Knobbies on. Waiting for SNOW!

Looks like we are going to get some snow overnight and through the day tomorrow. Not much. Just 1 to 3 inches expected. I put the old knobby tires back on the bike over the weekend, so hopefully things will go a little better than last time.

I've got the support phone until Friday, then it is SUPERBOWL weekend! Steelers take another shot at the title against the upstart Cards... It should be a pretty good game.

Lunch Time Jaunt

Took the bike out around lunch time so I could get a haircut. It was might brisk out there. I also realized that I would need to bring the cable and U-Lock to be sure that I can secure the bike downtown. Locking the bike to a parking meter is not always possible with the U-lock. The bike racks are the only option, and they are not always close to the place you want to go...

So far, figuring 9 miles a day, I've gone 135 miles in January.

Bike Fixed Up

I got my mongoose back from Sunflower yesterday. They put a new front wheel on it, a new chain and a new set of cogs on the back. The bearings had worn into the axle and it was cheaper to get a new wheel than to have them fix the old one. They looked the rest of the bike over, cleaned it up and determined that the chain had stretched a bit and that the 4th and 5th cogs were pretty worn out.

I also mentioned that the rear brake was a bit squishy; it didn't seem to grip as well as the front. They determined that the collar around right-rear canti was cracked. It still worked but the spring inside was flexing out of alignment because the collar was no longer keeping it in line.

All told, it was about $100, which includes a new bottle of chain lube. The bike shifts MUCH better; it had been getting hard to get it into a couple of the gears. I was flexing the shifter beyond the index mark. They usually stayed in gear, but the 4th and 5th gears had also been slipping a bit.

It was good to have it looked over. They made a couple of comments about how good the frame of the Mongoose Hilltopper was back then. (I've seen posts on some forums that they are worth picking up if you find one at a yard sale.)

I did have some problems while riding in this morning. While it shifted well, it still seemed to skip around about between 4th, 5th and 6th gear. I took it back over my lunch break and they said to give it a couple of days. With a new chain and rear cogs, it needs to break-in a bit. I didn't have any skipping on the way over to Sunflower at lunch or on the way home. So we'll see how it goes. He did tell me to bring it in again if it is still going on tomorrow. And to bring it in next week to check the wheel after a few rides.

Overall, I'm pretty happy with Sunflower. The service guys know their stuff and I didn't feel uncomfortable dealing with them at all. While I am out $100, it has been 13 years and I am using it quite a bit.

No Ridey Today...

I rode on Monday and heard some noise coming from the hub of my front wheel on the way home. I didn't get a chance to look at it until almost ten last night. Definitely some grinding going on there.

I resolved to ride the wife's bike. It is a comfort bike and not a step-through frame. I have ridded it a couple of times--just a whirl to see if it was shifting correctly. So this would be a new thing; I figured it would be cool to see how it rode. I also figured that it would give me time to take my wheel apart and learn how to fix my bike.

So I transfered the rack and fenders to it. Or I tried. the front fender was no problem. The back of her Trek Navigator only has one set of threaded braze-ons. So I could but on the rack or the rear fender. I opted for the rack as it would block a lot of the water kicked-up by the tire. I could tell that it might be a tough fit, but decided to go for it.

I get the rack attached, but it is very far forward. And I can't put the trunk bag on because of the seat. The clip stops a bout 2 inches from the bar on the front of the rack. The arms for the rack are extended as far as they would go, so there really was no way that I could use the rack and trunk bag on the bike.

In the end, I took the rack of and put the rear fender on her bike. I was able to get it on there along with kick stand. By that time it was 11:30 and I really needed to crash.

This morning I struggled with whether I should ride or not. The daughter started waking up at 5:30. By six she was ready to be out of bed and made her displeasure known. I had been up at 5 to kick the cats out and I never really got back to sleep. We hadn't gotten any cereal for the week and I didn't feel like mucking about with toast. I was already getting a late start and I had to put my lunch together and get ready to ride.

By the time I got everything on and the wife's bike out the door I realized that I hadn't put the mirror on her bike. When I got out side I also realized that I had over-dressed a bit. I was pretty warm and hungry and the bike felt weird.

So I threw my bike on my car and drove.

The mongoose is at Sunflower getting the once over. They figured they would need to clean and re-grease the hub. If they had to replace any parts, they said it would be cheaper to buy a new wheel. I also told them about the back brake feeling a little weak and they were going to clean and lube the drive train.

