This time East

2nd day on my new bike.  I named him Charlie.  Why?  No special reason, he just seemed like a Charlie.  And if I get mad at him, Charles will get a talking to.

Today, I went East on the W&OD.  I made it to the main Park & Ride near Rt 28.  This was just a bit shy of the distance to the West to Belmont Ridge Road.  I'll have to push it to the Rt 28 bridge next time.  (at least)

My ride, again, was great.  Except for it being a weekend and all of the "expert" bikers, family walkers, children learning how to bike, and those that "are not from this country" who stupidly walk on the wrong side of the trail.  Really?  A family of "them" were walking down the left hand side of the trail.  Besides from me, they got a talking to, and I was relatively nice about it.  So I've mentioned that the trail on the weekend is like rush hour.  This is a picture of the trail Park & Ride.  It is packed.  I watched cars circling the lot hoping for people to leave.

W&OD Park & Ride

So, in addition to my My Tracks app on my GS5 and my Schwinn bike computer, I added an app to my iPhone.  Just for comparisons sake, of course.  Today's testing was Map My Ride.  Here are the results.

The distance was different for all of them, as was the time, but still relatively close.



My tracks

Schwinn



Map My Ride

My Tracks had me going 6.54 miles in 33:24 minutes.

Map My Ride had me going 6.68 miles in 37:38 and I had to estimate that because this app does not track your moving time.  It starts and it stops.  And since I started the app before I even left my kitchen and didn't stop it until after I was home and doing things, I had to estimate based on the mileage splits averages - which it does do nicely.  Also, I believe it started tracking my miles while still in the kitchen and after I got the phone back to the kitchen.

helmet

My Schwinn bike computer had me going 6.53 miles in 32:38 minutes.

What apps or devices do you use to track your mileage, time, etc.?

Also, I told you that I finally broke down and bought a helmet.  I can't stand it.  I do not like hats on my head and a helmet is no different.  Don't like.  Here is a picture of my helmet.  It is cute.

helmet

 

So nice riding today and I still love my bike.

Maiden ride - Fabulous!



My new bike - Trek 7.2 FX

Totally awesome, fabulous, terrific, amazing, extraordinary, remarkable, excellent, and outstanding!  That was my first ride on my new bike.  I felt like superwoman!

I still tracked my ride with My Tracks, but I also used my installed Schwinn bike computer.  They were pretty damn close in their stats.  My Tracks said I went 6.66 miled (yah me!) in 34:05 minutes.  My Schwinn bike computer said I went 6.593 miles in 33:56 minutes.  Extremely close and I believe the My Tracks stats also included my stopping point where I probably took a few manual steps while drinking water and talking to a gentleman I met at my turn-around point.

I went the whole way to Belmont Ridge Road!  That's the farthest west I have gone on the W&OD trail.  I seriously love this bike.  My riding gears were between 2-2 and 2-7, not bad at all.  IMHO.



Schwinn info

my tracks



Oh yeah and after I rode, I did the right thing.  I finally got a helmet.  I know, I wasn't being safe, blah, blah, blah.  I don't like hats or anything on my head (except a ponytail holder).  So we'll see how I do tomorrow when I ride with a helmet.

 

 

 

 



Rest (fail) day

So in my quest to move, on Wednesday, we were hosting my whole division at our satellite office.  One of my co-workers was already waiting outside of the building at 5:30am!!! when I got there.  Can you see where this is leading?

I did not get my daily work walk in, that sort of made me feel a little off.  I did exercise somewhat on my balance ball, but even that was stunted.  My whole day was wrecked.

This was a fail day to say the least, or I could turn that around and say it was a "rest" day.  Yah, that's the correct wording.  Rest days are good.

It was a 90 degree, hazy, hot, and humid day.  A nice day for a rest day.

After work, I started putting my bike together.  No, it was not in pieces, did you not see my picture?  I added my water bottle holder and I connected my new cheap bike computer.  It is a Schwinn something or other.  I got it working, I think.  My maiden ride will be the tell-tale sign that it is correctly hooked up.

I am planning my maiden ride for Friday.  As keeping with my other quest to not lose my "use or lose" leave, I am off on Friday.  Again.

I never did show you a picture of my bike, did I?  Were you dying in anticipation?  I'm sorry.  Here it is!

my bike

I need a name for my new bike.  Yes, I have names for my things.  My vehicles have all had names so it is only fitting that I have a name for my new bike.  Any suggestions?

Bike computer (scratch that) I need a new bike!

I went out and bought a cheap (well, can't really say cheap, what I mean is low cost.  We'll see if it is actually cheap or not after I get it hooked up and tested) bike computer.  It is a Cateye Velo 7.  I configured it and am getting ready to install it and test it out.

Here it is:  0 miles.  Does anyone else have one like this?  What is your experience with it?

bike computer

I will still use my fitbit and the My Tracks app on my phone and will compare the 3 of them.

