Bike Noob

Because I'm Always Learning Something New

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Partners

Archives for March 2009

The small ring ride

03.20.2009 by Ray Niekamp // 4 Comments

Whenever you look up training information for bike riders, the training schedules always work in easy days with harder effort days.  Because of my spotty riding schedule, I don’t find the need for many “easy” days, since I’m usually taking a day or two off between rides anyway.  But this week, I’ve been on the bike a lot, and the other day, I thought an “easy” day would be just the ticket.

I headed for the Veloway, which is where I ride at least twice a week.  My typical ride there involves attacking some spots, especially the slight grades at two or three places on the course.  But this time, I decided not to attack.  In fact, I decided to do something I’ve done only a time or two before: to ride the entire day in the small chain ring.

But I wasn’t going to be lazy about it.  Although I was in the easy ring, I kept up a quick pedaling cadence — about 90 rpm.  My speed was still decent, but I was determined not to concentrate on speed.

Instead, I concentrated on form, pedaling in a circle, and maintaining my cadence.  In all, I did four laps of the Veloway.  Coupled with the ride to and from, it was an 18-mile day.

And it was also a day I’ll be repeating often in the future.  I never felt like I was slacking.  Although several riders passed me, I passed several other riders.  My average speed at the end of the ride came out to 15.5 miles per hour.  Not bad, and not far off from my average when I pound the Veloway in the big ring. 

When the ride was over, I felt refreshed, rather than tired.  I tackled some minor chores around the house, and didn’t fall asleep in front of the TV that night.

Easy days are often portrayed as “recovery” days, a break from the hard effort rides.  But I look at rides like this one as more than simply recovery — especially since I had not ridden the previous day.  It added to my base mileage and improved my form.  Both of these are factors that will help me improve my overall cycling efforts.  Try a ride in just the small ring — I think you’ll like the results.

Like this:

Like Loading...

Categories // training Tags // training

My sick bike

03.18.2009 by Ray Niekamp // 7 Comments

One of the requirements of the MS 150 is that bikes be inspected at an MS 150-approved bike shop.  Luckily for me, the shop where I bought my bike and have it serviced is one of those.  I called, and asked to make an appointment to bring the bike in.  They said I wouldn’t need an appointment for that, so I put the bike in the car, and drove over.  

I was waited on by the only mechanic in there who didn’t have arms, neck, and other places decorated with tattoos.  (I’ve come to believe that tattoos are part of a bike mechanic’s uniform.)  He put it on the stand, and started going through the inspection, spinning the pedals, shifting through the gears.  Then he picked up one of those gizmos you use to measure chains.

“Uh oh,” he said.  “This chain is worn.  In fact, I’d call it ‘beyond worn.'”  Was it shifting OK?  Yes, I told him.  “Ugh.  That’s bad,” he grunted.  Huh?  “It means the cassette has worn along with the chain,” he said.

How many miles are on the bike?  About 3,000, I said.  “You really need to replace the chain every 1200-1500 miles,” he said.*

He went into a back room, and came out with a new chain.  “This is a Shimano 105 chain for nine speeds,” he said, “so it’ll match your drive train.”  He put on the new chain, adjusted the cable tension, and told me to do a parking lot test with it.  “Really mash down on the pedals when you shift gears,” he said.  “But be careful.  The chain might pop off.”  

I took it into the parking lot for a quick spin.  The chain didn’t pop off, but shifting was clunky.  Back in the shop, he made more adjustments.  I took it to the lot for another spin.  This time it was better, but still clunky.

“Yep, you need a new cassette,” he said.  I was surprised to see that his computer search of their inventory turned up no 12-28 nine speed Shimano 105 cassettes.  I thought it was a model in wide use.  “The 10-speeds are taking over,” he said.

He found another, a SRAM, that he said would work fine, and put it on order.  In the meantime, I can ride the bike, he said, but he again warned me about the possibility of throwing the chain.

When I first saw that the MS 150 required bike inspections (they put a little sticker on your stem to show that you’ve had it), I thought it was just another pain in the butt.  After today’s experience, I’m glad I went.  The new chain and cassette together, and the labor to install them, will come in well under $100, and I’ll have peace of mind that on a 180-mile bike ride, at least I won’t be worried about that.

*There is apparently much debate about that.  The late Sheldon Brown’s thorough discussion of chain wear doesn’t mention how often it needs to be replaced.

Like this:

Like Loading...

Categories // Maintenance Tags // chain, Maintenance

Smoked by a smart gal

03.16.2009 by Ray Niekamp // 6 Comments

I took advantage of the first day of Spring Break and the first really nice weather day in Austin in some time, to get in some real bike mileage this morning.  I went out to Mopac, planning to do a few loops.  Since I have the week off, I plan to be riding every day (well, almost — golf tomorrow) and beef up my mileage and endurance.

On my second loop of the eight-mile route, I saw a biker pull out onto the road about a half-mile ahead of me.  Aha, I thought — here’s a chance to see if I have what it takes to catch him.  I picked up the pace a little.

