One of the places they're available is Universal Cycles.
Tuesday, June 7, 2016
bike maintenance class June 7
We spoke about bike chains tonight. The link I like to use, that can be re-used, is the Wipperman link.
One of the places they're available is Universal Cycles.
One of the places they're available is Universal Cycles.
Saturday, June 4, 2016
round valley 70+
So it was GONNA be a weekend away for a few of us to do a couple rides in Delaware (including a border-to-shore-and-back, which sounded cool), but the weather wasn't cooperating. As a consolation, Tom H offered a 57-or-so to Round Valley from Griggstown. Well, Tom's Griggstown start is about seven miles from my garage door, so I decided to ride to the start; it would make it about 70 miles for me, which is just about right.
On the road to the Griggstown Causeway were these energetic, earnest young folks offering a water stop for walkers or runners on the canal.
It was some supported event; I didn't get what it was about - their energy was greater than their accuracy or my attention (and weren't they generous!). A minute later I saw these folks heading for the canal, the guys on bikes, and the women on foot:
Laura popped up.
... and we rolled over to the lot from which Tom starts. Robert N was there (pics below).
Tom brought out his new device, the sanctum status pedis, the Holy Kickstand.
and after ritually holding up his bike with it, in sympathetic magic to keep our bikes upright on the ride, poured some filtered water on it, and sprinkled us in imitation of the asperges ritual of the Catholics.
Regular members of the Insane Bike Posse will be expected to learn the incipit of the chant for the ritual:
(Don't worry if you can't read chant; those of us in the know will teach it to you at our earliest opportunity.)
And off we went .
See? There's Robert.
(This camera distorts. They're not really that off-balance.)
We saw a number of riders on the road, at whom I dinged my bell, although after the stop in Whitehouse, the ding was muffled. I had hung my first headband over the handlebar to dry out, and was using my second; it was that humid. The laundry on the handlebar muffled the cheery bell.
Before I knew it, we were at the Round Valley Reservoir.
(Distortion, and the camera sucks for distance anyway.)
I turned to see this poor guy puffin' up the hill.
Laura and I rolled over to the parking lot, where Tom and Robert were talking to him and his wife. The had decided to celebrate 27 years of marriage with a 27-mile ride... and she had just cooked him coming up the hill to the reservoir.
She had done it, by the way, on a nothing-in-particular steel bike. If she keeps pedaling, she's gonna be a monster.
From Round Valley, there's some more climb which is just annoying, and then a highly-satisfying downhill where I crossed 40mph for maybe the third time in my life (and that's plenty fast for me, thanks). Then to the Wawa:
...with the void-of-redeeming-social-value apple fritter (hey, I was doin' about 70 miles; I knew I'd burn it off). I also got this pic of Laura's Miss Piggy (in the current incarnation) and her helmet and shades:
And back. Laura stopped for pictures; we stopped at this bridge.
We climbed Lindbergh on the way back; Laura was torn about heading back from there or finishing with us, but she'd wind up with about 88 miles for the day, and it was to much work to spin that out into a century, so she left us at Ridge Road.
Tom, Robert, and I headed back to Griggstown.
Robert has numerous offspring and the appurtenant parental responsibilities; we wish we'd see him more frequently, but we understand why we don't. He was kind today while I was spoutin' off about my various forms of crazy and my work complaints (as, of course, were Tom and Laura when I was spoutin' off to them). But part of the wonderfulness of this ride was that, for most of it, I could just enjoy the ride and the company.
And 70 miles or so is just about right, when I have the time and I'm in shape.
So what's right with all of youse-all today?
On the road to the Griggstown Causeway were these energetic, earnest young folks offering a water stop for walkers or runners on the canal.
It was some supported event; I didn't get what it was about - their energy was greater than their accuracy or my attention (and weren't they generous!). A minute later I saw these folks heading for the canal, the guys on bikes, and the women on foot:
Laura popped up.
... and we rolled over to the lot from which Tom starts. Robert N was there (pics below).
