May rides, may they all be wonderful

[north woods gal]

Hope you're feeling better for the weekend, Crankin. A pleasant ride would make for a nice Mother's Day. That's my plan, anyway.

Cool and windy for us, these last couple days with highs in the 50s. Don't mind the temp, but that wind always kicks in my allergies, this time of year. Huge improvement living, here, though, compared to living in farm country as I have most of my life. My allergies really knocked me for a loop in that environment.

Well, I think I'm ready to give a single speed a try for my trail riding. My local guy recommended a 30 up front and a 20 in the rear for riding our constantly up and down trails, in our area, especially considering that our trails are all laced with a few really steep climbs along the way, not to mention soft spots with sand. He's right. My Krampus has a 30 in the front, so I've been setting the rear cog at 19 teeth or 21 teeth and giving it a try. Whoa! Talk about workout, but it's a doable workout. I can just crest my steepest climbs, standing in the pedals all the way in the 19, but the 21 is just a touch more manageable. Not much, but it's noticeable.

Overall, sticking with one speed for trail work has been a real adjustment in my technique. It's not just the need to stand in the pedals to climb, it's adjusting to making the tight twists and turns along the trail without being able to drop a gear or two to make the turns. With that gear combo, there's very little spinning I can do with my pedaling on my trails. Even on the flatter sections. I never get a chance to get up to spinning speed before hitting a twist or something to dodge or climb. It's all power pedaling, now. Also, one speed makes my approach to each section a bit different than with the geared bikes. Lots more planning ahead and getting up to speed before I hit the steeps. All in all, going with one gear has been a fun experiment and I do think it's made my more aware and a better rider. For sure, it's made me a STRONGER rider. I can feel it in the legs in the morning.

The same gear combo still works on our neighborhood paved roads, by the way, given that our roads are also all hills. Will try more road riding in that gear combo a bit farther out to see how it does, though. The experiment continues.

[north woods gal]

We were all set to walk into my local bike shop and plunk down $1500 on the new All-City Log Lady single speed. Thought it was a done deal after all my hard work keeping notes and collecting data and riding single speed all week. The shop was a little busy, so while waiting my turn I wandered into the used section. You guessed it.

Against all odds, there was a very lightly used steel custom built single speed 29er. It's a Gunnar Ruffian (hand-built steel custom frame made by Waterford, here in Wisconsin). All highest end parts on the build, too. Basically a $5000 build, but we got it for less than half. Owner had other bikes he wanted to finance. Bike has barely 100 miles on it. Quality-wise, it'll be the best bike I've ever owned. Could have paid $1500 for a new Log Lady or $2150 for this one. The Gunnar frame, by itself, costs $1500. No brainer.

Having it outfitted with new Racing Ralph tubeless tires and checked over. Will pick it up in a few days. Gearing wise, it's identical to the Krampus, which I've been riding successfully in one gear all week, now, so I was ready to take the plunge. Never figured to get something like this, however. More details to follow after I get the bike home and start riding.

[Crankin]

That sounds nice, Northwoods! You are a stronger person than me... I am much too lazy for a single speed. Although, I came to a realization about how relative strength is last week, when I saw my neighbor struggling to get her bike in the back of her Subaru. I generally don't talk to anyone in my condo, but she clearly needed help. So, I noticed she was trying to do this without her rear seats down, because she has her grandkids' car seats permanently in there. Her bike was not that big, so I showed her the correct way to lay the bike and I knew we could get it up, over the top of the seats and then bungee the hatch, for her to get it to the LBS. She could not even lift half the bike, so I did it myself and she was amazed. Now, the bike is not a lightweight like my Silque, but it's not super heavy, either, being a nicer Trek hybrid. Anyway, it was an eye opener, as this woman is around my age and does not look totally out of shape.
I did get out for a super short ride at around 7:30 AM. The rain hasn't started yet, but I was back to wearing tights and a head cover at 49 degrees. I feel better than yesterday, as I broke down and took a Claritin, but not as good as I felt when I rode Wednesday. I discovered that a whole section of road is being repaved and is all grooved pavement on a road that I frequently use for these short rides. It's also on the beginning part of our bike rally route on June 2nd, so I hope it's paved by then. It was fine to be out in the middle of the road at 7:45 on a Saturday morning, but it won't be fine for a group, going up a hill!
Our leaders' ride was already cancelled, but we still have the party at 4 PM.

