Bruce on bikes!

Hanover Alert: Four days of rain followed by warm, sunny conditions. If you were a fully developed insect larva, what would you do? That's right, hatch and fly clumsily about, with the aim of landing in a cyclist's eye. So folks, be careful out there. In the last two days I have seen flys, wasps, bumblebees, beetles, and knats, all trying desperately to land in my eyes. My advice: even if it's cloudy, put on a pair of shades!

On the bright side, the riding is fantastic. No arm warmers, knee warmers, tights, t-shirts, long-fingered gloves, or toe warmers. Get out there and enjoy our beautiful county!

Yet another event in the year-long celebration of Ashland's 150th birthday: The Ashland 150 Clunker Cruise! It takes place on Saturday, May 10 at 5 pm starting at Cobblestone Bicyles (102 South Railroad Ave., Ashland). And no, it's not 150 miles. It doesn't even approach 150 km. It's just an easy two-wheeled tour around our fair town, with attitude. The ride will be attended by many locals owning unique or old bicycles. But the ride is open to all; it's a true community-building event. If you have an old bike, get it road-worthy and please bring it! If you don't, I've been assured that any bike will do. And if there's frankly no way you'll be on this cruise, please drive carefully! If you have any questions, just call or stop by at Cobblestone. www.cobblestonebikes.com

Quick note here: The Versus cable TV network has begun its spring "Cyclysm Sunday" programming. The schedule can be found here. Don't miss the infamous Paris-Roubaix, set to air on April 20. Known as the "Hell of the North," this monumental spring classic features 220 km of racing with nearly 30 sections of of cobblestones or pavé, leading to a velodrome finish in Roubaix. Dry conditions mean choking dust (and crashes), while wet conditions mean mud (and even more crashes). It's grueling, it's spectacular, and it's great theater. Look for North Carolina native George Hincape to try yet again to win this epic event.

I spent spring break in Ocracoke this year, and so did that howling wind I keep talking about. There's really only one training ride on the island, an out-and-back along U.S. 12 between the town and the ferry landing to the north. It's 25 miles round-trip with no hills, little traffic, and no protection from that relentless wind. It's great training. Every time I rode it the wind was aligned almost perfectly with the axis of the island, meaning there was a head-wind for half the ride, and a tail-wind for the other. The wind speed for each ride was roughly 20 mph. The funny thing was that the wind direction changed 180 degrees from day to day, so I experienced both scenarios: head-wind out / tail-wind home, and vice-versa. Having done both, I can't say that I have a strong preference for one over the other. There's a good deal of misery associated with each.

So here's the math puzzler: If I averaged 25 mph on the head-wind leg, and 15 mph on the tail-wind leg, what is my average speed for the ride? If your answer is 20 mph you're wrong. It's less. The reason is that speed is measured in distance per unit time, and less time is spent on the tail-wind leg than on the head-wind leg.

The precise calculation takes a bit of work, but it's straightforward. If I travel at 25 mph for 12.5 miles, it takes exactly 30 minutes. If I travel at 15 mph for 12.5 miles, it takes exactly 50 minutes. So the ride takes a total of 80 minutes. I can take a weighted average of my two speeds to get the average speed for the entire ride:

(3/8)*25 + (5/8)*15 = 18.75

It's a sad fact that wind never helps! I actually did a little better than 18.75 out there (I used nice numbers above to illustrate the principle), but I still ended up just shy of 20 mph on every ride despite a determined effort to break that barrier.

Head wind, apply directly 'till it hurts. Head wind, apply directly 'till it hurts. Yesterday, the northwest wind came at an average of almost 20 mph, with sustained speeds as high as 30 mph, and gusts up to 40 mph (as reported by the National Weather Service for the Richmond area).

When setting out for a 30 mile loop around lunch time, I faced a dilemma: Do I ride into the wind for the first part of the ride, and let it blow me home, or do I ride with the wind behind me, then turn and fight it all the way home? It's a question without a simple answer.

I chose the latter, but I have to say I underestimated the wind. Just a mile or so into the ride I knew what I was in for when I looked down at my speedometer heading east on Ashcake to find myself cruising at 27 mph. Yikes. My thinking had been that by riding with the wind behind me initially I could warm up gradually and get my real workout on the ride home. It's a good strategy if you are reasonably fit, the ride is reasonably short, and you are prepared for that return trip. On the other hand, if you're just getting back on the bike and aren't sure of your endurance and strength, starting your ride into the wind is the safer strategy.

I crossed Rt. 301 near Hanover, continued east on River Rd. and Williamsville Rd. to Studley. Beautiful. Man, I was loving that tailwind. But then the inevitable happened. I turned right on Studley Rd. heading toward Rural Point, and the wind was no longer my friend. No no no. From that point on it was a struggle. But it was great.

The gusts were devastating. It's such a delicate balance knowing how much to fight to keep your momentum, and when to ease off and save yourself. In any case, it's essential to show your determination and accelerate gently as each gust subsides. This is a skill I developed when living in Holland for six months in 2002. The wind over there was like this all spring, and one simply adapts. It's amazing the extent to which it is a purely mental game. Riding into that kind of wind is like getting beaten again and again. To be able to finish knowing that you pushed back after every gust is deeply satisfying.

And I finished with an average over 20 mph. Not bad (for me) for this time of year, and a real triumph given the conditions. The last four miles (back on Ashcake) made me suffer, but I didn't feel defeated. I was able to push hard right to the end, and that's a great feeling. I love it when I start coming into form. I can't wait for the weekend!

Quick note here: Performance Bicycles in Richmond has their house-brand biking shorts at half price. Their top-end short, the Ultra, is decent and can be had for 45 bucks (bib) and thirty-something (non-bib). Selection is good as of last night. Forget looking online; you need to go to the shop to find these (unless you happen to be teeny tiny or mammoth).

Cobblestone Bicycles carries the excellent Louis Garneau line of shorts. These will set you back a bit more, but people who have these shorts, including reviewers, love them. They are an excellent value when the quality of the product is taken into account.

Finally, even if money is not an object you can still find a sale. Both Colorado Cyclist and Competitive Cyclist have much of the Assos 2007 line of shorts on sale. Be mindful that a pair of these babies, even on sale, will set you back more than 200 bucks. Personally I think this is insanity, but if you read the blurb at Competitive Cyclist for the Assos F.I. 13 S-2 you might just be swayed. Yes, people can write passionately about cycling shorts! In any event, prices like this put the Garneau shorts into perspective.

So treat your bum right. Your rides will be so much more pleasant! I suggest that now is the time to buy.

The weather is finally turning. It's time to lube the chain and hop back in the saddle! Apologies to all for my long hibernation. Let's just say that this winter has seen a number of projects competing for my attention. I'm happy to report that I, for one, am back in the saddle and ready to ride.

In fact, I managed to find a few hours yesterday and work in my longest ride of the year, a 65 mile loop from Ashland. The weather was warm, the rain mostly held off, but the wind, Sweet Jesus! When she's behind me all goes silent, and I rocket down the roads as if I were in good form. But when she howls at me from ahead it's like a bad dream. I just keep repeating, "it's all good, this is base training, it's all good, it's all good." But it's not all good. It's bloody hell. Make it stop. And whatever you do don't look down at the speedometer. That would be truly depressing.

The loop is a nice one. I basically rode west to Montpelier, braved a short stretch on 33, then left on one of my favorite roads in the county, Clazemont Rd (715). Then right on 610 all the way to Holly Grove (and into Louisa County). After a brief water stop at the wonderful store at the corner of 610 and 635 in Inez, I wove my way north on back roads to 33 at Locust Creek, and continued north on the most excellent Bethany Church Rd., which is route 655 (perfect pavement, no traffic, not too hilly, and a tailwind to boot). This was my first journey on this road, but I'll be back. I took it right to the end, then right on 609, and right again on 618, through Bumpass, then back on the 76 bike route, through Beaver Dam, to Teman, Old Ridge, and home in the center of the universe.

Old Ridge Rd (between the Berry Farm and Beaver Dam Rd), while it should be one of the best roads in the county (it's flat, with great scenery and low traffic volume), is in fact one of the worst because of the surface. I've been on smoother dirt roads! Ah well. I hope to live long enough to see a quality surface on this road.

Today the weather is even nicer. And more good weather is just around the corner. Let's go biking!

