I got my bike back today

If only it would stop raining...

The LBS only had to replace the front granny gear, although the chain needed to be replaced. It was stretched but I didn't want to wait while they ordered a 9-speed chain. Only 3 links needed to really be replaced, so they did it.

My bike is at the shop

To get the granny gear replaced. I would have done it myself but I don't have a crank tool, and it's cheaper if they do it. The guy said my chain was toast but probably could make it for another month. I didn't want to put $30 more into a bike that will hopefully be replaced next year.

So, my bike should be operational by Thursday.

Free shwag, Cannondales, & bent cogs at the TRTP

And lots of bikers, two tents (BGI and Cannondale), the HMBA trail crew, a downed tree, lots of female joggers and the Cannondale dog. What a great day! ;-)

Yesterday I was busy at the BMV (D.E.L.P. Woot!) so I wasn't able to go biking with Mr. W. and Jon. They were borrowing 2 Specialized full-suspensions, an Epic and a Stumpjumper. They only had time for one lap though.

So I got up at 6a.m. and left a little after 7a.m. for the TRTP. Jon was the only one who was going to ride. AS we got ready, a big group of female jogger took off. We decided to go down the "easy" entrance, because that's how the DINO race is going to start. I'd hate to go down the "hard" entrance with a bunch of racers all around.

Lap 1
Tm: 45 minutes
Mi: 7.5

1/2 lap
Tm: 22 minutes
Mi: 2.84

Total
Tm: 1 hour, and 7 minutes
Mi: 10.34
Tp. Spd: 18.6mph
Av. Spd: 9.2mph

New path at West Park

There was a new 1/2 mile long path at West Park. It ends about 50 ft. from Shelbourne Rd. It's pretty nice.

I also saw prep for a wedding in Crossfields.

Tm: 30 minutes
Mi: 5.73
Tp. Spd: N/A
Av. Spd: N/A

TRTP Users Meeting

I'm posting this before the event (link) in case I can't get to my PC in time afterwards.

Mr. W. and Jon will be there around 5 p.m. and we're going to do to 2 laps if it's possible. After that, (if Jon remembers his camera) we're going to try to get some action shots. (I'll post them here) Also Mr. W. is borrowing 2 Specialized full-suspension bikes, an Epic and a StumpJumper. I hope to try them out.

None of us ended up making it, so that's pretty disapointing.

Went to the State Fair yesterday

Since I went to the State Fair yesterday I wasn't able to get out for a ride. And all I did today was circle Laurel Lakes. Some is better than nothing I guess.

Tm: 15 minutes or so
Mi: 1.30
Tp. Spd: N/A
Av. Spd: N/A

Got my bike fixed

I took my bike to the LBS today to get the brakes tightened and the rear tire fixed. I mentioned to the guy that I was going to race, and he told me about a race this Sunday. Then I told him that I'm going to do the D.IN.O. race at the TRTP. He asked if I was doing th Junior class. When I said that I was doing the Into class he said that it would be easy. Sweet!

That reminds me, my entry form was officially mailed today. I ordered a jersey, too. Now, if Jon would just scrape together the money for him entry and jersey...

Not to self: Remember to switch brake pads (v-barke on front, cani' on back)

Tm: 15 minutes
Mi: 0.5 (or so)
Tp. Spd: N/A
Av. Spd: N/A

After long last... t was cut short...

Sadly, yes. My rear tire needed some air so I hooked it up to my cigarette lighter powered compressor (Yeah, I know, I need a pump...) and tryed to fill it. After about 10 minutes of no noticable difference in pressure I gave up and headed out. I noticed that when I would swerve, the tire would fold a little and make a cruching noise. Not cool. By the time I got into Crossfields the tire was pretty much flat. So I walked, jogged and coasted back through Laurel Lakes, and then carried it down the sidewalk home.

I inspected the tire but I couldn't find the culprit. I'll have to take it into the bike shop.


