Per Utilitaire 12 rules 5 and 6, today’s ride will get logged as a second entry for “any store that is not the grocery store”.  I rode to Target.  Barely.  This cold has gotten the best of me over the past few days, and my sinuses feel like they are filled with cement.  My teeth hurt.  But I needed a few small things – laundry detergent, juice and a couple of cards to send to my boys –  and this is a short round trip (8 mi).

My observation for the day: our local school-bus driver could stand a refresher course on the 3-foot passing rule.

Today’s Utilitaire 12 destination: our local public library.  I almost didn’t make it out today; I am battling an annoying upper respiratory bug, which makes me want to just sit around with a box of tissue and lots of hot tea (along with an ample dose of decongestants).  I figured a new book might help, and the library would be a quiet and relaxing destination, so I decided to ride Elisabetta for a relaxing kind of ride.  Fortunately, it was a really beautiful day – and all the more incentive for wanting to get out of the house.

I am not a frequent visitor of our local library, I am sad to say.  I’ve found the book selection to be lacking, and have been frustrated with attempts with inter-library loaning.  Within the past few years, the library has undergone extensive renovations – and the physical facility changes are very nice.   I looked for a couple of books (which they didn’t have, of course), thumbed through a few other volumes, and took a look around at all of  the new rooms.   There is even a cozy coffee/sandwich shop, Lasater’s, that has opened on the main floor of the library.  With the proximity to the local University, it appears to be a popular and well-frequented addition.   Thumbs up for the coffee, too.  Even though I left bookless, I enjoyed the trip.

I rode on the Greenway to and from town – always a nice ride on a sunny day, lots of people out walking and jogging.  I don’t keep an odometer on Elisabetta, so I am only guessing on today’s paltry mileage – 16-ish?  It was just enough for the way I am feeling today … Hoping this passes soon.

library coffee shop

feeling bleh...

Tagged: around town, bike commute, coffee shop, Elisabetta, Greenway, public library, Utilitaire 12 ]]> http://shebicycles.com/2012/02/07/utilitaire-3-12/feed/ 4 shebicycles 20120207_Canon_9746blog 20120207_Canon_9749blog 20120207_iPhone_9779blog 20120207_Canon_9768blog 20120207_Leica_9715blog 20120207_Leica_9722blog http://shebicycles.com/2012/02/05/just/ http://shebicycles.com/2012/02/05/just/#comments Sun, 05 Feb 2012 21:48:15 +0000 shebicycles http://shebicycles.com/?p=3070 ]]>

Just riding … no utilitairing.  Crazy, crazy warm.  Winter, what happened?!

We didn’t get rained on.  Of course.  Because we brought rain gear.

Number 2 in the Utilitaire Winter Cycling games … and I’m having a hard time deciding how to log this one, but will settle on #6: Any Store That Is Not A Grocery Store.  Basically a run around town, from hardware store to bike shop (yes, again) to coffee, to groceries to cupcakes (!).  Mileage: 21-ish.  Rain: none.

It began with a trip to the hardware store, because we needed some new axe handles.   We do a lot of chopping around here, you know.  Well, maybe not me as in we … but still.  Can’t have those ax heads flying off the handle.

hardware store

needing handles

mission accomplished

Then we got to head over the bike shop because I had forgotten a thing or two when I was there the other day.  It was exciting.  We got to witness a really amazing explosion … (Charles, my bike guy has a great sense of humor with these things; he made the video).

From the bike shop, we stopped and met  Grant for coffee.  He was killing some time before heading to work, and we were just … killing some time.  And trying to test our fate with the rain gods.

We hopped on the Greenway and stopped for some groceries, and then headed over to Chattanooga Cupcakes for some desert for later on.   And while I doubt that I burned enough calories to even eat the sprinkles off of one of these things, I just cannot resist …

Greenway

groceries

cupcakes

CUPCAKES!!!

We got home just as the first drops of rain arrived.  Perfect timing.

When I thought about today’s ride, I often wonder what the bird’s-eye view of our route looks like.  We wind our way on less-traffic’d roads, hopping on the Greenway whenever it works out, and taking what sometimes feels like a rather circuitous route.  I know I could go on Google Maps or Map My Ride and officially map this thing out in an accurate way, but I decided to just doodle it.  Obviously not really to scale or accurate, but close enough.  Surprisingly, it doesn’t look as chaotic as I thought it might.

