Comments on: I Think I’m In Trouble

By: Rob

Rob — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 16:37:38 +0000

Throw some flat bars on that bad boy and rock it. Cross bikes have finally caught up to disc brakes, flat bars need to be next!

By: mwmike

mwmike — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 14:09:46 +0000

Get your ass out and practice a little. “It’s like riding a bike”.

By: Jeremy

Jeremy — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 18:49:11 +0000

Old, broken-in shoes vs. new shoes. One pair you are used to and have formed to your gait and your gait has formed to them; the other will provide new experiences and new life to your runs, but might hurt a little the first few times out. Wait, I just made a running analogy to bikes. I need to go self-flagellate.

By: Eric L

Eric L — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 16:59:49 +0000

Pink = Giro Leader. Given how tough and hazardous the Giro’s become in the last few seasons, pink is now a hard-man’s color.

Have fun on the cross bike Fatty, it’s a fun change – like Mtn. Bike lite. Sounds like you could use an antique Hite Rite for your descents. I’ve got one on my ancient mtn bike and it works simply and effectively. You rarely seem them anymore.

By: Steve Lovejoy

Steve Lovejoy — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 16:27:13 +0000

Fatty, I am right there with you. I’m your age. Been riding road bikes forever. Just bought a used mountain bike to ride with the kids around the neighborhood. Took it out last Friday to try single track. Way different that calm asphalt. I am learning body-positioning on hills, better balance and more shifting gears. I crashed and bled. Part of learning. Good luck!. I know I’m going to need it.

By: Christina

Christina — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 14:00:13 +0000

I recently got a new bike that forced me to balance in a whole new way. I spent a lot of time jamming my foot into the ground, because I was nervous. I felt like I was five again. I ended up using that bike for 100MoN and I was forced to get over the screaming sensation in my throat. It’s not perfect; I still close my eyes when it gets scary.

Ride well. You always do.

By: DanD

DanD — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 13:47:33 +0000

Let me add my voice to the “raise the bars” crowd. My “do everything” bike is an older tri-cross with the bars up (flipped stem and spacers), and I have yet to find conditions I can’t ride it in. With the cross brakes and wider bars, you can ride it on the flats if you need to, or drop into (most of) a tuck for some speed.

By: bacmapei

bacmapei — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 11:53:12 +0000

Thanks for another piece of inspiration. I commute on a ‘08 Tricross Comp (carbon fork and seat stays back then). Just bought a base Stumpy Comp 29 this spring as I have never mountain biked. Flipped over my handlebar on my second trail. Age 39 and getting passed by kids on 16 & 20″ wheel rigids. I love time on my bikes and your post will help push me to keep trying the trails and gaining confidence on my Stumpy.

By: Bicycle Bill

Bicycle Bill — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 09:15:01 +0000

Fatty — come with me, back in time. Back to when we were both kids (OK, I’m going to be going back a bit further than you are; let’s not belabor the point). But remember when you got your first bike? It wasn’t specific; it was just a bike. It might have even been a hand-me-down from an older brother.

But it was *YOUR* bike. You rode it over all kinds of surfaces, in all kinds of conditions. It might even have gotten left outside overnight and got rained on. So you squirted some 3-in-1 oil on the chain until it stopped squeaking, got back on, and rode it some more.

But do you also remember just how much dambed fun it was?

Approach this new challenge with that same sense of adventure. Release the young Fatty that still hides in you, and just have fun with it.

-”BB”-

By: Jenn

Jenn — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 06:21:49 +0000

You only learn or grow when you’re outside of your comfort zone, my friend. Good on ya. I look forward to hearing an injury-free, growth- & learning-infused race report!