Went for a 40 mile ride a month or so ago. Overdid it!
Strained my back, and turn out that I've pinched my Sciatic nerve :(
So I've been going though bouts of pain in my back and leg, which has prevented me from getting on to a bike for some time now.
Now that I'm getting better, and summer is here : I'll be on my bike more often.
Stay glued for more updates and insights soon....
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Friday, March 20, 2009
What is a Bike Fit?
If you plan to go for long rides on your bike, I can't stress how essential it is to get your Bike Fitted.
If you're thinking about riding anything more than 10 miles regularly (a 10 miler once a Quarter does not count), I'd highly recommend getting your bike fit to the position of your body on the bike.
Two reasons why you'd want to get a bike fit:
1. The first few miles on a bike are fun, but once you start longer rides you'll start feeling every muscle in your body
Some of the areas that could ache on your first few rides are:
a. Legs (wow, who would have thought!)
b. Lower Back
c. Shoulder blades
d. Upper back
e. Neck
f. Your Posterior
2. Performance: A good fitting will help you get the most out of the energy you spend on the bike.
This will be super important towards the end of your long rides or for that matter on any uphill ride!
What a bike fit essential entails is : Customizing the height, settings and angles on the bike to suit your body style to ensure minimum discomfort and better performance.
I was about to write a long post on bike fit, but have found this article that describes the process very well.
I'd recommend you read this Bike Fit article if you're interested in learning more about fitting.
If you're thinking about riding anything more than 10 miles regularly (a 10 miler once a Quarter does not count), I'd highly recommend getting your bike fit to the position of your body on the bike.
Two reasons why you'd want to get a bike fit:
1. The first few miles on a bike are fun, but once you start longer rides you'll start feeling every muscle in your body
Some of the areas that could ache on your first few rides are:
a. Legs (wow, who would have thought!)
b. Lower Back
c. Shoulder blades
d. Upper back
e. Neck
f. Your Posterior
2. Performance: A good fitting will help you get the most out of the energy you spend on the bike.
This will be super important towards the end of your long rides or for that matter on any uphill ride!
What a bike fit essential entails is : Customizing the height, settings and angles on the bike to suit your body style to ensure minimum discomfort and better performance.
I was about to write a long post on bike fit, but have found this article that describes the process very well.
I'd recommend you read this Bike Fit article if you're interested in learning more about fitting.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
How to choose a good Biking Route
Lately, a lot of folks have been asking me how I choose my bike routes.
For the benefit of new riders I'll describe my approach here.
Personally, I prefer trying out new routes as often as possible.
However, once you find a good route, you'll end up riding it very often! (One such route is along La Canada).
Here's my approach:
Step 1: My first resource for a good bike ride is www.Bikely.com.
Bikely has an extensive database for bike routes in practically any bike-able part of the world.
Most routes are tagged which is pretty useful (I'm sticking to the intermediate rides for now)
Also as far as possible, stay away from streets/routes tagged with "on-road traffic".
Step 2: Google Maps.
I use Google Maps and find the path from my starting location to the closest point on the route from Bikely.
Using the "My Maps" option I create a new map and trace the entire route.
I then use the "Street View" option to review the route, to ensure I don't have to ride through streets
with lots of on-road traffic.** This is very useful.
Once I'm satisfied with the route, I share the Map of the proposed ride with a few riding buddies.
Step 3: Ride - with a GPS (Garmin 60c). I tried using the Iphone, but the battery always died out in an hour or so.
1
Step 4: I Upload tracks from my Garmin to www.trailguru.com.
I then visualize my ride on Google Earth
The GPS import feature works very well with Google Earth. Go GPSBabel!
Step 5: Repeat Step 1.
Once you've done this a few time, selecting a new route takes less than 10 minutes.
And I honestly feel its more fun to ride when you're able to explore new areas.
For the benefit of new riders I'll describe my approach here.
Personally, I prefer trying out new routes as often as possible.
However, once you find a good route, you'll end up riding it very often! (One such route is along La Canada).
Here's my approach:
Step 1: My first resource for a good bike ride is www.Bikely.com.
Bikely has an extensive database for bike routes in practically any bike-able part of the world.
Most routes are tagged which is pretty useful (I'm sticking to the intermediate rides for now)
Also as far as possible, stay away from streets/routes tagged with "on-road traffic".
Step 2: Google Maps.
I use Google Maps and find the path from my starting location to the closest point on the route from Bikely.
Using the "My Maps" option I create a new map and trace the entire route.
I then use the "Street View" option to review the route, to ensure I don't have to ride through streets
with lots of on-road traffic.** This is very useful.
Once I'm satisfied with the route, I share the Map of the proposed ride with a few riding buddies.
Step 3: Ride - with a GPS (Garmin 60c). I tried using the Iphone, but the battery always died out in an hour or so.
1
Step 4: I Upload tracks from my Garmin to www.trailguru.com.
I then visualize my ride on Google Earth
The GPS import feature works very well with Google Earth. Go GPSBabel!
Step 5: Repeat Step 1.
Once you've done this a few time, selecting a new route takes less than 10 minutes.
And I honestly feel its more fun to ride when you're able to explore new areas.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Sunnyvale to Stanford Bike Ride 3/2
Got my first bike fit recently - I'll write about bike fitting in a following post.
I went in to work early this morning, so I was able to leave a little early and get an evening ride in. It's been a wet three days in Nor Cal, and 3 hours of sunshine was just the excuse I needed for this weeks first bike ride.
