Yep, thats right, tonight I actually entered my first sanctioned bike race so I need a license and all that jazz. However this was not a road race as most of you might think. No, no, if you saw my previous “Tire Teaser” post you might have an inkling. I pinned on a number for a cyclo-cross or CX race. Now if you don’t know what cyclo-cross racing is, well, it’s hell on wheels that involve, barriers, stairs, running, carrying the bike and sometimes also includes mud, snow and all sorts of foul weather. If that isn’t a good enough description for you here is a video that summarizes it well. Thankfully our course was dry and it’s way to early in the year for snow.
Month: August 2016
This past week certainly has not been a banner week for me on the bike, actually the last 2 weeks have been pretty poor time and mileage wise. Why? It’s because I’ve been fatigued, but not what you think. By that I mean I haven’t been physically fatigued but rather mentally fatigued. Work has been stressful and grueling at times and then throw in life’s other little challenges and my brain is spent at the end of the day. It’s funny because I can be physically fatigued or sore and still get out on the bike. Getting out on the bike, even if it’s an easy spin, just makes my body feel better and loosen me back up. However when it comes to mental fatigue I can’t even fathom getting on the bike. Every morning I get up, get excited if it’s going to be a nice day for an afternoon ride, have a good lunch to fuel my planned ride but by the time I get home in the afternoon I’m just spent and can’t muster the energy to get out on the bike. Sometimes I think if I can just get out I may feel better but I’m so frazzled a slip of focus while riding could have severe consequences so it’s probably better I surf that couch and let my brain rest.
Today was my first day out since last Sunday. My legs felt dead at first and I though it was going to be a horrible ride. But I didn’t set out on a hammer fest and turned down a few new roads today and ended up having a blast exploring. After a stop at Starbucks I even tackled this one hill I’ve wanted to do for a while. I ended up having a ton of fun, banging out a bunch of hills and just loved being out on my bike.
Then I came home, switched shoes and took the CX bike out around the ‘hood for about a 20 minute spin, riding the grass, hopping curbs and practicing some dismount/mount and shouldering skills.
Overall it was a great day. I didn’t care about time, speed or setting records. It was just a day for me to enjoy. There are few things greater than powering yourself down the road, breathing in the fresh air and conquering all types of terrain. You know I must really be fatigued if I don’t even want to kit up and get outside.
What on Earth am I cooking up with these?
My Cannondale is the first bike that I have had with press fit bottom bracket bearings. I knew going in that some may develop creaking or clicks but I prayed to the BB gods and hoped it wouldn’t happen to me. Well apparently my token sacrifices didn’t suffice and on a training ride last Sunday my cranks developed a click. Here is a good video showing what I all of a sudden had to deal with. This isn’t my bike, but symptoms are exactly the same.
If you do a little research you’ll find a variety of info and remedies online. From a simple re-greasing of the bearings, to replacing the bearings to installing the bearings with Loctite 609. Interestingly a lot of people complain about the creaking/clicking starting after a rain ride or washing the bike. The day the problem started it was after a rain and the roads had a little water on them but not enough to cause issues I would think, but who knows. I could have taken it to the shop since the bike is under warranty, and although bearings are wear items this shouldn’t be happening within the first 2000 miles, I figured I’d take apart the crank and give everything a good cleaning and re-greasing. I didn’t have anything to loose except maybe 30 mins of my time.
