Well... I probably should have posted on this topic earlier. But, I'm lazy...so buzz off.
MC, in what seems to be a consistent part of his nature, very generously allowed me and my son Davis to borrow the shop Tandem for last week Tuesdays group ride. And...drum roll please...it was a blast!
I know, shocking. This is probably headline news...I'm excited about something having to do with getting on a bike and riding it somewhere. Try to contain yourself.
OK...so, seriously though, this was way above and beyond the call of duty. I just had a tremendous amount fun.
Davis and I arrived at VCC well in advance of ride time or closing time. Early. WAY early, in fact. Which gave the two of us a chance to head over to Froggy's for a kids meal, get a toy, and then spend some time annoying the staff at VCC before heading out on the ride.
MC pulled the pedals from my r5, fitted up the seat height for both Davis and I, and then put on some cage pedals for Davis. It didn't take nearly as long as I thought it would...either MC is remarkably effecient, or...get this...I just don't know what the hell I'm talking about. Probably both.
In any case, we had plenty of time to take a little test ride. We started this test ride with locking Davis in to the pedals and then me allowing the bike to fall over on top of him. Not exactly a confidence inspiring start...especially for the 7 year old who was stuck under the tandem.
A short trip around the block revealed that we needed to be very attentive to locking his shoes in to the cages very tightly. We hit a small series of bumps and his feet immediately came free of the pedals. This necessitated a stop at the side of the road to reinstall his feet. This time we managed to get him saddled up without dropping the bike on top of him. Go me!
Davis seemed to feel comfortable and I was ready to rock...now we just needed everyone else to show up. What was taking so long? Shouldn't they all be here by now? I look at my watch...it's only 4:45.
Did I mention we got there early?
Once the ride FINALLY got organized we got started, Davis was pretty excited. I tried explaining ahead of time that he would have to pedal the whole time...that his feet would be stuck pedaling the same as mine. But, that the didn't actually have to put any pressure on the pedals. He could push when he felt like it and then just lay off when he felt like it.
This was a lesson that took a couple miles for him to learn...I realized he was REALLY pedaling a couple times when I had started to slow-up near a Stop Sign or a traffic light...the bike was really being pushed, even when I had let up. Ha...the little guy was back there pushing me along up hills!
Predictably, that didn't last long. By the time we made it out of town and had made the turn south along the lakeshore he was gassed. So, I reminded him that he just didn't have to push...just let me do the work and let his feet go along for the ride.
This time the message sunk in and he finally started to just ride along without the gasping and heavy breathing. Unfortunately, it was COLD along that stretch of road that goes around Gilligan Lake. Poor little guy was back there complaining he was tired and cold and that he wanted to go home.
Luckily, though, we made the turn away from the lake and the temp came up a bit. His mood lightened, we got out of the shade and back out in the sunshine, and we started riding past some scenery that he found interesting. Farms.
He started noting....then counting...the animals we passed. Cows. More cows. Horses. Ponies...which, oddly enough, he classified as a seperate group from horses. Not sure how his logic was working on that one...but, what am I going to do? Argue with the 7 year old on the back of my bike? Anyway, Llamas...were a highlight. Thanks to MC who made sure our route took us out past the llama farm. Sweet.
After counting up farm animals...Davis made the decision to begin counting up dead animals. Yes, the obligatory road-kill. Tally them up.
Obviously, this was a trend I tried to stop...so, I distracted him with more farm animal counting. I mean, really... I don't actually want to know how many dead cats, squirells, racoons, dogs, or wildebeast we were passing along the way. Seriously.
IN the end we both enjoyed the ride thoroughly. Davis was plenty tired at the end...which is to be expected. But, he seemed to really enjoy himself.
So, of course, this means that MC has probably sold a tandem. The trick will be convincing my wife that I need to spend that much money on ANOTHER bike. Ha. Fat chance. But, I'll try.
30 May 2008
26 May 2008
Holland Hundred!!
Well...as of 5 minutes ago I am officially registered for the 100 mile loop of the Holland Hundred. Sweet.
