Moving and (hopefully not) Shaking

And you thought you were heading for a post on Los Angeles earthquakes.  Hehehe... Just like to keep you all on your toes!

So no, the earth is not moving.  But I am, and so is my bike.  Ergo, I am in the market for a bike travel case for these upcoming shenanigans.  [No, no - I'm not traveling to Kona or anything.  My biking is gonna need a lot more work before I'm ready for that.]

Photo Cred

I've done some research, factoring safety, price, space, and durability.  I'm very, very close to pulling the trigger on this 'little' fellow.  He's an Aerus Composite Bike Case.  He's soft-sided, but with lots of padding.  He's discreet, which is useful from both a theft and airline fees standpoint, and he's relatively small.  The required assembly/disassembly is reasonable (handle bars, seat, wheels).  And all for $250-300.  

I'm pretty sure this is the winner - but does anyone have anything else to add, before I jump?

Goldilocks and the Three Bike Shops

I think that bike shops are like hairdressers: With the right one, things just work.  With the wrong one, you pay twice the price for weeks of stress.

In Rochester, I purchased, maintained, and serviced my bike with Park Ave bike shop on Monroe Ave.  Rochesterians, I know your feelings are mixed on this place - but that's neither here nor there.  They did right by me for a few years, and that's all I'm going to say, for the sake of this discussion.  

But after I'd reassembled my bike in LA following her long, boxed-up cross-country journey, she was definitely in need of a tune-up.  So off I went (to local cyclists & online research) to find that elusive "good mechanic"...


CA Bike Shop #1 (June)
I dropped her off at a Bike Shop #1, which seemed to get decent reviews and was pretty close to where we were living.  I was told that I could pick it up in...5 days.  Five days seemed a bit long for a simple tune-up, but hey, OK, it's spring, maybe you're busy, there's a weekend in there, blah blah blah...sure, no problem.

I also mentioned that I was interested in having a bike fit (process in which an expert analyzes and adjusts all the parts of the bike to the ideal position for your size/body), and was told, "Oh, the guy who does that isn't here. You need a special appointment.  You can make it...uhh...when he's here."  Erm, OK - but I'm already standing in your shop, and I'm indicating that I'd like to pay you for an additional service.  But you've gotta seal the deal, dude - and don't make me feel like I'm inconveniencing you.

I then (optimistically) inquired about purchasing shoes for clipless pedals, as I was finally making the leap from cages to clipless. The sales clerk informed me that the store didn't carry Women's cycling shoes, but that Men's shoes would be just fine for me.  I asked what the difference was.  He couldn't really give me an answer  ("Uhhh...not much, really.").  This wasn't exactly encouraging, so I decided to go home and do a bit of my own research.

I did, and when I returned to pick up my bike, I'd decided to at least try the Men's shoes.  The same sales clerk helped me, and showed me...to a rack of Women's shoes.  There were boxes and boxes of Women's shoes, of several different brands - right next to the Men's shoes.  So much for "We don't carry Women's shoes." At this point, I wasn't even sure what to think.

I would have gone elsewhere, just to protest the poor salesmanship, but my bike was already there, and I wanted to practice the clipless system with the bike on a trainer.  So I tried on a few pairs of shoes and picked one out.  The salesman installed the proper clip on my new shoes, although they were missing the adapters necessary to protect the clip when I walked.

The gold thing with the two circles is what clips into the pedal.
The black part is the adapter that the shop didn't have.
The skids on each side are what keep the clip from grinding into the ground when I walk.

This shop had no more in stock, so the salesman called around to find a shop where I could get them.  Bonus points for that, and for letting me spend an hour on my bike, on their trainer, to practicing clipping in and out.  

Overall, my experience at this shop was decent.  The service on the bike was solid, and the prices were on par with what other places were offering.  However, I wasn't enthused with the attitude/knowledge of the sales staff.  And when one of the employees invited me to join a group ride that ended up being way out of my league (despite my being very clear about my speed, experience, and abilities), I will admit that I was increasingly reluctant to return to the shop.

