Get Out and Ride-Indy Style

Yesterday  I spent the day with the folks at Indycog out at the Major Taylor Velodrome for the final race of the 2012 season for Ohio Valley Cyclocross.  I had volunteered to help out for an hour, and ended up staying all day.  When you have no social life such things happen.  It was my first cyclocross event and I had a blast (as a spectator-not a racer).  If you get a chance to watch cyclocross do so.  Even better, if you are so inclined, participate.  These races look like they are a blast--in a masochistic bike racing sort of way.

After I got back home one thought kept popping into my head.  Indianapolis has a LOT of opportunities to ride a bike.  Cycling in Indianapolis is not just about casual Saturday morning rides along one of the city's greenways, or commuting to and from work.  There are many opportunities for many kinds of riding. 

Indycog and other groups, including the Mayor's office, sponsor rides throughout the year such as the NITEride which allow cyclists to come together for fun group rides throughout the city.  Bike shops and clubs also hold group rides for training and camaraderie largely for road cyclists.  There are also numerous charity and fun rides sponsored by a host of organizations either in Indianapolis or within a sort drive (or ride) from the city.  One good place to find such rides is the Bike Rides in Indiana website which has listings of most every organized ride in Indiana and some from surrounding states.

If organized group rides aren't your thing there is also Bike Polo, Cyclocross, and BMX for the competitive at heart, or those who just want to play on their bike.  There are even mountain bike trails within the city at Town Run Park, Southwestway Park, and Ft. Harrison State Park.  There are also mountain bike trails in several State Parks within a hour or two of the city such as Brown County, and Versailles. 

I know I am starting to sound like some kind of tourism liaison, but when I first moved here, and for a few years after, I didn't realize just how much there was to do on a bicycle around here.  I am willing to bet that fro a lot of people who live around here this is the same case.  So, for any of you who live here or are just here temporarily due to school or work, I would suggest getting out and looking around.  Indianapolis has more opportunities to get out and ride than you might think.

Grocery Getter

In an earlier post I briefly mentioned having gotten Topeak's Trolley Tote for grocery runs.  Having used it a few times now I feel ready to give a basic review.

As you'll see, the Trolley Tote is essentially a milk crate with wheels and a handle.  It folds up when not in use, and locks down to the rack via Topeak's MTX trac system. 

To use the Tote for its intended purpose you must first unfold it which involves several steps:

You first loosen the clips on the handle end of the Tote,

then raise the sides up and unfold them. 

You seat a clip on the inside of both sides,


then put 'stiffners' which are stored inside the Tote over the side hinges and snap them in place.

Finally, you re-clip the clips on the outside and wah-lah--grocery tote. 

This can all be done while the Tote is clipped into the rack, and once you've done it a few times takes less time to do than it does to explain.  The handle telescopes out and locks in place to pull the Tote around with which is quite handy.  And the inline-skate wheels roll well.


Once opened and locked in place the Tote is quite sturdy and capable of performing its task..  I was worried that it would be a little flimsy, but it is quite solid--at least as solid as a real milk crate.

Overall the Trolley Tote works well for its intended purpose.  It wouldn't hold enough groceries for a typical family's weekly grocery run (though my Nomad would easily do so), but since I have a problem knowing what I want to eat more than a day or two in advance, I tend to go to the grocery daily or every other day, and the Tote holds a day or two's groceries for one person easily.  If your typical grocery haul is any larger I would recommend the Burley Travoy.  This option cost quite a bit more, but carries a lot more.  A friend of mine has one and she loves it (I am considering getting one for myself for errands and possibly overnighters--if I do I will of course give my opinions here)

When loaded with groceries you wouldn't want to make too many high speed maneuvers with the Tote in place because it does put the weight you are carrying up quite high and you can feel the difference, especially if you have something relatively heavy in the Tote; such as a gallon of milk, or a half-case of beverages.  But, if you keep at a casual speed the weight of the laden Tote isn't a big deal, so long as you keep it in mind when stopping and turning.

As for negatives--the handle doesn't lock when retracted, the whole thing is noisy, and a net should come with it.

1. The handle locks in place when extended, but not when retracted.  This isn't really an issue when the whole thing is folded because the handle faces the bike's seat, so you don't have to worry about it extending out behind you, but it does rattle around a bit while you are riding, which adds to the already annoying amount of noise this thing makes.  
2. Whether folded or unfolded the Tote makes quite a bit of racket.  This seems to be from the way it loosely sits in the trac system which allows the Tote to steadily clang up and down against the rack.  It seems to me that the Tote could be made to sit tighter in the trac and therefore make much less noise.  I've taken to using some soft Styrofoam between the Tote and rack to deaden the noise.  This fix is working quite well, but it always bothers me when I have to come up with some kind of  'user-designed after-market device' for something I pay for.
3. A cargo net is needed if you are carrying groceries across any less-than-perfect surface, which is 99% of the surface I travel on.  If you don't use a net your groceries will bounce around in the tote and could easily bounce out of it.  I already have a small bungee net that I use to fasten things to my rack, but it seems to me that something so integral to using the Trolley Tote should be included with it.  Topeak does sell a net separately, so this is probably an issue of economics, but come on guys.

So, overall I would say that I am satisfied with what started as an impulse buy (it was on sale, and I was buying a compatible rack), though I would caution others to be aware of the Tote's limitations, and take some time to consider how he/or she plans to use it, before laying down his/ or her's cash.

Cycling Friendly Indianapolis

In some of my posts I occasionally make remarks about or take jabs at the drivers here in Indianapolis in relation to cyclists, and while there are a lot of idiots on the road here, I don't mean to imply that this is the fault of the city itself.  So, I want to take a moment to talk about cycling in Indianapolis in relation to what the city does to promote or deter it.

In the seven years since I moved to the city I have noticed that bike lanes and paths have started to pop up all over the place, and Indianapolis has gotten easier to navigate by bicycle with every passing year.  According to the city government, Indianapolis has 70 miles of bike lanes and plans to create over 200 miles of such lanes over the next twelve years through its Connectivity Plan. In the past year the city government also passed an ordinance mandating the inclusion of things such as bike lanes and trails into any road construction projects.  And, Indianapolis has the 'three feet rule' for passing cyclists on the street (though most drivers don't know or follow such rules).

I recently found out that the Mayor's office even has a "Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator" who answers questions and concerns about cycling in the city, and who has assured me that there is an ongoing effort to coordinate with the BMV (bureau of motor vehicles) to educate drivers on the rules concerning cyclists.  The Mayors office also has a website dedicated to this subject of cycling in Indianapolis which is quite well designed and informative.