So two of twelve completed, ten remain.  Bikes: 2.  Rain: 0.

not in any way accurate or to scale

I love creativity and fun – especially when it involves bicycles.  From #30daysofbiking to #cyclingcaptuesday, I have always enjoyed the fun of bicycle games, the conversations they start, and the enthusiasm they kindle.  And when the bicycle games get more people, new people, out riding their bikes more of the time, it’s even better.

My Flickr/blogger/Twitter friend and radonneur extraordinaire, Mary G,  who has an excellent cycling blog, Chasing Mailboxes, cooked up a grand idea for some winter cycling fun.  She is calling it the Utilitaire 12, and you can read all about it here and here.  My own heads-up for this project first came from another great cycling blogger/friend, the “Old Guy” (and don’t let that moniker fool you – this guy can out-ride most 20-somethings) – and he’s already a few steps ahead of some of us on the Utilitaire challenge.   Of course.

I won’t try to repeat all of the guidelines to the challenge which you can read for yourselves, but basically it involves making at least 12 destination trips by bike over the course of the next six weeks.  There is a very do-able minimum mileage for each trip, and you can’t simply make the same trip over and over (like go to the grocery store 12 times).  I think this is what I love about it most – it’s going to make me mix-up my destinations, maybe bike to a place or an event that I might not normally bike to, head to a variety of locations for different reasons.   Go to a concert, attend a meeting, cycle to breakfast … and lots more (with a little wiggle room for a substitution if you need it).    You can only officially log two trips per week, spreading the project out for some consistency, and you have to photo-document part of the journey.  Cool beans, eh?  Good for everyone, good for cycling advocacy – and I hope everyone will give it a go.

Today I got to log my first trip for my control card – a trip into town to the bike shop.  Also stopped for coffee and to my optometrist to fetch some new contacts, but my project destination was the shop.

I love my bike shop – it’s kind of like a really great coffee shop, only with bikey stuff rather than caffeine.  It’s got a certain “ambiance” – camaraderie, color, and conversation.   And I had a great conversation with my bike shop guys, Charles and Andrew, had them looking over the Utilitaire project in the shop.  We enthusiastically decided that this would be a fantastic advocacy tool for local cycling in our little town, and it looks like plans are into work to make a modified community event sponsored by the shop.  How great is that?!

Meanwhile, got my errands done on what began as a foggy-soup morning but turned into an incredibly beautiful day – still no sign of winter, cycling in a tee shirt.  Checking off one on the control card.  Hope you will join in the bicycle game fun.  :-D

foggy morning

A couple of weeks ago, I spent several hours working with a bike fitter – something I never would have envisioned myself doing.  I am certainly no speed-racer type, I’m not an uber high-mileage junkie, nor did I ever feel like I was having problems (discomfort, pain, whatever) with any of my bikes.  As I have written before, I’m probably considered by most as not being one of those serious cyclist types.  Dedicated, enthusiastic … yes.  ”Serious“, skilled, fast … not so much.

So what was I doing?  For one thing, I am a proponent of efficiency and ergonomics and, I suppose, conservation of energy.  If I can find an easier way to do something, do it more efficiently and with less effort, you can bet I am signing on.

Several years ago I worked with a couple of swimming coaches for similar reasons.  It’s not that I had any intention of competing, or swimming the English Channel, but I was interested in becoming more efficient in the water, more streamlined (or “slippery” in the water, as they liked to say), along with wanting to minimize wear-and-tear to my rotator cuffs.  It was amazing what a few adjustments to body alignment, rotation and sweet-spot drills did for me; I cut my stroke count down by 8-10 strokes/50 yds, I am preserving my shoulders, I love the nearly “effortless” feeling, and I am faster.  (OK, maybe just a little less slow.)  For me it simply means I can swim farther in less time and with less wear-and-tear, which is about all I’m after.