Tom brought out his new device, the sanctum status pedis, the Holy Kickstand.
and after ritually holding up his bike with it, in sympathetic magic to keep our bikes upright on the ride, poured some filtered water on it, and sprinkled us in imitation of the asperges ritual of the Catholics.
Regular members of the Insane Bike Posse will be expected to learn the incipit of the chant for the ritual:
(Don't worry if you can't read chant; those of us in the know will teach it to you at our earliest opportunity.)
And off we went .
See? There's Robert.
(This camera distorts. They're not really that off-balance.)
We saw a number of riders on the road, at whom I dinged my bell, although after the stop in Whitehouse, the ding was muffled. I had hung my first headband over the handlebar to dry out, and was using my second; it was that humid. The laundry on the handlebar muffled the cheery bell.
Before I knew it, we were at the Round Valley Reservoir.
(Distortion, and the camera sucks for distance anyway.)
I turned to see this poor guy puffin' up the hill.
Laura and I rolled over to the parking lot, where Tom and Robert were talking to him and his wife. The had decided to celebrate 27 years of marriage with a 27-mile ride... and she had just cooked him coming up the hill to the reservoir.
She had done it, by the way, on a nothing-in-particular steel bike. If she keeps pedaling, she's gonna be a monster.
From Round Valley, there's some more climb which is just annoying, and then a highly-satisfying downhill where I crossed 40mph for maybe the third time in my life (and that's plenty fast for me, thanks). Then to the Wawa:
...with the void-of-redeeming-social-value apple fritter (hey, I was doin' about 70 miles; I knew I'd burn it off). I also got this pic of Laura's Miss Piggy (in the current incarnation) and her helmet and shades:
And back. Laura stopped for pictures; we stopped at this bridge.
We climbed Lindbergh on the way back; Laura was torn about heading back from there or finishing with us, but she'd wind up with about 88 miles for the day, and it was to much work to spin that out into a century, so she left us at Ridge Road.
Tom, Robert, and I headed back to Griggstown.
Robert has numerous offspring and the appurtenant parental responsibilities; we wish we'd see him more frequently, but we understand why we don't. He was kind today while I was spoutin' off about my various forms of crazy and my work complaints (as, of course, were Tom and Laura when I was spoutin' off to them). But part of the wonderfulness of this ride was that, for most of it, I could just enjoy the ride and the company.
And 70 miles or so is just about right, when I have the time and I'm in shape.
So what's right with all of youse-all today?
Wednesday, June 1, 2016
old guys helpin' me put my brains back in
I've been working too hard, and taking it too personally, and generally not doing well with work stuff. After the weekend on call (including 86 hours straight with a cell phone, during which I couldn't be more than thirty minutes away from my computer), I took today off. The initial plan, suggested by The Excellent Wife (TEW), was to go do the Wednesday ride with The Old Guys. I had a soul-crushing depression (even though I taught my bike class last night, which is usually good for my mood), and almost didn't go, but TEW pointed out that I always feel better when I'm around these guys, and she's right.
When I used to ride with them regularly on Wednesdays, I'd add miles with Erich W by parking at Etra Park in Hightstown and riding to the start in Allentown from there. I did that today, so my route shows almost 60 miles, even though the guys rode about 40. I thought about Erich on the way down. I miss him.
Dennis W led, whom I've not seen on a ride in a long time after some health problems. It was good to see him, and the rest of the guys I knew... and, of course, since it's a group that continues to go out, there were guys I hadn't met, some of whom I met today.
Above, I like that one of Don. Below, Al's got a recumbent now.
Above: I got Howie to stop complaining and smile long enough to get this picture.
Off we went, on the usual roads (don't worry; I can get lost anyway). After a while, I felt the gloom start to lift. Mike offered to sweep, a task I usually take, saying that I needed a day to cut loose, and he was right. Thanks, Mike.
We stopped at the Pemberton Wawa, where this young guy let me bend his ear about bikes for a few.
He was kinder than I deserve.
We got to talking about the bike class I teach at the New Brunswick Bike Exchange (one guy asked when I was going to offer it again, which was gratifying!). The class is listed as the Second Annual, which it turned out to be, but that wasn't my intention. I could offer it again, especially if there's some interest in people volunteering at the exchange afterwards.
