From Cycling to Cars and Back to Cycling

https://youtu.be/XuBdf9jYj7o

Cold Weather and Bow Ties

This winter has been the best of times for running and cycling outdoors and the worst of times.  Running and cycling are my choices for solid cardio and routine fitness since I usually fail to follow a healthy diet. What is a fella to do when the weather goes from the 50s and drops to the 20s?

The answer is quite simple, he runs and cycles inside.  At home its the cycle trainer and spin bike while at the gym its simple weight lifting and running the track at the Y. 

As I get older, the cold psychs me out.  I'd rather wear shorts and sneakers and run among the walkers who resolved to get in shape than to freeze and to find breathing challenging due to the cold air.

I choose to run and cycle indoors. Its important to me to maintain my weight and stay fit enough to keep my current suits and add to my wardrobe.  I discovered some new items to enhance and change my style this winter, and I loom forward to my new additions:  bow ties, pocket squares, and waistcoats.

My first bow tie.  I had to youtube how to tie one.  It was a small challenge.  I got it right on the 5th or 6th try.  Pulling the end through the correct side of the hole was the key.  I love the look. 

It takes confidence to wear one.  Some people like them others hate them. The comments are usually left unsaid, but reading the minds of those folks looking at you communicates a variety of ideas.  I will have to comment on what those varied ideas are another time.

The bow tie is cool.  It really needs a companion item. Either a sweater vest or waistcoat to add to a new look, to sharpen the look, and to add color and variety in style options (coat on or coat off, waist coat w bow tie or no bow tie, sleeves pulled up and bow tie free hanging... So many options).

My newest edition is the pocket square.  I am starting with a solid white silk pocket square w the Presidential Fold.  Its a simple and clean fold that can bring out some small color in your tie or add a color to draw some attention to fashion detail.

The waistcoat will be my next addition.  I hope for a slimming effect, additional looks to wearing suit, and creating a more complete and versatile appearance to detail among professionals.

As a matter of fact, the sport of cycling honors these traditions in England.  The casual cyclist wears tweed three piece suits to
honor the past and to make the future a touch classier.  I like it.

Till then, I will see you on the road.

Miracle on 34th Street

I am sitting here watching one of my favorite Christmas shows-- Miracle on 34th Street

The case has been decided, Santa Claus does exist. Some of us call him Kris Kringle.  Others call him St. Nick.  Is he a jolly old elf? Is he a legend of splendid acts of charity and giving?

The story began in Bethlehem. Jesus was born in a manger.  God became man and took a human nature.  He was greeted by three kings while resting in the arms of His mother, the blessed Virgin Mary.  They brought him gifts and this gift giving continued, like it does now, through the ages.  Saint Nicholas maintained this tradition throughout his life.  But Christ always was his focus as it should always be.

The movie, Miracle on 34th Street is a wonderful movie, yet it misses the point.  Its not important to believe in Santa Claus.  Its not important to receive gifts to the point of excess.  The true point of Christmas is to realize that God humbled Himself and became man.  He is our Christmas gift.  He gave us His life.   Christ desires us all to believe Him: his word, his teachings, and His Church more than a generic and meaningless belief "in" His existence as we believe in the existence of atoms.

Mere belief is never enough.  Belief in God must be demonstrated.  Saint Nicholas, a priest and bishop, truly and entirely believed in Christ; therefore, he humbled himself to imitate Christ by giving of himself.  He gave up possessions and wealth to serve the poor (needy and lost) with a goal of leading them all to Christ and eternal life in heaven.

 Saint Nicholas is known to have saved three daughters from prostitution by secretly placing dowry money in a bag and dropping down the chimney of their home so the father of these beautiful woman could be married and preserved from debauchery.  Saint Nicholas is thought well of by mariners who prayed for his intercession to be saved from ship wreck amidst of a raging sea.

Saint Nicholas, as a bishop of the Catholic Church in the East fought the heresy of Arianism.  His desire to stay true to the faith taught through the ages caused him great pain and suffering at the hands of the Arians who had him tossed in jail and tortured to deny the true faith.  He remained true to Jesus Christ and His Blessed Mother, setting an example to all of us to always stand true for the faith even if it hurts.

