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Great Ride Today!

2008-12-27T16:58:14-05:00

I broke free this afternoon and rode the 15 miles from home to Xenia. It was marvellous with temps about 50 degrees warmer than last time I rode anywhere. The winds from the south were pretty gusty, but being crosswinds most of the way, didn’t cause me any problems. I sure could tell it has been lots of weeks since I did any real riding. On the way home, I started feeling the twitches in my thighs that hint of cramps, and had to back off for the last 8 or 9 miles. I should have worn shorts with temps in the mid 60s. I was a bit overheated wearing jeans.

Anyone else get out today?

What did Santa, bring you?????

2008-12-25T14:41:01-05:00

Hello Everyone

And Merry Christmas.. Well the fat man in the red suit, is
back at the North Pole. So when you got up this morning,
what bike goodies, did he leave you?
Well time to go out and ride the Bikeway to Xenia, if you
see me out there, wave. I’ll be on a black Schwinn Prelude.

Merry Christmas/ Happy New Year

2008-12-17T12:58:50-05:00

Hello All

Just a short note, to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, and a Happy
New Years. And I hope everyone, get that new bike or bike part, they
were wishing for. And that next year, will be better than this one was.
I hope everyone can ride many miles, will no flat tires, or accidents.
These are my Christmas wishes for everyone.

Greene Trails Cycling Classic 2009

2008-12-12T12:41:58-05:00

The 6th annual Greene Trails Cycling Classic is a 4-day bike tour centered in Greene County, designed to showcase the nationally recognized rail-to-trail system that exists there - and beyond, as well as the communities along the trails. All rides begin and end at the GTCC campground located at the Fairgrounds Recreation Center beside the Greene County Fairgrounds in Xenia. Get ready for fun activities, the ever popular Century Ride, great food and good friends. 250 riders from 8 states participated in 2008 with lots of good suggestions and comments to help us plan 2009’s event. As always, routes will include on-trail, out-and-back trips, and possibly extended rides on rural roads for designated days. Each day will offer special themed entertainment opportunities, and lots of exciting surprises.

July 16-19, 2009

FEATURING A LOCAL RIDER RATE FOR 2009!
Watch the website at http://www.greenetrailsclassic.com for 2009 prices coming soon
Planning is currently underway for the 2009 event.

Seat Busted!

2008-12-15T20:43:52-05:00

The sun sport recumbent that I have will have all its components replaced after this. Nest is the forks I imagine

Another Seat from Sun bits the dust. The wide seat has a weak spot right at the weld on the back mount. We already had the Tandem seat crack wide open and break off in the same area.

I have been commuting everyday now and just put on my studded tires. Now it looks like the seat goes back to K&G and they will have to send it back to the manufacture. I know that the cold is a factor but I paid lots of money so Sun should replace it for free.

Today’s Ride

2008-12-06T21:44:09-05:00

Today, I rode about 3 1/2 miles on Iron Horse starting at Woodbine going south at about 8:30 this morning. Powdery snow drifted lightly over the trail as I battled winds about 15 mph and had to blink continuously with snow hitting my eyes… Should have worn glasses! Temps in the upper teens put windchill factors in the below zero range when heading into the wind. I was really glad I wore my face mask! When I arrived at my destination after 5.5 chilly miles, my body was just slightly overheated and perspiring lightly, but my fingertips and toes were hurting. It reminded me of a little winter bike riding poem I made up a few years ago:

My thumbs is numbs!
My toes is froze!
My finger tips is got the nips!
Who’d a thought I’d be so hot!

It just points out the delicate balance needed when riding in cold temps. Too much effort can lead to excessive perspiration, which can impair the insulating ability of clothes and result in hypothermia. Just enough effort is needed to keep the body temperature up to operating range, but not so much as to perspire. If you feel sweat forming you need to either ease off or open up some layers.

It also shows that the extremities are at the highest risk for frostbite because circulation is not high enough to keep them warm with the windchills generated riding at cruising speed. As long as they hurt you are not frostbitten, but that is a signal to warm them up by riding with one hand behind while clenching and opening the fist a few times, and then switch hands, etc. on your way to the next shelter. Even with several layers on hands, it can be a pain for some people. You need to make sure that the outer hand layers are sufficiently large to avoid restricting blood flow to the fingers. Mittens are helpful by keeping more heat mass together. Less exposed area that way. Those hand warmer packets are nice too. They are about $.50 or so a pair and extremely nice feeling when it is near zero.