[north woods gal]

Neat article, Sheila. Thanks. Jives with everything I've been told, locally. Also matches up, nicely, with all my ss experimenting, this week. Managed just short of 50 miles of combined trail and road work, this week, all in one gear! Oh, yeah, I am ready to take a break and do a little shifting, for now, but what a great learning experience it's been. My legs know it, too, but am so pleased to discover that I can manage it and, more importantly, I can do the single speed thing with a reasonable amount of comfort/challenge. That was my biggest concern. Worried that I was biting off more than I could chew.

Be sure to double check those specs on the Ruffian. You have to goo to the 29er version at the bottom of the list and check in the 19" (medium size). The frame stack on the 19" Gunnar is actually slightly higher than on my medium Krampus. The frame reach is similar, too, but the actual handlebar reach on the Gunnar with the way the owner had it setup is, as usual, too long for me. He had a 90mm stem on the bike. I'll be going with a shorter stem, right away, when I pick up the bike from the shop, first of the week. Same old, same old for my short reach.

Crankin, enjoyed the story. You're so right about how we riders sometimes overlook just how fit we are compared to all those people out there that don't exercise, regularly. As for me being stronger, well, thanks, but I doubt that. About the only thing I'll say is that I'm a strong rider for my age, but I really have to work at it. I'll be 68 in a month. Most 68 year old women stopped riding bicycles, long, ago. I'm determined to never stop riding, no matter how old I get.

Hope the allergy thing doesn't get you and our other riders, down, too much. Been a tough allergy week for me, too. Any wind at all and my eyes start to puff up and itch. That time of year.

[Crankin]

Our leaders' party was fun and DH and I are going to lead 1/3 new type of rides to lure AMC members who have not ridden with the bike committee, i.e. either new people, or hikers, skiers, paddlers who ride, but not with us. The lure is they get a free lunch! If we don't get enough people to sign up who are new, we can open it up to others who have ridden with the club. We'll see how this works. Now I have to figure out a new route that is about 20-25 miles long.
Today started out cold and cloudy, really raw. At the party, I made plans to ride with one of the other women, who is the girlfriend of a man who DH and I mentored. He is recovering from knee surgery and DH is down with a cold and injuries from, well, a very stupid accident that could have been horrible. He's had a bad week! So, at first my friend and I were going to do a 25 mile ride, but even though we knew it would be clearing, we opted for an 18 mile ride from her house. They live really close, but I drove there, with my bike. She is a very strong rider, but she hasn't been out much; also hiking is more of her first sport. But, she definitely has slowed down. It was coolish when we left, but by the end, I had my head cover off and wished I was wearing a vest, not a jacket and had brought short fingered gloves. But, I unzipped and was fine. Although the ride was not on any roads I don't usually go on, it was mostly in the opposite direction, so it felt different. It was quiet out at first, but then, more riders and cars. I am glad I went, it was fun.
Leaving for Mother's Day at my son's around 5:30. I cooked and made the dinner, so when my DIL gets home from work, it will be ready. I just spoke to my other son. He leaves for Ranger training on the 22nd, so he is in Philly, where he will leave my DIL and granddaughter for a couple of weeks, so she won't have to spend 8 weeks alone. Thinking I might get down there before she goes back to GA.

[emily_in_nc]

Crankin, I hope your DH will be okay. Sorry to hear that he is down for awhile! A bike accident?

We had four good rides last week (Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri) of around 35-36 miles each. On Friday I felt especially strong. I almost always take off Saturday/Sunday because of how busy the trail is and needing to do other things (laundry, shopping, work out in the gym, long walks, etc), but looks like this week we'll be lucky to get in any rides, as a tropical-looking thing has settled in over Florida, bringing lots and lots of rain. It has been raining since last night, and I am dreading having to take the bus to my orthodontist appointment in an hour. We haven't had many rainy days at all this year, so I can't complain, but just wish it weren't today. One of the downsides of living car-free! They say we could get 3-6" of rain over the next few days. Now I really wish I had ridden yesterday, as it was cloudy but not raining, but I had planned on laundry and the gym, and I just didn't think it through. Oh well.

[north woods gal]

Speaking of tropical weather, Emily, read that the NWS is predicting another bad hurricane season, this year, at least on a par with last year. Hope you don't have to deal with that.

My bike shop's been very busy, as you might expect for this time of year. That means my new single speed won't be coming home, today. Poop. Oh, well. Did a some trail and road miles on one of the geared bikes in one gear to practice. Unusually hot for us at 80 degrees. Star was showing it. Border Collies don't do well in heat. Have to keep an eye on them in hot weather.