Unintentional gear head.

This past Sunday, I joined my first group ride.  It was a chilly, cloudy day with a chance of rain.  Perfect day to don all my gear I've been required to buy for days like that during the summer.  A cold & wet biker is not a happy biker, especially extended over 75 miles. 

I roll up to the Sunshine Community Bike Shoppe on campus to wait for the other group members of the day's ride.  Today's leader and current bike shoppe operator, Jeremiah Cornehl, took the opportunity to make a comment on my attire..

Here I am, extreme newbie to the cycling world, decked out in a Bike & Build jersey, Pearl Izumi padded bike shorts, Pearl Izumi clipless shoes with compatible pedals, bike gloves, Specialized arm and knee warmers, all cruisin' around on my sexy Giant Avail 3, which is equipped with repair kit, lights, and a nifty bike lock. Now I can appreciate the irony of this scene.  I know these aren't top name brand items, but they hold their own in the biking world.  Jeremiah states (paraphrased):  No offense, but I've been biking for years and I don't have any of that sort of bike gear.

Fair enough.  I've known people who, when they pick up a new hobby, they feel like they need the latest and greatest equipment so they can fit in with the already established crowd.  [Extremely annoying thing to do - gear heads without knowledge to base it on]. This is very far from the case with me.  I've bought all this gear, most of which I'd never heard of before, because its on the required list of stuff to make it across country comfortably and safely this summer.  I agree that I haven't "earned" my spot in the biking community yet, but I'm working hard to.  

I vow: This unintentional gear head will earn her right to own everything she owns.  

On top of the research I've had to do to even understand what everything is and why I need it, I will learn how to use everything, learn the lingo, learn how to fix things, and then, most importantly, help others who are just learning because the memory of being the newbie will still be fresh in my mind, even after the summer.

(Side note:  I don't personally refer to my bike as sexy, though others in the field have; recommending I make a calendar of my bike in various places and sell them as a fundraiser. My bike has earned her spotlight just by being her.)

I reserve the remained of my time. (I've been brushin' up on my CSPAN lingo as well).

Teach me how to.. pedal?

Delving into the unknown.  That's what I've done when I signed up for this crazy trip.  I had never even ridden a road bike before, let alone know anything about gears, pedals, equipment, etc.  But it's all slowly coming together, with the help of owners manuals, product manuals, and well intended advice from everyone (which is actually very appreciated, so when people say "I'm sure you've heard this before, but..", I actually probably haven't, so fill my mind with knowledge, pleeeease!!).  I assembled my bike after receiving the large box in the mail.  I must say, I was very nervous to take it out for quite a while, and I found every excuse in the book to not actually have to get on the bike.  I finally had to get on it on a warm mid-March day to get a photo for my thank you post cards.  Pleasant words weren't the only words out of my mouth.  But, I survived and got some start up advice from people walking by, admiring the bike.  I still found reasons to not ride, but I'm finally officially out of excuses and officially geeked up about riding. I noticed this pivot point when my bike was getting looked over in the bike shop for a few days, and I missed it.  It was a sign.  So here I am, all my gear finally here. Now time to learn how to put it all together. Aka- let the laughter & pain begin.

The latest addition to my ride are my little clipless pedals.  There are little clips on the bottom of my sweet velcro shoes which lock into the pedals.  Yes, lock into the pedals.  Meaning my feet aren't free to catch me immediately when I fall.  I've heard many a tale of people learning how to use their clipless pedals, and learning the timing of when to clip out of them (with a "simple" twist of the foot) before having to stop.  Luckily, I have a bike trainer (a little stand to set my bike in while it's in my room, ideally used for actual training during cold weather, but better used as a kickstand since I don't have one).  So, yesterday, I was able to learn the very basics of the clip process in the comforts of my own room, on a stationary bike.  Then it was time for the parking lot.  I had my helmet, padded gloves, and old sweatpants on, in case I fell.  Everyone said you will fall while learning them; so fall early, learn early.  But I'm cruising around the lot, thinking, "Psshht, I got this, no falling here".  Until... I stopped to talk to a friend about my pedals. I clipped my right foot out, thinking I'd just lean to the right.  Well, no, didn't work.  I finally understood the helpless feeling of falling in the clipless pedals people described.  Slowly, I tipped over to the left, with no free foot to catch me.  Don't worry, bike's ok. Only some dirt on the handle bars.  

