Monday, December 24, 2012

All I Want For Christmas is Some Sweet Bike Gear


...not my two front teeth. I have those.  Well... one is a porcelain veneer because I knocked it out in the 3rd grade running up a metal slide, but still. I want some sweet bike gear! To be honest, I picked a lot of these things based on looks. I am visual. I want to look good and DAMN IT! I deserve it! And so do you. I hope to get my hands on these items and let you know my true thoughts as we all know that some things aren't always as they appear. But for now, check out my list of what I have my eyes on.

    Electra Ticino 7D in Glacier Blue. I know, this is a bike, not bike gear but it would be nice to have something for a casual ride to the grocery store, right? I fell in LOVE with this bike when I was at H&S Bicycles 2 weeks ago. What a beautiful bike! I have a thing for blue anything. The color is so soothing! Electra makes 3 different models of the Ticino (20D, 8D and 7D) and to be honest, I chose the 7D because I feel in love with the color and the hammered fenders. The 20D, of course, appears to be the much better bike, offering 20-speed over 7 or 8 and additional accessories, such as the Ticino alloy rear carrier. However, none of that stuff is super important for me. I can add on the accessories that I want when I want. I think this would be a cute bike to tote around town on while chasing my 5-year old on her bike. I would love to get on one of these bikes and see if there is much of a difference between the 7 and 8 and note the drastic difference of the 20, if any.



    Pearl Izumi's Women's Elite Barrier WxB Jacket. Baby, it's cold outside! I need a versatile jacket like this one to keep me warm when I'm on (and off the bike). It's light enough to wear on a cool fall day and durable enough to block the wind on a winter ride. It's waterproof and has a breathable 2-layer knit face fabric with Titanium for thermal regulation. FANCY! It's got a retractable drop tail which comes in handy for those wet rides (planned or unexpected) and has reflective elements for low-light visability. You don't need to wear white to be seen anymore. I dig the red and black... H&S Bicycles colors. Thanks Pearl!






    Cat5Gear Cyclist Case. A virgo's dream come true. I'm always on the go with my bike. Sometimes I take my gear to work and ride on my lunch break, or I drive to meet up with friends. I even flew for the first time with my bike this past September. When I'm on the go I ususally just throw everything into a too-small gym bag that I can't get to zip up. I came across this case where you can neatly store all your cycling gear: shoes, helmet, garmin to Gu's. It's all there. Leave it to my native homeland (O-Canada!) to get it right. I approve (and I would LOVE to get my hands on one - hint, hint).






    Sidi Moon cycling shoes. To be honest, the only interaction I have had with Sidi thus far is my amazing Sidi shoe covers that are covering my BOOORING white Shimano cycling shoes. If you want a way to look expensive and elite, Sidi shoe covers, no one will know what's underneath them! Shhh! But seriously, I've heard nothing about amazing things about these shoes, so of course I am curious to get a pair. Based on looks (I'm a female, of course I want something that looks HOT). I'd get the Moon. Metallic silver. What's not to love? I saw this in person yesterday, My Super Fave Bike Nerd Hero Jenny ('memba her?) picked herself up a pair. LOVE cannot describe the look of these shoes. I hope to bless my toesies in a pair, but in the meantime I will have to fake it with my Sidi shoe covers over my Shimano shoes. In the meantime... tell me Jenny, what do you think?

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

What Are You Riding For?

This past September I rode my first charity ride, JDRF's Ride To Cure Type 1 Diabetes in beautiful Lake Tahoe. After the ride I was asked to write a post about my experience, and I thought it would be great to share it here as well. If you haven't thought about riding for a charity or cause, I highly recommend looking into it and seeing if there is a ride near and dear to your heart, or simply one that inspires you.

