December Bike Ride

Its the middle of December, and I got a 20 mile bike ride in today! I wore my sweatpants, and a hoodie to keep warm. Beats indoor training by a mile!

Its Sunday morning, and I am on my way to Church in this video. I am going through Oakland Park and under the Oakland bridge. I am on my Gary Fisher bike. I am listening to Christian music on my Ipod too. What can be better?

Adjusting my Cannondale (Great Bike!)

I am still tweaking my Cannondale. I lowered the seat about an inch, and made a big improvement in my bike fit. My knee was aching, but after spinning for half an hour the pain is gone. I don't know why that works. I saw Cindy at church, and her son came over and said hi. He sure has grown. He is taller than I am now! A cold front is moving in, and it is going to get very cold tomorrow. Indoor biking is a wonderful thing for me, otherwise I would just lay on the couch all day. I am looking forward to spring so I can ride outdoors again. I have to turn the thermostat down to 60 when I am working out, but I keep warm from the exercise. I turned a knob on the trainer, and now it feels like I am pedalling into the wind and uphill! I can't turn the higher gears now. It will help me get stronger I'm sure.

Fitting my Trek 2.1

I mounted my Trek 2.1 to my indoor trainer, because I wanted to video it. I made some adjustments to the seat too. It was about 2 inches to high! The bike fits much better now. My leg was overextending. It should make me much better on long rides. I used a home made plumb line to make sure my knee is directly over the pedals too. This will let me get the most power out of my legs. I checked the level on my cannondale seat. I tilted it about 1/2 an inch to level it. The seat on my Trek was right on. I have the fit zeroed in pretty close now on both road bikes.

It's below freezing outside, so I have to spin indoors. I wanted to find out how my new camera works, so I took a close up of my legs. I only trained 1 time this week and I need to do more if I want to keep my fitness. It's hard to motivate. The camera makes AVI files and they are 180 megs, but I convert to mpeg format and its only 13.4 megs.

December is around the corner

I dropped my 150 dollar camera and broke it, so I could not take any videos. Mom invited me over for soup, so I rode over to her house. After that I went to Fairlawn Plaza to see if I could find a cheap camera, but none were less than 100 dollars. I went to Target and they had cameras as low as 29 dollars, but I thought I better not go that cheap. I locked my bike up to a tree. The parking lot was jam packed, but no problem for me. I ended up spending 100 dollars on a ten mega pixel camera, and its a nice one for the money. I estimate I went about 25 miles today. December is around the corner, so this might be the last ride I do for a while. I rode my Gary Fisher. Its not as fast as my road bike, but I can get onto the dirt trails. I am posting a picture taken with my new camera.

Branner

I thought bike season was over but it keeps on going! I did a 20 miler today. OMG! I got some mud on my new Dirt Bike! I have to go over the Branner Bridge on my way to the Shunga Trail, and I thought it would make an intesting video.

Shunga Trail Ride

It was a nice day, so I biked to church. There are red berries all over the place! I don't know what kind they are. The wind blew me home, and I had the Gary Fisher in the highest gear it would go. I went to my favourite spot along the trail and took some video.

New Bike Bling

I rode to the bike shop, and I bought a water bottle cage for a dollar! I also bought two water bottles, a spare inner tube, a speedometer, and a tire pump. The tire pump cost 30 dollars! But, it will pay for itself the first time I have a flat in the middle of nowhere. I found an extra cage in a kitchen drawer, so I have 2 cages. A nice looking lady at the bike shop was teasing me. She wanted me to pay her bike bill too. I told her that I would, if I was nice guy. I think she liked my bike shorts, but I was to scared to ask for a date or anything. I got to try out the disk brakes as I was going down Quinton heights hill (very steep), and they worked nicely. I guzzled v8 juice when I got home.

I indoor trained a couple times this week, and I have been working up a very good sweat. I have been making videos of myself on the bike trainer, so I can see how my legs line up on the pedals. It looks to me like my knees,ankles, and feet line up very close to a straight line. I hope I can keep some of my fitness this winter. I took this picture just before I test rode around Lake Shawnee. This is a wonderful bike!

I invited my family over, and I cooked hamburgers on a grill for them. They liked my bike. Ed and Ron both took a test ride on my Gary Fisher Bike. After they left, I took a Shunga trail ride. I turned around at Gage because of the slick mud under the bridge.

I think this is a nice video, so I am going to post it.

I rode to church today on my Gary Fisher bike. Its was very windy, and I used the lower gears most of the time. The pastor offered me Gator Aide, but I told him coffee was all I wanted. I did take a doughnut, because I needed some bike fuel. It remind me of a lumbering SUV compared to my road bike, but it is much better off road. The wind blew me home and I got to use the highest gear. I thought bike season was over!


