Weather is just not cooperating up here, but I'm sitting on 100 this week with the weekend to go. Today's ride was just silly. It was cold (37) and so windy that on the way back, into the wind, I noticed my speedo dip into single digits during wind gusts (of up to 30mph). Climbing hills (not even big ones) into the wind I thought the bike was going to start rolling back down the hill. I just keep tellin' myself it's not going to last much longer.... I hope.

Lord willing and knock on wood, this is shaping up to be a good season!

Rode today on my new wheels. I was a little disappointed, honestly. Maybe it was just the headwind on the way out, but there was no noticable difference in weight, as I was told there would be. They're twenty spokes in the back, 16 in the front, bladed, slightly high profile rims. I can't quite figure out who makes them--the decal says "eleven81," and apparently they're made by the same guy who makes Neuvation wheels, or they're the same as those, but with a different name. They came highly recommended, at least as being a really good deal. Here's a link to see them (scroll down a bit): http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...bayphotohosting.

I'm disappointed by a couple of things. First, I can't seem to fit the magnet for my computer on the spokes, since there are so few and they're angled so much more than conventional spokes. Second, after one 15 mile ride there is already a slight wobble in the rear wheel. Maybe it's just that it needs to be tightened up or something, but I just don't understand why bikes can't be made to last longer. I'm really ticked off. At this point I don't care if the wheel weighs 5 lbs, I just want something that will stay round longer than 100 miles.

So, this morning was one of the weekly rides with our usual gang. 8:00 am, it was in the low 50s here and dry. I was up at 6:30 am, made coffee, checked with the girlie in whether she wanted to ride... at 7:00 am I text-messaged the leader of the ride and said, "Super tired. Bailing. Have fun." Then slept 'til 10 am.

Does that count as miles put in, since I thought about it?

Friday the 13th was my lucky day.

I got my wheel issue straightened out, for now. I participated in my third bike race, and I finished, and I didn't crash, which is an improvement over my first two races. It was an odd kind of race, the only one of its kind I've ever seen. 500 meters, straight road with a slight dip in the middle, heats of 6-8, winner advances and 2-4th places go to a "repechage" round. I came in third twice, and fourth once, I think. Not bad for the shape I'm in, I feel. I'm just thankful I didn't crash, honestly.

I was scared of that in the first round, so I went out fast and led everyone, and started thinking, "I'm the man!" But two guys passed me in the last 150 yards. The other two I took it easy at first and followed wheels, but that didn't work either.

Troy, I can hardly ever ride in the morning; I don't understand why all the weekend group rides are in the early morning--I guess to avoid crazy drivers? I'd much rather go in the late afternoon. So I won't look down on you for sleeping in.

30 last Wednesday, 22 or so Friday, group ride tonight. The wheels are holding up, only a slight waver.

Dre, you doing any riding in Charlotte lately?

Did my first century of the season yesterday... Some early season suffering paid off finally.

Way to go, John!

Cool stuff in your bikejournal site. I think I will sign up for one of those.

Thanks dude. It was a blast! Starting to feel pretty strong.

The bikejournal.com site has helped my riding in many ways. The forum is fantastic (not as cool as the Orchard, of course)! Lots of motivation, inspiration and useful hints.

Let me know when you get signed up. I'd like to add you to my buddy list.

Thanks again Dre,
J

Thanks dude. It was a blast! Starting to feel pretty strong.

The bikejournal.com site has helped my riding in many ways. The forum is fantastic (not as cool as the Orchard, of course)! Lots of motivation, inspiration and useful hints.

Let me know when you get signed up. I'd like to add you to my buddy list.

Thanks again Dre,
J

This is about running, not cycling, but it seemed like the best place to post. Went out today for a 4.5 mile run late today trying to finish up before the sun set, on my usual route. I was listening to Kent's Disc 2 of his latest compilation and, somewhere between 2 beautiful songs, I heard windchimes to my right, got the sweet fragrance of clover from my left, the sun was setting, and there was a cool breeze. The run felt strong and at the end of it all I wound up knocking my time back down to 11.1 minute mile. What a beautiful way to start the night ~ life is good.

Now off to work...

So, I looked forward all day yesterday to participating in a faster ride for 25 miles last night, to which a friend of mine invited me. Should have averaged close to 20mph, which would have been great training. Well, 5.5 miles into it she (my friend) blew a spoke, and her wheel was seriously out of true. So, I rode back with her so she wouldn't have to go it alone against traffic.