Now what? This is my first time doing the Holland Hundred...in fact, this will be my first attempt at a Century ride.
Logic tells me that I can survive it...I've done 75 miles in a day (with some rests) before. And, I'm planning to add more mileage between now and July. So, I think I can handle the distance. But, still, I'm a bit apprehensive.
Carmen was thinking she wanted to do the same ride. And, I'd definitely be down with riding with her...she's a blast!!
And, Jeff Wert had made the suggestion that he was going to try to do the HH. So, he may want to ride with me as well. That, too, would be sweet. Though, I haven't heard from him at all since he left VCC...I suspect he's plenty busy making his new job a success. He may not have time for the HH, or the training needed before hand.
I guess it would make sense to try to get in with a "group" who is going to do the ride. Maybe there is a JDRF contigent? MC, John Jasker, Brian, Heather, etc...? I'm not sure if any of them are planning to participate. And, if so, who they are planning to ride with.
So...I suppose this is a not so subtle attempt to recruit friends ahead of time. Anyone else riding? Anyone else willing to endure my blather during a 100 mile stroll through West Michigan countryside?
I may not be fast...but, I do have to stop and pee a lot. So, I've got that going for me. ;-)
Just kidding.
So, anyone want to ride with me?
If I don't get some responses I can just wing-it at the starting line. I'll just try to meet up with some people and start riding. The problem with that theory is that I will almost certainly end up tagging along with a group that includes Frank Yarde or Dave Blandford (or, analagous rider I may not know), and I will spend 100 miles lost in the country side, suffering because I'm just barely keep up with the pace, and wondering why in the world I thought this was a good idea.
So, I ask again. Anyone?
Now what? This is my first time doing the Holland Hundred...in fact, this will be my first attempt at a Century ride.
Logic tells me that I can survive it...I've done 75 miles in a day (with some rests) before. And, I'm planning to add more mileage between now and July. So, I think I can handle the distance. But, still, I'm a bit apprehensive.
Carmen was thinking she wanted to do the same ride. And, I'd definitely be down with riding with her...she's a blast!!
And, Jeff Wert had made the suggestion that he was going to try to do the HH. So, he may want to ride with me as well. That, too, would be sweet. Though, I haven't heard from him at all since he left VCC...I suspect he's plenty busy making his new job a success. He may not have time for the HH, or the training needed before hand.
I guess it would make sense to try to get in with a "group" who is going to do the ride. Maybe there is a JDRF contigent? MC, John Jasker, Brian, Heather, etc...? I'm not sure if any of them are planning to participate. And, if so, who they are planning to ride with.
So...I suppose this is a not so subtle attempt to recruit friends ahead of time. Anyone else riding? Anyone else willing to endure my blather during a 100 mile stroll through West Michigan countryside?
I may not be fast...but, I do have to stop and pee a lot. So, I've got that going for me. ;-)
Just kidding.
So, anyone want to ride with me?
If I don't get some responses I can just wing-it at the starting line. I'll just try to meet up with some people and start riding. The problem with that theory is that I will almost certainly end up tagging along with a group that includes Frank Yarde or Dave Blandford (or, analagous rider I may not know), and I will spend 100 miles lost in the country side, suffering because I'm just barely keep up with the pace, and wondering why in the world I thought this was a good idea.
So, I ask again. Anyone?
Why cycling is superior to running
I completed my first 5K run this morning since the Turkey Day Trot at Calvin on Thanksgiving. And, to be honest, this morning was the first time I've run in at least two months. I haven't run at all. Not even short little "stay loose" type jogging workouts. I have not even laced up my running shoes since March.
I finished in 27:30ish...a respectable time for me. Very slow for most people my age, weight, gender.
I had the privilege of running with my two children. Haley, who is 10, finished in 34:30. And, Davis, who is 7, finished in 42:30. I was exceptionally proud of both of them...especially Davis. This was his second attempt at a 5K. He got about the same time this time as he did last time...but, this was his first attempt to do it on his own. Without running with someone else. He struggled a bit...got some assistance from a volunteer at the race who ran with him for a while, got some assistance from me at the end. In the end, though, he finished. And, I think that is pretty cool.
