A Very Cold First Spring Ride, and I test the Selle Anatomica Saddle

Spring training season is with us, but my first Spring ride was on a sunny but very cold day. The temperature was 38 degrees Farenheit, and there was a wind of 15-20 mph. I thought that it was a good day to test my second Selle Anatomica saddle, a Honey copper rivet Titanico watershed type. It is made in Wisconson USA by Selle Anatomica, and completes the last and probably final iteration of my 1984 Pinarello Record SL fixed gear conversion. It is mounted on the original 1984 Campagnolo Record seatpost, and has lots of rail for fore and aft adjustment. The honey color was chosen to compliment my Carradice Barley seatbag.

On the road, the seat is very comfortable right out of the box. There is virtually no break in period. Although I have never ridden a Brooks saddle, I can say that this is currently the most comfortable bicycle saddle that I have ever owned. It is solely responsible for my re-conversion from recumbent riding in June of 2009. Unlike other saddles that I have used, mostly Selle Italia Gel, you kind of sit " in " the saddle in sort of a semi sling approach. I have done two fixed gear centuries with my first Selle Anatomica saddle last season, and have been pleased with the results. At least the limiting factor was not butt time.

Due to the fact that My racing weight at 5'11" is 185lbs, I chose the thicker leather Clydesdale variety, which is rated for 180lbs and above. With me just over the minimum recommended weight, the saddle did not feel too stiff. The saddle is longer than average,which occasionally leads to some butt swiping on standing climbs. This was not annoying, and disappeared with experience. The saddle has an adjustment screw, which has a long range of travel. It seems to be an adequate stiffness adjustment range for most people. The anatomical cutout is comfortable for my almost 60 year old prostate. Although saddles are a personally acquired taste, I feel that for the almost two years that I have been using them, the Selle Anatomica Saddles have done me very well in

both fixed gear and geared bike situations. I even used one for the D2R2 on/off road ride in August, 2010. The saddle was not cheap at $ 179, but what price can one pay for both quality and comfort? No golf, no boat, no 'vette, I just ride.  I will be riding Miss Pinarello in the  5 Boro Bike Tour on May 1, 2011, and the Ride to Montauk century in June. See you there!

A Few Days Away in Woodstock, Vermont

As Winter progresses, sometimes one has to get away for a few days, and experience another area. We had been to Woodstock, Vermont a few times in the past, and loved the area. Great XC skiing, a walk around town with good food, shops, and galleries seemed to be the best of all worlds. We stayed at the excellent Charleston House : terrific rooms, friendly hosts, and a killer breakfast were all hard to refuse.We went XC skiing at the Woodstock in ski area, and had a great two days of perfectly groomed trails and scenery that can't be beat.

On Saturday, 2-12-2011 we went to Hanover, New Hampshire to see Omar Sosa and the Barbary Coast Jazz ensemble of Dartmouth College. The group was terrific in concert, and a good dinner was had at Murphy's on the Green in Hanover. Although the skiing conditions were somewhat icy in Woodstock, we tried Viking xc ski Center in Londonderry, Vermont on the way back, and had lots of skiing fun with the packed powder there. Back to the gym bike on Monday morning, but I have lots of great memories for our few days spent in Vermont. It's supposed to warm up this coming week. Maybe I can get out on Miss Pinarello for a few spins around Caumsett Park...

More Snow! I Decide to Take a Photographic Expedition on Snowshoes

We have had a lot of snow here in the Northeast. There are 16 inches in my backyard. I woke up on Saturday 1-29-2011 with a mission: to take a photographic expedition on snowshoes. With the exterme depth of snow lately, I have been taking advantage of this form of exercise more and more. It is literally too deep for cross country skiing, and cycling has been impossible. I decided to give my circa 1960 gray bodied and red bellowsed Century Graphic a workout. It has an excellent 101mm F: 4.5 Optar lens made by Wollensack, in Rochester, New York. As a matter of fact, the camera, lens, and rollfilm back were all made in Rochester, New York. Hats off to Rochester! think of that...an American Camera.

It turned out that cross country skiers had made some pretty good tracks over the past few days, and the trails were  unsullied by horses or walkers. Both cross country skiing and snowshoeing  were a delight in this deep and relatively heavy snow. The landscape was exquisite, and the woods were silent. I worked up quite a sweat on my Tubbs snowshoes, and took a few good shots with the Century Graphic

Those of you who know will notice that the XC tracks and the snowshoe path seem to respect each other. This is due to the extreme trail courtesy that each of these forms of snow travel have for each other in Caumsett Park. Its 1800 acres and 25 miles of trails are very varied, and are well shared by all,

I had a great time in the woods that day. Exercise, Nature, Photography, what a way to spend a day off. Nobody was around, so I took a picture of myself, and here it is. During the coming months I will plot the course of my Spring and Summer riding schedule, both social and athletic. I have already arranged with some friends to do the 5 Boro Bike Tour on May 1, 2011. Also, I'm 60 in June, and would like to plan some special riding event or accomplishment to celebrate. We will see what develops.