My ride took me through Fremont ave, to Foothill expressway (recommend for bikers). From there I got into the Stanford campus, rode down University Ave to Middlefield and back home.
Things I learnt today:
1. Its fun to ride on large open streets, with dedicated bike lanes.
Foothill Expressway is fantastic for a ride.
Long flats, Intermediate Hills and you're able to go good distances at nice speeds.
2. Do not ride in a school campus. Too many stops signs will require that you stop every 100m.
3. Avoid busy streets or streets without dedicated bike lanes.
These streets are good for commuting, but don't really cut it for pleasure ride.
Middlefield is one such street. I've ridden Middlefield before: to work and back, but riding this street on a long pleasure ride was very different.
Too many traffic lights, too much evening traffic, and the road became a single lane in many places. I couldn't pick up any speed on my ride back. :(
However, you won't really learn to appreciate the good roads, till you go through a few such ones :)
I got a little rain on this ride too. But a little rain shouldn't be able to stop anyone. Right?
I went in to work early this morning, so I was able to leave a little early and get an evening ride in. It's been a wet three days in Nor Cal, and 3 hours of sunshine was just the excuse I needed for this weeks first bike ride.
My ride took me through Fremont ave, to Foothill expressway (recommend for bikers). From there I got into the Stanford campus, rode down University Ave to Middlefield and back home.
Things I learnt today:
1. Its fun to ride on large open streets, with dedicated bike lanes.
Foothill Expressway is fantastic for a ride.
Long flats, Intermediate Hills and you're able to go good distances at nice speeds.
2. Do not ride in a school campus. Too many stops signs will require that you stop every 100m.
3. Avoid busy streets or streets without dedicated bike lanes.
These streets are good for commuting, but don't really cut it for pleasure ride.
Middlefield is one such street. I've ridden Middlefield before: to work and back, but riding this street on a long pleasure ride was very different.
Too many traffic lights, too much evening traffic, and the road became a single lane in many places. I couldn't pick up any speed on my ride back. :(
However, you won't really learn to appreciate the good roads, till you go through a few such ones :)
I got a little rain on this ride too. But a little rain shouldn't be able to stop anyone. Right?
Friday, February 27, 2009
New Rider Basics
Now that you're thinking of riding.....
I've created a list of basic stuff you need before you go on your first ride.
You can also use this as a checklist before leaving on any long ride.
1. A bike
2. Water Bottle Holders (1 maybe even 2)
3. Bottles (1 maybe even 2)
4. 2 Spare Tubes
5. 1 Spare Tire
6. Hand help pump
7. Floor Pump (Keep this at home!)
8. A good pair of gloves
9. Biking Shorts
10. Biking Shoes
11. Pedals - they don't usually come with the bike.
12. Patch Kit
13. Helmet
14. Sunglasses (Need to prevent the dust from getting into your eyes)
15. Head light (optional)
16. Tail light (recommended)
17. Sunscreen
Winter Rides will require more clothing. But I'll share that when winter comes :)
The few stores I'd recommend in the South Bay are:
REI
Mike's Bike
Performance Bike
Sports Basement
That's it folks. See you on the road.
I've created a list of basic stuff you need before you go on your first ride.
You can also use this as a checklist before leaving on any long ride.
1. A bike
2. Water Bottle Holders (1 maybe even 2)
3. Bottles (1 maybe even 2)
4. 2 Spare Tubes
5. 1 Spare Tire
6. Hand help pump
7. Floor Pump (Keep this at home!)
8. A good pair of gloves
9. Biking Shorts
10. Biking Shoes
11. Pedals - they don't usually come with the bike.
12. Patch Kit
13. Helmet
14. Sunglasses (Need to prevent the dust from getting into your eyes)
15. Head light (optional)
16. Tail light (recommended)
17. Sunscreen
Winter Rides will require more clothing. But I'll share that when winter comes :)
The few stores I'd recommend in the South Bay are:
REI
Mike's Bike
Performance Bike
Sports Basement
That's it folks. See you on the road.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Feb 21st 2009 - Palo Alto to Redwood City
We started this ride at Stanford and rode up La Canada to Hwy 92 in Redwood City.
This is a very beautiful ride, with a few beginner level inclines.
We turned and rode back from the Crystal Spring Reservoir in Redwood City.
Of course, on our way back we stopped for Brunch at the Woodside Bakery.
No flats, no backaches, and no crazyness on this ride.
I'd recommend this route to anyone who's already comfortable with an hour on the saddle.
This is a very beautiful ride, with a few beginner level inclines.
We turned and rode back from the Crystal Spring Reservoir in Redwood City.
Of course, on our way back we stopped for Brunch at the Woodside Bakery.
No flats, no backaches, and no crazyness on this ride.
I'd recommend this route to anyone who's already comfortable with an hour on the saddle.
Rider thoughts
I've taken up road biking, and have been riding for 3 months or so now.
Living in California, and not picking an outdoor activity is blasphemy!
Now that I'm a little comfortable on my bike - I plan to start writing down my experiences as I discover new routes and new restaurants along my riding routes.
My GPS of choice is a Garmin 60C and thanks to the Iphone I'll be able to take some pictures too! I plan to upload both my ride maps and ride pictures here.
Hopefully this will convince some of you to take up biking and maybe come riding with me sometime!
Shown above is my first road bike: 2008 Cannondale Synapse 7
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