On to the topic at hand...why cycling is superior to running.
1. People have a different look about them when they run. And, that look says, "don't talk to me. These are my dieing breaths and I don't want to waste them on you!". With the exception of a Time Trial race...you just don't really see cyclists have the same pained, end-of-the-world, I-just-sprained-something look on their face.
2. Gear. Let's face it...cycling gear is cooler in every possible way than running gear. There is more of it. It costs more. It's brighter, louder...slightly gayer (not that there is anything wrong with that!). And, buying cycling gear is just generally a cooler experience. No running shop has ever been as cool as any cycling shop.
3. Nipple chaffing. I've never once heard someone, after a long bike ride, hop off their bike and say "man, my nipples are on fire!". Yet...running...it happens with surprising frequency. Sad, really. I only ran for 25 minutes this morning and, yet, my nipples feel like I've been trying to sand them off for the last two days.
4. Distances...bigger is better. If I go out for a really nice 1 hour run (though, there is no such thing as a "nice" 1 hour run), I can cover 7ish miles. Maybe. If I really push myself. Where can I go if I want to cover 7 miles? Not far...just out of my neighborhood and back. I might be able to venture far enough to glimpse a pond or park for a couple hundred yards. But, in the end, I'll basically be running around in my own neighborhood for 80% of the time I'm out. On the other hand, if I go out for a nice 1 hour ride (and, 1 hour would be pretty short since it really is nice to be on a bike) I can typically cover 18-20 miles. Where can I go in 18-20 miles? Lots of places!! I can visit nearby towns (sometimes several), travel across major metropolitan areas, or venture so far in to farm land that cows stare at me as though I'm the first human they've seen in a decade.
5. Chatting with friends. How often do you see people out for a run that are having a nice chat? Not often. Every once in a while I'll see a couple of those long-legged, run-like-a-gazelle types doing a "group run". They run with such relative ease that they can have some stunted conversation as they trot along. Any of us "normal" people can't do that...talking and running are two things that exist in completely mutually exclusive universes. Not so, for cycling. Group rides are not only possible...but common. In fact, group riding is the one of the prized possessions of cycling...an ability to do a great cardiovascular workout and have some great conversation at the same time. Genius. Even a mediocre workout...so what! You're out for a beautiful ride with friends... see the scenery, enjoy the conversation, and feel good about the fact that your doing something great for your body!
6. Puking, or the absence thereof. I've been riding in a great variety of rides for the better part of a year now. Time Trials, long rides, short rides, solo rides, group rides, easy rides, hard rides, fast rides, and slow rides. I've never witnessed any person vomiting. Not a single time. Conversely, I've been running for about the same amount of time. In that time I've completed several 5K races, a triathlon, and done a bunch of solo running. I've run in the vicinity of other people doing solo runs and I've even run with friends or family once or twice. And, while not exactly "common", I've seen enough people toss their cookies as a direct result of running to create a strong correlation in my mind. By my estimation, your odds of doing the ol' technicolor-yawn on any given day greatly increase with the introduction of a running session.
Just some thoughts.
I finished in 27:30ish...a respectable time for me. Very slow for most people my age, weight, gender.
I had the privilege of running with my two children. Haley, who is 10, finished in 34:30. And, Davis, who is 7, finished in 42:30. I was exceptionally proud of both of them...especially Davis. This was his second attempt at a 5K. He got about the same time this time as he did last time...but, this was his first attempt to do it on his own. Without running with someone else. He struggled a bit...got some assistance from a volunteer at the race who ran with him for a while, got some assistance from me at the end. In the end, though, he finished. And, I think that is pretty cool.
On to the topic at hand...why cycling is superior to running.
1. People have a different look about them when they run. And, that look says, "don't talk to me. These are my dieing breaths and I don't want to waste them on you!". With the exception of a Time Trial race...you just don't really see cyclists have the same pained, end-of-the-world, I-just-sprained-something look on their face.
