Round 48

First off:  Me vs The Bear Mountain 10 km

1:04:33

That was a tough 10k.  I’m going to train for it next year, and try to get in under 50 minutes.  This year, I didn’t prepare, train, or think too much about it.

While riding in this morning, I had this feeling that something about my bike was “off”  The brakes were working fine, the tires were at a good pressure, the seat hadn’t been adjusted, yet I still felt something was wrong. I rode on.

By the time I got to Douglas and Fort I realized what was missing, my front fender.  On the occasion that Lindsay comes to pick me up, I have to put my bike (on it’s side) in the back of my Honda CRV.  My guess is, it came off while being take out, or being put in the car.  I’ll have to scour around for it tonight, because that $12 piece of plastic is a lifesaver when it’s raining:

Dave: 48

Global Warming: 0

 

Round 47…water in the Batcave

Normally when it rains, my basement is fine.  Considering the house is well over 100 years old, that’s impressive.  However, when it rains all day, for several days in a row, like it has, water can get in my Batcave.

After my bike ride home from work today, I opened my backdoor to a puddle slowly growing in size on the concrete floor of my basement.  It had reached about 2 liters throughout the day, but wasn’t too much of a challenge to get cleaned up.  I’ve got a mop in the basement for such a task.  I discovered last year, when it stormed in January, that water can get into the basement, and if it’s not promptly attended to, can become quite the puddle.

With no end in sight for the rain, it looks like small puddles in the basement for the rest of the week, and a full suit-up of rain gear before hitting the road.

I haven’t “tweaked” my brakes like I had mentioned, it seems like they’ve “fixed themselves” over the last day or 2.

Dave:  47

Global Warming: 0

Round 46…too tight

Ok, so yesterdays post included a video on how to tighten your breaks.  I’m not sure where I went wrong, but now…my breaks are “shifting” side to side above my wheel, causing them to “engage” when I hit bumps or turn corners.  Maybe I should back them off a bit, center the pads, and hope they don’t move around…or maybe I should buy a new damn bike!

Dave: 46

Global Warming: 0

Rounds 44 and 45

What was I thinking on Friday?  Biking to work every day for a year is plenty of a challenge on days like today, where it rains buckets on me from James Bay to Quadra village.  I was feeling a little over-confident Friday, and for whatever reason, thought I wasn’t doing enough?  I officially retract blog “Round 43″

I bought my bike in the summer of 2001.  Since the purchase date, and before the spring of 2009, I bet I’ve only been on 50 to 75 rides.  Before I challenged myself to cycle to work everyday for a year, I wasn’t spending ANY time maintaining or servicing my bike.  Once a year, I’d take it in for a tune up, and that was enough.

I did take the Prairie Bullet into Oak Bay Bikes for a tune up this spring, but because I ride everyday, I’m experiencing servicing problems that I’m not sure how to handle.  For example, my rear brake isn’t as touch sensitive as it was.  After the tune up, the break would apply with just a slight squeeze, now, I need to squeeze the hand break right down to the grip to apply the breaks to my rear tire.

After some research on youtube, I’ve found something that I think will help.

Dave: 45

Global Warming: 0

Round 43

Another day, another win.  Perhaps my “challenge” is too easy?  Riding to work every (work) day for a year?  It’s not like it’s far or anything.  The trip is less than 6 km.  I’ve got it down to a science now.

More tomorrow.

Dave: 43

Global Warming: 0

Round 42

Another win for me yesterday, no big deal.  We’re reaching that time of year where the cool, damp air cut cuts through layers of clothing to slightly chill your skin.  The experience is like standing in a refrigerator, wearing a damp “onezie” (I think)

Dave: 42

Global Warming: 0

Round 41 “To The BATCAVE!”

I’m not Batman, but I do have my own “Batcave” of sorts.  The half duplex that Lindsay and I rent has a massive basement, with a “mini door” directly to the backyard.  All the extra space downstairs, and the easy-access-door make me feel like a super-hero when I suit up and ride out into the yard.

When I get home, I just open the door, push the bike down the 3 or 4 steps, lean it against the wall, ditch the riding gear, and walk up a set of stairs that lead directly to my bedroom.  How sweet is that?  I’m like Batman, except without the fancy toys, intimate knowledge of science, money, and ass-kicking-skills.

Dave: 41

Global Warming: 0

Round 40 My Batcave

I can’t believe it took me this long to bring up my awesome basement, and it’s “Batcave” properties.  More after Round 41.  Which I’m going to post right away, and pretend I posted this yesterday.

Dave: 40

Global Warming: 0

Rounds 39 and 40, on off days

Normally, I work Monday to Friday.  Meaning, I bike to work Monday to Friday, and destroy the environment on the weekends only using my Honda CRV which my girlfriend drives 99% of the time.  This week, things are a little different.  I had Thursday and Friday off, and work today and tomorrow.  This begs the question, “do I have to ride my bike to work on the weekend?”

Initially, I would say YES, because they are technically work days,  however, I’m going to go easy on myself, because yesterday and Thursday I put at least 3 or 4 times as many miles on my bike riding to the gym, to the mall, to the other mall, and to a downtown errand than I would have simply riding my bike to and from work.  I may be in the gray area here, but I’m still giving myself the victories.

Thursday was a very ugly day.  I had to wear all the rain gear everywhere I went.  On one stop, at Sears in the Hillside mall (I was shopping for a heated mattress pad) you could literally hear my shoes/pants/jacked sloshing and squeaking up and down each and every isle.  Because I couldn’t find what I wanted at Sears, I stopped in at The Bay downtown.  Another swing-and-a-miss.  Add 2 squash matches in there, and yea…my quads are sore.

Dave: 40

Global Warming: 0

Round 38 Light my FIRE!

Both my lights are essentially dead.  My front white “lantern” style light, and my rear red “flashing” light don’t cast enough light to scare off a vampire.  I’m at a crossroads, do I replace the batteries, or buy better lights altogether?

When I bought these lights in the first place, I didn’t know much about commuting everyday on a bike.  To me, all lights were essentially the same, so I did what I figure most people would do:  I bought the cheapest thing I could find.  At the time, I didn’t understand the importance of being seen, at a much higher rate than not-seen.  I haven’t had any close calls, thank goodness, but I’m not feeling too confident about my current lights.

I’ve see other cyclists with front “beam” style lights that are so big and bright,  from a distance, you’d think their ten speed was a chevy cavalier.  A month ago or so, I saw one cyclist with a strip of lights, that ran in the spokes of his bike, that flashed 4 or 5 different colors!  As much as I’ve praised Mountain Equipment Co-Op in the past, they fall short when it comes to bike lights.

At MEC they’ve got the basics, and a few lights I’d consider a “step up” but nothing really high-end.  I figure if I’m gonna splurge on 2 things, it should be lights and a helmet.  After all, aren’t they the most important safety features on your bike?  My shopping starts tomorrow.

Because I have to be in Oak Bay for a dentists appointment at 4 tomorrow afternoon, I think a stop in at Oak Bay Bikes would be prudent.

Dave: 38

Global Warming: 0