Video of my new shoes.

I rode to the bike shop, and they are having a bike sale. Well, I bought a very nice bike on sale for 750 dollars. I bought a new pump and bike shoes too. Then I went to El gringos, and ate two huge sanchos. Lake Shawnee was near by, so I rode around it on my new bike. I loved it! After I got home, I went back out again and rode my new bike to the end of the shunga trail and back. I did lots of riding today, but the weather was perfect!

Normally, I wear a helmet. I misplaced it, so I rode without it. It hit 78 degrees today, and it was a great day for riding. I went at least 25 miles today. I love fall rides.

It is a little cool for riding today, but it is a sunny day. So, I got an idea. Do my spinning in my back yard! I got to enjoy the best of both worlds.

This is a close up my massive, steel like legs! OK, so they look more like two straws taped together. I can dream can't I?

Indoors

The "other" tab in Kino has a tool drop down list, and if I set it to "VCD" it will export an mpeg! I am slowly learning.

To cold outside, indoor training instead!

It is to cold to ride to church today, so I did some spinning on my indoor bike trainer instead. I get a very good workout with it. After watching the video, I noticed the seat was set too high. Seeing the video lets me see how the bike fits, and I can make it fit better. I can be my own bike coach! I will try and ride 1/2 hour or more every day this winter. I hope can keep some of the fitness I worked so hard for last summer. Riding helps me cope with loneliness, and I thank God for the pleasure it gives me.

I drove my car to church (shame on me,) and then I went bowling with dad. I scored a 149, and I won! I rarely beat dad at bowling, but his legs are hurting him. Afterwards, I did a shunga trail ride. I had a minor crash, because I was holding the camera in one hand and I lost control. My bike and I are OK! I try to take interesting photos along the way, but there is not much to take pictures of. I did find a butterfly and a rose. Bike season is almost over, and I will have to switch to indoor training soon.

I love my Mom's Cooking!

Mom invited me over for lunch, so I rode my bike to her apartment. She picked my pepper (see picture) and cherry tomatoes from my garden and cooked them. It was some good eating, and I ate two full plates!

A kid at church commented that his tuba weighs more than my bike, and He is probably right! I went to and around Lake Shawnee after church, and took more videos of the geese, and the water falls. I am putting a picture of how I look after I got home. Excuse the helmet hair.

Shawnee Lake ride

The new seat pack I bought is great. It holds more than my handle bar bag, and it is easier to get my stuff into it. I went to Shawnee Lake today, so I could try out my new iPod. I like the compact size, but I kept putting my finger over the lens. And it was harder to hold because it is so small. With practice, I think I will take some good video with it. I ate at El gringos, rode around the lake, and I just had to stop at Ted Ensleys garden too. I took a video of some Canadian geese too.

I rode to church, and then I decided to go to Lake Shawnee. I brought my camera this time, and I got some nice pictures. My favourite plant is the ornamental pepper.

After a long ride, I have a very strong appetite, and food tastes better too. I made a big hamburger with fresh tomato, mustard, dill pickles, lettuce, and cooked on a grill hamburger. Beats any store bought hamburger. I ate two of them! And I took yet another video of myself riding my bike.

~

I rode to Moms to see how she is doing. I gave her 50 dollars, because she only had 60 dollars till the end of the month. I stopped at the farmers market on the way. I bought 3 burritos, and ate them. After that, I went to the bike shop and bought a seat bag. Then, I decided to ride around Lake Shawnee. WOW! I saw "Ted Ensleys Garden," and it was beautiful! I would highly recommend going there to see it. To bad I forgot my camera, because I could have taken some wonderful pictures of the flowers they had there! I had to go down Croco Road, but the street is wide and cars had no problem going around me. I stopped at El Gringos and ate a BIG Sancho, but after riding over 25 miles I ate all of it, no problem. Next time I go to the Lake I will bring my camera.

I edited out the singing using Kino, so your ears are safe! Then I converted it to a WMV file with Winff. It was a 130 meg file, but now its only 7.1 megs. I lost some resolution, but I think it's acceptable. I like open source software a lot!

I walked my bike to the front of the church (no one was there) and the sound guys in the balcony waved at me! I took it back outside and locked it up. I got to worship the Lord today, and it was wonderful! I am going to mount a headlight on my bike in case it gets dark before I get home. My bike trip to church on Sunday is the only time I get out during the week, and I really enjoy it.

PS, I went back to church today (My birthday!), and I totaled over 40 miles. The headlight I bought is very bright! I paid 32 dollars for it, money well spent.