A whopping 11 miles at a breathtaking 15mph pace. THAT'S what I was after, baby!

Speaking of... eh... slag heaps...

We're doing the Blood Sweat and Gears ride in June (http://bloodsweatandgears.org), the 50-miler... around 5K feet of climbing in 50 miles, around 13000 climbing in the 100. I'm excited!!

That's awesome! Sounds like a well named event.

Anyone else getting out and enjoying the spring weather?

That's awesome! Sounds like a well named event.

Anyone else getting out and enjoying the spring weather?

Nice Dre...

Troy, did you ever sign up for Bikejournal? If so, what's your SN?

(I didn't get out to the hills today, btw.... alksdfj;;ksdj... maybe a small ride this evening)

Two days.

Two rides.

Two flats.

I must be riding enough now.

That sucks. Look at the bright side... you have new tubes now.

That sucks. Look at the bright side... you have new tubes now.

Or you could have my problem, and have to true your wheel after every other ride.

Or you could have my problem, and have to true your wheel after every other ride.

Dre, these are the new wheels? Have you called the manufacturer/distributor?

Yes, these are my new wheels. No, I haven't called them; that would make too much sense.

Seriously, these sound defective or badly designed. Get your money back, or at least get them replaced.... that's bogus.

I'm no expert on this, but I did research and by wheels for my fiance last year and I learned a bit about this. I think it's a matter of wheel quality, not spoke count. That is, you can buy 36 spoke wheels that will break a lot or don't and 16 wheel spokes that break a lot or don't.

I have Bontrager xLites, 16 spokes front and rear, and have (knocking on wood here) never busted a spoke in 2 years. I love the wheels, though I think they're a bit toward the race side rather than the ride side.

The ones I bought for Lee (fiance) are Amercan Classic Sprint 350s, 28/32 spoke count front/rear, and she hasn't had a problem in a year either. Now, her wheels by the way are cadillacs in terms of comfort compared to mine, and her rims weigh practically nothing. But those wheels, Dre, are particularly known for their durability over any road terrain... they were written up in Bicycling Mag last month as the best "all-around" wheel for the money... a set is around $750, so it's a good value.

Long answer to a short question: research the wheel, and I think you'll find that whether a particular spoke count is reliable depends on the particular make of the wheel. But I'll tell you if you're looking for wheels to ride the roads, as opposed to racing, I'd recommend the 350s. It's also, however, a matter of your own 'look' preference... I mean, the 16-spoke wheels look faster, even if they're not. So, I can sit back as she's passing me and think, "yeah, but I probably look WAY cooler."

Edited to add: and Dre, dude... we HAVE to ride some this season. Let me know what your plans are.

OK, so... I ran a little 5K race yesterday, for an average time, and didn't push it.... so my legs were fine today, if just a *wee* bit tired. But nothing major. I went to bed early, drank water, got up this morning and ate a whole wheat bagel w/ peanut butter, drank coffee and water, got on the bike with salt tabs, gel/fig newtons, and fuel in my water bottles.

I went out to ride 60 with a group, and was doing great right up to mile 47-48 or so... and on a long gradual uphill totally bonked. Totally. My heartrate went outta control after that, and I could never really recover. In the end, a friend or two came back and rode with me and ushered me in, and of course I finished the 60 (and I'm fine with it! except that I hate holding people back... I asked repeatedly that they go ahead, but they wouldn't). But I really wish I knew the physiology of it, and what I did wrong. Dehyrdated, maybe? In the end, I cramped when I stood, my heart thumped too fast, and I just had no legs.

Craziness.

Still, a good ride, and my longest of the season... had only done 40 otherwise this year. I'm going to go do the same (hilly, hilly) ride next week if I can. Dang it!

Sounds like a rough ride Troy. Had one of those last fall. Century. 40 mile in. Nothing left. Mine was completely fuel related. I filled the tank at the next stop (pb&j sandwiches, yo) and was able to finish strong. Sounds to me like you may have done more than "bonk" (which I understand to be a "running out" of sustainable fuel). Hopefully, with proper nutrition and hydration (which it sounds like you've got going), you'll be fine on the next ride. Trial and error will most likely let you know what happened on this particular ride.

Glad you're getting out!
J

I'm no expert, but if I were doing 60 miles, I'd have more than a bagel to eat beforehand.

The only time I really bonked was 3 or 4 years ago, when I spent the day working in the yard, drank some lemonade, and then went on a fast group ride 30-40 miles, and really didn't think I'd make it home. I think it was mainly dehydration with me.