Sweet Find on Freecycle

Quick post even though it has been a while. Just wanted to update about a recent find on freecycle. Someone posted the followg:

"I think it's an 18 speed, up to six on one side and L, M, an H on the other. The tires are good and there is rust but things move. It's green and for a tall person. The seat is ripped but you can sit on it. It says it's a racing bike and the tires are knobby. The gears say Shimano."

In actuality it isn't for a tall person as I'm 189 cm and it is too small for me. I can say however that there were a lot of truth in that post. It was a race used bike as there are teeth missing on the biggest gears at the crank and the seat was torn to shreds. The great news is that the shift gear is all Shimano, as are the derailleurs, not to mention a nice set of clip-less pedals.

I guess I have my next project for the '85 Schwinn Sprint, not to mention a new project frame for my wife if she wants it for Summer family rides.

Riding in Fog : 14 October, 2008

This morning was one of my normal reverse loops (New Galena to Sellersville Road to Township Line Road to Hilltown Pike) and the weather was pretty close to as perfect as one could expect for this time of the year, sans the fog. It was about 11°C so I knew that while I'd sweat, the temperature was cool enough that I wouldn't be drenched. Again, this was sans the obnoxious fog with which I had to contend. Which brings me to the point of this brief post.

Riding in fog, whilst very beautiful and quite cooling/soothing upon ones exposed extremities, does indeed pose a safety risk. I happen to be fortunate that those in my area are seemingly cautious, as I myself also espouse to be. The most peculiar thing about today's fog was that it was so thick in the valleys/dips in the road, of which there are many, particularly where New Galena approaches Barry Road heading towards Sellersville Rd. Sellersville Road dips down low, and most of all Township Line Road which seems to have several pockets that just attract a considerable amount of the low-laying vapours.

I didn't realise though, through how much fog I actually rode until I finally completed my morning running. I first noticed on my ipod shuffle, which appeared to be sweating (which obviously wasn't the case). I then realised that my bucksbicycling.com royal blue hooded pullover was harbouring what seemed like a million beads of water, much akin to an intricate spider web after a spring shower. I think I need a rain pullover for days like this, but one that is breathable nonetheless.

I do wish to also mention that for the first time (while riding), I ran across another cyclist as she was riding what I believe to be a shorter loop which hits both New Galena and Township Line Road. She was helmeted, but thankfully I don't believe she was wearing any bicycling specific attire, the way it used to be, and the way it is in so many modern nations. If you're riding over 50 km, or in a race, I can understand special attire but as someone who travels 32 km in jeans and a variety of shirts (sweatshirt, golf shirt, t-shirt), I can attest that normal clothing works fine for both my Hybrid and my Road bike with drops.

Either way, if you are the woman who was riding that route in Central Bucks on both New Galena Road and Township Line Road this morning and saw another cyclist on an older road bicycle with drops wearing a blue sweatshirt (in the fog) who nodded back to you both times, please respond here as it'd be nice to chat with other local solo riders in our rural area.

140 Revolutions Per Minute

Today was a new personal best top speed. I rode the full Hilltown Pike to Route 152 to New Galena to Hilltown Pike route (H152NGH). The climb is getting far easier as I found myself not shifting into easier gears as early as before (if at all). I'm also starting to really feel it in my calf muscles. Back to top speed. Of course this is talking a downhill speed, one during which I've assumed the position on the bottom of the drops and pedal furiously while still remaining seated (as it has been suggested for better development of overall strength.

I hit 68.2 km/h .. That's a little over 42 mph for those of you still using outdated imperial units of measure only utilised by America and two other third world nations. My Previous best was a whole 10+ km/h less. The really scary part about this was the RPM at which I was cranking. 140 RPMS as I've figured out from doing the math based on my crank arm length, front gearing (52 big), and rear gearing (14 smallest) for this particular bicycle. Even more so insane is that it translates to 2.86 gear metres (112.6 gear inches). Obviously not optimal for actual shape and training, but still an interesting personal statistic.