So, there is a miracle on 34th street.  Unfortunately, it has nothing to do with a jolly old elf, but with the giving up of ourselves for the salvation and welfare of others.  It is for all of us to remember, including me who just posted a list of things I would like to receive.  That is wrong thinking, and a poor example of the true spirit of Christmas.  The true spirit of Christmas was exemplified by the three wise men (who risked their lives to deliver their gifts to God), and Saint Nicholas.  Each of them took an opportunity to give to whoever needed their help regardless of cost.  Let us remember Christmas that way; to give rather than to receive and to give of ourselves rather than things.

I did receive that Brooks Saddle given to me from my wonderful bride.  I do appreciate it very much and hope I can be a better man as we finish this Christmas season and a new year commences.  Til then, i shall see you on the road.

Christmas Wish List

Its December 10, 2015 and there is no, I mean zero, snow on the ground.  I do not ever remember a time while living in the Syracuse area of a time when there was no snow on the ground.  We have always had a white Christmas.  To top it all off, the temperatures are quite warm for the season too.  Today, for instance, it reached 50 degrees. It was a great day for a bike ride and the entire month has been a wonderful time to get out and ride.

So, since I have been cycle dreaming all Fall and Winter, I have cycled indoors on my trainer, on my spin bike, and I have ridden outside.  Last weekend I rode 40 miles along the Erie Canal between DeWitt and Canastota.  Because I am still riding my bicycles, I have been searching all over the internet for new ideas for gifts to buy my bicycles.  I will share some of my thoughts:

A Brooks Saddle.  This is tops for my Surly Long Haul Trucker.  It is the class of most touring bicycles.  Its an all leather saddle which breaks in over time and molds to your tush to become the most comfortable saddle ever.  The Brooks B-17 Saddle is made in England, and it seems that all wonderful and classic cycling gear for touring and bike commuting originates across the pond.  Take a look and watch a few videos on the Brooks tradition.  You will be hooked too.

I also would like the Cambium saddle for my road bike.  The Cambium saddle is made of natural rubber and denim.  It flexes beautifully and requires no break in period and little maintenance.  Those are the Brooks saddles I would love to get for the Surly LHT and the CAAD 8. 

Next, I would love to give a dynamo hub to my touring bike. Biologic Joule 3.  I have watched so many videos on winter riding and long distance touring and lighting is essential.

These dynamo hubs allow the rider to have a powerful set of head lights and tail lights mounted on the bike for good visibility; to see and to be seen.  Not to mention the ability to connect from cell phones and alt. charging devices to the hub to stay connected while to friends and family on cycling trips and overnights.

I love this idea because I want to ride more, into the evening and into the winter.  Both require lights to be seen and to see.  The Joule 3, or other quality hub will allow me that capability.  I need to reduce the running and increase the cycling to save my joints.

Following the dynamo hub, a good set of lights make a wonderful gift:  dynamo powered lights for the Surly and rechargeable lights for the CAAD 8. The Nite Rider Lumina 750 would be much appreciated and make my late year and evening riding safe.

I don't ask for much, but if I could ask for something for myself, I would kindly request some cycling casual clothes.  A nice pair of cycling jeans and a button down style shirt with wicking technology and well placed reflective material that can only be seen at night.  There are many manufacturers out there designing some good looking stuff, but Club Ride looks the best and is the most functional on and off the bicycle.

If you love riding your bike, but do not want to be "serious" and wear all the racing gear, than Club Ride is for you.  It allows you to wear clothes that are "everyday" looking in appearance yet designed for the casual and commuter cyclist.   The tops and bottoms are designed to move freely while paddling, not to allow a public view of a plumber's butt as you slightly bend to reach out for the handlebars of the bicycle.

When I go geo-caching or to the ice cream stand on my bike alone or with the kids, Club Ride clothes do not draw attention and scream, "Freak!"  All people notice is a guy and his kids riding up for a cool treat to end a summer's day. 

Get out there and ride.  Be safe on the streets and sit in comfort and style with an awesome saddle from Brooks while dressed to the nines in Club Ride designs that can be seen because your lights are being powered by a Joule 3 Dynamo Hub.  See you on the road.