Tm: 20 minutes
Mi: 1.0 (give or take...)
Tp. Spd: N/A
Av. Spd: N/A

Dropped my water bottle

This was the first time I have ever dropped my water bottle as I tried to stick it in the cage! If that happens the race I'm gonna just leave it and suffer thirst.

I went to West Park and I noticed there was a big group by the base of the big hill. It was some local acting group putting on a Shakespearean play. I would've stayed and watched, but I was hot and sweaty and the whole crowd was basically parent with little kids. So I passed.

I just did two big loops then went out of the park. That's when I dropped my water bottle and it started to rain. By the time I got back into Laurel Lakes the rain had stopped. I crossed the road and went into West Village. I mostly just jumped curbs near the pool, then went home.

Tm: 30 minutes
Mi: 5.62
Tp. Spd: 17.2mph
Av. Spd: 11.3

Lost my bike taillight :-(

After my ride today I realized that I didn't have myred 5-LED bike taillight on the clip. It must have come off when I was riding at the TRTP. So now, I have to buy a new one. Oh well, just $5.

I circled the three Laurel Lakes, then went into West Village. I decided to go off the pavement so I road on the rocks and dirt. It was fun with all of the ruts and bumps.

Tm: 20 minutes
Mi: 3.2
Tp. Spd: 19.8mph
Av. Spd: 9.7mph

Town Run Trail Park at last!

So I left the house at 15 'till 11a.m. with the sky threatening to rain. But the sun was trying to keep the scheduled isolated thunderstorms off as long as possible.

I got to the TRTP, loaded my bottles, set my glasses in my helmet and started towards the beginning. The start of the TR trail has a nice little slope, but one side has a nice (rocky, twisting and just slightly unsafe. Note the sarcasm just dripping from my voice... I mean words... text whatever.) rut. I had to stand at the top of the hill for a few minutes to get myself prepped for it. Finally I eased off the brakes (only slightly) and shot down. It wasn't too bad.

My first lap I decided to take it easy and just get re-aquainted with the terrain and hazards. A few miles into it I took one hand off the handle bars and took a drink. Bad idea. I was still pedaling and my front tire glanced off a rock... I got to know the weeds of TRTP very well. Some must have had little thorns/needles because my leg and arm began to burn like a million misquito bites. I thought "Oh boy, there goes my ride!" but after a quarter mile of going slow and itching (and scratching) like crazy I finally forced myself to stop scrathing and after a bit the ichiness went away.

The rest of the lap was pretty much uneventful except for when I had about 3 miles left to go and I pulled over to let a biker with a blue jersey (male, mid-thirties or so) pass me. About a half-mile later I heard a shout and crashing and a deer jumped right across the path! There was another biker going the otherway on on the path (and these sections are about 20 feet apart) and he yelled "Did you see that?!?!" I yelled back "Yeah!", and he was like "That's so cool!" I've never had that happen before!

When I pulled out of the woods, I took a brake uner the pavillion. The first lap was good, I didn't make all of the hills (some due to my rear derailleur not shifting properly, and some to me not having enough speed) but I went over all of the obsticles, with the exception of a log pile that's just too hard for me right now.

The second time down the beginning it wasn't so hard. I decided to go faster this time. I passed a guy (white jersey, late twenties) talking on his cell phone on the top of a hill. I asked him if he was ok, and he said yeah, so I went on. Five minutes later he passed me. (much to my chagrin) When I went under the bridge on the way back there was a dad with his daughter and son. The idiots were standing all over the pathway, so I had stop untill they moved. (They did have nice bikes though)

A couple miles from finishing I heard another crash and saw the hind-end of a deer disapear in the brush on the side of the trail. I was like "Wow! Twice in one day!"
It was a great ride! I might not win the DINO race, but I shouldn't come in last.

