While on the bike yesterday I pondered this blog; when you’re in the saddle for 5+ hours there is plenty of time to ponder. I came to the realization (20 days after starting, what can I say, I’m quick like that.) that some of the people reading this may not be very familiar with cycling; especially an endurance event like this. I thought I would take a few minutes to go over some of the gear we are wearing, the bikes we are riding, and the food and fluids we are constantly consuming.
- CLOTHING - Most cyclists wear a cycling jersey and cycling shorts; commonly called a kit. The jersey generally has a zipper in the front (to open for ventilation) and three pockets in the back that are easily accessible and serve as great places to store food. The material of the jersey has a wicking property to it; to help pull the sweat away from the body. The shorts are a spandex type material that has a chamois pad to help protect your glutimus maximus. The shoes have a solid sole with a cleat attached which allows the cyclist to clip into the pedals so that they get both a down-stroke and an up-stroke, thus increasing their pedaling efficiency. The sole is usually a hard plastic or carbon fiber. The shoe I am using is a carbon fiber sole and I am wearing it for a couple of reason; the carbon doesn’t flex which allows me to get more power into my stroke and the carbon fiber keeps its rigidity longer than plastic; generally they can last up to 5 years before they start to flex and need to be replaces.
- FOOD and FLUIDS - While in the saddle, it’s hard to eat solid food. Therefore, I have reverted to eating easily chewable foods that contain carbohydrates, protein, and sugar. Over the course of this ride we have consumed Gu, which is an energy filled gel consisting of a mere 110 calories, Clif Blocks, a gummy-bear type food that has about twice the calories of Gu and similar nutritional properties, and Clif bars (a soft type candy bar with about 250 calories). When we stop for a break at the support vessel, we eat either a peanut butter sandwich, a banana, or a turkey sandwich on wheat bread with a little mustard. These foods are our staples while actually in the heat of riding. We do mix it up a bit, by stopping at burger joints from time to time to enjoy a burger versus the mundane turkey sandwich.
In regards to fluids, we actually drink a variety of different products. I have been using Accelerade in my water bottles, for its mix of protein, carbs, sugars, sodium, and potassium. I also will occasionally use regular water. When stopping for a quick bite off the bike, I enjoy V8’s for their powerful accumulation of sodium and potassium. I have also begun drinking soda, which I generally drink less than a can a month, for the sugary charge it can give on really long rides or very hot days. Basically, I try to satisfy my thirst with whatever I seem to be craving at the time. For the most part, V8 has been the answer to my fluid needs when off the bike at a pit stop.
- BIKES - The bikes we are riding on consist of a double crank (two gears where the pedals attach to) and a 10 gear cassette; effectively giving us 20 gears to choose from while battling the road. The cassette is the gearing attached to the rear wheel. The frame is carbon fiber, which makes it very light (appreciated immensely when going over the mountains) and it also helps absorb some of the shock of the road; thus sparing our hands, wrists, arms and shoulders the full intensity of the jarring the road throws our way. My bike seat is very small, flat and rock hard; this actually helps to minimize saddle sores when riding for extended periods of time as it cuts down on friction and surface area. I feel obligated to point out that it helps minimize, but as this ride has shown me, does not eliminate! My handlebars are my main point of interest on the ride, as they hold my brakes/shifters and cyclometer and heart rate monitor. During the course of the day, I will look down at my handlebars literally thousands of times to check my speed and current heart rate. Other than that, the bikes are pretty standard. You pedal, and if everything is lined up and the gods are gracious, it goes forward with little difficulty.
We have had some issues with our wheels becoming un-true (wobbly) and brakes rubbing on the tire. But Gary, with his insight, has brought along the right tools to resolve these issues; often quite quickly. T.jpg)
he chains that we have been using will last for approximately 1,500 miles before needing to be replaced. When they begin to approach that amount of miles, the chain has generally stretched out from overuse which makes shifting less smooth and more prone to dropped chains. Last night Gary walked me through changing out my old chain with a brand new one; he had the tools and the knowledge to make the process seem almost simple. Gary, in preparing for this trip, has become quite a wrench. One of my goals for this trip has been to learn as much as possible about working on bikes, so that I may cultivate this skill once I am back home and into everyday life again. Thanks Gary for all the help and knowledge!
