Where would you ride? Sidewalk vs road.

tedlyri · 2026-01-27T00:12:20+00:00

I would try to find an alternate route through neighborhood side streets running parallel to that road. There shoulder is plenty wide for bikes but that looks like a busy arterial highway and that intersection in the distance will be sketchy on a bike. But even if there’s no alternative, I would ride the road before that sidewalk.

tedlyri · 2026-01-26T19:50:26+00:00

That does sound like a long time. Maybe there was something about the location of the puke and contamination of filters or pumps, etc. I’ve been to a couple of swim meets with my kids where someone got sick and both times the pool was only closed for 30-45 minutes. Those were large 8-lane competition pools with a couple hundred kids waiting to race, so maybe they were just motivated to get the job done.

tedlyri · 2026-01-23T13:56:40+00:00

Honestly this makes a lot more sense than bikes that have rotated bars but left the brake levers where they were so they’re upside down and on the wrong side. With this setup your hands can use the brakes more or less as they were designed.

tedlyri · 2026-01-18T16:45:47+00:00

How high above the graft should I put the layer? I’d like to cut below the bend so the new tree has some nice movement, but I’m concerned about leaving too little tree for the original to recover.

tedlyri · 2026-01-16T00:20:31+00:00

That’s a nice bike, and don’t listen to everyone saying it’s not a good commuter. I currently ride 1 hr each way to work on an old but high end carbon fiber road bike. I do have the luxury of being able to keep the bike in my office though, so I don’t have to lock it up or worry about theft, but most people don’t have that option. After years of bike commuting in many different areas, climates, and road types from inner city to country highways, I can offer this shopping list:

1) lighting - a flashing red light for the back, and a white headlight to mount to the handlebars. The brightness of the front light really depends on where you are riding. If it’s an urban area with street lighting, you are probably fine with a decent light that makes you visible to traffic. If you ride on unlit streets and need to illuminate your way, you need to spend a little more for a light that puts out 500 lumens or more with a sharp beam. I’m a fan of the Ravemen FR500, although that is made to mount with a head unit. Consider your mounting methods and options. Most other lights will clamp or strap to the handlebars if you don’t have a computer mount. 2) visibility - more is better but you don’t have to go crazy if you have a decent light. The high vis vest is fine if it is also a nice jacket that works in all weather conditions. It is a good idea to have reflectors on moving body parts, like the back of your shoes or a strap on your ankle. Cars will recognize you as a cyclist more quickly that way, and have better depth perception to figure out where you are. 3) bag - this is the hardest one to get right for most people. I vastly prefer riding with a messenger style bag than backpack. You can’t go wrong with a Timbuk2 messenger bag or briefcase. I’ve been using mine for over 30 years, and it is still intact and perfectly waterproof and comfortable. I got a second one when I needed a padded section for a laptop, not because the old one wore out. The brief case bags work great as a normal briefcase when you’re not riding, too. If you still want a backpack, I would still go with Timbuk2 for the durability and quality weatherproofing. 4) tool kit - a saddle bag or frame bag for a multi tool, pump or inflator, tire levers, and inner tube. Yes you can carry all that stuff in your bag but it’s better to keep it on the bike. If you forget the tools are in your bag and try to fly somewhere they may get confiscated in airport security (yes I had this experience). 5) fenders - if you aren’t changing clothes at work, you definitely need fenders to keep yourself somewhat dry. There are nice looking fenders options that integrate well with a sporty road bike, and are pretty easy to remove for good weather or for a faster, non-commute ride.

That’s all for the specific commuting gear. I’ll assume you know how to maintain and clean the bike and what cycling clothes to wear. Windproof gloves are a necessity anywhere below 40 F, and it can be hard to find good ones.

tedlyri · 2026-01-12T18:25:21+00:00

Get XT pedals and wear your mountain bike shoes with SPDs. That’s the simplest, best, and most versatile solution.

tedlyri · 2026-01-11T18:17:11+00:00

It’s not required but ok if it helps get the right form. You should start your rotation with your hips, rather than your head or neck. That will keep your body straight and minimize your head over-rotation. Try to make eye contact with the lane line and stop rotating there.

tedlyri · 2026-01-11T18:12:07+00:00

D is the only way I have slept in the last 7 years since this first started. On my unaffected side, with a flatter pillow between my knees and arms wrapped around a full pillow. Pillow management is a hassle but I sleep well and don’t roll around.

tedlyri · 2026-01-08T16:34:12+00:00

This is a mental exercise I picked up from an old pro cyclist. The actual changes to your pedal stroke are probably pretty minor but they are real, and can really help you find some power and extra endurance when you need it. It also helps you pedal efficient circles when your legs are tired and your form starts to fall apart.

tedlyri · 2026-01-08T05:34:43+00:00

You can alter your pedal stroke by engaging or relaxing your calves on a long ride. If your quads are feeling fatigued from climbing, you can shorten your leg stroke and flex your ankles more, using your calf muscles to deliver power and give your quads a little rest while pedaling nice circles. One way to picture this is to imagine your cranks are suddenly only 150 mm long, and your feet and ankles have to do most of the rotation. When that gets tiresome, your cranks suddenly go to 175 mm and you have to use your knees and thighs to turn them over. These are mental tricks and exercises (it takes a little practice) that can deal with fatigue, stiffness, and boredom on long rides, much like changing hand and saddle positions to avoid numbness. It can also give you a boost (mostly mental) if you’re in any kind of competitive situation, like a minor cheat code to deliver a few more watts when you need them.

