Bike Newbie

Life for many of us seems to happen in phases. As infants and young children we are concerned primarily with our physical needs and limitations. We go to school and now we are concerned mainly with mental pursuits (some of us, anyway), although the physical has not disappeared away. We get older, make friends, maybe a romantic interest or two, and suddenly we are aware of the emotional aspect of life, in addition to the physical and mental. And, usually in adulthood, our sense of the spiritual is awakened…I’m not necessarily talking about religion here, although the spiritual may certainly live and thrive in a religious context, but more of a “there is more than just this tangible universe” kind of feeling. There are certainly variations on and deviations from this, to be sure.

So too it is with cycling, perhaps. When I first started cycling almost daily, I was focused almost completely on its physical aspect. I was painfully aware of my own physical limitations and consumed with the objective of physical progress.

As I got better at pedaling a bike up and down hills, I came to focus on the mental/intellectual parts of the hobby. The laws of physics have a lot to do with how fast/far one can move on a bicycle. I searched for the optimal bike build that would allow me to climb steep hills with less effort, while also going faster on flats, and not tearing up my body (as badly) on long distance rides. Gear ratios and frame materials suddenly became obsessions.

After struggling through a few century rides, I came to focus on the emotional changes that occur during a long ride. There is an initial happiness mixed with a little worry (“this is fun but can I finish in good time?”), a mental/emotional wall one hits (sometimes several times during the ride), recovery from that wall, a rush of joyful endorphins (again, sometimes several times), and finally if all goes well, a serene and happy acceptance of what the ride was, is, and will be. These events don’t always happen in the order listed.

Having been through what I’d call phases of focus with all of the above, I’m now most focused on an aspect of cycling that isn’t exactly spiritual but isn’t exactly NOT spiritual either. How does one go about leaving the cycling world a better place than one found it? Make cycling more accessible to more people of all types? Make cycling safer? More enjoyable? More of a community? All of the above?

When I first started riding in organized rides like Cycle Oregon and Reach The Beach, I was very pleasantly surprised at just how many people volunteered their time to spend all day at rest stops, getting food and water to cyclists, fixing flat tires and other mechanical issues, and so on. At the time I wondered to myself, “These are able-bodied people who clearly like cycling; why wouldn’t they ride in this event and let someone else do all the non-fun stuff?” I don’t wonder that anymore, and when event rides open up again I’d like to be one of those volunteers from time to time.

It’s spring in the Pacific Northwest. Road cyclists like me are chomping at the bit, ready to hit the pavement on all-day adventures that don’t require heavy winter gear or a large hot Irish Coffee to get through. The problem is spring can be a mixed bag weather wise in this region. The forecast might be for clouds and a high of 65 with calm winds, and on your riding day it turns out to be steady rain and a high of 53 with some nice wind chill for good measure. Big old gallon of suck.

Here are two lists I made for spring, and they mostly apply to any time of year but especially spring. I’ll start with the list of things that I feel are overrated. Then I’ll go to the list of things I highly recommend for a day ride in the spring. These lists are in no particular order.

Things I Can Do Without

1. overly long or grueling rides. You may or may not have been working out all winter. Maybe you’ve cross trained with skiing or running. You may have even done some long rides this past winter. But odds are it’s been a while since you’ve done an envelope-pushing distance or a super slog hill climb. Now is not the time to try and beat your personal bests. Ease back into riding season with enjoyable rides, otherwise you risk injury or just plain hating to bike.

2. fenders. I struggle with this one because I actually own a bike with fenders, that I got for my daily work commute (which is not challenging). But when you’re talking about the bike that you take on all-day road adventures, fenders don’t do much for you but add weight and get in the way of repairs. When you’re adventuring in the spring, chances are you’re already protected from water with a rain jacket and gear you don’t mind getting wet and a little gritty. Thus making fenders redundant and totally unnecessary.