I first learned about JDRF and Type 1 Diabetes when I started working on ABC’s show “Wipeout” in 2010. Honestly, I didn’t know much at all about diabetes and I didn’t know anyone who was T1D. That changed when I met my new boss, Executive Producer, Kevin Wehrenberg. Kevin’s son Charlie has T1D. His dedication to his son and JDRF has inspired me to be passionate and proactive for a good reason.
In early 2012 I started to feel as though I was neglecting my personal wellbeing and so I took the initiative to reignite an old passion for mountain biking. I knew I couldn’t just ride my bike. I needed a goal to motivate me. I searched online for a biking event and sorted through page after page until I found a link to “JDRF’s Ride To Cure” TID in Lake Tahoe. That’s it! That was was the event I was going to train for. So what if I have never rode a road bike, let alone own one. How different could it be? I was drawn to the ride from the moment I saw it, and I knew come September I would be joining many others as they peddle around the lake. I signed up for the ride and went to the bike shop that night and bought a road bike.
Training proved to be harder than expected. I jumped on my bike, expecting to be incredible, strong, and fast. I had all the tools (fast bike, fancy bike shoes and lycra, lots of lycra), how hard could it be? It turned out I would have to earn those skills, and eventually (more like hundreds of miles later) everything would come together. And it did.
4 months, 700 miles and 55 hours later, ride weekend had arrived.  The night before the event, all JDRF riders gathered in the ballroom at the hotel to discuss the following day’s schedule of events. It was here that I realized the magnitude of what I came here to accomplish. I knew I was here to raise some money and ride my bike, I never thought about what I would be taking away from the experience. There were 2 people that came into my life that night that changed me forever. Ironically, they don’t even know that they did.  The first, a young college student who had a pancreatic transplant to rid her of T1D. The transplant was a success, and she was no longer T1D. However, she suffered a major setback. The transplant caused her to go legally blind. But she wasn’t there as support to a rider. She was there to ride a tandem bike behind her father. The second person was an older woman named Rose, a woman with T1D who had been diagnosed with a tumor earlier in the year (after posting this article to JDRF's website I was sad to learn that Rose's illness took her from us. She will continue to be an inspiration for years to come).  Rose had signed up to ride and was determined to participate, but the effects of the tumor paralyzed one side of her body. Knowing how important this ride was to her, a dear friend of hers made it a personal mission to find a solution. And she did, locating a trailer-type bike that could be hitched to the back of her own. It even had hand pedals so her friend could participate too.
It was these incredible strong women that helped me truly realize how important JDRF is to someone with T1D. I’m not just riding my bike and raising money for research, I am helping to change lives and give everyone with T1D the opportunity to have the best quality of life, getting one step closer to a cure.  I could have sat back and done nothing, that’s easy. To be honest I don’t know why I waited so long to get involved, but at least I was here now. The surprising part for me was that the more I reached out, the more connections to T1D I discovered I had. My journey on this ride grew and continued to take on more meaning.
With emotions running high, I woke up early the morning of ride day excited and yet anxious.  I couldn’t eat my breakfast. I didn’t know what to expect, and I didn’t know if I was prepared. I am stubborn and I am not a quitter and I knew I had to give it my all to make sure I crossed that finish line. Ten miles into the ride we started our first climb. I was feeling pretty good going into it, my rhythm was smooth and it was as if I was dancing on my pedals. Then it hit me. With one deep breath, everything changed. I wasn’t used to riding at such a high altitude and quickly learned that the deep breaths I relied on in training to control my heart rate and breathing were out of reach. I was taking in what felt like half the amount of oxygen than normal. I need my deep breaths! Three miles into the climb we hit our first rest stop in Emerald Bay. I pulled in and threw my bike down. I paced back and forth. I felt defeated and I couldn’t find my focus. I didn’t even want to look at my bike. Why are you failing me? Every worry I had going into this event came rushing through my mind and words were swirling around my head, crashing into one another with no clear direction. How was I going to finish the ride if I couldn’t gain control of myself?  I played with these thoughts and then it all came to front. Focus. Why are you here? What are you trying to accomplish? Who am I doing this for? Charlie (and everyone who lives with T1D).  Charlie made me a poster and the JDRF staff affixed it to my hotel room door upon my arrival. It said, “Thank you for all your hard work… be strong.” That’s all I have to do. Be strong.
I didn’t want to let Charlie down. Those with T1D have to manage and live with it every day. Some days are great, some not so much, but they persevere. I am blessed with good health and I live a healthy lifestyle. I can do this. So I kept peddling, and kept repeating to myself over and over, “This is just one tough day. At the finish line I get to move on. Charlie doesn’t. He wakes up every day as a T1D. This is just one tough day.”
Around the 35-mile mark a JDRF Ride Coach from the Greater Michigan Chapter rode up next to me to check in. I told him about my struggles and he assured me I would be okay. It was, simply put, a struggle with my mind. He rode 7 miles with me until the lunch stop. He kept me distracted and before I knew it, I was more than halfway to the finish line.  I was grateful for his distraction and realized after the ride I didn’t catch his name. I tried to find him the next day, which proved to be a tough feat because everyone looks completely different when they aren’t decked out in lycra and full riding gear. So if you read this, thank you for helping me keep my faith in myself strong.
Lunch came as a much-needed break for me. I refueled and redirected my focus on the real reasons why I was riding. The remaining 30 miles were amazing and emotional. I took in the picturesque views that Lake Tahoe has to offer, admiring her beauty in all her glory. I tackled the last major climb without fear and embraced the descent back into South Lake Tahoe head on. My legs felt powerful, but more importantly, my mind was clear and my confidence was strong. Nothing was going to stop me. With the last two miles in sight, emotion began to build and I even got a little teary-eyed. If you asked me a year ago if I would raise a few thousand dollars to ride a bike 72-miles for charity, I would have told you that you were crazy. Yet here I was, about to finish, not only for Charlie but for myself as well. I stood up in my saddle and sprinted as hard as I could. Crossing that finish line was a dream becoming reality. I never thought I would be strong enough, or dedicated enough to follow through, both physically and emotionally. It is amazing what you can accomplish when you set your heart to it, when it matters most.

