More Miles, More Rain, More Velobase

Well, we’ve had a few weeks reprieve from the rain.  And in the lull in the monsoon of 2007, I managed to get some miles in.  Including a very satisfying 100k in Paris, TX on the 21st.  It was a great day to be out on the bike, light winds, heat wasn’t too bad.  All said it was a fun trip, and a fast day on the bike with an over all average speed of 18.6mph.  Quite happy with that result.  Now I just need to get around to rewriting my mileage log on my website so I can keep track of the miles.  Maybe that is something I’ll have to do after I get VeloBase completed and the winter months start settling in.

But, looks like rain is back in the extended forecast.  And by extended I mean it’s going to rain for like the next 5-7 days.  Just in time for the weekend.  One which I already have some 80mi of riding planned over the two days.  I just installed my new wheelset on the Flyte to test out before building the Serotta up when it gets back from paint here in a few days.  Went with a build that is just solid: Mavic Open Pros laced to Campagnolo Daytona hubs.  Daytona was the name of the Centaur line some years ago.  They look to be in great shape and should have a ton of miles left in the rims and the hubs. 

And of course, more VeloBase.com.  I have now moved all of the domains to point to the application.  Meaning of you visit VeloBase.com, VeloBase.net or VeloBase.info – you’ll end up on the component database site.  As of last night the component database had 199 components.  I have uploaded 2 articles, there are around 50 entries in the Glossary, and several dozen links in the Additional Resources list.  Additionally there is now a Gear Calculator, and I’m about finished building the fork geometry calculator as well.  Just a few little tools to make the site more useful for more uses.  I still have some more features to add to the component database, a few tools to add, and general enhancements to make. 

Another weekend with 0 miles

Though hopefully it will be the last. 

Recovery from my surgeries is progressing well.  The allergic reaction I had to the steri-strip adhesive has started to go away and the incisions are healing well.  The area around them are still a bit sensitive to pressure and abrasion as one would image they would be still.  But over all they look nearly completely healed on the surface and I’m hoping they are getting well along with the healing process deeper down as well.  This week some time, perhaps Tuesday or so, I’m going to get on the trainer and see how the legs feel before committing to a full ride.  I also need to see how comfortable my helmet will be with the head scar.

I did spend a little time this weekend starting to build the Serotta up.  The shifters, brakes and rear derailleur is installed.  Handlebars and front brake line is run, but need to pull the stem off and grease it before I get too far.  The rear wheel is good enough to ride on in the short term, but the front tubular tire needs to be reglued before I do any riding on it.  Better to have discovered that need now rather than in the middle of a ride when the tire rolls off the rim!

I’ve been getting my required face in the wind time by driving with the windows down as much as possible.  It’s not nearly as nice as being on the bike, but it is a sufficient substitute for now.  The mornings, when it hasn’t been raining, have been very nice the last several weeks.  As I drive to work I have the windows down (and the radio up) which is really quite enjoyable regardless of the destination.  As I look around I’m quite bummed at the lack of other individuals enjoying the same cool air rushing in from the outside.  Seems the only windows I see open elsewhere around me belong to smokers pushing the tips of their cigarettes out the window.  It’s mid spring in Texas and everyone has their windows up like it’s mid August already or something.  Go figure.

Healing Update

It’s now been 6 days since my last round of incisions doing at the doctor’s.  The head and leg are healing up well.  The first few days were rougher than the first time around, but they seemed to get better a bit faster.  Likely as they are in areas that don’t get pulled on as much during normal activity. 

I hope to be able to get on the trainer and do some very light spinning on the bike by this weekend.  Just to feel out how the leg is healing up and to see where the limits are right now.  I’m more or less of pain killers, a Tylenol or two now and then just in case the head starts aching from too much noise around the office.  Other than that just taking the last of the antibiotics and waiting for the thing to fully heal.  With the Serotta build getting rolling again after the frame and fork is back from paint I’m eager to get it out on the road.  I suspect this bike is going to fit me with amazing perfection.  I can’t wait. 

Cabin Fever

I’m starting to get it.  No riding for a couple weeks, more or less no real time outdoors for that same time period.  I’ve only driven my truck 2 days in the last like two weeks or so.  And it’s starting to drive me a little mad.  The pain and pain medications are not helping in that either.  And I’m tired, really really tired.  The kind of tired where you can’t sleep, but aren’t quite awake either.  I feel like I am in a fog.  And not the cool spring morning fog that you’d enjoy a nice slow ride through.  No, not that kind of fog at all.

I need to get out of the house, tomorrow I will find a way, make the wife drive me somewhere, anywhere.  I just need to get out in the sun and enjoy the wind.  I’ve been too down, too slow, too lathargic this last week.  After as stressful and busy of a school semester I’ve had one would think I would have enjoyed the slow pace.  But that got old quickly. 

Now, I just miss riding.  And the sun, the happiness. 

Survived Round 2… so far.

Today I had round two of the incisions to remove the moles that came back as dysplastic during their biopsies.  This one is on my lower thigh and on my right temple on my head.  So far the leg hasn’t bothered me at all.  But the head is most certainly letting itself known.  This is going to be a rough couple days…

In other news, just what I needed after getting hopped up on pain killers – a huge thunderstorm moved through DFW this evening.  No hail this time around, but my oh my was the wind blowing.  A large limb from one of the trees in front of the apartment complex was  ripped off the tree just as I was looking out the window.  Glad there wasn’t any other damage that I’ve seen so far.

Time for some sleep and more relaxing tomorrow.  As soon as my head stops aching, I am going to get around to doing some bike work.  I think. 

9 days to freedom

Well, from school anyways.  The 19th I have my exams, the 20th I have the turn in for my final project submission, and then it’s summer vacation for me.  I had actually hoped to get my final classes out of the way this summer.  But it is pretty obvious that I’m suffering from a bit of burn out and I can’t get the class I want anyways.  Oh well.

What I am hoping though is that I don’t get laid up with any minor surgery for melanoma in the near future.  This past Monday I visited the dermatologist and he removed seven moles for biopsy.  I’ll be getting the results from that either later this week or early next week.  If any of the three on my right leg come back as problems then I will be going under the knife for additional tissue removal and keep me off the bike for several weeks longer than I’d like.  I’m already way behind on my desired miles for the year and haven’t done any real long distances like I had hoped early this year yet.  Longest of the year so far has been a very flat 45mi.  If I want to do any metrics I need to get out and start pushing soon. 

Serotta Update!

Just received a PM from David and Southwest Frameworks who is handling the painting on the Serotta.  He has completed the color coats and the first coat of clear.  Next is a wet sanding, application of decals, and a final coat of clear.  Planned unveiling of the competed frame is going to be at the second (annual?) Dallas BikeForums Member Meet and Greet on Monday the 9th.  I can’t wait to see how the color comes out looking on the thin tubes of the Serotta’s frame after seeing it nearly daily on a Lexus GS on my way into the office. 

All of the parts for the bike are assembled and ready for assembly.  The only question marks left are the headset and the wheels.  I’ll be going with the original S.Record headset for now, but fear that the indexing feel of it will be difficult to get out and may be in need of replacement sooner or later.  The wheels, ah the wheels.  There are going to be two sets of wheels for this bike.  First off the tubulars that I have now, the rear rim is slated for replacement in the near future and I have two Mavic GL330’s waiting to replace the GP4 currently on the rear wheel.  I am also planning on building a set of clincher rims for the bike, hubs and rims coming from David also, and waiting to hear from him on what he’ll want for those.  Then I’ll have another chance to hone my wheel building skills.  More on that later I’m sure.

Ride Record

Forgive the short post, the page on my website where I input my past rides is currently broken since I moved hosts and need a place to save this data before clearing out my computer before my ride this weekend…

Dist: 22.91mi

Time: 01:21:59

Avg: 16.7

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 Spring Fever, Sulphur Springs, TX. 

Stat for the ride:

Bike: Gazelle

Time: 2:07:45

Dist: 40.64

Avg: 19.0

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Sunday BF’s group ride to white rock.

Bike: Gazelle

Distance: 32.88

Time: 02:02:35

Avg: 16.0

To Race or Not To Race

When I started cycling in May of 2005 I had only one real goal – to get into shape and drop a few pounds.  I first bought a mountain bike, then an old steel Schwinn road bike, and it’s been a snow ball effect ever since.  Then it happened, the thought went through my head that I swore never would… should I try to race? 

To be quite honest it took me by surprise.  I wasn’t excepting it, I wasn’t planning on ever considering it.  But there it was, one evening as I was browsing BikeForums reading about several of the members getting ready for this race or that race.  Maybe its because I’m in the process of buying a better set of road shoes, and getting an actual fitting done on the bike.  Or because I actually have a ‘modern’ bike (the Flyte SRS-3) which I could actually race with.  Until just recently all I had were vintage steel bikes which I valued far too much to put on the starting line of a race, not to mention their vintage equipment would put me at quite the disadvantage right from the start.

So I did what any BikeForums junkie would do, started a thread about it.  To be quite honest I posted it more as a joke, still not honestly believing that I would give it a second thought.  But quite quickly the regulars on the Road Racing section of the forum were eagerly encouraging me, giving me advise, and telling me to get off my ass and go for it.  And I might just have to do that.  In due time.  Right now I know, even before ever getting on the starting line of even a Cat5 race that I have a lot of training to do.  Training I really don’t have much time for at the moment.  But I have added one more goal to my list of To-Do’s… be on the start line of a Road Race.  Got a few other things to check off before then, but I do plan on checking that one off the list as well. 

I’d rather be riding

I’m trying to study for an exam, and someone’s running a JACK-HAMMER 20ft outside my window.  Guess it’s time to pack up and head for school where I hope it will be a little quieter.  It’s spring, I really didn’t have a spring break this year, which will be my last “official” spring break from school.  I’ll be done with school by this time next year, and I just let it go by working and doing school projects. 

However, I have a reason to be working hard getting school work done this week.  This weekend is Spring Fever in Sulphur Springs.  This will be my first return visit to this ride, one I enjoyed last year.  Though it looks like the temps are going to be a bit warmer this year so hopefully I’ll get a chance to wear my BikeForums.net cycling jersey.  Should be a lot of fun.

Last year I rode my Barracuda Mk.I bike, a self painted steel frame with vintage parts and a very non-agressive position.  The frame is too big for me, as anyone in the Road Cycling section of BikeForums would love to point out.  But it is comfortable for all day riding, especially if you’re not planning on pushing the speed.  The tires and steel frame really soak up the road imperfections when riding in East Texas, which are famous for their chipseal roads.  “Damn Jack-Hammer!”  Anyways, this year I won’t be returning on that bike.  Not because I sold it, I have no plans to do so, but because it has no wheels right now.  Sure, I’ve got 4 bikes, you’d think I could just throw another set of wheels on the bike and go.  But the Barracuda Mk.I uses 27″ wheels, and I only have one set of those… or rather I did… until I sold them.  And then the parts needed to build the new wheels got delayed 6 weeks!  This my friends, is why I have 4 bikes.  ALWAYS have at least 2 backups.  The more the better of course, but always have at least two backups.