Not banging on all gears yet with maintenance.
Thought I figured out the problem on the blue bike. Chain seemed to just slide around the middle chain ring when pedal pressure was applied. The teeth on the ring looked very rounded and had a wide valley between them.
Replaced it with an old 42 tooth ring. Not SIS but excellent teeth. Rode in the yard without slipage. Went out on the road and things were fine. After a while, 5 miles, the back began to skip.
Stopped and started a few times to make rear derailleur adjustments for the skip. Help some but the longer I rode the more gears the rear skip developed across.
Went back to the house to see if the problem can be fixed w/o getting new rear gears.
BTW, new front derailleur works well. Need to see if it still works after being raised a mm or 3. When it's on outer ring the inner plate rubs on top of the middle ring's teeth.
Don't want to ignore the rub because I think the teeth are softer than the inner plate. Raising derailleur would eliminate the rub. Then need to find out if shifting is still accurate.
Height is propper clearance for outer plate to outer ring teeth gap. Raising it will raise it out of "gage" height. Need to see if it still shifts as sweet as it does now after being raised. If it still is 'on' will definitely keep it.
Monday, September 7, 2009
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Been a while since posting...
It's been a long time since my last posts. The muse was kicked off about 2 years ago by an almost fatal bicycle accident.
I've been riding as much as I can since. Achieving 75% of pre crash mileage two years later is doing well.
During the recovery I've been riding more with other people than I did in the past. Plus I've ridden in more organized rides, mostly charity.
This is a short clip from a recent ride with a friend.
New England in late summer is a really nice place to ride.
I've been riding as much as I can since. Achieving 75% of pre crash mileage two years later is doing well.
During the recovery I've been riding more with other people than I did in the past. Plus I've ridden in more organized rides, mostly charity.
This is a short clip from a recent ride with a friend.
New England in late summer is a really nice place to ride.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Really Riding Again
Well I got out on the road two of three days on this Martin Luther King holiday.
Felt good to get some real riding in. And doing so in the beautiful cold clear January air made it all the more enjoyable. My last two rides, that's all its been since crashing in July, totaled barely fifteen miles. And I was concerned about not exceeding my abilities or getting to far from home.
The two rides this weekend I went with excitement looking forward to again cruising the road with some comfort and confidence. That's pretty much how it worked out. Did exactly the same ride both days, a 20 miler that turns around right before it becomes my 30 mile ride. Felt good and comfortable on the bike both days. Even though it was cold, 26° both days, I was comfortable. Wasn't too bundled so could move easily and wasn't restricted and had layers enough to keep everything warm and comfortable without being sweaty.
The second day it did feel colder that the first day, despite the thermometer saying it was the same both days. I did a 40 minute spin on the fluid trainer each day before going out on the road. Just worked out that way. Sunday I wanted to make sure I exercised and knew it was a sure thing if I spun on the fluid trainer. Figured a ride was less certain because of the temperature. Then ended up doing both much to my delight.
Don't remember how Monday evolved into exercise on the trainer and on the road. Just happy it did though.
Felt good to get some real riding in. And doing so in the beautiful cold clear January air made it all the more enjoyable. My last two rides, that's all its been since crashing in July, totaled barely fifteen miles. And I was concerned about not exceeding my abilities or getting to far from home.
The two rides this weekend I went with excitement looking forward to again cruising the road with some comfort and confidence. That's pretty much how it worked out. Did exactly the same ride both days, a 20 miler that turns around right before it becomes my 30 mile ride. Felt good and comfortable on the bike both days. Even though it was cold, 26° both days, I was comfortable. Wasn't too bundled so could move easily and wasn't restricted and had layers enough to keep everything warm and comfortable without being sweaty.
The second day it did feel colder that the first day, despite the thermometer saying it was the same both days. I did a 40 minute spin on the fluid trainer each day before going out on the road. Just worked out that way. Sunday I wanted to make sure I exercised and knew it was a sure thing if I spun on the fluid trainer. Figured a ride was less certain because of the temperature. Then ended up doing both much to my delight.
Don't remember how Monday evolved into exercise on the trainer and on the road. Just happy it did though.
Friday, January 4, 2008
And the new year's here...