We also talked about my glasses with the prescription inserts. Serfas isn't making them anymore, citing too much cheap competition, but I found a few on Amazon: High-Balance Peloton, High-Balance Tour, High Balance Tri (prices have gone up since I looked at 'em a few months ago!). The key, though, was the getting the Rx inserts filled. Local opticians didn't want to do such a small job, but LensesRx will do 'em by mail. I got the progressive lenses, and the Rx part probably cost about $65 with shipping.
Above, more of Al's recumbent. Below, the Yellow Maserati.
This group has a range of abilities and gets spread out on the way back. We got passed by a faster group, and I just had to chase one of the guys in that group. We chatted a bit, and I almost missed a turn. I DID miss Dennis, whom I thought had gotten ahead of me... but he wasn't at the park at the end, and it took a long time for him and the rest of his cohort to show. It turned out they had taken a break. Sensible.
I'm back, of course, and TEW was right; I'm less engulfed by depression and anxiety (it's not all better, but it's undoubtedly better). I've got to set some limits at work: I can't maintain the pace I've been keeping, and just because I'm able to do something, that doesn't mean it's solely my responsibility.
Oh, well, Back to it tomorrow. I'm grateful for this day. That's all we really have, isn't it?
When I used to ride with them regularly on Wednesdays, I'd add miles with Erich W by parking at Etra Park in Hightstown and riding to the start in Allentown from there. I did that today, so my route shows almost 60 miles, even though the guys rode about 40. I thought about Erich on the way down. I miss him.
Dennis W led, whom I've not seen on a ride in a long time after some health problems. It was good to see him, and the rest of the guys I knew... and, of course, since it's a group that continues to go out, there were guys I hadn't met, some of whom I met today.
Above, I like that one of Don. Below, Al's got a recumbent now.
Above: I got Howie to stop complaining and smile long enough to get this picture.
Off we went, on the usual roads (don't worry; I can get lost anyway). After a while, I felt the gloom start to lift. Mike offered to sweep, a task I usually take, saying that I needed a day to cut loose, and he was right. Thanks, Mike.
We stopped at the Pemberton Wawa, where this young guy let me bend his ear about bikes for a few.
He was kinder than I deserve.
We got to talking about the bike class I teach at the New Brunswick Bike Exchange (one guy asked when I was going to offer it again, which was gratifying!). The class is listed as the Second Annual, which it turned out to be, but that wasn't my intention. I could offer it again, especially if there's some interest in people volunteering at the exchange afterwards.
We also talked about my glasses with the prescription inserts. Serfas isn't making them anymore, citing too much cheap competition, but I found a few on Amazon: High-Balance Peloton, High-Balance Tour, High Balance Tri (prices have gone up since I looked at 'em a few months ago!). The key, though, was the getting the Rx inserts filled. Local opticians didn't want to do such a small job, but LensesRx will do 'em by mail. I got the progressive lenses, and the Rx part probably cost about $65 with shipping.
Above, more of Al's recumbent. Below, the Yellow Maserati.
This group has a range of abilities and gets spread out on the way back. We got passed by a faster group, and I just had to chase one of the guys in that group. We chatted a bit, and I almost missed a turn. I DID miss Dennis, whom I thought had gotten ahead of me... but he wasn't at the park at the end, and it took a long time for him and the rest of his cohort to show. It turned out they had taken a break. Sensible.
I'm back, of course, and TEW was right; I'm less engulfed by depression and anxiety (it's not all better, but it's undoubtedly better). I've got to set some limits at work: I can't maintain the pace I've been keeping, and just because I'm able to do something, that doesn't mean it's solely my responsibility.
Oh, well, Back to it tomorrow. I'm grateful for this day. That's all we really have, isn't it?
Saturday, May 28, 2016
illicit, stolen ride
I had hoped to go on Tom H's ride today, but it didn't work out.
We've finally actually started doing what I was hired to do all those months ago, and I got the first weekend on-call. I thought on-call meant I just had to carry a company cell phone... but the metric for response time is measured by entries in the computer system, and there's dodginess about security and adequacy of response on cell phones (HIPAA and HI-TECH, for those with healthcare knowledge).
