Mirrors

In the past, one of the controversies in cycling was the use of mirrors.

The cons stated that mirrors had a small field of view, could not replace scanning with you head and eyes, and give a false sense of security.

The pros said that mirrors were an addition to scanning and one mounted on one’s helmet or glasses actually could enhance your field of view by turning the head a bit to look behind.

Personally, I have a difficult time riding on the road without a mirror. With one mounted on my helmet, I have over an 180 degree field of view behind me by turning my head while looking in the mirror. It can even help me keep track of my riding partner when on my single or my stoker when on the tandem.

I highly recommend a mirror when riding. Would you drive a car without rear and side-view mirrors?

Here is a link to a mirror that I use on one of my helmets:

http://www.cycleaware.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1

Enter code RFLX11 before the end of May and receive a free parts kit.

Whether you use a mirror on your helmet, glasses, or handle bars, it greatly enhances you rearward vision.

Time to Begin to Prepare

Well, the weather seems to have finally turned, so it’s time to get out on your bike. It’s not that PALM is difficult, but being physically prepared (especially your posterior) makes for a more enjoyable ride. At this point you should be riding 15 to 20 miles 2 to 3 times a week. As PALM approaches, throw in a 40 to 50 miler once a week while still doing multiple shorter rides.

And don’t forget your bike. Have you really checked it over? How are the tires (worn, dry rotted, cuts)? Are the brake pads in need of replacing? Are the wheels straight? Does it shift well? What's in your seat bag? If any of these (and more) come to mind, and you don’t do your own maintenance, please take the bike to your local shop. Having a properly prepared bike, just like your body, make for a much better experience.

If you have any questions about your bike or preparing for PALM, please let me know by posing a comment or sending an email to: sproketsandspokes@tir.com

May 15 Deadline

April was not only the cruelest month, it was the wetest. I read on our Facebook page that it rained 20 out of the 30 days in April. A lot of that was 40 degree rain. It was cool, well, cold most of the month. I left the straw on my garden bed until the last week of April. The ground was too cold to germinate seeds anyway. I got cold crops from the Garden Resource Program on April 16 but couldn't even harden them off because it was too cold outside.

But time marches on. The May 15 deadline for adding/changing meals and buses is this week. If you sent in your registration and planned to order meals and buses later, it's later now. Download an application and make your choices. Mail it in with a check and a stamped self addressed envelope (for your new confirmation) to the PALM address: PO Box 7161; Ann Arbor, MI 48107. May 15 is also the last day that you can cancel from PALM  and get a refund (minus a cancellation fee). It must be done in writing, no emails will be accepted. There will be no refunds or changes after May 15.

Thank goodness it's May. I was only able to ride once in April. The last two weekends I've been able to ride at last. Only 20 miles or so but at least it's a start. And the last time I rode I could sit on the bike seat. PALM  is closer to becoming a reality.

May 15 Deadline for Meals and Buses

If you are like me you are wondering when spring will come. Baseball season has been going on for over 2 weeks now and we are still getting sleet and snow (2-3 inches on Monday). I've been able to ride my bike exactly once, the one Sunday it was warm. 10 miles into the wind, 10 miles back and I was done for the rest of the day. I have a lot of work to do before I'm ready for PALM.

Speaking of PALM, May 15 is the deadline for making changes to your application. (Except fo jerseys. If you wanted a jersey, you had to get your order in by April 1 so that Voler could manufacture them.) So if you sent in your application quickly so that you could reserve your spot on PALM and meant to add meals/busses later, now is the time. The way to do this is to download an application from the website, fill in your name and address, the meals, buses, extra t shirts you want and mail it in to the PALM address with your check and a stamped self addressed envelope. (The stamped self addressed envelope is so that I can send you a new confirmation letter.) The meal totals we have now are about 20 below the meals totals from last year when we had 100 fewer people on the ride so I know that there are people out there who haven't ordered their meals yet. Do it now.

May 15 is also the last day that you can cancel from PALM and get a refund (minus a cancellation fee of $15 for an individual, $20 for a whole application). Cancellations must be done in writing, no emails are accepted. And please include a stamped self addressed envelope so that we can mail the check back to you. There will be no refunds after May 15 for any reason.

Meet Your Bike

Here is a nice video that does a good job of showing all the various parts of a bike:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_l-ZAbZ1Rzs&feature=related

This may help clarify what us bike geeks are talking about around the dinner table each evening on PALM.

How to fit your bike Video

This month's video's are all about fit. Every year I see a lot of riders whose bikes do not fit properly or wear their helmets improperly.

This first explains how to adjust your bike to fit your body:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Fsr7yYShD8&feature=player_embedded

This next is how to fit you helmet:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yzSwxWIJTk&feature=player_embedded

Remember that helmets are required on PALM whenever you are riding your bike, even in the school parking lot.

Again, let me know if you have any questions or if there are any topics you would like covered.

Back From Florida

When we got back from Florida, the temperature went up to the 50's for 2 days and all of the snow that accumulated for two months melted. It was amazing. It was like we brought Florida back with us, except the green grass was replaced by brown and it was covered with two months of debris. The day we left for Florida, I got a bunch of PALM apps that I wasn't able to process. When I got back, I got another bunch of PALM apps to process. Welcome back.

I processed the first batch and when I checked  I caught a lot of mistakes that I then had to correct. The second batch I processed had 10 applications without a stamped self addressed envelope for the confirmation letters which I then had to supply. It took from Wednesday when I got back to Saturday to process all the applications and mail out the confirmations. Then Sunday we were hit by 10 inches of snow, more what than the "storm of the century" gave us. Later in the week we got another 4 inches or so. All the snow that had melted was back.

Because I was in Florida I missed the February potluck that kicks off the Garden Resource Program. There is nothing better than getting together with a bunch of enthusiatic gardeners in February when there is no hope of spring. The best  I could do was help out in the seed packing. There are 1700 people who get seeds from the Garden Resource Program. The seeds are brought in bulk and then split into individual  seed packets by volunteers. There are seed packing parties all over the city. Our group packed Kentucky Wonder pole beans into 1400 envelopes. It took over 2 hours and we were all sick of beans by the end. Then it was off to Calendula seeds. One of our group was a middle aged woman who had done the Michigander several times. I got to talk up PALM. We weren't any closer to spring but we were surrounded by seeds and bike riding anyway.