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What I’ve learned from this blog

06.11.2008 by Ray Niekamp // 1 Comment

When I started this blog back in February, I thought of it as a place to share my experiences as an older fella who is getting reacquainted with bicycling.

I think I’ve done that most of the time, but the blog has turned out to be so much more for me. I’m getting much more out of it than I’m putting in, and it’s all because of you.

Some terrific people have taken the time to comment on my posts, many of which have been ridiculously naive or uninformed. You’ve given me tips, advice, and feedback. Several of you have become online friends, and I’ve had the good fortune to actually meet a couple of you face to face.

So what has this blog experiment brought me?

Answers to my questions on sometimes elementary biking techniques, like using clipless pedals most efficiently. The pros and cons of road and mountain clipless, and the cleats and shoes that go with them. Advice about tire selection, bike accessories, food and drink, smooth riding. I was stunned when so many chimed in on that burning question: should I wear a bandana or a headband?

I’m a better biker today than I was in February. That’s partly due to experience, and just riding more. But in large part, it’s due to all of you who have shared your expertise with this newbie.

This post is beginning to read like a valedictory, and that’s not my intent. I’ll continue to write about my efforts to become a better biker, and I hope you continue to offer your comments on my posts. I just thought it was time to give some credit where credit is due. Thanks.

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Categories // Blogging, Technique Tags // blog, Blogging

My new toy

06.10.2008 by Ray Niekamp // 8 Comments

Every so often, something happens that reminds me I’m still a Bike Noob.

This time, it involved my cyclocomputer. At the Real Ale Ride, we were packing up to go home. I unclipped the computer from its mount, and slipped it into the back pocket of my jersey. After the bikes were securely strapped onto their carrier, it occurred to me that I could put on the spare t-shirt I had brought to the ride, so I shucked off the jersey and changed into the t-shirt.

That evening, when I looked for the computer to add its data to my ride stats (I’m a dweeb), I couldn’t find it anywhere. I finally concluded that it had fallen out of my pocket to the ground when I took off the jersey. I wasn’t too broken hearted about it. It was a good first cyclocomputer, but now I had an excuse to go shopping. (Which for men is an entirely different experience than for women. They buy clothes. We buy toys. Toys are more fun.)

Anyway, it had been suggested that I look for something that measures cadence. The winner:

The Cateye Strada Cadence.

It’s the Strada Cadence by Cateye. It just looked like a quality unit. It’s wired, which my previous computer was not, so I had to contend with that when I installed it — and it took a couple tries before I got it right. But this afternoon, I got to take it on its maiden voyage.

I did my favorite 15-mile after work ride: My house to the Veloway, three laps, then home. Map My Ride puts the distance at 14.9 miles. The old Ascent consistently called it around 14.6. Today, the Cateye had it at 14.74. Pretty close.

But there’s one hitch. The cadence sensor isn’t working. The crank on my Allez stands out pretty far from the chainstay, and I don’t think the magnet on the crank is close enough to the sensor on the chainstay for it to register. I suppose it’ll just take some experimentation on my part.

The magnet on the crank (held in place by the zip tie) is supposed to pass over the “sensor line” on the sensor mounted on the chainstay — but there’s a wide gap between the two.

Another problem is that the inside of the crank arm has a concave indentation. That forces me to mount the magnet right on the edge of the arm, to get it as close to the sensor as possible. It’s still not close enough.

Other riders have made this work, and I will, too. But if you have any experience with this particular model, let me know how you solved the problem.

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Categories // Accessories Tags // cadence, Cateye, computer, Cyclocomputer

Road repairs

06.08.2008 by Ray Niekamp // 1 Comment

It turned out that I did get out and take a ride Sunday, although it was in the heat of the afternoon, and I had to cut the distance to 18 miles. Still, it was good to be back on the bike, and with any luck, I can resume riding more or less regularly. Until the next disruption to my schedule three weeks from now.

I had to change my planned route today, because it turns out that the city has decided to resurface the streets in this part of town. They’re laying down new chip seal, and are in the first stages of that. Right now, the road I would have used today has been covered with crushed stone that will be rolled into the road surface. I’m concerned that my bike’s tires won’t survive a trip through the new stuff until after the chips are sealed. I assume they’ll paint new lines to mark the bike lane along the road as well.

The odd thing about the resurfacing is that the streets around here don’t really need it. They’re in good shape, with no potholes to speak of, and only a few cracks. The biggest problem is the debris that accumulates in the bike lane, and most of the time that’s easily avoidable.

I ride my bike in other parts of town, and out on country roads, and they’re crying for a new surface. I guess City Hall has to keep its more important constituents happy.

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Categories // Uncategorized Tags // chip seal, road repair

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