Good commute in

So i didn't get the opportunity to ride yesterday. As i had to stay home i had a small window of opportunity to actually get on the bike and ride for about an hour. However work was very busy so once i had a little bit of time it was time for me to take care of the little one.

Today i biked in at a very fast clip. I came in pretty early so i caught the morning willie b commute. There were two people pushing that helped push me nice and fast on the upslope. As i passed them all on the upslope i didn't push as hard on the downhill, so while my fastest speed during the whole morning commute was only 29mph, i averaged 16.9mph.

Great speed for a city commute. Having said that i am skeptical about my ability to keep up with group b as i was a little winded for a short 7 mile ride. My long rides this month (a few Nyack rides and hopefully 2 centuries in September) should give me a better gauge of my ability to keep up with group b everywhere except the big uphills.

Then again when i think about where i came from (not doing any real athletic or physical activities since college until last year) being able to actually do this will be a bit of a miracle.

Hoping to start September with a Bang

Well hopefully not a real bang and no fizz following that bang at least.

My new tires arrive on Wednesday. I am taking off on Thursday from work and will do a Nyack double hill ride. 100 miles to help prove that August was a fluke. Because if it wasn't i will flounder.

Today

I rode in today, tired and lots of things to do and alot on my mind. Having said that when i ride my first focus is the road (i know strange considering how many flats i get, but you have to see its tiny pieces of glass that pierce these tires hoping the next ones hold up). The ride in today was safe and relatively fast but it did not feel that way. I felt weak. Hoping to feel stronger over the upcoming month, August has been a wash in so many ways.

Irene

So i head out to do a little biking on Saturday morning. Spoiling around while the rain and wind begin to pick up a little. Heck if it rains in PR during La Vuelta (likely in the Fajardo and San Juan areas, not likely in Ponce and the dry south), i need to ride through it.

As the rain and wind pick up more i figure this day is going nowhere. So i started biking back. About 10 blocks from home...and i flatted...

I finally

got a little riding in with no flat.

I was unable to get my bike repaired yesterday because i had too much work.

I brought my bike in to the closest shop near my work to get the flat fix (it winds up it was another piece of glass that punctured the Schwalbe Ultremo on the rear) and had them put the original Zaffiro Slick on the back tire.

I was able to bike in without a flat, although the ride felt weak.

It was about 15mph given how long it took me to get from Union Sq to Bushwick/Ridgewood, so the speed was decent in city traffic but the endurance was not there i should not have been winded in the least and i felt a little tired when i made it to the top of the Willie B.

Hopefully September will be a better training month.

No ride in this morning

I brought an old tire in to the office to get it installed on my rear until my new tires arrive.

Another day another flat

So yesterday i was unable to make my flight back from Rochester and was forced to rent a Dodge Ram monster machine and drive back to NYC. I got home at 4:30 and had about an hour of sleep. I replace the pinch flat inner tube in the front tire and get on the road, about 15 blocks later BAM FIZZZZ the back tire is complete toast...yes another day another flat.

I will be putting on my old Vittoria Zaffiro Slicks that lasted me a year to tide me over until the new tires i bought today arrive:

http://www.biketiresdirect.com/product/vredestein-fortezza-tricomp

Please let these tires hold up to La Vuelta.

I can't do anything right

I am cursed.

So i met my brother at the gym today. His usual "i lift things up" and put them down killer workout, i was tired but not as much as Friday.

When i got back to the office i needed to do a little more work then at 8:45 i hit the road to head home (my lights are a little dim so i have to get new batteries). The bike ride is good and strong. The red traffic lights lined up against me but hey that's just more interval training especially on a single speed (yes i stop and wait at every light).

Going over the Willie B is nice and strong and fast. Passing Williamsburg and industrial Williamsburg and Bushwick bring me through some bad terrain but i am coasting and the traffic isn't that bad, and for the most part staying out of the bike lane.

I turn on to Menahan for the easy coast home. On Traffic there is a car coming the other way and is taking up pretty much the whole road even though it is a two way keeping me close to the parked cars in my direction (right side). Then all of a sudden BANG FIZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ, my wrist has a sharp stinging pain and i am on the verge of tears, not because i hurt myself but because i got another FRIGGEN flat. A pinch flat on tires inflated to 135psi. That must have been a monster pothole.

No luck...

I am flying to Rochester for work tomorrow the flight is at 8, another day without a bike ride to simmer and stew over my bad luck with flats.

Oh and when i get home i break the blinds as the pull string snaps in my hand...=(

The commute in today

The commute in today was ok. I wasnt feeling particularly strong. When i got to the Willie B there was construction as usual.

For those who dont know the Willie B has now been segmented the north side is for cyclists and roller bladers and other non motorized on wheels transportation methods. The south side is for pedestrians. For a few months the south side was under renovation/construction and we had to share the road with pedestrians.

Now the south side is no longer under construction but the north side is. However they are not closing the north side they are working on it piecemeal leaving a little open.

Today they were working on the north lane of the north cycling roadway. I stopped before the roadway as there was a cyclist coming down the path and there was a pedestrian going up. Of course that pedestrian is not supposed to be there he was supposed to be on the south walkway. Once the pedestrian was safely to the left and the cyclist coming into Bk had passed i then proceeded forward, i was quickly passed on my left by another cyclist who didnt stop at the construction area. He did call out passing on your left which was good.

He was riding a Felt 2010 TK2. I immediately kicked up to get some momentum and try and catch him. After about 100 yards i caught him and drafted him a bit, as we transitioned to the next segment of the bridge i passed him and said keep working it your almost at the top...then i left him.

I needed the push he provided it helped me get some value out of an otherwise lackluster commute.

Trouble with tires

After getting into a pretty bad accident i replaced the tires i had for a year with performance tires. Vittoria Open Corso 320's. They were fast. I rode my first two organized rides with them, however they fell apart after three months. They were $65 each. I felt like i did not get my money's worth so i went to my repair shop and asked my mechanic what should i get. I wanted something with the following characteristics:

1) Could inflate to a high PSI (over 120). The main reason being my commute path takes me over industrial areas with TONS of potholes. With my original tires i used to get a bunch of pinch flats even fully inflated.

2) Puncture resistant, goes without saying.

3) Low rolling resistance, speed is what i need.

He recommended the Schwable Ultremo ZX. When i got them i was really rooting for them. They looked schmexy on my bike and they felt sticky. However after less than 1 month and immediately after my Nyack ride the rear tire flatted with a serious gash rendering the tire useless. I booted the tire and decided to give the tire a second chance. This past Friday i got the new tire and replaced my back tire. I rode it for the first time on Saturday, a rare chance to ride on Saturday as that's usually the day i have to watch the baby. After 25 miles the rear tire got a serious gash rendering it useless...almost $300 in tires this season...i am about to cry.

Lots of training to do

I have alot of training to do to have any hope of completing La Vuelta Puerto Rico. 375 miles, in 3 days, on a single speed.

The first leg of the journey is from San Juan to Ponce along the east coast.

At mile 83ish there is a 1 mile climb with up to a 10% slope.

To train i will try to do the Nyack ride via the Pallisades every other Sunday or so i also commute about 14 total miles in NYC every day. On the Nyack rides I will try to hit the police hill at least twice during that ride. I will also try to do some Bear Mountain rides.

I will hopefully be doing two century rides in September.

My main concern will be staying in the same riding shape during the winter months as the Vuelta is in January.

I hope i can do it