A Day of small Firsts for me

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

My ride today was a little bit special for me, as several "firsts" or thresholds were passed. :)

DH and I mapped out a 41 mile rather hilly ride through various towns in our area. (This in "training" for me for the 60 mile trip we hope to do into MA and back soon.)

Today's "firsts" or "mosts":

LONGEST single ride ever: 42 miles.
SLOWEST ride average ever: only 8.6 mph (!!!!) ....DAMNED HILLS!!!!! :mad: :mad:
FASTEST ever speed going downhill: 38.9 mph :eek: :eek:
FIRST flat tire ever. Rear tire, DH watched while I changed the flat ALL BY MYSELF with no assistance or coaching. :D :D I found the tiny brown glass sliver that was the culprit, and even patched the damaged tube when we got home. Sure isn't easy getting the rear wheel back on without turning the bike upside down- next time I will do that. I am proud of myself- I didn't forget any of the steps!
Oh....PLUS, I put the tire bead back on with just my bare hands! :p :p :p DH was pretty impressed by that. Next time I will attempt to take it off with just my hands as well...I just didn't think of trying it this time until halfway through the procedure.

I am rather beat and my thighs are plenty sore- so many hills. :o Tomorrow morning I have a small group ride I am looking forward to- only 20 miles so that should be ok if I get a decent night's sleep. The amazing thing is that my sitbones are not that sore, despite my brand new Brooks saddle not being broken in yet. I'm lucky there, as this was not the case with my first Brooks saddle 10 months ago.

[teigyr]

That downhill speed...incredible! Was it scary?

And flats, it's always the rear. Bikes are so rude that way! Impressive though, getting those tires on can be daunting!!

The hills must have been ugly. Do you have any idea what grade they were?

Excellent ride though! I don't know if I would have had the patience what with the hills and the flat and the fact I only go about 10mph downhill :o

[SouthernBelle]

Good job, Lisa. When I'm struggling up a big ole hill, I always try to tell myself how it will pay off in the future. Of course, I'm still waiting. :rolleyes:

Really, it will maked a stronger rider of you for every purpose.

Does play havoc with your speed and cadence averages though.

[SouthernBelle]

Hey, your butt is tougher too!

[Jenn]

Wow 38.9 that's fast!

[silver]

Awesome!!!! :) :)

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

That downhill speed...incredible! Was it scary?

Not as scary as last year when I went 36mph for the first time. I think I have a little more bike control now, so it is not quite as scary as when I was less sure of my skills.
Oh, and having a helmet mirror really was essential for me at high speed. At those speeds I really don't want to turn my head and take my eyes off the road, and glancing at my mirror every few seconds tells me there is no one behind us for a LONG ways so I can then safely stay slightly to the left of the righthand white line, on the good pavement -instead of flying along on the risky shoulder of the road, with it's cracks, crumbles, glass, roadkill, etc.- I would not want to do that.



The hills must have been ugly. Do you have any idea what grade they were?

No, but since we started and ended at "Point A" which was home, those screamingly fast hills going DOWN all had to be tortuously crawled back UP again! :eek:

SouthernBelle- Yes I actually DO believe my butt is tougher than it was last year! I remember the same effect with horseback riding long ago.

[Mr. Bloom]

Wow! All those firsts in one ride!!!!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

What the bike computer does is not "simply" average all the various speeds you did on that ride. It averages the time you spend in various speeds. For example, if you spend 15 minutes grinding up a long difficult incline at 6mph, and then turn around and it takes you 3 minutes flying back down the same hill at 30 mph, the computer averages 6mph x 15 and 30mph x 3. In other words, it gives 5 times the weight to the 6mph in the final average. Hence, in really hilly rides, my average goes WAY down despite those fast quick descents. :rolleyes:

Mr Silver- yes, the flat tire was a totally unexpected addition thrown into the mix, but perfect timing really, since my DH was there if I needed him (which I really didn't in the end). I usually ride alone, and have been somewhat nervous about my inevitable first flat.

