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Speaking of Volcanoes…

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Speaking of Volcanoes… Why are we speaking of volcanoes? I always seem to be finding out about another neat ride. Want to ride around a volcano? Head for Mount Rainier! Recently I looked up RAMROD. That one isn’t for those accustomed to sea level, I’d guess. Nor for a poor climber!  The ride includes 10,000 feet of elevation gain; and tops out at well over 4000 feet. The roads used are steep; and the shoulders are unpaved. RAMROD is a century-and-a-half, plus a bit more. Last time I rode 100 miles in one day was July 2013. Going for 150-something in one day would really be pushing it. I’d need to start planning and training right this minute if I intended to participate in RAMROD next year! It’s not only the distance; it’s the climbing. As for the altitude of RAMROD, what can you do when you live at sea level, and can’t afford to go train at altitude? Maybe a hypoxic mask? This year’s lottery registration is closed (sounds like RAGBRAI, right?) I was a bit late in dredging up a vague memory of having read about RAMROD some time ago. While we’re speaking of volcanoes, are there similar events at other such mountains? Cycle Vesuvius? Or Shasta? This blog/page may contain affiliate links. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.” ABOUT ME © This website is the property of its author. DISCLAIMER I am not a cycling coach; nor a health professional. This site is based on my own experiences, opinions, etc. If you need help, please consult the appropriate professional. FRESH FROM MY JOURNAL ✍🏻 Facebook Twitter Youtube INTERPRETER

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Thanks to Tambora

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Perhaps it\’s thanks to Tambora that we have the bicycles that we do. The word \”volcano\” conjures up images of death and destruction. We see pics in the news media of a mountain spewing out huge clouds of ash, emitting streams of molten lava; even burying entire cities. Just look at Pompeii. People who live near a volcano probably have an uneasy truce with the mountain. Scientists now know that a volcano that\’s been inactive for ages can wake up again. The residents would need to be prepared to evacuate should that occur. So then, is there anything good about volcanoes? Actually, there is. One reason for living close to a volcano is that volcanic soil is very fertile, and good for growing crops. Cyclists can thank the 1815 eruption of Indonesia\’s Tambora for their \”rides\”. As a result of all the ash and aerosols that Tambora blasted high into the atmosphere, there was global cooling. Widespread crop failure and famine resulted. In times such as that, it was difficult to keep a horse. A horse needed to be fed, and oats were hard to get. Enter Baron Karl von Drais. His invention is the forerunner of the modern bicycle. Using a \”dandy horse\” for transportation meant a horse didn\’t need to be fed and stabled. It was a lot faster than walking, but riders unfortunately wore out the soles of their boots quite quickly. Over time the Draisine evolved into the bicycle that we know today. So let\’s give our proper thanks to Tambora. If it hadn\’t been for Tambora — oh, sad to think of —  might we not have bicycles?    

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What’s In a Name?

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What\’s in a name? How do people and places acquire names, or nicknames? One of the signs of a true cyclist, they say, is that you name your bicycles. If that really is the case, count me in! I named the tricycle Valkyrie. That came about one morning when I\’d had the trike about 10 days. I was riding around the local park before going to work, pedaling as fast as I could; and a certain number by Richard Wagner popped into my head, out of nowhere. I had been considering names for the trike, and in that moment I had it: Valkyrie! The hybrid wound up with the name of Katy. Not long after I got it a co-worker, who is originally from Missouri, was telling me about the Katy Trail. It sounded like a lot of fun, and still does. As the Katy is a Rails-to-Trails ride, it\’s nearly flat, which would suit me just fine. For a while I was considering doing the Katy Trail Ride, and was thus inspired to name my hybrid bike Katy. As time went on, I began to realize that I could actually spend quite a lot of money on such a trip. I\’d have to find a way to get me and my bicycle to Missouri and back. I\’d need to borrow, rent, or buy a sleeping bag and tent. I decided I\’d rather put my dollars on a road bike, and have never regretted it; although I still would like to ride the Katy Trail some day. But the poor road bike got shortchanged when it comes to naming. It\’s a Scott, so I call it … Scottie. Now we know what\’s in a name; at least, where my bicycles are concerned.