2. Gear. Let's face it...cycling gear is cooler in every possible way than running gear. There is more of it. It costs more. It's brighter, louder...slightly gayer (not that there is anything wrong with that!). And, buying cycling gear is just generally a cooler experience. No running shop has ever been as cool as any cycling shop.
3. Nipple chaffing. I've never once heard someone, after a long bike ride, hop off their bike and say "man, my nipples are on fire!". Yet...running...it happens with surprising frequency. Sad, really. I only ran for 25 minutes this morning and, yet, my nipples feel like I've been trying to sand them off for the last two days.
4. Distances...bigger is better. If I go out for a really nice 1 hour run (though, there is no such thing as a "nice" 1 hour run), I can cover 7ish miles. Maybe. If I really push myself. Where can I go if I want to cover 7 miles? Not far...just out of my neighborhood and back. I might be able to venture far enough to glimpse a pond or park for a couple hundred yards. But, in the end, I'll basically be running around in my own neighborhood for 80% of the time I'm out. On the other hand, if I go out for a nice 1 hour ride (and, 1 hour would be pretty short since it really is nice to be on a bike) I can typically cover 18-20 miles. Where can I go in 18-20 miles? Lots of places!! I can visit nearby towns (sometimes several), travel across major metropolitan areas, or venture so far in to farm land that cows stare at me as though I'm the first human they've seen in a decade.
5. Chatting with friends. How often do you see people out for a run that are having a nice chat? Not often. Every once in a while I'll see a couple of those long-legged, run-like-a-gazelle types doing a "group run". They run with such relative ease that they can have some stunted conversation as they trot along. Any of us "normal" people can't do that...talking and running are two things that exist in completely mutually exclusive universes. Not so, for cycling. Group rides are not only possible...but common. In fact, group riding is the one of the prized possessions of cycling...an ability to do a great cardiovascular workout and have some great conversation at the same time. Genius. Even a mediocre workout...so what! You're out for a beautiful ride with friends... see the scenery, enjoy the conversation, and feel good about the fact that your doing something great for your body!
6. Puking, or the absence thereof. I've been riding in a great variety of rides for the better part of a year now. Time Trials, long rides, short rides, solo rides, group rides, easy rides, hard rides, fast rides, and slow rides. I've never witnessed any person vomiting. Not a single time. Conversely, I've been running for about the same amount of time. In that time I've completed several 5K races, a triathlon, and done a bunch of solo running. I've run in the vicinity of other people doing solo runs and I've even run with friends or family once or twice. And, while not exactly "common", I've seen enough people toss their cookies as a direct result of running to create a strong correlation in my mind. By my estimation, your odds of doing the ol' technicolor-yawn on any given day greatly increase with the introduction of a running session.
Just some thoughts.
25 May 2008
Ready to write?
I seem to be plagued by a certain level of writers block. Actually, now that I am writing it...it occurs to me that writers block isn't a fair description of what I have...
It's not that I can't figure out what to write. That always seems to come along easily enough. At least it does once I've chosen a topic. But, that is probably closer to the problem. The topic...or lack thereof.
I've been struggling to find topics lately. Well...that's not precisely true. I've struggled to find topics that are sufficiently interesting to motivate me to post on my blog lately.
It's not that I can't find a topic. Hell, I could post a series of ranting lunacy every day on the topic of the weather. If I truly were using this blog as a sort of journal, I might do just that. Since I'd only have to worry about an audience of me...it wouldn't really matter if anyone else found the topics entertaining.
However, I use this blog as more than a journal. To some extent I construct these posts as a sort of open letter...not addressed to any specific audience. My Google analytics does indicate that I have a small, but loyal, readership. So, I don't feel like I should disregard the idea of considering my audience. To some extent, I should try to post things on this blog that will make sense, read rationally, and mean something to more than just me.