[mimitabby]

sounds like a great ride, Lisa! and tomorrow you might be a little stiff at first
when you start your ride but in no time at all your muscles will relax
and you will have another great ride.

[teigyr]

really? I didn't know how that worked, I just assumed it was total time divided by total miles.

hmmmm.

ok, my brain hurts again. I do know that I can feel like I'm riding well and my average is up then I slow down for about 10 feet and it drops WAY down. At least that's how it seems :D

[KnottedYet]

Do you love that Brooks B68?

I'm really thinking about one (though I shouldn't yet).

Sounds like you fit it well, such a long ride on a new Brooks! And congratulations on the flat and the speed. With big hills and all!

You got you some "Buns of Steel on Steel!"

[suzieqtwa]

Good job Lisa...............I had my first flat 3 days ago ,and I had to walk home 3 miles (lucky I was close). I had no idea what to do. It was my back tire also. Its something I really need to learn ,and the only way Im going to learn is take my tire off.

[ShubieGA]

Congrats on so many Firsts! I can't imagine flying downhill at 38 mph - I get nervous at 25-27! Good for you! Enjoy your ride tomorrow - it will be a breeze!

[Fredwina]

faster is funner! Trust me;)

[DarcyInOregon]

Oh, and having a helmet mirror really was essential for me at high speed. At those speeds I really don't want to turn my head and take my eyes off the road, and glancing at my mirror every few seconds tells me there is no one behind us for a LONG ways so I can then safely stay slightly to the left of the righthand white line, on the good pavement -instead of flying along on the risky shoulder of the road, with it's cracks, crumbles, glass, roadkill, etc.- I would not want to do that.



Lisa, your "firsts" are not small, but gigantic. Good for you.

Also, when going fast on a descent, I put my bike out into the road where the cars can see me for certain, quite a bit to the left of the white line. Of course, it depends upon the road and the circumstances, but I think you are a rural cyclist like I am and so there isn't too much traffic. My reasoning is that by putting myself out into the traffic lane, vehicles will need to give me a real wide clearance to go around me, or wait until I reach the bottom of the descent, which makes my fast ride down the hill that much safer. I learned this trick from the guys at the LBS, and some older riders I've encountered say to do the same thing.

Regarding the average, Susan (the administrator of this forum) told me in another thread that many bike computers calculate the sit time into the average, even though the trip time is at a halt. I mean for the times we stop to eat, drink, look at the view, get our sit bones off the saddle, and so on, when the bike is just sitting there and not moving, yet the ride isn't over yet - and so, there goes the average. The next time my bike is in the LBS I am going to ask about it because I am a cyclist who stops to drink and munch, since I am not racing or anything, so I figure I should enjoy myself, and I stop at all the rest stops on the event rides. And as my distances increase this summer, I imagine the number of stops will increase, and thus the number of minutes devoted to no movement at all will increase. I will ask the LBS if my bike computer is configured that way.

Darcy

[lauraelmore1033]

At those speeds I really don't want to turn my head and take my eyes off the road, and glancing at my mirror every few seconds tells me there is no one behind us for a LONG ways so I can then safely stay slightly to the left of the righthand white line, on the good pavement -instead of flying along on the risky shoulder of the road, with it's cracks, crumbles, glass, roadkill, etc.- I would not want to do that.


That's a good idea to stay off the shoulder when you're going that fast. My husband has pointed out that when you're tearing down a hill like that, it is likely that you are at or above the speed limit and might as well take the lane. I think my top speed down hill was 34 mph (even with a death grip on my brakes) and it was terrifying because I knew that I couldn't stop if a car passed me and did something squirrely like make a sudden turn in front of me. Since the speed limit was 35, I could have taken the lane and prevented any of the above.