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The Mental Edge

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Don\’t go over the mental edge! In its own way, that would be as bad as going over the edge of a cliff! At the same time, the mental edge has been frequently touted as supremely important; as being as much as 90% of racing, long rides, etcetera. Sure, the physical aspect of training is still important. In fact, doing the training is a vital aspect of that mental edge that we\’re trying to attain. With adequate physical training we can develop the confidence that \”I can do it\”. Some people might call it \”mind over matter\”. To some degree that\’s true. During a long ride it can reach the point where it seems like sheer willpower is all that keeps those weary legs turning the cranks. On the other hand, during training, I find that the mind can push matter only so far before matter shoves back in no uncertain terms. Don\’t take it to such an extent that you develop an overuse injury, or come to dread riding because you\’ve burned  out. Here is how the pros approach it. Most of us are not, and never will be, pro cyclists; but that doesn\’t mean we can\’t learn from them.  

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Lazy Sunday

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It\’s been a lazy Sunday, in a way. I finally decided to skip the ride today. I\’ve felt persistently tired; I think it\’s at least in part because my sinuses are acting up. My head feels stuffy. I figured I needed a rest. It\’s rather a pity. Last night the forecast I checked was for very light winds, only 2-5 mph. That\’s a rarity, and it\’s much more pleasurable to ride when I don\’t have to work against a headwind. But now, at 1 pm, the wind is up to 10 mph and it\’s 90 degrees. It also seems to be clouding up. So I didn\’t ride, but that gave me the chance to do some things that I usually don\’t do, such as some much-needed cleaning (normally I\’m quite a slob). I worked on blog posts, too. Sometimes that\’s pretty tough work, which sends lazy Sunday out the window. It\’s now Grand Tour season, so I decided to write some posts about various bicycle events; not only the Grand Tours, but others, such as the Hotter\’N Hell 100. The trick is not to schedule them so that they come up day after day. I\’d rather spread them out a bit; one or two a week, then the rest of the time I can blog about other stuff. But at the moment I need to get un-lazy and go wash the dishes.    

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The Tool Kit

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FiberFix Spoke is a wise addition to the tool kit if you\’ve got your sights set on long-distance tours; even if you\’ll have a SAG wagon on hand. Especially when you\’re planning a long, self-supported bicycle tour, there are things you\’d need to consider that you probably don\’t think about otherwise. Sure, we\’ll carry a spare tube and/or patch kit, plus a few basic  tools, on our long weekend rides. Such jaunts, however, are likely to be only a few hours long. If we have a problem that we can\’t fix by the road, we\’re probably close enough to home to call somebody who can come get us. If a tour of several weeks and mega-miles is the aim, we\’ll have to plan for a little more. Pack several spare tubes rather than one, for example. Even at least one spare tire! Don\’t forget to use tire liners. I\’ll bet they\’ve spared me many a flat. But suppose a wheel problem goes way beyond a flat tire? What if a spoke breaks? FiberFix can hold you over until you can get to a bike shop. I\’ve never had the need to try FiberFix, but it\’s supposed to be very good. If I ever need to build up the tool kit for a big tour, I must be sure to get one.  

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Just Call Me Sunblock?

