When we last left our readers, I was contemplating double vs triple…which turned out to be only one of the many decisions to be made concerning my new bike.

The first major decision was frame size.  Back in 2003, when I purchased Liberation (Project One carbon 5200) Trek had just started to offer the Women Specific Design (WSD) frames.  At first, this sounded like a fantastic option for me, but as I learned more about the differences, I became more skeptical.

First, the wheels were smaller so that there would be less (or no) overlap in the front tire and the rider’s foot.  Female readers will appreciate the problems caused when your front wheel rubs against your foot when you make a sharp turn…this never happens to men (unless they are very short).  The drawback was that the wheel required a smaller than normal tube – making it nearly impossible to borrow a tube from a friend while out riding.

Since one flat often leads to a second flat, this made me nervous…I didn’t want to start carrying multiple spares, but didn’t want to be stranded either.  (At the time, I rode almost exclusively with men.)

The second problem involved the crank.  The crank is the part of the pedal that extends from the bike frame to the pedals.  It was shorter and this made me wonder if I would have a harder time keeping up with the guys.  I felt like this was a non-starter.

At the time, I lived near Blacksburg VA and my bicycle shop was East Coasters.  The employees were just beginning to learn how to perform a professional bike fit session and they used me as a guinea pig.

For a couple of hours, they examined my position on my bike.  They measured using yardsticks, rulers, plum bobs… they put stickers on my shoes to mark important spots…they asked me to spin and stop, spin and stop… and they issued their verdict:  My body and positioning on the bike indicated that I was right on the line between a regular frame and a WSD frame.

Hurray!  I wanted a regular frame very badly… but that came with some drawbacks as well.

The first of these: the handlebars were too wide for me and had to be replaced with the best handlebar set that the bike shop employees could find – but still not quite right.

I had no idea how much difference this little detail would make until years later when I used a properly fitted handlebar set for the first time.

The position of the brake levers was problematic as well.  My hands are not tiny, but I could barely reach the levers while in the drops.  Over the years, I compensated by keeping my hands on the hoods while descending… a nasty habit that is not as safe as descending in the drops.  And it turns out, this habit is difficult to break.

So, Liberation arrived from Trek was built-up by the guys at East Coasters.  She was beautiful… one of the first Project One custom paint jobs to show up in my corner of the world – if you’ve ridden with me you know her flames.   Thousands of miles later, it is clear she was one of the best investments I’ve ever made.

Back to 2013 — the selection process for my new bike frame size started in a similar way.  Liberation was placed on the trainer at Liberty Bicycles and Sam White started the process of examining my position on the bike.

He took note of things that looked correct and things that needed to be changed.  He taught me a valuable lesson…as the years pass, our bodies change and, accordingly, our bike fit needs to be tweaked.

Small changes in your bike fit can make a tremendous difference to your comfort level on the bike.  I plan to make bike-fit tune-ups a part of my annual bike maintenance program going forward.

Sam selected a 50” frame Trek Domane 6 Series for my test ride.  He made numerous meticulous adjustments to replicate my fit on Liberation, placed the Domane on the trainer and asked me to spin a bit.

By this time, Liberty Bicycles Co-Owner Mike Nix had stopped by to check our progress.  I was spinning for about 10 seconds before both Sam and Mike simultaneously spoke out loud: the frame size was not right for me.

Things have really changed over the course of 10 years and even as the science of performing professional bicycle fit sessions has evolved, it has also become more of an art.  Sam quickly replaced the 52” frame with a 50” frame, replicated the adjustments again, and I was off for a test spin.

The Universe was smiling on me that day.  My test spin was along a portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway and a portion of the route was closed to motorized traffic.  It was a February day, but the weather was warm and sunny.  I wanted to climb all the way to Pisgah Inn… but Sam would be waiting for me at the shop and I forced myself to turn back at the first tunnel.

Descending with properly sized handlebars was a delight.  I had much better control and I could wrap three fingers around the brake levers while in the drops… a lifetime first for me!