We Were Once All Bike Commuter: Chapter One

Once upon a time there was a boy.  A boy who was just old enough to ride a bike, albeit with training wheels. He pedaled hard and had fun.  His riding talents improved as he grew.  He rode for many years and this is his story.

At the age of four young Lad stepped up on his new two wheeler while his dad held one hand on the handle bar and the other upon the rear of the saddle.  Lad pedaled.  He was nervous looking to his dad hoping to find security and said, "Don't let go."

His dad reassured him saying confidently, "Just keep pedaling and balance yourself.  You can do it."

Laddie hung on tight.  He smiled as his legs pumped up and down.  The bike picked up speed.  He wobbled a few times as his dad let go of the handle bar, but Lad didn't fall over.  He never hit the pavement because he knew his dad was still running beside him, holding on to the saddle.  Lad was safe.  His confidence grew and his balance stabilized the more he pedaled.

Within an hour, Laddie achieved freedom.  He didn't realize it, but his dad had let him go.  Laddie was riding alone.

His dad cried out, "Keep going, son.  Your doing great.  Its all you."

That's when Laddie discovered he lost his safety net.  He swerved right.  He swerved left.  Panic started to creep into his head, but he remembered to pedal, just as his dad had instructed him.  he pedaled and stayed on two wheels.  He did not fall.  He screamed out with joy, "I'm riding.  I did it."

His dad caught up to him, and breathing heavy, he said, "Push back on the pedals to stop."

It worked. Laddie stopped after pushing on the pedals in reverse and his dad grabbed hold of the saddle and congratulated the youngster.

"You did awesome."

That was how it all started.  It started that way for most of us.  Riding a bicycle was the beginning of our journey toward independence.  We could ride anywhere.  Our first rides were to our friends homes.  Then together, with our best friends, we rode to the five and dime, to the park, or just around the neighborhood.

Laddie had a similar experience, he immediately rode his bike to his buddy's house.  Jake could ride a two wheeler and their journey started riding up and down their block for a few weeks.  They soon desired to ride around the block; a few times they even rode to the community park to play on the monkey bars and the swings.  Riding a bicycle was fun, and it also gave them a way to travel to other places without asking for a ride or depending on their parents, however.  Laddie and Jake did ask for permission to ride throughout the neighborhood; their parents knew where they were going, and Laddie and Jake always wore their helmets.

Oh, the helmet.  These two fellas loved their helmets.  The helmet was for safety, but for these two boys, the helmet was an expression of who they were.  Laddie wore a bright red helmet.  It was a traditional bike helmet with sleek lines and small openings for air to flow through to keep his head cool, but he added a few stickers and a small pin that read "Keep on Pedaling" that remained pinned to his chin strap for several years.

Jake wore a skater helmet that his older brother had worn while skateboarding and it had well placed scratches and small cuts on it from Jake's brothers small falls and spills while doing tricks at the skate park.  Jake thought it was cool.  He painted it electric blue and added a few stickers, too.  Jake had one sticker on the lower portion of the back of the helmet that read, "Just roll'n."

From training wheels, to dad holding on to the back of his saddle, Lad now could ride to see his friends and ride to play at the park.  What adventures could he plan next?  Or would a bike adventure find him?

Til then,  I will see you on the road.

Gear List

As spring nears and the temps, at times this winter, begin to rise above freezing the thrill of completing my first overnight bike camping trip fills my veins.  Each month my Surly LHT gets outfitted a little bit more.  On a daily basis I ponder about the remaining items I may require for a successful trip.

I need to think about purchasing the correct shoes.  I will require spd clipless mountain bike shoes so I can get on and off the bike and be comfortable.  I need small toiletry items to stay neat and tidy.  I am a clean freak; I wonder often if being a little dirty may scare me off from accomplishing my goal.

I know I need a few more items to be sure I am all set for the Erie Canal this April.  My trip will take me from home to Rome.  I will spend one night camping if the weather is right and return the following morning.