I discovered a video editor called KINO, and its very easy to use. I cleaned up a video I shot, and it does not look to bad. I edited out the sun when I pointed the camera to high, and I shortened it up a little. Pardon my unshaved face, when I am riding I don't worry about my appearance.

Mom called, and ask me to come over. She made fried veggies for me. I love fried veggies! I decided to ride my bike to save gas, and I don't like to drive my car in heavy traffic. The exercise is a good thing too. There was some rain, but it was very light, and It actually felt pretty good! I wanted to take it easy on my body, so I went at a leisurely pace.

Dipped my feet in Shunga Creek and it felt great!

I was on my way to Church, and about 3 miles out my front tire went flat. So, I got to try out my new mini pump. It worked very well, but I had to pump a gazillion times to get enough pressure in the tire. Ruth at Church was teasing me, and she said she was going to steal my bike. I told her I would have to walk home if she did that! Then I told her I would take her car, and wave as I passed her. The wind blew me home, and I was able to use the highest gear I have. I was moving very fast! I stopped at Shunga creek and soaked my feet in the cool water, and it felt great.

I woke up with a terrible headache. I took a couple of excedrins, and that fixed me up. I ate some tacos with cheese last night, and that's what gave me the headache. I went to the park and flew my new Sukhoi 26 model aeroplane. That's my other hobby. Its fun to fly, but I did crash a lot at first. It can do barrel rolls and fly upside down, but my skill level isn't there yet. I rode my bike to church, and it has become very routine now.

My bike ride to church on Sundays is a blessing to me. It gives me a reason to ride, and I am all ways glad after I get home. The sermon was about how God loves us, even though we are sinners. He called it grace. I am so glad for grace and for Jesus.

I can go over the Branner bridge like it is flat now. I was having pain in my left knee, but I adjusted the clip so that my foot is more forward, and on the front ball of my foot. I was pedalling on my toes, and I think this was hurting my knee. I am sure this will improve my riding. I took a nice picture. I went about 25 miles today, and I feel great!

I bought a new shirt at the bike shop for 45 dollars. Its expensive, but I love the back pockets and its very clingy so it does not act like a sail. It is neon green too, so it makes it easy for cars to see me. Money well spent I think. Anyway, I am in a funk on my bike riding. And I am only riding once a week. Not enough to keep my fitness. I hope I can break out of it and start riding more. I rode to church and to small group last week. We met at Arby's on Wanamaker RD. I normally stay away from that area, because traffic is very heavy. But on Sunday there were few cars, and 17th is a 5 lane street. On the way home, I went straight down 17th all the way across town. Today I was not sure if I was fit enough to ride to church, but I had no problem and I feel great. I needed it because I have been laying on the couch to much. I took a nice picture of a cone flower along Shunga Trail.

Riding my bike is an anti depressant for me. The problem is, when I am sad its hard to make myself get out the door and ride. I missed 2 very nice opportunities for riding because I was depressed. Thankfully, I did ride my bike to to church today, and now I'm off my pity pot. Bike riding is good for my mental health. I think that it releases endorphins in my brain. I stopped along the trail to pick some berries. They tasted wonderful. There are a couple of different kinds, and I took a picture of one. They are sweet! I'm going to see if I can find out what kind they are. I hope they are not shunga death berries! P.S.  I rode my bike to a small group meeting, and I am guessing I rode another 13 or 14 miles today.

I was in a slump, but after doing 18miles on friday, 25 on saturday and at least 25 today I am back in the saddle again. I didn't eat breakfast, but I felt just fine when I got home. I weigh 163 lbs, and I would like to get down to 155, but I don't think I can do it. I would be much faster if I did. I took a picture from a bridge on the bike trail. I thought it was intresting.

It rained a lot last month, and I could not ride for weeks. I finally got a nice day today, and I went 20 miles. I thought that I would be out of shape, but I did it just fine. I was getting depressed because I could not ride. I feel better now.

The wind was blowing 14 mph out of the south, and I had to go slow into it. I saw a storm coming, so I turned back for home early. I put it in high gear and tried to out run it. I managed (barely) to stay ahead of it, but I did stop for a minute and take a picture of the storm. Then, I high tailed it for home. Shunga Creek has some small rapids, and I thought it would make a nice video.

Wow! It was a nice day for riding. I went over to visit my Mom, and she fed me some corn bread and beans. I was hungry from pedaling, and they were good. Then I went to the bike shop and bought a water bottle, bike lock, and some gloves. The day is not over yet, I might go out again. I estimate I went about 20 miles today so far. Mom took a picture of me too.

