As I return to the fold of mountain biking, it is quite like a fresh start. I used to ride a lot, beginning in the late 1980’s on an old Diamondback Ascent, and graduating to front suspension in 1997, I got quite proficient. However after a several year layoff, it is indeed like starting from zero. I have to remember and relearn all my skills and instincts. I thought it would be good to...
As I mentioned in my last post, I have once again slung a leg over a mountain bike, in the quest to get back in shape, and to reduce my stress. One of the impetuses of this is living really close to Santa Teresa park, a place with some amazing riding. While the bike is new, and fun, I am not quite ready to write a full review of the bike, but I can write about Santa Teresa park. The main entrance...
On moving back to the San Jose area, I started fantasizing about getting back into mountain biking. When we moved to south San Jose, close to Santa Teresa Park, the urge grew. My last mountain bike was a Specialized Stumpjumper Comp M2. I think I bought it in 1997, when I lived here before. A really nice bike when I bought, I rode the hell out of it, all over the bay area. Unfortunately, living...
From the first time I slung my leg over that second-hand Schwinn Stingray (banana seat and all), I have love bicycling. A happy day when I was able to start bicycling to school, and then getting serious about it after I finished with college, my happiest times were when my work schedule allowed me to get in 200+ miles a week. Last year, while living in Chandler, I got back in the saddle in a...
It is with sadness in my heart that I must announce the passing of my Cateye Enduro 2 cycling computer. I acquired it in early 2002 when I bought my road bike, and it has been a rugged companion since then, logging and recording over 9,000 miles on the bike. It was not the first (my first cateye was on a roadbike I bought in 1988), but it will be remembered as the last. The UI was meh. The...
In just about every way, the internet has improved life. From booking airline tickets, to looking up local businesses in the yellow pages, the internet has streamlined the process, and upset business models everywhere. But I found something it didn’t improve. I am moving back to the bay area, and I am contemplating getting back into mountain biking to explore all my old haunts. I had to...
Today I got back out cycling. First time since the Christmas shutdown. I had three weeks of travel, and then came back with a gnarly chest cold. that kept me down for more than two weeks. I know, I know, lots of excuses. Today, I felt pretty good. Not much expectoration, and I have not needed any cold medicine for two days. I also took the opportunity to mount the cleats on my new shoes. Back in...
I haven’t been able to ride for a few weeks. My left foot was strangely painful, and the cycling shoes made it far worse. Today I sucked it up suited up, and headed out into the chilly (50F) morning. I put on an easy 21 miles. Didn’t set any speed records, and I didn’t want to push it too hard. The result is good. No pain in the foot, and my hand was OK too (it is a mazing what...
The weather is (finally) cooling down, and that brings more people on the roads and trails. A while back I posted on the lunacy of cyclists here (not knowing hand signals, riding against traffic, riding on the sidewalk etc), but today I saw some new ass-hattery on the canals in Gilbert/Mesa. First, I was passing a slower cyclist. Wide open path, plenty wide, and he was well to the right. So I...
Off and on throughout my life I have been more or less a serious cyclist. From my first used Schwinn Stingray (I wish I still had that bike) to my current road bike, I have at times been engrossed with the sport, pushing myself to the extreme, and at times I have backed off, not riding much at all. I am now going through a phase where I am increasing my cycling, and I am enjoying it. I am...