Bikes I Ride

The stable of bikes I own are a reflection of my different passions for cycling, and while they each have a defined purpose, I like to think they are adaptable to more than one riding style.  Thanks to over a decade of support by Epic Sports, I've been fortunate to acquire some truly excellent bikes at team prices, three of which have been built following unique guidelines for components and accessories.

Each bike reviewed below briefly describes the following: 1) frame, components, and accessories, 2) intended use, and 3) my most memorable riding experience.

Surly Cross Check (est. 2010)

• The frame is as the title suggests, White Industry cranks and chainrings, Shimano Ultegra derailleurs (2x9) with downtube shifters, Chris King hubs and bottom bracket, Salsa seatpost, stem, skewers, and handlebar, Avid brakes, Tektro brake levers, Crank Brothers Eggbeater pedals, Nitto M-12 front rack, Velo-Orange hammered aluminum fenders, Brooks B17 saddle, Schwalbe Marathon tires (32 mm), Acorn randonneur bag and medium seatbag, and Japanese brass bell.  Credit goes to Mike Hilden for creating this wonderful bike.

• This bike serves as my daily commuter.
• Despite its commuter role, my most memorable ride with this bike was a 95 mile jaunt to and from Steele, ND on July 4th, 2011.  It was a calm, cool morning.  Enjoyed sunrise near Driscoll and a tailwind on the way home.

Surly Karate Monkey (est. 2009)

• Another frame by Surly, SRAM X9 (2x9), Mavic Crossmax wheels (29"), Salsa seatpost, stem, and Woodchipper bars, Specialized Rival saddle, and Japanese brass bell.  The pedals have been swapped for Eggbeaters and the tires are now Schwalbe Hurricanes (41 mm).  This bike was originally built by Tyler Huber with a White Industry Double-Double drivetrain and flat handlebar.  The version photographed below was built by Steven Wilke.

• While the most versatile bike of the bunch, it serves primarily as an early season trainer and a year-round gravel bike.
• Burleigh County Cup, May 12th, 2012.

Specialized Epic 29 (est. 2011)

• Full aluminum frame, FSR/Fox suspension (BRAIN in back, Float 29 in front), SRAM XO (2x10), Industry Nine wheels, Maxxis Crossmark tires (tubeless), Specialized stem, bar, and grips, Thomson seatpost, Specialized Rival saddle, and Eggbeater pedals.  This bike was built by Steven Wilke.

• Singletrack.
• Dakota 5-O, September 2nd, 2012.  Briefly led the second wave up the gravel road after the start.  The ride ended poorly (see previous post), but it was still the most memorable day on this bike.

Specialized Roubaix Pro (est. 2005)

• Full carbon frame, Shimano Dura Ace (2x9), Specialized carbon seatpost and handlebar, Specialized aluminum stem, Specialized Avatar saddle, Ksyrium Equipe wheelset (in place of Dura Ace wheelset, which is used rarely), Ruffy Tuffy tires (28 mm), and Speedplay Zero pedals.

• Road riding.  Short distance brevets (up to 300 km).
• Gran Fondo, Fort Collins, CO, August 12, 2011.  Dropped all but one rider climbing Rist Canyon and then rode the remainder of the 90 mile route with the lead group.  Passed through some of my old stomping grounds west of Horsetooth reservoir.  It was a fun day.

Koga-Miyata Terraliner (est. 1998)

• Terraliner frame, Shimano Ultegra (3x8), bar-end shifters, Sugino cranks and chainrings (gearing suitable for touring), Mavic MA40 rims and Ultegra hubs (36 spokes, front and rear), Panaracer Pacela tires (32 mm), Richey seatpost, Nitto stem and handlebar, Velo-Orange aluminum fenders, Brooks B17 saddle, Eggbeater pedals, Zefal frame pump, and Japanese brass bell.  This bike is being upgraded.  Stay tuned for significant improvements.

• Touring.  Longer brevets.
• Cowboy Trail, north central Nebraska, August 2000.  Rode from Atkinson to Platte Center while camping along the way.

A Visit to The Big Apple

Travelling benefits us in so many ways, one of which is often a greater appreciation of your hometown.  A recent visit to the east coast provided an especially notable contrast between bike lanes/paths here in Bismarck/Mandan and those in New York City.  Over three very full days, I ventured forth with my wife and daughter to explore different parts the 'concrete jungle', otherwise known as Manhattan.  The intensity and speed of automobile traffic was mind-boggling at times, and made us happy to be on a bus or subway for most of our transportation needs.  While I was impressed with the network of bike lanes (which were painted green, but fading badly), their use by bicyclists was sporatic.  Here's what they look like...

Admittedly, we were visiting during a holiday weekend (MLKJ), which may have contributed to limited use.  Still, I wonder how much they're used on a normal weekday given what seemed to be exceptionally dangerous riding conditions, particularly at intersections.

Most bikers we saw during our trip rode within the confines of Central Park.  While they still had to dodge meandering tourists, runners, and an occasional horse-drawn cart, it seemed a much more relaxing experience.

 

 

I wonder how many of the bicyclists we encountered that weekend are able to 'escape' the city to ride on open roads, without the endless pressure of being surrounded by ten million people.  Conversely, I wonder how many bicyclists move to New York City from other parts of the world where open roads are the norm.  The transition must be difficult.  I know it would be for me.





