Some interesting books

Here is a book I am going to download: "Shadow of Tears" an amazing true story!  This sounds like a really great ebook about a guy that takes a solo bike trip from Sweden to Iran.  Should be great reading for anybody that has a Kindle or other ereader.  I personally never go anywhere without my Kindle.  It was one of the best presents my husband ever got me!  There are still sometimes I like to read an actual physical book, but you can't beat the immediate gratification that you get when you can download a book right away!

I am also thinking I will look into some books that will help me in my cycling endeavours. I came across this one, and thought it sounded interesting, so I might give it a try:‘The Essential Guide to Road Bike Cycling: Mind, Body & Budget’. Sounds like it contains lots of good information about the mental side of cycling.

Unfortunately too rainy again today to ride. Tomorrow will be the presidental debates, and I definitely don't want to miss that!

You can click on either of the links above to download and purchase these ebooks as well.

No riding today, raining too hard.  Glad I was able to get in 20 miles yesterday, before the front came through. I am concerned that I have enough training time before the century on November 10th. 

In June I attempted a century in Braselton Ga.  A good time was not had by all.  I am sure there were some people who enjoyed that ride, but I was not one of them.  I will say that the ride was fairly well organized, but there were some issues from my point of view.  I had received an email several days before the ride with instructions on how we should register, park, arrive, etc.  This was the first time they told us that it would be a staggered start, based on average speed. I am not really opposed to this, but ride organizers should remember that some of us are trying to have a good time and challenge ourselves, not just knock out a 4 hour century.  Suffice to say I was in the back of the pack!  Also, at this time we were informed that somebody else needed the venue and we would need to be back an hour earlier than previously thought.  This kind of put the pressure on me, not knowing if I would finish in time.  I did start, but suffered some mechanical problems at mile 40, more or less. 

So, taking into account the lessons learned on that ride, I am not going to work on my bike the day before the ride!  I need to fix it, then take several shake down rides for at least a week.  The November ride has a "show and go" start, which I like much better. Also the Claxton ride gives me from 7 am to 5 pm to complete, which I think is do-able for me.  I rode in this ride in 2007 (not a century distance though), so I am familiar with what the topography is like. 

Epoch Cycling-The beginning

ep·och   [ep-uhk or, especially Brit., ee-pok] noun

the

beginning of a distinctive period in the history of anything: The purchase of my first road bike marked an epoch in my lifetime.

There are some people who are SERIOUS about cycling. I am one of those.  There are some people who know EVERYTHING about cycling.  I am not one of those.  I have, however, always liked to think of myself as a person willing to learn the ins and outs of the things that interest me.  Seems simple enough, right?

In 2007 I decided, after a conversation with my brother, to take on a new hobby....cycling.  He was a fairly serious biker, and imparted me with lots of advice.  I went merrily off to the bike store with the intention of spending a few hundred dollars, and hitting the road.  I soon found it was no that simple!  There are thousands of choices in bikes, frame compositions, shifters, shoes, pedals, bike racks, and, of course water bottles and jerseys!  Suffice to say, I didn't get out of the store for that couple hundred dollars, but what I did buy was fantastic, and life changing.  More on that later!

It's also my intention to talk a bit about the next step in my cycling journey....the completion of my first century ride.  I have set a goal to complete a century ride during this year, which is my 50th.  100 miles for 50 years.  Time is short, as I am registered to ride in the "Cruising in the Country Century" in Claxton, GA in 6 weeks.  Lots to do before then!