Winter Cycling: Saved from the Trainer!

After resigning myself to the dreaded trainer, Andy Goodell inspired me to reconsider winter cycling after I read about his ambitious adventures. During the holiday break I broke out the crappy old mountain bike and surprised myself. I guess the hard work is really paying off, because in spite of only being able to use the large chainring (lots of chain slip), I was able to still climb up to Lansing and Forest Home with relative ease.

I started off the winter cycling routine somewhat modestly, but thanks to dry roads and sufficient winter cycling gear I kept upping my distances. On Dec. 26th I rode in 16 degree weather, and managed not to freeze, thanks to my dreamy new mittens and the fact that climbing was involved. On yesterday's ride, lower back pain was a clear indication that the mountain bike wasn't the way to go, so I pulled out the trusty old Miyata 1000 touring bike. I was surprised by how good it felt—it's been almost two years since I rode the Miyata. Then today I decided to test the brand new Mavic Ksyrium front wheel on the 28-year-old touring bike, and it was a truly revelatory experience.

Today was a glorious day, with temperatures in the mid 40s, and after my hillclimb, I met up with a FLCC group organized by Andrejs Ozolins for a short ride to Buttermilk Falls. How great to spend the last day of 2010 on the bike! Final mileage for the year: 5220. It was nice to see Jim, Wayne, Ron, Andrejs and Andy.

Tomorrow's weather promises some rain and continued moderating temperatures, so if the rain washes the salt off the road I'm taking the road bike out on Sunday, my first ride of the new year.

A Reminder of the Joys of Group Rides

While I truly enjoy and appreciate my solo rides, it's hard to beat a good group ride, especially when the cyclists are well-matched and no one rides off of the front and disappears. Add kindness and good cheer to the mix and you have a road biking experience that can't be beat. Also, when someone else chooses the route, it helps me to get out of my routine. I'm feeling so fortunate to have finally found this great group to ride with, and look forward to more adventures in less familiar territory.

Today I had the distinct pleasure of riding with Steve, Travis, Stephanie, Liz, Garth and Ashu, and we headed out to Lansing, then took Cobb Rd. to Moravia. Moravia seems to be a pretty popular crossroads for Finger Lakes cyclists, and it makes sense, since it's a connecting point to Auburn, Owasco Lake, and some gorgeous country with challenging hill climbs. Climbing out of Moravia on the aptly named Long Hill Rd. was an exhilarating challenge, with 570 ft. of ascent spread over 1.5 miles. This hill was around an average 9% grade, which was similar to Ringwood Rd. in terms of distance and elevation gain. The rolling hills that followed took us to right past the Hazard Public Library in Poplar Ridge. I was tempted to get on a ladder and add an extra z to their very cool sign.

The return trip took us back on the familiar 34B through King Ferry and Lansing, and we had a most excellent tailwind that brought us back to our starting point in Cayuga Heights in short order. We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day in mid-October, and now that I'm three miles away from making my 4500 mile goal for the year, any and all road biking this season is yummy fluff.

Group Ride Debate

I've been following a fascinating discussion on the listserv for the Finger Lakes Cycling Club regarding the tendency for the bulk of the group to drop slower cyclists. There are many valid viewpoints, but I side with the all-inclusive approach to group riding. Yes, I ride as fast as possible during the AIDS Ride for Life as a personal challenge, but if I join a weekend group ride, I fully expect to sacrifice speed for camaraderie and coaching. For what it's worth, here's what I wrote:

At the risk of further extending a lengthy discussion, I just wanted to add a little personal perspective to this fascinating debate. When I was 15 and growing up in the Endicott area (mid '70s), I bought a crappy department store 10-speed, which was still way better than my tired, rusty 5-speed. My best friend's dad was a serious cyclist, and I wanted to ride long distances just like him. Sadly no one in my family really supported or encouraged my cycling obsession, but then I heard about the Southern Tier Bicycle Club, and started joining them for weekend rides. These were some of the best memories of my teenage years—there was always a small group of faster riders, but without exception there were patient adults who rode at my pace and encouraged me. I learned so much from these strong riders who sacrificed riding with a faster group to coach and guide me. If it weren't for these experiences, I would have never pursued my many subsequent cycle touring adventures and beyond. I obsessively studied their technique and their gear and asked a million questions, and they were unfailingly kind and patient.

While I haven't participated in any FLCC Sunday rides in a long time, it seems to me that a primary objective of these rides is to nurture and encourage those new to cycling. I happily sacrifice my need for speed to coach my 9-year-old son at a sub-10 mph pace, and have supported several friends as they have prepared for the AIDS Ride for Life. I believe that this kind of guidance is critical in encouraging young or new cyclists, and it will also cause our ranks to swell. I sincerely hope that there will always be special consideration given to the up-and-comers!