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Rest In Peace Sweet Little Angels of Sandy Hook

In the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting, I can't bring myself to think (or write) about anything bike related. It just doesn't seem relevant in this moment. 

As the news first broke, I found myself glued to the television in my boss's office. I couldn't look away. Horrified, I didn't want to imagine that what I was seeing was true. As Obama gave his speech on Friday, I broke down. As a mother (to a kindergartner no less), this hit home hard for me, and for any parent for that matter (and those without kids, I know you felt the pain too). I cannot imagine a day without my daughter's sweet smiling face, her funny jokes, heck, I am starting to appreciate her tantrums because at least she's here. I still have her in my life. I get to hug her, kiss her and tuck her in at night. The other night I found myself sitting on her bed, watching her sleep with such innocence. I don't know how these parents and surviving children are managing with the loss, my heart aches just thinking about how broken and incomplete they must feel. My thoughts and prayers are with all the families affect by such a sad, sad tragedy.

If you haven't had a chance, click the link HERE to sign the Sandy Hook Elementary School National Sympathy Card. If you want to do more, check out usatoday.com for ways to help the families.

Names of the victims are displayed on a flag in the business area on
December 16th, 2012 in Newtown, Connecticut.
Image courtesy of Don Emmert AFP/Getty Images


We go through life so often
Not stopping to enjoy the day,
And we take each one for granted
As we travel on our way.

We never stop to measure
Anything we just might miss,
But if the wind should blow by softly
You'll feel an angel's kiss.

A kiss that is sent from Heaven
A kiss from up above,
A kiss that is very special
From someone that you love.

For in your pain and sorrow
An angel's kiss will help you through,
This kiss is very private
For it is meant for only you.

So when your hearts are heavy
And filled with tears and pain,
And no one can console you
Remember once again.....

About the ones you grieve for
Because you sadly miss
And the gentle breeze you took for granted
Was just......... "an angel's kiss."
~Unknown

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Shame On You Lactic Acid.

Shame Shame, Double Shame (I couldn't help myself)!

If you read my post about the Tour De Christmas Lights, they you will know how happy I was to ride my bike the other night. Well, what I didn't mention was what happened to me three-quarters into the ride.

After viewing the lights at a leisurely place, we headed over to Glendale to step up our game just a tad. I thought I would be in for an easy ride, and for the most part it was, but wow did that one climb at the half way point catch me off guard. Apparently this whole "only riding once a week" thing has taken its toll. I know what my new year's resolution should be: Commit to more "ME TIME" and get more time on the bike! After reaching the top of the long and steady climb, I saw relief in the rolling hills... but my calf disagreed. Mid pedal stroke I was struck with a nasty, debilitating pain in my right calf (insert a slow motion N-OOOOOOOOO here). This has only happened to me once before. I didn't know what to think about what was happening. I've been told on more than one occasion that this was a result of lactic acid build-up in my muscles. HUH?


So that's what the culprit looks like. Hmm...


Having heard about Lactic Acid and it's relation to cycling before, prompted me to do a little more research.  This article from Active.com explained it well: "Every Cyclist's Enemy: Exploring Lactic Acid".


Our bodies need energy to function (duh) and glucose is the primary source of fuel during exercise. As our bodies perform strenuous exercise, we start to breath faster and hard as we attempt to move more oxygen into our muscles that are doing all the work. Sometimes the muscles need this energy production faster than our bodies can deliver the oxygen. In these instances, the muscles doing all the work (in my case my quads and calves) start to generate energy anaerobically and the muscles respond by breaking down carbohydrates for energy. The effect of this is the now presence of lactic acid (accompanied by a burning sensation).

After reading this article, I have a better understanding what happened and everything that they mentioned rang true. 
  1. I cramped up shortly after completing a fast (by my standards) climb.
  2. Although my heart rate monitor wasn't recording (!#&@#$%), I could tell that based on my breathing (in comparison to past experiences) I was working around 80% of my aerobic capacity with a heart rate somewhere in the high 160s to high 170s. Hence, lactic acid production increased and became constant.

So what do I do to prevent it? Keep riding of course! Well, more than just that. My plan is to:
  1. Rest and recover
  2. Stay hydrated (always a good idea)
  3. Change your eating habits (See below for some recommendations)
  4. Gradually increase the intensity of my workouts over time (ease into those harder rides)
  5. Stretch before and after
  6. Keep on pedaling
If you want to take some further preventative measure, consider alternating your eating habits. Eat more foods that are rich in the mineral magnesium. Some examples would be whole grain products, tofu and nuts/seeds. Eat more cold water fish, such as salmon (this is an easy one for me as I was raised in the Pacific Northwest and grew up on salmon). Salmon is high in essential fatty acids and will also help reduce inflammation post-ride. Lastly, eat more foods rich in vitamin B (meats, vegetables, whole grain products, eggs, etc).

So LACTIC ACID... just another hiccup, a learning experience if you may. It was bound to happen and now I'm a little wiser because of it. So, maybe it's not a shame-shame after all.
Pedal on, Lady Pedalers!

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Tour De Christmas Lights, A Quick Thought


One of the lovely ladies of the Tuesday Night ride had a great idea of doing a Christmas Lights Bike Tour. BRILLIANT! I L-O-V-E Christmas!! Normally this time of year I get in the car, drive aimlessly around town, looking for the best spots to see the lights.  What a great way to get up off the couch and do something I was going to do anyways?!?! So off we went from the bike shop, zig zagging our way through the residential streets of Burbank. We stopped to enjoy, appreciate and snap a few pictures of the sights that we encountered along the way. Now if it weren't for my encounter with a dose of lactic acid (stay tuned for tomorrow's post), perhaps we would have stopped for hot cocoa at the end of the ride. Damn you lactic acid. Damn you.


A common theme was the giant Santa and hot air balloons. What do hot air balloons have to do with Christmas? I tried to figure this one out and have come up with nothing. If there's something that you know that I don't about it, let me know. I have to make sense of this madness! Am I missing something?