Well it's been a long time (anyone have deja vu now?) since posting.
I've been hoping to have more riding stories. Nothing much to say. One ride in November, just over 5 miles, and one ride in December, just over 9½ miles, and I think 2007 closed with 1,011 miles in the bag.
Being very cautious about road conditions so I'm not storming back out on the road. It has taken me a while to get with the idea of riding the fluid trainer in the basement.
Finally had a three day stint where I focused on the feel of training and not the time slowly creeping by in the basement. Put in good efforts all three times. Each evening's training varied the resistance and speed. Even got up on the 3rd level on the fluid resistance. And I'm sure this is the first 3-day "riding" interval in ages.
At first I figured I'd ride the trainer for guilt because of the money spent on the trainer, then for pride to get back into some kind of shape, finally I realized if I'm going to do it regularly it's because that's the way I want to treat myself. This entry may be marked with the date I first created it. I haven't posted it until several days later. At this point I'm treating myself well and have time on the trainer for each day of the new year!
I've been hoping to have more riding stories. Nothing much to say. One ride in November, just over 5 miles, and one ride in December, just over 9½ miles, and I think 2007 closed with 1,011 miles in the bag.
Being very cautious about road conditions so I'm not storming back out on the road. It has taken me a while to get with the idea of riding the fluid trainer in the basement.
Finally had a three day stint where I focused on the feel of training and not the time slowly creeping by in the basement. Put in good efforts all three times. Each evening's training varied the resistance and speed. Even got up on the 3rd level on the fluid resistance. And I'm sure this is the first 3-day "riding" interval in ages.
At first I figured I'd ride the trainer for guilt because of the money spent on the trainer, then for pride to get back into some kind of shape, finally I realized if I'm going to do it regularly it's because that's the way I want to treat myself. This entry may be marked with the date I first created it. I haven't posted it until several days later. At this point I'm treating myself well and have time on the trainer for each day of the new year!
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Back in the saddle - finally !
Went out for my first ride today. It's been since July 22nd that I've been on the bike on the road. I needed just a bit more than five miles to get over 1,000 for the year. This ride was a gentle flat ride that was done at an easy spin. It was 5.7 miles and put me at 1,001 miles for the year. Not the 4,000+ I was planning on at the beginning of the year but considering how the crash interrupted riding this year it's just good to be back out on the road.
Just five miles but it did wear me out more than I would have anticipated. Starting the ride seemed easy enough. Balance was fine, steering was a bit shaky. Needed to focus on where I wanted to go or would go off course a bit, couldn't look left/right much more than briefly or that would steer the bike unintentionally. Steering was fine once I recognized that. In the early part of the ride I was thinking I might get at least 100 miles in December if the roads stay clear. By the time I was back I was thinking it will take time to build up to a 20 mile ride and I'll be doing well to get in 50 miles more before the end of the year.
In any case I'm riding again. All I have to do now is keep doing it.
Just five miles but it did wear me out more than I would have anticipated. Starting the ride seemed easy enough. Balance was fine, steering was a bit shaky. Needed to focus on where I wanted to go or would go off course a bit, couldn't look left/right much more than briefly or that would steer the bike unintentionally. Steering was fine once I recognized that. In the early part of the ride I was thinking I might get at least 100 miles in December if the roads stay clear. By the time I was back I was thinking it will take time to build up to a 20 mile ride and I'll be doing well to get in 50 miles more before the end of the year.
In any case I'm riding again. All I have to do now is keep doing it.
Friday, November 9, 2007
A new souvenier and progress
Went back to the crash site a while ago and found some debris from the crash. This is the right lens from my riding glasses. From the marks on the lens I'm guessing two impacts, at least, to the lens. The first would be the scratches going more top to bottom. The second would be those going more right to left. How do I know? I don't, still don't remember anything. However the left to right scratches seem to go over the top to bottom scratches so they must have come second.
Considering how gouged it is I have no idea how my face didn't get scratched up. Nose, brow, cheek, chin, not a mark on them. A little bit on the right of the head where the temple from the glasses would have been but nothing else.
