I took off the fenders (actually just the rear fender and the very little bit of the front fender that hadn't yet broken off), my rack, and my 20 pound rack trunk. I forgot how light this bike used to be! I also did a thorough cleaning, replaced the bottom bracket and put on a new chain.
As for the ride, I was able to complete all 102 miles, making this my 5th century of the year. I rode with two different groups of people with grey hair like mine. We averaged 19-20 mph for most of the first 50 miles. The second 50 miles was very lonely, as most folks split off and took the short route back to Findlay for the 64 mile loop.
My goal is yet to find folks around here who want to ride in pace lines, but not at 24 mph. All of the folks I rode with Sunday were from various parts of Ohio. It was SOOO MUCH FUN riding in the pace lines with experienced and courteous bikers.
The weather again was beautiful with a cool, gentle breeze. Another great day to be on the bike.
Happy riding!
15 comments:
5 centuries in one year --- wow! That's awesome :)
May I ask what you carried in that rear trunk? I am a pack-rat and hence the curiosity.
Peace :)
How can you have any gray hair with a lovely bike like that? And cross season is coming...
Chandra, well, let's see, I carry assorted tools like spoke wrench, chain tool, tire levers, knife, multi-tool, spare spokes, spare inner tubes (usually 2, although I had a flat last week so now only 1), a really old nutri grain bar I have yet to eat, a bike lock with cable, my billfold, cell phone, camera, chain lube, patch kit, a bunch of pennies and nickels.
Several years ago I had a flat tire on my ride home from church and a fellow with a rack trunk stopped to help me, so I thought I would pass it on. That's one reason why I carry so much stuff. The other reason is if I take something out, I'll misplace it and won't be able to find it again!
Thanks Steve. I've never ridden a cross race, would like to sometime though.
I've never crossed either. But it's gonna happen this year.
Wow! 5 centuries in one year, that's great! I too would like to find a group that rides well together. Good luck.
The TriCross seems a pretty popular platform among the bloggers I read... I guess cross bikes being so flexible in their uses explains part of that.
Congrats... after getting started with a few longer highway rides this year, I kind of fizzled out.
I've been telling myself I'm waiting to complete my tourer, but in truth I just got lazy.
I aspire to riding the kind of miles you do. Nice work!
I bet your bike loved the make over. 5 centuries for the year. Nice work. I notched 3 this year but hope for more next year.
If you don't get a chance to do a cross race, I can tell you how to simulate the experience:
Take a hammer, and smash your thumb with it. Wait for it to stop throbbing, than do smash it again.
Repeat for 60 minutes.
It's not quite as painful as cross, but it'll give you a taste of it.
I've enjoyed every cross race I've ever done, but it hurts like nothing else. I'm not a sprinter on a bike, or a runner, and a cross race is basically all sprinting and running.
Very nice. Sounds like you had a great ride with great company. Five centuries and 19 to 20 mph...it doesn't get any better. Nice work...or fun
Rantwick, I really wanted a Surly Long Haul Trucker, but a friend in my LBS talked me in to getting the Tricross. I think I would have been perfectly happy with the LHT, but they would have to order one, it would take a long time to come in, etc. I think that translated into we get more profit from the Tricross.
Anyway, being a half-body size larger than the average person, I wanted a tough bike that would hold up from the stresses my potato chip induced excess would provide. It's been really tough and has held up well, except for the rims which I replaced with Velocity Dyads and Shimano Deore XT hubs.
Jon, your description of a cross race is not a rosy one. I'm not getting a good feeling just by your description. Maybe I'll put off riding a cross for a while. I gotta think about that (smashing, throbbing, running...)
Jeff, Mike, Rlove, thanks for the encouragement. My desire to ride all these rides was hatched last winter reading your blogs. Thanks!
Jon says ...
Cool! Sounds even better than concours! It also sounds like Jon is a crosser...
Big Oak says...
"not a rosy one"
You can always quit. You don't really KNOW any of those people, so if it turns out to not be your cup of tea, you never have to look them in the face. Besides, you get to be a beginner which gives you more wiggle room than anybody needs.
Nice try, Steve. I think I'll do another winter's worth of strength training, then see how I feel about cyclocross next year.
The idea of riding off road, on road, and jumping over obstacles is intriguing, but I am not in shape to be able to compete.
Congrats on 5 centuries! Very impressive.
Regarding your question on my blog, I am probably not going to do the Hilly Hundred this year. I have done it once before and while I enjoyed it, I can ride on those roads any time I want, for free. It is fun riding with thousands of other riders, though.
By the way, I sent an e-mail to your gmail account. Not sure if you got it. We are going to be in Fort Wayne this weekend, any interest in riding/availability on Saturday?
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