My bike is 13 years old, so this is probably good that they are taking a look at it...

I Rode. I Slid. I did not Fall.

Against, or because of, my better judgement, I rode on Friday. We had watched two different weather forcasts Thursday night. The local guy said a dusting at most on the grass. The KC guy said at least an inch. I figured the KC, who is pretty accurate, had it right. And I thought I'd just decide in the morning. Well, I saw the snow but said 'What the hell!'

I learned a few things on this ride. First, I'll be putting the knobbies on the bike before the next snow fall. I didn't fall, but I had to put my foot down a couple of times. The fresh snow was fine. But riding in the car tire tracks was not fun. The cars had compressed things and then shifted them just enough to be slippy, without being obviously bad.

I also had a heck of a time getting the rain cover on for the ride home. I was loaded down with the towel I had used all week AND a 15 pound book I had lent to a buddy at work. I also did not wear as much for the ride home as it was 10 degrees warmer and not snowing. This made the panniers bulge. And the rain cover didn't like that all that much. It made little tearing sounds while I was putting it on, but I think it was just stretching the seams a bit. There are no obvious signs of damage, anyway.

I figured out that I can ride in the snow. Which is good. I learned that the dual glove combo works for snow as well. The snow did slow me down. It added about fifteen minutes each way to my commute. I had to rush through the shower portion of my morning... Other than that, the ride was pretty successful.

Will I Ever Be Warm Again

Holy crap. COLD.

I wore the full ski jacket with liner. So my upper body was all right going to and coming from work. The hands were fine as well. My head was warm for the most part, but the balaclava was pushing down into my eyes...

The legs were fine, but the feet were a little chilled. I wore heavy socks and I think my feet sweat a little and the the wind and general sub-zero temps did their work. I'll probably go back to mid-weight socks tomorrow.

90 miles.

Cold, Cold, Cold

But I was fairly warm. The balaclava keeps the head pretty toasty, especially with the hood up on the ski jacket.

I also ditched my regular winter gloves for a combo of my 'waterproof' gloves and some gaudy thick fleece gloves that I've had for a while. These are my Bruins gloves that I got for Christmas a few years back. The thumb, index and pinky are each bright yellow, and the middle and ring fingers are black. They are very bright and don't really go with my red, graphite and white jacket.

But this isn't a fashion show and tomorrow the effective temperature will be -11 when I leave the house. I may add thicker socks as even with the mid-weight ones I was feeling the cold a bit this afternoon.

The only other area that was at all cold was my nose, which I have to keep out of the balaclava so that the lenses of my glasses don't fog up. I'll be looking for cheap ski goggles this spring...

Bolt Lost

Somewhere on the way to work I lost a bolt off the bike rack. And, somehow I didn't notice it this morning. I realized it was gone before leaving work. I made it home okay and happened to have a couple of extras. I tightened everything up and will check things a bit more often now...

C H I L L Y

This morning's ride was a bit colder than yesterday. I didn't feel at all weird riding with the hood up. It really helps to keep heat in and, this morning, I needed it.

I wore the mostly the same set-up as yesterday. I did not wear the rain-pants, but will consider them for the rest of this week. The warm-ups that I normally wear are lined with mesh instead of cloth. They have worked well, but I think the extra wind-blocking layer of the rain pants may help.

I also switched out the thinner, water-proof gloves for my winter gloves. My hands were still cold.

The cheap, clear-protective glasses that I got at Walmart fogged up a bit. I usually leave my nose exposed so I can breathe without fogging them up. It was a little TOO cold for that, so I covered it up and promptly fogged my glasses all to hell. I ended up trying to ride that way for a bit and had drifted into the lane a little too much. Luckily, the driver behind me was paying attention. I rode nose-out the rest of the way.

Since posting the trunk-bag review over the weekend, I've been able to use the rain-cover in fully-deployed mode and just on the trunk. The ride in yesterday with a full load of notebook, clothes, towel and food supplies stretched the limits of the rain cover. It fit very well, with room left-over on the top, but took a bit of stretching to fit it around the top fully loaded panniers. The bottom of the panniers fit easily. The ride home was much lighter, as I opted to leave the notebook. I was able to fit my work clothes and lunch containers in the trunk. This made fitting the rain cover much easier.

