Name That Tune

I take my ipod with me to ride most of the time. I have several riding playlists to choose from. I also enjoy using the FM radio feature to listen to the Carolina Panthers games on Sunday afternoons. There’s an interesting mix of music on my ipod, which reflects my varied (and some say weird) tastes as well as some good communications between me and Jackson, my 13-year old son, the kinds of communications that may bode well for his teenage years.

Side note: for those of you who don’t know, ipods are mini-computers designed to store, sort and play music (as well as videos and podcasts). Most phones play music, and there are other types of portable music players, but ipods are the most common. Most of us older than 40 recognize ipods as a more advanced and evolved version of the Walkman of the 80s and 90s.

Listening to music really adds to a ride.

One of my favorite features of the ipod is the ability to sort your music into various kinds of playlists. I built my first riding playlist with a mix of classic rock and 80s pop. Over time I added some 70s and 80s R&B and some modern music.  I start my riding lists with good songs with strong beats to set the right tone for a ride. I also enjoy hiding a few gems toward the end, a kind of easter egg that you get to hear only on much longer rides. Some of those include Tom Petty’s “American Girl,” and Jackson Browne’s “Running On Empty,” as well songs by Boston (still my all-time favorite band). 70s songs by the Spinners, Boz Scaggs and Earth, Wind and Fire are usually front-loaded because they really get you going. You need to watch your volume so you can hear other riders. That’s an important safety consideration, but music really adds to the experience of a ride.

My son is my modern pop music Google or Wikepedia. He knows all about the songs and likes to listen to pop stations in the car. Anyone who drives with a teenager knows that they invariably break down your resistance at times and get you to listen to those stations. One of the first songs I recall hearing on one of his stations was “Treasure,” by Bruno Mars, followed by “Get Lucky,” by Daft Punk. I asked him about those songs and was rewarded with a full description of the music, as well as bios and habits of the artists. I asked him about other songs by artists including Taylor Swift, Macklemore and Taio Cruz and got the same result. I then downloaded the songs on my ipod, added them to my lists and thought no more about it. Then a funny thing happened.  One day he came to me with his phone – yes I was one of those parents who said no phone until he was 16 or 18…yeah, that was going to happen – and said he wanted to play a song for me. I had an errand to run or something and started to say so, but his earnest manner convinced me otherwise. Okay, I said, and he did. It was a Justin Bieber song, but not the bubble gum pop version of Bieber who burst on the scene 5-6 years ago, but a more mature-sounding song with an interesting beat. He thought I would like it, and he was right. We talked for awhile about how Bieber had evolved and developed a different sound.  He played me another Bieber song, and that one was good too. I ended up adding both to my ipod. A few days later he brought me another song. Same result. Before I knew it, it was happening on a regular basis. I liked most of the songs, a few weren’t my cup of tea. But they would always spark some really interesting conversations. One song referenced using a bottle of liquor to “loosen up.” The resulting conversation gave me the opportunity to hear his thoughts on drinking and to impart a little parental wisdom in the context of an “acceptable” discussion. Some of the rap songs have “interesting” takes on women, which led to more good discussions.

I’ve always told Jackson that he could bring up any topic with me and that we could talk about it without any trouble. I’ve calmly given my opinion about such weighty matters as whether he should attend a certain birthday party or what color to paint his Pinewood Derby car. We’ve also talked about more important topics such as how he should respond when a teacher calls him down. But as he entered the teen years, he became a little more reticent. I think this is understandable and normal. But we’ve uncovered a cool new way to spark some conversations and keep the lines of communication open (which any parent of a teen will tell you is a constant concern).  It also reminds me of a communications dynamic that I’ve encountered at work: a good way to encourage two-way communication with a specific person is to take a genuine interest in what’s important to a person. That encourages them to take an interest in what’s important to you.  

Then there’s that other benefit: I’ve added a steady stream of good modern music to my ipod and my riding playlists. In addition to my classic rock and R&B, artists like Justin Bieber and Calvin Harris now lead off my playlists or are inserted as the gems near the end. When I hear them I smile, and not just because they’re really good songs. 

Plan B

There’s been too much rain lately. Way too much. It’s been difficult to ride. Even when the rain finally backed off a bit, it still managed to mess up a perfectly good riding day and force me to pursue a Plan B. On the plus side, it also reminded me about the importance of having a good plan b in more important circumstances.

December gave us unseasonably warm weather. Unfortunately I couldn’t take advantage of it and ride because it rained so much. Between the holidays and the rain, I went almost two weeks without riding. We experienced some real monsoons during the last week of December. I finally got to ride on Saturday, Jan. 2, for about an hour. There was some residual mist and drizzle, as well as lots of water and mud on the trail, but I neeeeeeded to ride (t had been awhile…other riders are nodding knowingly as they read that). It took about 20 minutes to clean my back when I finished, but it was worth it. One of the things that kept me going was the forecast for actual sunshine on Sunday. I was looking forward to stretching my legs with a much longer ride before the Carolina Panthers game. 

Sure enough, Sunday dawned bright and grew brighter through the morning. I started out after lunch (bagel with peanut butter, carrot sticks and an apple, a good preride meal) and did my usual warmup on the Mingo Creek trail, which had standing water leftover from the rain in the usual places. I made it down to the Neuse trail and turned north. After rain, the northern part of the trail tends to dry out much faster than the southern part, probably because there’s much less shade on the northern leg. I was pedaling at a very good pace, almost 18 miles per hour. Everything felt great. Even the water splashing up on my back as I rode through the puddles was wonderful. I kept looking at the river, which was higher than I had ever seen it. The ride was uneventful until I crossed the rickety bridge behind Hedingham. The river was right up beside the trail (you usually can’t see the river from the trail there, especially in the spring when the trees and bushes are full of foliage).

The water was right up next to the trail behind
Hedingham.

At one point the water covered the trail for 20-30 yards. I hopped off my bike and walked it around the water back to the trail and kept going. Shortly after I passed a few bikers going the other way. I told them to watch out for the water. Their expression of reply wasn’t what I expected, but I shook it off. I passed a few more, offered the same warning and got the same unexpected response. I couldn’t put my finger on why it was so unexpected, but it just didn’t “fit.” I found out why soon enough.

I crossed the suspension bridge – again noticing how high the river was – turned back onto the trail and pulled up short after just a few yards. The river had completely overflowed its banks and the trail was under water for as far as I could see.  The water was deep, with only a few footprints leading out of it. I realized that the other bikers had already been here and turned back. That’s why they didn’t react as I expected when I told them about the other submerged trail. I was livid! The rain had finally stopped, but it was still ruining my rides! Arghh! 

The trail was under water as far as you could see.

 

I stood for a few minutes, steaming. I strained to see if the trail emerged from the water. It didn’t. It finally occurred to me that if I didn’t want to go swimming, my only option was to turn back. I did, and decided to make the best of it and ride south. I turned off the trail and rode through Hedingham to get some extra miles. There were a lot of people out walking, enjoying the sunshine. I also detoured over the bridge at the Old Milburnie damn.

Water was overflowing the Old Milburnie Damn.



The island under those trees was underwater
for several weeks.

 

Water was flowing over the damn and a small island near the bridge was completely submerged. I made my way to Anderson Point and rode south. By the time I topped the hill in the neighborhood past Crabtree Creek, I was in much better spirits. After all, even if I had to change my route, I was riding. I picked up speed as I passed under the Poole Road bridge and surged past the Walnut Creek trail turnoff…and hit the brakes when the trail disappeared into the greenish brown river water. Again! The water had overrun the banks here and extended much further into the woods. If anything, it looked deeper than it did on the northern leg. I uttered a few colorful (but unprintable) expressions and glared at the offending water, hoping against hope that it would immediately recede. It didn’t. So I stood there fuming.


Ran into more water going south. I was sure
it was a conspiracy.

 

After several unproductive minutes, I turned to look back at the Walnut Creek trail sign. There was a couple there studying the trail map. Evidently they had observed (and possibly overheard) my reaction and I noticed the trace of a smile on the woman’s face as she turned away. That burst my bubble and I  started laughing. Obviously it was time for plan b. So I turned and took the Walnut Creek trail out to the softball complex.  There was more water on that trail as well, but nothing impassable. There were more bikers and walkers and everyone was  happy just to be back out on the trail. I came back to Anderson Point Park and pedaled home, for a total of 38 miles. Not bad for so soon after so much rain. It also reminded me of the importance of a good plan b. I’m writing this post during our state’s first winter storm. Our power has been out since about 3 this morning. So, we’ve gone to plan b, which included packing a cooler last night with ready-to-eat food and drinks, then putting it outside on the porch in the cold, just in case. It also includes heating water for coffee over the gas logs. I’m trying to help my 13-year-old son appreciate a plan b when the electronics are limited. But that’s a different kind of challenge for another day.

Epilogue: I took another ride the following Sunday and encountered more water, along with a few bikers heartier than me.

The water receded the next week, leaving slimy mud.

I enjoy swimming, but no...

Genuine Respect For Veterans

Editor's Note: this draft was left over from Veteran's Day. As explained in the Christmas post, it was one of several that were delayed by a very busy November.

I love the fall. The weather gets cooler, football season is in full swing and it has my favorite holidays: Halloween, Thanksgiving and Labor Day. It also has Veterans Day. I appreciate how schools, businesses and other organizations recognize veterans on their special holiday. I also like how the month of November has morphed into Veterans Month. I’m a veteran myself, and this year I was reminded of the very genuine respect that’s out there for veterans. 

I sported patriotic colors on Veteran's Day.

 

For the past few years, I’ve attended a special Veteran’s Day lunch at my son’s school. We agreed last year that I would not attend this year, giving me the day to myself. So I decided to fuel up with one of the special free lunch offers then hit the greenway trail. Golden Corral started this tradition of providing a free meal or other service several years ago and it’s really caught on. I went to the Applebee’s in Knightdale and sat at the bar between an Army Reservist in uniform and an Air Force retiree. We all had a nice conversation while we waited on our food. The staff couldn’t have been nicer. There were even boy scouts at the door handing us additional coupons. They were friendly and polite, and really made all the veterans feel welcome. I’ve got a pretty good bs detector, but these people were genuine. I tanked up on chicken strips, thanked them profusely, drove home and got ready to do a little biking, or PT (physical training from my army days).

Shameless plug: the Applebee’s in Knightdale serves good food and has friendly service on other days as well.  

I started out north on the Neuse River greenway trail. The weather was almost ideal for a ride. It was clear and cool and it felt great to be out pedaling. I had limited time, so I decided to turn back at the bridge near the Buffalo Road park. I stopped for a break on the bridge. There were lots of other riders, joggers and walkers enjoying the trail. An older couple out walking with their grandson stopped so the toddler could look at the river. I noticed that the man carried himself with a familiar and distinctive air. I made eye contact with him and – taking a chance – said “Happy Veteran’s Day.” He regarded me for a second, then said, “To you too, young man. Where did you serve?” We had a very pleasant conversation. He had served in the Navy during Vietnam and for several years after. His wife joined us in between explaining to the boy that it was too cold to go swimming in the river.  They had been married while he served and started their family after he got out. They asked about my service during Desert Storm. We talked for about 15 minutes. As I got on my back to return home, we shook hands all around and the woman said, “Thank you for your service.” A lot of people say those words. She really meant them.

Twas the Night Before the Night Before Christmas

Hello and Merry Christmas!

It's a balmy day before Christmas Eve, and I'm finally getting back to the blog. The fall has been very busy with work, my son's soccer games, lots of football games and all my favorite holidays.  My two favorite teams, the Carolina Tar Heels and Panthers had great seasons that really held my attention, much more than the past few years. Also in the mix was a wreck in November that totaled my car. No one was hurt, thank goodness, but the mechanics of replacing the car took even more time, and my blogging efforts have suffered.

I have been able to keep riding. I've made my goal of 200 miles in every month this year except February and have cracked 300 several times. Those rides have also produced some blog-worthy moments that I'll write about in the new year, including the first cold ride of the winter, how bikers who don't keep track of anything else track their distance to the inch, and a memorable Veterans Day ride.

Despite the great distractions, I did get in 50 miles
on a recent Sunday.

Thank you for taking the time to read my little missives in this blog. I'll try to give you more interesting reading in 2016. Meanwhile, in spite of this year's yuletide heat wave, have a wonderful Christmas and a happy new year.

P.S. You'd think that if it's 70 degrees two days before Christmas, at least it wouldn't rain so you can get in good ride. Ah well...

In Good Company

I ride alone most of the time. Riding has become “me” time, and by myself I can go as fast and as far as I want. Most of the other riders I see on the greenways are riding by themselves as well. You do see riders in pairs and small groups and the occasional larger group, especially families. But mostly you see single riders. I rode with a friend recently and found it very enjoyable and a nice change of pace.

A little background: Even though I mostly ride solo, I’ve ridden on the greenways with other people. Sometimes I ride with someone who can go farther and faster than me. Other times I’m the one who can go farther and faster. I was looking forward to the ride with my friend, but I couldn’t help thinking about my past experiences. When I ride with someone who goes faster, I feel like I slow that person down. When I ride with someone who isn’t quite as fast, I feel like I don’t get as much out of the ride as I usually do.

Make sure you enjoy your company when you ride with a friend.
Don't worry as much about pace and distance.

 

We started out by riding down to the Neuse trail and turning north. Our goal was to make it to Capital Boulevard and back, a round trip of about 34-35 miles. We kept up a brisk pace at first and were talking about our sons (they go to school together and are teammates on the soccer team). As we rode, I found myself worrying about when we would have to adjust our pace. I was surprised at how distracting it was, especially considering that it was a beautiful day, it felt great to be out on the bike and we were having a very pleasant conversation.

It was the morning of Labor Day, and the trail was like the beltline at rush hour. Evidently most of the riders in Wake County had the same great idea we did: taking advantage of the holiday to ride on the greenway. We went by probably 20 sets of riders before we passed Old Milburnie Damn, and at least that many walkers and joggers. It was frustrating as our conversations were interrupted several times to make tight turns and pass people. We barely avoided an accident as we rounded a sharp curve and just missed a pair of handlebars coming the other way. We crossed the suspension bridge past Hedingham and stopped for an early water break. We talked for a few minutes, and it was then that I realized that my frustration wasn’t caused by worry about a pending change of pace. I was frustrated because the tight quarters made it more difficult to keep up the conversation. We also couldn’t ride side by side, which also made it more difficult to converse. I had stopped worrying about our speed.

Without admitting it to my friend, I decided to just relax and enjoy the ride, but mostly to enjoy the company instead of focusing on pace and distance like I do when I ride alone. We continued north after a few minutes. I never once checked our speed on my phone. But we talked more. I learned more about my friend’s position being eliminated (his company was going through a merger) and that he had an interview for a new job the next day. We talked about interviews (I went through a similar experience and shared some of my stories about it). I also learned that he was going through some of the same pre-teen issues with his son that we were experiencing at my house. We laughed at ourselves when we realized we sounded like our fathers when we talked with our sons. When we decided to turn around sooner than we had planned, it was no big deal. We made it to Horseshoe Farm park and saw the new picnic area and other improvements, then headed back to Knightdale. It was one of the most pleasant rides I’ve ever had.

My friend did well in the interview the next day and got the job (woo hoo!).

Rain, Rain, Go Away

Rain, rain, go away, I’d like to ride my bike today.

If only it were that easy.

It seems like we’ve had several weeks of nothing but rain. We’ve had low pressure systems, noreasters, rain dances, and now we’ve got a hurricane coming that my 12-year-old son says should be spelled more like it sounds. What’s a biker to do?

The rain was hard on the trails. It even toppled this tree.

My goal for riding is 200 miles per month. Sometimes winter weather makes it hard to reach that figure. Some months in the summer and fall I can reach 300 if the weather cooperates. I got in a short 14-mile ride just before the rain started, giving me 271 miles for September. That’s a great total, except when you consider I had an entire week left in the month. It should have been easy to get to 300. But the rain started and looked like it wasn’t going to stop. Luckily there was a break on Sunday. It stopped raining that morning and the sun even tried to come out. The streets and sidewalks dried out, and I began to hope. But just as I got on the bike after lunch, it started to sprinkle. I circled back to the house as it came down harder. I checked the radar on the computer and saw that it was a thin line of rain that would be over quickly, so I waited. Sure enough it stopped and I was able to get in 34 miles. But the rain had been hard on the trails. A tree had fallen down across the Neuse trail south of Poole Road. I had to lift my bike across it to keep going. But it was a ride and it felt great. Less than an hour after I got home, the rain started coming down again, hard.

We don’t usually have this much rain day after day. A friend who has recently started riding asked me what kind of exercises you can do when you’re off the bike for so long. Here’s a short list.

• Walking or jogging: both of these are good aerobic exercises and will work your legs. You’ll want to make sure you don’t overdo it, especially with jogging. Your knees and ankles may not be used to the pounding they’ll receive.  

• Swimming: provides a total body workout with the impact of jogging or walking. You can swim laps or just play.

• Take the steps at work: if you work in a multi-story building, take the steps whenever you can. If your job keeps you at your desk, talk to your boss and taking breaks to walk the steps. It’s great exercise for your legs.

• Hit the gym: if you have access to a gym, rainy days are great for pumping some iron. Don’t just work your legs. Arm strength will help you handle a bike, especially on longer rides.

• Spin class: I’m not a big spin person, but I know other bikers who love it. They seem to enjoy spinning just as much as they do riding. That part’s lost on me, but to each his own.

When rain, work or family commitments or anything else seems to conspire to keep you off your bike, find some sort of exercise to do.  Choose one from this list, or figure it out on your own. You’ll be glad you did. And it might be a good way to distract yourself while you’re waiting to get back on your bike.

 

 

The Right Stuff

In addition to wearing the right clothes when you ride, you need the right equipment. That includes your bike, as well as accessories for hydration, repairs, and, of course, tracking your progress. As you do longer and longer rides, it’s going to occur to you that you are often 15-20 miles away from your house, sometimes more. You don’t want to get caught without something you need.

The primary piece of equipment is, of course, your bike. You need to make sure you’ve got one you’re comfortable with if you’re going to bike longer distances. There are several things to think about when getting a bike. The first is fit. Most any store that sells bikes is going to have at least one employee who knows the basics of “bike fit.”  In addition to their advice, think about the height of the bike and the handlebars. You should be able to stand comfortably with both feet on the ground while you’re on your bike. If you’re on your toes or both feet don’t reach the ground, it’s too tall. When your butt is in the seat, you should be able to put one foot flat on the ground. Again, if you’re stretching, the bike is too tall. You should be able to hold the handlebars without bending too far over and without extending your arms all the way. If you spend more than hour on your bike, you’ll be glad to have a good fit with your handlebars.

The right gear can make all the difference. Note the helmet and the hydration pack.

 

In addition to the size, you should consider what kind of bike is best for you. Road bikes are lighter and leaner, with thin tires. They are built for speed. You can go very fast on them, but you’ll need to stick to smooth surfaces. Roads and newer paved greenways are great. Unpaved surfaces or older greenway trails – which tend to have more bumps and potholes – can be harder on a road bike. Good road bikes can also cost a pretty penny. Mountain bikes are more rugged. They have wider tires and just feel heavier and more solid. You won’t get as much speed and will work harder to pedal with a mountain bike. They are great for rougher surfaces. I ride a comfort bike, which is a combination of both. It has a wider seat that’s easier on your butt and inner thighs. The handlebars are positioned a little higher so you don’t bend your back or extend your arms as much. In short, the bike is literally built to be more comfortable. If you start biking later in life (like I did), a comfort bike is a great place to start.

You'll need water. A squeeze bottle and a hydration pack
are two of your choices.

No matter what time of year you ride, you’ll need water. And if you’re going to ride any distance, you need to be able to drink without stopping. That gives you three options. The first is a bottle and holder that can attach to your bike. Most of these are made so you can reach down, grab the bottle and squeeze. It shoots a stream of water into your mouth. It’s very convenient, but doesn’t hold much for longer rides. Some people actually have two of them on their bikes. If you don’t have a holder for a bottle, you can use the water bottles that have the D-rings attached and hang it from your handlebars.  This isn’t bad, but it can be hard to remove from your handlebars while you’re riding. I started with one of those, but I recommend getting at least one bottle holder. It’s much easier to handle. The option that’s best for longer rides is a hydration pack. This is a backpack that holds a water bladder with a tube. You simply wear it and position the tube near your mouth and slurp as needed. The bladders hold 2-3 times more water than bottles. There’s also extra room in the backpack for other stuff like snacks, repair gear, wallet, phone, etc. I use a Camelbak hydration pack for longer rides in the summer and an attached bottle for shorter rides.

It only takes one wreak or near-wreck to convince you to wear protective gear like a helmet and perhaps those fingerless gloves. There are different ideas about how much protective gear you should have. I don’t use the gloves or other equipment. I do use a helmet and strongly recommend one.  These are available from most any retailer that sells bikes. You don’t have to spend a lot, either. You can get a good helmet for $20 - $25.

Map My Ride is a great way to track
your speed and distance.

The other piece of equipment you’ll want is some way to track your progress. It’s easy to overestimate how far you go on rides. Plus, as you start riding further, you’re going to want to know how far you’re going as well as your speed. There are many ways to do this. There are devices that you attach to your wheels. There are devices that use gps technology. In my opinion, you’re better off using something you should already have with you: your phone. Side note: having a phone with you is like a security blanket. You may be anywhere from 5-10 miles from home; you just need to have your phone. Even if you can change a flat tire and do other simple maintenance, it’s nice to know you can call for help if you need it.

I use an app called Map My Ride for tracking. It tracks your distance and speed, along with calories burned and other information like elevation changes. There’s a free version and a paid version (which isn’t that expensive and offers a few extra features). I use the free version, which means ads, but they’re not a major inconvenience. I love the live tracking feature and check it frequently during rides. A holder for your phone is nice to keep you from fumbling with it to check your speed while riding. I don’t use one, so I invested in a good strong phone case, just in case.

If you’re a beginner, you don’t need to invest in everything at once. Get a helmet first and some way to drink, and start adding from there. Go ahead and get an app to track your progress. That’s just fun, especially as you ride longer distances.