An impressive list of firsts, nonetheless!:D

I think I'm about to have my first tire change as well; I've got a bump about the size of a lentil above the rim of my rear tire. I think I'll be sticking close to home until she blows, though....

[margo49]

Well done, Lisa!

[oxysback]

Impressive list, Lisa. Good job!!



I think I'm about to have my first tire change as well; I've got a bump about the size of a lentil above the rim of my rear tire. I think I'll be sticking close to home until she blows, though....

Lauraelmore, why not fix it now so you don't have to worry about it later?

[RoadRaven]

really? I didn't know how that worked, I just assumed it was total time divided by total miles.

hmmmm.



You got it right teigyr, that's exactly how it works... but the longer you go slowly in places, the slower your average will be.

If you travel for 20mins and cover 10kms your average will be 30kph...

However, if you travel 5km on the flat at 30kph, but then hit a hill and have to slow down for the next 5km, your average will be reduced.


LISA!!! Way to go... alot of good firsts to do, to celebrate and be proud of.
Well done on the tyre change too. :D

[Blueberry]

The amazing thing is that my sitbones are not that sore, despite my brand new Brooks saddle not being broken in yet. I'm lucky there, as this was not the case with my first Brooks saddle 10 months ago.

Congrats on the ride and changing the tire!!

Did I miss a new bike? Why the saddle change?? Inquiring minds are curious;)

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Thanks all you guys for your kind words! :) :) :)

Darcy- you're right- I don't usually go quite THAT fast when there are cars around....but in the country here we often get onto descents with no car anywhere in sight. That's when I just let er rip.
I am a BIG one to "take the lane" whenever I feel it is to my advantage safety wise. Not afraid to do that or to leave plenty of leeway on my right for added safety. I agree with you.
Also- my bike computer can be set either way- to keep recording while I am stopped, or to stop recording data while I am stopped. The latter setting is called "automatic" and that's where I have mine set. Everything automatically stops while I've stopped drinking water, etc, then resumes as soon as I start rolling again. It shows an "AT" on the screen when set to automatic. Don't you have the pamphlet/directions for your computer?- it would detail this there.

I got my first practice changing tires in my living room when I changed to thinner tires on my bike. It wasn't changing a flat on the road, but mostly of the same procedure. Being in th ecomfort of your living room with the bike on a stand and tools on the coffee table (along with a cup of coffee) sure makes it easier to learn the ropes! It might be good to practice just once at home taking off your back wheel and tube and then putting it back on again. I might even suggest one do this so you'll feel more confident when you get an actual flat on the road.

[Crankin]

Lisa,
You do not have to turn the bike upside down. I have seen many people do this and it only damages your bike! I am a mechanical dunce and I haven't had to change a flat on the road in 6 years. But, I have practiced the rear wheel thing recently. Before you take the wheel off, put your chain ring in the biggest ring. Then put the cogs on the one closest to the outside. When you put the wheel back on, you can easily line the chain up on the right cog this way. Then just pull back the derailleur and it falls right in. It's hard to explain in writing, but maybe you could have someone at a shop show you.
This was scarier to me than the actual tire changing part, so I have tried to make sure that i can remember it all....

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Lisa,
You do not have to turn the bike upside down. I have seen many people do this and it only damages your bike! I am a mechanical dunce and I haven't had to change a flat on the road in 6 years. But, I have practiced the rear wheel thing recently. Before you take the wheel off, put your chain ring in the biggest ring. Then put the cogs on the one closest to the outside. When you put the wheel back on, you can easily line the chain up on the right cog this way. Then just pull back the derailleur and it falls right in. It's hard to explain in writing, but maybe you could have someone at a shop show you.
This was scarier to me than the actual tire changing part, so I have tried to make sure that i can remember it all....
Robyn,
Actually, I didn't turn my bike upside down, but I wanted to. But.. why would it damage my bike? :confused:
I do know about the putting into the smallest gear thing and about the pulling back the deraileur part- i did all that yesterday. It just was real awkward trying to do this and fighting gravity holding the wheel up and jockying it around at the same time. Felt like I needed a third hand. I got it in though after a bunch of fumbling. :)

[IFjane]

Lisa - congratulations!!!!! Wow, I'm impressed - especially about the tire change. I HATE getting flats & I am really really really slow at changing my tire. And....I can't being to do it with just my bare hands. You are awesome!

