I want to thank everyone for your gracious support of the BreatheNH Bike Tour 2010 that was held this past Saturday. I managed to raise $1,150.00 for the cause which is about (more…)

Well… It’s the middle of winter and to avoid the ominous potential of expanding the waistline with inactivity I have made a habit of eating better, visiting the gym, getting regular bike rides in on the trainer and a few jogs here and there. So far this year I have lost 20 pounds, getting me nearly back to September of last year weight wise. This is all encouraging and I hope the weight keeps dropping as the intensity keeps rising.

In an effort to have goals and make fun of the workouts I have thought of raising the bar and making them Training. I am currently looking to enter a Duathlon where I can -  run / bike / run.  This differs from a Triathlon where one swims, bikes, and runs. The swimming would be the most challenging for me, (more…)

I am once again doing the ride for Breathe NH

This is the 25th year for the tour that has so many wonderful volunteers and has done so much for fighting such a horrible disease.

The ride will start in Portsmouth and travel down to Hampton and along the New Hampshire and Maine cost ending in Qgunquit. I did the ride last year and raised nearly one thousand dollars! This years route is 56 miles

You make the donation and I will do the work. Help put an end to Lung Disease. If you would like to ride with me or volunteer that would be great too.!

Here is my Donation Page ! http://www.breathenh.org/Page.aspx?pid=692&frsid=267

I did it…purchased an indoor trainer for my bicycle. My goal was to have that extra option to exercise and stay in shape as the weather turns wintery. I also want to maintain and increase if possible my cycling speed and capacity for riding next year.

The Trainer I purchased was a Kinetic Trainer, by Kurt and the model is the Road Machine. In looking through (more…)

Well in looking through my workout logs, I just crossed 1000 miles for the season! I know the Tour de France covers some 2300 miles is 21 days, but I am no Lance Armstrong. I find it a bit remarkable looking back over the months and seeing my progress. Not only do I feel stronger physically but I know my heart and mind are all the better for it as well. I don’t have any aspirations of racing or anything like that although a Duathlon is surely in my future. I have had some issues with tweeks to the knee but overall I get stronger and faster every week and amazing enough a little lighter as well.

I didn’t set out with any specific goal other than to be active and continue to improve my health each and every day. Cycling to me was a way to extend my excersise activity outside and it has far less impact on my joints than running. I further like the true speed at which one can cover ground versus running or mountain biking. I started using a Lemond Spinner at the gym which has a weighted wheel. This stationary bike could be adjusted to fit and always provided a high sweat factor for the effort. Cycling was just an outdoor extension of that workout but is so much more enjoyable.

I can’t reccomend cycling enough as a means of exercise and fun….

Posted via email from stadig’s posterous

The BreatheNH fundraiser bike ride was yesterday and they had a wonderful turnout. There were some 198 riders and volunteers making the trek from Pease Tradeport in Newington, NH to Ogunquit, Maine.

This was the first event of this kind I have ever participated in and found it very well organized. Everything from the fundraising help online, through registration, and support on the routes was outstanding and top notch. Due to everyone’s kind and generous support I was able to raise $691.00 for the organization, and I am so very grateful for all your support and I thank all of you who helped!! Overall the bike tour raised nearly $35,000, you can see there website here.

BreatheNH Bike Tour - Getting Started

My chosen route was 43 miles, but my bike odometer was telling me I covered 45. I began in Pease and rode down through Greenland to Rye beach and up to Wallis Sands. Then the route went inland and down pass BG’s Boathouse out through and around New Castle and back to downtown Portsmouth. I crossed river over to Badgers Island and down through downtown Kittery and around to Fort McClary. The route followed along to York and along Long Sands and up to Nubble Light. They had a photographer taking pictures of the riders and will post as soon as I get it. From there it was up to Short Sands and up along the road that passes by the Cliff House to downtown Ogunquit. I ended at the Seafarer Hotel on Rt1 to much fanfare.

In for the Finish

Being a newbie to cycling I didn’t want to push it to much and chose the middle length route. I rode the legs to Fort McClary (25 mi) with various other riders at a very casual steady pace. The balance of the ride I rolled on my own and pressed quite hard. This later section was also much more hilly so there was more climbing and downhill sections. The ride took about 3 hrs including the many stops at the checkpoints for provided snacks and water.

I thank all of you for your support in the event and helping such a worthy cause

I recently purchased a road bike and have started spinning on the road for fun and for health. I am amazed at the difference between my road bike on the road, and my older mountain bike or for that matter recalling my old ten speed of yesteryear.