Another 20 miles on my Trek.

I only have good things to say about my Trek. It is the best bike I have ever owned. I had to relearn how to use my gears, because it only has 2 front chain rings. This is a good thing (less weight.) I used the small front ring when I was going into the wind, and the big ring when the wind was pushing me. That seemed to work very well. My Trek has much "bigger" gears than I'm use to, and I'm not strong enough to turn the higher gears for very long. I'll have to work up to it. I think that I would be going very fast (scary fast) in the highest gear. I did not tighten my water bottle cage very well, because I'm afraid I will damage my composite frame. So, it came lose and fell into my crank arm. Gave me a good scare, but I'm OK. I made sure to snug it up tighter. FYI: I went 20 miles today.

We had a snow storm, and it was to cold for riding. So, I mounted my bike rack, and took my Trek to the bike shop for an adjustment. I tried to adjust the front dérailleur myself, but I botched it. The mechanic at the bike shop easily fixed it for me. When the weather turns nicer, I'll be ready for it!

I went 20 miles today on my Trek 2.1, and it was cold! It only got to 40 degrees today, but it was sunny. There was no way I could work up a sweat, no matter how hard I pedaled. I didn't even bother to bring a water bottle, but I did gulp 2 glasses of vegetable juice when I got home. I told the pastor at church that I'm not tithing anymore, and I bought my bike instead.

I did some spinning for about 20 minutes today, and then I just had to take my new Trek out for the first time. It was very cold and the wind was blowing, but the bike was a pleasure to ride. I went about 19.5 miles.
I set the seat height on my Trek the same as my Cannondale, and that seemed to work good. I'm going to keep tweaking it till I get the perfect fit.

I bought a new Trek 2.1, and its a beauty. I took a 1 mile trip to the mail box, and it was like riding on air. I can't wait for the weather to warm up! I like to just look at it. It cost $1179.79, but I added clip less pedals for an extra $55.00. The tax was $92.01. I'm doing my part to help the economy. The guy at the bike shop appreciated it. Its going to be a nice ride! They weighed it at the bike shop, and it is 20 lbs with the clip less pedals. Sweet! I'm still going to ride my Cannondale, but I have a great back up bike now! I will carry a good bike lock, but I know the best bike lock is my 2 hands! I'm not letting it out of my sight!

I just had to ride my bike to Church today , even though it was around 45 degrees outside and the wind was blowing 14 mph. I put on 3 shirts and a pair of sweat pants, but it was still chilly. My fingers and my ears were freezing. After awhile, I got use to it and it wasn't so bad. My odometer says 22.26 miles. The rear shifter started to malfunction, so I will have to look into that. It felt so good when I got home.

I went 25.33 miles today and my max speed was 25.8 mph. There was some wind, but it was a gorgeous day. I adjusted the cleats on my shoe, and now my (left) knee pain is gone. My bike fits very well (thanks to you tube), and it is very comfortable. I can ride all day long now. I went to the bike shop and bought a handle bar bag and a new helmet. The helmet has more holes in it, and it's supposed to be cooler. Yesterday, I spinned for 1/2 an hour. I am getting very fit, but the 1 hour of bowling with my dad left me very sore. The green handle bar tape looks tacky, but it will be very visible In traffic.

  It hit 73 degrees yesterday (a new record) and I got to see how fit I am after all the spinning I did this winter.  It actually felt easier to ride outdoors than inside.   I got to test my new odometer, and I went 19.53 miles on this trip.  I went about 10 miles per hour into the wind, and 19 mph on the  way back.  I had some knee pain, so I adjusted the cleats so that my foot was as far back as it would go.  I think that fixed my knee pain, but time will tell.  I have used the downtime this winter to get my bike to fit better,  and I can pedal much faster now. I get some great bike tips from watching  you tube videos.  The wind got me going so fast (28.5 mph according to my odometer), it scared me so I slowed it down. I could easily have gone faster, but 28 mph feels very fast when when your on top of a 21 lb bike. It was cooler today, so I did a half hour of spinning.  I can work up a very good sweat from that.

I was cleaning the chain with my new chain cleaner (works great) and I thought "I could get a ride in." So, I rode to the bike shop and bought some goodies for my bike. Then I went to the end of the Shunga trail and back. I estimate about 22 miles. I bought an odometer for my bicycle, so I will be able to tell exactly how far I go now. I can't believe it's January! I have been spinning on my indoor trainer for half an hour a day, so I felt very good on today's ride. You tube has some great bicycle videos. I learned how to adjust my seat, how to wrap my handle bars, and tons of other good stuff.