In partnership with Indycog a local cycling advocacy group, the city recently published a "bicycle friendliness map" called the Indy Ride Guide which shows all of the current bike lanes, paths, and trails within the city, and uses a color coding system for city streets to rank them  on a scale of 'bikeability."  I have used this guide quite a bit lately and have been extremely pleased with its usefulness.  So far, my only issue with the guide is that it doesn't cover the communities to the north of Indianapolis proper like Carmel, Fishers, and Geist which due to the attitude of many of the drivers in these areas are among the most dangerous places in this area to ride on the streets, or for that matter, drive.  However, I fully understand that these areas are somewhat out of the control of the city government, and the guide is for Indianapolis.  It would be nice if these other communities would partner with the city on this, or even take steps to produce a guide of their own.  But, I digress.

The Indy Ride Guide is free and distributed through bike shops, breweries, and some retailers throughout the city.  You can even get a waterproof version, but for that you have to pay.

All of the city buses have bike racks on them so a person can incorporate a bus into their bike-commute.  There are some free bike lockers spread though downtown, and quite a few standard bike racks.  And, there is a YMCA "bike hub" near the center of the city that has secure bicycle parking, as well as showers, and bicycle mechanics.  You have to pay a membership for the bike hub, but for frequent bike commuters this would be worth the money.  There is even a program to provide free cab-rides should there be an emergency for bike and/or bus commuters.

In all, Indianapolis is a relatively decent and safe place to explore and commute by bike.  Hopefully over time it will become safer with drivers becoming better educated and getting more exposure to more bikes being on the street.  For now, in my experience, the worst areas are the northern sections where there is a high percentage of expensive cars, and the southern edges where there is a high percentage of "redneckish pick-ups."  It seems to me that these two areas will become safer only through increased pressure from the police on their pocket books--something that the local Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator has assured me will happen.  For my part I have printed off some of the pamphlets and documents available from the city's cycling website to hand out to drivers who are obviously unaware of the rules and laws regarding their driving and my riding.  This probably doesn't help much because I can't give these drivers the same "incentives" that a police officer could, but I believe it couldn't hurt.

Indianapolis has a way to go before it could be considered truly the "bicycle friendly" city it claims to be, but at least it's heading in the right direction, which, considering a lot of people's opinions on the matter throughout the city, state, and country is an extraordinary step.

Voltaic Solar Charger-A Review

In any of my posts with a picture of my Pack Mule you may have noticed solar panels strapped across the mule's back.  This is a Voltaic Fuse 4 Watt Solar Charger, from Voltaic Systems, Inc.

I got this handy little system as a way to recharge my phone, GPS, MP3 player, GoPro, and batteries in situations where I don't have an outlet to use at the end of the day. Since getting it I have begun to buy only devices (such as bike lights) that I can charge using this little guy.

The Fuse is two solar panels and a battery attached to a carrying case that is designed to attach to any Molle style backpack which use a series of clips and straps to attach accessories, or (as in my case) use the included 3/4" straps and clips to strap it to most anything else.  I strap it across my pack mule for trips where I use the trailer, and I strap it to the bike's rear rack or to the rack bag when I commute.  It comes with a set of USB adapters that one uses to attach their device to the battery or panels to recharge.  If the adapter needed doesn't come standard, Voltaic sells adapters for damned near anything that you might need to charge, though the USB adapters that come with most thing these days will work without an adapter.

I love this thing, and have used it quite a bit, mostly to charge my phone and MP3 player, but I also have a USB battery charger for rechargeable batteries that I have used with it.  I even use it at home where there are plenty of USB ports and electrical outlets--I just like the idea of not using fossil-fuel power when I can.

The Fuse battery in its case

The fuse is quite an ingenious idea.  The case is large enough to carry small electronics (like phones, and GPS units) without being heavy or ungainly.  It zips open like a 'clamshell' and has a couple of small mesh pockets to hold adapters and devices.  You can keep the device being charged zipped securely inside while its charging or, by running the charging cord though a small opening on the back of the case, charge the device outside the case so you can see and hear it while it charges.

Keep in mind that this is a solar charger, so it won't speed charge things at the same rate as plugging the device in, but it will charge your devices fully overnight, or while riding or hiking (given enough sunlight) in places where plugging into the grid is not an option, and can give you some quick talk time when needed.

What I really love about the Fuse charger is its versatility.  The battery can be charged with the sun, it can be charged from an outlet (with an outlet adapter), and with a separate adapter that Voltaic sells (and I bought) it can be charged from the lighter/power outlet in your car.  You can use the solar panels at home, on the road, on the trail, and just about anywhere else the Sun shines.  And you can charge the battery and a device at the same time separately, or charge a device from the battery while charging the battery.  You could even charge two devices at the same time by plugging one to the battery and one separately, though anytime you do more than one thing at a time the charge is lower (and therefore slower) for each device since the available power is being shared.

Voltaic says the case is waterproof, and I have no reason to doubt this claim, but I have yet to test it by exposing the case to rain, so I can't vouch for it one way or the other.  The design of the case and zippers does inspire confidence that it could be used safely in the rain.

Voltaic offers one smaller and several larger charger systems if the Fuse is less than or more than you would need, but for my use this guy is perfect.  One note: if you plan on using such a system to charge larger devices such as a laptop, Voltaic recommends using a larger system since the power needs are greater.  The larger systems use a larger battery and more panels and can still be used for smaller devices like phones, GPS units, MP3 players, etc.  Voltaic has a set-up for charging just about anything, and even sell backpacks with the charger already attached.  They are well worth a look if you are in the market for a portable solar charging system.

Burley Nomad-Rolling Pack Mule

Now that I have pulled it around for a couple of hundred miles on the road, some bike paths, one gravel road (which google maps listed as paved), and even a short stretch of sidewalk, I feel ready to give a more detailed review of my Nomad.



My Nomad and Steed on the Road

Since I'm not really sure where to begin, I will review the Nomad on points I've seen addressed elsewhere: stability, rolling resistance, tongue weight, and wind resistance; as well as on a few other points that were important to me: capacity, visibility, footprint/tracking, and 'user friendliness.'

Stability- Simply put, this trailer has been very stable.  When I bought it I had no intention of using the Nomad off-road, and haven't. On the surfaces where I have used it-- prepared surfaces--no single or double-track trails, and one hard-packed gravel road, the trailer has been very stable. Potholes, bumps, shoulders, and transitions (small curbs, and sloped path to street transitions) have all played their part in the commutes and longer trips that I have used this trailer on and none have given me cause to think the trailer was going to flip or slide off the road pulling me with it. 

