Comments on: Lessons learned http://www.rocbike.com/2007/11/26/lessons-learned/ Nothing To Lose But Our Chains! Sat, 31 Jul 2010 12:36:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: RocBike.com | The RocBike Review » 45 years and 45 miles http://www.rocbike.com/2007/11/26/lessons-learned/comment-page-1/#comment-7600 RocBike.com | The RocBike Review » 45 years and 45 miles Wed, 28 May 2008 01:49:54 +0000 http://www.rocbike.com/2007/11/26/lessons-learned/#comment-7600 [...] the route in advance! This was the mistake I made back in November, and I was determined not to make it again. I’d ridden from home to the lake two or three times [...] [...] the route in advance! This was the mistake I made back in November, and I was determined not to make it again. I’d ridden from home to the lake two or three times [...]

]]> By: brucew http://www.rocbike.com/2007/11/26/lessons-learned/comment-page-1/#comment-1635 brucew Mon, 26 Nov 2007 23:44:22 +0000 http://www.rocbike.com/2007/11/26/lessons-learned/#comment-1635 Congratulations Julie! Just 13 months ago I rode from my place in NOTA, through Genesee Valley Park to Palmyra and back on the Canalway for my first metric century. A metric century is 100 kilometers, or 62.137 miles. That day I got in 73 miles as I recall. However, I have no trouble remembering the path past Pittsford. On a nice, sunny day, that packed stone dust is just as messy and just hard pedaling. With every pedal stroke all I could imagine was that stone dust grinding away at my chain, gears and brakes. A month later, after a similar trip along the canal to Medina and back, I resolved never to ride any distance again without proper pavement under my tires. After all, it was bicyclists who got the roads paved in the first place over a hundred years ago. Congratulations Julie!

Just 13 months ago I rode from my place in NOTA, through Genesee Valley Park to Palmyra and back on the Canalway for my first metric century. A metric century is 100 kilometers, or 62.137 miles. That day I got in 73 miles as I recall.

However, I have no trouble remembering the path past Pittsford. On a nice, sunny day, that packed stone dust is just as messy and just hard pedaling. With every pedal stroke all I could imagine was that stone dust grinding away at my chain, gears and brakes.

A month later, after a similar trip along the canal to Medina and back, I resolved never to ride any distance again without proper pavement under my tires.

After all, it was bicyclists who got the roads paved in the first place over a hundred years ago.

]]> By: Keith http://www.rocbike.com/2007/11/26/lessons-learned/comment-page-1/#comment-1629 Keith Mon, 26 Nov 2007 21:05:41 +0000 http://www.rocbike.com/2007/11/26/lessons-learned/#comment-1629 Good job. I would add that 1) You should always start a ride into the wind - usually west around here, so that the way back will be easy. 2) You should have taken advantage of Tanya's strength and drafted off her, especially on the way back when you were faced with a headwind. Just try to stay within a foot of her rear wheel, maybe offset a bit and never overlapping. Of course it's best if the rider you are drafting has full fenders and keeps a steady pace. It can make a huge difference. We often practice this on the TNUA rides. Good job. I would add that
1) You should always start a ride into the wind – usually west around here, so that the way back will be easy.
2) You should have taken advantage of Tanya’s strength and drafted off her, especially on the way back when you were faced with a headwind. Just try to stay within a foot of her rear wheel, maybe offset a bit and never overlapping. Of course it’s best if the rider you are drafting has full fenders and keeps a steady pace. It can make a huge difference. We often practice this on the TNUA rides.

]]> By: Jack http://www.rocbike.com/2007/11/26/lessons-learned/comment-page-1/#comment-1619 Jack Mon, 26 Nov 2007 16:23:27 +0000 http://www.rocbike.com/2007/11/26/lessons-learned/#comment-1619 Good going, Julie (and Tanya)! It's great to see people on the Canalway trail in the colder weather. Sorry you didn't make your goal, but you did rack up some fair mileage. I empathize in re the trail surface; it does get pretty mushy at times, and it's worse after the winter-to-spring freeze/expansion and thaw loosens stuff up even more. Someday the state will invest more in actual trail maintenance, hopefully, including snow plowing on some high-traffic sections. Wider tires with more tread do help, of course; also, I definitely promote fenders even for summer rides - and in the cold, wet weather they are as essential a piece of gear as good gloves/mittens. BTW, someone told me about another diner in Palmyra that I have yet to check out: the Bohemian Grove, apparently on Main St. near the 4 corners. But again, I do like the Yellow Mills restaurant (Rt. 31 just W of Palmyra village) and the Muddy Waters cafe (along the trail, near the Palmyra canal port). Good going, Julie (and Tanya)! It’s great to see people on the Canalway trail in the colder weather. Sorry you didn’t make your goal, but you did rack up some fair mileage. I empathize in re the trail surface; it does get pretty mushy at times, and it’s worse after the winter-to-spring freeze/expansion and thaw loosens stuff up even more. Someday the state will invest more in actual trail maintenance, hopefully, including snow plowing on some high-traffic sections. Wider tires with more tread do help, of course; also, I definitely promote fenders even for summer rides – and in the cold, wet weather they are as essential a piece of gear as good gloves/mittens. BTW, someone told me about another diner in Palmyra that I have yet to check out: the Bohemian Grove, apparently on Main St. near the 4 corners. But again, I do like the Yellow Mills restaurant (Rt. 31 just W of Palmyra village) and the Muddy Waters cafe (along the trail, near the Palmyra canal port).

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