Epic Bicycle Trip

Speed is not traditionally something I work hard at when I'm riding. I'm just not that into it. My rides are more for pleasure, and I enjoy taking in the scenery etc. My wife will tell you that my rides are also about endurance - the further I can go the better I like it, and I can pretty much stay on a bike all day if the opportunity presents itself. I know that I will never compete in the Tour De France or the Olympics , and I'm OK with that. There are times, however, as I mentioned in the previous post on endurance, when I actually need to reach a destination and be "on time". Therefore, though speed may be relative it also has it's place in your training. If you've got the right bicycle, seat, and pedals, and if you've got the right clothing, then the only thing you need to do to improve your speed is (duh) ride faster. Most of the time this means pushing yourself beyond what's comfortable. If you're going to try to improve your spe

We went for a walk on the Sandy creek trail yesterday. While there we met a couple on a tandem bike. They shared an unfortunate experience they had in one of the tunnels on the Allegheny River Trail. Seems some young hoods on 4 wheelers entered the tunnel while this couple was riding their bike through it. They actually pushed the woman. I think next time I ride the tunnels I'll be packing some heat.

Distance riding, to me, doesn't mean just "miles on the trail". Living in western Pennsylvania, in the foothills of the Allegheny Mountains, means that I want to be able ride distances on various terrain, up hills and down, on dirt, gravel, and paved surfaces; I want to be able to stay on the bike (as opposed to pushing the bike), and I want to be able to get where I need to go safely. The best way I've found to improve my distance riding is, well, to ride. And ride. And ride. You don't actually have to be in very good riding condition to improve your distance. Modern multi-speed bikes take a lot of the torture out of riding distances. As long as you've got a good fitting bike and a good saddle, as discussed in the previous post, you're probably going to be able to increase your distance pretty quickly. I probably break every "rule" of bike riding. I don't stretch before I go on a ride. I don't do much prep for long rides. I just p

I decided to address this issue first, because if you're not comfortable you won't be able to ride very fast OR very far. The first comfort item, of course, is the bike itself. You don't have to spend a fortune on a bike, but you DO need to spend enough to get a decent one. I don't recommend buying your bike at WalMart. Find a reputable dealer. The dealer should be able to measure you for a frame . You should be able to straddle the bike and your crotch should not touch the center bar - there should be about 1/2 to 1 inch of clearance. In addition to frame size, tire size (or, more appropriately, rim size) must be considered. Most mountain bikes or trail bikes use 24 or 26 inch rims; most street bikes use 26 or 27 inch rims The next question is bike configuration. For riding in a hilly area such as northwestern Pennsylvania, you will want as many gears as you can get; if you can include a "mountain climbing" gear, that is even better. Riding "stan

Last night we rented a movie from Redbox, so that was my "excuse" for a ride this morning - I had to return the movie. I started out at 7:30 a.m. and it was COLD! Luckily I was smart enough to wear leggings and my long sleeved shirt; I was not, however, smart enough to wear full gloves. Who knew I'd need gloves in September? When the temperature is 57 degrees and the bike is moving at 30 mph the wind on my bare fingers feels like 10 degrees. Made the 13 mile round trip in 1 hour 7 minutes which I didn't think was too bad, considering that I wasn't even working - this was just a pleasure ride.

If you're just getting into "serious" biking (on any level, really) there are some things you can do to improve your "cycling score". Your cycling score is a combination of: 1. How far you can ride 2. How fast you can ride 3. How comfortably you can ride All three of these characteristics are a reflection of how efficiently you ride. When you ride, you want to be able to stay on the bike as much as possible - up hill, down hill, on the flats, and around the curves. In order to do this you want to be efficient at shifting gears, assuming an appropriate riding position, and anticipating conditions. In order to ride longer, you want to appropriately condition yourself for endurance. In order to ride comfortably, you have to have the right clothing and accessories. We'll deal with each of these areas in future posts.

Just spent about 30 mins straightening the rim on my bike. The key to straightening a bent rim is patients. I have a $3 tool to tighten spokes. I simply spin the wheel and see where it is bent, then tighten the spokes on the opposite side. Works well and I have done it several times. I seem to bend wheels easily while off roading. Good trick to know.

This blog was created as a way to share Epic Bicycling Trips. Stories and tips are welcomed.