For the Love of Bikes

Life is better on a bike!

Month: January 2011 (Page 1 of 2)

To Train or Not To Train

January 28, 2011 /
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It seems to be easier to exercise/train every day than to take a day off.  At least that’s what I’m finding.

One day off, leads to two days, then three days… then pretty soon you’ve stopped altogether.  Even if it’s just 15-20 minutes, a little is better than nothing and the exercise habit is intact.

Besides, what starts out as a plan to work-out for 15 minutes may lead to a full hour of exercise.  Getting started is the hardest part of training. 

Bicycling is the same way.  The getting ready to go can be an ordeal, especially in the winter when you have to dress like an Eskimo to keep the cold out.  The wind chill effect is very obvious on the bike – and to be avoided.

There is however, the risk of overdressing, where you’re comfortable when you first go out, but 20 minutes into the ride you’re too warm.  Just as bad if not worse than being cold.

That’s why I use the spinner for cycling in the winter.  None of those issues and I can ride for about as long with the same mileage of one of my average rides in the summer – 30 to 40.

The fact is that 2 hours on the spinner is equal to 2.5 – 3 hours on a real ride.  There is no break while spinning, no coasting, just constant pedaling.  For variety you have to mix up the ride – going hard and then easy, pushing a harder gear and then working on spinning, using a video such as Real Rides or just riding to a variety of music and riding “tempo”.

It all serves you well when spring rolls around and biking outdoors begins in earnest.

At least that’s what I keep telling myself.

Sarcastic smile

Tour Down Under Over

January 24, 2011 /
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Congratulations to Garmin – Cervelo’s Cameron Meyer on his win at the 2011 Tour Down Under.  It was nice to see a Garmin rider win, especially since 2010 was such a difficult year for them.  With the merging of Garmin – Transitions with the Cervelo team, the new team should be very strong and competitive in 2011.

Cameron Meyer

Meyer took the ochre jersey as it were, the leader’s jersey, when he won the 4th Stage.  He held on to win the Tour Down Under by 2 seconds over Matt Goss with HTC-Highroad.

Meyer is Australian and appears to be quite the good find for Garmin – Cervelo.   He was last year’s Australian cyclist of the year after winning three world titles on the track and has been the national time-trial champion the past two years.

In other news, Matt White, Director Sportif for Garmin – Transitions and this year, Garmin – Cervelo, was fired after the team took the TDU championship.  The reason given for White being fired was that he broke team rules when he referred Garmin rider Trent Lowe to Dr. Luis Garcia del Moral in Spain.  Interestingly, he was the U.S. Postal team physician from 1999 – 2003.  White sent Lowe to Moral without the approval or knowledge of the Garmin medical staff.  Garmin has the strictest anti-doping rules of probably any professional cycling team and the physician referral rule is part of that. 

There may be more to the story, but for now that’s the story that’s being reported.  Kudos to Garmin – Cervelo for adhering to team rules and making what had to be a difficult decision in an apparent effort to ensure their riders race clean.

Oklahoma Legislative Bike Advocacy

January 23, 2011 /
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As promised, Oklahoma State Senator Andrew Rice (D), has introduced three bills in an attempt to make bicycling safer in Oklahoma.  The bills are a result of local advocacy efforts along with the outcry from the cycling community last year after three cyclists were killed on Oklahoma roadways.

Senate Bill 443 – Would require the Department of Public Safety to include bicycle safety on the driver examination in Oklahoma.

Senate Bill 487 – Creating the Oklahoma Bicycle Safety Awareness Act, would establish the Oklahoma Bicycle Safety Awareness Revolving Fund, to be used by the Department of Public Safety “to provide awareness to the road traveling public of the presence of bicyclists by any media promotions, publications or signage.”  The funds would come from voluntary donations made at the time a driver license or state I.D. card is obtained or renewed.

Senate Bill 951 – Would amend existing state statute which requires that motorists maintain a minimum 3 foot distance when passing bicyclists by adding the language; “of the right side of the motor vehicle, including all mirrors or other projections, and the left side of the bicyclist” and stipulates the same for traveling on a one-way street.   The bill would establish a fine of not less than $500 when the minimum of 3 foot distance when passing bicyclist is not maintained, and was observed by a police officer.

Additionally, the penalty for hitting and injuring a bicyclist would be raised from $500 to $1000, and if a bicyclist is killed the fine would be raised to an amount of not less than $5000 (the law presently states not more than $1,000), in addition to any other penalties prescribed by law.

Further, Section 11-1111, which relates to throwing or dropping objects, would be amended to add bicycle to the application of law.