I've been back to work for three weeks now. Very limited duty. Two hours a day the first week. Three a day the second and it was supposed to be four a day the third. Wasn't quite up to it so did the third week at three hours a day. Next week will be four a day. Feel much better at the end of this week than felt at the end of last week. I'm pretty sure I'll make it through next week okay. May be wanting Friday to come a little early. But that'll be okay. That happened sometimes before I crashed.
Have been spending some time on my new trainer. Feels okay. Have done two twenty minute spins on it now. I'm thinking I'll be able to get out for a short ride before the end of November.
I'm thinking with the spinning on the trainer and exercises from therapy the ride will be, relatively, easy. The part that will really need some testing is balance. Will need to ride in the yard a bit to see how that goes. Between now and the end of the year I only need five miles to be over 1,000 miles. About a quarter of what I was anticipating around the time of the crash but at least it's four digits.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
One week in the bag
Been back at work a week now. Just two hours a day. Start three hours a day next week. It was more effort than I anticipated. Physically, by the end of the week, I was a bit worn down. Mentally it was challenging to be alert the whole time. I'm hoping that the extra hour a day next week won't be more taxing.
It's hard to get anything done in two hours a day. To think two hours a day is tiring is hard to imagine. Good incentive to stick with the doctor's orders and not try and stretch my time. The goal is to get back to full time not to burn myself out and fail at resuming a normal work schedule.
PT has been good. I'm doing some exercises that seem to be restoring some of my flexibility and stabilizing my back and neck. My hamstrings and back had really tightened up during the sedentary recovery. Using the exercises to get some flexibility back is helping increase comfort with everything I do.
The back and neck stabilization exercises are really helpful. Before, a few times a day, I would make some move that caused a pain between my shoulder blades like something in my spine was snapping into or out of place. That happens much less frequently now and that's a good thing.
Keep on trying to expand the envelope of things I can do. I took my old road bike out and rode it on the yard, with my helmet on. Very short ride, just half the length of the yard and back to the starting point. Balance was okay if a bit tentative. Certainly not ready to ride at road speed much less on the road. Position on the bike felt uncomfortable. Could definitely feel tightness in my back bending over the bars and weakness in my shoulders keeping my my head and neck up and steering.
That experience led to ordering a stationary trainer to put the bike in. I have rollers but there's no way I'd be safe riding on them. With the stationary trainer I'll at least be able to get on, spin my legs, build some leg strength and aerobic capacity and monitor my back and shoulders for improved comfort in the riding position.
Now I've got two things to focus efforts on. Mental stamina to be able to build back up to a regular work schedule and physical stamina to be able to get out and ride again. I've succeeded, if somewhat underwhelmingly, at getting started back at both. Now I'll just have to keep building on these first efforts.
It's hard to get anything done in two hours a day. To think two hours a day is tiring is hard to imagine. Good incentive to stick with the doctor's orders and not try and stretch my time. The goal is to get back to full time not to burn myself out and fail at resuming a normal work schedule.
PT has been good. I'm doing some exercises that seem to be restoring some of my flexibility and stabilizing my back and neck. My hamstrings and back had really tightened up during the sedentary recovery. Using the exercises to get some flexibility back is helping increase comfort with everything I do.
The back and neck stabilization exercises are really helpful. Before, a few times a day, I would make some move that caused a pain between my shoulder blades like something in my spine was snapping into or out of place. That happens much less frequently now and that's a good thing.
Keep on trying to expand the envelope of things I can do. I took my old road bike out and rode it on the yard, with my helmet on. Very short ride, just half the length of the yard and back to the starting point. Balance was okay if a bit tentative. Certainly not ready to ride at road speed much less on the road. Position on the bike felt uncomfortable. Could definitely feel tightness in my back bending over the bars and weakness in my shoulders keeping my my head and neck up and steering.
That experience led to ordering a stationary trainer to put the bike in. I have rollers but there's no way I'd be safe riding on them. With the stationary trainer I'll at least be able to get on, spin my legs, build some leg strength and aerobic capacity and monitor my back and shoulders for improved comfort in the riding position.
Now I've got two things to focus efforts on. Mental stamina to be able to build back up to a regular work schedule and physical stamina to be able to get out and ride again. I've succeeded, if somewhat underwhelmingly, at getting started back at both. Now I'll just have to keep building on these first efforts.
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