As I returned the test bike to Sam, I was delighted and more excited than ever about ordering my new bike…

And in my next installment I’ll return to the great debate of double vs triple, as the compact double gearing on my test bike left a little to be desired.

I am standing at the counter at my favorite coffee shop and the question that has been on my mind arises again…”triple or double?”…”three shots or two shots today?”  My mind freezes and I cannot decide.  It’s a simple enough question which should not require a lot of thought, but it brings to mind the bigger issue at hand.  Three rings or two rings on my new bike.
My ride is a Trek 5200 vintage (or nearly so) — the first year that the Project One carbon bikes were offered.  Yes, that means that ‘Liberation’ will celebrate her 10th birthday this year.  Compact doubles were not yet the rage when Liberation was born and the guys at East Coasters in Blacksburg VA were listening when I said that I wanted a bike that would share my love of climbing and they outfitted Liberation with three sensational rings.

And climb we did…Johns’ Creek, Salt Pond Mountain (aka Mountain Lake), Mount Mitchell, Ox Creek, Hickory Nut Gap, Big Walker Mountain, Little Walker Mountain, Mill Mountain, Roanoke Mountain, Peaks of Otter, Paris Mountain, Caesars Head, Town Mountain, Cherokee Road, Pinners Cove Road, Hebron Valley Headwall, and on and on…

When the shifters failed last fall, I had to face reality.  Liberation is getting older and it’s time to start thinking about a new bike.  Of course, Liberation will always remain a member of the Little Barn fleet, ready to be called into action at a moments notice, but my upcoming adventures call for a new ride.  Let the shopping begin!

The first issue in choosing a new steed is the double or triple front chain ring question, since it affects which frames I can consider.

I don’t mind having the extra weight of ‘granny’ (my smallest ring) along for the ride.  I don’t visit her often, but she’s always there when I need her.  Often granny gets no respect.  More than once, she and I have been the recipients of comments like “she can ride like that (read “pass me on this climb”) because she has a triple”.  And if these keen minds would look more closely, they might see I’m not even using her — I’m in the middle ring while granny is resting peacefully — ready, but not engaged.

Is it true that switching to a double will so greatly decrease my climbing ability that I will no longer be able to pass guys in full kits?  Okay…to be honest, this decision has very little to do with passing anyone and a lot more to do with my love of climbing.  Will it feel different when granny isn’t with me?  Sure, the bike will be a little lighter, but mentally…what will it be like to ride without granny by my side?

Enter the folks from Liberty Bicycles of Asheville.  Turns out, there is a way to measure, at least on paper, the difference between Liberation’s triple gearing and new possibilities.  Stay tuned for the results of my visit to the shop for double/triple talk and a preliminary frame fitting session.  This is very exciting to say the least.

Okay ladies…let’s talk about saddle soreness.  I am writing specifically to the ladies because, well, I know the anatomy intimately.  I am not as familiar with the male experience so David will have to give advice to the guys if it is needed.  All new cyclists experience some saddle soreness at the beginning of a season but, in my experience, the soreness is never as extreme as it was in my first few months of cycling.

There are several ways that you can address the pain.  But first, let’s go over the proper terminology.  The saddle is attached to the bike and you sit on it.  The seat is your toosh.  The chamois is the padded portion of your cycling shorts.

First, you need to find the proper saddle for your seat and for your style of riding.  A common misconception is that a larger, wider saddle will be more comfortable.  While you may think that you cycling shorts make your butt look big (they do), the portion of your seat that actually touches the saddle on a road bike is very small.  If your saddle it too large, it will cause chafing (which I will cover in a moment).  Imagine your toosh on an upright, beach comber bike…more of “you” touches the saddle and that is why beach combers often have large, cushy seats.  Now imagine your toosh on your road bike…less of “you” touches the bike, your body is tilted more forward making a slimmer saddle a better option.  And mountain bikes or touring bikes fall somewhere in the middle.  If you suffer from too much pressure in the middle of the saddle, try one that has an open middle.  You may have noticed that my saddle is designed this way.