3. music. I don’t know the precise moment when cyclists other than total noobs began blasting music thru little speakers, but somewhere along the line it happened. Please, for the love of all that is good and holy, STOP THIS. Nobody likes your music…you don’t even like it but you’re too stupid to realize it yet. It is ruining everyone’s day (and potentially their lives) for you to insist on this dangerous distraction. I would say use earbuds but they are likewise dangerous. Bottom line, if you can’t get on a bike without listening to whatever garbage you call music, then get a spin bike, stay home and jam out to your heart’s content. The world is full of hazards and other people, and doesn’t revolve around you.

4. any digital gizmo other than lights or my phone. I dabbled briefly in the few (at that time) bike gizmos that measured every possible thing about my ride: location, speed, elevation, Kilowatt-hours, Joules, force measured in Fig Newtons, etc. Here’s what I found out: they made my ride 0% more enjoyable but provided 100% more distraction versus riding gadget-free. On top of all of this , there’s the big price tag, and the fact that there are ten thousand or so smartphone apps that do a fair job of measuring the exact same things (and even talk to you if you want). So you can throw your smart phone that you were going to bring anyway in your jacket, and save yourself the added cost and weight of a special bike gizmo.

5. any cotton clothing. This should go without saying, but I’m amazed at how many cyclists I see out on the road/trail wearing cotton. In July or August, OK, that might work out fine. But in spring the weather can change very quickly and soak your cotton jacket. Even if it doesn’t you’re cycling so you’re gonna sweat and soak your cotton jacket. You’re asking for hypothermia with cotton.

6. winter coat. You don’t want hypothermia but you don’t want to be uncomfortably warm either. The point is to know your body and how it responds to long rides outdoors. Also know what the weather is going to do (as much as you can know). If you need a winter coat while cycling, then wear one, but I usually don’t in the spring.

7. drink powders. I’ll be the first to admit to dumping a scoop of whatever the latest/greatest powder is into my bike bottle if it’s sitting out there at the rest stop during a large group ride, especially in summer when I’m losing electrolytes. But in the spring, there’s nothing in those powders you need that you won’t get by drinking plenty of water and eating good food. One of the best things I ever did was learn to appreciate the taste of clean water. If you need a flavored supplement to be able to drink water, I feel bad for you.

8. clif or power bars (sorry to those companies). I don’t get compensated in any way by anyone for what I say in this blog. The great news is there are hundreds of snack bars to choose from. Of those hundreds, I really don’t care for the two most popular brands. They’re all just calories in a wrapper anyway, so pick a brand you like and go with it.

Things I’ve Grown So Fond Of I Can’t Do Without Them

A. Go-to Training Route With Rest Stop(s). This is the route where, no matter the weather or how you’re feeling, you’re probably gonna have a good time. More importantly, you know you can finish the ride even at your worst, making it a perfect route for getting back in the saddle again. If you don’t have a route like this yet, do some online research and real life experimenting until you find it.

B. Full Kit With Long Pants and Sleeves. Some people swear by chamois shorts and a short sleeved jersey as soon as the snow melts. I’ve found that at temps between 57-77 degrees, as long as it’s dry the long kit is quite comfortable to ride in. The important thing is to find what works for you in spring with all its dynamic weather.

C. Good Water in Good Bottles. Speaking of spring weather, one sneaky thing about it is how much water you lose. Like most people I don’t usually drink enough water over the winter due to being cold and not feeling thirsty. I carry that bad habit into spring. Do as I say, not as I do, and what I say is drink lots of water in the spring.

D. Packable Rain Jacket. I can’t tell you how many spring rides I’ve done where I needed to either put on or remove a rain jacket at some point, but it’s most of them. There are many brands that make jackets that are warm, dry, and crumple up into a nice small bundle you can take with you. Mine is made by Showers Pass, but there are lots of others.

E. Small Airpump for Jersey or Jacket Pocket. Spring temps can rise or fall suddenly, and road bike tires are notoriously sensitive to this. Also, your road bike has probably been stored unused all winter, so your tire/tube/wheel/valve conditions are questionable. Take a pump with you, and even a small Rema patch kit, for cheap insurance.

F. Apple or Other Fruit. I love apples for several reasons. Not only do they taste good, they have vitamins, energy, water, fiber, and all in a small package. I usually throw one in my jersey pocket, eat it on my first rest stop, and throw the core in the bushes for critters to find.

