My First Blowout
For lunch I had 4 leftover chicken mole tacos, so if I wanted dinner I was going to have to earn some extra calories. I decided a bike ride was in order, but only after I made some modifications. After weighing my bike this morning I decided that 55lbs is just too heavy for a bike. It was time to remove the ZAP drive. I figured I'd also remove the trunk and the extra bike computer (although it only weighs a few ounces). When I was all done I weighed the bike and it only weighed 36lbs -- almost 19lbs less!!!
After I made these modifications I decided to take it out for a ride. I decided I'd test out the new Shimano MT40 bike shoes at the same time. This bike doesn't have clipless pedals, but I didn't have any problems using the shoes with it. I figured that I'd ride out 10 miles and then head back for a 20 mile loop. As I got going the bike felt totally different. It responded much better and I was much faster. Instead of my normal 13-15mph, I was easily doing 17-21mph with the same effort. The shoes make a huge difference as well. I'm not sure exactly how to explain it, but its like they focus the power of my legs into the pedals more efficiently. I could feel different muscles being used. I'm sure that once I get my clipless pedals it will be even better.
Anyway, about 4 miles out I made a turn and heard a loud hissing from the front tire. Then I got hit with some of the fix-a-flat slime that was oozing all over the place. I wasn't very excited about this, but I had just installed a pump on the bike and had a patch kit. When I got off the bike I saw that the ooze was coming out of the side of the valve stem. It looks like the tube had twisted and kinked the stem causing it to rupture at the base. Basically, I was stuck. I started walking home. A look at the Edge 305 told me that it would take me one hour to get there walking 4mph. After about 10 minutes of walking I started to slow down though. Bike shoes are not meant to be walked in for very long distances. The rigidity that makes them so good for the bike makes them lousy for walking. Fortunately, a friendly neighbor pulled up alongside and took me and my bike home.
I didn't have any spare tubes so me and Harold went to walmart to pick one up. They had some filled with Slime, so I picked up two. After 15 minutes I had the new tube installed and decided to go back out. I still needed to earn about a 1000 more calories for dinner, so I decided to tow Harold in the trailer. Now, Harold weighs about 100lbs, plus the weight of the trailer -- it was not as much fun as my pre-blowout ride. After 6 miles I decided to head back to drop him off.
I had gone a total of 12 miles so far, but I wanted to log 20 today, so I head out by myself again for a final ride. Once again, the bike felt light, responsive and fast. I felt tired and thirsty at this point, but decided to push it. It's all flat out on the main Benjamin road grid, so there's no hills to help me out. I got it up to 27.2 mph and held it at over 25 mph for about 2 minutes. After that I felt like I was dying, so I decided to head home. When I finished my final ride I had done about 7.4 miles with an average of 19 mph. If losing just 20 lbs off the bike makes this much of a difference I can't wait to see what it feels like once I've lost another 50 lbs off of my body!
After all my riding I've earned 1200 calories, and just in time for dinner too. Boy am I hungry! By the way, did I mention that I tried my new blue jersey. I'm not sure what I think of it yet.
After I made these modifications I decided to take it out for a ride. I decided I'd test out the new Shimano MT40 bike shoes at the same time. This bike doesn't have clipless pedals, but I didn't have any problems using the shoes with it. I figured that I'd ride out 10 miles and then head back for a 20 mile loop. As I got going the bike felt totally different. It responded much better and I was much faster. Instead of my normal 13-15mph, I was easily doing 17-21mph with the same effort. The shoes make a huge difference as well. I'm not sure exactly how to explain it, but its like they focus the power of my legs into the pedals more efficiently. I could feel different muscles being used. I'm sure that once I get my clipless pedals it will be even better.
Anyway, about 4 miles out I made a turn and heard a loud hissing from the front tire. Then I got hit with some of the fix-a-flat slime that was oozing all over the place. I wasn't very excited about this, but I had just installed a pump on the bike and had a patch kit. When I got off the bike I saw that the ooze was coming out of the side of the valve stem. It looks like the tube had twisted and kinked the stem causing it to rupture at the base. Basically, I was stuck. I started walking home. A look at the Edge 305 told me that it would take me one hour to get there walking 4mph. After about 10 minutes of walking I started to slow down though. Bike shoes are not meant to be walked in for very long distances. The rigidity that makes them so good for the bike makes them lousy for walking. Fortunately, a friendly neighbor pulled up alongside and took me and my bike home.
I didn't have any spare tubes so me and Harold went to walmart to pick one up. They had some filled with Slime, so I picked up two. After 15 minutes I had the new tube installed and decided to go back out. I still needed to earn about a 1000 more calories for dinner, so I decided to tow Harold in the trailer. Now, Harold weighs about 100lbs, plus the weight of the trailer -- it was not as much fun as my pre-blowout ride. After 6 miles I decided to head back to drop him off.
I had gone a total of 12 miles so far, but I wanted to log 20 today, so I head out by myself again for a final ride. Once again, the bike felt light, responsive and fast. I felt tired and thirsty at this point, but decided to push it. It's all flat out on the main Benjamin road grid, so there's no hills to help me out. I got it up to 27.2 mph and held it at over 25 mph for about 2 minutes. After that I felt like I was dying, so I decided to head home. When I finished my final ride I had done about 7.4 miles with an average of 19 mph. If losing just 20 lbs off the bike makes this much of a difference I can't wait to see what it feels like once I've lost another 50 lbs off of my body!
After all my riding I've earned 1200 calories, and just in time for dinner too. Boy am I hungry! By the way, did I mention that I tried my new blue jersey. I'm not sure what I think of it yet.
posted by Ashley Guy at 4:57 PM
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