I purchased my saddle (Butterfly Cromoly) from Terry many years ago.  Terry lists their saddles by riding style…the Endurance/Touring collection is a good place to start for the type of riding that we have been doing or if you were planning to do a multi-day bike tour.  If you get a new saddle, don’t ditch your old one.  Just because it’s not right for you, doesn’t mean that it won’t be right for someone else. Save it to trade for some other thing that you need or sell it on craigslist.

Second, you need some good cycling shorts.  By “good”, I don’t mean that they have to be top-of-the-line…they just need to be right for you.  I like Pearl Izumi shorts.  David likes Specialized.  Here is a link to the chamois that Terry offers…I like this page because it allows you to look for the chamois that provides coverage in the area that gives you the most discomfort.  Also, check out the product reviews from customers.  They are often very helpful in choosing a pair that will work for you.

Now…about chafing.  This is the nitty gritty stuff.  There’s this stuff called chamois cream.  The specific brand that I normally use is Butt Butter, but I recently found a more “local” option called SkinFare.  Butt Butter is designed to be applied to the chamois of your shorts while SkinFare works like a glide stick and is applied directly to your sensitive spots. Using Butt Butter is like greasing the pan before pouring the cake batter.  You apply it to the area of the chamois that comes into contact with the skin that is likely to experience chafing.  It works like magic!  I have a large tube of Butt Butter that will probably last for the rest of my lifetime.  Now they sell it in small blister packets that easily fit into your jersey pocket.  On longer rides, it’s handy to have the blister pack so that you can reapply…which is ideal for multi-day rides and for testing the product on your skin before you buy the large tube.  I am still testing SkinFare and I will provide an update after using it on a longer ride.

And, to wrap things up, here are some tips for the wellbeing of your toosh:

So now you know a lot more about me and my toosh…I hope that my candid approach to this sensitive issue will help you find the right solution for your personal quest for comfort on the bike.

See you in the saddle soon!

Riding the VA Creeper Trail in December was quite a treat.  I never expected to experience a wide open trail without hundreds of riders zooming down from White Top.  I barely had to use my bell and the weather was ideal – sunny and mid-50s – the perfect pre-holiday ride.

The bike shuttle companies were closed and the little town of Damascus was quiet and sleepy.  There were a few locals using the trail.  One gentleman was eager to chat about my ride to White Top and share his adventure with me.  It was obvious to me that he is very proud to have the Creeper in his backyard.

This was the day for the guys to pull the lead.  Weighed down by my ultra-heavy mountain bike, fat tires and a full Camelbak, I lost the power-to-weight ratio advantage over David that I normally enjoy on road rides.  Bill was sporting a light cross bike with much thinner tires and he zoomed along without effort for the entire 17 mile climb from Damascus to White Top.

We enjoyed spectacular views of the creek, a waterfall, bridges, and some beautiful Christmas tree farms.  The trail is very well maintained and, during season, there are a few amenities along the way – including ice cream.  Be sure to put the VA Creeper Trail on your 2013 list of great places to visit.

The Swamp Rabbit Trail runs from Travelers Rest, through Falls Park and Cleveland Park in downtown Greenville to Greenville Tech.  There are many options for parking all along the trail.  As I was planning this trip, Colin Young, who is the Program Coordinator for the Division of Greenways for Greenville County Recreation District, provided lots of information and guidance for navigating the trail.  You can find more information at the Swamp Rabbit Trail website.

The weather was ideal and there were many people using the trail on all sections.  For this reason and because you will find many things to explore, you should plan for a full day.   There are many businesses along the trail that offer bathrooms, snacks, lunch and water for filling your bottles.   We saw several very interesting playgrounds and the trail passes the Greenville Zoo.

The section that passes through Falls Park is heavily used so be ready to take it slow.  There you will see the Reedy River in all it’s glory, the Liberty Bridge and many displays of public art.

The Swamp Rabbit Cafe & Grocery is located the at mile marker 31.5 near the Furman Campus.  There we saw groups of runners and cyclists gathered to socialize after exercising.  The Cafe offers yummy snacks and sandwiches as well as some groceries and many locally sourced food options.

