Do I Need to Love My Bike Shop?

In a word, yes. 

Bikes, parts, and gear are available everywhere from superstores to etailers.  Certainly there is some sense to saving cents, but you must be careful about the “big purchase” and how you plan to maintain your precious ride.  If you buy your bike from a local shop, you’re a part of their family.  They “own” a small part of your bike–mainly the part that makes it safe to operate.  They own the reliability.

This means, when its not right, they’ll fix it.  But first, you must develop a relationship with them.  For some, it means getting to know the owner and the mechanics.  For other shops, you can go with them on rides on Saturday mornings or week nights.  For others still, it might be bringing over a six pack or some brownies and sharing stories from great trips.

Having a shop to rely on means they’ll be there for advice on all things cycling: when to upgrade, what events to look into, how to train, eat, and dress.  They’ll have events they’ll invite you to.  They’ll welcome you in and ask you about your training.  Some of the best shops have coffee, WiFi, and a Facebook page.  Meaning you’re connected.

I’m not advocating spending all your “bicycle allowance” in one place.  If you can get a deal on tires you’ve used many times at a volume discount online, go for it.  But I’m not a big fan of buying your own cassette or bottom bracket and expecting the shop to be excited to install it.  They might have concerns over fit and operation with the other parts.  Play it smart and discuss the big buys with the shop.

Many shops will be more than happy to show you how to fix your own bike, too.  Flats, Truing, Emergency Road Repairs.  All good stuff you might want to know.  Some shops have fitness and training programs.  Others have extremely high tech equipment for fitting you to your bike (or next bike) so you’re getting the most from your effort.  And more importantly, avoiding long-term injury from a poorly adjusted bike.  For those who don’t know, a millimeter in seat height, 1-degree of seat or handle bar angle can make all the difference.  I’ve had numb fingers or neck pain and know this from experience.

Bottom line.  A shop is a lot like your barber/hairdresser.  You can go Cut-for-Less and get an express cut.  Or you can go to the same gal for years and know what to expect every time.

If you have your own reason for loving your bike shop, be sure to leave a comment on this blog post.

The Bike Whisperer is Back!

After a bit of a hiatus (and some serious training and cycling of my own), I finally have gotten back to helping other cyclists.  Specifically, kids on training wheels.  Today, Pierce came to visit.  He is another kid whose parents found me through the power of Social Media.  Pierce is almost seven and it was time to lose the training wheels.  Although I used my patented fear-removal-through-the-left-ear trick, he was still a bit nervous and liked to hum whenever it felt like he’d go down.  Fortunately, we removed the need to hum as he was cycling on his own within an hour or so.

The unique part to this lesson:  Pierce’s five year-old brother, Grant, wanted to get in on the action.  He brought his bike and I worked with him during breaks with Pierce (he is fearless and is very close–a few weeks with training wheels a little off the ground should be all he needs).  It was a good day for cycling for both brothers and the Bike Whisperer is back at it again!

Life is One Long Bike Ride

So sorry its been a while since my last post.  As you may know, all my energy in last several months has been laser-tuned to three things:  family, work, and crossing the country by bicycle.  The trip across the USA was amazing.  The route from Santa Barbara to Charleston crossed through desert, forest, mountains, rolling countryside, and thousands of acres of farmland.  The cycling was challenging at times, but typically manageable.  And the friendships were priceless.  I’d highly recommend a trip like this to anyone who rides.  I strongly believe anyone can do it if they are willing to put the time into training (and have a realistic perspective on what that may entail). 

For 40 days, my paradigm for life was quite different than the norm.  I learned (or maybe was reminded) of what life is all about.  Or at least how to maneuver the turns that always await us.  It was enlightening to realize that there are countless analogies between cycling and life itself.  By the time I got back home, I had constructed a list of principles and tactics to achieving any big accomplishment in life and maintaining balance while doing so.

If you interested in having me share these thoughts with you or a group, please contact me: bikewhisperer1@gmail.com

 

In case you’re curious, here are some of the more popular questions about the ride:

So how long did it take?  How far was it? It took 40 days to cross 3,280 miles and climb 130,000 feet.  We had four rest days along the way.

Why did you do it?  Because I wanted to see what I was capable of in the cycling world.  I had climbed mountains in Northern Italy and Colorado, but had never ridden day after day in any kind of event.  Plus, some would say, I’m goal-oriented.

What was the calorie consumption and burn?  We typically burned 800-1000 calories per hour.  Every day had five to seven hours of riding.  Not sure of the exact calorie consumption, but let’s just say, we had very large meals, snacks at the end of each ride (and usually again before and/or after dinner).  Probably 5,000 to 6,000 calories.  I was hungry often, but didn’t lose weight (a good sign of a balanced intake/burn).