However, I am pulling the trailer with a road-style bike so I don't hit obstacles with as much abandon as I might with a mountain bike.  I am also used to where the trailer is in relation to my surroundings, and as such am careful with what the wheels might be hitting.  The trailer does bounce a little when it rolls over things at speed, so hitting something fast and hard with one wheel could theoretically flip the trailer, but based on my experiences so far, this would have to be one hell of a hit.  The worst thing I've hit so far was a flattened raccoon carcass that I couldn't dodge due to traffic and the poor critter did no harm aside from a little goop on the wheel and bottom of the cargo bed.

Rolling Resistance- This subject seems to come up a lot in single vs double wheel debates, and while I haven't pulled a BOB around for comparison, I can say that once I get the Nomad rolling I hardly know it's there.  The most weight I've pulled with it so far was around 45 lbs, and I couldn't really feel the trailer pulling on me once I get moving. On take off, up hill, and stopping I can feel the trailer, but it seems to me that this is a matter of gravity and the push/pull effect that any trailer causes, and the effects are countered with use different gearing and braking pressure than I use when riding without the trailer.

Tongue weight- According to the Burley site the Nomad transfers 10% of the weight in the trailer to the attachment point on the rear wheel of the bike thereby having a negligible effect on bike handling.  I have found their claim to be fairly accurate.  The one test I did came up with about 15% transfer, but it wasn't overly scientific.  I weighed a loaded trailer then put the end of the tongue on a scale set at the same height as it attaches to my bike and a 42lb trailer transferred just under 6 1/2 pounds to the scale.  In actual use these measurements would fluctuate due to how the trailer was loaded, and physics--when going down hill the trailer would transfer more weight to the wheel, and it would transfer less weight when going up.  Regardless of the actual transfer ratio, there is significantly less weight on the rear wheel and frame of the bike than there would be if all the gear were in panniers.

Wind Resistance- Now here's a point that I can definitely speak to.  On my first real trip with the Nomad I had some steady 20 mph head and cross winds, with gusts that were definitely stronger.  These winds played hell with me, in that I had to do a bit of walking because it was simply too dangerous to ride, but I never noticed any problems with the trailer being thrown around.  Due to the shape of the trailer I am sure it resisted the wind to a point, but even when the winds where bending the flag pole quite a bit to the side I never felt the trailer trying to pull me. 

Anti-Loss Device

One note on the flag:  I had read a review of the Nomad wherein the reviewer mentioned losing his flag to high winds, and since it just sits in a pocket instead of being mechanically attached I can see how this would happen (this setup would also allow easy theft of an unwatched flag).  With this story in mind I used an extra computer mounting band cinch-knotted around the flag-pole and wrapped around the cross-bar knob of the trailer (see picture) to help keep the flag where I put it.  Enough force could still rip the flag free, but it would need to be an extreme amount.

Capacity- So far, I have used my Nomad to carry groceries, used it to do some local Christmas shopping, and to haul the recycling, tools for work, and supplies/gear for short tours.  Not once have I wished I had more room for stuff. And, If I did for some strange reason want more room in (or rather, on) my trailer, I could always get the cargo rack attachment for it.  The only downside I can see of the Nomad's cargo capacity would be the potential for carrying more than I need to, but this is more of a self-discipline issue than a cargo-capacity issue.

Visibility- With the color, the reflective piping, reflectors, lights, and flag this guy is more visible than my bike and I are.  I have yet to feel that drivers have failed to see me whether it was dark or in the full light of day.  This was a concern of mine given the idiocy of a lot of Indianapolis drivers.  While the trailer's visibility hasn't diminished the idiocy it has certainly made me even more visible when I'm pulling it, and in some cases made people a little more careful around me--these are subjective observations, so may all be in my head, but I feel safer so they are a good thing.

Footprint/Tracking- This issue comes up a lot in reviews and questions about the Nomad.  When considering the Nomad, a lot of people (myself included) seem to feel that its two-wheel design and width would cause problems.  So far I haven't had issues with this. The trailer with wheels and quick-releases is  a hair over 26" wide.  It sits 2" off center with 12" going to the bike's right, and 14" to the left.  Since my handlebars (which are centered) with mirrors are 31" wide the trailer rides within my footprint and tracks right along with me--if my bike can go through a gap the trailer will too.  You do have to pay more attention to where you are in relation to curbs and such on your right, but I found this a quick learning process. I did have to learn to be a bit more careful on turns since the trailer adds to my overall length, but this hasn't been an issue since I got used to the extra length, and I would think this to be the case with any trailer.

For people without such a wide cockpit, if you figure around 18" for road bars and 29" for mountain bars the trailer will fit into the width of the mountain bars with 1" on the left and 2" on the right.  On the road bike the trailer will be 5" wider on the left and 3" on the right.  While you would have to learn to stay farther from curbs and other obstacles on your right, the width difference on your left is not such a big thing since a car passing within five inches of you would probably take you out with its mirror anyway.  And like I said, drivers seem to be a bit more careful around the trailer.

User-friendliness- This would seem to be a purely subjective subject, but some of my observations may fall into areas that match other people's questions.  First off it's easy to load.  With the detachable divider inside and the design of the cover this trailer is easy to organize and pack.  There are rings attached to the outside of the sides of the bed for using cord or bungees with overflow, and there are full length mesh pockets on the inside for small items.  I like the open trunk feel of the cargo bed as opposed to the duffel bag style BOB bag because it allows me to organize things.  Granted the Nomad is not waterproof due to its design, but I use stuff sacks anyway for organization so this isn't a problem (there are even drainage holes in the cargo bed for when water does get in).  While I haven't used the trailer in a full on deluge, I have pulled it in light rain and through puddles and have yet to get any water inside it.

The trailer attaches to the bike easily and securely whether it's loaded or not, this I really like.

The only user issue I could see with the Nomad is security of the contents when unattended.  When I use it for errands it doesn't have anything in it when it's unattended so this isn't an issue.  However, when I'm on the road and make a stop somewhere for food or a nature break there is the possibility of someone stealing something from inside the trailer.  This possibility applies to panniers, or other trailers as well, and with simple precautions like parking in visible areas and next to windows it is no different than just parking a bike anywhere.  As for securing the trailer itself I use an extra cable with my lock to secure the wheels to the trailer and my bike which is in-turn secured to something else.  This might not be adequate for long term security (such as overnight), but when I am using the trailer I am not in situations where I am away from the trailer and its contents with its being out in the open for long periods.  The longest periods I have left my rig or just the trailer unattended was during hikes and sight seeing rides while on tour, and I just locked it/them up next to the park office and the attendant gladly agreed to keep an eye on it/them.  In these cases there was more chance of my tent being stolen.

