what frozen things do in summer
Bike log, Feb 2017: 220 miles
This is my second highest month mileage yet (beaten by 5 miles last August), and probably the most I'll ever get in a typical February. Well, but we might be out of typical Februaries.
But as luck had it, three of the four weekends had at least one really nice spring weather day, so I ended up getting out of a lot of longer rides. First was the 4th Annual Frigid Bitch, which I'm gonna say is the first bike race I've ever done (I did another alley cat previously but time wasn't a factor there). It was really fun! For a variety of reasons (there weren't too many optimal path options; a lot of people riding; and groups are better at riding in traffic), people ended up riding in clumps, and a couple friends an a couple new friends and I solidified into a group of 5 after the 2nd checkpoint. I am NOT a bike racer, and it felt like I was barely keeping up with them for much of the ride, but I managed it, and our group arrived back and tied for 14th place! So I got some cool swag out of it, too, because the swag tables were literally overflowing with stuff. My legs were in soooooo much pain afterwards but it was worth it. Imma doing it again next year. That was 26+ miles of race (in about 2:15), with 12+ miles of traveling to/from.
The next weekend was also amazing, so there was an impromptu Weekend Hills ride, which was a lot hillier than the race but also a lot more leisurely. Saw a lovely fixer-upper house for sale out in Sheraden, ate cookies and donuts and a fabulous pasty, and had got a light sunburn. wtf, Feb. Last weekend brought a beautiful summer day on Friday, so I meandered around the South Side a bit, rode downtown to march for trans rights then rode around trails with some friends, failed to get into a club, and settled for dinner and beers.
Bike changes: I finally installed the OI bike bell that I received last month, and I'm... unimpressed. First off, the only place it actually fits on my handlebars is right next to my grips, which meant moving my shifters a half inch left, which means they don't work quite as smoothly. Also, I ordered this thing like 6 months ago, paid a lot more than current costs, and didn't get it until it was available to the public. And finally, it's pretty and sounds nice, but it's not that loud. It also occasionally resonates quietly while I'm riding. I'm not sure what to do about it. I could replace it with the larger version and put it closer in to my stem, but that would make it a lot harder to thumb on demand. I'm going to ride like this for a while and see if I keep disliking it.
My super-cheap-but-functional bike seat is wearing out to the point that the vinyl (?) covering is cracking and irritates my thighs. I intend to get a new saddle, but I have decision paralysis on what I actually need. On one hand, I'm lusting after the Terry Butterly Galactic, as I know I like Terry and that one's preeeeeetty. On the other hand, I'm fairly certain I would be perfectly content with something basic that's 1/5 of that price, as long as it's a women's fit saddle. There are plenty of other nice saddles that get great reviews that I can find for sale prices online, but I'm leery of getting something that doesn't work for the type of riding I do. (I ride middling-upright on a hybrid, not "racing," commute 150+ miles a month (but (so far) not more than 50 in a day (and that's rare)), and it will have to sit outside in whatever weather on a regular basis). I suppose I should probably visit a LBS but then I anticipate feeling obligated to buy one of theirs. For now I'm putting off the decision, so instead I just put some duck tape over the cracks in my current seat to smooth it out, and will keep thinking about it.
This entry was originally posted at http://blk.dreamwidth.org/2377.html and has
comments.
This is my second highest month mileage yet (beaten by 5 miles last August), and probably the most I'll ever get in a typical February. Well, but we might be out of typical Februaries.
But as luck had it, three of the four weekends had at least one really nice spring weather day, so I ended up getting out of a lot of longer rides. First was the 4th Annual Frigid Bitch, which I'm gonna say is the first bike race I've ever done (I did another alley cat previously but time wasn't a factor there). It was really fun! For a variety of reasons (there weren't too many optimal path options; a lot of people riding; and groups are better at riding in traffic), people ended up riding in clumps, and a couple friends an a couple new friends and I solidified into a group of 5 after the 2nd checkpoint. I am NOT a bike racer, and it felt like I was barely keeping up with them for much of the ride, but I managed it, and our group arrived back and tied for 14th place! So I got some cool swag out of it, too, because the swag tables were literally overflowing with stuff. My legs were in soooooo much pain afterwards but it was worth it. Imma doing it again next year. That was 26+ miles of race (in about 2:15), with 12+ miles of traveling to/from.
The next weekend was also amazing, so there was an impromptu Weekend Hills ride, which was a lot hillier than the race but also a lot more leisurely. Saw a lovely fixer-upper house for sale out in Sheraden, ate cookies and donuts and a fabulous pasty, and had got a light sunburn. wtf, Feb. Last weekend brought a beautiful summer day on Friday, so I meandered around the South Side a bit, rode downtown to march for trans rights then rode around trails with some friends, failed to get into a club, and settled for dinner and beers.
Bike changes: I finally installed the OI bike bell that I received last month, and I'm... unimpressed. First off, the only place it actually fits on my handlebars is right next to my grips, which meant moving my shifters a half inch left, which means they don't work quite as smoothly. Also, I ordered this thing like 6 months ago, paid a lot more than current costs, and didn't get it until it was available to the public. And finally, it's pretty and sounds nice, but it's not that loud. It also occasionally resonates quietly while I'm riding. I'm not sure what to do about it. I could replace it with the larger version and put it closer in to my stem, but that would make it a lot harder to thumb on demand. I'm going to ride like this for a while and see if I keep disliking it.
My super-cheap-but-functional bike seat is wearing out to the point that the vinyl (?) covering is cracking and irritates my thighs. I intend to get a new saddle, but I have decision paralysis on what I actually need. On one hand, I'm lusting after the Terry Butterly Galactic, as I know I like Terry and that one's preeeeeetty. On the other hand, I'm fairly certain I would be perfectly content with something basic that's 1/5 of that price, as long as it's a women's fit saddle. There are plenty of other nice saddles that get great reviews that I can find for sale prices online, but I'm leery of getting something that doesn't work for the type of riding I do. (I ride middling-upright on a hybrid, not "racing," commute 150+ miles a month (but (so far) not more than 50 in a day (and that's rare)), and it will have to sit outside in whatever weather on a regular basis). I suppose I should probably visit a LBS but then I anticipate feeling obligated to buy one of theirs. For now I'm putting off the decision, so instead I just put some duck tape over the cracks in my current seat to smooth it out, and will keep thinking about it.
This entry was originally posted at http://blk.dreamwidth.org/2377.html and has
comments.