Sassy's "Lessons Learned While Biking"

[sassy69]

Its a little weird to have 2 logs going on at the same time, however I wanted a place to keep comments about the biking thing seperate from my lifting stuff because I will probably only get to do this on the weekends. I have lots to learn about biking as a sport so I wanted a place to keep the details.

So catching up - last weekend - 9/1 - first major outing.

Distance: 20 mi
Route: Fom my house, down south of Stanford and back. ocal roads w/ lots of bike paths & lots of active bikers

What happened: I blew a tire at about 15 miles in - I was on my way back and the tire started feeling squishy. I found a thorn in the side of the tire & pulled it out. A few bikers stopped to ask if I needed help. My plan was to make it to the next gas station & pump enough to get home. By the time the last couple of bikers went by, the tire was flat. They offered to help me & lived right up at the next stop light. SCORE!

How embarrassing - I have all the tools you'd need for a bike, but I've never dismantled a bike tire before. We got the tube intalled & inflated. THEN saw the nail that had punctured the first tube. So the 2nd tube was done. The guy offered a 2nd replacement, we installed, pumped & I got home. I went straight to the bike store & bought a new floor pump for the house, a tiny hand pump for the road, 3 replacement tubes & a small pliers tool for things like pulling out nails, and then dropped off one of the tubes at the guy's house for saving my ass from a 5 mile walk home.

Things learned:
- how to replace tire tubes
- how my gear shifters work (I did that whole ride in the same gear...)
- bikers are great people

[sassy69]

9/6/08 - Sat

Next challenge - getting out to the highway ... had to take on the hills to get out there....

Distance: 15 mi
Route: north a little up the hill to get out to the hiway, and then back south, easy ride back.

Challenge: 93 degrees....

Path: In red.
http://i35.tinypic.com/2ij2p8j.jpg

Things Learned:
- put ice in the water bottle - even cold water gets warm in hot weather :)

[Florencia]

9/6/08 - Sat

Next challenge - getting out to the highway ... had to take on the hills to get out there....

Distance: 15 mi
Route: north a little up the hill to get out to the hiway, and then back south, easy ride back.

Challenge: 93 degrees....

Path: In red.
http://i35.tinypic.com/2ij2p8j.jpg

Things Learned:
- put ice in the water bottle - even cold water gets warm in hot weather :)

For water try http://i35.tinypic.com/15d5ker.jpgPolar Bottle :: Take the Bear Everywhere (http://www.polarbottle.com/) and for snack sport beans 100 calorie pack http://i33.tinypic.com/fedwls.jpg...YUM YUM

NOW I MUST GO VISIT YOU!!! WITH MY BIKE...OR YOU COME VISIT ME!!!

[sassy69]

Florencia you would LOVE the biking here! Its so beautiful, so many biking enthusiasts and so many places to go!

I looked at those insulated water bottles. I don't remember what the bike guy said about them tho & why I ended up buying a regular one. For "energy" I have a couple packs of this Clif Hot Blocks. (They were on sale.) I've seen the sport bean thingies. I wasn't sure how much of that stuff I'd be needing given I've only gone out twice. But I'm working my way up.

Something I still have some concern about is that on both my feet, but interestingly, worse on the right (NOT the one I had surgery on) - the pad right on that part of the foot where you step off HURTS. Its terrible when I'm barefoot. OK when I'm in shoes, but I notice it when I do > 30 min of cardio on the treadmill. I bought some highly recommended orthotics. I can't figure out what I did to start this - it started when I was at my parents' place in Minnesota. I wasn't doing any crazy running or anything. No high heel shoes. But it isn't stopping. Those spots were sore as hell when I got back from the bike trip. Waiting to see if the orthotics help.

[Florencia]

Florencia you would LOVE the biking here! Its so beautiful, so many biking enthusiasts and so many places to go!

I looked at those insulated water bottles. I don't remember what the bike guy said about them tho & why I ended up buying a regular one. For "energy" I have a couple packs of this Clif Hot Blocks. (They were on sale.) I've seen the sport bean thingies. I wasn't sure how much of that stuff I'd be needing given I've only gone out twice. But I'm working my way up.

Something I still have some concern about is that on both my feet, but interestingly, worse on the right (NOT the one I had surgery on) - the pad right on that part of the foot where you step off HURTS. Its terrible when I'm barefoot. OK when I'm in shoes, but I notice it when I do > 30 min of cardio on the treadmill. I bought some highly recommended orthotics. I can't figure out what I did to start this - it started when I was at my parents' place in Minnesota. I wasn't doing any crazy running or anything. No high heel shoes. But it isn't stopping. Those spots were sore as hell when I got back from the bike trip. Waiting to see if the orthotics help.

I have that pain sometime too!!! I noticed it happens when I do HITT, and sprint off my"toes", and yes it is worse when barefoot!!
Have one of the bike shop guys fit your cleats right, foot and knee simmetry, kind of like the same used in squats, knee not passing tip of toes....
I also think foot pad pain is related to stress...daily stress, instead of colitis...:taz:

[claire]

I love that you are posting a map with your route :) Looks like a fun log! :cheer: Great job!

[sassy69]

I love that you are posting a map with your route :) Looks like a fun log! :cheer: Great job!

Thx! Because I hadn't even driven this route before I knew it was going to be up some serious hill, so it occurred to me that google maps has the 'terrain' view. LOL and then drawing that map also helped me remember where I needed to go to get back ;)

Flor - the foot thing is something that started a few weeks ago at my parents' place - really weird because I haven't done anything different to aggravate them. I also have not invested in the cleats yet. I've got those pedals that are a regular pedal on one side & a cleat insert on the other. I tried on a pair of the cleats they had on sale last week but they didn't fit quite right. I wanted to talk to a few people to see about a good pair before investing another $100+. I did get a new set of more rigid orthotics for my tennis shoes. Still hurts tho.

[jenscats5]

That's awesome about the people who stopped & helped you! Very nice!

Looking forward to reading along on your new journey......wish we had a more biking-friendly state - biking sounds like fun!

[runlikeagurl]

Awesome Sassy...yep learn to change the tires and remeber the back one will be harder to change because of the derailer. Things you need to bring with you....tube, plastic tire irons, co2 cartridge and pump.

[sassy69]

Awesome Sassy...yep learn to change the tires and remeber the back one will be harder to change because of the derailer. Things you need to bring with you....tube, plastic tire irons, co2 cartridge and pump.

I already burned thru one CO2 cartridge. I see they are very useful but they are $20 a pop, practically one-time use.

[Florencia]

I already burned thru one CO2 cartridge. I see they are very useful but they are $20 a pop, practically one-time use.

Wait till someone tells you how much a tubeless costs!!!:redevil:
I went for a rdie myself today!!:heart:

[Big Sky Guy]

Biking!!!!

We did not get near as much in as we wanted to this summer...

Love those terrain maps! Good for all sorts of purposes!

[Beverly McD.]

Going uphill ought to count for double mileage :rofl:.

Good luck at the Dr. tomorrow Sass.

[Tweak]

Hey Sass-- nice to see you're doing the biking thing! I hope you enjoy it. Just don't fall!

:hi5: