36 Mile bike ride - 11/9

After the last bike ride a few weeks ago, I brought my bike into the shop for some service. I suspected the chain needed replacement, and the previous owner also suspected that the back set of gears (technically they are sprockets), commonly referred to as a freewheel or cassette, needed replacement also. I also suspected that the spokes needed some adjustment/tightening - so when I brought it in, I had them give it a quick once over. It is an old bike with over 10,000 miles on it, it had sat in a basement for a long time - so it just needed a general tune up.

In addition to the above, they also found that the bearing in the headset (the steering column) was worn loose, and the brakes needed replacement as the rubber had gotten old and brittle like an old eraser. So they recommended a service they call the ride-ready service - where they basically take what is on the bike (plus any replacements such as the chain and cassette mentioned above) and tune it to perform at its best.

So yesterday was the first time I had really gotten a chance to give it a whirl - and WOW what a difference! Everything is just smoother and quieter now - the front derailleur is adjusted properly so the chain doesn't slip off the gear, the gear shift levers themselves are easier to move, the wheels dont pulsate when the brakes are applied, and the loose headset bearing doesn't make a thunk sound when I go over a bump.

So I set off wanting to go a decent distance, but due to the almost 14 miles I ran the previous day, I didn't want to overextend myself. I figured somewhere around the 40 mile mark would be good.

Total Distance: 36 Miles
Total Time: 2:26:50
Avg HR: 141

I've gotten pretty good at initial pacing with running, but I still tend to start out a bit fast when biking - so I intentionally kept things relatively easy. Plus, the wind was pretty stiff - the first third of the ride I had a pretty constant headwind the entire time that really slowed things down. It was the same headwind my friend and I had on our ride a couple weeks ago - out of the southwest. Must be a seasonal thing.