real round trip, finally
Posted March 12, 2010 
Comments(4)
Comments(4) today was going to be the day – the first day I rode all the way to work and back. 29.5 miles round trip, including Bellevue Hill.
remarkably, I am not exhausted like I thought I would be! next up: get to the point where I can do this every day.
that is awesome man, seriously in a couple weeks you are going to be dealing with some seriously fit legs.
one tip, be sure to stretch well, and drink lots of water. don’t neglect your IT band (google it) when stretching.
Also be sure to do some other types of activity so you don’t turn into a t-rex 🙂
thanks, this web community has been a huge part of my progress – from finding routes to learning the safe way to ride in a bike lane to dealing with winter. On my next commute I will break 500 miles!
I haven’t done any stretching at all, the legs seem fine though I do have a foam roller for the IT band (used to have problems there).
I should probably stretch my neck, though, it’s always sore after a long ride (from looking straight ahead when the rest of my upper body is facing down).
Congrats!
I’m not sure if you’re fishing for tips, or of this applies, but when I started riding four years ago I found when I rode for more than 30 minutes at a go that my fingers would start to go numb as a result of all the pressure I was applying on the handlebars. This was before I purchased padded riding gloves, which work wonders. Also, shifting my weight and posture around constantly made for less strain on both muscles and pressured areas.
Also, if you are still having problems stopping (even on a downhill) it may be that you have misaligned or crappy break pads, or loose cables. There are different quality material break pads, generally the orangish ones are the better stuff and the black ones not so much. (The better ones are usually more expensive, the black ones usually cheaper and installed on less expensive new bikes.) The next part is a bit of a comfort thing with some who like more or less slack on the pulling, but the point when pulling on the breaks where you feel the pads being applied should be around one-third of the distance to the handlebar, and it should be difficult to pull the breaks beyond two-thirds point. It’s normal for the breaks and shifters to become loose after a few weeks of normal riding on a new bike and typically the shop you bought it from would suggest coming in for a tune up a few weeks after a purchase (usually for free).
thanks teeheehee. I have generally bad circulation in hand and feet both (still use toe warmers in 45-degree weather) but have managed to keep the digits OK with some Bontrager Satellite grips and Cane Creek bar ends. Ever since I switched to a bike with less of an upright posture, though, my neck hurts from looking up to see cars instead of straight down at the road.
the brakes are a bit better since having been adjusted by the LBS. they’re drum/roller brakes, not rim, so the pads aren’t an issue for me though thanks for the suggestions. the other thing I’ve done is just to keep my speed lower on the downhills…