Near the cafe, there is an old auto repair building that has been converted into a bike storage and workshop for TTR Bikes. TTR’s main shop is located in downtown Greenville — the trail location is used for test riding tandems and recumbent bikes.  It’s the perfect use of an old abandoned building with an ideal location for trying before you buy.  We watched as a couple learned how to ride a tandem and as the mechanic assembled a CoMotion tandem for a racing team (valued at $7K!).

Don’t miss the detour onto the Furman campus.  The campus is beautiful and there is a trail that will take you around a scenic lake and clock tower.

There are several restaurants in Travelers Rest that flank the trail and all eagerly welcome trail patrons.  David and I selected The Cafe at Williams Hardware where we enjoyed a delicious lunch.  Don’t miss the cole slaw…it was fantastic.

First things first — can I call it commuting when I am actually using the bike to run errands from my home office instead of riding from my home to my office?  Should I refer to my style of riding as “erranding” instead of commuting?

I haven’t had the bike for long, but I have already learned some valuable lessons:

• Don’t leave the house without money and house keys – for some reason, riding this bike is more like child’s play than riding my road bike.  I am too tempted to just jump on and ride away without a care in the world — just like a child would do…maybe that’s part of the magic of owning an erranding bike.
• Get a bottle cage and saddle bag – I haven’t tricked out the bike yet and I didn’t realize how thirsty and hungry one can become while erranding by bike.
• Get shoes that clip to the pedals – Wow…I had forgotten how inefficient pedaling can be when your foot is not clipped to the pedal.  You can also look pretty funny when your foot instinctively tries to pull up on the pedal as you are climbing a hill and instead goes flying up into the air making you look like you should be walking until you learn how to ride the bike!
• Put the eggs in your backpack – no need to explain in further detail.
• Get a headlight so that erranding can include enjoying refreshments while picking up a growler at the local brewery — you might need to hang around for a while, listen to music and sober up a little before hitting the road…it could get dark outside.

My friends know that I don’t ride my mountain bike nearly enough.  I do love being in wooded areas, smelling the fresh air and enjoying the view, but my bike handling skills are much more well suited for the solid surface provided by pavement.  I am a true Roadie to the core.  But when autumn rolls around and the leaves fall, I long to dust off the mountain bike and try again.

The Inn on Mill Creek

Winding Mill Creek Road

If you are an accomplished mountain biker and would enjoy a rip-roaring descent, this is the ride for you!  This route is also perfect for those of us who aren’t ready to tackle stumps, large rocks and trees in our path.  It follows Mill Creek Road  past the Mill Creek Inn toward Andrew’s Geyser.  Mill Creek Road is a well-packed dirt road with very little gravel, sweeping and tight turns and great views.  The road is open to automobile traffic and you must be careful when you enter blind curves because the road is narrow and cars commonly take up most of the road.  Having said that, it’s been my experience that automobile drivers travel at a slow rate of speed and are very courteous to cyclists.

Sign at Andrew's Geyser (can you see David's reflection?)

The return ride is all uphill and follows Point Lookout Trail (which is a paved bike path).  The route is about 14-1/2 miles long and the climb is physically challenging — especially with the extra weight of my clunker of a mountain bike vs my sweet little road bike.

Here’s the Map My Ride link for more details.

This is one of my favorite training rides.  It is short and sweet and I can complete the loop in less than one hour.

The 10 mile route begins and ends at the Black Mountain Recreation Park located just off Blue Ridge Road on Recreation Park Drive in Black Mountain.

This is a gentle ride with no major climbs and generally light traffic.  The loop takes you through the town of Black Mountain and out into the countryside where you will see stunning views of area farms.

The finish line is located very near Dynamite Roasting Co. which offers the added benefit of treating yourself to a scone or muffin and some of the best coffee around.

Route Facts:

• Start/Finish:  Black Mountain Recreation Park, Recreation Park Drive, Black Mountain, NC 28711
• Distance: 10 miles
• Terrain:  Rolling
• Difficulty:  Easy
• Map My Ride