Of course I didn't see a drop of rain going to work or coming home. But it would have poured from a clear sky if I hadn't used the rain cover.

I got up a little earlier today and made it to work right around 8. This gives me plenty of time to shower and get clocked in before 8:30. For the last week or so, I've been cutting it pretty close. Getting my gear ready the night before and getting in the saddle at 7:30 is the key, I think.

Windy Ride Home

Things cooled off quickly on the ride home. 20 mph winds will do that. I am sheltered from the wind for most of my ride home, which is through side streets with plenty of trees around.

The most exposed part of the ride is west on 27th street. I hit it after Naismith Valley Park and it is really just a steady climb all the way to Holcom Park on the other side of Iowa. The slope is gentle enough, but it is fairly open to the westerly wind we had.

I'm liking the fleece balaclava I got for Christmas. A lot.

Dry Ride In

I rode today, despite the threats of rain and snow. I still have the commuter tires on the Hilltopper; I haven't switched back to the mountain tires like I had originally planned.

I did gear-up without checking the weather before I left. So I had the full rain and cold package on. This wasn't much warmer than my standard cold gear, just rain pants over the warm-ups and my Bean's ski shell instead of the water-proof windbreaker.

All-in-all, I felt a little foolish with the hood up and nary a drop of rain anywhere; in fact, it looked as though it had already passed through... There is a chance for rain or snow this afternoon, so we'll see if I get any use out of the rain gear today.

I also put the rain-cover on the trunk bag. It was a tight fit, as I had the panniers stuffed with some re-supplies for the week as well as my usual stuff.

I'm hoping to get some pics posted, but haven't been using my time wisely, apparently. Too much time watching the Steelers game yesterday... Next week against the Ravens will, again, be pretty tough. We can beat them. Especially if the running game is as good as it was yesterday. Unfortunately, we don't get to play the Charger's defense again.

Ride on.

YTD: 63miles.

Topeak MTX Trunk Bag DXP

From Bike Pics

After having used the Topeak MTX Trunk Bag DXP for a week, I've been able to come to some conclusions about using it vs. using a backpack.

The bag holds everything I would normally carry to work, but it probably won't hold as much as I ˆcouldˆ put in my backpack (which is, admittedly, large). That said, I haven't quite found the limits of the trunk bag yet, so we'll have to see how things go. A typical load for me:

Work clothes. (Pants, t-shirt, socks, boxers, button-down shirt; I leave shoes and a belt at work)
Lunch. (Sandwich, fruit, chips)
Laptop. (15" MacBook Pro in a neoprene sleeve.)
U-lock (w/ cable) and tools.
Towel (Monday morning, Friday evening)

Clothes go in one pannier and the laptop in another. Lunch and tools in the trunk, and the U-Lock on top of the bag. The weight of all this stuff on the bike changes how the bike handles. It feels MUCH heavier on the back end. This is just something to get used to; I'm betting that this summer, when it's 100+ degrees, I'll be glad not to have all that weight on my BACK. I really only notice this when stopping and starting, and it has more to do with balance than anything else.

The bag does seem to be very durable. I've stuffed the panniers full and squeezed the zippers together to get them closed and the bag really didn't flinch. The expandable trunk is pretty helpful; I've already used it a couple of times. However, The bungees on top are not your friends. Use them with care; I already lost my cable lock that I had stored under the bungees. (I did find the lock... after I bought a new one.)

Another thing I didn't expect was that the bag does slow me down a bit when getting on and off the bike. This surprised me, as I got this bag because of the MTX system. Slide the bag onto the rack 'til it clicks and away you go. This is true if you are just using the trunk. If you are using the side panniers, you also should secure the bottom of the panniers to the rack using the built-in bungee. This seems trivial, but is another step you have to perform (twice) when you arrive at your destination. Again, not a biggie, but you also aren't just locking your bike and walking away, as you would with a backpack.

From Bike Pics

From Bike Pics

The only thing I do not like about the DXP is the included shoulder strap. It just isn't long enough. Even fully extended, the bag hangs well above my waist. (And I'm not a tall guy.) So I switched it out for the strap from a satchel that I had been using for my laptop. This is more comfortable, especially when the panniers are full.

The reflective stripes on the bag work well; combined with the reflective side-walls on my tires, it would be hard not to notice me even without the lights I use. I'm using the brake light mount on the bag, rather than the rack, as the bag always goes with me.