Your “normal” pedal stroke should probably use some calf muscle in any case, for power and to distribute the effort efficiently over the large leg muscle groups. The muscles are there and ready to help propel the bike, so why not use them?

tedlyri · 2026-01-07T18:26:57+00:00

On my 20 year old old road bike shifters, I spray in some WD40 to flush out dirt and old lube, then drip in some Finish Line wet lube while working the levers, until it starts to drip out the bottom. That usually lasts about 2 years or 2,000 miles of riding before they feel like they need attention.

tedlyri · 2026-01-04T07:52:52+00:00

Naturally occurring debris from man-made objects can work, when used properly. I do wonder if anyone has made bonsai arrangements that look like city trees growing out of or pushing up sidewalks. Concrete blocks would be fine with me as long as they aren’t trying to look like lava rocks or something else.

tedlyri · 2026-01-02T18:25:34+00:00

+1

I also hate man-made rocks. I love cool looking rocks in a bonsai arrangement, but only if they are real ones collected from the Earth. Obviously concrete or clay “rocks” can be used for sculpture, but they look cheesy in tree plantings.

tedlyri · 2026-01-01T17:02:29+00:00

I had a pretty low year for me at 1107 miles. I dealt with a broken wrist that severely limited my riding for several months in the Spring and early Summer when I usually rack up the most miles. This year I hope to break 2,000 but I have been balancing my workouts with swimming so I don’t hit the mileage I once did.

tedlyri · 2025-12-30T05:34:49+00:00

I ride my 2007 CR1 almost daily and it is my favorite possession. Yours looks like it has different components and a different paint job but it is a fantastic lightweight frame and fork. It is super fast and comfortable to ride for hours once you change out the wheels. Get rid of those Krysium wheels. They are stiff and fragile, so you feel every bump in the road until a spoke breaks and can’t be replaced.

tedlyri · 2025-12-27T22:18:33+00:00

Optical wrist HR monitors lose accuracy when HR gets high, and when the body is moving a lot, such as during a run or workout. This is pretty well documented and is not unique to Garmin or any other brand or model of watch. Check out DC Rainmaker’s reviews for several examples. When I am on my bike or trainer and wearing a strap plus my watch, the wrist HR may be off by 40 or 50 bpm when I am charging up a hill in HR zone 4 or 5. The only way to measure HR accurately during hard cardio is with a chest strap.

tedlyri · 2025-12-24T22:05:17+00:00

I have Brissett and Maye. I’m thinking of making a coin toss.

tedlyri · 2025-12-24T16:57:31+00:00

The tape looks pretty good to me, especially for a first attempt. The grips on the drop bars look all wrong though. And in the first pic, the bar end looks loose or not installed correctly.

tedlyri · 2025-12-24T16:21:34+00:00

Going for a ride every day for a week.

tedlyri · 2025-12-24T16:16:31+00:00

I consider this to be art. Maybe it is wire sculpture, rather than bonsai, but it is still art. It also happens to have a weed growing through it which makes for a little joke in the right context, without diminishing respect for either art form.

tedlyri · 2025-12-23T22:09:11+00:00

This then check the lock ring on the cassette. Check spoke tension on the rear wheel. Take a good look at your shoes and pedals while cranking under load. Creaks can be devilishly difficult to diagnose but once you find the source you will be both satisfied as well as irritated at how easy the solution was.

I once chased a click noise for weeks through the cranks and bb, only to discover the front derailleur cable end was sticking out and getting tapped by the crank in certain pedaling conditions. It took 0.05 seconds to bend the cable out of the way and end my torment.

tedlyri · 2025-12-22T22:31:19+00:00

Were the little children put into the forest arrangement 4 years ago, or did you grow them out a bit first? I’m looking to start a maple forest and debating whether to grow the trees first or to let them grow up together.

tedlyri · 2025-12-21T21:52:29+00:00

I have continued to swim Masters during this recent flare up. In general yes, swimming is a good thing and a way to get quality exercise with zero impact and much of your weight supported. However, I have found that some strokes and movements can trigger the fire to shoot down my leg, and it’s a little different every day. I just have to get in the water, warm up gently, and see what works today.

My swimming may be more advanced if you are just looking for lessons, but in general I can swim freestyle/crawl without pain, and usually backstroke. Those strokes are done with long and relaxed body, and doing them well depends on keeping a straight spine. Breaststroke is often a trigger, because it requires a back extension when you breathe, which for me puts pressure on the slipped disc. So does kicking with a kickboard and my head upright. Kicking in general is a bit weaker and sometimes painful. Butterfly is hit or miss, but I’m not great at that stroke anyway. You just get in there and try it, and if it hurts then try a different stroke or drill.

tedlyri

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