Denver by Bike

Giant OCR1

My Giant OCR1 just got back from the shop last night with two new wheels, a compact double crank, new chain, cables, and computer. I brought it in to have a deluxe tune up done (which my boss bought me over at GearHost!) and found out the rear wheel was cracking and the crank was cracked. The estimate was over $700 to fix everything right then and there at the LBS, which is $200 more than I paid for the entire bike. Since I have a new born to consider I decided to bring my commuter in and finally get that fixed which ended up being over $200 on it’s own. At least then I could ride back and forth to work which saves me money overall. And commute I did!

Cracked wheels and cranks don’t happen every day, except when you have the worst year of crashes ever. I’m pretty sure I crashed at least once a month and I don’t think that was an average. Anyway, I think the last really bad one was the final contributor. On top of that my commuter was out of action so I was riding my OCR1 back and forth to work. The OCR1 being my recreational “riding” bike and the OCR3 (commuter) dedicated to commuting. For those who own just one bike, the reason I have a dedicated commuter is because it’s a daily rider which takes a lot more punishment than my other bike.

By finding wheels and a crank on craigslist I was able to save more than $200. I also got the wheels I wanted and almost the crank. I got the right model but forget to check the crank arm length and got a 170 instead of a 175. I’ll find out today what that means. In the future I’ll also need to switch out the front derailleur from a triple to a double since I switched that crank.

Here’s the total cost for everything and good reason why you don’t commute on the same bike you “ride”.

• Wheelset – Mavic Aksium Race $155
• Crank – Shimano 105 Compact Double (50/34) $50
• Chain – Ultegra $50
• Cable – $5
• Bottom Bracket – $30
• Bar tape – $15
• Tubes – $10
• Deluxe Tune Up – $135
• Additional Labor – $44

Total Cost: $494

If I got the parts from the LBS it would have been over $700. So for the same price I paid for the bike I was able to repair it. This is an expensive hobby.

Commuter after a thorough tune up

The commuter is finally fixed and back in operation. (The commuter being my first real road bike, a Giant OCR3.) Bike Source finished a deluxe tune up and putting the shifters on over the weekend, I got it back on Monday evening. Since Tuesday I’ve put 65 miles on in my enthusiasm to get back on the bike. Our little bundle of joy arrived Feb 24th so can now safely venture out on the bike again without worrying about missing labor. In a few years I’ll be exploring the Denver metro area with him, but until then it’s solo rides for me and mostly commuting.

My other Giant is sitting in the shop waiting for some parts, but I just grabbed a new set of wheels. Hopefully the crank I found is still available and I’ll be set.

New wheels, yay!

My wife is 37 weeks preggo, so no riding until the baby comes out. No commuting, no weekends, no exceptions. I can’t be that far away without a faster means of getting to her in case something happens. Normally I’ll venture at least an hour away from home and knowing my luck, I’ll be exactly an hour away when that call comes. I’m in no shape to jet home This means more pounds will be gained (are being gained), my wife calls it sympathy weight. Going to be a fun spring trying to ride this off, with a new baby to boot. And I hate the gym and boring weight lifting so either I get really fat, or I ride a bike. Do babys fit in the back of jersey pockets?

this guy on the other hand does get to ride.

This is perfect.

http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/12674956/cycling-explained

In fact, I remember the first time I threw up. I swallowed it because I was too embarrassed to let anyone see.

It’s official, I and my like minded cyclist get the whole week off from work PAID Aug 20 – 24 2012. Governor Hickenlooper declared it so!

Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper proclaimed the week of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge as a “Colorado Cycling Holiday.” Because of the more than one million spectators and the $83 million of economic impact of the 2011 race — as well as the caliber of the athletes and the embodiment of Coloradans’ aspirations to be healthy — the week of the race will be recognized statewide each year as an honorary holiday.

Hickenlooper called the race “an event that shined an international spotlight on Colorado.” He continued, “We want race week each August to be known as Colorado Cycling Holiday to attract visitors from all over the world and to celebrate Colorado, good health and cycling.”

Source: Bicycle Colorado eNews

I got some sora shifters yesterday for trade form a nice guy off craigslist. Can’t wait to try and put them on, OCR3 is on my “mikesmanship” stand now and I’ve got one of them off the hand bars. Just taking my time so I can don’t screw things up. I traded the two frames, wheels, and tires below. The Peugeot frame was a little too small for me and the Premier was a winter commuter beater I never got around to completing.

I also threw in a couple 700x38c. Maybe I’ll see those old frames around town some time.

Ready for the cold

Back to winter commuting. It really isn’t that bad as long as you’re dressed for it. What does suck is commuting at night, but I think I found a solution for that. Ride into work, take the light rail back home. I did that on Friday and it worked out great. Light rail is only $4 so won’t kill the budget, but I’m not completely saving by doing that. Commuting to and from work would save me gas + parking. Parking is $8 and gas is probably $5, that amounts to $65 a week just going to and from work. $3380 over a year and it’s more than that because you have to consider wear and tear on the car. The way I look at it, is my salary is at least $3500 less just by traveling to work. Anyway I can save that money I will.

So, what am I wearing? A yellow rain jacket I got from REI. It’s thicker than your standard light weight rain shell and completely protects from the biting wind. Under the jacket is a long sleeve jersey and a plain cotton under shirt. I wear some stretchy base layer ski gloves under my cycling gloves which are a size too big to accommodate the base layer. Stretchy running/cycling pants with wind protection. Under that I have my bibs and leg warmers. To protect the face and ears, a simple balaclava. When it gets really cold, like sub 20, I wear ski goggles over my glasses.