Blather on Bicycling

A few years ago, I began immersing myself in the sport of cycling. In the process, I’ve learned a few odd things that I’ll share here:

• Always spit or blow snot downwind: Like touching fire for the first time, it doesn’t take long to learn this one.
• Use a Schick Quattro razor: These are expensive, but you get twice the shave time with each. Most razors just get through 2 legs, but these will sexy up 4 of them.
• When transforming from ape to snake, prep with electric clippers: You don’t want to end up with tufts of long hair.
• Carry a CO2 inflator, not a pump: These allow for all paraphernalia to be fitted in your wedge pack. Plus, they inflate your tire instantly.
• Build your bike shop inside your house: You’ll love working on your bike in slippers. During the winter months, you’ll be wrenching your bike in a warm environment. In my case, it’s in the attic where it is nice and toasty.
• Never use the tire “max inflation” as a guide: Run tires around 110 PSI, a little more if heavier.
• Use shoe covers on gravel: This makes sense for keeping shoes clean when riding on gravel, but I’m talking about walking on gravel. If you live where you have to walk on gravel with cycling shoes, buy some rubber overshoes. Make sure the size is much larger than your shoe size.
• When rain looks like it’s coming your way, it’s probably already there: Don the rain jacket early.
• Balm your crotch: Use Bag Balm to sooth irritations in the nether area. This is a tip I picked up from Ed Burke’s book. And you’ll find this product in the pets and animals section of the store because it Vermont’s finest salve for treating cow teats and udders. How appropriate. 
• Buy a Garmin Forerunner 305 (GPS and Heart Rate Monitor): This watch is the best data device available. Yes, better than power meters, computers, and heart rate monitors. Rather than going into a thorough review, I’ll just list these key advantages: (a) simplicity, clean up your control panel by wearing it on your wrist; (b) multi-sport use; (c) multi-bike use, no calibration needed; and (d) data, data, data.
• Lights, colors, and bike clothes: Keep you bike clothes separated from civilian clothes. Bike stuff should receive delicate care in washing, and some articles shouldn’t even see the inside of a dryer. The others should receive low heat and barely enough time to dry (about 25 minutes).  

Rad Doc and I headed out to Palmer Junction today on our bikes (map link). This road is our favorite Fartlek style training, which is Swedish for ass-kicking not gas-producing. The random series of 6-12 percent climbs looks like sound wave on a gradient chart. Other than the painful pace Rad setting on every climb, his sprint challenge into Summerville, and almost running into a herd of deer on a fast descent, it was a magnificent day to ride. There was barely any wind, dry pavement, and warm spring-like sunshine. In fact, at the end of the ride I commented that I could have even exposed my legs today. It is quite amazing that just last Sunday was the worst riding day of the year. Surprisingly it is mid-February so hopefully this is a sign of warm riding ahead. Last year, it wasn’t until April 18 that I declared the first good riding day of the year.