Any big surprises?  There were always surprises.  I crashed 10 ten days before the ride started and was still in a little discomfort at the start.  We had one serious crash that knocked a few people out of the ride.  I was stronger than I thought I would be when climbing hills/mountains.  I was definitely surprised as to how fast I could get into such a unique routine.

Did your appreciation for America change in any way? I have known about the small towns scattered across our country for a while, but I don’t think I had an appreciation for how much of the USA is populated by small towns.  Our country is very diverse.  And while there are self-sufficient urban areas, there are self-sufficient rural areas, too.  And the small towns love America.  The United States geography is pretty amazing, too.  We have the Grand Canyon, the Rockies, the Mighty Mississippi River, and the Mojave Desert.  And miles of rolling hills and quiet country roads.

Would I do it again?  I have no plans to spend 40 days away from family ever again.

The blog covers the journey day by day if you want to learn more about cross-country cycling.  It was a long and winding road, but fortunately it led me back home.

Cross-Country Here I Come

Well, the training is finally done.  The bike has MANY new components due to wear and tear.  Getting my last haircut today.  Just need to pack the bags and bike case.

And then, the trip begins.  Thanks to all who have supported my training and pledged to Livestrong!  You can follow my adventure on a special blog I have created just for this purpose.  Be sure to leave comments and ask questions.

The Cross-Country Blog:  http://bikelips.wordpress.com

See you on the road.

Training Is A Lot Like Juggling

Sorry for the lack of posts in a while.  As you’re probably aware, I’m training for a big time event….crossing the country by bicycle.  Yes, the time to go is close.  I’ve learned a lot about training throughout the year.  At some point, I’ll share some of the important points.  For now, I think the most critical lesson in training is time management.

When taking on a new goal, be sure to understand how much time will be required to achieve the goal by training properly.  Talk to others who have done it.  Evaluate everything you have going on and make sure you can prioritize (or de-prioritize) your commitments.  I have pedaled over 390 hours in the saddle this year.  A lot more than last year.  You have to be sure you can put in the time.  Not to mention sacrificing family time.  And of course, your company doesn’t stop depending on you just because you have a personal goal.  It is all part of one equation.  Make sure it all adds up right.

Time management also includes timing.  I’ve been getting up at 5:30 AM (not my usual) to get rides done before the day gets rolling.  I pile the miles on during the weekends.  I’ve even taken the bike with us to soccer games and ridden home.  Be creative and you can squeeze the training hours in.  The longer the training period is, the more creative you will have to be.

Training requires flexibility and commitment from not just you, but others in your life.  Make sure “your team” is on board, too.  They might be able to suggest when are optimal times to “disappear for a while,” too.

And once in while, let training take a break.  Let something else get in the way–and enjoy it.  After all, your training schedule will be there waiting for you tomorrow.

The Bike Whisperer Strikes Again?

It’s hard to take much credit for the latest student’s success in “losing the training wheels.”  I saw Lissa a few days before “training day” and told her I had just one question for her, “Do you like to ride your bike?”  She still had the training wheels on and could zoom around her driveway with ease. She said yes, of course.

Today she had the chance to like bicycling even more.  The switch in her brain that brings balance and removes all fear was just about on before she showed up.  She needed VERY LITTLE help from the Bike Whisperer to make the transition.  She was starting and stopping comfortably while she was getting used to rolling up and down the street.  Then she picked up turning right away.  This is one strong-willed, talented cyclist.  I asked her again, “Do you like riding your bike?”  She said, “Yes, even more, now that I don’t have training wheels.”

I’m expecting big things from her on two wheels. Way to go, Lissa!

Check out how graceful she was during her session today in this video.

Ready for Launch?

Sometimes I’m so excited about a ride, I forget to do or bring something.  Not long ago, it was my helmet (didn’t get far fortunately).  Today it was my water bottles (I was 5 miles out before I realized this). 

As organized as I am most times, I’m overly organized about riding.  When I am going somewhere to ride, I always print my checklist. But a casual ride from home-base–not so vigilant.

Just like launching a rocket, it pays to have a checklist.  Or at least do a bike scan and physical equipment check (here’s mine):

Look at each part of your bike to ensure you have what you need.

Wheels:  Did I fill them with air?

Handlebar:  Do I have my bike computer?

Pedals:  Do you have my shoes? (If I’m driving somewhere first)

Bottle Holders:  Do I have my water/power drinks?

Bike Bag under Saddle:  Does it still have a spare tube, tire levers, multi-tool, and CO2 inside?

Then check myself:

Head:  Do I have my helmet?

Hands:  Do I have my gloves?

Face:  Do I have my glasses?

Feet:  Again, do you I my shoes?

Right Jersey Pocket:  Do I have my food (gels, bars, banana) and key to house/car?

Middle Jersey Pocket:  Do I have my phone (usually in a zip lock baggie)?

Left Jersey Pocket:  Do I have my emergency kit?

Emergency kit is a zip lock baggie loaded with: spare CO2 cartridge, Advil/Aleve in a contact lens case, patch kit, spare PowerBar gel, old insurance card, a few business cards (never know who you’ll meet on the road and want to trade numbers), and of course, money (this is how I bought some water today at Mile 15).

Everyone has there own way of staying organized.  Just stick to it so you don’t end up forgetting something important.

What else do you bring?  Feel free to leave a comment that might be helpful.

Another Set of Training Wheels Are Trashed!

Six-year old, Danica from a nearby city is the latest cyclist to lose the training wheels after a day with the Bike Whisperer.  She was a brave as her firefighter dad and learned quickly.  Even with storm clouds circling the area and a bit of wind, Danica had a great attitude and was eager to learn.  Plus, she kept a smile on her face the whole time (even after a tiny little fall–not a scrape).

A real cool background story to this rider is that her dad found me through Google.  He heard about someone in New York teaching kids to ride and thought he’d Google “teach kids to ride a bike” and Dallas.  And there I was.  The power of Social Media is making the world even smaller than it already is.

The Art of Riding in the Rain

Last month I got the “opportunity” to ride 76 miles in the rain.  I’ve ridden in rain before, but this was an organized ride with lots of riders and a long haul.  Plus, I knew it was going to rain, and welcomed the opportunity to learn from the experience.  Most riders do not plan to ride in the rain, it just happens when you least expect it.

With this in mind, here are a few tips for what to do when the drops start to fall.

• Just like driving, when the streets just start to get wet, the oil and junk combines with the water to make the road as slippery as it will get.   Once it has been raining a while, the roads are mainly wet, not as slippery.
• Ride on water like you drive on ice.  When making turns, do not change speeds (accelerate or decelerate); do that before you get to the turns.  Shift as much of your weight on the outside pedal as possible.  Lean your body more than the bike (to keep the bike upright more than usual).
• Braking distance is obviously affected.  Give yourself extra distance to stop and don’t squeeze the brakes–instead, squeeze the brake levers and release and repeat.  Nice and easy.
• AVOID THE PAINTED LINES ON THE ROAD.  These wreak havoc on riders.  They are very slick and can easily send you off the road.  Wet leaves are a similar danger.
• If it looks like rain, pack a rain coat.  You might even wear your booties, if you have them.  Soggy socks suck.  You’ll probably still get water in your shoes, but not as much.
• You’ll need your glasses to keep rain out of your eyes.  Clear ones are much better, obviously.  If you plan to ride in the rain, think about applying Rain-X to avoid fogged up glasses.  Are goggles over the top?  Maybe not.
• Keep your distance from everyone.  If you’re riding with someone, you might want to be side-by-side (being right behind them is only fun if you like riding in the rooster tail of water coming off their back wheel).  However, side-by-side is dangerous in heavy car traffic.  Consider riding two seconds following distance, one behind one another.
• Puddles can be deep and conceal dangerous pot holes (and other things).  Avoid them as best you can.
• Use lights to be seen better.  A flashing red LED rear light is essential.
• Make sure you conduct the normal safety check on your bike before heading out.  Is glass hiding in your tire ready to poke into your tube? Do you have a loose spoke or seat post?  A wore chain?  You don’t want to be stranded with a broken bike in the rain.

As far as the actual ride goes, once you get used to the slightly different handling of your bike (within five miles), you start to forget about the rain and just enjoy the ride (as long as you’re warm enough).  It just becomes a constant, like wind or a long climb up a mountain.  Frankly, I was enjoying my 76-miler in the rain so much, I didn’t want it to end.

By the way, I semi-stole the title from a great book I recently read, “The Art of Racing in the Rain.”  Race cars, not road bikes.  Check it out.

LIVESTRONG

I have selected LIVESTRONG as my fundraising cause for my cross-country ride this year. 

I have had close friends and family affected by cancer in many ways.  In many cases, past contributions to cancer research have allowed these people to beat cancer (or knock it down for a while).

Your future contributions will help further the research and continue to win the fight against this deadly disease.

Here is a link to my fundraising page.  A contribution of any size is greatly appreciated.  Rest assured, I am earning your donation as I have been training very hard all year anticipating the difficulty of this endeavor.

Link: LIVESTRONG fundraising page

Thanks for your support!