Topeak Morph Pump

This morning I got a flat tire on the way in to work. Luckily it was a gorgeous morning, birds chirping, and I was in a nicer section of my commute. Having my Topeak Mini-Morph pump definitely makes a huge difference. Mine is now probably five or six years old, but still working well. It is a mini pump that acts like a floor pump with its fold out foot pad, flexible hose and T-handle. Now Topeak even sells a newer model that has a flip out gauge, which would be a nice feature to have if it doesn't add too much bulk.

First Spring Bike Commute

Quarter Turn Mount

For my birthday I was given  K-Edge CNC quarter turn mount that I am going to use for my Wahoo RFLKT. Looks secure, and I like how I can easily remove  it when I lock up my bike outside.

19° wind chill 9°

-O2 jacket
-polar fleece vest
-wind proof pants
-wool socks
-32degrees longsleeved thermal undershirt
-skull cap
-snowboarding gloves

Was warm and comfortable. My feet were the only things that got cold about 4 miles into the ride. Part of it may be do to the fact that my shoes are very old, and leak air pretty bad. My water bottle started to form ice inside of it by the end of the 10 miles.

43° feels like 39°

-Eddie Bauer Tech Fleece
-Novara wind proof pants
-Cotton socks
-Champion DuoDry Shirt
-Insulated hybrid gloves
-skull cap

Was a little cold in the chest at first, but then was comfortable.

Cycling Glove Review

I came across a pretty good review of bike gloves (ways of keeping your hands warm) when riding in colder temps.

http://allseasonscyclist.com/2013/10/18/winter-cycling-how-to-keep-your-hands-warm/

20.8°, wind chill 18°

-O2 Jacket
-polor tech fleece vest
-Champion Duo Dry tshirt
-wind proof Novara pants
-wool socks
-Cannondale bike shoes
-balaclava face mask
-wrist warmers
-Craft Hybrid Weather Gloves
-thick cotton skull cap

Was comfortable. My thumbs did get cold and hurt until I was in my office for a while. My toes were also cold, but overall was comfortable other than in those two areas. Even unzipped the side vents on my jacket to keep my torso from over heating.

36°

-O2 Jacket
-REI Polor tech fleece vest
-Novara bike shorts
-quick dry shirt
-Pearl Izumi socks
-skull cap
-insulated gloves
-wrist warmers

Legs were cold for about the first three miles, then was fine. My chest started to get warm about seven miles in, but was able to unzip both outer layers, and felt better.

44° wind chill 40°

-polar tech vest
-shorts
-cotton socks
-full fingered gloves
-Nema quick dry shirt

My arms were cold most of the ride, my chest was comfortable but then slightly warm near 9 miles in, but lowered the zipper, and was comfortable.

37°

-pullover polartech fleece (Eddie Bauer)
-quickdry undershirt (Champion DuoDry)
-quickdry shirt (Novara)
-windproof bike pants
-socks
-shoes
-wrist warmers
-insulated gloves
-skull cap

Was a bit warm in my legs, would have probably been more comfortable still in shorts. The fleece was comfortable.

48°

-O2 jacket
-shorts
-cotton socks
-shoes
-full fingered gloves
-Novara bike shirt

Head cold for first 4.5 miles, then was fine, and even unzipped my jacket some.

43° Wind chill of 41°

-O2 Jacket
-Scull cap
-shorts
-quick dry shirt (REI)
-cotton socks
-wrist warmers
-insulated gloves

Was comfortable.

36°

-o2 Jacket
-polar tech vest
-shorts
-wool socks
-skull cap
-insulated gloves
-REI quick dry shirt

Was comfortable on the ride.

Adventures in Bike Commuting.....

This morning was an adventurous day in bike commuting (not in a good adventuring way...).  I was already rushed, as I was running late; somehow I convince myself when I am still in bed, that I don't need as much time as I really do to do breakfast and then help get the kids going with their morning routine before I leave Julia to the rest of the kids' morning requirements and shuttling to their destinations.

So back to what happened, I was already running late, and was cruising along, trying to make up for lost time, then in the middle of banking on a hard left to try to minimize any loss of momentum on the turn, I hear a pop and then bouncing sound. So I quickly stop, and turn around to see my rear tail light cover rolling away, and immediately hear the batteries go following after. Am able to recover the cover and batteries, although I notice the cover now looks to have a chip broken off, but after struggling a bit, am able to get it back on, although doesn't feel very secure anymore. As I am riding off, I realize that I didn't' see the rubber gasket that makes the light water tight, so it may die on my in the next rainy ride, if it holds together long enough. So this was about a mile into the ride. 

Then about 3 miles into my 10.5 mile ride I hear a quick sucking sound, then my front wheel stops, nearly sending me flying over the handlebars on a busy street. Not very fun. I look down, and see my front rain fender is shattered, and is what locked up my front wheel. Luckily I carry a small utility knife with me, so I was able to cut the rest of the fender off so I could continue my commute to work.

I'm sad about the fender, as I have come to appreciate the amount of water the fender keeps off me, but don't think I am going to be replacing that any time soon, budget is tight, and now where I currently works lends itself to taking mass transit if the weather looks to be bad, so I am no longer forced to ride even in inclement weather as I was before. But hate to have to spend money on it, but I know I won't feel comfortable riding with out a rear tail light. I don't trust that cars will pay attention to me without an obnoxiously bright light telling them I'm on there.

I've been very happy with my Cygolite Expilion headlight, so my look at Cygolite's rear tail light as a replacement option.

Brake Pads

I changed out the brake pad inserts on my road bike this weekend. Makes a huge difference in stopping ability. The replacement was probably something I should have done sooner. This was my first time I just did it myself. Was very easy, and so far seems to be giving me no problems. I went with Kool Stop pads, salmon in the front, and black in the back.

Feels like Fall

It is definitely starting to feel more like fall. There was a crispness to the air this morning. Tomorrow is only supposed to get into the 60's and drop into the 40's at night. Plus I saw a wild turkey on my bike ride into work today.

58 deg

-shorts
-cotton tshirt
-socks & bike shoes
-O2 jacket

Was comfortable, but had to take off jacket about one third of the way in.

No longer "Them"

This morning the crisp air on this abnormally cool August curled around my bike and I as I came upon a group of road bikers at an intersection on my way work I realized that I no longer consider myself apart from "Them", that is road bikers, you know, "Roadies". I don't know when that happened. I used to always consider myself a mountain biker that due to circumstances was in a sea of pavement, while dreaming of being on the trail... There they were in front of me, a group of road bikers doing a group ride in the opposite direction, and I realized I no longer thought of them as "Them", but considered myself one of them. I can't remember when that change happened. But I do know that this doesn't mean I am going to start shaving my legs or anything... I don't need to get to work that much faster...

48°, feels like 47°

-O2 jacket
-shorts
-sock & bike shoes
-bike gloves

Was comfortable.

Today I tried a new route that kept me away from Chestnut and all its construction. I preferred it much better, and think I may stick to that route from now on.

Cygolite Expilion 700 Headlight

My parents as a present gave me a new bike headlight for my bike commutes. It's the Cygolite Expilion 700. I charged it up last night and used it this morning on my ride into work. I used it on the "day flash" mode as it was already bright out. I was impressed. The flashes were strong enough to light up signs 50 yards away in broad daylight. I'm curios to use it tonight when it's dark out.