Eddie, working the fitting numbers ... Cycology Bicycles, Maryville TN

Back to bikes – and the bike fitting.  It was a pretty fascinating experience.  My fitter, Eddie from Cycology Bicycles, was a really wonderful guy – very patient, extremely detail-oriented and knowledgeable, and great about explaining the significance of all of the measurements, angles and adjustments he was measuring and making changes to – not to mention he had a very impressive curriculum vitae (along with some amazing photos)  of “serious” professional cyclists who come to him for fittings.  (Yeah, next to them, I did feel like a bit of a doofus, I will admit.)

I was measured from top to bottom and sideways and back.  Height, weight, femur length, inseam, wingspan, my level of flexibility, you name it.  Eddie also had an interesting self-engineered set of electronic scales he could use to measure weight distribution while I was on my bike – it’s an interesting ratio to look at, as he adjusts saddle height and other positioning. He took a look (and more measurements) at my position on my Dolce, which ended up being a remarkably near-perfect fit for me with only a couple of areas that could be changed – handlebar width (narrower), possibly my crank length (shorter), and some tweaking to my cleats.

on the Serotta fitting bike

Finally, he moved me onto the Serotta fitting bike – an amazing little bike-like device enabling multiple adjustments with countless combinations for riding styles.    Basically, he sets it up with his calculated settings for ultimate bike fit for the rider, and then can tweak it from there.  It was really remarkable to feel the difference a slight adjustment of angle/height/length could make.  But now I know what my ideal “numbers” are, because I was able to feel them.

So where is all of this leading?  Well, for one thing, the adjustments made to my Dolce have made it even more comfortable and efficient for me to ride.  After my experience, I fully endorse a bike fitting session by a qualified fitter – it’s not only an education, but you will be amazed by the changes that small adjustments will make, regardless of your riding style and level of cycling seriousness.  Do it.

But there was another motive for my fitting, and you may have already guessed.  After years of lusting after her Sweetpea bikes, and having some great phone conversations with Natalie Ramsland over the past few weeks, she is now building a custom bike for me.  The frame geometry is custom, designed for my optimum set of measurements; she and Eddie have nailed down the perfect fit.  And beyond the frame, this bike will be fabulous in every aspect … Natalie has an uncanny sense for knowing my aim, mechanically and aesthetically.  The build list reads like a perfect dessert menu: Brooks, Chris King, Sugar Wheel Works…

Most of all, I love that my bike is being built by an incredibly inspiring and talented woman framebuilder –  a rare thing in the predominantly male bicycle-building world .  Watch her video, read her blog; her bicycles are stunning, and her thoughts are insightful and meaningful.   I feel we are on the same page, in so many ways, philosophically.

Another bike?  Do I need it?  I am not sure … What I do know is that I will love this bike, it will fit me in every way, it will be beautiful, it will make me happy to ride it,  and I will cherish it and everything that went into making it become uniquely and specially mine.  The tentative plan is to make a trip to Portland to have Natalie do the final fit once the build is complete, and to hopefully have a chance to explore the amazing world of Portland bicycle culture for a few days.  Fingers crossed.

And so, this is how it begins.

revealing my measurements ...

The weather continues to mystify me.  Heavy rains and severe storms have rolled through the area, and to see tornado destruction in AL and AR in January is mind boggling.  I cannot bear the thought of a repeat of last spring – and we’re still in the middle of what is supposed to be winter.

Rain or not, I needed to get out today.  It was gusty but warm, and I revisited a road I hadn’t ridden in quite a while.  Cows, barns, creeks (overflowing) and plenty of mud. But I still have fun riding through puddles…

Getting out, wandering around, same old, same old  … it may be cold, but it sure doesn’t feel like winter.

Arriving home today, I found a marble in my pocket …  My tiny silly world.

Even on a trip to the store, biking there always erases the “un” from unremarkable.

It’s been a rather dismal week, weather-wise – rain, thunderstorms, hail and and even a brief showing of snow.  All of which make me want to hole up inside with books, knitting, tea and a fire, rather than riding around looking at cows.  My (brief) trips out were basically camera-less this week;  I just wanted to get where I needed to go and be done with it.

Today the sun appeared – which is a good thing, because I had run out of milk and orange juice, having put off riding to the store during the past few days.  So we set off on a quick trip to the store, along with a couple of errands. It was nice to be out on together on dry roads with the sun shining.  Unremarkable (minus the “un”).