So… I went shopping this past Thursday afternoon for some parts to prepare my bike for the ride. (I had taken the day and Friday off to take care of the girls while Shannon was away on a women’s retreat.) The girls were tortured by multiple trips to multiple bike shops, but a well-chosen audiobook kept them happy enough in the car. On Friday, I spent much of the day putting my new parts on my bike, thus creating my “new” bike. Modifications?
- Slicker tires
- Clipless pedals (and shoes to go with them)
- Longer handlebar and bar extensions
- Additional bottle cage
- Bike hat & socks
Saturday, during the girls’ piano lessons, I went for a 17-mile trial run and it felt good… averaged a half-mile-an-hour faster than usual. Was it the tires, or the shoes? (Cue: Mars Blackman) Had the same results on my usual 15-mile ride on Monday. This morning’s 18-mile ride was back to normal, but I took a sorta-new route, so unfamiliarity with the road may have had a negative effect. I also fell over once. (D’oh!) Stopped under a street light at the very beginning of my ride (~50 yds from my house) to check my cyclometer and forgot to loose a foot before stopping. Gravity did its job and I rode off with my cyclometer reset and my pride (and shoulder) a bit bruised.
We’ll see how everything works out on the mega-ride I have planned for Saturday.