As for Burley's customer service I haven't had any dealings with them so I can't say anything about it one way or the other, but since I bought my trailer at REI which has excellent customer service I figure I will deal with them if the need arises.

So, overall, I would say I am very happy with my investment in the Nomad and am looking forward to discovering new uses for it and using it often for some time to come.

Catastrophe and Triumph--My First Trip

So, almost everything changed in the plans for my after Turkey Day ride.

I wasn't able to get my friend's TNF tent because he had lent it out to someone else.  I changed destinations--twice.  Had a start-stop-start all over beginning.  And didn't sleep in a tent until the Sunday after Thanksgiving.

Gear--

As I said, I couldn't get the 4-season tent I had planned on.  Since I still didn't have the funds to buy the tent I want this almost killed the trip long before it began, as there was no way I was going to try to camp in sub-freezing weather with my Hubba-Hubba.  The HH is a great tent when it's warm out, and one that I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a cycling or backpacking tent, but it is almost all mesh.  My son and I spent the night in it once in February in Ohio, and while we were nice and toasty in our bags, the act of getting out of the bags in the morning was pure misery.




Room for Me and my Pack mule

Being the stubborn old fart that I am I came up with a compromise.  I used an Ozark Trail 9 x 7 tent that I had bought on a whim for car camping.  I used some velcro-tape and blue tarp material to close off the roof vents and whah-lah--4-season(?) tent.  Not ideal but it worked.  The tent weighs around 9 lbs so I was hauling the equivalent weight of the VE-25, although without the quality.  And, since it is a four-person tent there was room to put my Nomad inside.

Aside from the tent, the rest of my gear list was easy:  sleeping pad, sleeping bag, jetboil stove, clothes, food, medicines, bike maintenance, first-aid, etc. The bike performed as planned with no maintenance issues other than a lose kickstand bolt, and the trailer was the perfect little pack mule:  I will review it separately as it deserves its own post.

As for the route; well that changed before I got started, then again later.  Instead of going to Brown County State Park, I opted instead for a trip to Turkey Run State Park.  This decision grew out of a concern for my ability to climb hills towing a trailer full of gear.  Brown County is all hills, which makes it great for mountain biking, but also worried me in terms of my fitness.  Turkey Run however is in corn-country and the route to and from there is flat.  Since both parks are about the same distance from home (60ish miles) I decided I had better try flat ground for my maiden voyage.

So, Black Friday arrives.  I wake at 5 AM and leave the house at 6:30 fully confidant and excited about my trip.  I left early so I could ride in relatively low traffic until I cleared the city--this part of the plan worked perfectly, I had absolutely no problems with the idiocy I normally face when riding through Indianapolis.  The problems arose once I cleared the heavily populated part of my route.

You see, I had checked the weather, but not all of it.  All I was worried about was temperature, and precipitation.  Once I hit the wide open spaces of corn country I quickly discovered that my big enemy was not temperature or rain as I had the right clothing to protect me from both.  No--my big enemy was the wind.  10-20 mph headwinds gusting to 25-30 mph, to be precise.

I tried fighting the wind for quite a while, but they were unrelenting and brutal.  I had to get off my bike and walk for several stretches because the winds were pushing me back harder than I could pedal forward, or they were hitting me from the side pushing me off the bike.  My speed was averaging less than 5 mph.  After six hours and just over 30 miles I turned back, out of fear of being caught out after dark in unfamiliar territory in a 15 degree wind chill.

As I turned around I felt a horrible sense of defeat and was getting quite depressed, but the ride became a lot easier.  With 20 mph tailwinds I was able to coast for long stretches of road doing 10 mph with no effort other than sitting up and holding the handlebars; it was like sailing on a bike.  The thirty mile stretch that had taken 6 hours to cover one way took just over 2 hours the other.

During the two hour return trip I decided that I would try again with a different route, and destination.  So, after a few hours looking at maps (and wind forecasts) I opted for a ride to Mounds State Park which is only 45 miles from my back door.

This time things went great.

Once again I was up at 5 a.m., and out the door into the cold pre-dawn by 6:30. The route I chose kept me off of all the busy roads here in Indianapolis,  and on bike trails or country roads for most of the trip.  So, once I worked off the initial chill, the ride was quite pleasant.  The only city roads I really had to deal with were through Anderson, IN. 

I would like to take some time here talking about Anderson.  I was a little worried about going through the heart of this small city, due to its having a popular horse track and casino.  But I found out that my fears were extremely unfounded.  The drivers in Anderson were some of the most considerate that I have ever had the pleasure to ride around.  Despite my taking some of the major streets and going right by the local mall on one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year, I had no problems with impatient or dangerous drivers.  In fact the drivers took great pains to give me room, and I never once felt like I was in danger.  Kudos to Anderson.

Camp Cold and Lonely

As for the park, it was an interesting place.  It is named for the 2,000 year old Native American earthworks which are at its center, and are quite interesting, as it s believed that they were for astronomical observances.  As it was quite cold and well beyond the 'normal' camping season I had the campgrounds to myself, except for a small herd of Whitetail Deer who roamed around the grounds taking no real interest in the lone guy sitting by his tent cooking dinner.  In the picture at right you can see just how deserted the campground was.  (My tent is the little blue dot left of center)  There was even a short bike trail around the small airport to the north of the park.  Once again--kudos to Anderson.

My Steed and Pack Mule

All in all this trip went as planned and served its intended purpose, which was to be a test of my equipment, my legs, and my heart.  In each case everything performed as well as or better than I had hoped.  And I am already planning my next excursion, as I am now quite hooked on this touring thing.

Next time though--I will pay very close attention to ALL of the forecast.

Sugoi Firewall 180 Pants-Review

According to the Sugoi site the Firewall 180 Pants provide:

"Powerful windproof coverage combined with the thermal warmth of ZeroPlus for enhanced comfort and protection during winter cross training."

They are also listed as breathable, and wind/water resistant.

For once I have found something that performs exactly as advertised.

While not technically a cycling pant (Sugoi lists them as running pants), I found them while searching for a good winter cycling pant which could be used in lieu of, or in addition to tights.  I wanted a pant that fit well, blocked the wind, looked good off the bike, and didn't sound like a potato chip bag when I walked in them--these pants fit the bill in every way.