Another bill, HB 2049, was introduced by Oklahoma State Representative, Lewis Moore, designating Route 66, between the Sapulpa city limits and the Edmond city limits, as a “Historic Bike Trail”.   The bill stipulates “suitable permanent markers to be placed upon the highway bearing that name. Contingent upon the availability of funds, the Department shall provide a shoulder lane designated for use by bicycle traffic on the Historic Bike Trail.”

I encourage you to contact your local representatives in the Oklahoma House and Senate and ask for their support of this legislation.

Tour Down Under

January 15, 2011 /
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The Tour Down Under kicks off the 2011 UCI Pro Tour season.  Hoorah!

The Tour Down Under is also the last bike race outside the U.S. for legend, Lance Armstrong.  Because of that the race is getting more coverage than in previous years – although that was also true when Armstrong rode in the TDU in 2009 when he started his comeback.  At any rate, we the viewers and fans of professional cycling, are the beneficiaries of this increased interest.  Thank you Lance.

Although I don’t need any special reason to watch and enjoy professional bike racing, I have to tell you an even better reason to watch the TDU besides Armstrong’s swan song, will be the duel between sprinters, Mark Cavendish, HTC-High Road and former teammate, Andre Greipel, now riding with Omega Pharma-Lotto.  Greipel has won two Tours Down Under, in 2010 and 2008.  Both men are elite sprinters, past (competitive) teammates and for the first time, we will get to see them race against each other.

It has been reported in the past that there was no love lost between Greipel and Cavendish, but to add fuel to the fire, former Cavendish lead out man, Adam Hanson, is now riding for Greipel’s team.  The competition will be tense and the viewers will get to enjoy what no doubt will be fierce sprints between the two and their teams.

My personal hope is that Robbie McEwen, now with Team Radio Shack, will be able to take advantage of the personal rivalry between Cavendish and Greipel and win at least one stage.

Another bonus, it just gets better and better doesn’t it – is we get to see the new teams, and see which riders are on which teams (it changes year to year just like all other sports)  plus the new kits (uniforms) and bikes.

The fun starts tomorrow with the Cancer Council Classic, a 51 km criterium race.  Stage One of the Tour Down Under happens Tuesday, with the final day of racing next Sunday, January 23rd.

  *If you are new to following professional bike racing, you might find my Tour de France Primer helpful.  Different tour – but basically the same strategy.

Where to Go?

January 10, 2011 /
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One of the things I use the so called off-season for is to plan bike tours for the upcoming year.

It’s a rough job, but someone’s got to do it.

This time last year is when we booked the Vermont to Quebec City tour that we did in August/September.  Good tours get sold out fairly early (learned this lesson in 2009) so decisions have to be made and $$ committed long before you do the actual tour.

Advance planning required, I just hate that.

Anyway, for 2011 we had decided to ride the Natchez Trace.  I found out about the Natchez Trace parkway last fall.  Interestingly, this Southern girl had never heard of it.  It supposedly offers beautiful scenery, good roads, no commercial traffic, plenty of places to check out along the route and lots of history too.  Sounds like bicycle heaven, at least as far as the U.S. goes.

The Trace is 444 miles long, starting (or ending if you prefer) in Natchez, Mississippi going straight north to just south of Nashville, Tennessee (see map).  It also goes through a corner of Alabama, so it would be a three state ride (but not a three hour tour… ;)).

A lot of cyclists ride the Trace as is evidenced by the number of trip reports on the Crazy Guy’s website.  I read a number of them last night and subsequently learned about a few issues with riding the Trace.  The main one being that there are no services, (food, stores, etc.) on the actual road, you must exit the Trace and travel in some cases 10 miles+ to get to a town. 

Even then, in some areas it doesn’t seem there are many resources even in the towns – most importantly restaurants/stores.  It isn’t a deal-breaker but it is something that has to be worked out and planned for.

Complicating things further is if we ride the Natchez Trace we will apparently have to do it self-supported.  We haven’t found any supported tours for the Trace except for a women’s only tour.  I find that surprising, but that’s how it seems to be, at least so far. 

I’ll fess up, we like the comforts of a supported tour, but we also like the safety net it provides.  The social part is nice too.

Further searches will ensue. 

Another logistical issue is getting back to the start site.  We are considering doing an 0ut and back ride, splitting the Trace up into a couple of tours perhaps. 

Nothing is decided yet, we are going to consider other areas too.  On the off chance that someone actually reads this post, if you have knowledge of the Trace or a recommendation for a good tour or place to ride I’d love to hear it.

Be right back

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