So the decision was that I couldn't be more than 30 minutes away from a computer with a secure browser and internet access. So my on-call has turned into a modified house arrest; in any case, I can't do my beloved 45-to-70 mile rides on days I'm on-call. (Those of you who know me well: can you IMAGINE how grumpy I was when I heard that? An administrator who was in the room when I got the news remarked on my possible instability. I'm glad I'm a union worker on permanent status.)
Not to be outdone, though, I decided I could do one of my usual from-home routes. Since the ride is usually just over an hour, there are only a few points on the ride where I'm over 30 minutes from home.
I decided to risk it.
I brought it in just about 1:06 door-to-door (well, they're both our door, aren't they?). I went pretty quick, for a 61-year-old, and I saw the Kim's ride coming down as I was going up through Millstone (I heard a couple of the guys call, "Mr Jim!" I gotta drop in there and let 'em know I wasn't just blowin' 'em off).
So there. Even in the face of adversity and employment, I was able to get a ride in this lovely morning. Since then, I've improved upon the time by attending to chores that I've been avoiding either because the weather interfered, or because I was riding (hey, if the weather doesn't interfere with the chore, then it probably doesn't interfere with the bike, either).
Here's hoping you've been doing something fun, too. Anyone?
Edit May 29: Got in another one this morning.
We've finally actually started doing what I was hired to do all those months ago, and I got the first weekend on-call. I thought on-call meant I just had to carry a company cell phone... but the metric for response time is measured by entries in the computer system, and there's dodginess about security and adequacy of response on cell phones (HIPAA and HI-TECH, for those with healthcare knowledge).
So the decision was that I couldn't be more than 30 minutes away from a computer with a secure browser and internet access. So my on-call has turned into a modified house arrest; in any case, I can't do my beloved 45-to-70 mile rides on days I'm on-call. (Those of you who know me well: can you IMAGINE how grumpy I was when I heard that? An administrator who was in the room when I got the news remarked on my possible instability. I'm glad I'm a union worker on permanent status.)
Not to be outdone, though, I decided I could do one of my usual from-home routes. Since the ride is usually just over an hour, there are only a few points on the ride where I'm over 30 minutes from home.
I decided to risk it.
I brought it in just about 1:06 door-to-door (well, they're both our door, aren't they?). I went pretty quick, for a 61-year-old, and I saw the Kim's ride coming down as I was going up through Millstone (I heard a couple of the guys call, "Mr Jim!" I gotta drop in there and let 'em know I wasn't just blowin' 'em off).
So there. Even in the face of adversity and employment, I was able to get a ride in this lovely morning. Since then, I've improved upon the time by attending to chores that I've been avoiding either because the weather interfered, or because I was riding (hey, if the weather doesn't interfere with the chore, then it probably doesn't interfere with the bike, either).
Here's hoping you've been doing something fun, too. Anyone?
Edit May 29: Got in another one this morning.
Wednesday, May 25, 2016
bike maintenance class 5/24
We spent most of this class on brakes, and I forgot to tell youse about the brake adjustment screws on vee-brakes, so I'm putting it here as a reminder to myself.
I also want to remember to re-do the stuff on truing wheels. Few of you were there when we did that.
For next week: shifting and shifters.
Homework: go look up Bike Snob NYC. (I hope he's not too profane this week...)
Oh, yeah. One of you said you get most of your stuff online. You can get cheap handlebar wrap at Nashbar... but I like to spend a bit more and get the Specialized-brand S-wrap tape; Kim's has it.
I also want to remember to re-do the stuff on truing wheels. Few of you were there when we did that.
For next week: shifting and shifters.
Homework: go look up Bike Snob NYC. (I hope he's not too profane this week...)
Oh, yeah. One of you said you get most of your stuff online. You can get cheap handlebar wrap at Nashbar... but I like to spend a bit more and get the Specialized-brand S-wrap tape; Kim's has it.