Winter Conditioning - Eight Core Exercises for Cyclists

North Dakota winters provide ample opportunity for indoor training.  Since 2011, my winter conditioning has included exercises focused on abdominal and lower back muscles, or 'core'.  These eight exercises outlined by Dimity McDowell are highly recommended, as I've found them to significantly improve endurance on the bike once the roads clear in early spring.  Enjoy!

2012 Mileage

Despite my setback over Labor Day, 2012 managed to be a record year as far as mileage was concerned.  I rode slightly over 4880 kilometers (3032 miles) for the year, with rides recorded between January 4th and October 14th.  The favorable winter weather in February and March made all the difference, as our roads in central North Dakota lacked the typical snow/ice cover.

As can be seen from the table below, I had limited opportunities to tour or participate in brevets.  As it turned out, the randonneuring events planned for 2012 occurred after my accident.  Extended rides beyond two hours turned out to be particularly painful, so I had to withdraw from those events.  Here's to hoping mileage for touring/randonneuring is significantly increased in 2013!

ANNUAL SUMMARY - 2012
			Ride time	Mileage
		Ride	Cumulative	Cumulative
Bike		count	hh:mm:ss	km
Road		11	32:12:30	873
Mountain		21	40:12:44	775
Commuter		76	78:49:41	1632
Gravel		24	42:04:10	1073
Touring/Randoneering		14	24:08:58	526
TOTAL		146	217:28:03	4880

A New Beginning

The race was proceeding better than expected.  I reached Dakota Ridge within three and a half hours with no problems.  My legs felt strong.  The bike was working flawlessly.  Emotionally, I was buoyed by the confidence gained after briefly leading the second wave up the gravel road following the start.  Really, the race could not have been going better.

My fortunes took an unexpected turn for the worse just as I began my descent off the ridge.  A rider who I'd been sparing with throughout the day failed to negotiate a tricky downhill switchback.  I didn't see him sprawled out in the middle of the trail until I rounded the first part of the turn.  I quickly decelerated, but the loose, off-camber singletrack made it challenging to keep my balance.  I fell hard to my right, landing squarely on my shoulder.  Shaken, I unclipped as quickly as possible, righted my bike on the trail, and then checked my body and bike for damage.  My clavicle wasn't broken, but there was a dull pain in my shoulder.  The bike needed a slight adjustment to the right brake lever.  I fixed it and continued riding.

I finished a little more than 70 minutes later, just managing to sneak below the five hour mark.  A personal best.

Once the post-race high dissipated, the pain set in.  Showering, breaking camp, and loading the truck were one-armed activities.  Advil failed to provide relief.  Sensing a serious injury, I skipped the celebratory beers with the Epic crew - who rode fantastically that day, with three earning spots on the podium - and drove home.

A trip to the Med Center walk-in clinic the next morning proved inconclusive.  X-rays showed my clavicle intact.  I was instructed to give the shoulder a few days to recover.  If the pain persisted late into the week, I was to inform the doctor.  It did, resulting in a visit to the orthopedic surgeon, then the MRI clinic, then back to the surgeon to hear the verdict.

I tore my labrum.  Details can be found here.

Surgery was set for October 29th, nearly two months following the crash.  Very little went as planned during surgery.  My arm had to be 'manipulated' during the procedure (via a 10 lb weight attached to my hand), and there was considerably more damage to the shoulder than indicated by the MRIs (e.g., cartilage damage, bone spurs, and bits of bone in my armpit).  What was projected to be an outpatient surgery turned into a three day hospital stay.  Pain management following surgery proved challenging, as the prescibed medications failed to dull the pain effectively to allow for restful sleep.

Now about three weeks hence, I realize sleep only comes in two hour spurts.  Everything I do I do with at least half the speed and efficiency prior to surgery.  I'm of little help around the house, and my productivity at work has reached an all-time low.  It's been incredibly frustrating, but my experience is not unique.  Injured shoulders are painful following surgery, and recovery is slow.  My physical therapist informed me during our first visit I should expect a 9-12 month recovery period, assuming all goes well.

This experience has prompted me to reevaluate how I spend time on my bike.  In short, the likelihood of participating in races like the Dakota 5-O in the future is small.  Perhaps my feelings will change as I regain function to my shoulder, but not without the caveat of exposing myself to another serious injury.  I think a transition to a different sort of riding is needed, one that is still physically/mentally difficult, but with much lower risk of injury.

Last year I participated in my first brevet, the James Canyon Jaunt, a 200 km ride along the northern Colorado foothills.  The ride was transformative.  While there were time limits along the route, it wasn't a race.  There was camaraderie among the participants unlike anything I've experienced before.  I learned later the ride was a randonneuring event.  Whatever it was, I had a great time, and it's something I pledged to do more in the future.

According to Ranndonneurs USA (RUSA), randonneuring is long-distance unsupported endurance cycling. This style of riding is non-competitive in nature, and self-sufficiency is paramount. When riders participate in randonneuring events, they are part of a long tradition that goes back to the beginning of the sport of cycling in France and Italy. Friendly camaraderie, not competition, is the hallmark of randonneuring.

This blog will be dedicated to my randonneuring experiences, with occasional posts related to general bicycling topics.  I intend to post monthly, possibly more depending on demands at work and home.  As I've recently 'unplugged' from Facebook, this will be my sole social outlet via the web.