Sunday Morning RIDE

Sorry I've been out of it for a couple days. The 12 hours of bike riding madness really took it out of me. On to your regularly scredule ride postings, like the Sunday Morning RIDE...

THE VALUE OF EXPERT ADVICE

I’m a pretty sociable guy. I like to drink with friends. I like to watch sports on TV with friends. I like to ride with friends. Sometimes. Other times I like the simple pleasure of a solo ride. The pace is whatever you want it to be, the route is wherever you want it to go; you don’t have to think about what someone else is doing. Last Wednesday afternoon, as the sun slowly emerged and the road dried up, I felt the urge for a solo ride, so I saddled up the roadie and headed out to do some hills.

As I turned off of 360 onto Bee Cave, I noticed a couple of riders ahead of me. I passed them as we climbed the first little roller on Bee Cave. I was feeling really good, stronger than usual and actually looking forward to doing some climbing. The road flattened as the first hill crested, and I was exulting in the perfection of the moment. And then one of the guys that I had passed rolled up next to me.

I’ve ridden a few miles over a few years. Encounters with other riders usually begin with a discussion of the weather. Most often they end promptly with wishes for a good ride. I gotta say that this is the first time ever that another rider has started a conversation by telling me, “Your seat is too low.” Glancing at my newly-acquired partner, I noted that he wore a pair of pricey-looking Oakleys and a jersey of indeterminate color, due to the fact that every square inch was obliterated by corporate logos. He was riding some kind of expensive-looking road bike that I had never heard of (tri season must be over, yes?). Altogether, his aura fairly screamed Serious Cyclist.

He had aroused my curiosity. I asked the Serious Cyclist why he thought that my saddle was too low. “Your knees are sticking out,” he responded. I was mortified. If I had a mantra for cycling, it would be, “Knees in, elbows in….Knees in, elbows in….” I quickly took a self-conscious glance downward and was gratified to note that my knees were not sticking out. In a misguided effort to be pleasant, I laughed and responded that if my knees were sticking out, it probably had a lot more to do with my sloppy form than with the height of my saddle. The Serious Cyclist promptly offered an apology (in a slightly confrontational way) if I thought that he was being too forward. I replied that I’m always glad to hear feedback from other riders. (I might have added, “If the opinion is an informed one,” but didn’t.) That encouraged him to promptly point out that my brake levers were too low on the bars. “See where mine are?” he crowed, with the air of a man who has spent a not-inconsiderable sum for a Custom Fitting at a Bike Studio. I noted that he was riding in an upright position, with his hands on the brake hoods, and enquired whether that is his usual posture. He replied that it is. I pointed out that I was riding in the drops, and noted that this is my usual posture. I suggested that the best position for the brake levers is probably that position which makes them most accessible when the rider is in his or her usual posture. The Serious Cyclist looked puzzled. For just an instant. Then he regained his air of bullet-proof self-confidence. He wished me a good ride, and he and his buddy sprinted on out Bee Cave.

Sunday is a day when I like to ride with a group. Join us. We’ll launch from Clown Dog at 10:20 on Sunday morning. Route TBD. Bring some ideas.

Those of you who have ridden with us before know how we roll. For those who haven’t, please read the blah-blah below. It’s important. Really.

• Some of us are down with the fixed gear deal, but mostly we’re just about riding. Bring whatcha got and ride with us.

• Every cyclist is responsible for his or her own safety and well-being. We assume that everyone is familiar with basic rules of cycling safety and has enough hours in the saddle to feel comfortable with his or her ride. Use of helmets is optional (but highly recommended). Use of headphones, earbuds, Blue Tooth headsets or any other form of electronic distraction is discouraged. (It’s a SOCIAL ride, dammit!) All traffic laws and rules of right-of-way will be observed. Here’s the deal:

SAFETY FIRST!!!!!

If someone gets killed, it ruins the ride for everybody.

• This ride is 25-30 miles long through mostly urban and suburban areas. We do a convenience

store stop at about the halfway point for anyone who needs snacks or drinks.

• There is no SAG support on this ride. Bring a spare tube and something that will inflate it.

• The purpose of this ride is for everyone to have a good time and (we hope) to become better cyclists. We ride at a variable pace, according to the group on any given ride, and all skill levels are welcome. This is a 25-30 mile ride over typical Central Texas terrain. If this is consistent with your riding experience, or is perhaps slightly more challenging than what you’re accustomed to, you should have no problem going the distance.

As the Serious Cyclist blazed on out Bee Cave, I noticed through the slowly-dissipating fog of testosterone that his saddle was about three-quarters of an inch too high.

It’s time to ride.

You know the drill, be at Clown Dog before 10:20am tomorrow morning to hook up with these cats. Be careful out there, too many people have already gotten hurt this year and we're only on day 2. More on that later...