I’ve made a bicycle choice.  At last! I feel as if an incredible burden has been lifted.  On Saturday,  drove  87 miles to test ride some Public bikes. Reser Bicycles in Newport, KY had two models on the floor and my daughter and  I took both  the  J7 and the Mixte 8 for a test ride.  The shifting on the J7 was incredibly smooth for a derailleur and the glide on the Mixte 8 was otherworldly. The J7 they had on the floor was sold so I ordered the C7 in white which I am told is practically identical to the J7  and hope to receive it in a week or two. My daughter meanwhile, who apparently has deeper pockets than I do, purchased the Public Mixte 8 in chartreuse .  

I had a lovely day at the bike shop and shopping for a bicycle this winter has been a joy with so many mild weekends to enjoy the test rides.   I can now turn my bicycle obsession to a quest for accessories. I need a bell, should it be red, white, or silver? How about a basket (wicker or wire)?  A new saddle perhaps (Brooks)?  A skirt guard? 

I have been lax in my training due to the hours of my job (post about that to follow) but I feel energized now that I have chosen a bicycle and plan to be in great shape by the Bike the Drive event in Chicago.   

Since my last post I have heard that I was chosen by lottery to ride in the NYC five boro bike tour.  I’m saddened to report that  after looking forward to this ride for so long I will be unable to participate. I have a family obligation that I must tend to  that weekend here in Kentucky.  I will however, be able to bike the drive in Chicago on Memorial day weekend and I am excited by that prospect.

Anticipation

I have registered for the lottery to enter the TD Five Boro Bike Tour  I won’t hear before February 7.  I think I will delay buying a bike until after I’ve heard whether or not I have been selected to participate. I have heard mixed reports about how difficult and steep the approach to the Verrazano is and if I get to ride, I will buy an 8 speed  derailleur  to train on rather than the commuter bike I had planned to purchase.

Raleigh Detour

I have decided that I will rent a bike should I go to New York and the bikes offered for rental are Trek 8 speed hybrids.  I will test one of these Treks  when the weather warms up.  I have ridden the 8 speed Raleigh Detour 2.5  and really enjoyed the ride. The 2.5 is at the low end of the price range for a Detour but it has a steel frame and I prefer that to aluminum.

On the other hand, if I don’t get in and I do the Chicago ride, I will go with a 3 speed internal hub.   So far  the KHS Manhattan Green tops my list. I like the look of this bike and really enjoy the ride. I am, however,  currently re-examining my need to buy a commuter bike. I plan to ride mostly on trails and locally. I will do everything I can not to ride in the rain or at night so maybe I should go with a lighter weight bike without fenders, a rack  and a light. At these price points maybe I can have one of each. We'll see. 

Meanwhile, I have begun my training for the ride by going to the gym and riding the stationary bike and doing some Tae Bo tapes at home.  Having a specific goal in mind makes exercising easier for me. 

Looking forward to an exciting May in either event.

Bike New York or Bike the Drive?

As stated previously, my goal for 2012 is to participate in three organized bike rides

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Registration Bike New York’s TD Five Boro Bike Tour opens tomorrow. The ride which will take place on the first Saturday in May is open to 32,000 riders.  Due to the demand for spaces in this ride they have instituted a lottery system this year and you must pay a $6.00 fee to enter the lottery. If chosen,  the fee to ride is $75.00. This ride is 42 miles and touches on all five boros of New York City.  I grew up in New Jersey and have lived in New York City on more than one occasion. It would be fun to ride through my former living and working neighborhoods.  

Registration for Chicago’s Bike the Drive which takes place on the Sunday before Memorial Day begins on Friday.  This appears to be a less intense experience than the Five Boro  and I am considering this ride instead. I have never been to Chicago and would supplement the ride with one of the guided bicycle tours through Chicago neighborhoods that are offered.

In either event, there is good information on the Bike NYC website on how to prepare for a ride of this length. According to the website the first step is to begin by following the CDC's physical activity recommendations: 150 minutes of moderate activity (like brisk walking) or 75 minutes of intense activity (like running) each week. I got in 30 minutes of moderate activity at the gym today, including riding a stationary bicycle. I found even this small amount of exercise challenging.  I've got lots of work to do.  

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

-- Lao-tzu (c. 604-c. 531 B.C.)