You hills sounds like our hills - and your opinion of them is about the same as mine! ;)

[lauraelmore1033]

Impressive list, Lisa. Good job!!




Lauraelmore, why not fix it now so you don't have to worry about it later?

now that would be the smart thing to do wouldn't it?:eek:

[DarcyInOregon]

Also- my bike computer can be set either way- to keep recording while I am stopped, or to stop recording data while I am stopped. The latter setting is called "automatic" and that's where I have mine set. Everything automatically stops while I've stopped drinking water, etc, then resumes as soon as I start rolling again. It shows an "AT" on the screen when set to automatic. Don't you have the pamphlet/directions for your computer?- it would detail this there.



Nope. My LBS swapped out my computer when I purchased the road bike last year because I asked for a computer with cadence (and I never look at cadence but think maybe in the future). I never got the instruction papers, so I will need to ask them.

The numbers really don't matter that much to me. I like having the temperature on there; indeed for me it is the most important number. I like having the speed, trip time, clock and odometer. I assume someday cadence might be important for me, but for now it is not.

Regarding the average, I always assumed the bike computer stopped calculating when the bike was stopped. And maybe it does. Or maybe not. I will ask the LBS.

I get low averages because I am cautious with my slow-downs, and I am attentive to doing some hills on every ride; by low average I mean an average that is much lower than the speed I cycle for most of the ride. I am happy with my speed and I have no desire to have a higher speed.

I am one of the cyclists who doesn't like to focus on numbers when I ride. I turned the beeper on my HRM off so I don't have to hear it. It is sufficient for me to know how many calories I burned on my ride when the ride is over, and what my high and average heart rate was, without knowing what the heart rate is every single second. I keep my bike computer set to trip miles and speed, and that is it. I look at trip time when the ride is over, more to compare against calories burned than for any other relevance. My goals are to have fun, burn calories, get fitter, and increase my distance so I can do some centuries this summer. I am hoping to do my first century next month.

Darcy

[Aggie_Ama]

Lisa- Congrats. Hills are hard and flats on a back tire stinks. You will really improve from those challenges! I still have a lot of trouble getting the back wheel on.

Darcy- What type of computer do you have? I have a Cateye Astrale 8 and you can download the instructions from their website. Mine has the function to stop when the wheels stop or keep going until you stop it. I have it set to stop when I stop.

[Crankin]

Hi Lisa,

Yes, it does feel like you need a third hand, but i found that if i stand sort of behind the bike, lift it by the seat and reach down to pull back the derailleur with my right hand, it works. It took a little practice and still feels awkward, but not like it first did.
If you turn your bike over, you can mess up your bars, brakes, and/or shifters. Seat, too. Plus, to me, everything is then in a different place and I can't figure out what to do!

Robyn

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I am one of the cyclists who doesn't like to focus on numbers when I ride....My goals are to have fun, burn calories, get fitter, and increase my distance so I can do some centuries this summer. I am hoping to do my first century next month.
Darcy

Yep, those are my goals too. (except for the centuries part!) :eek: My distance goal is to do several days of 60 miles each in a row this summer on a 4-5 day tour.

IFJane- I am s-l-o-w too when changing a tire! Happily, we didn't have any pressing appointments that day! ;)

CA in NC- No new bike, just a wider Brooks saddle than the one I had. I posted about it in the "Gear & Accessories" forum under Favorite Saddles/"B68 & B68S" thread.

[annie]

Congrats on your Firsts, Lisa! (Well, not the flat, but still, now you know how to deal with it.) Going fast is FUN! Almost makes up for the slow drudge up the hills. :rolleyes:

I turn my bikes upside down to change tires always. I've done it forever. Never had any resulting damage. I've seen people do it both ways. Whatever is easier for you.

Darcy, I think it depends on how each computer works. Mine turns itself off automatically after a couple of minutes so it doesn't factor much of the off-bike time into average speed. I just need to remember to start it up again when I get back on the bike. I'm not always so good at that. :(

Annie

[RolliePollie]

Good job on that flat, Lisa! I wish you could magically appear when I get my first inevitable rear flat. I've already had 3 front flats so I think I've got that down pretty well. But the rear...I'm not looking forward to that. I usually ride alone as well, so perhaps I better try taking the back wheel off here at home just so I know how to do it. Hmmm, maybe tomorrow...

Congrats on the new speed record too...that is super fast!!!

[cosc]

Super job on all your accomplishments. Hills, distance, speed and flat repair all in one day makes you one strong lady! I've never even changed a front tire by myself. I tried changing a tire at home so I'd be ready for a flat on the road, but wasn't strong enough to get the bead off the rim. I even used levers. My dh had to help me when he came home.:mad: I have a different brand tire now and need to try the flat repair session again.

[quint41]

Congrats on all feats accomplished!!!

The 38 mph terrifies me! I don't like speed. Never have, never will. Don't like roller coasters or any of that, fast cars, nope nope nope. I brake downhill and don't care who knows!!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

The 38 mph terrifies me! I don't like speed. Never have, never will. Don't like roller coasters or any of that, fast cars, nope nope nope. I brake downhill and don't care who knows!!

Believe it or not I am mostly like that too. I always go slow down curvy descents, or any descents with gravel or blind spots where dogs or cars might pop out from the side...
I am a very cautious rider. It's only when I get a straightaway smooth descent with clear visibility for 1/2 mile around that I let it go. I used to get REALLY SCARED going fast. But I never go faster than I feel in control of.
Nowadays, when the conditions are just right, it's fun and doesn't seem as fast as it used to seem to me. But always always...safety first.

COSC- don't feel bad- some tires are really HARD to get off the rim- you might have had some of those stubborn ones.

[kelownagirl]

Hey Lisa - congrats on all the firsts!! And on one day too!!

I had my first flat when I was alone so had no choice but to fix it. Luckily I had been practicing a few times at home the week before so I managed. Did you say you managed to take the tire off without using levers? I can't seem to do that - my hands aren't strong enough I guess. Do you think it depends on the kind of tire (ie road vs mtb?)

Your top speed is the same as mine! Whoo hoo! I haven't hit it once this year though. Don't know what's slowing me down - I keep trying.

[Bikingmomof3]

I know I am behind, but....


CONGRATULATIONS on all your milestones. :D

[Kitsune06]

I had my first flat relatively recently, too. Well, first flat on the ROAD BIKE. MTBs are different. I just load those w/ slime, when I get a puncture, I hop off, inflate, let it re-seal, then go. Wouldn't work the same on the road bike. So in one go, I got to learn how to operate those scary Prestas, take off my FREAKIN' TIGHT tires, pull out my patch kit (first time for that, too. No idea how it's taken me so long to need to use that...) and realize how woefully inadequate the tire levers on my multi tool are. :rolleyes: :p

So I decide to go up on the sidewalk to avoid the bus that's stopping every 100 yards (or less) because the rush hour traffic up Hall had been *quite* prohibitive in going *around* said bus. All of a sudden I hear "Pop!" like running over a sizeable bit of gravel on a mtb or something. I think nothing of it until the bike starts going squirrelly and I start 'feeling' the bumps a little too much. Oh, yes. I was flat.