G. Small Towel or Hanky. I wear glasses so this is essential in spring for keeping them clean and water free. But even if you don’t wear glasses chances are you will want to be clean and/or dry at some point.

H. Ibuprofen. I have a watertight pill bottle where I keep a few ibuprofen (perfect for preventing cramps/swelling/pain), a small phone charger, and charging cord. I put this in a jersey pocket and it’s perfect.

I. Phone and Charger (and a Friend to Call if Things Go Sideways). See above section about the pill bottle. With a pandemic going on, it’s key to have a backup plan to get to the car/home/hospital if things go really wrong with you or your bike, because a lot more places are closed down (the same is true of people who might see you disabled on the roadside).

J. Compression Socks. This might give away my age, but I’m a fan of compression socks for almost any activity. They keep your feet and calves compressed and warm, and if you’re wearing long bike pants (see above) no one will know you’re wearing them. It can be helpful to have a pair of (regular) dry socks back at the car for after the ride, so your feet can warm up again if they get wet/cold. Feet, hands and head (not necessarily in that order) are the things to focus on keeping warm and dry.

Pandemic Holidays; Outdoor Challenges; New Lifeways

I have decided this will be the last of my blog entries under the title “Covid Journal”. This is not because the novel coronavirus global crisis is anywhere near over. Rather, it’s because at some point we will need to accept that life for us has changed forever, regardless of vaccines, political events or other short-term changes. Most experts agree this will not be the last, nor likely the deadliest, pandemic this generation will see. Many of the lifestyle changes we’ve undergone this year will be permanent even if intermittent, such as international travel restrictions. What better time to come to this recognition than at the dawn of the new year?

The holidays were of course different for me this year, but they were not even close to being the worst I’d ever experienced. They were quiet and subdued, broken up by the occasional Zoom or text chat, and my main activities were neighborhood walks, movie watching, and cooking. I got to go cross country skiing a couple of times (solo), which was tiring but rewarding. For a couple of weeks it seemed our doorbell rang nonstop during the day, due to all the online-ordered gifts we had delivered for each other. Since we live in a small space and are home pretty much all the time now, we didn’t have many decorations. Our “tree” was a cute but minimalist wooden triangular frame atop our table, within which were strung very tiny LED lights. Being home allowed us to have candles lit and a fire going, which added to the cheer and “hygge“ of our little house.

With dine-in restaurants, theaters, and many other places being closed down due to Covid, many more folks are turning to the outdoors for their leisure and entertainment this winter. It used to be that winter was the best time to experience Oregon since most Oregonians (i.e. California transplants) didn’t like the cold or wet and preferred indoor activities in winter. With few other options, the flow of Oregonians to trailheads, parks and Rec areas is just as bad as in summer, if not worse. This makes hiking, biking and skiing much more of a challenge, but I still have my favorite “secret” spots for these.

Things will change, one way or the other, in a multitude of ways in 2021. One significant change for me has to do with my job. Although I still have the same employer, in a few weeks I will transfer to a position that (1) works outdoors a percentage of the time and (2) is expected to report to an office on days that aren’t field days. This will be different for me as I’ve grown accustomed to working from home a majority of the time. But I’m looking forward to this little piece of “normal” operations in my life.

I don’t expect things to suddenly get better just because the number on the calendar changed, and I certainly know things will never go back all the way to 2019 conditions. But I’m cautiously optimistic for 2021, and I hope the best for everyone.

Holiday Guard-letting and “Spreader Math”

With the Pfizer vaccine now being administered in the U.S. and other vaccines on the way, with Christmas so close it’s extremely tempting for folks to “cheat a little” on social gathering rules after almost a year of Covid, thinking that somehow the danger is past or that the short-term rewards outweigh the long-term risks. The truth is that most of these vaccines including Pfizer’s DON’T prevent the infection by/transmission of the novel coronavirus…they simply prevent the virus from developing into the COVID-19 disease in vaccinated individuals. For these vaccines it means that you will only be immune to getting the disease yourself, not to spreading the virus and potentially harming/killing unvaccinated people out in the world.

