Moving in the Right Direction

On the riding and weight loss front I’m seeing improvement which is great. I saw numbers on the weight scale this week that I haven’t seen in a long, long, long time. Good stuff. I can also tell my riding is getting stronger even though I’ve only managed two rides this week. The weather here has been terrible with today being the first day it hasn’t rained in a while. Today’s ride was particularly nice and I felt very, very comfy in the saddle today with no undercarriage issues. I tried to push today’s pace harder than normal and rode about 85% of the 13 miles in the big ring which is a change for me. I got over the big ring ego a long time ago and am happy to push the small ring until I get stronger. I’m now at the point where I can confidently ride a bigger gear and keep my cadence up. Today’s ride was for 13.12 miles in 54 minutes at 14.4 mph. I honestly thought my pace would have been better but I’ll take it.

PhotoC: joeldinda

I did get the crap scared out of me today and felt like a total noob afterwards. I was about halfway through my ride and was totally zoned out in keeping my pace up. I rarely see other riders out and if I do see some they are always going the other direction. You can imagine my surprise when I’m riding along, handlebars gripped, focused on the road ahead, doing my best Spartacus impersonation, when I hear ‘On your left!’ and a four-man paceline goes crusing by. The lead rider was courteous enough to let me know they were there but I was so focused on riding it totally caught me by surprise and it made me jump. I did a little swerve, apologized profusely, and then felt like a total noob. I kept them in sight for a while and it would have been nice to join in as they were going my direction. They were pretty fast though.

Picked Up Some New Gear

The last couple of weeks I’ve picked up some much needed gear. This included a new helmet, a floor pump, a chain cleaner, and leg warmers. Here’s a little more info:

• Bell Lumen Helmet. I had a Specialized Echelon helmet that I liked but it was just too big. I put up with it for a while and during last Saturday’s ride I had had enough. I went to the local bike shop on Wednesday and picked up the Lumen. I was immediately sold on the comfort and fit. I rode with it for the first time today and really liked it.
• Topeak Joe Blow Sport Floor Pump. I picked this up at the LBS a few weeks ago to replace my aging, and worthless, pump. I couldn’t be more happy with this pump. It’s so much easier to use than my old one and little things, like the wider base, go a long way in helping me pump up my tires.
• Chain cleaner. I picked this up from Nashbar but haven’t used it yet. I’m picking up some degreaser today so I can try it out. Any recommendations on a good chain degreaser?
• Nashbar Leg Warmers. I was really looking forward to having these but was dissapointed. The quality and thickness seem fine but they’re just too small. I ordered an XL and could barely get them a few inches above my knee. And no way of zipping up the bottom due to my calves. I know I’ve got tree-trunk size quads but this was crazy. They look to be made for stick legs on teenage boys or mountain climbing pros. I hate returns.

I’ll try and get some detailed reviews up on the Lumen, the Joe Blow Sport and the chain cleaner. I’ve got to pick up some arm warmers, jerseys, and bibs too. I’ve been riding in the Giordana Silverline bibs
I picked up a few months ago and really like them except for the narrow shoulder straps. I might get another pair of them. I’ve also looked at the Pearl iZUMi P.R.O. and may try them.

I really think I’m forgetting something but can’t put my finger on it. Dang. Oh well.

Two questions for the masses:

1. What’s your favorite pair of bib shorts?
2. What’s your degreaser of choice?

Thumbnail PhotoC: will_cyclist

Thanks to Victor Jiminez of Bicycle Lab (@bicyclelab on Twitter) for his assistance in putting this article together.

As the weather warms up ever so slowly here in North America, more and more cyclists will be leaving the trainers behind and heading outdoors to get their rides in. Before heading out we need to make sure we have all the required equipment and one of those items is our helmet. Of all our road cycling gear, I think the helmet is the most important item as it offers protection for our gray matter in the event we do crash.

Five Steps To Choosing A Cycling Helmet

1. Find your price point. Road cycling helmets are typically between $60 and $250. Design, materials, retention systems and purpose are what drive the prices. They all offer protection if you crash but features like custom fitting mechanisms, visors, adjustable/removable padding, reduced weight, exotic materials, and extra ventilation will cost more. More expensive helmets tend to have more adjustable fit and retention systems. For around $100 you can get a very good quality and nice fitting helmet.
2. Check the certification. Cycling helmets have certification? Absolutely. Helmets sold in the U.S. are required by law to meet testing standards as set forth by the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC). The purpose of these tests is to make sure that the helmet can handle the impact if you were to crash. With helmets getting lighter and more comfortable every year a standard is necessary to ensure that you’ll be protected. Look for the CPSC stamp or sticker on the helmet.
3. Pick some helmets. Road cycling helmets often sport very light weights, maximum air flow for good ventilation, and improved aerodynamic designs. All of those improvements are achieved at a cost. Take a look at the helmets available and find a few that appeal to you taking into account your budget and the helmets features. They do make road helmets specifically designed for women that have more feminine sizes, color choices, and space for ponytails.
4. Find Your Size. This is the most critical step in the entire process. You want your new helmet to fit correctly so it offers the protection it’s supposed to. Some of the lower end helmets may only come in an ‘Adult’ size so you may not need to measure your head size. More advanced helmets typical come in small, medium, and large sizes depending on the circumference of your head. You can measure the circumference of your head, at it’s largest point, with a flexible tape. This will give you a good starting point as the labels on the helmets will list both the helmet size and head circumference it’s made for. This is only a starting point though and my recommendation is that you try on several brands and sizes to find the right one. You may find that a medium in one brand fits more snugly than a medium in another brand while one is more comfortable than another. Most helmets now offer some kind of adjustable retention system that lets you dial in the fit so it’s just right. This is achieved with a ratcheting wheel or mechanism on the back of the helmet that lets you loosen or tighten the fit on the fly.

Four Steps To A Great Fitting Helmet:

1. Try the helmet on.
2. Hold the helmet tightly and shake your head like you are saying no ( it should be very snug with little play and generally very comfortable).
3. Adjust the retention system so that the helmet stays on your head.
4. Adjust the chin strap so that it’s snug when your your jaw is open.
5. Get help. Don’t go it alone and ask for help when you’re in the store. The employees know how helmets are supposed to fit and can help you with both sizing and fit. That’s what they’re paid to do so take advantage of it.

Do they make cycling clothes for real people?

So what if I can’t fit into the same tshirt I wore in sixth grade. What’s the big deal? You mean, as a cyclist, I’m supposed to fit into a pair of bibs or a jersey designed to look tight on my little sister? Seriously?

By real people I mean cyclists, like me, who are struggling to lose weight. Cycling is a great way to lose weight but the clothing manufacturers out there aren’t thinking about us when designing their spring lineup. I seriously think they use a telephone pole as a prop to help them determine sizes. If they’re designing European sizes then they use a 4×4 post.

That’s all in jest of course but I think the underlying argument is valid. Overweight cyclists have a hard time finding cycling clothes that fit. Then you take somebody like me who’s overweight, and short (only a 27.5″ inseam), and you’re screwed. There wouldn’t be a problem if we (I) were height-weight proportionate but that’s why we (I) took up cycling in the first place. Catch 22.

Are there cycling clothes out there that will fit? Yes, but it’ll be hard finding something that fits right. For instance, in order for me to find bibs that can compensate for my excessive girth I have to buy in the 3XL size which is usually designed for somebody really tall. That means the bibs are too long. It takes some experimenting and shopping around to find stuff that works.

Love and Hate

Where To Find BIG Cycling Clothes

I know they aren’t popular among the ‘purists’ and ‘pros’, but Bike Nashbar has jerseys and bibs that fit me. I’m talking about the Nashbar brand clothing not name-brand stuff like Pearl Izumi, Cannondale, or others. One of my favorite pairs of bibs is a Nashbar brand. Catch their stuff on sale and you can get some good deals.

Performance Bike sometimes has some stuff that will fit too. I’ve got a good long sleeve jersey I got from them last year that’s great. Jerseys are easier for me to find though. Jerseys for big folks with cool designs are hard to find (there are some). Mostly expect to have your choices limited to solid colors. BikeJerseys.com seems to have a selection of cool big dude jerseys but I’ve never bought from them. I’ll have to do that and do a review. I’ve also recently discovered Aerotech Designs and will look at them too.

There are times I don’t feel like looking like a overstuffed sausage and wear a big workout shirt made by Russell Athletic. It’s comfy and cool. There’s no rear pockets or ‘style’ factor though.

Your Thoughts?

I know most of you just want to tell me to deal with it and ride. I can understand that. You can say as much in the comments. If you’re like me though, and can’t buy your cycling clothes off the rack, perhaps you have some additional resources I haven’t listed above.

In the meantime, it’s back to counting calories and riding.

Feature image courtesy of n0seblunt.

Richardson Bike Mart was my first stop because I was up near it due to attending a WordPress conference on Saturday. I’m still totally blown away every time I walk into this place and Saturday was no different. They’ve got everything and the store is just huge. I headed over to the clothing section to check out the selection. In no time I found a sleeveless jersey that looked pretty good. It was pretty plain and red/gray in color. I don’t believe there were any designs on it. Just a plain jersey. My memory could be failing me though after the trauma I received from looking at the price tag. They wanted $100 for it. I just shook my head and moved on. Now I remember why I don’t come to this store. I did try on a few helmets since I’ll be needing one and found that I basically need a medium in any style which is good info if I find a good deal online. Alas, I couldn’t resist the temptation to have a look at the new bikes. I kept my sticker shock to a minimum and just casually browsed around looking at all the carbon fiber rigs. I pulled one or two out to see how they felt and was totally blown away by how light they are. Maybe some day.

After suffering the head trauma over the price of a sleeveless jersey I decided to call it a day and just head home.

Sunday afternoon I decided to drive down to the Performance Bike store to see what they had. They had some more affordable solutions (down to $19.99) but nothing in my size. Unfortunately, I still need a 3XL so I don’t blind everyone on my rides due to the site of a massively overweight dude trying to perform a hydrostatic test on a jersey. If a zipper popped off it could kill somebody. I did pick up a 3-pack of head bands for $4. I was willing to spend $4 on the head bands but not willing to spend $18-$22 on a skull cap or similar variant. The sweat band worked pretty good during my Sunday evening ride.

Well, by this time I was thinking I wouldn’t find a sleeveless cycling jersey. Then I remembered that Walmart had some workout clothes and thought I would go check them out. No, they aren’t cycling clothes but you gotta do what you gotta do.

I stopped by Walmart and headed to the men’s section. The brand of workout clothes they carry is called Starter and they had several styles of sleeveless workout shirts to choose from. And they had some in my size. I settled on a while/gray mesh type (you can’t see through it) that supposedly has some kind of wicking capability to it. For $8 I was willing to try it. Here’s the shirt on the Walmart website where it’s actually only $5 on clearance.

I road yesterday evening for 18 miles and the shirt performed remarkably well. It’s not a cycling jersey so it doesn’t have a zipper, rear pockets, cool logos/designs, or elastic at the waist but it did the job very well in my opinion. I was cooler in that shirt than I’ve been in any cycling jersey I’ve had. I will admit that the cycling jerseys I’ve owned aren’t top of the line so I may just not have experienced a quality cycling jersey. Did I probably look like a wannabe out there in my $8 Walmart sleeveless jersey? Probably. I really don’t care what other folks thought of it. I was comfortable and didn’t have to shell out $100 for a jersey.

The heat this week has been pretty bad with temps at or near 100F with heat indexes over 100F. Yesterday was no different. Knowing this, I’ve been very conscious to drink water throughout the day and have a bottle of G2 in the afternoon. I’ve also delayed my evening ride by about a half-hour so I’m starting around 6:30 PM and religiously doing a slow six mile warm up. This combination seems to be working for me right now as I’ve had no episodes like last week when I was obliterated after 15 miles. One good thing was that some later afternoon clouds moved in which helped with the heat some yesterday.

I rolled away from my car and made it about 200 feet when I realized I forgot my sunglasses. I immediately pulled a u-turn and headed back to get them. It’s interesting to note that I’ve had these particular sunglasses for about seven years. They aren’t even ‘cycling’ sunglasses. They were given to me while I was still in the Navy and are actually safety glasses. You can buy them at Lowes or Home Depot and come in a number of designs. I’ve always carried them around and they seem to work OK. I’m probably missing out on some design benefits by not having cycling sunglasses but never pulled the trigger to spend the cash on some. If any of you have recommendations for a good set of inexpensive sunglasses for cycling I’d like to hear them.

My warm up went pretty good with no issues. Those first six miles were again strictly to get warmed up, settle in on the bike, and allow the heat to dissipate some before I really cranked up the speed. Me, cranked up and speed actually don’t below in the same sentence together but you now what I mean. I did have to stop during my warm up and tighten two spokes. It’s the same two spokes every couple of rides that keep coming loose. They’re the ones that straddle the valve stem on the opposite side of the cassette on the rear wheel. I think I’m having this problem for a couple of reasons. I think the main culprit is that this isn’t the original wheel that came with my bike. The original had to be replaced last summer and the bike shop only had one rim available that would accept my 7-speed cassette (having a 15 year old bike sucks at times like that) so I got it. I believe this replacement rim isn’t as ‘beefy’ as my original Mavic rim and therefore is succumbing to my ‘beefiness’ (i.e. my weight is a little much for the rim and works the spokes loose).

At the 6 mile point I ‘cranked’ it up to 16 mph and maintained that for one full loop around White Rock Lake. Sure, my speed dropped down a little here and there but I did my best to maintain it right at 16 mph. The downhill sections allowed me to recover where I dropped below 16. When that loop was complete I began the second. To be honest I was going to do the second loop at 17 mph but wound up starting it much faster. I looked down and I was cruising along at 20 mph. I maintained this pace for a couple of miles and dropped down to around 17 mph. At this point I entered into the section of the loop at the South end of the lake that has a couple of hills. I maintained my speed as well as I could (above 15 mph) and kept on pushing it. With about 3/4 of the loop complete I started to fade some and wound up struggling to maintain 15 mph. I relaxed for a mile or so and then picked it up again to around 17 mph all the way back to the car.

Overall I was really happy with that ride. I felt like I pushed it pretty hard and if I hadn’t gone out gang-busters on the second loop I probably would have maintained a solid 17 mph for the entire second loop. I hope this is telling me that my fitness is improving. I rode the 6 mile warm up at 12.7 mph and finished with an average speed of 14.7. That means I road miles 6-23.5 at 16.7 mph. I’m happy with that.

The one big problem I had yesterday was with my bibs. They’re the Nashbar Gel Ride Bib Short and have served me pretty well. They have a gel chamois with a cloth covering over the gel. I think they are now too big for me and fitting too loosely (which is a great thing) but I believe this is causing them to not fit properly and rub me the wrong way. Literally. I was very uncomfortable yesterday (and have been for several rides in these shorts) and when I took a look at them after showering it looks like the cloth covering the gel is now loose and the folds developing in it may be what’s causing my problem. All that said I think it’s time for a new set (I actually need about three sets). I’m considering the Performance Elite II Bib Short because they were the Bicycling Editor’s Choice for shorts under $100. If you have a set of these I’d appreciate your comments below.

I know I’m a guy so what do I know about cycling jerseys for women. Absolutely nothing but that doesn’t mean that I wouldn’t think one of the jerseys below wouldn’t look cool if I saw it on a lady out riding. In fact, I think some of these designs are cooler than most jerseys you can get for guys. Speaking of cycling jerseys for guys, be a large dude and try finding a cool jersey. Those of us that are tonnage challenged are usually relegated to jerseys that are one solid color, maybe two if we’re lucky, that makes us look like a giant sail on a bike. Talk about uncool. Anyway, here are sixteen cool cycling jerseys for women that I found and like: