Last September I got a job that required me to go all around the city of Chicago to different retail stores. The pay was (is..) not phenomenal, and given the locations of the stores a car was totally unreasonable....
So, public transportation? No way, too restrictive, too slow, and then I'm bound by wherever the CTA/Metra goes.
Walking wasn't happening, so... a bike! Sure, I love biking (not cycling at this point!)... I'll get a bike and cruise around to these stores, the farthest being about 18 miles... I'm in decent shape (lol...) I can make it and I'll get in even better shape!
At this point I had an old roadmaster mountain bike that I broke the crank arm off and it was never the same .. it was *not* suited for anything more than a few miles - even with the cool slicks I had put on to lower rolling resistance.
So, I got my first road bike. A 70's'ish Schwinn Traveler... 62cm frame which was WAY too big (the price was right and the guy lived within walking distance). The much too large frame actually worked to my advantage, though!
Anyway, at this point I'm around 225lbs, 6'1", and my longest trip on a bike had been around 20 miles - I remember on this "long distance adventure" I ran into a roadie and tried to keep up... my roadmaster totally ran out of gear (~20mph?) and I could only stick with the roadie for about .5 a mile.
I struggled on the big frame, I wasn't used to the stretched out leg position. I felt it was too big, but something told me this was the way I was *supposed* to be riding, so I learned to stretch my legs out. Learning the bullhorn handlebars was an experience as well - this old bike was not made for riding on the hoods, so I spent just about all my time on the drops after the very first few rides being on the bar tops. My first commute was only about 7 miles... and I was definitely tired, but at the same time felt so invigorated - I felt as if I won the Tour De France by beating google's estimated travel time... lol...
The first time I hit the store that was 18 miles away was when hurricane sandy hit New York. I rode right along Lake Michigan and the wind was tremendous! I could barely move forward, I thought of turning back many times but I pushed on. The beauty of the rough waters kept me going - I've never seen the lake so choppy before! This day I was late and dead tired, and on the ride back I just wanted to fall over and die - it was ROUGH! But I did it, and I felt amazing for completing such an odyssey!
Fast forward into late November and I'm really learning the bike.... very comfy low in the drops and the stretched out legs feel great. I'm now really getting into the sport of it, and studying all the elements of cycling... getting to be a "cyclist" at this point =). This is about the time where I started being able to keep up with the roadies I would happen upon on the lakefront path for at least a mile or 2, and by this time I was around 210lbs.
In December I felt it was time to get a new bike - I wanted updated components, particularly to brifters... I had previously been using only the front derailleur as it was too much hassle to deal with the rear + it never stayed in place anyway. I wanted to get myself on a more modern frame so I could have ready access to upgrade parts.
So, on Christmas Eve, I found the bike that fulfilled my needs at a price I could afford... it had the basic components I wanted, was a smaller frame, not too flashy so as to attract thieves, and had a good overall geometry for my needs. A used KHS Flite 220 - 2010 model courtesy of Craigslist.
Wow, its only been 2 months that I've had this bike????!!! In this time I've grown so attached, it feels like I've had it forever!
At this point I was around 200-205lbs, and had decided to get down to 180 after studying the weight of many great cyclists.
At the start of the new year I went clipless (Shimano 105 SPD-SL), and a few weeks later I got a longer stem and dropped the bars as low as I could/cut the fork down. This is how the bike is now, and at this point I can get into a really nice aero position and hold it - which I am accustomed to after being forced into the drops on my schwinn! I also swapped the Kenda Kontender tires to Continental Attack/Force - WOW what a difference!
At the beginning of February (after having already dropped to 180, I was serious about that weight loss!) I went on my first group ride. An ambitious endeavor, my longest ride was 65 miles a few weeks prior and it really killed me (butt more than anything)... I was riding often, definitely over 100 miles a week between commute/leisure, but the rides were not continuously long (winter played a part, this is when it started actually getting cold).
