The Future is Made of Vibraphones

Pre-Trek Thoughts

nobody@vox.com(mikepop) — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 14:20:58 -0400

Tomorrow morning I'll be off and rolling on the Trek Across Maine. Here are some random pre-ride thoughts:

Weight
The less stuff you have on the bike, the less work it is to drag yourself up a mountain.

Last year I used a seat bag, my camelback backpack (for water, but holds a few items) and a small bag on the rack. But, the ride is so well-organized you really don't need to carry much at all. So this year I'll be using just the seat bag and the camelback. I took off the rear rack entirely and also removed the fenders (which I left on last year because I am lazy). I'll also take off the U-Lock mount once we get there.

On a more personal level, I am 1.5 pounds ligther than I was at the start of the Trek last year, so that will help. I have a much shorter haircut, but I don't think that adds up to much :)

Bike Modifications
True these add a little weight, but hopefully performance gains cancel out the grams.

A couple of weeks ago I got new pedals and added powergrips. Since I ride this bike all over town I don't want to deal with clipless pedals, even if they would be more efficient. They seem to be helping out. I also added bar ends, which will give me more hand positions while riding. This is good on a long ride.

I put on the skinny tires (700 x 23) last week, which make a huge difference. I didn't put them on earlier this year because the roads in Maine are still in lousy condition from the rough winter and I didn't want to deal with potential flats every week.

Over the winter I got a new crankset and that has worked out nicely. I also replaced the shift cables and front derailleur recently.

Weather
Well, tomorrow looks like it will be a perfect day to start the ride - sunny and 79 degrees. This is about six degrees cooler than last year. Unfortunately, thunderstorms loom Saturday and Sunday so we'll see what happens. Riding in the rain is not a big deal, but everything changes depending on which way the wind is blowing, and how strongly.

Logistics
This year, instead of waking up way too early and driving the 1.5 hours to the start point at Sunday River, I am headed up this afternoon. I'll be camping out at Sunday River so come Friday morning I'll be all checked in and ready to ride. Several co-workers decided to ride this year as well, so I am on a team! I am hitching a ride up with a co-worker. The end point is in Belfast instead of Owls Head, no doubt due to the mess that ensued with people trying to get to/out of there last year. I'll be taking a bus from Belfast back to Portland with a bunch of other tired riders.

Instead of camping every night, I'll be staying at the dorms at each stop point. That's one of the benefits of signing up a year in advance, and it may prove quite beneficial (see Weather, above).

That's about it! You can still donate to the American Lung Association of Maine in support of my ride if you are so inclined. I'll be moblogging pics and reports here, and I'll deliver commentary from the road via Twitter as well.

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Trek Across Maine - Fundraising Halfway There

nobody@vox.com(mikepop) — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:02:45 -0400

snowbike

It's hard to believe that just a few months ago I was riding through the snow; in about a week I'll be biking 180 miles up and down mountains as part of the Trek Across Maine.

Thanks to everyone who has pledged my ride so far - you have helped raise over $250 for the American Lung Association of Maine.

This brings me about halfway to the fundraising minimum of $500. If you'd like to make a pledge, now is the time to do it!

Pledging is online and secure. You can also pledge now and be billed to pay later. This way you know I have to actually finish first ;)

No pledge is too small. No pledge is too big :)

Stayed tuned during the ride - I'll be moblogging, Twittering and IMing my way across the state.

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Trendsetter

nobody@vox.com(mikepop) — Tue, 20 May 2008 21:23:32 -0400

This post is part of the 10 Posts For $10 series to raise money for the American Lung Association by supporting my bike ride across Maine.

The local paper noticed bicycle commuting is on the rise here. I've definitely noticed an increase this spring. It's good to see so many people out on the road every day!

You only need to dust off that old bike in your garage or spend less than a car payment and a month's gas on a new one so get out there while the weather is good!

The most surprising thing about the article was the lack of people in the comments who assume that we all don't pay taxes and weave through traffic like NYC bike messengers.

