Building on Last Week
Building on last week, I was trying to notice all the great things drivers did to help keep me safe. It really is amazing how many people look out for you when you focus on it. One new thing I noticed is drivers seem to be more aware of me, or at least more patient, because I am on an ebike and going FASTER than a normal bike. I have ridden the bike with the pedal assist off, and twice I have ridden to work with my wife, who is on an acoustic bike, so my assist mode is off or low. When going slower, drivers tend to get impatient and seem to be more aggressive in trying to get around me or pull in front of me to make a turn. I don’t notice this as much when I am in full turbo mode going faster. Could be just my imagination, but I think it would be an excellent graduate thesis. Any takers? Chalk up another great positive to the pedal assist bike.
Bike maintenance
Whenever you ride a new bike, some settling in of the bike will occur, and this includes cables stretching under the load of the derailleur and shifting. Eventually, you will need to have your derailleur adjusted to prevent sloppy shifting. Mine needed to be done this week. I would like to tell you I know how to do this myself, and I could probably figure it out, but I prefer to have the professionals do it. This adjustment is not a full tune, so generally takes a mechanic 15-30 minutes to dial it back in. If your bike is less than a year old, and you purchased your bike from a local bike shop, most shops will do it for free. (Wheel Sport does) At this point, I feel compelled to give you some insider beta. There is a currency in a bike shop that will help you get this done quickly. As a shop owner, this isn’t my favorite thing, but it is what it is. Food or drink for the mechanics generally gets you fairly rapid attention for something this simple. You may have to wait an hour or so if the shop is full of customers, but your bike is more likely to get prompt attention. If your bike needs more work than a simple adjustment, this does not apply, the shop has to put you in line. But a 6 pack and a friendly face generally gets these minor things done.
Since I have quit the news podcasts, I have been listening to more music. It is funny what you think about when you just listen and let your mind wander. Lyrics from Eric Church, “Like a Wrecking Ball”: “And that old house is gonna be shaking. Rafter and rocking foundation quaking. Crash right through the front door, back you up against the wall. Love you baby, take it right there baby, rock you baby, like a wrecking ball.” Does any woman want to be loved like a wrecking ball? Is this a thing? Where does consent come into play here? Did he call before he crashed through the door? What if the kids are awake? Who’s going to fix the door so you can lock the house before you go to sleep? Man, I am old.
Last week was a holiday week, so I only got 2.5 days of commuting in. I also overfed the athlete. Scale read 224 this morning, so only a small step backwards. I’ll take it.
I started focusing on my pedal stroke this week.
Never heard of this before? You are not alone. There are many articles you can read about how much faster a cyclist can be with an efficient pedal stroke. Elite level riders dedicate a significant amount of time to this. This is a skill that takes quite a bit of practice to encourage muscle memory, because lets face it, when you are panting and tired, the last thing you want to focus on is your pedal stroke. It needs to be just what your legs do. What better time to practice than on a commute? If you are interested in learning how to make your pedal stroke more efficient, here is a link to a good introductory article.https://mailtribune.com/oregon-outdoors/biking/improve-your-cycling-with-a-better-pedal-stroke.
Clipless pedals and shoes are a must to get this correct.
Goal Update!
114 miles not driven this week. $9.71 saved in gas. $65.55 in IRS re-imbursement dollars. Since this week closed my first month of commuting, the totals are at:
760.6 miles not driven, $69.10 in fuel savings, $466.44 saved at the IRS re-imbursement rate.
I also signed up for CommuteSmartNW.org. This is a website where you can track all of your alternate commuting activities, including carpooling, walking, bus, and cycling. It estimates your savings, calories burned, greenhouse gas emissions reduced, and carbon dioxide reductions. It is just an estimate and uses averages, but the information is interesting. Plus you get entered into drawings for free stuff! Below is a snapshot of my stats from the website. Pretty cool!