Well the Heart of Virginia rides have come and gone; congratulations to all who completed one! For those who either missed that event or who are eager to try another, the 10th Annual Cannonball Century will be held on Sunday, September 30. Rides of length 35, 62, or 100 miles leave from Curtis Memorial Park in Hartwood, VA (near Fredricksburg) at 7:30 in the morning. Get out there!

Closer to home, Cobblestone Bicycles right here in the Center of the Universe leads a road ride every Wednesday evening, and a mountain bike ride each Thursday. The road ride leaves from the shop (102 South Railroad Ave) at 6:00 pm sharp. The ride typically has 10 to 15 riders, and is a gentle group ride (no one will be "dropped" or left behind). Beginners are welcome, but be aware that the ride is focused at the "enthusiast" level. It is good company, good roads, and a great way to bring your riding to the next level. The Thursday mountain bike ride meets at Poor Farm Park, and again leaves at 6:00 pm. Again, beginning riders are encouraged to attend.

For the more adventurous, there are races in October and November to consider: The Cobblestone Cross is a cyclocross race in Mechanicsville, to be held October 21 at Pole Green Park. This will be fun to watch, as the riders on cross-bikes get muddy on a short lap course. In November, there is an all-night 18 hour endurance mountain bike race in Goochland. Details can be had here.

Goals. They help us focus our energy. They feed our will power. They give us the day to day motivation to keep moving forward. Are you on the lookout for new sources of inspiration and motivation? Let me suggest two.

The first takes the form of an event: the Heart of Virginia Century and Bike Festival is put on in Hanover County each September by the Richmond Area Bicycling Association as a benefit for Sunrise House, part of the Hanover Mental Health Association, Inc. In addition to aiding a worthy cause, participants will be treated to a choice of scenic bicycle tours through Hanover county. On Saturday, September 15th, there is both a metric century (62 miles) and an English century (100 miles). On Sunday, September 16th, there are rides of length 25, 40, and 62 miles. All riders are treated to generously stocked rest stops manned by friendly volunteers, so concerns regarding food and drink are unnecessary. The ride is also very well attended by cyclists at all levels, so you are sure to meet riders at your level of fitness and ability; this makes a long ride all the more pleasant.

This event also can serve as a meaningful goal. It is four weeks away, so there is ample time to work toward that next level of fitness. The satisfaction and confidence gained upon completing an endurance ride is, quite simply, priceless.

The second potential source of motivation is perhaps less tangible. It comes from an article in last Sunday's New York Times: (available with the creation of a free account) Lobes of Steel. It states, to paraphrase broadly, that regular aerobic exercise such as cycling improves cognitive function. In other words, exercise makes you smarter. Moreover, the mechanism whereby this takes place is beginning to be understood by the scientific community. Repeated aerobic exercise stimulates a portion of the brain that is responsible for creating new neurons, so called “neurogenesis”. This effect, observed first in mice, has now been confirmed in humans, even among the elderly. The bottom line is that exercise improves not only your body but also your mind. Heady stuff.

So get out there before the cold and damp returns this fall and make something happen this season. You're mind, your body, and the folks at Sunrise House will be glad you did.

July 7th marks the beginning of the 94th Tour de France, the queen of the grand tours of cycling. The race ends in Paris on Sunday, July 29th. Each day until then (excepting two rest days), the best cyclists in the world will compete, racing over 2200 miles in a clockwise circuit around France. If you have never seen the television coverage of this event, do yourself a favor and tune in to the Versus network and give it a gander. Be warned, however, that two side effects may develop. First, it is highly addictive. I've seen many non-cyclists, non-athletes even, catch the fever and tune in religiously each night. Second, you may find yourself pushing those pedals with a just bit more verve and purpose, despite the July heat here in central Virginia. When you see how hard these athletes work, see how strong they are, it's simply inspiring beyond words. If you watch just one stage, make it one of the big mountain stages. The official tour website (see below) has descriptions of each stage in the race.


A few useful links for online information about the tour:

www.letour.fr Official TdF website.
www.versus.com/tdf Versus TV network (has TV times).
www.grahamwatson.com Graham Watson, Photographer (posts daily by stage).
www.velonews.com Velo News.
www.cyclingnews.com Cycling News.