CA Bike Shop #2
I actually drove over to this shop after leaving Bike Shop #1, so that I could buy the adapter that I needed for my shoes.  I walked in and spent several awkward minutes trying to explain to 2 different sales people the part that I needed.  Finally, I brought the shoes in to show them.  "Ohhhh! An adapter!!"  Right...that's what I've been saying..??  But, I purchased the necessary part, and they installed it on the shoes for me at no charge.  Overall a pretty neutral experience.

CA Bike Shop #3
Fast forward 8 weeks, and I've just finished this ride, wherein I am forced to ride home with a wheel-rubbing brake.  I analyze the situation in excrutiating detail (Would you expect anything else from me?) here, and realize I've wrongly blamed the brakes for a problem with my wheel.  

I'm not particularly inclined to return to Shop #1, especially since it isn't convenient to our new apartment.  And, while Shop #2 helped me out of a jam, it has a reputation of being a bit elitist.  So off I go in search of Shop #3, hoping it will be just right.

Bingo.  After some extensive research, I settle on The Open Road bike shop in Pasadena.  They don't have a website, but click for the Yelp reviews.  The store is huge, and crowded with bikes, parts, gear, apparel, etc.  As far as I can tell, the shop is pretty much a one-man operation.  But that one man - Steve - is a good guy, who knows bikes and cares about people.  

I march my limping bike in and explain the situation.  In less than 60 seconds, Steve has clamped my bike up and is taking a look.  He confirms my suspicions about the wheel being out of true, and asks if I can wait about 10 minutes.  I wander around the shop for just a few minutes (closer to 5, than 10) - and Voila! my bike is all fixed.  He trued the wheel, and then called me back to see that my derailleur was also slightly bent.  He showed me how to check it myself, explained the problems this could cause, and quickly re-adjusted to the proper position.

We chat briefly about the bike, where I'm riding, possible groups for me to ride with, etc.  He then sends me on my way, refusing to take any money for the service. 

Overall, this was an excellent bike shop experience for me.  Steve communicated with a newbie (me) in a clear, but not condescending, way.  He obviously knows his stuff, and didn't try to sell me anything - material or service - that I didn't need.  He fixed my problem quickly and (more than) fairly.  I actually felt empowered leaving the shop - I felt validated that there was a problem, confident that it was fixed, and slightly more educated about the workings of my bike.  Pleasantly, I did not feel embarrassed for troubling someone with my trivial, cyclocross bike, non-racing cycle problems.

After such good treatment, I wished I had something on my "to buy" list for the bike that day.  But Steve, you can be sure I'll be back again soon. Thanks for all your help!

And now, it's time to get back on the road.  So what are you waiting for...?

True That

As I described yesterday, I was out on Ride #5 when my rear brake began giving me trouble that I couldn't fix.

I ride a cyclocross bike, so the brakes are caliper brakes.  Cyclocross can be a muddy sport, and these brakes are pretty easy to clean:

Caliper brakes, rear view.

Caliper brakes, side view.

Since I've been in LA (the 5 rides I've described here, and some casual pedaling I did before I started this blog), my rear brakes have been giving me trouble.  I'll ride without a problem for miles, then suddenly (usually after a downhill section), they'll start rubbing on the edge of the wheel.  They are rubbing in the 'right' place (where they should when the brake is actually being applied), but just resting too close to the wheel.

When this happened, I'd use 2 tricks to fix the problem.  [Caution: I am a cycling newbie, not a bike mechanic.  I figured these out through trial and error.  They are certainly not the only - and may not even be the best - ways to deal with this problem.]  First, I'd make sure that the brake lines were moving freely.  Usually, this meant grabbing the triangular part (where the lines from both sides come together) and giving it a gentle wiggle:

Grab triangle, move gently left and right.

Secondly, I would adjust the relative position of the brake pads using these little tiny screws on the side of the brake:

Not the big one at the top, but the little one down at the bottom.

If you have a multi-hex-wrench tool for bicycles, there should be a wrench on there that fits.  Adjust a quarter turn, then spin the wheel to see if you've improved the situation.  Repeat as necessary.

Together, these two tricks would generally get me back on the road.  But on this most recent ride, nothing I did had any effect, except to get my hands all greasy/brake dusty.  Lovely.  Thankfully, I was only a few miles from my car, so I rode directly there, loaded up my bike, and took off for home.

I banished the bike to the corner at home, and moped for a day or two.  I was slowly realizing that this rubbing, which I'd been dealing with for weeks, wasn't really supposed to be happening.  This wasn't normal.  

Furthermore, letting the bike hang out in the corner wasn't especially productive, either.  So one evening, I put on some junky clothes and set out to investigate the situation further.  I was already suspicious that something might be wrong with the wheel: When I released the rear brake watched the wheel spin freely (bike upside down), it looked a little wobbly.  

To unclip the brake, grab the brake pads and squeeze.

The brake line on one side can be released (or will pop out on its own).

Now, turn the bike on its back and spin the wheel.
(Be sure to go in reverse if it's the rear wheel!)
Stand behind the bike, and watch the wheel.

Furthermore, when it caused a problem, the brake only rubbed for half a rotation, then didn't touch the rim for the other half.  To me, this indicated that there was something asymmetric about the motion of the wheel.  I did a little research, and realized that maybe my wheel wasn't 'true' (precisely circular and in one plane) anymore.

A bicycle wheel can become 'untrue' after a fall, after hitting a pothole, or following any other kind of insult to the wheel.  Apparently, this is pretty common in bicycles, and my bike had already tipped twice recently.  I also already had 2 symptoms of 'untrueness': The wheel looked like it was wobbling when it turned, and only one side of the brake was rubbing, and only for part of a rotation.  I performed a third test:

Be sure the wheel is properly and evenly attached to the bike.
Hold a marker firmly against a stable part of the frame,
with the tip just touching the wheel's rim.
(Here, I am resting the marker on the brake.)
Give the wheel a good spin.  Observe what happens with the marker.

In my case, I could actually feel the wheel get closer to the marker (pushing against it harder), and move further away (some spots on the wheel never touched the marker).  At this point, I was convinced: My rear wheel wasn't true.  And lacking the expertise/tools to fix it myself...I needed to find a bike shop.  

*shudder*

Ride #5: Marina del Rey Loop

*NOTE: I've recently expressed my new-found enthusiasm for cycling, for example here and here.  This ride pre-dates that enthusiasm.  :)
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On this morning, I had planned to piggy back several rides together.  All three loops intersected, so after 23 miles on the South Bay Bike Path, already described here, I stopped back at Dimitri (my car).

The stop was brief, but long enough for my bike to be knocked over by a stiff ocean breeze.  I leaned the bike against the car while I checked my route directions.  Wind blew.  Bike keeled over. Stupid #1.

And because I wanted to be in contention for the 'Jerk of the Week' award, I bumped the car next to mine with Dimitri's door when I leaped out to my bike's rescue.  [Really.  What was I thinking?  It wasn't exactly like I was gonna change anything at that point. Bike had already succumbed to gravity.]  Stupid #2.

The car door bump was very light and didn't appear to do any damage (yes, I checked), but I still felt like a jerk.  Even better?  The owner was still sitting in the car, talking on the phone.  Next thing I know, he's getting out of the car.  


My brain: I TOLD YOU CYCLING WAS DANGEROUS.
Me: I'm not even on the bike. Shut up.
My brain: YES BUT YOU'RE ABOUT TO BECOME A VICTIM OF PARKING LOT RAGE.
Me: No damage.
My brain: HE'S BIGGER THAN YOU.
Me: Shut up.

He checked his car and didn't find any damage.  I apologized profusely.  He was as nice as could be expected.  Once he was satisfied that his car was OK, I quickly and sheepishly jumped onto my bike, and hightailed it out of there.  

Two Stupids in two minutes is a bit high, even for me.  Still, I didn't really see any of this as foreshadowing of what was to come.  That was either Stupid #3, or plain old optimism.  Without further ado, let's get to the details:
 

Date: 7/31/2012

Time: 1 PM

Weather: 75F, Overcast

Route: Start at Ballona Creek Bridge/Enter South Bay Bike Path/L Trolley/L Pacific/Cross Ballona Creek Bridge/R on Ballona Creek Bike Path/L at gate/R Fiji/L on bike path/Cross Admiralty/Cross Washington/Join bike lane/Turn around at Venice Fishing Pier/R Pacific/L Via Marina/R Washington/R on bike path/R Mindanao/Loop Marina parking lot/R on bike path/ R Fiji/Follow roundabout/R onto Ballona Creek Bike Trail/Cross Ballona Creek Bridge

This route is from Where to Bike LA, Ride #28, except I started at the Ballona Creek Bridge, rather than Venice Fishing Pier.  Click here to see the Garmin data from my ride.

