Rides Dec. 10th

[Crankin]

Rode just under 20 today; it was about 35 for the whole ride and very sunny. I used my new winter road shoes for the first time, with my heaviest socks (hiking socks) as I wanted to see what it would feel like without the chemical warmers. My toes were cool, not cold, I had plenty of room to move my feet around, and it was OK for this temperature. Closer to 30 or below I might add the chemical warmers again, as I hate wearing thick socks. The shoes are much more comfortable than wearing my regular shoes, booties, chemical warmers. I also wore my knickers under my tights, which was fine. I actually was a bit hot, after 6-7 miles, which leads me to believe my LS Craft base layers are only for temperatures less than 25 or 20. I had to undo the pit zips on my jacket.

[Catrin]

Wooot I was able to ride OUTSIDE today
12.5 miles in one hour - I pushed it the first 30 minutes and just went exploring the rest of the time on some neighborhood streets.

No neck pain during the ride, though some of that has come back over the last two days. I had planned on hiking today but there was so much sunshine and no wind...and the temps had edged up to 35 degrees. AND I've not worn my PI Amfibs before, time to ride

I decided when I started that I would only ride for an hour as I've not been able to do any riding in temps <48 this season. I wore my smartwool base layer and smartwool long-sleeve full-zip and thermal jacket. I just had on a pair of regular PI bike shorts underneath my Amfibs, for my feet had toe covers and chemical warmers. On my head I had ear warmers, a smartwool balaclava. I think I've figured out how to keep my body warm down to about 30 degrees with low winds. My feet will need a little more but I think that is working out as well. I just need full shoe covers when I can swing it

[luv2climb]

I found another nice peaceful road with extremely light traffic, which is a good thing considering how narrow the road is. It's probably one of those private roads I've seen in the area. They seem to have the best climbs, and this one was no exception. Lots of grades in the mid to upper teens and even some in the twenties. Max grade was 23%.

I mounted my GoPro on the head tube of my Sirrus for a much more stable video than the ones I've posted where the camera was mounted on the handlebars. You can see my front tire slinging around in the video, so imagine how shaky it would be if the camera was on the bars.

I had to ride the Sirrus because I am still car-free until January, so I have to take light rail to the end of the line in Folsom if I want to do any climbing. Even though my road bike is a low-end Specialized Dolce Triple, it still looks too nice to take on the train with all the shady characters I see on there.

I've been doing this every weekend since my truck got totalled at the beginning of November.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/134070153#

Here's the ride video with GPS data overlay from my Garmin: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhzHYfXD6fc

Top of climb. Notice how hazy it is.

[Blueberry]

Just curious:

How do you tell the grades of the roads? My Garmin has been notoriously inaccurate - just curious if there's a better way?

[luv2climb]

I've had some wildly inaccurate speed and percent grade readings too, usually while riding through forested areas.

On yesterday's ride I noticed the Garmin behaved itself a bit better. It could be because the camera was on the head tube, not right next to the Garmin on the handlebars where it could be a potential source of electrical interference. I'm not positive that a camera can cause that type of interference, but I have seen the percent grade readings go absolutely nuts at the beginning of a ride when there was a camera mounted right next to the Garmin. Also, electronics can cause interference to other electronics. That's the reason for the FCC warnings in the owner's manuals of just about every electronic device out there.

The only other way I've heard of for a cyclist to measure grade seems a bit cumbersome-use a plumb bob or some other crude homemade device.

I have seen pictures of a simple non-electronic inclinometer that mounts on a bike, but I have no idea who makes it or where you can buy it.

[luv2climb]

I just remembered something else that may contribute to inaccurate readings. I don't have the speed/cadence sensor because I have too many bikes for it to be cost effective to outfit every one of them. Besides, I'm not sure how well a wired sensor would work on bikes that fold up like my Dahon and Bike Friday.

Without the speed/cadence sensor, the Garmin is totally dependent on satellite signals for ride data (with the possible exception of the barometric altimeter). If there is any kind of interference like what you get when riding through heavily forested areas, you will get inaccurate readings.

[Blueberry]

Mine quite frequently tells me I'm climbing a 17% grade when I'm descending and the reverse. Doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to it that I can tell (i.e., doesn't only happen in one spot). I don't usually ride with other electronics except a cell in my saddle bag. Who knows....

ETA: For distance, I believe it to be accurate. It's just grade that's so bad for me.