Got my bike computer hooked up to the bike, verified that it captures speed, and I'm ready to test it out.

Seriously?!?  Well, no bike ride today.


broken chain

Here's my tracks.  I biked a whole 242 feet!  Actually, I am really lucky that this happened almost right out of my driveway.

Didn't I tell you earlier that I needed a new bike.  Anyone out there want to help?  I'll advertise for you?  I'll review for you?  I'm talking to you Spokes, Etc.  How about a little love here?

Thanks.



Sort of a down day

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

I really am going to catch this blog up to be current, I promise.

In an effort to not be too repetitive, today was a fairly normal day.  Did the usual walking, balance ball exercises, and biking after work.  The difference was I was just not feeling the biking.  Do you ever get that way?  I don't think I am really worn out, but maybe, sometimes, you just aren't feeling it.

So, I did get out on the bike, but I didn't go very far.  At least I kept moving and that's my goal.

I walked 1.73 miles in 34:53 minutes.  I just love all these different tracks.  And if you haven't used it, I use an app on my Galaxy S5 called My Tracks.  I think I have had this app for a couple of years and on multiple phones.  It is easy to use, precise in its maps and stats, and I love it.  I would highly recommend this app to everyone.

My biking this afternoon was a short one.  It was the mood, I guess.  I biked 2.71 miles in 24:52 minutes.

Walking

Biking

A new pair of shorts

Monday, July 28, 2014

About 6 weeks ago or so, I pulled a pair of shorts out of the closet and put them on.  I could button and zip them BUT, OMG, they cut into my sides so bad.  I could hardly move.  Every move made me think that they were going to explode open.

I wore them for about an hour and finally threw in the towel.  Off they came and into a more comfortable (bigger) pair.  I was not happy.  They were a really nice pair of cargo shorts that I had only bought a year before.  So into the dirty clothes basket they went to be washed and put away (far, far away).

So fast forward to today.  Getting dressed and I came across the pair of "shrunken" shorts and thought "you know, I want to see how bad these shorts actually are, I don't quite remember".

AAAGHHH!  Put on the shorts and they fit just fine!  How did that happen?  Yes, they were washed and were not in a pre-worn state.  Wow, so this is a minor body quick-change?  This is a quick win?  This is awesome.

Being able to wear those shorts confirmed (in my mind) that attempting to get in shape was actually working and pushed me to do more  I have not weighed my self since that first Saturday of biking, and I don't intend to for at least a month, but this is a bonus.

It's the little things that reinforce and keep me moving!  Do the little things help you along your way?

Did my normal, tend to the important things at work and then off to walk.  I'm liking this walking, balance ball, and biking routine.  And, I do believe it is working.

Walked 1.49 miles in 27:46 minutes.  I'm trying to do different routes when I walk at work and there are plenty of different roads and parking lots I can walk in my office complex.  Can't let it get monotonous.

Walking

Biking

Did my usual balance ball exercises during work.  Even introduced a couple of new ones that I made up.  Okay, I probably did not make them up, but they are new to me (and pretty intense as they make me huff and puff more than usual).

After work, got back on the bike and off I went to down (or up) the W&OD trail.  I biked 5.44 miles in 45:58 minutes.  I'm not intentionally trying to go faster, but it is happening.

I feel great!  (Please don't get tired of me saying that, it keeps me moving)  :-)

A great day for a bike ride

Friday, July 25, 2014

It is a beautiful day.  Sunny, no humidity, and low 80s.  A perfect day for a bike ride.

I "practiced" my same ride that I did yesterday.  (Practice makes perfect)  It is so nice to bike on the trail during the week.  There is no rush hour traffic and it is so peaceful.

Biking

On the bridge overlooking the parkway

I want to know what's around that corner

I biked 5.49 miles (darn, just .01 miles shorter than yesterday - I must have cut a corner somewhere) in 48.55 minutes (how it that longer when I rode a shorter distance?).

Felt terrific, I think I am really getting the hang of this thing they call biking.

Most mileage so far

Thursday, July 24, 2014

Decided yesterday that I would take off today and tomorrow.  I have a ton of use or lose leave so I've been trying to take off every Friday that I am already not off and decided to throw a random Thursday in there.  (I work a 4-5-9 schedule - 9 hours M-Th, Friday off or Friday telecommute)

It was a perfect day to be off.  I got up early and got my ride on.  Went both ways on the W&OD trail and pushed it.

My farthest ride yet!  I went 5.20 miles in 48.49 minutes.  Absolutely felt terrific.

Even though my bike is very road ready, I don't like the shifting.  My shifters are not very easy and they do not shift smoothly at all.  I know my bike is old and it is a mountain bike and it will serve its purpose, but I want a new bike.  I want a road bike or a hybrid.  Any suggestions?  No, I can't spend mega bucks on a professional bike, just a nice, average, NEW, bike.

On days when I am not at work, I don't get any balance ball exercising in and I miss that.  So I tried to compensate by doing regular crunches, push ups, and planks.

Gotta keep moving!

Back to work

Monday, July 21, 2014

Back to work it is.  Got there at 5:15am (early right?) and hopped right back on the balance ball.  I have a Gaiam Eco Balance Ball 75cm.  You might think this ball is rather large and it is, but when trying to use it as your desk chair, you need it to be that big.  I am not tall at all, but this ball is perfect for me to sit at my desk and work all day, amidst exercising on it also.

Surprisingly, this ball is awesome.  Even after a long hiatus, it held its air great.  No deflation at all.

Since it is a Monday in July, I had my doubts about riding my bike after working 9+ hours.  So I compensated by taking an early morning walk.


After I got the absolute, first thing, necessities done, I took a walk.

Not a long walk, but I was moving!  Isn't that the whole point, keep moving?

So my early morning walk was only 0.74 miles in a time of 13:11.  Something is better than nothing.



Walking 7/21/14

 As it turns out, I ended up biking after work anyhow.  It was cloudy and warm, but I think the clouds made it okay.  If the sun had been out full force, it would have been rather nasty.

Biking

My tracks  today were 3.18 miles in 29.51 minutes.  I'm getting faster.  I do stop at various times for a water break, but this is good!

The reason this ride was a tiny bit longer is that if you pass the Smith Switch bike station, just a few yards further is Smith Switch Road.  I went the little bit further and turned around at the road.  Keep pushing it, go farther, that's the way to do it.


Today, walking, balance ball workouts, and a bike ride.  That's
what I call exercise (and hopefully, losing it)!

What do you think?

Back in the saddle

Sunday, July 20, 2014

Even though yesterday was rush hour on the trail, sometimes its best to stick to what you know.  A little repetition doesn't hurt when you are trying to "learn" something.  So knowing that I could do the 3+ miles from yesterday, I went and did it again today.  Practice makes perfect.

It felt a little easier today and I even added a horseshoe side road on my way home.

So today's stats are 3.48 miles in 35.11.  A little further on the bike and just a little longer time.

That's progress, right?

Step 3 - on the trail

Saturday, July 19, 2014

They say it is just like riding a bike......

Bike is road ready and I am attitude-ready!  (at least I hope my bike is road ready, we won't know until we actually get on it and get moving)

This morning, before I started my biking adventure (?), I took the hated plunge of weighing myself.  Not happy at all, but I sort of expected the number I saw on the scale.  Well, my take on that is that you have to start somewhere.  (No, I'm not quite ready to give you the scale's details, maybe when, not if, when I see some progress.)

W&OD trail rules

Up on the bike and headed toward the trail I went.

I live practically right on the W&OD trail, so it is only right that I ride on the trail.

My first bike ride, probably not the best time to start.  I found out that weekends are like rush hour on the trail.  You have your hoity-toity experts, some of which are extremely rude, and you have your moms that are teaching their 4 year olds to ride a bike, and every other level in between.

Or maybe that was the best time to start, just jump in.

So my trek today, 1st day mind you, was from my house to the W&OD trail to the Smith Switch bike station, and back home.  I went 3.03 miles and it took me 35.09 minutes.

And, my legs felt like wet noodles when I finally got home.  But, DAMN, I felt great.  I followed through with my thinking and actually did what I set out to do.  Yay me! 



My tracks
 





Step 2 - Road ready

Saturday, July 19, 2014

As it turns out, I didn't really need the bike rack, at least not right now.  My husband came through and pulled out his generator and got my tires full of air and in good shape.  The tread on my tires is in very good shape (thanks to me not utilizing my bike).

He pulled out his allen wrenches and fine tuned my brakes.  I can stop on a dime now!

And that's all it took to get my bike road ready, really?

Thanks hubby!

Step 1 - Purchase a bike rack

Friday, July 18, 2014

The thinking part is over and I am motivated.  I believe that I am going to take this slow, I don't want to burn out before I even get started.

So I took a good look at my bike and realize that it is definitely not road ready.  It is about 5 or 6 years old and hasn't seen the light of day for about 4 or 5 years.

jinxygrrl's mountain bike
 

This is my mountain bike, not the best for road riding, but at the moment, it's all I got, so I will make due.

So, when I went to first pull my bike out of the garage, both tires were flat, not just flat but dead.

My brakes needed some tender loving care.

And it needed a good washing.  Tons of cobwebs.

In order to fix my bike, I needed to haul it at least to the gas station for air.  I went to Walmart and purchased a relatively cheap bike rack.  I have a Jeep, but shoving it in and out of the back is probably not a good idea.

So, here is my purchase.