Granted, I'm not talking about meaning and rationality in the Jeffersonian or Marxist sense of writing. We're not talking about writing in speculative attempts at reforming the world. I'm just hoping that the topic I choose allows any reader of this blog to remain sufficiently interested to actually finish each post.
And, I suppose that is the crux of the problem. A topic occurs to me during the course of the day..."I should probably discuss this topic on my blog", I announce to myself silently. I make a mental note, and move on. However, when I reach the end of the day, the topic I made note of so rarely seems to be worth the effort. I'm tired, hungry, distracted, etc...and the previously important topic no longer seems all that important. Or, at least, not important enough to sit down and construct a post on this blog that is as entertaining as I would like it to be.
Maybe I should just lighten up!
And, I think that is the other problem. My ideal is to post on this blog with a general sense of humor. My topic may cause me to rant with faux anger...perhaps to the exhaustion of the unknown audience...but, in the end my goal is humor. But, I don't always feel humorous...or, not enough to make my chosen topic interesting by my ow internal measurement.
Thus...my blog has sat without much activity this past month.
Maybe I'm just whining.
Whatever...I'm too tired to worry about it. No matter what...I know John Jasker wouldn't be stressing out about this type of thing.
Speaking of Jasker...and the rest of the gang. Hopefully I'll get to see a batch of them today at the Dessert Ride (Not desert ride)! 40 miles-ish, followed by a boat load of sugary goodness back at VCC. How can you go wrong there?!
Maybe we should try a desert ride sometime...any desert-like conditions in the West Michigan area? Do sand dunes count?
And, since I'm on the topic of random subject changes. Hi Ted!
It's not that I can't figure out what to write. That always seems to come along easily enough. At least it does once I've chosen a topic. But, that is probably closer to the problem. The topic...or lack thereof.
I've been struggling to find topics lately. Well...that's not precisely true. I've struggled to find topics that are sufficiently interesting to motivate me to post on my blog lately.
It's not that I can't find a topic. Hell, I could post a series of ranting lunacy every day on the topic of the weather. If I truly were using this blog as a sort of journal, I might do just that. Since I'd only have to worry about an audience of me...it wouldn't really matter if anyone else found the topics entertaining.
However, I use this blog as more than a journal. To some extent I construct these posts as a sort of open letter...not addressed to any specific audience. My Google analytics does indicate that I have a small, but loyal, readership. So, I don't feel like I should disregard the idea of considering my audience. To some extent, I should try to post things on this blog that will make sense, read rationally, and mean something to more than just me.
Granted, I'm not talking about meaning and rationality in the Jeffersonian or Marxist sense of writing. We're not talking about writing in speculative attempts at reforming the world. I'm just hoping that the topic I choose allows any reader of this blog to remain sufficiently interested to actually finish each post.
And, I suppose that is the crux of the problem. A topic occurs to me during the course of the day..."I should probably discuss this topic on my blog", I announce to myself silently. I make a mental note, and move on. However, when I reach the end of the day, the topic I made note of so rarely seems to be worth the effort. I'm tired, hungry, distracted, etc...and the previously important topic no longer seems all that important. Or, at least, not important enough to sit down and construct a post on this blog that is as entertaining as I would like it to be.
Maybe I should just lighten up!
And, I think that is the other problem. My ideal is to post on this blog with a general sense of humor. My topic may cause me to rant with faux anger...perhaps to the exhaustion of the unknown audience...but, in the end my goal is humor. But, I don't always feel humorous...or, not enough to make my chosen topic interesting by my ow internal measurement.
Thus...my blog has sat without much activity this past month.
Maybe I'm just whining.
Whatever...I'm too tired to worry about it. No matter what...I know John Jasker wouldn't be stressing out about this type of thing.
Speaking of Jasker...and the rest of the gang. Hopefully I'll get to see a batch of them today at the Dessert Ride (Not desert ride)! 40 miles-ish, followed by a boat load of sugary goodness back at VCC. How can you go wrong there?!
Maybe we should try a desert ride sometime...any desert-like conditions in the West Michigan area? Do sand dunes count?
