Cycling
Current Log
Log Notes (Bikes)
KA is my Kuwahara Apollo, an old school road bike with a Chromo-moly frame, purchased around 1980. It has many original components including Shimano 600 cranks and shifters. I added a longer seat post in 2005, and a replacement stem to get the fit of the bike right. I added Ultegra (Look style) pedals in 2007.
GY is my Giant Yukon. Originally a hard tailed aluminum mountain bike, now a heavy, fat-tired, multi-use bike. I could call it a touring bike if I had new wheels and thinner tires. I changed cranks, chainrings, hubs, pedals, changed the stem, added bar ends in 2004. I replaced the seat in 2005. I changed the cranks and chainrings again in 2009. It's a dependable bike.
On my visits to Winnipeg since 2006, I have borrowed Mike's Raleigh Rocky (RR).
Gear
Most of my clothing was purchased at Mountain Equipment Coop, which is still dependable for some kinds of clothing, tools, tubes and some repair parts and replacement components. I think good shorts with a modern synthetic chamois are vital. A helmet is a necessity, and a light helmet with good airflow is worthwhile.
A small bell is a useful accessory for riding trails and paths shared with runners, skaters, dog-walkers, pedestrians and other cyclists. Some are engrossed in conversation, listening to music, hearing impaired or otherwise indifferent to the possibility of being overtaken. A mirror is handy in traffic.
I went to clipless pedals on my Giant and cycling shoes in 2004 or 2005. I started with Shimano SPD, the two bolt system, in the universal release mode, with a low end Sidi mountain bike shoe. I couldn't find a good wide shoe at MEC so I went a size too large. I should have had a proper fitting shoe. The black single release cleat is better. I changed to the Lake 90 shoe in 2010, an inexpensive lace up shoe that fits me well, takes the SPD cleat, and has a rigid composite sole. This suits the riding I do on the Giant. In 2007, over the winter, I bought the Ultegra pedals for my Kuwahara road bike, and (on sale) Carnac road shoes and Shimano SPD-SL cleats to go with the new pedals.
I have learned some lessons about the size an alignment of components. My original goal in changing the cranks on the Giant was to upgrade from the factory Suntour cranks and to customize the rings. I did not see a problem in purchasing the 185 mm cranks that the bike store had in stock. At first I didn't see the problem. I am not tall enough. My Apollo felt better because, among other things, I had 180 mm cranks. I had a related problem - the original seat on my Giant broke down gradually in 2005, which meant my right hip was lower than my left for at least a couple of months and several hundred k. I probably didn't have my cleats aligned properly either. I have tended to get numb or tingling hands, and had a wicked experience with carpal tunnel in 2007. This has been due to seat alignment and handlebar height, which had me with too much weight on my hands. My experience and reading has made me fussy about frame size, crank length, seat position, headset and handlebar height and position, and cleat position and alignment. Getting any of the above wrong means discomfort and pain, and fighting the pain makes it worse.
Victoria Routes
I live in James Bay which is a community on a peninsula between the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Victoria Harbour. I live a block from Dallas Road, which starts at the Coast Guard Station at the west end of James Bay and runs along the Strait, on the southern edge of the community. Most rides start near the intersection of Dallas and Menzies. I start at home most of the time. I have a copy of John Crouch's Bike Victoria, a useful book which has a route plans and maps that are realistic and accurate. I tend to start from home and sometimes check out his routes.
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