A Significant Snowstorm and a Great Time for Snowshoeing

On January 11-12 2011, the East Coast got quite a large snowstorm. My front yard got 10 inches, and the North Shore of Long Island got about 12-14 inches of excellent powdery snow. Obviously, cycling on the road was out, and indoor training is always something that I avoid if possible. Both Helen and I were available for our first snowshoeing expedition of the season. Our first choice would have been cross country skiing, but after a trial over open fields with my back country skis, I figured that the day would be ideal for some snowshoeing. We went to Caumsett park on Lloyd Harbor, and had 25 miles of empty trails, and numerous open fields to explore. Snowshoeing is an excellent form of winter exercise. Equipment is inexpensive, anybody who can walk can do it, and the learning curve to at least some proficiency is quick. Women, who have a wider pelvis, seem to pick it up easier than the men, in my experience.

As we were the first ones on most of the trails, we did a lot of trailblazing, as you can see Helen doing in photo #3. The temperature hovered in the high 20s, so the cold was not a big factor. With the amount of energy burned, we were quite toasty most of the day, and did not need heavy clothing.

Although in the past we had used winter hiking boots for the snowshoes, our cross country boots worked well for this purpose. After a wonderful day breaking trails and enjoying the relaxing pace of snowshoeing, we were glad to get home and have a home cooked dinner by the roaring fire of our country kitchen fireplace. No matter what the season or weather conditions, I believe that outdoor exercise has undefinable benefits that indoor exercise cannot ever match.

No Bicycling Today, but a Great Day for Cross Country Skiing !

The snow keeps coming in early January on Long Island. I have long envied those who live in areas of the country and the world who have a 12 month cycling season. When the weather doesn't cooperate, we seek other forms of exercise. In my case, my medical school freshman housemate turned me on to cross country skiing. Over the years, Helen and I have cross country skiied many of the areas of the East Coast, and some in the West Coast on our trip to California in February, 2010. Cross country skiing has it all for the lover of the outdoors and full body exercise. You don't have to travel many hours to do it, because any park or golf course will suffice. It's a great change of pace from cycling, and uses somewhat different muscle structures. It can be gentle or vigirous, and is easily adaptable to any exercise and outdoor regimens. Suffice it to say, that I greatly enjoy it when I can get it. My skies are Rossignol back country skis with full metal edges, which are adaptable for the ungroomed local trails, and can fit into groomed tracks on vacation.

Winter, and completion of Continental GP 4 Season road test

Winter is finally and really here. The New York and Long Island area had a large snowstorm starting December 26th, 20 inches of snow in my front yard has put cycling is on hold for now. Time to take up Cross Country Skiing, Snowshoeing, and Ice Speed Skating to pass the time and stay in shape until Spring. I said that I would complete my review of the Continental GP 4 Season 700 x 28c tires that I purchased for my 1984 Pinarello fixed gear bike. During the 2010 cycling season, I have become enamored with fixed gear cycling. I have completed two 100 mile century rides on my fixed gear bike, both of which were ridden on the Conti GP 4 season 700 x 28c tires. So far, I have put about 1250 miles on this set of tires. I say about, because I do not keep a computer on my fixed gear bike by choice in the interest of simplicity. The tires have ridden very well, and soak up the road roughness like champs. Wear on the rear tire has not yet eliminated the center seam, a point at which I usually switch front and rear tires. I can honestly say NO FLATS SO FAR!

These tires have been a great solution for this particular bike. It is old enough to have room for the 28c size, and greatly benefits the ride, safety, and durability of my machine.

The Last Ride in Shorts

It was late November, and unusually warm for this time of year. I had Saturday off, and wanted to go for a ride on my North Shore Long Island route. I have been doing this route, or its variants, since I was about twelve years old. It proved to be the last day for cycling shorts, which, for me, mark the end of another active cycling season. Many people who do not live here are not aware of the beautiful country roads that are available for cycling. It's true that some creativity is involved in this suburban setting, but great rides can be constructed on Long Island's Gold Coast.

My ride took me from Planting Fields Arboritum up to Oyster Bay, Center Island, and Glen Cove. It was moderately hilly, and I took along  my LOOK KG381i, a carbon framed bike with a comfortable slack 71.5 degree seat angle. This frame was originally designed for Tour de France racing, but has become a great general riding and Century bike for me as well. The carbon frame had now been durable for  eight seasons

From this point on, tights will be necessary for riding. In the off season, I will combine on road and off road riding, gym,squash, and of course, cross country skiing when I can get it. My accomplishments this season include several old things and some new to me:

1.  Doing five Century rides

2. Doing two of those on fixed gear

3. Participating in D2R2, although it broke my body

For next season, I would like to accomplish several things, including doing the 5 Boro Bike Tour on a fixed gear, getting involved in some Randonneuring, and maybe getting to ride in California.