So I get asked quite a bit why I drive a beefy Norco Wolverine if 99 percent of my cycling is commuting...well...actually I haven't been asked this yet...ever. But I know as soon as this blog gets famous it will be the first question Anderson Cooper asks me on my hour-long special on CNN.
I am hard on bikes.The last bike I owned prior to the Norco was a Raleigh Tarantula, which is still a mountain bike but has a significantly slimmer frame. It was the most expensive bike I had ever owned, and it had the most problems. The rims were bent from the get-go and the handle bars would not stay tight. I eventually had the handlebars welded in place, which compromised the integity of the aluminum, which led to the handle bars snapping. I decided after this experience that I need to ride something that can take some abuse. I like having the option to snake of the main trail up through the woods whenever the mood suits me. The Norco is also equipped with a bush guard so I don't have to worry as much about bending my cogs. All-in-all it comes down to it being able to take more abuse than any other bike I have owned.
Now that that burning question has been answered on to my bike report for today. Today I biked over to the Southside YMCA where I met my carpool to work after going to the gym. After work I picked up my daughter at my parents and we biked back home for a total of 20 kms round trip. Since staring back biking and working out I have lost around 20 pounds (If you find them please don't feel obligated to return them....get it!..because usually you want back what you lost!... ahem) a total savings in Gas of six dollars because my wife biked the same route today so double gas savings!
Bike tip of the day: Your seat should be high enough that you can just barely NOT touch the ground. This allows you to fully extend your legs and maximize your power output.
Underrated of the day: YMCA! Great gym, new equipment, friendly patrons, and a very affordable Family Program. In fact if your strapped for cash and you let them know, they will work out a monthly payment that is right for you. I know people who go for as low as twenty-five bucks a month. Fantastic organization.
If you have any questions please don't hesitate to post. May not be able to answer them all, but I will do my best.
Monday, 30 May 2011
Sunday, 22 May 2011
May 22nd ( The Day after Armageddon)
Since the World did not end last night I have decided to be more intentional with my life (these to events do not actually have a correlation...but I thought it a nice way to start a blog). The definition of insanity is doing the same thing you have always done and expecting different results. With that in mind I got up today, quite possibly for the first time in my life, at five hours after Midnight to commence my day-- a trend that I intend to keep from now on. I started my day with a bowl of delicious Cream of Wheat with a touch of my Grandfather's Maple Syrup and a side of President's Choice Blueberry Yogurt (if it is good enough for the President than who am I to Scoff?) This was accompanied by reading King Solomon's Proverbs, Jesus' Beatitudes, and a selection from a Robert Frost Anthology. At ten-to-six I was out the door and on my Bike.
I'm not sure of the last time I was so cold. The bike shorts did wonders for my lack of Bikers butt, but offered little in the way of protection from the chill morning air. After a few back and fourths, and negotiating with myself which route I would take I decided to head down the Gibson trail believing that the dense tree growth that boarders the trail would shelter me from any wind that may pick up and give me time to get my blood pumping, and therefore my body temperature elevated. I biked to the Marshall D' Avrey Hall on UNB's Campus and then back across the walking bridge and up the trail boardering Gibson street to home for a round trip of 16.1km according to Google Maps. It was too cold to sweat. When I got home I paced in my kitchen to allow my body to warm up and the circulation to return to my pinky fingers. Has anyone else had the sensation of your pinkies being so cold and numb that as they warm up they feel itchy? The entire ride took me a little over an hour, or an episode and a quarter of the Dave Ramsey Show on my I-pod.
Underrated of the day: Early morning Fredericton. Maybe I am naive, but I feel that there are few Urban centers where you can get up early enough that you are virtually alone in the city. You'll find yourself nodding a friendly approval to the few others out early enough to be in on this secret.
16.1 km again if driving the Buick at 13.5L/100km(should factor in that it seems to be leaking Gas somewhere) and gas prices around 1.22/l . I saved about $2.65.
