June rides, summer begins

[north woods gal]

Sorry to hear about the equipment snafus, Crankin. That's makes a good case (excuse ) for having another bike and another and another. Yup crazy me. Seriously, though, I've learned to do the basic mechanical stuff on my bikes out of necessity, over the years, since there have been times when a bike was my only vehicle. It was fix the bike or walk time. I have a bit of a phobia about mechanical things, too, but I can do basics like adjust brakes and shifters and do bolt on things, now. Not my idea of fun, but I can do it. Don't let it scare you. Give it a try. We girls can do. I still need help on things that require special tools and, especially, things that require strength to loosen up, though. Then I head to the bike shop.

Good point on the heat and walking, Emily. We're in the 80s and humid, now, and while that is not hot by everyone else's standards, I am noticing it on my walks. I do feel the heat more while walking, compared to bicycling, since I am moving so much slower through the air (especially with my walking, now). Nothing like a long downhill run on the bike to cool off.

[Crankin]

The part where my shoe strap fell off actually looks like a cleat plate; when I sent the picture to DH, he said, "What your cleat fell off?" But, after I described it to him, he got it. The little screw I found on the floor looks stripped to me, I don't see how it could screw into the hole. For about 3 weeks, when I went to put this shoe on, the strap would be pointed backwards, sort of dangling, away from the body of the shoe and ratchet. I seriously don't know why they changed this. It still feels un-intuitive when I put the shoes on.
I am sure DH can fix it.
NWG, I can barely tie my shoes (not really exaggerating here), so I leave the mechanics to others. I simply cannot remember the steps of anything that is spatially mediated. That includes most types of higher level math, too. Learning to use a computer was hell for me. In reality, if I could carry a verbally mediated, written list of every mechanical/visual function, I'd be OK, but I can't have a list for everything! I am very analytical when it comes to human behavior and literature, but other than that, I have all the traits of a non-verbal learning disability, with the exception of poor social skills. Just glad I didn't grow up in more current times, where I probably would have not achieved too much, since everything requires math now, even being a teacher.

[north woods gal]

Crankin, too bad you don't live closer. I'd be more than happy to do all your bike work for you. That's gotta be rough for you. Take care, girl.

Did my three mile walk, today, but upped the pace a bit, so a decent workout and about all I can handle, right now. This darn recovery stuff sure screws around with a girl's routine, not to mention energy level. Two weeks, down, four more to go. I'll get there. Big local mountain bike race coming up early in July. I may go watch some of the action.

[Crankin]

Actually, not so rough. You'd be surprised how many people who ride *a lot* don't even know the parts of their bikes, or how to shift correctly. It's quite easy for me to focus on my strengths, especially when I am surrounded by plenty of Luddite New Englanders who live for their books. I ignore the tech bros entirely, despite them having taken over a large part of Cambridge and Boston. I chose my 2 careers appropriately, managed to get 2 masters degrees and was in a doctoral program for awhile. And, I married someone who can fix anything. Had to learn bike mechanics when my son was racing, as he broke stuff every week!
This is why I like riding. I could never do traditional ball sports, at least the ones with eye hand coordination. I loved field hockey, and was good at it, but when I moved to Florida in HS, they didn't play it there. I rode everywhere until I got my license, and rode in the 80s, too. Then, I got obsessed with aerobics, became certified to teach; I could do the athletic oriented classes, but the dance-ey style stuff was beyond my ability. So, riding, hiking, nordic skiing are all good fits for me. Mountain biking, not so much! Not good for those with no spatial skills and bad depth perception.

[north woods gal]

Very impressive, Crankin, very impressive. I married one of those fix anything guys, too, but that was after I learned to fix my bikes. He does fully support my passion for riding and now he rides, too, though his riding is much more sane than mine.

Speaking of fully supporting my need to ride, I have GREAT news. We stopped at our local bike shop and I got a bike to ride on my indoor trainer that is doctor approved. After my accident, my surgeon said I could ride a trainer if two requirements were met. One, it had to be a bike I could get on and off without bending or twisting my neck and without the danger of me possibly tripping and falling. Two, it had to be a bike that kept me in an upright position with NO bowing of the head and weight forward.

So, here it is. It's a cheapo comfort bike called the Specialized Low-Entry Roll. As basic as it gets with 7 speeds and rim brakes, but it does have up to date 27.5" wheels and wide 27.5 x 2.3" tires. It's on a trainer, so who cares as long as it works, right? Hubby helped me get it down the basement (where the temp is always cooler) and mounted on the trainer. Did my first 30 minutes of pedaling since my accident. Oh, yeah, I was tired, but so happy to be pedaling.


In a sense, this may actually be a safer way to exercise than walking. No tripping or stumbling which is a very real danger on my trails. Not as much pounding transmitted to the neck as when I walk. No shin splints, for sure. No bugs or heat or risk of rain, either. Oh, I will still alternate trainer workouts with walking, but, hey, I'm pedaling. Yippeee!

[emily_in_nc]

That's great, nwg! Glad you found an upright bike to use on the trainer. Depending on outdoor conditions, sometimes it's preferable (but not often!)

We did our usual ride today, and I think it was the most miserable I've been on a bike in a long time due to the combination of sun, heat, and humidity. The first hour was not too bad, second hour was meh, but the third was brutal. If I could have caught a sag wagon, I would have! Fortunately, I survived it, and the pool after felt really good, though it's a few degrees warmer than ideal. Still, cooler than the air, by a few degrees.

[north woods gal]

A pool to cool off after a ride like that is truly heaven. Glad you didn't overdo it with the het and humidity. Have a LOT more respect for that weather after my experience biking where you are. Upper 80s and very humid, here, today and I really felt it, too. Be careful, down there.

Have to chuckle when I think that, only a few short weeks, ago, the thought of me owning a bike like that would have been disgusting to fancy mountain biker, me. Talk about an accident to make me see how stuck up I had been. I'm sure grateful for such a bike, now. Good lesson.