I got a size small which was advertised as having a 30" waist and a 31" inseam--correct and correct.  The waistband is elastic in back and has a Velcro adjustment on either side.  I have worn the 180s with and without Lycra chamois underneath and in both cases they fit well without the normal "baggy butt" look that you get with rain-pants.  The fit is athletic without being tight and the fabric has a little stretch so they don't bind at all.  They also have zippers on the bottom of the legs which when opened make it easy to put them on or take them off over shoes.  When the legs are zipped they are loose like a pair of warm up pants, but not so much that they rub the crank.

So far I have worn them a dozen or so times in temperatures ranging from 31-50 degrees and have had no issues with temperature.  At the lower end of the temp range with a stiff wind they got a little chilly when I was waiting on lights, but not to the point where my legs got cold, and when it got warmer the pants were warm but, once again, not to the point of being uncomfortable, and riding with the front pockets unzipped seemed to pull the heat out much like pit-zips in a jacket.  I still haven't used them with tights, but it seems like they would be good for a few more degrees without needing to do so.

As for the water resistance, I haven't ridden in conditions yet that would test that, but I already have some rain pants, and didn't get these for rain protection.  That said, the material seems like it would stand up to light rain or road spray.

As you can probably tell, I simply love these pants.  If I had a five star rating system I would give these pants six stars

Time to Escape

Since I was a child I have loved being in the 'outdoors'.  Growing up in the Germantown area of Louisville my favorite place in the world was the small wooded lot  next to St. Michael's cemetery, which the last time I was there a few years ago had become a Krogers' parking lot, my favorite past-time was riding my bike through almost every part of the city.  When I went to live with my grandmother in Breckinridge county, KY just before high school I began spending every free moment wandering in the woods, exploring the caves, and scrambling around on the sandstone cliffs which were all within eyesight of her house.  When I joined the Army just out of high school the 'outdoors' expanded for me whether it was the Bavarian Alps, Central American Highlands, or the mountains of North Carolina I loved them all.

After the Army I moved back to Kentucky, met the love of my life, got married, and had two wonderful children, but I still came up with reasons to spend as much time as possible in the 'outdoors.'  My wife and I even spent our honeymoon hiking and picnicking in Cumberland Falls State Park.

Three years, five months, and sixteen days after the start of that honeymoon my wife died leaving me with two very small children to take care of and my days in the outdoors ended--for a while.



Atop the Natural Bridge Red River Gorge, KY

When my son was five and my daughter six, I took them on their first camping trip to Land Between the Lakes.  This was followed by several trips to Red River Gorge where I taught them to rock climb (a passion I had picked up in Germany), and took them on bike rides through the gorge.

For Christmas 2000 the children and I went to Gatlingburg.  During that trip we went across the mountains to Cherokee, and then Asheville.  I had visited the area a couple of times with a friend while stationed at Fort Bragg, NC.  During our little touristy trip I fell in love with the area, and on July 4th weekend of the following year we moved to Asheville.

Linville Gorge, NC

Our home away from home

Through the next six years, the children and I went camping, biking, and rock climbing in areas all around western North Carolina including Table Rock/Linville Gorge, Boone, and Looking Glass Rock.  Then in 2006 I lost my job to a merger and downsizing and ended up in Indianapolis.

I like Indy okay, but I really miss the ability to drive for a few minutes and lose myself in the woods and mountains.  I have been back to Western North Carolina/ Eastern Tennessee a couple of times in the last six years went to New River Gorge in West Virginia once, and my son and I took a Christmastime trip to Red River Gorge a couple of years ago. But it hasn't been enough.

Like I mentioned above I like Indianapolis, it's a nice sized city and, as far as cities go it's relatively peaceful, but for the better part of a year now I have really been itching to escape back into the mountains.  My children are young adults now, and have started living their own lives--as it should be, leaving me to sit around daydreaming about rocks, water, and trees.  I am rarely happy anymore except when I am daydreaming in such a fashion. Then after a series of heart attacks back in May left my heart in rough shape I figured that my days wondering through the mountains were over, and the time I have left for anything has gotten quite a bit shorter.

I have since learned that riding my bike could be a suitable replacement for back-packing, so long as I take it slow and easy, which, as it turns out, is the perfect recipe for touring.  I had begun planning small trips in the hope that these will sate my need for wilderness, but had also started to doubt that this will be the case.

I have come to the conclusion that what I really need to do is embark on one last great escape.  I have always wanted to experience some of our grand national parks and monuments out west, especially Yellowstone and Devil's Tower, and what better way to do it than to go by bike.  Through research I have found that the Adventure Cycling Association's Northern Tier route, and Great Parks route will take me to or at least near these and other wonderful places.


So, I vow here and now that I will as soon as possible, hop on my bike, head north to the Northern Tier trail then head west.  I don't yet know how I am going to finance my escape, and the logistics for the trip are, at present, quite daunting, but I know that I will do this--that I need to do this, so I will find a way before it's too late.

DIY Fork Mount for Lights

I really like the convenience of having a handlebar bag.  It is a wonderful place to keep snacks, a camera, sunglasses, maps, and anything else that I might want close at hand while riding.  But, there is a downside to this convenience--they tend to prevent the use of handlebar mounted lights.

There are ways around this problem, but they generally cost more money than I am willing to spend.  One such idea is the Paul Components "Gino" Light Mount this clever little device mounts to any M5 threaded hole e.g. the fender mounts on dropouts, or the mid-fork braze-ons for front racks, and allows you to mount your light just as you would on handlebars.

My issue with this guy is that it costs, on average, $15.00.  Since I like to use two lights that means $30.00 just to mount my lights.  Since I already spend a good bit of my money on my bike; this was unacceptable.

Enter DIY and Lowes.


Taking the "Gino" as inspiration I headed to Lowes.  After a bit of playing aound in the plumbing section I walked out (after paying) with a 1/2 inch inside diameter PVC cap and an M5-80 x 20 Socket head cap screw (see picture left).

I drilled an 11/64 inch hole through the center of the cap for the screw.  I chose this diameter hole so that it would be small enough to "screw" the screw through it.  This threads the hole and thus keeps the cap from rotating around the screw if it were to loosen up which would cause the light to move.  If you drill a larger hole you could probably just use super-glue or something similar to hold the screw in place.

Next I primed and painted the whole thing black, so it went better colorwise with my gray fork.  You could obviously paint it any color you wished, or just leave it white.

Then, with the ever-present lock-tite I screwed my new gadget into the midfork braze-ons on my fork and mounted the light wahlah--fork mounts for lights that cost a grand total of $1.15 a piece.

The Ron Fork Light Mount in Action

You could also use a 1/2 threaded PVC plug with the same result, but I think the cap looks cleaner when the light isn't mounted to it.  And, if you don't have mid-fork braze-ons you can also mount this gadget to the fender-mounts on the dropouts, but you may need to use a nylon spacer between the "Ron Fork Light Mount" and the hole due to the axle bolt or quick release.  If you don't have mid-fork or fender mounting holes then this idea won't work for you, but there is another gadget that I saw using a type of hose clamp, and another one that used what is basically a zip-tie.  Either of these just might work for you, or give inspiration for your own DIY.

Thanksgiving Weekend Route

Well I think I have finalized my route for Thanksgiving Weekend the map is here.  I'm starting at a friend's house to avoid some of the Black Friday traffic that I would have to go through from home.  I still have a bit of that traffic to deal with, but from there it will be on wider roads, and in some cases roads that have those "sub-division exercise trails" along side of them.

I am still playing around with packing and equipment lists, and in all honesty probably will be until I actually pack the trailer on Thanksgiving day.  I have ordered some pants for the trip, (I will give more details on them in a later post) and am hoping to get a GPS before the trip so I can log details of the route, but finances are fighting me a bit on that--we'll see.

Grumpy Old Men

I've been cranking out a lot of miles lately; some around the city, some for errands, but mostly on the Monon and Fall Creek trails, and an observation that I read in a touring journal a while back keeps flashing through my head.

In this journal the author was talking about a short three-day self-supported tour he rode near his home.  On this tour the author spent a lot of time on established trails and he made some quick observations about the people he came across on these trails.  The part of the observations that stood out to me was a short casual remark about how the least-friendly people he ran into were middle-aged men.

Now-a-days the term "middle-aged" can mean different things for different people, but to me it is the age group of around my age (46) to just before traditional retirement age.  I took no offense at his remark, because I consider myself rather friendly and have noticed that my age group can be kinda grumpy.  But, lately this "grumpiness" has begun to bother me a bit.

No doubt due to the tour writer's comment I have been paying a lot of attention to who returns my greetings when I am riding, and it seems that the writer and I have been seeing the same people.  I say this because, by and large, the least friendly group of people I run into are middle-aged men, and this gets to me for many different reasons.

The first reason these guys bother me in one of selfishness.  I am a middle-aged man, and these guys are making all of us look bad.  When they snub people, or give curt insincere replies to well wishes they reinforce negative opinions that younger people already have of us, and this hurts me.

Then there's the negative effect that the Buzzkillingtons have on the people they come into contact with.  People use these trails for many different reasons: some for exercise, some to walk their dogs, some to get from point A to point B, some just to get some fresh air and get out of the house for a while.  Whatever the reason, people are on the trail as part of their life, and coming across some grumpy old bastard who can't take the time to say "good day" or smile puts negativity into their life, which is not what a jaunt on the local trail should do.

But, I think the biggest part of why these people bother me in the sense of entitlement that they exude.  By far, I have run into the guys most on the Monon north of 54th street.  For those of you who aren't from these parts, this is the part of the trail which runs through some of the more affluent sections of Indianapolis: Broad Ripple (my neighborhood), Carmel, Fischers, and others.  In Indianapolis, the farther north you live (in general) the better off you are financially, and I have noticed that this clique of grumpy old men starts here in my neighborhood and expands with northern progression.  I have also noticed that they are riding nice (i.e. pricey) bikes and not the "lesser quality" rides seen farther south on the trails, which by the way are what the nicer folks seem to ride.

This combination of latitude and expense leads me to believe (possibly unfairly I admit) that this group of grumpy guys is not on the trail due to a need to get to work cheaply, or to save money on gas by riding to the grocery instead of driving, and I never see them with dogs.  Yet, they seem to be on the trail against their will--which runs contrary to their station in life.  So I have come to the conclusion (once again possibly unfair on my part) that they are just being snobs with the attitude that us lesser folk shouldn't be addressing them, or possibly tainting them with our presence on their trail.

Regardless of the reason for their crappy disposition, these guys have become an irrational irritation to me.  I have realized that this irritation has begun to spoil a part of my life that I otherwise thoroughly enjoy, so I have started taking steps to alleviate the problem.  I have begun to ramp up my geniality as a way to contradict the negative opinion others may get of my generation from these grouches, and have noticed that my increased friendliness has made me (if not others) happier in return.  I am especially exuberant in my greetings to those who seem to belong to the group who bother me, in the hope that my cordiality may in some small way rub off.

While I would never begrudge anyone the joy of a bike ride, especially in the lower stress environment of an automobile free trail, it seems to me that these grumpy old men would be better served emotionally and physically by exercising in an environment more suited to their disposition like the stationary bike section of their country club exercise lounge with others of the same disposition and status.

I know that these ramblings have little to do with touring or serious cycle training, but give me a break, I am part of the Grumpy Old Man demographic.

Stage 1--Short trip

For my first real test run I have chosen a Thanksgiving weekend ride to Brown County State Park and back.  The plan is to ride to the park on Black Friday; stay at the campground, explore Nashville and the park on Saturday, then ride back home Sunday.

So far I plan to use a route I found online here.



The trip is short, just under 43 miles one way, but should be long enough to test out my bike, trailer, gear, and legs/heart.

To many a trip of this sort at this time of year may seem a bit extreme considering the weather, but for me trips like this are usually taken at this time of year.  Since the death of my wife the holidays have been a little depressing, so over the years I adopted a habit of taking the children on various climbing, camping, biking trips to occupy our time and minds.  Now that the children are young adults they aren't quite as interested in spending time with Dad in a tent at the base of some cliff somewhere, so I have started doing my trips solo.

I still have a couple of weeks to tweak things a bit, but for now the following is a list of what I plan to take on the trip:

• Bike (duh)
• Bike repair--tubes, flat repair, multi-tool, spokes, nuts and bolts, cables, etc.
• Nomad
• Tent-I'm hoping to be able to get an REI ASL tent because I don't think my MSR Hubba Hubba will cut it in the cold.  But, if the finances don't pan out for it I can borrow a friend's North Face VE-25.  The VE-25 is an ideal tent for cold weather, but is a little overkill in altitudes under 14,000 feet and it weighs almost twice as much as the ASL tent.
• 15 degree North Face sleeping bag
• REI self inflating sleeping pad
• Foam sleeping pad
• Jetboil stove and coffee press
• Katadyn water filter
• Nalgene 48 oz water bladder
• 2 Nalgene bottles
• Voltaic solar charger with the USB battery charger and LED light
• Assorted stuff sacks and dry bags
• On bike clothing-pants, jacket, base layers, gloves, rain gear, etc.
• Camp/casual clothing
• toiletries
• First aid kit w/ medications
• 4 meals (some meals will be covered by Restaurants in Nashville)
• Camera, MP3 player. phone
• Misc. items--Clif bars (don't leave home without 'em), gel packs, Nuun tablets, spare rechargeable batteries, etc.

Obviously some of these things are completely unnecessary for such a short trip, but my plan here is to test out some of the equipment as well as get an idea on packing and carrying/pulling these things around on the road before I commit to longer trips where they will prove more useful.

I will, of course post updates to the plan and details of the trip.

Also, I haven't expressly stated this, but I am VERY open to critiques, comments, suggestions and encouragement, so feel free to engage in such things.

Finally-I Can Begin to Begin

I can now finally begin to start touring.

I have my bike, a trailer, most of my gear, and seem to have recovered enough to start training.

My steed:

My Ride

I haven't given her a name yet, but (to me) she sure is pretty.  She is a 2012 KHS Urban Xcel (supposedly short for accelerate).  I won't bore you with component details, but if you want you can get them here.  I picked this bike primarily because it had what I was looking for--steel frame, disc brakes, longish wheelbase, 9x3 drive train, and upright geometry all at a price I could afford.  I am already looking at potential upgrades in the components and wheels, but what I have now looks solid enough to get me going and keep me going through some initial trips.

Interim Cockpit

I have added some things to the basic bike to make her more trip worthy.  The first thing I did was change the handlebars from the mountain-bike style bars that came with her to a set of trekking bars.  (This picture is to show the bars;  The cockpit isn't complete and I plan on a seperate post on just the cockpit once it is.)




I love these bars for a couple of reasons the main one being multiple hand positions.  I have always had issues with hand numbness, and since my heart-attack this issue has gotten worse, so being able to move my hands around a lot while still maintaining control of my bike is a big deal to me.  The trekking bars accommodate this quite well while providing a lot of space for mounting all of the paraphernalia that I want close at hand--lights, computers, bar bag, GPS, etc.

The next addition was fenders.  I am not a big fan of road spray to the face, so fenders were almost mandatory unless I only ride on dry roads.  During drought season here this isn't an issue, but during the other 2/3 of the year it is, so I bought a set of Axiom Rainrunner Trekk Reflex fenders.  I will probably post a review of these later, but for now I will say that they were a real pain to install, but after installation they seem to be what I needed.

Then came the rear-rack.  This took me a while to decide upon.  I plan to use my Nomad for hauling gear, but I wanted a rack that could serve me for commuting/grocery duty as well as hold my solar charger and small things during a trip.  I settled on Topeak's Super Tourist because it seemed to fit the bill for everything I was looking for.  I also got the Trolley Tote for grocery runs.

I have mentioned commuting and grocery runs a couple of times now.  These are big in my overall plan, because they supply training miles.  I have decided to park my Jeep and use my bike for anything I possibly can, which is why I have tried to go for gear that fulfill multiple roles.  Since I am neither independently wealthy or retired I have to spend a good part of my life working to pay the bills and buy what I need for touring. So, in order to do the needed training for touring I use my bike to travel to job sites (when feasible) and to do my daily errands (grocery, recycling, post office, etc.) then on the weekends I ride farther and do practice runs with the trailer.

Some other things I have gotten for my new-found obsession include my Voltaic solar charger, a USB battery charger to use with the Voltaic, a new MP3 player, and a rain jacket.  There are still things I want/need, but they will have to come as I can afford them.

Addendum

I mentioned in a previous post that I intended to volunteer at the Brown County Breakdown and ride my bike to and from the event.  Well, since the weekend of the Breakdown and my surgery conflicted I had to cancel my plans.  I do, however, intend to ride to Brown County State Park for the fun of it as soon as I am able--tentatively I am planning on doing it Thanksgiving weekend.

Resistance is Futile

My Wound

Well, I got my implant, but not my bike.

This past Monday I had the surgery to install my new defibrillator.  The doctors tell me that it went well and everything is working as planned.  All I know for sure is that it hurt like hell, looks like someone stabbed my chest with a machete, and the bill is to follow.  I must admit though, that I do feel a bit less anxious about my heart.

As for my long awaited bike there was a bit of a snafu.  It seems that the manufacturer is out of my size in the model I had chosen.  They are in the process of switching models, so the only ones available in my size are a color that I really don't like.  However the next level up is available in my size, so I placed an order for that one.  It costs a little more, but it has better components, so I guess in the end is a better deal.  The guys at the bike shop say it will be ready for me early next week.  Hopefully, I will be able to ride by then.

I have, however, gotten a trailer for my new steed.

I used a 20% off member's coupon with REI to get a shiny new Burley Nomad.  I've been wanting a trailer for a few years and finally pulled the trigger on one.  I've been bouncing around between the BOB yak and the Nomad for some time and finally decided on the Nomad because of the two-wheel (i.e. more stable) design which I feel will better suit me in the role of a commuter/grocery getter, and carry my gear for bikepacking and multi-day tours.

Based purely on first impressions, I like my new trailer; its design and materials are confidence inspiring.  I know several people who use a Burley child-carrying trailer, and they all say good things about their trailers.

My Nomad is 53" long--minus half the diameter of the bike's rear wheel (the trailer attaches at the rear hub) that leaves around 40" trailing the bike. 

It's rolling width is 26", but since it's not perfectly centered on the bike the width comes out to 14" on the left side of the bike and 12" on the right.  This sounds, and even looks, like a lot, but my trekking bars with mirrors equate to a 31" wide cockpit (I plan on detailing my cockpit setup in a future post) so, the trailer is actually a little over 1" narrower on the left and over 3" narrower on the right than my bike.

One thing I really like about the Nomad is it's visibility.  The bright yellow cargo cover, combined with two red reflectors on the back, two yellow reflectors on each wheel, two white reflectors on the front, a five foot long safety-flag pole, and a tail light make this trailer highly visible.  The L.E.D. tail-light that came with the trailer is 3" x 2" and fairly bright (side note-the Burley website says nothing about a light being included with the trailer, so it was a nice little surprise).  The light mounts to the frame and looks for all intents and purposes like a tail light from an automotive trailer.  I am already considering ordering a second light from Burley for even more visibility. The Burley light doesn't have a "blinking" mode, but there is a light loop on the rear of the trailer cover so I figure a pair of the 'Burley' lights with a blinking light between them should make for a highly visible trailer even when it's dark--we'll see, but I believe that since I rarely ride after dark the single light, when combined with the rear lights I already use on my bike, should be adequate for commuting/grocery and recycling trip duties. 