Bike tip of the day: Old toothbrushes are great for cleaning Gunk out of your cogs.
I'm not sure of the last time I was so cold. The bike shorts did wonders for my lack of Bikers butt, but offered little in the way of protection from the chill morning air. After a few back and fourths, and negotiating with myself which route I would take I decided to head down the Gibson trail believing that the dense tree growth that boarders the trail would shelter me from any wind that may pick up and give me time to get my blood pumping, and therefore my body temperature elevated. I biked to the Marshall D' Avrey Hall on UNB's Campus and then back across the walking bridge and up the trail boardering Gibson street to home for a round trip of 16.1km according to Google Maps. It was too cold to sweat. When I got home I paced in my kitchen to allow my body to warm up and the circulation to return to my pinky fingers. Has anyone else had the sensation of your pinkies being so cold and numb that as they warm up they feel itchy? The entire ride took me a little over an hour, or an episode and a quarter of the Dave Ramsey Show on my I-pod.
Underrated of the day: Early morning Fredericton. Maybe I am naive, but I feel that there are few Urban centers where you can get up early enough that you are virtually alone in the city. You'll find yourself nodding a friendly approval to the few others out early enough to be in on this secret.
16.1 km again if driving the Buick at 13.5L/100km(should factor in that it seems to be leaking Gas somewhere) and gas prices around 1.22/l . I saved about $2.65.
Bike tip of the day: Old toothbrushes are great for cleaning Gunk out of your cogs.
Winds of Change
I love Cycling: I feel I gain so much perspective when I'm cruising along at 15-20km under my own power. I live in Fredericton, NB and as soon as the snow melts I am on my bike. When I'm not on my Bike I drive a 98 Buick Century which gets 13.5km/100l. Gas prices today were at $1.28/ litre, and I Biked a total of 21.9km which means I saved (If my math's right) $2.96 today by biking. Not too shabby!
The wind today was incredible, and I was biking into the wind for about 30 percent of the ride hauling my Daughter's bike trailer. There were times when the wind was so strong the bike was skipping side-ways. My destinations today were the Fredericton Public Library, the Southside YMCA to pick up my daughter and then over to my parents house in Barkers Point.
Something I noticed today is that I must get around to my spring maintenance. My top gear seems to be skipping. As far as cleaning the chain you can by dedicated tools for this task; however, I have found that some household degreaser and an old toothbrush have served me well to dig the grime out of my cassette.
Underrated of the day: The Fredericton Public Library has a huge catalogue of books, cds, and dvds. I have found it great for getting me out of my comfort zone on a minimal budget. You can read the latest Bicycling magazine or pick up Planet of the Apes!It also offers some interesting services such as battery, and small electronic recycling. From the website with your library card you can access and download online books. All free! How can you go wrong?
Thanks for reading my blog! In the future I hope to have interviews with local bike-shop owners and other neat facts up/
The wind today was incredible, and I was biking into the wind for about 30 percent of the ride hauling my Daughter's bike trailer. There were times when the wind was so strong the bike was skipping side-ways. My destinations today were the Fredericton Public Library, the Southside YMCA to pick up my daughter and then over to my parents house in Barkers Point.
Something I noticed today is that I must get around to my spring maintenance. My top gear seems to be skipping. As far as cleaning the chain you can by dedicated tools for this task; however, I have found that some household degreaser and an old toothbrush have served me well to dig the grime out of my cassette.
Underrated of the day: The Fredericton Public Library has a huge catalogue of books, cds, and dvds. I have found it great for getting me out of my comfort zone on a minimal budget. You can read the latest Bicycling magazine or pick up Planet of the Apes!It also offers some interesting services such as battery, and small electronic recycling. From the website with your library card you can access and download online books. All free! How can you go wrong?
Thanks for reading my blog! In the future I hope to have interviews with local bike-shop owners and other neat facts up/
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