Riding The Rollercoaster Today

This was a weird-ass day. Got up and went to the pool to do my straight 2500m swim on the schedule. It was supposed to be yesterday, but hubby had to be in early and early morning is the only time the lap lanes are open in the longcourse pool (yeah, not doing it in the 25 yd pool at he Y, can you say insanity?). So no problem, got it done.

Next on tap for today, a 2:15 hour ride with 25' of hill repeats. Awesome! For real, I love bike. As luck would have it the road with the long hill (long for here that is - 1 mile/7% grade) was finally cleared from the mother of all storms last month. There was a group going in the morning, but I was swimming (next week!). On my own today.

I'm geared up, head to the bike room to pick up my bike and stop by my LBS to swap out the 12/25 for the 12/27 (9 speed). My rear tire has a flat. Damn. Ok, no biggie, change the flat head over the bike shop, guy changes cassette and then says something to me habla español...no comprende señor. Something about my chain, but go ahead and ride. Drop off the old cassette and break my sunglasses, shit, head to the George Wahsington Bridge. Hmmmm, it's pretty windy out. Actually it is REALLY windy out (39 MPH gusts), Holy Crap! It is fucking windy out. Maybe a suicidal ride across the bridge is not advisable at this time; abort mission. Think, think.....Ah! Overlook Terrace, smallish hill, 9% grade. Ok, that'll have to do. Climbing small hill headed up town, *clunk*clunk*clunk*! My chain is skipping all over the place. Ah! That is what he was talking about, need a new chain with the new cassette. Didn't really feel confident in that bike shop so head back home and call the big dogs. They have what I want so I head there.

Here is where the story gets better....I go in for a chain, that's it. Turns out I really have a 10 speed. I mean, I have a 9 speed cassette on my bike (don't fall asleep, this is cool) , but my Ultegra components are for a 10 speed, score!!! As you may know, I was crawling up hills on the 9 spd. 12/25 (hence the switch), but now it gets better! Not only that, but my Ultegra is a 2008/2009, not a 2001 as I thought it was. The guy at the bike shop was very cool and spent a lot of time talking to me about my bike. Basically, he told me not to get a new bike (which I had been thinking), but instead to invest a little in the one I had. According to him, I have a $1500 bike that I paid $600 for last year. This was music to my ears. It means I can think about saving for a tri bike, he he. He also adjusted my cleats on my shoes (new shoes I bought this winter and just started wearing) and measured my shoulders cuz he thought my bars were too wide (he knows my fitter, who I am going back to see next week), turns out I am on 42cm wide bars, but my shoulders measure 38cm, which explains my upper shoulder and neck discomfort after long rides. Then he put some shims in my shifters/brakes which is going to save my hands; I really have to stretch my hands for them. I spent a little cash (new cassette, new chain, shims), but some of the stuff he did for nothing, so big shout out to Will at Toga Bike Shop in NYC!!

BTW, my goal is to learn enough about bikes as to be able to take mine apart and put it together again. I know, I'm sick.

Sadly time ran out and I didn't get my 2:15 ride in. I did take my bike to Central Park to try the new gears out with the little time I had left and I was moving up the hill a lot faster, like 1-2 MPH faster and able to keep my cadence up. Anyway, Saturday promises to be a big ride 100 miles and full of hills according to our ride leader...sorry I blew it today Michelle.

Anyone want a Shimano CS 6500 Ultegra, 9 speed, 12-27t cassette? $50 and it's yours!