Tire Cleaning in the Snow

I've been doing some annual cleaning and maintenance on several of our bikes.  Today I took a pair of tires/wheels outside to scrub in the snow.  Warm water kept my hands warm and the snow made it easy to prop up the wheels!

No More Sick

What a fun past couple weeks.  Two weeks ago I came home after work on Friday thinking about what movie to watch during a long trainer ride the next day.  My plans changed when I woke up in the middle of the night with a fever and severe body aches.  A week later the flu was gone but I was tired and weak.

The past couple days I've felt some energy back but have held off on doing anything.  Today I had enough and thought it was time for a ride.  The roads were clear although littered with cinders so I put on the cross tires and fenders.  I've never used my fenders with cross tires but a quick adjustment of the fenders allowed ample clearance.

Planet Bike fenders over a Ritchey Speedium cross tire.

I had planned to ride a short loop but was feeling okay and I added on distance a couple times.  I ended up out past Moreland and riding on James Road.  Eventually I turned towards home and was met with a cold headwind.  For some reason I never even thought about wind direction as I chose my route.  Oh well, I stayed mostly warm.

Riding through the swamp on a snow covered road.

All the other roads on the ride were clear pavement.

There nothing like being down and out for a couple weeks to make you really appreciate getting out on a ride!

Hydrapak = Excellent Customer Service

Recently I noticed a small issue developing with my Hydrapak hydration pack.  The small loop inside the pack from which the hydration bladder hangs was beginning to detach.  I've figured that one of these days I would open the pack after a ride and find the loop had given way.

I sent the folks at Hydrapak an email with an image of the frayed loop attached.  Within 24 hours I had a reply stating the loop must not have been sewed properly.  They asked for my address to send a new pack.  Wow, prompt and very fair service.

 My replacement Hydrapak Flume.

About 7 to 10 days later a package was sitting on the front porch.  I had wondered if they would send just the pack itself or a complete pack, bladder and drinking tube.  After opening the mailing envelope I was excited to find the whole deal, including what appears to be a newer version 45 degree bite valve than my 90 degree bite valve.  Nice!

I give Hydrapak customer service very high marks.  Nobody wants to have a problem with a product but we all know mistakes happen and the important thing is the service you receive if the problem happens to you.  Very well done Hydrapak!

Also, I should point out the Hydrapak system is best in its category in my opinion.  Check out their web site (www.hydrapak.com) and study up on the ease of use and cleaning of their bladder.

2011's First Ride

Having not been able to do a New Year’s Day ride, Ryan and I set our sights on a second-day-of-the-year ride.  We debated the pros/cons of a road ride versus an off road ride.  It was warm enough on Saturday to melt all the snow and it was cold enough last night to refreeze the ground.  Today’s forecast called for sunny but windy conditions. 

We decided to avoid the wind on the open roads and head to the woods.  The Knob or Mohican?  We figured the drainage at Mohican better handled yesterday’s thaw so we drove south.

There were several cars in the mountain bike parking lot but only one with a bike rack.  We bundled up with multiple layers, heavy gloves and over boots.  Gotta love the warming effect of the first uphill mile.  We crunched along on frozen ground for 8 miles before turning around.  I’m still amused by how the trail feels different in the opposite direction.  It’s more than just downhills becoming uphills and vice-versa.  There is some good flow to be found in the first couple miles after the turnaround.

At mile marker 4 we chose the short loop return to the start.  The section along the campground is good fun and we had not ridden this section last time.  I always like the last 500 yards of the trail.  It’s slightly downhill with some rocks to drop over and then you come blasting out in the grass alongside the parking lot.

I stayed pretty toasty despite the sub freezing temperatures.  The bite valve on my Hydrapak was constantly freezing up.  Fortunately I could chew the bite valve and suck to get my Gatoraide flowing again.  Ryan enjoyed a slushy bottle of sports drink.

It was invigorating to get outside on a ride, a good start to the year for cycling!

First project of the year

Happy New Year!  I had hoped for a New Years Day ride but the weather was not cooperative.  Although warm it rained the entire day.  Instead I spent some time in the basement on a long over due project... bike storage.

I screwed bike hooks to a 2x4 and hung it from the

floor joists with some perforated angle iron pieces. 

 The bikes are hung by the furnace with care,

in hopes that a rider would soon be there.

The hooks are 16" on center.  I wouldn't go any closer

else the bikes may interfere with each other.  As it is,

they must be hung in alternating directions.