I do believe that I've developed a slight wobble in the rear wheel and will have to break out the spoke wrench as well as check tyre pressures and upon doing so may be able to achieve even better results.

Daily Ride Update

This morning I went out for my daily exercise ride and quite frankly, I feel great. I started these daily rides on my road bicycle since I rebuilt it. Today was no different with the exception that I had to tighten the nut (not quick release) on the dérailleur side because the wheel was cocked up toward the frame. A simple flick of a ratchet and all was true.

My exercise schedule has been as such:

Monday: Ride 8.1 km up Hilltown Pike to Township Line Road to Sellersville Road to New Galena and back to Hilltown Pike. During lunch time work with free weights (2.25 kg dumbbells).
- 3 sets of 10 Forward Arm Raises
- 3 sets of 10 Triceps Curls
- 3 sets of 10 Dumbbell Squats
- 3 sets of 10 Lateral Raises
- 2 sets of 20 Full Stomach Crunches

Tuesday: Ride 8.1 km up Hilltown Pike to New Galena Road, to Sellerville Road to Township Line Road to Hilltown Pike.

Wednesday: Ride 12.3 km up Hilltown Pike (big 77 m altitude change over the first 2.83 km) to Limekiln Pike (Route 152) to New Galena to Hilltown Pike. During lunch time work with free weights (2.25 kg dumbbells).
- 3 sets of 10 Forward Arm Raises
- 3 sets of 10 Triceps Curls
- 3 sets of 10 Dumbbell Squats
- 3 sets of 10 Lateral Raises
- 2 sets of 20 Full Stomach Crunches

Thursday: Ride 8.1 km up Hilltown Pike to Township Line Road to Sellersville Road to New Galena and back to Hilltown Pike.

Friday: Ride 8.1 km up Hilltown Pike to New Galena Road, to Sellerville Road to Township Line Road to Hilltown Pike. During lunch time work with free weights (2.25 kg dumbbells).
- 3 sets of 10 Forward Arm Raises
- 3 sets of 10 Triceps Curls
- 3 sets of 10 Dumbbell Squats
- 3 sets of 10 Lateral Raises
- 2 sets of 20 Full Stomach Crunches

After each ride, I weigh myself via my Wii Fit (nice digital scale with record keeping). I also track in a spreadsheet the distance, time, average speed and maximum speed along with any weight changes.

Saturday: Time permitting, I ride 32 km on my 2007 Schwinn Voyageur GS hybrid to my in-laws for our weekly get together.

Next week, I will be starting (also on Monday, Wednesday & Friday) the 100 pushup program.

So far with the above training regimen, I have lost 3.5 kg in a couple of weeks. I've made some slight dietary changes to go along with my exercise as suggested by Eric Harr in his book "Ride Fast". I stopped drinking sodas except infrequently. I limited food intake after 21:00, I cut back my portions and ultimately started drinking water with 3 slices of fresh lemon in lieu of other beverages containing more sugars. My food otherwise has been healthy as I generally cook fresh meals for myself and my family every night. Last night was a bad night because it was breaded chicken strips, but prior to that it was 200 g portions of filet mignon. We eat lots of fresh vegetables and fruits (which I might add I usually pickup at the grocers on my hybrid rather than my auto).

Old 10 Speed Gallery : Bike of the Day 24-Sep-08

Just a quick item worth mentioning. The 1985 Schwinn Sprint which I recently acquired and restored from the ground up has been featured as the bike of the day for 24 September, 2008 at the Old Ten Speed Gallery. Please show support for their great site and give it a visit. I've found some serious inspiration for future projects, and a considerable appreciation for already featured bicycles on that site.

As a side note, I'm restricted to riding on my stationary bicycle (by Giant) at the moment because in the process of working on my new storage shed (hand built & designed) I pulled my muscles/tore something in both arms, making riding very painful and difficult on anything other than my Voyageur (which I need to adjust the rear dérailleur).

Eric

12.3 km Morning Workout : Hilltown Pike - Limekiln Pike - New Galena Loop

After taking yesterday off as a rest day (as suggested by Eric Harr in his book "Ride Fast" availble from Rodale press) I was back on the Schwinn Sprint today. I upped my morning workout by increasing not only the distance in which I would ride, but the amount of climbing involved. Up until recently the largest altitude change in terms of climb was a total of 24 metres and that was solely Hilltown Pike near Bethlehem Pike to where Hilltown splits with Township Line Road. Today was different as will be explained after the image detailing the loop/circuit.

This route follows Hilltown Pike and starts with the hardest and steepest uphill portion of the loop. Over the first 2.83 km there is a 71 metre climb (233 feet). This was actually quite exhilarating and there is a reward for effort put forth as the road levels off for a short distance before hitting Limekiln Pike (Route 152 South).

The second leg of this loop is almost entirely downhill dropping 69 metres over a shorter 1.6 km distance. Pedal all the way as the road surface is very smooth and curves are at a minimum. I do have to say that my poor Schwinn Sprint at one point was under-geared for all out pedaling during the deepest part of the descent as I had trouble keeping pedal speed up in my highest gear, but I found this was only for a few rotations of the crank at a time. As the end of this leg of the loop nears, the road bottoms and starts a few metre climb passing the entrance to Peace Valley Park on the left (Creek Road). Immediately thereafter on the right is New Galena Road.

Galena Road is a fairly flat section of road for the next 1.9 km, only starting to descend for the last .5 km before continuing to the right after the intersection with Barry Road. A few turns and the remaining 2.1 km proves to be fairly flat with a few inclines of only a couple of metres with a slight climb where New Galena dead ends into Hilltown Pike.

A final left onto Hilltown Pike concludes with a 12 metre downhill. Total time for todays ride was 33 minutes. I now have a time frame against which I can now measure improvements.

If anyone wants to join me on this ride, please feel free to contact me, my email address is eric at the same domain as this site.

First Short Workout Ride on the Sprint

Today I finally had the time to take out the completed 1985 Schwinn Sprint road bike out for a light workout ride. By light workout I mean several things.

First, I haven't had the opportunity to ride this bike more than 750 m around two blocks to make sure that the wheels were solid and the tyres were holding their air (and not ballooning out of the sidewall like when I first installed them in a absent-minded manner).

Second, I haven't acquired a tool kit, or a secondary patch kit for this bike, nor do I have a strap on water bottle cage for this bike (as it has no brazed on mount points for normal bolt on attachments.

Lastly, it was 34° C today and quite frankly the humidity made it feel as if I were basting in an oven. I'd rather bike quasi-lightly today to be able to bike again, another day. This route involves starting at the bottom of a hill (in Hilltown Township) and climbing 29 metres over ¹/₂ km. The are enough flat areas on this route that make it an enjoyable ride, but given that I was always trying to keep spinning, it did take some effort and I did sweat. Hopefully this will subside as it has when i ride my hybrid 30+ km.

The results of the 11 km route I took (on a whim mind you, there was no predetermined plan outside of which direction I was going to head at the start of my journey) were rather interesting. I need to move my seat further back, I need to adjust the height of my seat and ultimately, I need to get better padded gloves as even with the wonderful supportive drop bar wrap from Specialized, I was feeling a bit of pressure in my hands.

It has been a long time since rode a road bike and while I know that I'm a bit out of shape for that kind of riding, I know that I'll be able to start dropping kilos If I keep this kind of workout as part of my regular exercise.

This bike is a success but does need some fine adjustments both to its seat and bars, as well as to the rider who happens to not be used to the harshness of the terrain on this 35 year old back which once suffered two slipped discs. Looking forward to the next ride.