Sunday, May 22, 2016
easy flat 30
Laura OLPH had hoped to do a ride yesterday for her birthday, but weather threatened, so she cancelled... and then the threatened weather didn't appear, so Laura was all mopey about having cancelled. She had thought to do some hills today, but had partaken too well in the junk food, yesterday, so she opted for John K's offering instead.
John K has become the drill instructor, or something like that, for the JDRF charity rides in this area, and he was taking out a couple of comparative newbies on a flat 30 today. Laura opted for that, and, in support of her birthday, I joined that ride. Laura added over 20 miles to and from her home... but I was lazy and disorganized this morning, and just showed up at the Reed Recreation Area above Allentown, which, apparently, you can only find if you already know how to get there, because I can't find it on any maps and the location baffles the GPS.
In addition to John and Laura, we had Cheryl:
and Maggie.
So we were five.
Because it was a JDRF ride instead of a Freewheeler ride, John had a different form to sign, but the rest was similar: helmets, ride safely, don't be a jerk.
We did this route, at an easy pace. We stopped for wardrobe adjustments (mostly to shed layers no longer needed)...
and at a park that had a porta-potty.
(I like that picture of Cheryl, above.)
(I like that one of John, too.)
I made an adjustment to one of the newbies' pedals, and did a quick lesson in gear selection with the other, and started my rant about mirrors (oh, crap, there's more than one), but managed to stifle myself before anybody actually yawned with boredom. (I'll stop talking about bikes when you look bored... but that doesn't mean I'm done, by any means).
The folks had to get back to their real lives, so I came home, after picking up some flowers for The Excellent Wife (TEW). Then she and I went out to the Princeton U Art Museum, where I was not blown away by the show on Jewish contributions to colonial and 19th-century culture, but both TEW and I loved the show about the Newcomb Pottery Enterprise. And the price is right; if youpaly your cards right and don't mind waliing, you can even park for free.
Here's hoping you had a good Sunday. Been doin' anything cool?
Edit: John reminds me that the JDRF rides are fundraisers. So I'm including links to John's fundraising page, and Cheryl's, and Maggie's. If you've got the cost of a week's worth of Starbuck's in your pocket, you might throw some cash at 'em. I'm gonna do it as soon as I finish this edit.
John K has become the drill instructor, or something like that, for the JDRF charity rides in this area, and he was taking out a couple of comparative newbies on a flat 30 today. Laura opted for that, and, in support of her birthday, I joined that ride. Laura added over 20 miles to and from her home... but I was lazy and disorganized this morning, and just showed up at the Reed Recreation Area above Allentown, which, apparently, you can only find if you already know how to get there, because I can't find it on any maps and the location baffles the GPS.
In addition to John and Laura, we had Cheryl:
and Maggie.
So we were five.
Because it was a JDRF ride instead of a Freewheeler ride, John had a different form to sign, but the rest was similar: helmets, ride safely, don't be a jerk.
We did this route, at an easy pace. We stopped for wardrobe adjustments (mostly to shed layers no longer needed)...
and at a park that had a porta-potty.
(I like that picture of Cheryl, above.)
(I like that one of John, too.)
I made an adjustment to one of the newbies' pedals, and did a quick lesson in gear selection with the other, and started my rant about mirrors (oh, crap, there's more than one), but managed to stifle myself before anybody actually yawned with boredom. (I'll stop talking about bikes when you look bored... but that doesn't mean I'm done, by any means).
The folks had to get back to their real lives, so I came home, after picking up some flowers for The Excellent Wife (TEW). Then she and I went out to the Princeton U Art Museum, where I was not blown away by the show on Jewish contributions to colonial and 19th-century culture, but both TEW and I loved the show about the Newcomb Pottery Enterprise. And the price is right; if youpaly your cards right and don't mind waliing, you can even park for free.
Here's hoping you had a good Sunday. Been doin' anything cool?
Edit: John reminds me that the JDRF rides are fundraisers. So I'm including links to John's fundraising page, and Cheryl's, and Maggie's. If you've got the cost of a week's worth of Starbuck's in your pocket, you might throw some cash at 'em. I'm gonna do it as soon as I finish this edit.
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