Wednesday, July 10, 2019
Sunday, June 09, 2019
Coming soon: Germany and into Austria ride.
We're almost ready to leave for another bike ride. with Peak Tours. Two weeks across Germany and into Austria where we'll finish in Austria and hang out in Vienna for a while. This is the cover for our binder of info we'll take on the trip.
Saturday, May 25, 2019
Summer is here. Time for new cleats.
I waited until my semester ended to put new SPD-SL cleats on my Sidi shoes. I don’t know why I made that a thing. But I did. Looks like I almost waited too long.
These lasted about a year. I guess they are just another consumable, but I'm always surprised how quickly I trash them. With each new install I promise myself I'll be careful, use cleat covers more often, and try to not walk in them. Then I break my promises.
Cleat covers are a pain. They almost, but don't quite fit in a jersey pocket. And when I use them I inevitably try to ride again without taking them off. (It doesn't work.)
My prediction: I'll repeat the same process with these.
These lasted about a year. I guess they are just another consumable, but I'm always surprised how quickly I trash them. With each new install I promise myself I'll be careful, use cleat covers more often, and try to not walk in them. Then I break my promises.
Cleat covers are a pain. They almost, but don't quite fit in a jersey pocket. And when I use them I inevitably try to ride again without taking them off. (It doesn't work.)
My prediction: I'll repeat the same process with these.
Sunday, May 12, 2019
Bike maintenance day: Tires, chains, pads, cleaning
- Used the ultrasonic cleaner on our cassettes (very clean now!)
- Installed new tire on both bikes
- Install new chains
- Installed new brake pads
- Cleaned
- Adjusted as needed
That doesn't seem like much, but it was.
Tricia has been using Gatorskin 25s, but I put Continental Grand Prix 4-Season Special Edition 25s on her ride. They are supposed to be more supple and better in wet conditions at only a slight decrease in puncture resistance. We'll see what she thinks.
When did chains get so expensive? I think $25 is an OK price, but $40 or even $80? That seems crazy. I'm sticking with Ultegra for now, but may drop a level or two, especially for the commuter bikes, which also need chains. It's so had to know what matters in terms of quality and lifespan.
UPDATE: Went for a ride to try it out and broke a rear spoke. No, I don't see how it could be related. It's just another annoyance. At least I have a spare set of perfectly fine wheels.
Wednesday, May 08, 2019
Primavera Century, metric version 2019
The weather didn't register in my weather app. It looked to be a cool but OK day. Instead, when we arrived it was misting heavily. But we'd paid, so we started.
We had an event that evening, so we planned on the 85 miles route. But with all the wet, and having finished the beautiful Calavaras Road section we said "Screw it" and jumped on the metric course. I'm glad we did,
The course runs uphill, parallel to I 580 Dublin Canyon Road and the way to Palmaras Road. It's always an annoying joyless uphill grunt that seems to take forever. This day it had a massive headwind, so much that we had to pedal even when we hit the downhill section.
Still, fun was had, bikes were ridden, and the food at the end was really nice. And we did get 4000 feet of climbing in those 60 miles.
We had an event that evening, so we planned on the 85 miles route. But with all the wet, and having finished the beautiful Calavaras Road section we said "Screw it" and jumped on the metric course. I'm glad we did,
The course runs uphill, parallel to I 580 Dublin Canyon Road and the way to Palmaras Road. It's always an annoying joyless uphill grunt that seems to take forever. This day it had a massive headwind, so much that we had to pedal even when we hit the downhill section.
Still, fun was had, bikes were ridden, and the food at the end was really nice. And we did get 4000 feet of climbing in those 60 miles.
Sunday, May 05, 2019
Sunday, April 07, 2019
Party Pardee
We rode Party Pardee again. It didn't rain, and we didn't crash. A good time was had by all. It was nice to see Tricia back on her bike, and she did look wonderful in Lorri Lee Lown's Savvybike California Poppy jersey. Nothing exciting to report other than that.
Sunday, February 17, 2019
Almond Blossom Century and a crash
How do you talk or write about a crash? Everyone wants to know "Is she OK?" But what does that mean? There's such a wide range that includes "OK." So, is Tricia OK? Well, she's alive. And she should recover from her injuries. No bones were broken. So, considering the alternative, yeah, "OK" covers it. And if you aren't involved, if you don't know her, it may be a good enough answer. Do I insert that old "Injuries that happen to other people are minor. Injuries that happen to me aren't." line here?