People in general don’t want to hear this, though. They want for all of this to be over. They want to have a “real Christmas”, which for most means being physically close with all manner of friends and family, usually consisting of multiple gatherings spanning several weeks involving close contact indoors, typically eating and drinking together all the while (i.e. no or compromised masking/distancing).

Unfortunately, this is a recipe for an unmitigated disaster of as-yet-unknown proportions when it comes to communicable diseases. The U.S. is still reeling and hospitals are full in the wake of the “Thanksgiving cheat” almost 3 weeks ago. Imagine how much more deadly our “Christmas cheat” will prove to be.

Another unfortunate phenomenon observed during the holidays is what I call spreader math. It’s similar to the exaggerated (up or down) answers you get when you ask a woman her weight, or ask a man how much he can bench press, for example. Spreader math is a way for people who violate guidelines to avoid being shamed for it. Here’s an example: your coworker, when recounting his weekend to you on a Monday, tells you he “had a couple of people over to visit, but we were out on the deck with masks the whole time, and there were only 5 of us from 2 households total.” In reality this spreader math translates to 9 people from 4 households together for an extended period of time…and what the coworker won’t tell you is the party moved indoors when people got cold, that everyone had to take off their masks to eat and drink which they were doing 85% of the time, and that there were lots of unmasked hugs and loud talking that only increased as the time/drinking progressed. These untold truths are how we are breaking records for new Covid cases and deaths almost every day now. These untold truths are why 2021 will be more dismal than 2020, not less, in spite of the existence of vaccines.

Vaccines, or America Is Lagging Again

What do the United Kingdom, Canada, the United Arab Emirates, China, and India have in common? They are all leaps and bounds ahead of the United States when it comes to vaccinating their populations against the coronavirus.

Not that it matters much when exactly the United States approves and distributes a vaccine(s). Polls of Americans show that more than 44% of the population do not wish to receive a vaccination, period. To ensure “herd immunity” 60% of the population needs to be vaccinated. If the polls are accurate and nothing changes, this means we will never achieve herd immunity in the United States.

While I’m sure that there are lots of dyed-in-the-wool anti-vaxxers out there, I’m still left asking: if the Trump Administration handled this crisis responsibly and cultivated trust in the government, how many of those 44% would choose to get vaccinated?

No Job To Do; No Relief From Shame

I firmly believe in the adage that if you give people two things, at least half of the people will pledge themselves to you and do anything for you, up to and including unspeakable atrocities against their fellow beings. These two things are 1. a job to do (aka purpose, meaning, focus etc.) and 2. relief from their inner shame. In this way some of the most brutal and unbelievable (in hindsight, anyway) regimes have risen to power amid boisterous applause from the very citizens they were oppressing.

Most of us feel and want to believe that the Biden-Harris victory in the 2020 election was simply democracy playing out, that the most qualified competitor won because the American people are smart and savvy and not afraid to show it. But, while I certainly celebrate the victory and look forward to Joe and Kamala in the White House, deep down I know that this nation was until recently headed for four more years of Trump if not twelve. (The Trumps have made no secret of wanting to either amend the Constitution or get Ivanka “in line” to extend their political dynasty.)

In one of the grand ironies where biology has the last laugh, the only reason Donald Trump didn’t bag another landslide victory was the novel coronavirus. Make no mistake, the Trump Administration did not do itself (nor the American people) any favors in this regard, going out of its way to make the pandemic only worse by accelerating the spread and ignoring the advice of seasoned experts. But let’s not forget, even with Trump openly and proudly dropping the ball on COVID-19 response with the whole world watching, 47% of all Americans still voted for him. Within the Republican party, 5 out of 6 people polled still to this day believe Trump to be the rightful winner of the 2020 election.

Let’s not fool ourselves: Donald Trump didn’t lose to Joe Biden, he lost to the novel coronavirus. Had there been even a shred of dignity in the Trump Administration’s handling of the crisis, and had American job numbers not tanked this autumn, the election would have doubtlessly belonged to Trump. There would have continued to be the two things that the people needed in order to allow him to maintain power over them: a job to do and relief from their shame. As it turned out, even with those two things vanished he was within a percent or two of leading the popular vote. (Biden, despite taking many more electoral votes, won just 51.33% of the popular vote.)

