No laughing allowed as you read this post!!! Today, I was going to participate in a weekly Saturday morning bike ride organized by a local women's bicycle store and I was really looking forward to it. But then I began to have doubts and psych out. I see people with very expensive bicycles at the YMCA for a trainer workout and they look so incredibly fast. What if these people showed up for the ride? I'd never done the course before and hadn't even gone that far.
I decided that I would do the course by myself first, building up my confidence. I got up early Saturday morning, anticipating my ride. It was one of those spring days where I wished it was warmer than it actually was. As I set out, the wind tore through my long sleeve shirt and light jacket and through my light gloves, making the tips of my fingers hurt.
The route started out at the local park, and turned on a road past some government buildings. Then it goes past a new housing development, with homes starting at just under $1 million. Suddenly, there was the scent of cow manure and I found myself in the middle of farmland that I never knew existed in this suburban area. As I ride along, I could see white flakes drifting down. Snowflakes in late March with the temperature in the mid-40s!!?? My hands gradually warmed up...but then I heard a popping sound. Was that what I thought it was? Yep, it was. Five minutes later I could no longer ignore the bumpy ride cased by a rear flat.
I got off and walked up the hills, riding only when it was flat. I didn't want a small problem to become a bigger, more expensive problem by wrecking the tire and the bicycle rim. About 10 cyclists saw me on this well-known bike route, and each one asked "Are you OK?" I said that I was, but it was kind of a neat group of people that would express concern. I read somewhere that one should take a cell phone, ID and credit card on a long ride, and bringing the cell phone was the one smart thing I did. I called my husband who eventually came and got me.
The bike is now in the shop for the week, and I asked the friendly folks to show me how to take off the rear tire so I can change it myself next time. Guess I'll be getting that small seat bag, CO2 cartridges, and spare tube that I'd been putting off purchasing.
The day ended with another dose of discouragement as I drove the bike route for a race I was thinking about entering. It's a challenging course and I don't think I'm going to be able to get up the hills. Trying to find a race has been logistically challenging. Three conferences, a family vacation, and two overnight camps for one kid and another graduating and going off to college in the span of 12 weeks make for a very busy summer. Each weekend this summer, I'll be doing one of the above or prepping for one of the above. Guess I'll have to go back to the drawing board with this.
I decided that I would do the course by myself first, building up my confidence. I got up early Saturday morning, anticipating my ride. It was one of those spring days where I wished it was warmer than it actually was. As I set out, the wind tore through my long sleeve shirt and light jacket and through my light gloves, making the tips of my fingers hurt.
The route started out at the local park, and turned on a road past some government buildings. Then it goes past a new housing development, with homes starting at just under $1 million. Suddenly, there was the scent of cow manure and I found myself in the middle of farmland that I never knew existed in this suburban area. As I ride along, I could see white flakes drifting down. Snowflakes in late March with the temperature in the mid-40s!!?? My hands gradually warmed up...but then I heard a popping sound. Was that what I thought it was? Yep, it was. Five minutes later I could no longer ignore the bumpy ride cased by a rear flat.
I got off and walked up the hills, riding only when it was flat. I didn't want a small problem to become a bigger, more expensive problem by wrecking the tire and the bicycle rim. About 10 cyclists saw me on this well-known bike route, and each one asked "Are you OK?" I said that I was, but it was kind of a neat group of people that would express concern. I read somewhere that one should take a cell phone, ID and credit card on a long ride, and bringing the cell phone was the one smart thing I did. I called my husband who eventually came and got me.
The bike is now in the shop for the week, and I asked the friendly folks to show me how to take off the rear tire so I can change it myself next time. Guess I'll be getting that small seat bag, CO2 cartridges, and spare tube that I'd been putting off purchasing.
The day ended with another dose of discouragement as I drove the bike route for a race I was thinking about entering. It's a challenging course and I don't think I'm going to be able to get up the hills. Trying to find a race has been logistically challenging. Three conferences, a family vacation, and two overnight camps for one kid and another graduating and going off to college in the span of 12 weeks make for a very busy summer. Each weekend this summer, I'll be doing one of the above or prepping for one of the above. Guess I'll have to go back to the drawing board with this.
Above: You wouldn't believe the number of people who are unloading their vintage Centurion bicycles from the 1980s on eBay. Just for kicks, I set up an alert and here's one that looks like mine. In making repairs and adding parts, I've decided to preserve the retro look, like an old Volkswagen Beatle.
4 comments:
That's an old bike. Why don't you get one that is more comfortable. You make life hard riding something that old.
Yes, I should. But with two cars, two kids, two dogs, and a house, I kind of have other priorities right now.
Hi Susan,
.
That may be an old bike (the colors
and color scheme suggest 1986\87) but
it's an excellent one. A lugged, CrMo
steel frame of that quality would cost you over $1,000 today and then
you would have to have it built up
with components (another $800+).
.
See www.bikeforums.net, the Classic
& Vintage forum. It's free. There's
a lot of good chat on the subject
of vintage bikes there.
.
And don't get discouraged. It takes
a month or so of riding every day
to get into shape for longer rides.
Do a few miles at first and then extend your reach. Then you will be
ready for anything up to about 50
miles without getting too sore.
.
If your bum can't get used to your
Centurion's narrow saddle (a possibility as racing saddles are
designed for differently structured
men) get a slightly wider saddle. But give your bum a chance to get
used to the racing saddle first as
they are generally more comfortable
for longer rides.
.
If you have questions about your
Centurion, contact me through the
Centurion Bicycles article on
Sheldon Brown's site. I'm the author and my byline is also my
email address.
.
BTW, my brother-in-law has a Centurion exactly like yours, even
the same color scheme, and he loves it. My sister has a LeMans Mixte,
a frame designed for women but a bit heavier than your bike.
.
Good luck with your Centurion and don't let someone talk you out of it. The 1980s were the glory years of Japanese bike building and the better Centurion models, like yours, were among the best of what
Japan had to offer.
.
Many thank yous for your kind words! I'll take your advice to heart. I like my bike for sentimental reasons - it was my car in college. I rode this bike everyday all over the East Side of Milwaukee, from Shorewood to downtown and back. It's served me well.
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