cycling. I'm just glad I didn't decide to buy a new bike - given the amount of accessories, clothing, etc. I've decided to buy, I'd be doubly broke.

I had the bike tuned up at 360 CycleWorks, got some advice on future upgrades, and since then I've been trying to get out whenever I can. So far I've been on three rides.

The first was spent trying not to fall over. The brakes are in a completely different location than on my mountain bike, and the tires are about a third of the width. The second point was hammered home when I just about jarred myself off when intentionally running over a rock. Not the best idea on any bike, but it's a MTB habit I broke myself of very quickly.
I also had an education on gear ratios. My mountain bike has grip shifters, so I've never paid attention to what sprocket I'm on. 1-1 is really easy, 3-7 is as hard as it gets. I shifted the Fuji into the "big ring" up front and the largest in the back, and spent about a mile wondering how people rode these things for miles on end. It started making sense when I climbed a hill, "downshifted" (three times!), and felt pedaling getting more difficult.

My second ride was a little smoother. I'd purchased some cycling shorts and was all ready to hit the road. The bike wasn't - I have to start immediately up a hill when leaving my house, and I was in the wrong gear. I ended up getting off and pushing since there was too much resistance to shift and I'm too stubborn to roll back down and start over. I started experimenting with grip positions, and alternated between being really comfortable resting my hands on the hoods of the shifters and fearing they weren't designed to hold my weight, resulting in me snapping them off and going flying over the handlebars. After I got home, I was reminded of Donald's advice from 360 CycleWorks - that after a long ride using cages instead of clipped pedals, my feet would be numb. I had my doubts at the store, but he obviously knew what he was talking about.

The third excursion was pretty uneventful. I'm finally riding around obstacles instead of over them, my shifting has gotten much smoother, and I can ride up Convict Hill without running out of gas. Now I'm looking forward to getting a cycling computer so I can get a better feel for my speed and distance, and making my first trip out to the Veloway.

Of course, I discovered a flat on my rear tire today so I suppose I have some maintenance lessons in store before I go anywhere.

Just call me Doc Octothorpe/link

Something I learned while trying to cram for class tomorrow.

Comments temporarily disabled/life

I've been getting spammed out the wazoo, and I need to implement some countermeasures. Like stabbing people through the internet.

Until I figure out how to do so, comments will be unavailable. Nobody (including me) has been saying anything recently, so I guess it's no big deal.