As I've mentioned this mini-review is based purely on first impressions.  I will post a review of the trailer in use as soon as I can heal enough to actually use it to carry things.  I honestly can't wait.  Having this trailer opens up several possibilities for using my bike for errands that before I would have had to use my Jeep--I can't wait to see if it lives up to my hopes for it.

It Was the best of times. It was the worst of times...:A.K.A. Good Week Bad Week

So, my bike is finally in.  The guys over at the Bicycle Exchange told me that the bike I ordered has finally come in, and should be assembled and ready to go sometime next week.  Great News.  I will post more about the bike once its handlebars are in my grubby little hands and its saddle is under my grubby...never mind; I don't like the way that was going to sound.

Also this week:  I had an appointment with the fellas watching my heart--latest word:
      "Mr. Ron we are going to put a piece of electrical equipment in your chest to keep you from suddenly dropping dead due to your severely weakened heart." (or something to that effect)

So what these bits of news add up to is that sometime late next week I will be getting my long-awaited new steed, then on the following Monday I get to go have surgery to implant a defibrillator (a.k.a. pacemaker) in my chest.

On the bright side--I will be able to claim I am a cyborg.  This has already given me ideas for a custom cycling jersey.

First Real Test

This morning I did the first real test of my distance ability and managed 22.75 miles at an average speed of 11 mph with an average heart rate of 107.  I realize that this isn't exactly a world class distance or speed, but for me it feels good since it is the longest ride I've done since my heart attack and I am sure that I could have gone farther.




Cycling in the UK looks fun

The route was pretty straight forward;  I took local streets to the Monon- went south to the Fall Creek Trail then took it to Stiles Park.  I reversed course for the return trip.  This was the first time I have tried connecting the Monon and Fall Creek trails, and with the exception of the little jog you have to take on 38th street on the Fall Creek Trail it is a nice route--not as loaded with the snotty folks who think they own the trail as the northern portion of the Monon,  a little more scenic, and far fewer road crossings (2 total that I remember on Fall Creek Trail).

I want to try to ride from here to Brown County State Park next month for the Breakdown at which I plan to volunteer (no way I could do the ride just yet).  I plan to use a route I found online which puts the distance at around 40 miles.  I would have around 15-20 miles before the start of the route if I start at home.  This Idea is dependant on whether my new bike comes in before then, whether I can get a trailer before then, and whether I can train enough before then, so this idea is still quite a ways up in the air.  But hey,  it's a goal and a person must have goals or else he just sits around on his ass and laments about what could have been.

My Road ID

I want to take some time here to rave about a piece of equipment I have that I believe evry cyclist, runner, jogger, or person who leaves their house on a regular basis should have- a Road ID

The week before my heart attack I got my first Road ID in the mail.  I had ordered one out of fear of the local drivers.  Indianapolis has gone to great extent over the last few years to make cycling around the city easier by way of bike lanes and trails which has been great, but the area they haven't improved is the drivers.  A lot of the drivers in this city are just plain dangerous; they don't know the laws regarding bicycles on the road (or just don't care), they text, eat, listen to head-phones, read, and just about everything else except pay attention to the road while they are driving, so collisions or near misses with cyclists and pedestrians are very common.

Within one week in the area around me there was a hit and run with a cyclist, another with a pedestrian, and I personally saw two stupid near misses between a car and a bicycle.  One of these near misses involved an idiot in a pick-up passing a cyclist then turning right in front of him in order to get to a McDonalds.  The guy on the bike was in a bike lane and had to lock up his brakes to avoid slamming into the side of the idiot's truck.  That night I ordered a Road ID.

My first ID was a basic one that gave my name and had my children's contact numbers on it.  While this ID didn't save my life or anything that dramatic, it did allow the hospital to be able to contact my daughter and let her know what had happened when I was in a condition where I could barely remember my own name much less phone numbers due to the pain, which kept her from going insane wondering about me.

After I got out of the hospital I ordered an interactive version of my ID that still has my daughter's contact number on it, but also has contact information that gives out medical info that emergency personnel will want to know; like the fact that I have a metal stent in my heart and what type of medications I am on.

While the ID won't necessarily help me if I am at home and have fallen and can't get up, if I have the same problem downtown it feels good to know that a paramedic or doctor can get information they need, and considering the amount of time I spend in traffic on a bike surrounded by idiots, this will probably come in handy.  Even off the bike, if I were to keel over due to my heart the information is still there, since I haven't taken this ID off since I put it on my wrist.

If you ride a bike, jog, run, or just walk anywhere near modern, fast-food and/or technology addicted drivers I would suggest getting one of these little beauties--today.

From Hospital Bed to the Open Road

At 2 am May 15th 2012 I suffered a major heart attack due to a 100% blockage of the LAD in my heart. The doctors at St. Vincent Heart Center of Indiana cleared the blockage and put a stent in there to keep it open.

What all this means in real terms is that at the age of 46 I now have a heart that works at roughly half what it should.

During my time in the hospital (after coming to terms with the idea of having had a heart attack) most of my questions revolved around whether or not I could still ride my bike.  I know this might sound silly to some, but I viewed my bike as a form of freedom- freedom from my auto, freedom from gasoline, and just plain freedom from all of the responsibilities of my daily grind.

For a while there it seemed as if I would have to give up my bike in favor of mall-walking type exercise, which was a trade I am unwilling to make. So, within two weeks of my release I began pedaling again.  At first it was on a trainer in my living room then it spread out to short spins outside, and now 4 months later I am riding as much as I was before what the doctors like to call my "event."

Now I am by no means riding the same way I was before.  Slow and steady has replaced my attempts to achieve higher and higher average speeds over given routes, and casual rides have replaced attempts to set (personal) speed records. These changes in attitude have by no means changed the enjoyment I experience on my bike, but they have changed what type of bikes and other equipment that I want, and they have (in some ways) changed what I want to do with my bike. I still use the bike to commute and run errands, but now instead of looking toward events that involve speed and time limits, I have begun to look toward long distance slow paced things like touring. Which leads me to the what and why of this blog.

My intention here is to use this blog as a journal of sorts to record my journey from here out as it applies to my recovery and my bike.  I'm sure that I will wander all over the place within this framework, but wandering around is part of who I am.  Hopefully these wanderings can provide some things worth reading--we'll see.