Unfortunately, even though there is much to rejoice in this Christmas holiday, Trumpism is alive and well in this country. Trump will be back (even if Donald Sr. is not the Trump in front-and-center), and when they are, at least half of the American people will be ready to Make America Grieve Again.

This Too Shall Pass

Right now there is a lot to celebrate, and also a lot to grieve. The golf-playing reality-TV show host is on his way out of the White House. The new Administration is already taking steps to reverse the current one’s racist and classist policies. There are three COVID-19 vaccines on the verge of mass production, with still more on the horizon. The stock market is booming like never before. But at the same time, the outbreak is currently far worse than it ever was before, with hospitals filling up before the Thanksgiving holiday and likely to be overwhelmed with cases in its aftermath (some hospitals already are, which is terrifying for the coming weeks). Living-wage jobs are at an all time low. There is no governmental Covid Relief package anywhere in sight.

At times like these, it can be very tempting to “lock in” on a piece of news, good or bad, and let it dominate your existence. It doesn’t have to be national or global news either; news at the family or personal level has even more potential to control your outlook on life. When the news is bad, everything is dark, sinister, and hopeless. When the news is good, everything shines or glows, food tastes better, and joy abounds in every corner and niche. The roller coaster can be exhausting at best, and life-threatening at worst.

When it seems like there is no way to tame the constant sturm-und-dreng of life, something that helps me is the ancient “this too shall pass” exercise. Focusing on this phrase reminds us that every single thing in this world, including ourselves, is temporary. Nothing lasts; the only constant is change. Whenever we get swept up in the news of the moment, seeing and recognizing that it is only a moment can help to ground us and keep us stable. For me, it’s somehow comforting to know that the world with all its victories and defeats and rises and falls and sunshine and storms will keep on doing its thing, with or without me, regardless of how I feel about it at any given moment.

Of course, all this is easy for me to write on my Wifi-connected PC in the comfort of my well-heated, well-stocked home. For someone who is out on the street, hungry, injured, and/or completely alone these words may sound pretty smug to them. But I write them in the hope that they will help the reader get through today or this moment and onto the next moment, on and on.

For a quick break from all the death and mayhem going on, I’m just going to write briefly about all the self-improvement articles you see out there on the web, in your email news digest, etc. What is it with the headlines for these articles? There is usually a number in them, and the reader is always wrong about something (“42 Reasons Why You Aren’t Reaching Your Goals”, e.g.). Also, if no article I’ve ever read has changed my life on its own despite its claims, then why would your article be any different? So here is a list I made of some failed self-improvement article headlines:

You’re Doing Every Single Thing in Your Life Wrong and You Will Die a Solitary, Impoverished Disgrace. Here’s Why That Probably Doesn’t Matter.

I Soaked My Entire Right Foot in Silver Nail Polish Every Day for Six Weeks. Here’s What Happened.

The One Measure of Whether You’re Worth a Shit.

You’re Interminably Obsessing Insanely About Things Outside Your Control. Here’s Why That Might Just Be the Best Possible Thing You Can Do.

The 18,467 Daily Habits of Anyone Who’s Worth a Shit.

Why You Should Drop All Your Daily Habits, Even the Good Ones.

The Three Things You Should Stop Doing Right This Instant. One of them is Reading.

The 3 Life Hacks That Will Salvage Your Pathetic, Shameful Life.

What is Squat Cobbler and Why do You Need to Get Familiar With It?

How to Stop Overthinking Things, Stop Underthinking Things, and Start Just-Right-Amount-Thinking Them.

You Need to Change Everything About Your Life…But Also You’re a Pathetic Follower if You Do.

Why Isn’t There a Thing that Fixes Everything and Automatically Makes Your Life Spectacularly Pleasurable and Fulfilling at No Cost? Short Answer: There Is.

Don’t Let Anything Hold You Back from Being the Omnipotent, Immortal Deity You Are.

A Quarter Million Dead. Vaccines Likely on the Way.

Yesterday our country surpassed the 250,000 death mark from COVID-19. A year ago, the thought that any single thing could kill that many Americans in a matter of months was inconceivable. But even more unbelievable than that, would have been the notion that such news was not even the second- or third-top headline of the day, much less THE top news story. Yet here we are.

