This sucks

This cold weather sucks big time! I can tell I have not gotten used to it yet as it really isn't that bad (20's I suppose with the wind chill), but I am a total wimp. I keep trying to talk myself into going outside, but I just can't do it!

I just might be buying myself a trainer. What a disgrace to Tom Lorntson. The guy that got me back to biking. He was a teacher at Gilbert that rode to school everyday for over 30 years. He only drove probably about 10 times over those 30 years he taught at Gilbert. He lived 5 miles away from the school so it isn't like he rode three blocks.

I have some toughening up to do!

It is about time!

Got home from a long Thanksgiving vacation and went for an hour and a half bike ride tonight. Everything felt good other than I can tell I have been sitting on my butt the last two weeks! I need to get a few good rides in before December 8's Trans Iowa Tune Up Ride which will be 100+ miles of gravely goodness with twelve 10+ percent grade climbs. This should be a good ride.

Tonight's ride was a little cool at 34 degrees, but being dressed appropriately helped. I actually was very comfortable, but my toes were hurting as they thawed out when I got home. That truly is very painful as I am sure you have experienced it as well if you are reading this blog! I didn't where my boots over my shoes so with those and some gray tape I should be good to go. I really should get some very used size 10 shoes (which would be about a size too big) so I can wear some nice thick socks without my feet feeling squished. Anyone have some size 10 cycling shoes that they have just about thrown out and would like to sell cheap?

I went over to McFarland Park and rode the single track at night. Without a great headlight it was an adventure. The lights I have worked, but I really need to get a decent light for single track. Once again, I am loving the single speed and the Flight 29er. I say that almost every post, but I just can't get over the big wheels and the extra effort it takes to climb with the ss. What fun.

As for the Trans Iowa Tune Up Ride on December 8th. Dave Nice and Chris Plesko from Colorado are considering driving the 10-11 hours to IOWA to ride our gravel so we need as many people as possible. Even if you want to ride just a bit. So far Dave Pals (co director of Trans Iowa) is for sure,Andrew Carney of Ames is a maybe, and Matt Maxwell (who is for sure!) are coming. Anyone else up for some gravelly goodness? The roads are in great shape, but the temps are getting cold! Please leave a comment here, email me at thejacobsons at q.com or call me at 515 233 3058. The more the merrier, even if you just want to ride part of it (Emily? Alex? OP?)

If you are interested in coming you are more than welcome to stay at my house both Friday and Saturday night if you would like. On the ride we will be leaving Gilbert at 6:00 AM and we will be back, depending on conditions, in about 10 hours or so. There will be a stop at 50 miles or so, but it is in a town of just a few hundred people and they have a gas station/grocery store we will plan on stopping in. Trust me, this town (Le High) isn't much. About 15 miles later there is another town (Stratford) a mile and a half off the course with a Kum and Go so we could at least get some rolling wieners! %^)

The course will be around 107 miles or so and it will be a fun one, but certainly not an easy hundy that is for sure!

Happy training.

PS. I see that EnduroSnob is hanging up the blogosphere for a while. Last time I did that I lasted about three days! I hope he continues it as I have enjoyed reading his blog for over two years now. It almost seems like you get to know people through their blogs. It is weird.

Yes

So, we have some snow on the ground with a pretty fierce wind, but I just had to get on the bike. So, I just went for a few blocks, but I was able to ride for the first time in a week and a half since my vasectomy.

By the way, it isn't that big of a deal. Yeah, tell that to the boys! Yikes!

A good read

Here

Trans Iowa Tune Up Ride V2

A few weeks ago a few of us guys met up in Marengo, Iowa for a century loop and I had promised I would come up with my own little training ride. So, on Saturday, December 8th I will be sponsoring the 2nd ride of (hopefully) a series of Trans Iowa training rides.

I live in Gilbert, Iowa which is just a couple miles north of Ames. Anyone that would like to come is welcome to stay at my house on Friday night. We will plan on taking off around 7:00 AM on Saturday. There will be just one pass through town around half way so be prepared. The pass through town of Lehigh is very small and it only has a gas station/grocery store. The route will be roughly 107 miles and will have some major climbs. Not a ton of climbing, but the climbs we will do will be 1/4 to a 1/3 of a mile at 8-10 percent grade. Enough to feel it that is for sure!

Check out the route here. Leave me a comment if you would like to come.

Seeking Opinions

I am considering getting some wheels built. I will largely be riding gravel, some single track with few, if any drops, I need the rear hub to be able to handle gears and single speeding, I want it to be at least reasonably light and durable for the price. The Skunk River Cycles here is Ames has recommended these for around $400 built:

Salsa DelGado Race 29er Disc Rims
DMR Revolver hubs
DT Swiss SuperComp spokes

What do you think? They are recommending these hubs because it has a steel cassette body and they should be able to handle the wear and tear of a single speed cog.

Since I have such little experience on this stuff I thought I would ask you guys what you think. So what are your thoughts on this?

Paul

Hmmmmmmm?

Is it me or is Guitar Ted an actor on the side?

Riding just a bit

Went for a forty miler to the Des Moines River and back today (20 there and back). I threw the 32 X 17 back on and wanted to see how the steep hills around the river valley would be. Surprisingly, everything went well. I made it up out of the valley just fine. It was tough, yes, but not horrible. I fought the wind for the first 20 miles and it was good for me to have to push a bit as it wasn't easy. Of course, the ride home was a breeze. On a single speed I think it is even easier to ride the wind as you can't shift to make it harder. You just have to sit and spin and do a lot of coasting. I think I might throw on a 16 tooth cog now or move up to a 34 tooth ring. We will have to see.

Happy training.

Be thinking of my recovery as I am going in for snip snip surgeries on Friday! Hopefully I will be back on the bike soon! Any advice I will take it.