Lap 001
Tm: 48 minutes
Mi: 7

Lap 002
Tm: 45 minutes
Mi: 7

Total (2 laps combined)
Tm: 1 hour, 36 minutes
Mi: 14.05
Tp. Spd: 17.7mph
Av. Spd: 8.7mph

4mph over the speed limit

I went to West Park, kicking myself for not going to the TRTP yesterday. I started to go up the big hill (my front derailleur worked!) but there was a family at the top so I slowed to much then my chain jumped and I stopped. I turned my bike on the side of the hill then flew down. (Always the best part) Since I didn't get to the top I hadn't shifted back in my second gear, leaving me pumping like a maniac 'till I shifted. (up 2, down 1) I did the woods trail at a faster speed than normal, trying to get ready for the trail. Then I went and blasted the small hills and headed back towards home.

I crossed from Laurel Lakes to West Village amd decided I was going to break the speed limit. (the speed limit is 20mph) I've done it before but I wanted to go faster, so, when I got to the longest stretch of straight road I took off. For the first block I only pedaled slowly faster which wasn't good enough. I got up to 24mph before I had to slow down to make the turn. It was fun.

I went by the pool and fountains, getting my breath back. About then a Porche 911 pulled into West Village, the guy was driving slow just looking at everything, so I made a point of "racing" him for a few blocks. (me, of course, going a lot faster) Then I jumped the curbs by the pool and headed home.

Tm: 29 minutes
Mi: 5.98
Tp. Spd: 24mph
Av. Spd: 12.3mph

Went into the Village of West Clay

I was planning on hitting the Town Run Trail for a few laps today, but after checking the HMBA forums, I didn't. Since we got .05" of rain on Thursday they want us to stay off it 'till Sunday. Oh well, next time...

So I went through West Village, out onto 131st St. and crossed Towne Rd. to go to the Village of West Clay. It's a pretty ritzy, up-scale neighboorhood with it's own restaurant, bank, courthouse, two pools, a golf course and a bunch of parks. The whole place is designed to look old, all of the houses on small lots with pretty good landscaping. At a certain point a kid (male, brown hair about 14 years old) with a red full-face helmet started up his motor scooter and started up the same street I was going. As he got closer I increased speed but he shot past me.

On the way out of the Village of West Clay, there was a biker (roadie, middle-aged male, overweight) with a white helmet and tanktop going the other way. He waved and nodded and I said hey, and went on.

After that I went back across Towne Rd., though West Village and circled the three Laurel Lakes.

Oh, BTW, check out the little flash flickr badge I put in the sidebar. It's showing pics of my bike.

Tm: 30 minutes
Mi: 6.02
Tp. Spd: 22.0pmh
Av. Spd: 11.9mph

Short ride - 60th post

I went for a short ride after the rain rain, and right before dinner. Did a circle around Laurel Lakes, and went by the pool in West Village.

Although I didn't spend much time on it my front derailleur seemed to behave. I'll have to check it out thoroughly...

Tm: 11 minutes
Mi: 2.41
Tp. Spd: 16.3mph
Av. Spd: 13.3mph

My front derailleur is def not working

Well, my front derailleur is def not working. I could not get it to shift at all. Fortunantly it's stuck in second, so I can ride, just not up steep hills. I'm going to see if there is a fix in the mtb repair book I checked out at the library, if not, I'll take it in to my LBS.

Tm: 24 minutes
Mi: 5.58
Tp. Spd: 18mph
Av. Spd: 13.3mph

Banana guard

Boy, it's hard, riding in 92' degrees... esp. when your front derailleur won't shift. I tried going up the big hill twice, but the stupid shifter wouldn't work. So the second time I walked my bike up the hill and rode down. I'll take my fun even if I can't work for it. So, I did a big loop and circle by the pool in West Village and then went home.

I was going through an older issue of Bike mag, and I came across the Banana Guard. What a great idea! LOL

Edit: I accidently deleted my stats when I started my ride on 8/2/06, so these are what I remember...

Tm: 25 minutes (or so...)
Mi: 4.7 (I know it was more)
Tp. Spd: N/A
Av. Spd: N/A