Back on Track!!

As part of the overall "getting ready"process  for my five events, I started today with a Personal Trainer at the Local YMCA (Thanks RK!!). It is just the beginning in what I hope will prepare me in a more thorough way for my upcoming five events. It sure felt good to be back in the Gym. I plan to be much more consistent in my gym "participation" as I know that any prior work now will make my events, which start in less than 5 months, that much easier. THIS is NOT going to be easy to get into the shape that I want to be in.....but it WILL be worth it in the long run, especially as something that is sustainable for a lifetime. 

I know that it has been a while since I have entered a blog entry ,  but with trips to the West Coast etc... 

Now... any one remember where I have hidden the "workout candy" aka Advil... I sure could use some right about now.

One Bike, One Ride....

On Friday after work, went to the Spin Cycle (thespincycle.com) to pick up a bike for a test. Kevin let me have the bike for the weekend so I can give it a test while going out for my normal Saturday ride with my NRRG (North Raleigh Ride Group). 42 miles along the "Flat Rock" route (also known as the "Bueller" route) provided a good test. I must admit it was a bit handling all the changes in one ride. First I was one of only 2 people on the ride that had done this ride as thus had to "keep my head in the game" in order to give directions to the group as the where and when to turn. Second this was a whole new bike and bike material to me. I had never ridden a "carbon fiber" bike before so the feel was VERY different than my aluminum bike. Second this bike had a "compact crank" so the feel shifting was quite different as well. My current bike has a front "triple" chain ring and this newer bike has just two chain rings. I guess that it would be helpful to reiterate what it was that I got for a loaner for the weekend: It is a Specialized Rouibaix  with Shimano Ultega SL group components. This bike not only made up of a different material, Carbon Fiber, but is  what is called "Compact Geometry" as well. Yes, there have been many many changes since I last purchased a bike. Impressions....the thing sure accelerates well! When you really put a lot of "umph" into a pedal stroke on a flat it really is translated into forward motion quite quickly. The compact crank and different shifting I would really have to get used to. It does, however, seem quite responsive. I really want to save my final opinion until I have ridden all the bikes that I am going to test, so as to make a fair judgement and assessment. 42 mile ride with some good hills and a bit of a headwind going on the outward portion and a nice tailwind on the return with a final average speed right around 18 miles per hour. Like the title of the post says....one ride, one bike....more to come...we shall see...time will tell!

Answers and yet more Questions

Yesterday.... A great trip to a great store --the Spin Cycle. (www.thespincycle.com) Kevin Coggins, the owner and I had a great fact filled 1 and 1/2 hour conversation. Some of the things that came out of my visit to Kevin's place: There has been a tremendous amount of change in bike and bike component manufacturing in the six years and the bike that you get today is much more capable and better equipped for the same price as only a few years ago. Also the advancement in Carbon Materials as it relates to bike manufacturing is tremendous. Also a third component manufacturer, SRAM, has come to road biking in a big way after a pretty long history in Mountain biking. We went in depth on many areas of questions that I either had questions on or my lack of knowledge was important to improve upon so as to make a more informed and better buying decision. Kevin, because of our long association, both on and off the bike, let me know a few of the recent business decisions that certain bicycle and component manufacturers have made that are not always in the best interest of keeping options open for both the bike store owner and the retail consumer as well. It is alarming and disappointing to see bicycle companies and component manufacturers  act so much like the rest of the business world, but I digress. I currently have a triple front chain ring on my bike for the "mountain excursions" that I participate in and am now considering going to a "newer" concept of a "compact crank" to make things a bit simpler. So Kevin and I talked and talked and talked ....well you get the point....most every thing that makes up a bike was discussed, discected and fully expounded upon. My head was "Spinning" (no pun intended-the spin cycle) after leaving. I think that more and more questions came to mind on the drive home. 

I do think that we came down to a few conclusions though: I am going to "test ride" a few bikes equipped with differing components and different manufacturers. I may take out the "loaner" Specialized Roubaix for my weekend trial ride on my normal ride with the "North Raleigh Ride Group". I am also going to try a couple of "Felt" Bicycles. I also plan to try out some or both of these bikes equipped with the new SRAM components. Again, this may drive me to more questions but will, ultimately, get me closer to a very "sound" buying decision. 

Again...will update....but it appears that a plan is coming together and YES I am EXCITED!

Not much new still planning....

Not much to report today....replaced a front tube on my present bike as I broke it off before Saturday's ride-- 52 mile excursion on the "Mitchners Crossroads" route.

Tomorrow could prove to be very fruitful as an afternoon trip to see "The Wizard" at "The Spin Cycle" (www.thespincycle.com) Kevin Coggins. I hope to get a tremendous amount of good information regarding my "stead" that I might be using for my "5 at Fifty" rides.

Will update soon....

First Entry....off we go!

Here's the deal....Big fifty is coming up on the calendar and there must be some way to "celebrate" in a fashion befitting some one who wants to "do it right!" So a blog where I can alert all my friends of my plans and aspirations and get lots of people involved is my first step.

The plan is "Five Rides for Fifty Years- A Year Long Celebration of Life". I plan to do  5 major bike rides in my fifieth year of life and ask all that may want to participate to come along for some fun. 

The first event will be the "Tarwheel Century" in Elizabeth City NC .

The second event will be the "Three Mountain Madness". 

The Third (and first multiple day ride) will be "Ride the Rockies"

The fourth will be Hillsboro North Carolina's "Bike Fest" 

and the Grand Finale and number five

will be Cycle Oregon.

That's all for now..... more to come