I'll start with the bonk. Since we started cycling, I've been trying, with very limited success, to get the missus to eat when we ride 30+ miles. I'll take a banana or two and a handful of granola/type bars. I may be able to get her to eat half a banana and half a bar (20-30gms of carbs total), but that's about it. It wasn't a problem at first when she was nervous about the bike and going slower, but as she's been getting more comfortable and speeding up, I've been worrying (but pushing her harder would have been the wrong move). Well, yesterday it hit her and it hit like a ton of bricks. We were probably going to do about 40 miles (our previous max was 33), and she was going faster than previous rides. I took a banana and 3 granola bars that were probably about 60gms of carbs all together. That wasn't enough food, but since we hadn't previously had any energy problems and I hadn't previously been able to get her to eat, I figured it would be adequate. At one point she said that she might be starting to feel a little hungry. I was hoping that wasn't a bad sign, but I was wrong. Every hill (and it's pretty flat here) was a struggle for her, half the time she'd start shiftng the gears the wrong way (but she did make it to the top of every hill). We ended up taking a shortcut home that she'd probably never have taken because of all of the roads, but it was that or she was afraid that she'd end up having to walk the bike several miles because we had nearly 8 left to go (vs 3 for the shortcut). We made it home. She's now on-board with the "eat before you're hungry" thing and listening to me about eating every 30 mins and eating at least 60 gms of carbs per hour. I'm ordering dextrose so I can make Redbeard's JAT Juice (homemade electrolyte/energy drink).
The good news is that we had been going faster than any previous run and we still ended up going 35 miles which was a couple of miles farther than our previous longest run. We also went out for a 15 mile recovery ride today since the weather was so nice.
We are both enjoying it (well, except yesterday) and marveling at how different it is than running (on many levels).
You guys were right, I had my seat a little lower initially and as I'm speeding up and going farther, I'm starting to raise the seat some to be more comfortable and get more power.
Good chamoises are great stuff!
This is a bit of a slippery slope kind of thing. I find myself pining over more expensive bikes. I find myself wanting new parts and gadgets.
I want new/better tires.
I want a new set of handlebars, probably alloy since I don't want to spend $300. I think mine are considered compact (i think they have about 60-70mm reach and about 120mm drop and are about 44cm wide. I think I could go with something a tad more narrow, maybe just 42cm. I also think I want something with a little different shape, maybe more of an ergonomic shape, something like:
These are the angled type. I've seen that some folks don't care for them because they limit where you can put your hands.
And then there's stuff like this, that just eliminates the top part of the curve in normal bars. These are calling to me a little more than the stuff above.
I think both of these bikes are Pelicanite's bikes. If anyone knows what these bars are, or a bar that looks the same that comes in alloy, let me know. (31.8mm stem/bar which most seem to be these days)
I do like what can be done with c/f (fat, flat tops, different shapes and sizes, etc...), but I don't want the expense, and I'm concerned about the durability. I'm sure that good c/f handlebars are great, but I'd hate to get a set and get a ding or scratch in them for sure. Besides, the bike was <$900. It seems a little crazy to spend $300 (or more) on a set of handlebars for it.
I think I'm about ready to pull the trigger on a bike computer and some lights. I saw some videos about lights that were interesting. Blinking lights are better than steadily lit lights. Random interval blinks are better than regular interval blinks and lights in motion (like lights on your knees or ankles) are better than static lights (like on a seat post). I'm still planning to get a couple of really good tail lights for us. I think they even have a group ride setting so they are less obnoxious for other riders in the group. I've wondered about lights that would strap to your knees or ankles so they bob up and down (kind of like Tobra talked about the glowing bracelets), but I've also wondered about the lights that go on your wheels/spokes. It seems like they would offer movement and would look like they were going up and down and may be easier than strapping stuff on your body every time you went out. I'm also trying to NOT get carried away. I don't think we need to end up like this (although with leds it wouldn't be hard to do):
There were a TON of folks out riding yesterday. I saw more people yesterday than I'd ever seen out before. It was a really good day for it. When we were getting started, I think it was Redbeard that told me to watch that we weren't getting bibs that didn't respond well to being stretched, that some could go transparent of sorts in the saddle. Well, yesterday, I guy went by myself and the missus. We both noticed that he was wearing a jersey that I have (but not the one that I was wearing) but what I noticed was that it looked like his bibs were worn and faded in the back, and then I realized that what I was really seeing was his ass crack.
It was NOT a good site to behold. Fortunately, our bibs don't seem to have that problem. Why couldn't it have been a hot chick?!?
I guess the one other thing is that I'm hoping to get out one day soon by myself so I can get an idea of how fast I can ride without having to slow down for the missus. But, I'm in no hurry, and won't leave her at home if she can come to do it.
I guess that's all for now. I'm sure I've left some things out, but that just gives me more to post at another time.