And, since I'm on the topic of random subject changes. Hi Ted!
19 May 2008
Long time no post...
Yes, it has been a while. I'm not sure what to say. I just haven't been feeling inspired to write for the past couple weeks...thus, my blog has remained stale. Yawn.
In fact, I'm not even sure what I'm going to write today. I don't have any topics that are burning me up or inspiring me to vocalize my opinion. I'm just sort of...well...lethargic lately. Who knows.
One topic that always get me going is the weather...and, now is as good a time as any to discuss it. What's with the temps? We're averaging about 2 degrees cooler than average for the month so far...and, thats not that bad. But, we're averaging about 10 degrees cooler per day than we were during the month of May last year. That's a significant difference!
Yesterdays JDRF ride (which I enjoyed thorough, btw) was cool...cool in a low temperature kind of way. Felt more like a March/April ride than a mid-May ride. By now my primary concern during the rides should be keeping cool and keeping hydrated. Yet...the concern to remain warm enough without getting too warm persists. How annoying.
On the plus side, I got to spend a couple hours with John Jasker yesterday. What can I say? I always enjoy spending time with J2. We did some childish playing around during the ride...sprinted to stop-ahead signs, dipped and dove and over silly concrete barriers in church parking lots, went for max speed down hills, did a few pulls at the front of the pack, and just generally made a nuissance of ourselves. It was a good day. ;-)
Woke up this morning and the thermometer said 33 degrees by my front door. I wimped out...I'm sorry...I just didn't have the heart to put my amfib tights back on. I thought I was done with those for the year. Knee warmers are OK...thermal tights...not so much.
So, I drove to work...I cried a little bit thinking about how much I was spending on gas. Luckily, I stole my dads car for the drive...so, it is yet to be determined whether I will actually have to replace that gasoline or not. Ha.
Alright...I'll try to get back in the habit of this whole blog thing again. I know I've been slacking...it was a rare period when I just didn't have a whole lot to say about anything. It doesn't happen often. Savor it.
In fact, I'm not even sure what I'm going to write today. I don't have any topics that are burning me up or inspiring me to vocalize my opinion. I'm just sort of...well...lethargic lately. Who knows.
One topic that always get me going is the weather...and, now is as good a time as any to discuss it. What's with the temps? We're averaging about 2 degrees cooler than average for the month so far...and, thats not that bad. But, we're averaging about 10 degrees cooler per day than we were during the month of May last year. That's a significant difference!
Yesterdays JDRF ride (which I enjoyed thorough, btw) was cool...cool in a low temperature kind of way. Felt more like a March/April ride than a mid-May ride. By now my primary concern during the rides should be keeping cool and keeping hydrated. Yet...the concern to remain warm enough without getting too warm persists. How annoying.
On the plus side, I got to spend a couple hours with John Jasker yesterday. What can I say? I always enjoy spending time with J2. We did some childish playing around during the ride...sprinted to stop-ahead signs, dipped and dove and over silly concrete barriers in church parking lots, went for max speed down hills, did a few pulls at the front of the pack, and just generally made a nuissance of ourselves. It was a good day. ;-)
Woke up this morning and the thermometer said 33 degrees by my front door. I wimped out...I'm sorry...I just didn't have the heart to put my amfib tights back on. I thought I was done with those for the year. Knee warmers are OK...thermal tights...not so much.
So, I drove to work
Alright...I'll try to get back in the habit of this whole blog thing again. I know I've been slacking...it was a rare period when I just didn't have a whole lot to say about anything. It doesn't happen often. Savor it.
03 May 2008
Ride for an hour, clean for two?
I'm normally all about cleaning things. I mean, detailing my car was always a favorite hobby. But, I have to say that I don't share the same love of detailing my bike.
This may be for a couple of reasons.
1. I don't really know what I'm doing. I feel like I have a reasonably good grasp of how to clean my chain apply chain lube. But, anything else...I just wipe it down with a damp towel and call it good. Unfortunately, that probably isn't enough. But, I don't really know what else I should be cleaning, how to clean it, or what tools I would need to clean it.
