Today was a Good Day

Fairfax Buddy Ride. Today marked what was actually the first true training ride of my cycling season. It was the first ride I've had in a while where I actually felt good... and dare I say a little strong. This was by no means a tough ride- an out and back from Sausalito to Fairfax, at a moderate pace. 

But I have had the most evil of cold viruses for about one month. It's pretty much out of my system at this point, but what a toll illness can take on your endurance! Last week, by comparison, I had a 20 mile ride in Danville, and I was so weak I thought I was going to throw up about halfway through. The only reason I made it back was because the last 7 miles were mostly downhill.

Today was a perfect combination of a favorite route, fair weather, and renewed health. Photos to document the day (yes there was riding involved, too):

Fairfax Coffee Roastery

Salsalito Taco Shop

Pax Bicicletta?

The other day I saw something that made me smile: It was a guy on a really slick road bike, completely kitted out in bright, logo-covered lycra... with a DIY plastic bottle fender duct-taped to his bike.

For most roadies this is nothing short of a travesty. I often often see roadies with no fenders and lycra shorts, riding in rainy weather. I don't have fenders on my road bike either, but I always cover my legs in foul weather and my knees in temps below 70 degrees.

I also sometimes ride with a CamelBak, but I learned that roadies aren't supposed to do this- they just use bottles. I still choose to ride with a CamelBak on some long rides, or if it's really hot, because I know I'll drink more, and I'd rather risk looking geeky than be dehydrated. I encourage newer cyclists to use one if they aren't comfortable grabbing for their water bottles.

So why is a CamelBak geeky anyway? I've learned a lot of things can be geeky while you're on a road bike (according to the racer wannabes). The term for said geekiness is "Fred." You're a Fred if you have a lot of utilitarian gadgets on your bike, like racks, fenders, mirrors, etc. (though IMO the coolest thing I've seen is on the bike of a cyclist I really respect- a cycling glove attached to his top tube and used to hold energy bars!) I guess it must take away from that cool racing look, and of course adds too much weight. You're also a Fred if you still have that little plastic visor attached to the front of your bike helmet. It's okay for mountain bikers, but not roadies!

I don't get it. I don't pay much attention to what someone is wearing or has attached to his or her bike, unless it's something I might want myself. The things I do notice are if someone is riding like an a-hole and passing dangerously, blowing through stops, or riding on my wheel without letting me know.

My husband used to live next door to a bike messenger. One day he was heading off to work on his early 80's Peugeot road bike, wearing regular clothes and shoes. His neighbor saw him and said, "Dude, you look like a commuter."

So looking like a bike commuter is a bad thing? I thought that any cyclist would be happy to see other people on bikes? I know that each cycling culture has it's own style and ways, but I try to embrace anybody on a bike. When I'm out on the road, I give a wave or a head nod, and usually get one in return, but every now and then I get the grim stare (as a side note, my husband says that when he's on his motorcycle, the Harley guys are the only ones who never wave back).

With bike culture on the rise, I'd like to think we're all doing this unified thing, but sadly, the divisions are out there.

You might be a Fred, and so what?

photo from http://www.sdrecyclers.org/

Let's Try Again

From a recent AP article:

A new study has found that young people are losing interest in long-form blogging, as their communication habits have become increasingly brief, and mobile. Tech experts say it doesn't mean blogging is going away. Rather, it's gone the way of the telephone and e-mail — still useful, just not sexy. (MARTHA IRVINE, AP National Writer Martha Irvine, Ap National Writer – Wed Feb 3)

Indeed. With Facebook and the ease of microblogging status updates, it's been admittedly tough to keep up with either of my blogs. There are other detracting factors, such as work, a lack of inspiration, and general busyness.

But I'm hoping to get back on the wagon, and have started with a relaunch of my cycling blog. Formerly called Cherylismo!, I abandoned that cycling lingo play on my own name, as I felt it didn't really have any meaning, and threatened to just sound like an inside joke.

I think my new blog says exactly what it means, and I've even gussied up the color scheme- I think it's very "me" without having to shout my name.

Now, to write...