Schrödinger's Kat (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} red_kat) wrote,@ 2008-08-13 23:37:00 |
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Bike stuff
In a tragic turn of events the bike mechanic found a crack in my frame today which, given the wear on the other parts of my bike, caused him to recommend the purchase of a replacement as soon as possible. Thankfully it is tax return time, so I will be able to purchase my shiny new transport sometime in the next couple of weeks.
Thankfully my Dad says that I should be able to keep riding it quite safely for a while, so it should be fine for the two weeks until I get my tax return or next monthly pay packet. I have decided to get a Cell Team Racer for $1200. Apparently it is the lowest model that is fully upgradable to racing standards, so I can upgrade individual components on it later on for races and stuff.
My Dad has also agreed to ride the Sydney to Gong course with me a couple of times before the event. I figure it will be way easier and less dangerous with a mega experienced cyclist than it would be if I tried it by myself. We are going to head down one Saturday morning. Theoretically we will also ride back to sydney afterwards. I am hoping that he can help me improve my hill climbing technique enough to be able to ride there and back. I am confident that I could do an 8 - 10 hour ride on the flat without too many issues as long as I keep the pace slower than I would normally ride, but the hilly areas might drain my energy too much. My comfortable pace will probably be about the 25km/h mark I am thinking, which is lucky to be half his preferred pace.
My Dad started cycling seriously when he was a year older than I am now, and has spent the last 20 years riding from Cherrybrook to Sydney Uni and back every day, a course which is made up of a 31.3 km long selection of the most evil hills I have had the misfortune to encounter. He, naturally, takes about an hour to ride this distance which is about how long it would take a normal human to drive the same route. My goal for the next two years is to get to the point where I can make the same trip in under an hour and a half, preferably without my legs falling off. Wish me luck, world!
and now, off to google for my wish list items: new cycling gloves, a superior panier(sp?) rack that can take a slide on back on top at the same time as the two clip on side bags, a slide on bag to use with said rack, a hand pump that has a tire pressure gauge, a magical bike lock that is both strong and light (do they even exist??) and a long sleaved zip up light weight jersey to provide me with an extra layer when it is cold.
I also must investigate one of those one piece things that consist if leggings attached to a lightweight singlet thing that you wear under your jersey for gap free torso coverage. Guarenteed to provide 100% protection from the risk of clothing malfuction which can lead to torso coldness and, in extreme cases, butt crack exposure.
In a tragic turn of events the bike mechanic found a crack in my frame today which, given the wear on the other parts of my bike, caused him to recommend the purchase of a replacement as soon as possible. Thankfully it is tax return time, so I will be able to purchase my shiny new transport sometime in the next couple of weeks.
Thankfully my Dad says that I should be able to keep riding it quite safely for a while, so it should be fine for the two weeks until I get my tax return or next monthly pay packet. I have decided to get a Cell Team Racer for $1200. Apparently it is the lowest model that is fully upgradable to racing standards, so I can upgrade individual components on it later on for races and stuff.
My Dad has also agreed to ride the Sydney to Gong course with me a couple of times before the event. I figure it will be way easier and less dangerous with a mega experienced cyclist than it would be if I tried it by myself. We are going to head down one Saturday morning. Theoretically we will also ride back to sydney afterwards. I am hoping that he can help me improve my hill climbing technique enough to be able to ride there and back. I am confident that I could do an 8 - 10 hour ride on the flat without too many issues as long as I keep the pace slower than I would normally ride, but the hilly areas might drain my energy too much. My comfortable pace will probably be about the 25km/h mark I am thinking, which is lucky to be half his preferred pace.
My Dad started cycling seriously when he was a year older than I am now, and has spent the last 20 years riding from Cherrybrook to Sydney Uni and back every day, a course which is made up of a 31.3 km long selection of the most evil hills I have had the misfortune to encounter. He, naturally, takes about an hour to ride this distance which is about how long it would take a normal human to drive the same route. My goal for the next two years is to get to the point where I can make the same trip in under an hour and a half, preferably without my legs falling off. Wish me luck, world!
and now, off to google for my wish list items: new cycling gloves, a superior panier(sp?) rack that can take a slide on back on top at the same time as the two clip on side bags, a slide on bag to use with said rack, a hand pump that has a tire pressure gauge, a magical bike lock that is both strong and light (do they even exist??) and a long sleaved zip up light weight jersey to provide me with an extra layer when it is cold.
I also must investigate one of those one piece things that consist if leggings attached to a lightweight singlet thing that you wear under your jersey for gap free torso coverage. Guarenteed to provide 100% protection from the risk of clothing malfuction which can lead to torso coldness and, in extreme cases, butt crack exposure.
