[KS1G]

@2 Dirt’s #4: Boring. Movies, TV shows, and TdF videos will take you only so far. #7: Uncomfortable. I can ride for hours on the road; a bit over an hour seems to be my limit on the trainer. Probably the constrained motion of the bike.

Trainers are better (and safer and easier on equipment?) than taking the winter off, and good for repeated efforts where you are trying to hit a particular heart rate, RPE, or power without distractions, stop signs, lights, or traffic, or need to stay balanced after an all-out effort. Fluid and magnetic resistance units are quieter than wind turbine/fans, but none are “it’s 3AM and you don’t want to wake anyone” quiet. Some of the cheaper fluid units have a (I read it on the Internet) reputation of leaking. Use a heavy duty QR skewer (my trainer came with one) and either an old tire or trainer-specific (Dirt’s #6). A friend has a Kinetic RR and is quite happy with it (he trains exclusively for TT and has an extraordinary toelrance for discomfort and bordeom).

You will SWEAT – large volumes of air movement are essential. I’ve used a big box fan & oscilating fan. Have something on and under the bike to catch the sweat. Spouses do not appreciate using the rug/carpet in this manner. The bike does not appreciate being dripped on. If using a TV for entertainment, figure out where you are storing the remote before you start.

Rollers are a whole different beast. Riders I know who have tried them recommend starting in a doorway so you have something to hold onto. I don’t have the smoothness to use one safely.

[KS1G]

I’m unfamiliar with exactly what CaBi has for carrying stuff; but I have tried a bunch of coffee-carrying approaches. The one that works for me is a Thermos Nissan 24oz (other sizes available) insulated steel thermos. With a little bending of the cage, it fits in the typical metal bike bottle cage and keeps a jumbo portion of (brewed @ home for me) caffinated goodness at a drinkable temperature all day. It will survive repeated instances of falling of the bike at speed; I have (thankfully!) not tested how it survives getting run over by a car! My thermos is approaching 2 years old, and while it is 100% functional, it’s collected many cosmetic dings & scrapes and I am considering requesting a new one from my family for the upcoming $WINTER_HOLIDAY_GIFT_EXCHANGE. Checking amazon, it looks like the current models are a little larger (26 oz) and they’ve added several insulated hydration bottles that may fit a bottle cage better and should work as well for hot beverages as for cold.

[KS1G]

They may go to eleven, but I prefer it more around eight. More is not always better.

150 psi? word – That would result in a painfully harsh ride for me. I have 23mm Vitorria’s Open Corsa CX-somethings on one of my road bikes and usually ran 110-120 psi, 95-105 is still more comfortable and not noticably slower. See #2 and #4 above for other very good reasons.

[KS1G]

I’m OK with Zombies. Just as long as this stops before we get to “Slaying of the First Born”! Traffic in Chantilly was a mess yesterday, with RT28 S being at a full stop backing up onto all the neighboring roads. Drivers must’ve been thinking “that guy is nuts!”…”but he’s moving and I am not.”

The flood pictures make the 2″ of water I rode through on the W&OD between Grant & Ferndale in Herndon trivial.

[KS1G]

Call Trails End Cycles in Purcelville and ask what might be nearby or suggest. CCrew has a good suggestion – Loudoun County Transit may have routes that are closer to the Ashbrun area or Rt 28/Dulles Town Center – check their schedule. Once you get back to Herndon, there are Fairfax Connector bus routes that run all day and weekends, not just commuter hours, and all buses have bike racks.

[KS1G]

I’m an engineer, so data dorkiness is an occupational hazard and likely genetic. Plus I have an annual mileage competition with a college classmate. I started using a Polar 710 several years ago and switched to a Garmin 500 about a year ago.

For training rides with power, I use Golden Cheetah. I log everything at the Garmin site (good for keeping that annual mileage log current). I keep a spreadsheet for tracking my commuting (started it when my commute went from 4-5 to 11-12 miles each way). I recently found out about Strava and it looks very interesting, especially the Android app. I am pretty pleased with what is available for the Garmin devices; the upload process is reasonably effortless. Strava may become the 1st Android app for cycling I actually use. I don’t like the battery consumption the phone apps require and prefer the dedicated bike systems.

I was not impressed with Polar’s software when I was using it; the competition from Garmin & others may force them to fix the PC and web-based software.

[KS1G]

@Dirt 6518 wrote:

I can relate to that.

And my wife complains about my 3 bikes, daughter’s bike (that has been unridden since she got her driver’s license), wife’s bike (I think even the dust bunnies have dust bunnies), and the (borrowed) tandem I’m hoping to get her on sometime between a few weeks ago and the 1st frost. I’m sharing CC’s comment and this photo with her.

[KS1G]

@5555624 5402 wrote:

Something bright enough to light a trail with no other light source around. (I am currently using a NiteRider TriNewt, which replaced my NiteRider Digital Pro12E.) Mount it on the bike.A helmet-mounted lgiht can be a secondary light, if you think you need one (and is helpful if you need to fix a flat).

Agree. I’m a Dinotte fan-boy; my preferred night-time lighting now consists of a 200L on my helmet (AA-version, because I already have it and finding replacement AA’s in an emergency is easy, although the Li-version will have better run-time) and a 600L (discontinued, look for their 400L or 800 models) on the handlebars. 600L puts out plenty of light – usually more than necessary so I can run at a lower level for battery life. Use the 200L in flash and point it at drivers, interesting shadows, etc. Taillight – their 200L rear light, and a Planet Bike Superflash and the clone Performance and Nashbar sells on back of helmet. And a reflector, so I’m state-legal.

Dinotte isn’t cheap but watch for sales. Support is excellent.

[Author]

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