While I was riding yesterday, I noticed that the back end of my bike has a bit of a shudder when I was going approximately 20 mph. When I looked down at my rear wheel, I noticed that the wheel was out of "true" and wobbling approximately 0.5" off of center at one point. If it hadn't been for my disc brakes I would have been calling somebody for a ride, as rim brakes would have grabbed onto that wobble and made for a disasterous ride.
When I got to work, I set to "truing" the wheel by adjusting the spoke tension. As I scrutinized the location of the loose spoke, I noticed that no spokes were loose. Upon closer inspection, it was evident that the spoke/nipple grommet had pulled through the wall of the rim. This was evidenced by an inch long longitudinal crack along the rim. I attempted to identify an inexpensive replacement wheel only to find that repairing my wheel would cost a minimum of $150 and a replacement wheel ranged from $150 to $400. It is pretty hard to find a 700c wheel with a disc hub.
Fortunately, someone ordered just such a wheel from a local bike shop near my home. That person special ordered the wheel and never actually purchased it. My good luck, right! Well, I am a heavy rider, otherwise known as a clydesdale in cycling lingo. The mechanic at the shop advised me against purchasing the wheel as the maximum recommended riding weight for cyclist gear is 180 lbs. This sort of blows my mind...I have only weighed less than 180 lbs for about 6 months of my adult life, whereas, I have riden on the order of 20,000 miles.
Anyway, I purchased that wheel and it served me well this morning. Hopefully no more grommets pull through my wheels.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Friday, July 20, 2007
Cycling Update
Lately, my conditioning has really started to pay off. When I was first cycling this year, my heart rate was through the roof, my breathing was labored, and my legs were almost always fatigued. For instance, my Heart Rate Monitor from my first week of commuting had the majority of my ride time in my maximum heart rate zone. My heart rate average was around 195. AVERAGE!
Since starting to commute to work seriously on May 7, 2007, I have averaged approximately 100 miles per week with a few excursions above and below. I am now finishing week #11 of commuting comprising a little over 1,100 miles. The neat aspect of how the cycling has progressed is that I first focused on cardiovascular condition (getting my heart and breathing rate down). Second, I focused on spinning my pedals at approximately 90 rpm. Third, I have focused on overall speed. Now I am focusing on technique specific speed and climbing drills. There is a point that the bike feels like an extension (or part) of your body, as in, you can will the bike to do things with minimal effort.
I have been pleased with my progression, although not as rapid as last year. I like the more deliberate and structured progression that I have going on right now versus the intensity(overtraining) from last year.
Since starting to commute to work seriously on May 7, 2007, I have averaged approximately 100 miles per week with a few excursions above and below. I am now finishing week #11 of commuting comprising a little over 1,100 miles. The neat aspect of how the cycling has progressed is that I first focused on cardiovascular condition (getting my heart and breathing rate down). Second, I focused on spinning my pedals at approximately 90 rpm. Third, I have focused on overall speed. Now I am focusing on technique specific speed and climbing drills. There is a point that the bike feels like an extension (or part) of your body, as in, you can will the bike to do things with minimal effort.
I have been pleased with my progression, although not as rapid as last year. I like the more deliberate and structured progression that I have going on right now versus the intensity(overtraining) from last year.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
The Pleasures of Commuting
I love commuting to and from work. I am able to log about 1.5 hours per day of riding that I would otherwise be sitting in a car. Then again, the thing that I don't like about commuting, is that people can be oblivious to other users of the road.
For instance, on Monday evening, a driver made a quick maneuver to the right while traveling at about 25 mph. It just so happened that I was position immeiately off of the rear quarter-panel of that car. The result was that I got pinched between the car and a mailbox. Fortunately, I rode it out and stayed on the bike. The driver, to my knowledge, first became aware of my presence when I hit his driver side mirror with my hand, and expressed my displeasure with a raised hand and a WTF expression on my face. Imagining that I was done with this encounter, I continued pedalling. The driver, however, displeased with the fact that he almost ran me over and that I touched his car, drove exceedingly fast to catch me. I say this because he drove into the oncoming traffic lane to pass cars to approach me. He drove next to me (within inches) and was yelling at me. I gave him the American hand gesture to get out of my face (a choice finger raised), and yelled "get outta here!" at the top of my lungs. He sped to the next intersection and exited his vehicle to approach me. I deftly veered around him. He proceded to repeat that maneuver. He drove to the next intesection and began to get out of his car. I simply turned down another road to avoid any further escalation of the event.
While this was happening, I did not log his license plate number. The only thing I know it that it was a smaller blue car. Bright blue, like the color used on the Internet Explorer title bar . I think it was a Toyota Celica or another similar economy car. The driver was a heavy african american man, approximately 6' to 6'2".
Given this man's irrational behavior and the threat that he posed to my life, I am logging the event here to make sure my story is told, in the event that fellow decides to visit me again on the road.
For instance, on Monday evening, a driver made a quick maneuver to the right while traveling at about 25 mph. It just so happened that I was position immeiately off of the rear quarter-panel of that car. The result was that I got pinched between the car and a mailbox. Fortunately, I rode it out and stayed on the bike. The driver, to my knowledge, first became aware of my presence when I hit his driver side mirror with my hand, and expressed my displeasure with a raised hand and a WTF expression on my face. Imagining that I was done with this encounter, I continued pedalling. The driver, however, displeased with the fact that he almost ran me over and that I touched his car, drove exceedingly fast to catch me. I say this because he drove into the oncoming traffic lane to pass cars to approach me. He drove next to me (within inches) and was yelling at me. I gave him the American hand gesture to get out of my face (a choice finger raised), and yelled "get outta here!" at the top of my lungs. He sped to the next intersection and exited his vehicle to approach me. I deftly veered around him. He proceded to repeat that maneuver. He drove to the next intesection and began to get out of his car. I simply turned down another road to avoid any further escalation of the event.
While this was happening, I did not log his license plate number. The only thing I know it that it was a smaller blue car. Bright blue, like the color used on the Internet Explorer title bar . I think it was a Toyota Celica or another similar economy car. The driver was a heavy african american man, approximately 6' to 6'2".
Given this man's irrational behavior and the threat that he posed to my life, I am logging the event here to make sure my story is told, in the event that fellow decides to visit me again on the road.
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