The Internet, social media, and indeed our house are abuzz with news of not one but multiple vaccines being presented for emergency approval in the U.S. If they are approved, it will be several months if not a year before they are made and distributed in quantities to make a difference to most Americans. Still, this news is the light at the end of the tunnel billions of people have been desperate for…something, anything to look forward to in 2021.

Meanwhile, all eyes are on Georgia as it recounts its Presidential election votes. If Biden is the winner as he was in Georgia’s first count, and those electoral votes are certified by the state, then Nevada’s and Pennsylvania’s votes will pretty much become non-factors in deciding the election. The Trump campaign will of course continue dredging the depths of stupidity and irresponsibility with many attempted legal stunts, but the political experts agree none of these are at all likely to gain much traction anywhere.

Also yesterday, our state entered into another quasi-lockdown phase. Unlike back in March, most folks are now accustomed to life in lockdown, despite the whining of many in reaction to this move of state responsibility. Still, once again the stores are being emptied of toilet paper, cleaning products and other things folks feel they cannot live without. I just feel blessed to be in decently good health and in good supply of all the things I need. In many ways this Thanksgiving may bring a feeling closer to the true intent of the holiday than any of the 48 other Thanksgivings I have experienced.

Four-week Pause and the Return of the So-called “War on Christmas”

COVID-19 case numbers are exploding across the country, and my state is no exception. Since the federal government with its lame duck President continues to do shockingly little beyond a “pray it away” policy, the Governor of my state has declared a four-week pause for the counties with the worst case numbers, starting tomorrow. Far from being a total lockdown, it simply means that gyms and some other businesses/gatherings involving large numbers of people indoors will not be operating for a few weeks. Full-service restaurants and many other indoor businesses can continue, but at 75% capacity with masks and distancing required.

Since this four-week pause is a decisive, scientifically-based move intended to save lives, it has of course met with all sorts of objections from the public. My inbox is quickly becoming the unwilling recipient of “She Can’t Take Away Christmas!!!” and “We REFUSE To Let Her Put Our Holidays On A Shelf!!!” emails. These are largely coming from Chambers of Commerce, mind you, not MAGA or other right-winger groups. Since this is my blog, I would like to address these fine folks.

First. Nobody is taking away your Thanksgiving, your Christmas, your Boxing Day, your Saint Swithun’s Day or any other day on the calendar. November 26 will still arrive, as will December 25 and every other day.

Second. Nobody is taking away your rights. You have the right to observe the holidays of your choosing within the bounds of the law. This has always been the case; nothing has changed. The bounds of the law adjust to respond to the current situation. If your observation of Easter involves slaughtering lambs with a fully automatic rifle within city limits, well, your local police department might have something to say about that. It’s not about you or your beliefs, it’s about public health and safety.

Third. Nobody is waging war against your holidays. In all my life I have never heard any politician of any ilk declare they are anti-holiday. Any holiday, take your pick.

Fourth. You have spent your whole life up till now in a cushy, affluent, privileged lifestyle. You have grown accustomed to doing certain things at a certain point in the year, and you associate this time of year with rich food, good drink, and lots of socializing. Coronavirus doesn’t care about any of that. The priority is that you (not to mention millions of other people) survive to see more holiday seasons, not that you get to feel good because it’s “tradition”. So you miss out on one season of doing exactly what you want; big deal. Cry me a river. You will miss a lot more than one Christmas if you die of COVID-19.

Fifth. If you’re really dead set on getting into the holiday spirit, why not try helping for once instead of indulging (or whining that you don’t get to indulge). Buy or make Covid Masks and donate them. Give blood to the Red Cross. Donate money to a charity, any charity, there are millions of good charities out there. Reach out and call or chat with people you know live alone or are otherwise lonely. Find a pen pal and write to them. Find a person that needs something, and then give that thing to that person. Whatever God or thing you might worship, I’m pretty sure they have never said “I want you to honor me by hanging out with your friends, stuffing yourselves, and getting drunk.” But there’s a good chance they have advocated for helping those in need, one way or another.