[acc]

Yep, and I’m a volunteer between 6-10.
I may be working the registration desk
Or coordinating games — oh my
Or the patio bouncer — I don’t think I have the skill set for that
Or restocking the bar — just like what I do at home

There may be dancing. The theme is the Roaring 1920’s and I’m not very good at the Charleston. But I know I’m better than Blacknell.

So please come, it should be fun.

ann

[acc]

I am sorry you are fighting through such an ordeal.

You make an excellent point. Even a bad day on a bike is a good day.

Godspeed.

ann

[acc]

In theory I could ride to Wolf Trap from the Vienna Community Center but so far I can’t come up with a route that doesn’t involve some sketchy, twisty two-lane roads. The new bridge helps a lot though.

ann

[acc]

Take the lane. Be assertive. Don’t hug the right side of the road when there is not enough room for you and a car to coexist safely.
These were important words heard today at Confident City Cycling Class.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]989[/ATTACH]

Mark, Kathy, and I represented this forum today. The first hour was spent listening to instructions and having a chance to ride through some drills to emphasize scanning and safe stopping and starting. The we hit the streets.

Yesterday the instructors introduced themselves. Bruce Wright from FABB said he uses his bike in place of his car. He is a terrific instructor, calm and professional. Mr. Chris Eathough mentioned he did some competitive stuff. I guess *this* slipped his mind. http://www.24-solo.com/trailer/trailer_mov_MPEG4_large_mpeg4_dl.mov You simply cannot be timid when this person is leading.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]990[/ATTACH]

For about two hours we rode through every type of traffic situation there is. We rode through residential areas and busy streets (Columbia Pike). We rode along the Mount Vernon Trail and its intersections of Doom. We merged across two lanes of traffic to turn left. We rode sharrows and bike lanes, up hills (Wilson Blvd) and down. We rode through stop signs and traffic lights. We made tricky crossings with limited visibility. Every type of road condition available in Arlington we rode. It was practical and smart.

If you have the opportunity to take Confident City Cycling, do it. It was four hours that may end up saving my life. If you feel confident riding the streets, recommend this class to someone you care about.

ann

[acc]

Sure, I’m in.

[acc]

Phidippides would only remind me of running, my least favorite activity besides taking out the trash.

Three things happened at about the same time to convince me I needed a better fit.
1. I wasn’t getting any better at sharp turns even though I spent time practicing.
2. I saw a picture of myself next to other riders at the Bike Summit Ride and my positioning was out of alignment. I looked like a flying squirrel reaching for the handlebars.
3. I knew the pedals didn’t feel right. The power of pedaling wasn’t going into the ball of my foot.

As for being sore and stiff from riding I’ve noticed two things. As long as I continue to lift and stretch I feel a lot better. And I learned some things from Tim, the combination of swimming, running, and biking works to distribute the physical stress of exercise. But you have real obstacles to manage, I’m just a natural complainer.

Does any of this really matter? Probably not if I’m just out riding around by myself. But if I ride in groups or any other situation where speed and bike handling are important then it matters.

If I don’t drown during the swim portion of the triathlon I’ll have to get on my bike and ride— with people — going fast. I strongly suspect they won’t be calling out “on your left.” Therefore I need to be in control of my bike. I won’t have the large margins of error I try to build in for myself when I’m riding in traffic or out on the trails.

The only name for the new bike that’s popped into my head so far has been Apollo.

[acc]

Oh, he’s a guy. That’s obvious. I had to have him “trimmed” in the shop.

[acc]

I name my bikes after handsome men. So any name is up for grabs except one: Blacknell.

[acc]

Blacknell, you swine.

Calling me a chimpanzee? On a bike? You will pay.
After a winter at Bull Run trying to teach myself to corner sharply and failing, I went to Clovis at Freshbikes for a professional fitting.
It was like going to a doctor’s for a head cold and finding out you have inoperable lung cancer.
I knew Spartacus had a roving eye. I had no idea he lusted after a much bigger woman. I simply could not compete.
So after flattening his tires with some creative bike tool movements, I let him go. He wanted something I could never be, larger.

I have a new bike.

It is truly amazing. Riding a bike that fits seduces you into riding to the corner just to buy a pack of gum. Riding a bike that’s fun to ride makes you ride sixteen miles to turn in a five page paper. Love makes fools of us all.

I don’t have a name for him yet.

ann

[acc]

All I could think about today was the possibility that a child’s dinner would not be on the table tonight, or a son or daughter would not be picked up from school because Mom tried to ride her bike to work. That breaks my heart. I am grateful to the motorist who stopped and stayed at the scene. I am so sorry for the woman’s family. Any cyclist who pays the ultimate price for riding the roads is a tragic loss. I hope the accident investigation is thorough. I hope the conclusions of the report are used to make the roads safer for motorists and cyclists. This was a terrible day.

ann

[acc]

Apparently I was made from scrap parts.

I am 5’3″ but a 44 cm bike is the size that fits me the best.

When things slow down at work I will tell the whole ugly story but for now I just want to say that a good fitting session for me required two trips and almost five hours. Granted, I’m small and have weird proportions but that’s how long it took to dial in a bike that honest to goodness fits. And I’ll have to return after 100 miles for slight adjustments.

That being said, for the first year I rode having a precise fit didn’t matter. I rode a century on Spartacus and did fine.

But now it matters. I’m going to race and I need to have control over the bike. I don’t want to endanger anyone and I want to do as well as I can. Riding a bike that fits feels amazing. It is like the bike and I are one single entity.

ann

[acc]

First, YOU ROCK!! My God, you are seriously out there riding. Congratulations.

Second, I’ve been heartbroken for the last day and feel bad about not getting back here faster.

Please get a professional fit. Last night I discovered that Spartacus, the only man I get along with, is three sizes too big for me. All the issues I’ve been ignoring weren’t because of my ineptitude. The numbness, the twitching in my hands, the unbearable saddle, my neck killing me, a lot of my problems are due to riding on a bike that is far too big for me.

I’ve been riding on a 50 cm frame. I need a 44 cm frame. The other dimensions are just as bad. Spartacus is so far out of alignment there is nothing that can be done to adjust him.

Before you do anything else, go have a professional fit your bike.

And more congratulations for being a tough broad. You should not be riding in pain.

ann

[acc]

Zipping is easy. You can do it with one hand, not hard at all.

Have not come to a firm conclusion about the tri outfit. The manufacturers take two approaches. One, make cycling shorts that can be immersed in water. Two, make swimsuit (bottom half) that can be ridden on a bike.

ann

[acc]

I saw a lot of people taking a lot of calculated risks. But I also noticed cyclists and pedestrians reacting to what was happening around them and avoiding collisions by stopping or altering their course. That was fascinating. Thank you for posting.
ann

[acc]

http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodGB_WXENTO.html

😮

[Author]

Replies