All-in-all, I'm pretty happy with the DXP. It does what I need it to do, and seems to handle it well, despite the quirks I've mentioned.

Of Course I Found It...

I retraced my route last night and couldn't find my old bike lock. So I loaded up Abby after dinner and headed down to Sunflower. (Open to 8 on Thursdays.) I was a little dismayed by the Trek-only selection, but I noticed their locks are Treck by Kryptonite... I decided that I should get a good lock considering that I'd be using it for years, probably with newer, more valuable bikes than my current ride. I ended up with a U-style lock with a cable that can secure the front tire as well...

So, $35+tax later, I found my old lock this morning on the one section of the route that is a divided road. Meaning I couldn't retrace that section because there is no sidewalk and I'd be riding into traffic. Oh, well. A better lock was in my future anyway....

This morning was a little warmer than I expected but I didn't really over-heat. I will probably go with less gear on the way home, as the temperature will be around 50 degrees.

I'll post some pics of the bike and list some of the gear I'm using this weekend.

Bike Lock Gone

I hopped off the bike this morning at work only to realize that my bike lock had jumped-ship somewhere along the way. I thought it was secured with the bungies on the top of the trunk bag. Apparently not. I'll see if I can find it on the way home. I'm not holding my breath. Work is a bit off the beaten path and there is near constant smoker traffic past the bike rack, so I'm not too worried. (But worry is there, scratching at the back of my brain: 'Is the bike still there? Are you walking home?')

I got up a little later than normal, and was a late clocking into work. I really need to get my things together at night; while I do most of it, sometimes I leave things to be done in the morning. That is not working, so I'll need to re-figure my prep.

The ride was a bit colder today than I remember it being yesterday. I haven't been watching the weather, so I don't know actual temps.

Fifth ride of the year. 45 miles after the ride home. (I really need to get a cycle computer...)

Another Cold Ride

Temps were pretty frosty again this morning. I felt pretty good with my current set-up; Wind pants (or warm-ups, or whatevah you call 'em out heah), polyester long sleeve mock-t, cotton long-sleeve mock-t, long sleeve shirt and my water-proof windbreaker. I also wear regular weight socks and my hiking boots along with the fleece balaclava. Add in my old shelled fleece gloves and I've been very comfortable.

Saw an old friend of mine on the ride in this morning. I said hello, but I'm not sure that he recognized me under my balaclava. This is the second or third time I've seen him on my ride, going the opposite direction. I see five or six other people riding every morning, and this is in the winter. It will be interesting to see how this spring and summer shapes up.

The trunk bag is working out well. It takes a little longer to get off the bike when using the panniers. Mostly, it is just getting down and unhooking the cords that keep the panniers from flopping about while riding. But I'm getting used to it. We'll see how I feel about it when it is pouring rain...

36 miles after the ride home.

Back in the Saddle

From Bike Pics

I started bike commuting again on Friday, January 2nd. Thursday night, I wiped the bike down and cleaned the chain. (I'd been slackin'... I hadn't really cleaned the chain since I started bike commuting in July.)

I got a Topeak Explorer rack and trunk bag for Christmas. I don't have the mount points on my seat stays for the rack, so I ordered some rubber-coated clamps to mount the rack. The clamps were in the mailbox when I got home last night. (Along with four spudgers; why does Apple always require some weird tool in order to open their highly-sought-after products?)

After several adjustments, I was able to get the rack mounted on the bike and take it for a spin. Turns out more adjustments were needed as my heal was hitting the panniers on the trunk bag. I tweaked it, lubed the chain again and then went off to do the chores I had been shirking in order to play with the bike.

So how was the ride with a rack? It was weird.

I live near the bottom of a small hill and I have to go up it when I start out in the morning. This normally involves standing on the pedals and rocking the bike a bit. I could really feel the extra weight of the loaded trunk bag because of this. After a couple of minutes, though, I got used to it.

I also couldn't shake the feeling that I had forgotten something. But, no, I had everything I needed; it was just that I didn't have my backpack on my back.

The ride in was pretty cold again today. I was glad to have the fleece balaclava (another Christmas present). I had hoped for something less bulky and didn't think that I'd be able to wear it with my helmet. But, it does fit and I did need it. I may still get another, thinner one for when it is not as cold, but this will do for now.

Three days of commuting in '09, 9 miles a day: 27 miles.