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Riding My Age

03.04.2012 by Ray Niekamp // 18 Comments

It’s an article of faith for every cyclist: On your birthday, you have to ride your age. (I don’t know how my friends north of the Red River of Texas manage that during winter months — I recall that snow was usually on the ground for my March 4th birthday before I moved down here.)

So, I warned the club after last week’s B ride that I would be doing a birthday ride today, and that everyone was welcome to join. Well, the A riders had their route all mapped out — a variation of one of our popular rides that included some roads we seldom use on our club rides. The B riders decided to tackle some rollers nearby. No one was enthusiastic about attempting 61 miles, so it looked like I would be left on my own.

Then I heard from Bike Noob reader Dan Colvin. He and I had exchanged emails several times over the past few months. It turns out that he discovered Bike Noob and, like some others out there, decided to read backwards through the entire blog — four years’ worth of posts. If nothing else, he should get some kind of medal for that. But Dan was commenting this time on the recent post about favorite websites, and noted that while he’s still trying to figure out his riding style, the idea of going longer distances without trying to set new speed records appealed to him. I suggested if he wanted to get in more miles, he should come along with me. And he did!

We left Starbucks a little before the advertised 8:15 departure time, bundled up against the 48-degree (9C) chill. The morning was glorious — clear, sunny, and very little wind. We made our way east along city streets, then turned south. The pace was comfortable, about 15 mph. We didn’t chat much — the traffic was too heavy to ride side-by-side.

We made it through Buda, then Kyle. Seven miles south of Kyle, Old Stagecoach Road comes to Five-Mile Dam Park, a nice county park on the north edge of San Marcos. We could have gone a little farther, and reached the apartment ghetto for students at nearby Texas State University (Where I am on the faculty), but I opted to turn around at the park. Distance-wise, we’d be fine.

Dan rides past the soccer fields at 5-Mile Dam Park.

But on the return leg, Dan sensed a problem. He stopped to check his rear tire. “I thought I felt something,” he said, but the tire seemed all right. Several miles later, he said we’d have to stop so he could change his tube. The tire was going down. We stopped. He’s one of those 10-minute tire change guys, so we were almost ready to roll in a short time. But his mini pump wasn’t cooperating. He couldn’t get enough pressure in the tire. I lent him my Topeak Road Morph (the best mini pump going!) and we took turns trying to get the tire pumped up to where it should be. Finally, it showed 7 bar on the tiny pressure gauge. We were rolling again.

Making short work of a flat.

By now, the temperature was rising nicely. The chilly temps we had begun the ride with had morphed into nearly summer-like conditions. Dan had shed his vest and arm warmers on the downleg, and I had taken the sleeves off my windbreaker, but now I was uncomfortable. We stopped between Buda and Austin so I could get rid of the wind vest and my leg warmers. It was now about 65 degrees (18C).

The Bike Noob stops to shed some layers.

The final miles to our starting point were uneventful. Even the traffic was less than usual — a dicey left turn off a busy road into a neighborhood went off without a hitch, because we had no cars bearing down from behind, and nothing oncoming — really unusual for that intersection. We made it back at about 12:30, and I think we both had miles left in us (although Dan had done 70 miles the previous day, so I’m not entirely sure).

It turned out I needed those miles. Our little round trip jaunt gave us 58.1, according to my cyclocomputer. That left me three miles short of riding my age. Dan and I said our goodbyes, and I headed home — but took the long way around to rack up those missing three miles. Total for the day: 61.4. Happy birthday to me.

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Categories // Rides Tags // flat tire, pumps, Rides

Comments

  1. bgddyjim says

    March 4, 2012 at 4:33 pm

    Happy Birthday brother.

    Reply
    • Bike Noob says

      March 4, 2012 at 7:15 pm

      Thanks, man.

      Reply
  2. Bryan says

    March 4, 2012 at 5:09 pm

    Happy Birthday and congrats! I wanted to do the same thing a couple of weeks ago but couldn’t. I think I was lazy.

    Reply
    • Bike Noob says

      March 4, 2012 at 6:00 pm

      Oh, for shame! And you have only half the miles to ride that I do.

      Reply
      • Bryan says

        March 4, 2012 at 6:07 pm

        I know. I’m totally pissed and upset about it.

        Reply
  3. Over 40 Cyclist says

    March 4, 2012 at 5:25 pm

    What a great idea riding your age. We have someone over 80 in our group, that would be quite an effort, but he’d do it, just not fast.

    Try a CO2 canister for blowing up your tyres fast and hard. Works a treat.

    Reply
    • Bike Noob says

      March 4, 2012 at 6:01 pm

      Unless they misfire.

      Reply
  4. Mel Hughes says

    March 4, 2012 at 7:28 pm

    Again, happy birthday, Ray! You are just three months younger than me but so far wayyyy ahead on the annual mileage! Happy riding!

    Mel

    Reply
    • Bike Noob says

      March 5, 2012 at 6:54 pm

      Probably my schedule. And next week is Spring Break, so in between yard work, I’ll try to ride most days. That’ll make the mileage add up.

      Reply
  5. Don says

    March 4, 2012 at 10:24 pm

    While I follow your blog I guess I wan’t paying close attention. Anyway, by chance I rode 61.5 today in Colorado so Happy B’day. I’m only 58 so could have taken the direct route home but added 3 miles at the last moment to go over 60. Fortuitous.

    Don

    Reply
    • Bike Noob says

      March 5, 2012 at 6:52 pm

      We’ll have to send each other good biking vibes the next time we’re on a ride.

      Reply
  6. Steve says

    March 5, 2012 at 9:15 pm

    Happy Birthday and well done! I’m looking forward to your Birthday Century Ride!

    Reply
    • Bike Noob says

      March 5, 2012 at 9:29 pm

      I might have overreached. I’m under the weather tonight. I’ll do my birthday century if you ride along with me. By then, you’ll be retired too, and we’ll have lots of time to kill. We can spread a century ride out over several days, can’t we?

      Reply
      • Steve says

        March 6, 2012 at 11:31 am

        When you’re 100, I’ll be 90. I say if we make it that far we can do whatever the hell we want!

        Reply
  7. Steven Gray says

    March 6, 2012 at 7:01 am

    Amazing, your entry just inspired me to cycle as well! I was recently gifted a bike by my friend who bought it online from OnlineSports.com, but I haven’t gotten around to riding it yet! but now I think I will start!

    Reply

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