Distance: 11.3 miles

Time: 50 min

Avg Pace: 13.5 mph

Ride Description: The ride started well enough, covering part of the South Bay Bike Path that I'd just ridden, but I'm a stickler for completeness, so I rode it again.  Early in the ride, I noticed my rear brake was rubbing a bit, so I paused to fiddle with it.  I adjusted the relative tension in both sides of the brake (using the tiny screws on the sides of my caliper brakes), and made sure the brake lines were moving freely.  The problem seemed to get better, and the rubbing stopped.  

I crossed the bridge and set out on the Ballona Creek Bike Path for a short time, before turning into Marina del Rey, another SoCal beachside community.  I hopped on another (apparently unnamed) bike path, and crossed 2 small and 2 major roads in less than 2 miles.  Slow down, stop, look, pedal, repeat.  Grrr... 

Overall, this part of the ride was choppy and disconnected.  I got lost when the bike path turned into a parking lot.  I dismounted to cross at a cross walk (no cross street, but the bike lane was on the other side).  You get the idea.  This would be OK if I were looking for a flat, easy vacation ride around the area, but as someone looking to really ride, the stop-and-go was pretty annoying.  But I tried to settle in and enjoy the experience instead.

Finally, I joined a road with a bike lane for the final 1.5 miles to the Marina del Rey pier, which was pleasant but rather boring, as SoCal Piers go:

Yeah, OK. The beach. A pier.  But it was rather annoying to get to and my rear brake was starting to rub again, so I was cranky and unimpressed.

This is how it looked in the other direction (typical SoCal beachside):

Parking kiosk, a few small eateries, a hotel, and cars.

This ride was a lollipop, and second half of the 'pop' was significantly more scenic and fun than the first:

The roads were quiet, the ocean was near, and there were some unique houses.

I enjoyed the few miles on this section, before getting back on the annoying road-crossing bike path.  This time, I was doubly peeved because my rear brake was still rubbing, despite some stop-light attempts at adjustment.  Uncool, brake - uncool.  I tried another quick adjustment, to no avail.  So when I got to Burton Chace Park (follow Garmin link above to see map), I removed some gear...

Step 1: Take off All The Things...

...and flipped the bike over:

Step #2: Prep bike for examination...

I peered oh-so-closely at that rear brake caliper:

Step #3: Wail ineffectively, "WHHHHYYYY?????"

I should note that this brake has often given me trouble, but usually with some gentle adjustment, I can find a "non-rubbing" sweet spot.  But on this particular day, none of my usual tricks worked.  As the wheel turned, one caliper would rub for about half of the rotation.  

I thought and thought about this, and it didn't make much sense: How could it only rub for half a rotation?  I spun the wheel and watched it turn.  I thought it looked a little funny, a little wobbly (even though the quick-release was firmly fastened).  After about 10 minutes of exasperated ineffectiveness, I decided to call it a day.  

I rode back the last 3 miles with a rubbing brake, grumbling the whole way.  I loaded the bike into the car and posed for some pouting photos:

No more riding for us today.

And with that, I cancelled the third ride I'd planned for the day.  It was time to go home for a mechanical check.  Boo.

Interesting Happenings:
1. Have you ever walked your bike into a beach bathroom?  This felt totally normal to me.  I mean, if it were a baby, you'd surely expect that I roll the stroller in, right?  So what's wrong with me rolling my bike in??  There was plenty of space, so I blithely ignored the odd looks.  [By the way, if you ride a beach path in LA, you will always have a bathroom nearby.  This is awesome.]



2.  During my time in the bikes lanes in Marina del Rey, I witnessed several manuevers made by 'vacation cyclists' who had no idea how to handle themselves or their rented bikes in traffic.  Seeing cyclists do dumb things bothers me as both a motorist and a cyclist.  Cyclists who behave badly (whether intentionally or out of ignorance) endanger themselves and the other nearby cyclists - or the next cyclist that a pissed off driver encounters.

I do wish that the bike rental companies would at least attempt to equip their renters with a few basic safety tips.  For example: "If you're going to ride in the bike lane, act like a car (follow lights, not walk signs)". 