2. It feels like I have to clean my bike ALL THE TIME. Every time I bring it to see Ted at VCC (Hi John Jasker!), he asks how often I'm cleaning one part or another. My answer, of course, is..."I don't know". But, of course, I do know. Never. I never clean that part. So, I inevitably leave feeling guilty about the fact that I don't keep up on my cleaning the way I should.
Yesterday I rode home from work right after the storms went through. So, the roads were VERY wet with plenty of sizeable puddles. Plus, it rained one me for the first 3 miles or so...obviously I got wet. And, my bike got trashed.
It's amazing how little time it takes on wet roads for a bike to go from cleanish to completely wrecked. I just spent the better part of an hour cleaning the chain on my Volpe...and HOUR...and my bike still looks like I dragged it through a muck field.
My r5 needed a little lube on the chain...it was squeeking a lot on Thursday morning. So, I wiped it down. Cleaned it with a little soap-n-water. Wiped it dry. Then applied some lube. Took maybe 15 minutes and the chain looks like new. When I was done I looked at the Volpe and just sighed. It needed work too.
So, I took the Volpe down and started cleaning. An hour later I quit cleaning...not because I was done, but because I was bored. I could have cleaned all night and it still wouldn't have been done. Lame.
I had a friend, once, who used to own racing motorcycles. A couple of them were very special, very unique bikes that were basically for show purposes only. He would ride them...but, not often. They spent most of their time at bike shows. On the rare ocassion when he would ride the bike he would bring it back to his shop when he was done to clean it. He was constantly lamenting how much time he spent cleaning the bike...repeating his mantra over and over again. "Ride for an hour. Clean for two."
That's how I feel.
Maybe I just need to get a lot more effecient. Maybe I need better tools. Maybe I'm just wasting my time. I'm just tired of cleaning!
This may be for a couple of reasons.
1. I don't really know what I'm doing. I feel like I have a reasonably good grasp of how to clean my chain apply chain lube. But, anything else...I just wipe it down with a damp towel and call it good. Unfortunately, that probably isn't enough. But, I don't really know what else I should be cleaning, how to clean it, or what tools I would need to clean it.
2. It feels like I have to clean my bike ALL THE TIME. Every time I bring it to see Ted at VCC (Hi John Jasker!), he asks how often I'm cleaning one part or another. My answer, of course, is..."I don't know". But, of course, I do know. Never. I never clean that part. So, I inevitably leave feeling guilty about the fact that I don't keep up on my cleaning the way I should.
Yesterday I rode home from work right after the storms went through. So, the roads were VERY wet with plenty of sizeable puddles. Plus, it rained one me for the first 3 miles or so...obviously I got wet. And, my bike got trashed.
It's amazing how little time it takes on wet roads for a bike to go from cleanish to completely wrecked. I just spent the better part of an hour cleaning the chain on my Volpe...and HOUR...and my bike still looks like I dragged it through a muck field.
My r5 needed a little lube on the chain...it was squeeking a lot on Thursday morning. So, I wiped it down. Cleaned it with a little soap-n-water. Wiped it dry. Then applied some lube. Took maybe 15 minutes and the chain looks like new. When I was done I looked at the Volpe and just sighed. It needed work too.
So, I took the Volpe down and started cleaning. An hour later I quit cleaning...not because I was done, but because I was bored. I could have cleaned all night and it still wouldn't have been done. Lame.
I had a friend, once, who used to own racing motorcycles. A couple of them were very special, very unique bikes that were basically for show purposes only. He would ride them...but, not often. They spent most of their time at bike shows. On the rare ocassion when he would ride the bike he would bring it back to his shop when he was done to clean it. He was constantly lamenting how much time he spent cleaning the bike...repeating his mantra over and over again. "Ride for an hour. Clean for two."
That's how I feel.
Maybe I just need to get a lot more effecient. Maybe I need better tools. Maybe I'm just wasting my time. I'm just tired of cleaning!
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