I patched the one hole (easily located by the chunk of glass protruding thru the tire) and sat pumping, pumping, pumping. It was only as I was telling the immensely kind recumbent cyclist who stopped to help that I couldn't pump it up, that it occurred to me that I might have more than one hole. Off came the tire (as I curse myself for not having a spare tube on hand, just my patch kit "It should be good enough!") and a 1x2" area was all chewed up, multiple holes etc. Eff. in addition to another hole further up. Recumbent Man (here RM) had a touring patch kit including a very large patch that just fit the area. I felt like that damsel in distress type, so typically saying "THANK YOU, Recumbent Man!"

but the tube was repaired- a learning experience- then I went to the bike shop w/ X and got a couple new tubes, new tires and a tube for my bag. Problem solved. :p

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Most Excellent!!!

It is NOT easy to change a flat tire unless you've done it a few times. I haven't yet. :rolleyes:
"Recumbant Man".....sounds like a real life super hero!!! :p
Kit- order this:
http://www.kk.org/cooltools/archives/001005.php
The Crank Brothers Speed Lever. It is the BEST most wonderful fast way to zip your tire on and off the rim. I have it- it works and then some. (but now i am practicing trying to do this stuff with my hands instead, though I have my speed lever just in case!) It's also very lightweight and not too big.

Good for you getting through the first flat. Sounds like it was a doozy!

Since you ride on streets now with lots of glass, you might want to get Kevlar lined tires- they REALLY cut down on flats due to punctures. I ride them on sharp rocks and gravel roads all the time and it amazes me that I've only gotten one flat so far in thousands of miles.

[Kitsune06]

Oh yeah, I have kevlar lined Conti Grand Prix 4-seasons. They feel like they roll pretty fast, not *too* heavy (I'm not racing...) and yes, that all-important kevlar lining :D

It's RECUMBENT MAN MAN MAN MAN MAN MAN MAN

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

RECUMBENT MAN MAN MAN MAN MAN MAN MAN
rescued

FLAT GIRL GIRL GIRL GIRL GIRL GIRL GIRL
!

[Kitsune06]

Flat Girl: "OMG! Save me, Recumbent Man! Glass is, like, my Kryptonite!"

[pooks]

Last Saturday we rode our bikes to eat breakfast, and when we left the cafe we'd only gone a couple of blocks when I felt that strange thumping -- yep, FLAT.

We didn't have tubes, patch kit, nuthin. After all the times I had all that stuff with me, and this time, nada. (I'd emptied my handlebar bag and put magazines in it!)

The shaftdrive bikes are much more complicated to take the rear tire off, so changing a tire is not something I've attempted. My husband has done it, but that day he said he was too busy, just take it to the bike shop and pay somebody!

So -- all they found was a teensy-tiny little hole -- like a wire or something had been stuck in it and then pulled out. So weird!

I have armadillo tires.

[Jolt]

Good job Lisa...............I had my first flat 3 days ago ,and I had to walk home 3 miles (lucky I was close). I had no idea what to do. It was my back tire also. Its something I really need to learn ,and the only way Im going to learn is take my tire off.

Bummer! Does your local shop offer any kind of fix-a-flat class? Some shops do, and it would be worth looking into--you definitely do need to know how to fix a flat. I learned how to fix a flat at the local bike co-op that has open shop hours, and a few weeks ago was glad I did--had my first flat on the way to the grocery store (flatted just as I was getting to the parking lot), and was able to patch it myself. And of course, it was the rear. I think that's Murphy's law of flat tires!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Flat Girl: "OMG! Save me, Recumbent Man! Glass is, like, my Kryptonite!"

Recumbent Man: "There, there, now, Miss! Dry your tears- my MANLY TOURING PATCH is the answer to your maidenly prayers!"

[SR500]

Congrats on your firsts, tire changing can be tough, and having someone watch never helps.

As for your computer, most are set up in auto mode. That is time, speed, and distance are recorded only when moving. Your average is simply the distance covered divided my the time you were moving.