Walk it off, walk it off. Time for the big leagues.  Spice offered to go on a bike ride around town.  Little did she know... About 10 minutes into the ride, stop at a stop sign, clip out of the right only, and whooosh, topple over helplessly to the left, onto Spice & her bike.  Again, no damage, but lessons learned.  Lesson 1:  clip out of both pedals for every stop; at least during these beginning stages. Lesson 2:  check your clips on the shoes after falling, they probably are loose.  Then you'll really get stuck.  Crisis avoided thanks to early detection.

Horse bucks you off, you gotta get back on.  Today, I went out for an hour ride along Ashland's lovely bike paths.  No crashes.  Just smooth riding, with smooth shifts and eased clip ins & outs. Of course, room for improvement, but doing good.  Plus, I got to try out my new bike shorts.  I can see how they will be beneficial, but for now, they feel like a giant Maxi-pad (sorry guys).  Yay for padded spandex! I'm startin' to look like a biker!

Now, you may be wondering why in the world you would want to be attached to your bike with no quick exit plan available.  I've already discovered the wonders of the clipless pedal and I'll never ride again without them.  With your foot locked in place, you can pull up with one foot while the other is pushing down.  It helps balance out the work done by different legs muscles, as well as making hills a hell of a lot easier. 

"The first day of spring is one thing, the first spring day is another" -Henry Van Dyke.  Well, ff this is what the first 2 spring days have to offer, I can't wait for the rest!

Let's get fired up!

Hey all! Long time, no read.  I thought I would have a blog section on my new website, but I finally decided I can just have this website link embedded in the website and keep this simple blog for my blurbs and updates of training and such. 

Ok! So much to catch up on, I'll try not to type your eyes out.

My bike is here, assembled, checked over, decked out, and ready to roll! My Giant Avail 3 is white and blue, along with my matching shoes (coincidence. I just like blue).  It has no name yet, that must be earned, not forced.  We receive monthly newsletters from Bike & Build with tips, stories from alumni, updates, etc.  This last time had some stories about how bikes have earned their names in the past.  They were quiet cute. I'm waiting for that one Ah ha! moment. 

I'm slowly accumulating necessary gear and equipment, such as padded shorts, shoes, pedal, bike lock, helmet, lights, computer, air pump, repair stuff, gloves, knee warmers, arm warmers, chamois butt'r (aka skin lube) and water bottles.  Whew, I've actually made a lot of progress on the gear list, sweet! But, still to get are some more shorts, sunglasses, and a few odds and ends.  I did also get a camera, another drop-proof, water-proof one.  We'll see if this one is Sierra-proof (unlike the past 3 ones during college).

I've been trying to work on cardio and such in the fitness room while it was winter.  That's a whole new life style for someone who actively avoids exercise rooms, but I have discovered the satisfaction of a good workout. But, it's finally spring!! Less indoor, more outdoor, real-world training.

Fundraising is going great! We're at $3500! Only $500 left to go and there are still 46 days left until the trip! I'm working on thank yous still, time is of the minimum.  But I promise, your donation has not gone unappreciated!! Check out the website for the list of donors and tributes.

Also, everyone on Northland campus is so encouraging! So many people have offered to join on rides, to teach me how to change tires, and tons and tons of moral support.  After spring break at the end of the month, all my efforts can be focused on affordable housing awareness & my bike trip.  Right now, I'm working on fundraising another $5000 for our volunteer group to travel to Miami, Florida during spring break to build with Habitat for Humanity.  But, during May term, I'll have information board up and collect some donations towards the trip.  Many bike trips are coming up with student groups, so there are lots of opportunities to ride.

Keep checking in periodically for updates. This will be my blog location for the duration of the summer!