One of the best decisions I made was to get my derailleurs setup and buy some cycling shorts the day before the group ride. Smooth shifting and comfort go a long way!
My first group ride went extremely well, I hung with the group and even took some pulls up front! This was after riding 20 miles to the meetup spot, and then 30 more casual miles to the splitting point, and then I went with the more serious drop ride. When we were about 15 or so miles from the original meetup spot back in Chicago, I was relishing in the fact that not only did I hang on for all this time, I wasn't particularly tired... and POW a flat and I got dropped. I wasn't too upset though, I had made it through about 90% of the ride and would have easily finished with the group - I had proven to myself that I could hang. This turned into my first century ride as well! At the end of the day I pulled right about 110 miles total. I was beat at the very end - this is the day I learned the wonders of drafting!
The next week I went back determined to finish the ride... it was even colder now - high of about 20. The group was much smaller, and only 2 others wanted to go the long route. I went with them, and this time the pace was higher! The riders were smaller, and I had on more/baggier layers PLUS I had to go to work after, so I had my backpack full of tools AND a change of clothes AND shoes! I still held on! I've never suffered so much, but I was determined.
The lack of drafting/me being less aero/the weight on my back made this the greatest suffering since dealing with the high winds of Sandy when I was in much worse shape. My legs were burning and my back was killin me, but I hung on! In the home stretch back to the cafe where the ride had split between shorter/longer... the pace went WAY up! We were cruising at 26-28mph and at this point I was absolutely giving it my all to hold on, but I was holding on! I was so happy, even through the pain and misery, that I was holding on.... but my joys were cut short by my baggy pants!!!!
My pants leg got caught in the front derailleur and I had to stop to fix it... I yelled out, but they kept going. It was bent, and it took me some time to jam it back into place (at least I had my tools... lol). After this my spirits were down, and I was totally unsure of how to get back... plus it was freezing cold! I knew I was close to the cafe, and I knew what turn was next, but once I got into town I wasn't sure which way to go - so I headed south and figured I'd wing it.
I did find my way back, after getting plenty lost and riding on a stretch of Sheridan road that is forbidden to bikes.. coincidentally it was the coolest little stretch I've ever ridden on - A short steep/twisty decent and a short steep/twisty ascent, dangerous with traffic though - I can see why its closed off. This ride turned into another century plus, not sure of exact mileage I was on 65 or so when my pants caught the derailleur - I set my bookbag on the top tube and I guess it caught the reset button on the computer... after that I was suffering so much I didn't care to check the mileage... and then I had to go to work!
That was just last week! I decided to skip the group ride this Saturday (today) after the heavy snow... I probably could have made it, the streets aren't as bad as I thought they would be... but I'm also whipped after having such fun with my latest purchase...
A Garmin edge 200! I'm so in love with Strava right now, after just a few days (see widget). I can't wait to try to top myself on all my favorite haunts - and I really want to get the KOM on a loop near the town I grew up in! I know I can do it!
Also I JUST ordered some pants tights... no more parachute pants catching the air and my chain! Also I JUST ordered a 12-23 rear cassette to replace my 11-30. The wide gearing kills me in the hills and flats alike, its hard to stay in my optimal cadence range - plus I've never used the biggest cogs on the rear cassette anyway... I only have a 50/36 up front.
Cant wait to have nice tight gears and I yearn for less leg and wind resistance that I hope tights will offer. I've learned so much and come so far in what seems like a long time, but it really hasn't been! I really can't believe I've only been on this bike for 2 months, and been riding clipless for a little less than that. I've become quite obsessed, but that's just how I am.
My hopes for the future are to enter and win a cat 5 race or 2 this year, and I'd like to make it to at least cat 3. If I can go higher I will strive for it, but now I'm just focusing on doing my best from diet to getting in the miles.
So here I am today, 27 years of age and 6'1" 175lbs of disproportionate mass (body builder legs and wimpy top according to my sister). I'll be adding to the great cycling blogosphere, and hopefully someone will enjoy reading what will hopefully be an interesting journey!
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