If you're friend or family, OK is harder. She's hurt. Parts of left hand are unbelievably swollen. There are colors involved that I hope to never see again. The ER doc wrapped it up in a lot of padding and such to protect it from bumps, which kind of works. Her ribs, though not broken, sure behave like they are. Laying on her side is impossible and trying to get out of bed is excruciating. She does it, but I almost cry watching her do it.
So, is she "OK?" Kinda sorta? It could have been worse. A lot worse. That's a good thing. But she still hurts and will be limited in what she does for... Well, we don't know. And pain, well, it's painful.
Here's the story
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| We arrived happy and ready |
While we didn't have a wet start, it was pretty darn windy. Plus, we had morning winds from the South as we rode South that changed to winds from the North when we turned to ride North. Then the skies opened on us. But we were doing OK.
At mile 45, just as we crossed a bridge over the San Joaquin bad things happened.
We’ve replayed her crash over and over in our minds. Plus, my photojournalist background had me photograph her as she was doing her injury inventory right after we moved her off the road.
Here’s what we think occurred — see the diagram at the end.
Just after the bridge there is a lot of room to the right of the fog line. It looks like a bike lane or break down lane. But then the rumble strip appears and quickly the road to the right of the rubble strip disappears so there you are off the road, which isn’t awful except the road lip is right there. We think Tricia get her wheel against that lip and that’s what caused her crash.
A kind fellow cyclist (Thanks Roger) who wasn't on the ride stopped his car and ended up giving Tricia a ride back to the start. I waited for SAG and brought the bikes back.
We went to the Kaiser Modesto ER where she was treated. X-rays showed no broken bones in her hand, elbow or ribs.
She has severe bruising along with minor cuts on her left hand. They splinted it. It’s the worst of her injuries, and will take some time to heal.
If you're reading this I bet you're a cyclist and what you want to know is: How's the bike? It seems OK. The bar ends and tape may need some attention, but I think she protected it with her body. I haven't given it a full going over yet.
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| Tricia performs a body parts check while Curtis, who photographs everything, makes photos. |
Wednesday, February 06, 2019
Ice in the California Bay Area? Yep.
I'm in the far reaches of the California Bay Area where really cold is 40 degrees. Sure, it sometimes gets close to freezing, or even freezing, but it's usually really dry.
I've been riding the same commute for many, many years. For the first time a short wooden bridge I ride over all the time had ice. Invisible ice, which is still as slippery as regular old visible ice. It was cold and wet, but the roads just had puddles.
I turned onto the bridge, and still in the process of turning had my front wheel slide out from under me. Not slowly, just boom.
I got away with a bunch of pain and bruises. And my ever so nice Showers Pass jacket can no longer be worn to formal events.
But there's no climate change, right?
I've been riding the same commute for many, many years. For the first time a short wooden bridge I ride over all the time had ice. Invisible ice, which is still as slippery as regular old visible ice. It was cold and wet, but the roads just had puddles.
I turned onto the bridge, and still in the process of turning had my front wheel slide out from under me. Not slowly, just boom.
I got away with a bunch of pain and bruises. And my ever so nice Showers Pass jacket can no longer be worn to formal events.
But there's no climate change, right?
Friday, December 28, 2018
English Channel to the Mediterranean, Peak Tours, 2018
I don't have stories, and I should. But I do have a bunch of cycling photos from our 2018 Peak Tours two-week ride across France, from the English Channel to the Mediterranean. Here they are. Click the image.
Monday, December 17, 2018
Antioch auto drivers. Yech
What's up with all teh crazy driving in Antioch? Sunday we had some jerk spin doughnuts in an intersection right in front of us. With a small child in the back seat. One tiny slip and that car would have taken me out.
Then there's Tricia's bike commute on what should be sleepy suburban streets. But no. Check this video.
Then there's Tricia's bike commute on what should be sleepy suburban streets. But no. Check this video.
Sunday, December 02, 2018
Kids. Bikes. Old guys.
It felt like I'd been waiting forever. At last I got to go on a bike ride with young Michael. He's 3, and awesome. I just wish he was around more so we could do this more often What a delight!
Grandchildren. Who knew?
Wednesday, November 28, 2018
Tricia speaks at the Antioch City Council meeting
Tricia is concerned about the new configuration of a major street in Antioch, and about the way the city handles bicycle infrastructure. She spoke at the City Council meeting on November 26.
Wednesday, November 14, 2018
Saturday, November 10, 2018
Giro d' Vino 2018
This years version of the Lodi Giro d' Vino had the best weather of any version we've ridden. It's always a great ride, even in the rain, but no wind and perfect temps was a delight beyond delight.
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