Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Nov 28th Commute - crossing it up



A good buddy of mine loaned me his cyclocross bike to try.  I finally decided to give it a try.  He had graciously added a rack to the back so I could strap my messenger bag back there and get it off my back.  Thus stopping the sweat build up under the bag.  Having gears was different.  My trip time was still about the same.  I blame that on the fact that I haven't ridden in a few weeks.  By the top of the hill I was suffering pretty good.  Not terrible but, you can defiantly tell I haven't been on two wheels in awhile.  I need more time on the bike but for one I think I'd want wider bars.  Maybe this weekend I can get out on it a bit and see if a CX bike is in my future.

Temp - 18 degrees

Me:
Head - 6 OK(Used a lighter balaclava and fleece buff neck wrap)
Hands - 8 Cold(I have no idea why, but my fingers were fine today even thou it was cooler.)
Chest - 8 Hot(I wore on jacket over my tshirt and it was fine.  Still a little sweating going on)
Legs - 7 fine (They were chilly until I warmed up)
Feet - 7 fine (Keen boots with bike socks)
Overall Physical feel - 5 (Wow I haven't been riding in a bit)

Bike ratings as follows.  One will mean total equipment failure.  Ten means it totally served it's purpose and I need to write more positive reviews on it.

Bike: Redline Conquest Pro
Tires - 8(Skinny and fast)
Brakes  - 8(Not a sound)
Drivetrain - 7(Shifting was sluggish in the cold)
Overall/Other - 5(Not sure if I like the CX bike or not.  It's the first ride but it's a much different position then I'm use too.  The Monocog is much more like a easy chair.)

Total Score: 69

Things to change - Ride more, gloves are fine.

Things I noticed -  Wow, that was a great sunrise.

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Nov 13th Commute - getting chilly



Finally got out on a colder day.  I wimped out yesterday at 12 degree's.  Figured I needed to get out this morning.  I doubled up my jacket which was unneeded.  Just my windstopper would have been fine.  About half way thru the ride I could feel my fingertips getting cold.  The fingers still worked fine, just the first digit and a half were cold.  Overall a great ride up the hill.

Temp - 25 degrees

Me:
Head - 7 OK(Cool to start but once I warmed up it was fine.  Just a buff under helmet and another around my neck and up over my chin.)
Hands - 5 Cold(Finger tips got very cold about midway thru the ride.  Columbia omni-tech med weight gloves)
Chest - 6 Hot(I doubled up in fear of getting cold.  Windstopper jacket and UA light workout jacket.  Way too much.)
Legs - 7 fine (They were chilly until I warmed up)
Feet - 6 cold (Keen boots with med weight sock)
Overall Physical feel - 8 (Felt awesome to be riding)

Bike ratings as follows.  One will mean total equipment failure.  Ten means it totally served it's purpose and I need to write more positive reviews on it.

Bike: Redline Monocog
Tires - 8(Rear was a problem in the garage but sealed and stayed up all the way to work)
Brakes  - 6(squeeky but fine)
Drivetrain - 6(BB needs replaced)
Overall/Other - 7(Replaced the FuBar and went back to a std bar.  Need to move brake lever down a bit.  Put on a new seat and it still needs a bit of adjusting.  Nose is too low.)

Total Score: 66

Things to change - Adjust seat, change BB, look at other gloves.

Things I noticed -  There's a lot more snow and ice out there, then I thought last night.

Friday, November 2, 2012

Nov - 2nd Commute

It's a warm one for November.  Gotta ride on a morning like this.  This morning a question arose when I stopped before the climb outta town and checked my tires.  My rear tire had gone low.  Not low enough that riding would do damage or even low enough that it unstable in turns.  Just low enough that there was a noticeable change in rolling resistance.  So does one stop and air it up or just ride?  I choose just ride.  Yea, for better or worse I made it to work.  Little more sweaty then I'd like but I made it.  Low tire and all.  I suspect it'll be fully flat by the end of work today.

Temp - 55degrees

Me:
Head - 9 ok but fine (Just Helmet)
Hands - 9 ok great (riding gloves)
Chest - 7 Hot (Fox DH jersey)
Legs - 9 warm (jeans)
Feet - 9 warm (soconey running shoes with thin biking socks)
Overall Physical feel - 6 (climb felt like a lot of work this morning.  Either a low rear tire makes a huge difference of I just need to ride more.)

Bike ratings as follows.  One will mean total equipment failure.  Ten means it totally served it's purpose and I need to write more positive reviews on it.

Bike: Redline Monocog
Tires - 4(rear tire lost some air on the way up)
Brakes  - 6(squeeky but fine)
Drivetrain - 6(BB needs replaced)
Overall/Other - 7(Replaced the FuBar and went back to a std bar.  Put on a new seat and it still needs a bit of adjusting.)

Total Score: 72

Things to change - More slime or better tire sealant, change BB.

Things I noticed -  A lady in her knickers dragging a overly large dog to the back yard as a cat ran to the front yard.