It was going to reach a high in the mid-80s(F) today, but at the time of the ride, it was still in the 50s.  I was nicely warmed up, but didn’t plan to push too hard to catch the rabbit — just a bit more than my usual pace.  When I rounded the turn at Route 1826 for the return leg, the other biker was out of sight.  But I soon saw him emerge from a swale in the road.  It looked like my chances of catching him were pretty good.

Several hills mark this stretch of the route.  Not big hills, but enough to make you work.  The other biker was not pumping very hard, but keeping a steady, even pace.  I was closing the gap.

Toward the end of the eastbound leg, there’s a nice downhill that lets me exceed speeds of 30 mph.  Not so today, with a southeast wind blowing in my face.  I got up only to 30, but was still gaining.  I expected to catch him on the level ground at the bottom of the hill.

It was then that I realized — the other biker was female!  (That’s fine — one of the strongest riders in my bike club, who regularly leaves most of the guys behind, is a female.)  And since she was obviously younger than me, she was probably stronger than me, if she’d had any kind of experience on a bike.  Heck, I was pleased to be able to catch anybody.

“On your left,” I called, as I closed on her.  She barely gave her bike a flick over to let me by.  I passed, still gaining speed, and gradually eased over into the center of the paved shoulder.  The road was approaching a sweeping left that would turn us north, and up another series of moderate hills.  I kept up the same pace I’d been riding, and attacked the first hill.

My legs must be getting stronger.  I actually gained speed going uphill, at least for a bit.  I felt good — what a great day to be out on a bike ride!  Then I heard a telltale click.

It was a bike changing gears, and it wasn’t mine.  I looked back, and there she was — inches behind my rear wheel!  She’d grabbed a draft right after I passed her.  That gave her a chance to recharge her batteries.

I saw her wheel pull up on my left side.  We crested a hill, and started down.  She pulled in behind me again.  At the base of the hill, I downshifted and applied more power.  Again the click just off my ear.  And then, that nice silver Merlin with the rider in the purple and white jersey slid by me.

I figured I’d use her tactic, and grab her wheel.  But I was losing ground climbing the hill, and she was pulling away.  By the time we reached the top, she was out of reach.

I’ve been smoked by old guys, smoked by young gals, smoked by mountain bikes, and now I was smoked by someone who really knew what she was doing.  Good for her, and good for me — I learned something today.  I learned that I’m not as young as I feel, and I learned that I still have a way to go conditioning-wise (as if I didn’t know that already).

I finished another loop of the Mopac route, then headed home.  Good average speed today — almost 16 mph.  It’s going to be nice for the rest of the week.  I hope I have several repeats of today’s ride.  But this time, I’ll grab the other rider’s wheel and save my strength for when it counts.

Like this:

Like Loading...

Categories // Rides, Technique, training Tags // Mopac, Rides, Smoked, Technique, training

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • Next Page »

Get Email Updates

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 257 other subscribers

Categories

  • Accessories
  • Bike fit
  • Bikes
  • Blogging
  • Books
  • clubs
  • Cold weather
  • Community
  • Commuting
  • Components
  • crash
  • cycling
  • Equipment
  • Favorite rides
  • fitness
  • food
  • guest post
  • Heat
  • Injury
  • logs
  • Maintenance
  • Mental
  • Nutrition
  • Odds 'n ends
  • People
  • Poll
  • Racing
  • Records & stats
  • Review
  • Rides
  • running
  • Safety
  • soreness
  • Specialized
  • Technique
  • Technology
  • Tips
  • tires
  • training
  • Travel
  • Uncategorized
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Partners

Recent Posts

  • Getting Back on the Bike: Road Cycling Tips for Older Cyclists
  • Are BCAAs and EAAs Good for Cycling?
  • How to Fix Numb Toes When Cycling
  • How to Find and Vet a Bike Club
  • Celebrate Pearl Izumi with Big Savings in the Memorial Day Sale

Categories

  • Accessories
  • Bike fit
  • Bikes
  • Blogging
  • Books
  • clubs
  • Cold weather
  • Community
  • Commuting
  • Components
  • crash
  • cycling
  • Equipment
  • Favorite rides
  • fitness
  • food
  • guest post
  • Heat
  • Injury
  • logs
  • Maintenance
  • Mental
  • Nutrition
  • Odds 'n ends
  • People
  • Poll
  • Racing
  • Records & stats
  • Review
  • Rides
  • running
  • Safety
  • soreness
  • Specialized
  • Technique
  • Technology
  • Tips
  • tires
  • training
  • Travel
  • Uncategorized

Archives

  • May 2024
  • December 2023
  • November 2023
  • March 2022
  • October 2020
  • November 2018
  • May 2018
  • September 2017
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • January 2016
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • July 2010
  • June 2010
  • May 2010
  • April 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • December 2009
  • November 2009
  • October 2009
  • September 2009
  • August 2009
  • July 2009
  • June 2009
  • May 2009
  • April 2009
  • March 2009
  • February 2009
  • January 2009
  • December 2008
  • November 2008
  • October 2008
  • September 2008
  • August 2008
  • July 2008
  • June 2008
  • May 2008
  • April 2008
  • March 2008
  • February 2008

Copyright © 2026 · Modern Studio Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Go to mobile version
%d