Rough Night

[CyclChyk]

Good for you and kudos! I too have been away from biking for about 5 years but I am BACK and this time, I plan on staying for awhile.

Let us know how your next ride turns out. Hopefully it will be a lot less painful for you.

[snyderd25]

I live in Philadelphia. I will drive to the burbs on Saturday to ride with TNT.

[ClockworkOrange]

Hi Danielle

OMG that sure was a bad day but that's what makes all the other days good.

Do you keep a note of when you do ride and what things happen, if not you should do.

My health has been crap for the last four years and I always write how things have been, especially when I am back to riding only 2 miles again. Then I look back at what I could do and it kind of inspires me.

Look forward to hearing of your future rides, however long or short.

Ride safe.

[Melalvai]

If that's your first training ride I can't wait to hear about the century.

[snyderd25]

Hi ladies! I considered a date with my couch instead of the team ride... but I felt guilty... so off I went. We did somewhere between 45-50 miles today... no trail riding, all roads and a whole lot of hills. I had two flat tires and some major shifting problems resulting in lost and jammed chains. I can't lie... there were some laughs, but some tears too. And a few walked hills. I don't know the last time I've asked so much of my body and been so exhausted. I got through... wish I did better, but I guess I should be glad I made it...

Whew... this is hard work! The TNT coaches and mentors really came through today... I even got some pushes up some hills. Real pushes... physically pushed. How are they so strong?

[snyderd25]

This is the link to my web site/blog/fundraising page where I tell all of my adventures if you want to peak.

http://pages.teamintraining.org/epa/ambbr12/dsnyderklo

[Trek420]

I had two flat tires and some major shifting problems resulting in lost and jammed chains ....

I'm wondering about the flats. Flats happen, a lot but you should not get that many. In my 5 California AIDS Lifecycle rides (7 days, 545 miles) I had 3 (three ) including all the training.

So there's something going on.

Everyone feel free to chime in with more tips. Let's keep you on the road.

Feel free to ignore us if any/all of this you already know:

Check your tire pressure often, at least before each ride. Under inflated tires are more prone to flats.

Don't hug that curb. Ride as far to the right as is safe to do so of course but not so far that you're in the debris. The rough road debris like broken glass etc is way on the right. Find a good line that's safe but outa that mess.

Speaking of debris if you ride over some stop safely and brush off the tires front and back. I can do this in motion for the front. Haven't got the hang of clearing the back . But just pull over, use your gloved hand, spin the wheels and brush it off.

You're getting repeat flats so if/when you fix a flat make sure to check all around the inside of the rim for bits of metal, rough spots on the rim, debris that will put you right back on the side of the road.

More tips, anyone else?

[marni]

I check my tires and wipe them down at the end of the every ride looking for cuts, nicks, miscellaneous stuff stuck in it, thorns etc. On longer rides, I will do this every time I stop.

marni.

[missjean]

I was wondering about the number of flats too, but Trek420 & Muirenn covered that pretty well.
The whole switching gear thing gets better with practice. Before you put more money into your bike, take it to a well respected bike shop and ask if there is a mechanical reason you are having trouble with shifting, ie: worn chain & rings, gunked up cables & housing, etc.
If that's not what is causing the shifting problem, try to take some time and find a safe place to ride, best with some hills, and don't worry about anything (speed, distance) except practicing shifting - going up hill, down hill, fast, slow, stopping, starting. You'll get it soon enough!

[Sky King]

I had two flat tires and some major shifting problems resulting in lost and jammed chains.

Are you waiting to downshift until you are really mashing the gear? Downshift before the hill and keep spinning. The chain has a hard time moving to the lower gear when it has a great deal of tension on it. I suggest practicing on some small hills. Yes your bike may need some adjusting as well but I know if I wait to long to downshift as I am climbing I will end up dropping my chain.

[Trek420]

Downshift before the hill and keep spinning.

^ that.

I learned here from the wise women on TE that cyclists "shift with their eyes". This might take a while to know "I can do this in the big chain ring or I'll need the middle gear. I'll just have to adjust the back" or "OMG, I'll need the granny for this ".

You have more leeway with the back der. Your bike does not like to shift even that under pressure. MWBR here as we share tips and tricks on that. In other words it can be done but it's an experience, feel, knowing what you and your bike will do on what hill where kinda thang.

Mostly I'd look as you approach the climb, make you're best choice on the front der, pick the right gear for the approach of the hill and shift down as needed but not under load/pressure.

Does that make sense?