So, I have started investigating checklists to be sure I have what I need, and if not, start planning on acquiring those items for the best possible price.  I BOLDED the items I still need.  So peruse the list below and visit their website.  You may catch the touring bug too.

See you on the road.

This list below is from the web site www.bikeovernights.org.  This is a website I like visiting to learn more about Cyclo Camping or bike touring.  I love the phrase cyclo camping.  I think its cool.

The Basics for Camping:

• Sleeping bag
• Camp pad
• Small tent, bivy sack, or camp hammock
• Food (or a nearby dining establishment)
• Personal items: toiletries, etc

Deluxe Gear List:
Perhaps you’re not a minimalist. Just remember: everything you bring adds weight to your bike. If you have much hill climbing or a lot of mileage planned, you may want to reconsider how much you take along.
Deluxe Camping Gear List:

• Route map(s)
• Sleeping bag
• Camp pad or air mattress
• Small tent, bivy sack, or camp hammock
• Camp pillow or stuff sack
• Cooking equipment (small stove, cookware, utensils) including food
• Camp chair
• Headlamp or flashlight
• Pocketknife
• Waterproof matches

Deluxe Personal Gear List:

• Toiletries
• Two sets of bike clothes
• Two sets of off-the-bike clothes
• Raingear
• Cold weather gear
• Shoes/sandals
• Bathing suit
• Towel

Other possibilities:

• Books
• Camera
• Playing cards
• Sports equipment
• Fishing gear
• Radio/iPod/MP3 player
• And more!

From Running To Cycling

I have not run in over a month.  My body just aches way too much after a run, especially the morning after a run.  The only thing I needed to figure out was how to lose and maintain weight while cycling since I have always had trouble keeping weight off whenever I tried transitioning to the bike.

This latest transition began while meandering around Barnes and Noble.  I looked at novels and classic literature (which I always love to read) and found myself on the sports isle seeing what may catch my eye.  Boom, there it was a book on cycling... Bike Your Butt Off.  I grabbed it and started to read the first few pages; it was very simple to read. It made sense. The price was right. I bought it.

It is definitely a beginners guide. Although I am not new to biking, it was nice to know that there are cyclists who know less than you.  The book talked about cycling shorts with the butt padding. I learned I was still a newbie in this area because I wore them like a newbie, with underwear.  Now I know that no underwear is best for cycling in these tight fitting shorts and has made my riding significantly more comfortable.

The book reviewed basic riding skills. Warm ups, exercises, braking, and maneuvering (turning, avoiding cars, and anticipating slowing down and how to stop quickly if necessary).

The most important items Bike Your Butt Off led me to is an app called My Fitness Pal and a heart rate monitor.  I do not believe that an inanimate objects can provide motivation. The objects don't generate action. The action must come from you, on the inside to get up and move.  However, with that being said, if it weren't for My Fitness Pal and the Polar heart rate monitor, I would have had no idea how to lose weight while cycling.

I set up my profile and created a goal weight in My Fitness Pal (I wanted to lose at least ten pounds) and followed the daily calorie count I should eat each day.  The heart rate monitor allowed me to rude and know his many calories I burned after each ride.  Those calories I burned cycling could then be added in so I could eat a little mire. I lost ten pounds in four weeks and two more a week later after reaching my goal.  So 12 pounds. I am sold. Knowing what you can eat and how much your activity burns is crucial.

I am not perfect. I slip often, especially since I hit  beyond my goal weight.  But that is ok. If you don't eat the fun food (for me that is ice cream and chocolate chips ahoy) you go nuts.  I have returned to wearing my rough style khakis and my favorite pair of jeans.  I am a happy camper.  The new suits I purchased for my son's wedding in China are loose.  Ahh, comfortable at last.  The time has come to hit the weights and build some muscle.

This blog is still about running around Syracuse, but running on a bicycle.  I enjoy riding my bike.  On nice days I hop on my Caad 8 road bike, and on cold rainy days, I spin while watching television. Unfortunately, the spin bike is broke.  The computer went bad and is awaiting a replacement.  Soo, I will be ready for winter riding indoors.

My next post will be about cycling and my research on bike touring which I hope to begin doing in the spring.  Until then, I will see you on the road.