The whole experience is so different. The shifters, the position, the speed…it blows me away how you can roll along the road.

I covered 34 miles this past weekend which is awesome for me being a beginner. At this one point I had a long climb to the top of blueberry hill on depot road where I could see the mountains. I decided to turn around and downhill (2 miles)  when last I checked my speed it was 46 and I know I went faster than that. It was a bit windy and i was getting blown around a bit so I actually was on the brake a bit as i moved more to the center of the road. I started to get paranoid of flatting and wiping out and the whole logical side of my brain started chiming in. It was so much fun though. I could picture what it would be like trying to ride in a pack at those speeds like the pros do.

I could have easily gone farther this day but not having had that much time in the saddle I figured best to ease into things. I wanted to be sure I wasn’t going to have any knee, back, saddle, or hip pain. As it turned out I feel fine today so my bike fit must be good. Previously I was getting a lot of painful numbness and tingling in my hands from my mountain bike and I experience very little on the new bike.

The Shifters are interesting if you haven’t seen a road bike in a few years. They are part of the brake lever and to change gears you merely tap them to the left to upshift and an inner lever taps to the right to downshift. You want to move up two gears quickly tap it twice. The chain indexes immediately and quietly…I love engineering.

I ended up transferring my rear rack from my mountain bike along with the pack. I like being able to carry a spare tube, tools and essentials. It is also great for extra water, rain coat, snacks etc. It makes the bike look slower and adds some weight which to a purist is probably crazy, but it is practical.

This weekend I also christened my knees with my new clip in pedals. I was riding and talking with my wife and playing with my dog, when I went to turn and leaned accidentally to my out bound, cliped pedal and tipped over, doing a somersault of all things with the bike. I scrapped my knee but was no worse for the wear. It was actually quite funny and an experience Rosie will remember for a while.

I have about 5 weeks to prepare for my Breathe NH ride. If you haven’t contributed I would appreciate any and all donations. Every dollar counts. See the article on this website and or go to Breathenh.org – bike event.

I came across a product that I am really pleased with and thought I would share my experience. The product is a Ram Mount for my older model Magellan hand held GPS.

My dilemma was i wanted to be able to mount my GPS to my bicycle in a solid way to provide navigation as I cruise some of the lesser know by-ways and towns. I also wanted something that would be solid as to not shake, adjustable and be easily removable for when it was not needed.

The Ram Mount product has been fantastic. They are modular so purchased a U-Bolt mount for my bicycle handlebar and suction mount for my car. The GPS cradle and the adjustment stem make up the other two parts and easily transfer between the bike to car. The adjustment stem operates with a single knob and tightens the mount in any position desired and all the parts are powder coated aluminum.

The suction cup base for the car will lock to any flat surface with a twist and keeps very still. I have a car mount already but the unit shakes a bit and makes noise…not so with the Ram Mount.

Ram Mount makes similar mounts for Cell Phones, Laptops, fishing poles, cup holders,  almost anything…

I road tested it this weekend on a 23 mile ride over smooth and pothole terrain and I couldn’t be happier.

I found a great deal on a used Lemonde Big Sky SL roadbike. The bike has Shimano 105 derailleur, shifters and brakes, Ultegra 735 crank, Bontrager wheels and headstock. The frame is aluminum with carbon fiber fork and the seat post has a shock in it to absorb the sharper bumps . The bars are a bit wider than some and are wrapped in a very soft gel tape and it also came with a cycle computer.

Before buying I checked reviews online and they were all extremely positive explaining the bike was a light, fast,  comfortable ride that climbs like a goat. The bike shop explained it has a slightly longer rake than some bikes so it would be less twitchy, a bit more stable and comfortable particularly on long rides. The headstock is fully adjustable with an extra knuckle allowing for it to be lowered and provides a lot of adjustment.  The bike shop fit the bike for me and changed out the seat from a Bontrager spring casual seat to a Fusik racer. I went with a recommendation of a friend and purchased clip pedals and shoes. I was a bit worried about the pedals fearing the obvious (forget to unclip and fall) but riding last night it was second nature and the disengage motion is easy. I particularly like the fact they ensure my feet stay in proper position, but also allow some wiggle room while pedaling.

I likely will move my rear rack from my mountain bike over to it. I like the idea of the rack and pack to carry spare tube, pump, and other stuff. A rear fender doesn’t hurt in the rain either. Although I may end up using my camel back for carrying water along with trip odds and ends. The Lemonde brand is designed by legendary Gregg Lemonde and was manufactured by Trek.

So I am officially in training for my first century and crusing the tarmak!….Lookout!.