The ride home was much nicer at about 3 PM. Winds were mostly at my back and temps had risen 8 or 9 degrees as well. I didn’t put on my mask going home since it interferes some with peripheral vision. Unfortunately, the roads I had to ride on had been salted… Yuck!! Now I gotta wash the bike and lube the chain! The trail had accumulated nearly an inch of snow in many places, and was slick, so the normal precautions of: “Accelerate slowly” “Use brakes lightly” and “Turn very gently.“ were needed. I slid a little a few times, and even went down when I was only a few hundred feet from home, slowing and turning at the same time, when my front wheel slid. Fortunately, I was almost stopped, so all I did was sort of fall over., (remember laugh-in?) Now I have a bruise on my upper right thigh where something in my pocket came between me and the concrete. Concrete alone would have been preferrable as it would have spread out the impact over a much larger area. -Note to self…—-> Take stuff out of jeans pockets before riding in snowy weather. <—- I probably would not have gone down if I’d been riding my mountain bike instead of my skinny tire road bike. Even my old 27 inch Fuji would probably have been ok.

All in all not a bad ride. I just thought of another point worth discussing. If there is a choice, start your ride going into the wind in cold weather. If you are 10 or 20 miles out all warm and toasty, and turn around into a headwind you just might not be able to generate enough body heat to counter the windchill on the way back. At that point, it is too late to find out. If, on the othe hand, you are riding into the wind first, you can tell if it is too cold for you in a very short while, and in relative comfort, you can turn around and go home for more layers.

I hope this gives some insight as to a few of my thoughts on successfully riding bicycles in winter conditions. Hopefully it might just encourage someone who is hesitant to try.

Oh yeah, just be sure to wash all the salt off & lube the chain after you finish.

Cycle Off Calories

2008-12-12T13:10:36-05:00

Join the Greene County Trail Sentinels to lose those unwanted pounds this spring. The Sentinels will lead various rides through the year, about 10 miles or more each ride. You may turn back at any time for a shorter distance. Get a riding passport during your first ride; ride 50 miles and receive a free gift as your reward, courtesy of All Positive Promotions of Beavercreek. With each additional 50 miles, you will receive something new. Presented by Greene County Parks.

Sunday, April 19, 2:00 p.m.
Xenia Station
150 Miami Ave., Xenia

Bicycle Test & Tune

2008-12-12T13:07:52-05:00

Is your bicycle ready for riding in spring 2009? Join the Greene County Trail Sentinels and K&G Bike Center to show you how to get your bike ready for riding and repair it should it break down while riding. After the “How To” seminar, join the Greene County Trail Sentinels for a fun bike rodeo to test your skills. Obstacles, weaving, close maneuvers and more will be included. Please bring your tools (wrench, screwdriver, pliers) to work on your bike. A short ride on the Creekside Trail accompanied by the Sentinels will follow the rodeo, weather permitting. Presented by Greene County Parks.

Sunday, April 26, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Fairgrounds Recreation Center, large shelter
210 Fairground Rd., Xenia
$2.00 (Greene County resident), $3.00 (non-resident) per person

Ordering a new set of tires

2008-06-23T20:54:49-05:00

I’m ordering a couple new tires for my TE. Decided to give Schwalbe Marathons a try. Have read quite a few good reviews and comments from TE owners riding on these.

My tires are 4-5 years old, have held up very nicely, but I decided the time was right for a change.

I think I’m going to get back in the commuting groove come Fall quarter. My wife and I were able to ride together all Spring quarter—saved us about $600 in gas. Our schedules are not as close together in Fall, so the opportunity is right for me to start riding to work.

The Marathon’s have a good reputation for those who do light touring. I use a set of under seat panniers to carry my goodies back and forth, so want to make sure I’m using a set of tires that will give good service.

In prep for Fall, I’m going to do more 40+ mile rides rather than sticking with my comfortable27 mile round trip from Xenia to Yellow Springs. That should get me ready.

To start, I’m going to ride up to the Bicycle Stop in Spring field tomorrow. They are an Easy Racers dealer and that’s where I’m going to purchase my tires. I could order them online, but think ordering from a LBS is a little more important than convenience.

Enough rambling…

~ Randy

Cold but still enjoying the commute

2008-12-03T01:18:29-05:00

I got the studded tires in today and now it is a matter of getting the tubes that fit. So far I do not need the studded things but I am ready if needed. Today a few of us bicycle commuters were on the road at round 7:30 AM. The wind was the only complaint I heard. For me the wind worked in my favor about 75 percent of my commute.
Iron Horse at State Park was cleared to ride. 2 small bridges in State Park did have some ice but was on the most part void of any troubled areas.
One small complaint is that it appears that the parks team worked on the football fields in State Park and tracked mud onto the bike path making the bike path bumpy and muddy. Mud frozen is like having small rocks on the path.
A cautionary note: The bridge just off of County Line and by the Nation Guard has a few low spots that accumulate water and ice.