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5,000 Miles

nobody@vox.com(mikepop) — Tue, 20 May 2008 11:10:57 -0400

This post is part of the 10 Posts For $10 series to raise money for the American Lung Association by supporting my bike ride across Maine.

Yesterday I took the bike to pick up my lunch and ended up going 5,000 miles. Not in that trip alone, but that two mile ride put me over the top, giving me over 5,000 miles in just under two years. It was in May 2006 that I decided I'd rescue my bike from neglect and tackle the commute to work.

I started tracking my miles at We Endure. Along with keeping track of miles, it shows me how I've improved in terms of average speed and gives me motivation on those not-so-perfect ride days. I recently passed the 1,000 mile mark since January, whereas in the same timeframe last year I had covered just over 450 miles. Knowing that slogging through the snow of winter made such a difference is heartening.

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10 posts for $10 - Raising Money for the American Lung Association of Maine

nobody@vox.com(mikepop) — Mon, 19 May 2008 10:37:45 -0400

like a fish needs a bicycle

Between buying a house and moving I have fallen a bit behind in both my blogging here and with my fund raising for The Trek Across Maine, my 180-mile bike ride to support the American Lung Association. So I've decided to try and solve both problems at once by having a mini-blogathon.

Tomorrow, I'll make 10 blog posts and in turn ask you to pledge $10 to the American Lung Association for my ride. I have some post ideas planned, but I'll happily take requests. Are there pictures you want taken? Stories you want told? Locations you want moblogged? Poems you want written? Questions you want answered? I'll do my best to accommodate you.

Here are the links you will need:

My fundraising page (credit card or check, pay now or be billed later)

Official Trek Across Maine site, so you know I am not making this up ;)

My pictures and retrospective from the ride last year.

Thanks in advance to all! Contact me with any questions, or just leaven them in comments. See you tomorrow.

Trek_021

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Obama For Your Bike

nobody@vox.com(mikepop) — Fri, 09 May 2008 14:44:36 -0400

New in the bike sticker shop:

Obama-detail

Really, you can stick them anywhere though ;)

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Trek Time Approaches - Help!

nobody@vox.com(mikepop) — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 12:13:15 -0500

Trek_021

With all the snow and ice and cold I've been biking in lately, fair-weather cycling seems a distant dream. And yet, the Trek Across Maine is just 16 weeks away!

I had such a good experience last year, I immediately signed up for this year's ride. I've been riding in all sorts of weather to train all winter, but now I have to get busy on the fund raising aspect. This is less fun, but more important as the purpose of the ride is to raise money for the American Lung Association of Maine. If you enjoy breathing, this is a cause you can support!

To help sponsor my ride this year, just click! (You can do it all securely online). I will be thinking of you in the next few months and your generousity will help drive my training, ride through the snow and eventually climb mountains. And your sponsorship will help the American Lung Association bring us healthy air.

A sincere thank you to all who donated last year, and to those who will this year.

In case I rambled on too much, THIS HERE IS THE LINK YOU WANT TO BE CLICKING :)

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Snowy Rides

nobody@vox.com(mikepop) — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 08:24:56 -0500

Snow Parking

It's been a snowy couple of weeks here in Maine, which has made the biking challenging. It's raining and 40ish today, so good day to be off from work while some of the snow melts.

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Cold Commute

nobody@vox.com(mikepop) — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 09:31:07 -0500

bundled up

Getting in gear for the 5 degrees F bike ride this morning. Hey, it's over twice as warm as that 2 degrees ride the other week! ;)

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Winter Biking Report

nobody@vox.com(mikepop) — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 15:48:04 -0500

After surviving a colder and snowier than usual December, January 2008 is off to a mixed start. Last week began with piles of snow and then ice ruts from the two feet of snow that fell on New Year's Eve & Day. Friday was my coldest commute yet at 2 degrees F! Out of paranoia I actually over-layered and was too warm. By contrast it is 43 degrees F today (and, the streets are mostly melted clear).

I took the Christmas lights off the bike and stored them for next year. The days are getting a little longer, and we'll see how many days I can stay on the bike this winter. Last year the real snow didn't hit until Feb/March/April!

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