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Just Call Me Sunblock? Just call me sunblock, I guess. The expression, “You are what you eat” has been around for decades. Now they’re saying that putting something on your skin is little different from eating it. Going for a long ride means applying sunblock to any exposed skin. When it’s cold, and I’m wearing leg warmers; a skull cap; and have my arms covered, all that needs sunblock is my face. Now that the weather is hot, I have to worry about my ears; neck; arms; and legs, too. Recently I read that an adult needs to use a shot-glass worth of sunblock to get sufficient protection from those notorious UV rays. How much is that? One ounce? At that rate, I’ll go through a tube of sunblock about every two weeks! The stuff isn’t cheap, either. I also have never been sure whether you’re supposed to be able to see the sunblock on your skin after you’ve applied it. Maybe a pair of sun sleeves would be a wise investment. There seem to be sun leggings, too. If I had them, I wouldn’t need to worry about sunblock except for my face; neck; and ears. Then I wouldn’t be “eating” so much of the stuff. You are what you eat; so just call me sunblock.

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Giza Effect?

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Giza effect sounds like pyramids. How did we land in Egypt? What do pyramids have to to with cycling, anyhow? How many of us really want to try riding up the side of one? I\’m sure that grade would be a severe test for a KOM winner. Giza, however, isn\’t the only place where pyramids are found. We can create them on our bicycles by practicing pyramid intervals. No blocks of stone needed; just your bicycle; your legs; some gumption; and a reliable way to measure time.  I remember trying something like pyramid intervals, some years ago. There seem to be many different kinds of interval workouts, and I suppose it would be beneficial to switch such training tactics now and then. It would keep both body and mind from going stagnant. Pyramid intervals sound like a good way to get in a good workout if you\’re pressed for time. They have the advantage of letting you get in a certain amount of riding time in your various heart rate zones within a single workout. I\’ll have to try some more pyramid intervals one of these days. Then maybe I\’ll feel some of that Giza effect. On a more somber note, I suppose the worldwide cycling community is now aware of Chris Froome\’s accident. It sounds like it was a bad crash. Let\’s all wish him a speedy recovery.  

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Distinguished Company Returns

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Distinguished company returns to us! A while back I blogged about the Romanovs and cycling. Clairvoyance, perhaps? The June 2019 issue of Adventure Cyclist carries an article, \”Cycling with the Tsars\”, beginning on page 10. I enjoyed it very much. I\’m quite amused, for instance, by the mention of Tsar Alexander III \”coasting down the Ural Mountains\” to work up an appetite for breakfast. Adrenaline junkies are nothing new, it seems. With a sire like that, Nicholas II had cycling in his blood. Evidently he passed the trait along. All four of the daughters of Nicholas II learned to ride bicycles. Their brother Alexis had to be content with a tricycle. Because of his hemophilia, he always had to be careful to avoid falls, bumps, and so on. It must have been hard for him, especially as he is said to have been a lively child. Do you long to go a-roving through the countryside on your two wheels? Nicholas II may well have had visions of himself taking such rides. I guess he wouldn\’t have had the luxury of multiple gears and hydration systems, far less an ebike. It\’s hard for me to imagine riding with no cassette and no Camel-Bak. Aren\’t I spoiled? Lenin, who loathed Nicholas II, was himself — ironically — quite eager about cycling. He would take long weekend rides in the countrysides of France. It\’s a pity that \”Nicky\” and Lenin were such enemies. They might have had a lot of fun going on long rides together, keeping each other distinguished company. And when distinguished company returns? So much the better.  

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Pay Would be Nice

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  Pay would be nice, don\’t you think? And just for riding your bicycle to work! The Bicycle Commuter Act sure sounds interesting. It would help bicycle commuters who, unlike me, live far enough away from work that it\’s too far to walk. I suspect that my commute of under 3 miles doesn\’t allow me to qualify for this. But how nice it would be to get it! Although maintaining a bicycle costs much less than the upkeep of a car, it can still get expensive. Tires need replacing. Components such as chains and cassettes (if your bicycle isn\’t a single-speed) wear out. A tune-up every few thousand miles is in order. Want to commute by bicycle, but have  a lot of stuff to carry? Racks and panniers and bike trunks to the rescue! Foul weather? How about a rain suit — in a vivid, high-visibility color, of course. Finally, wouldn\’t we all like to see a bit of extra \”green\” in our wallets? Pay would be nice!    

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