Cyclists: Please know the rules, and follow them! 

3. I consoled my post-ride self with lunch at a local hangout: Tanner's Coffee Company, where I enjoyed a sandwich (mediocre), coffee (good), and some post-ride surfing (of the internet variety). Not a bad spot to stop if you're riding down here.

Lessons Learned:
1. Holly, would you put some paper towels in the car already?!?!  This bike maintenance is a messy business, and LA lacks abundant fallen leaves that can double as towels in an emergency.

2. Along similar lines - Holly, please only purchase dark-colored cycling tops in the future.  Grease stains will be far less visible.

3. The sun is strong, even when it's cloudy.  Holly, please remember this from your lifeguarding days.  Hello, shorts tan.
 

Lingering Questions:
1. What gives, bike brakes?  These shenanigans are totally not cool.  And why are you only rubbing half the time?  I'm starting to wonder if my wheel isn't true anymore.  This seems consistent with the symptoms.  I'll have to do some research when I get home.  Thank goodness for the interwebs...

Waiting...

Oh, man.

It's happening again.

My poor bike is leaning against the piano, begging for some fun.

I'm sitting at home, waiting to sign for a FedEx package.  Can't leave, because unfortunately, I don't think FedEx will deliver to "the girl on the bike", address " at the intersection of dirt and paved path, near the horse ranch, southern side of Griffith Park".

[And that's probably a good thing.  Riding back home with a Poang chair cushion would be exciting.  Cruising down from the Observatory with that item strapped to my back would probably result in my taking flight.]

But I was out of  town for 4 days last week, and the un-portability of a bike is seriously annoying.  While I managed to sneak in some running on my jam-packed trip (thank you, treadmill), I didn't bike one bit.  And now, I'm itching to get back out.  

So, here I wait (and work, and blog) for my delivery.  Extra delicious?  I ran 12 miles this morning, but am afraid to hop in the shower, on the off-chance that the driver arrives during the 6 minutes I'm indisposed  Thankfully, we don't have any pets - and our plants don't mind that I smell.

Stinkily and productively yours,
"I'd rather be cycling" Holly

 

Eating Machine

When I finish a long run, I usually need ~8 hours before I'm really ready to demolish a heavy meal.  Until then, I force myself to eat the things I know I should be eating - but I keep it as cool & light as I can get away with, from a refueling perspective.

This morning, I rode 50 miles.  My Garmin (set for my height, weight, etc.) calculated that ride to be worth about 2,300 calories.  I don't really pay this number much mind, but...I haven't stopped eating since I got off the bike (at 2 PM).  Over the last 4 hours, I've consumed:

1 glass lemonade
1 Luna bar
1 PB&J sandwich
1 Quaker granola bar
2 cups pineapple chunks
16 dried seaweed strips
1.5 cups strawberries
1 medium caeser salad
1 cup corn chowder
16 oz chocolate milk
~zillion oz water

And I have to stop there, because I'm coaching in an hour.  While the temp is dropping and the pace will be easy, none of us (them or me) really want to revisit any of this food.

But don't worry.  I still have dinner to eat later tonight!

Does cycling make anyone else this hungry...?

Could it be...? Oh yes, I think it is!

It's 6:30 PM on Monday night, and I really want to go for a bike ride.  Like, really  really want to go.

Not like "I want to blog about it so I want to go," but like "I just want to get on the bike and gooooooo!  Please???"

I spent much of today in Pasadena, and had hoped to sneak in a ride out there.  But my car was too full for my bike this morning, and by the time I finished working in our overheated storage locker, I was woefully dehydrated (despite an entire Nalgene & large iced honey tea).  

Now, it's 6:35 PM on a Monday night, and I'm wondering/hoping/bargaining with daylight to sneak in a quick 10 miles.  

• The worst of the rush hour traffic should have died down by now, right? 

• My husband won't be home for another hour or two at least, right?

• I ate a bunch of watermelon when I got home, so I should be hydrated enough, right??

Guys, I am wheeling and dealing with myself to try to get my ride in.

This is amazing.  I wasn't sure that this day would ever come.  But it has. It's here.  

So:

LOOKOUT LA, I'M GETTING ON MY BIKING SHORTS!!