One of our first stops. I love this time of year!

Shane, getting in the spirit.

If you missed our ride, or are too far away to join us, you know what I' thinking, right? Do your own Tour De Christmas Lights and share your pictures with us!


Monday, December 10, 2012

A View From 2 Wheels


It's not often that Rob and I get to ride together. He trains almost daily and is averaging almost 250 miles a week. I'm lucky if I get 50. So, when we do ride together, it's always an adventure. We seem to have a reoccurring theme with our rides. Whenever we ride together, we have some sort of animal encounter. It's like he's Cinderella. The animals hear his bike coming and start appearing out of the woodwork.

4th of July. Baby duckies stuck in a drain.
I really wanted to keep them! Super Jenny was awesome and
made sure these cuties got to where they needed to be.

Up in Sacramento for a wedding, we took our bikes (of course)
and rode along the river and some trails. Found this guy stuck in
the middle of the path.

While on our "lover-cation" in Catalina over Thanksgiving (again,
we brought our bikes), this guy made a run for Rob as we rode up.
He took a sniff and then laid down and let Rob pet him. 

So maybe he's not really Cinderella of the cycling world, but we do owe the bike come credit. If it weren't for my bicycle I would probably be at the gym or hanging out at home, missing all the beautiful things you see when you get on your bike and ride. It's amazing the things you will see, the places you never knew existed because driving by at 40/50 miles per hour they are just a blur. I encourage you to get out there and find something new, ride your bike and explore. Stop and smell the roses! You might just be surprised at what you will find.






Friday, December 7, 2012

Cold Weather Riding Blues

It's getting cold out and it's time for me to start layering up. I am not a fan of cold weather (it's one of the reasons I moved from my hometown in Beautiful British Columbia, Canada to Sunny (and warm almost all the time) Los Angeles. By my hometown's standards, Fall/Winter in LA is like Summer/Spring in Canada. But I've been here 13 years now and I've adapted all too well. So what on earth do I need to keep myself warm? Honestly at first I didn't know, so I borrowed Rob's base layer shirt, knee warmers and windbreaker, mixed with my usual jersey and bib, and threw on a pair of Pearl Izumi arm warmers that I bought for when I did my September ride around Lake Tahoe. It worked, but I realized I need my own things, designed for my body.

For instance, I used his Pearl Izumi knee/leg warmers. They did a great job at keeping me warm but the bad at the top cut into my thigh and not only created a hideous indent in my leg but the pressure it put around my thigh at the band was distracting and messing with my pedal stroke. I get why the band is there, to hold them up, but they are not lady friendly! I don't have big thighs either. Pearl Izumi, what gives???

A had a similar situation with the Pearl Izumi arm warmers, but it wasn't nearly annoying and didn't affect my comfort level on the bike. The only time they became a problem was when I got a flat tire. It took over 30 minutes to get that tire changed (something I need to learn to do - but I did learn a bike tire makes a horrible hula-hoop) and in that time, as my arms got colder, the arm warmers slowly began to slide down. I don't see this being a big problem in the future, assuming I learn how to change a flat in 5 minutes...regardless, I'll still wear them. They do what I need them to do.

So what options do we have to stay warm? Long sleeve base layers, windbreakers, jackets, long pants, tall compression socks,  shoe covers and caps! Oh My! Wait. Assuming I bought one of each, I am looking at $600, plus another $50 or so in tax. Hmm... yeah that isn't going to happen. Oh Rob...?

So maybe I don't need ALL these things. Breaking down how I felt during my ride the other night, I am definitely thinking the first items on my MUST HAVE List are:
  1. Shoe or toe covers ($35-$50). Who knew my cycling shoes had little air vents in them? My poor piggies are FREEZING!
  2. Headbands to cover your ears or a cap ($17-$40).
  3. Windbreaker or Jacket, something light to break the wind, maybe with a little liner to keep in the warmth ($70-$200)

After the essentials, my WISH LIST OF WANTS would be:
  1. Short and long sleeve fancy base layer (for now I will use whatever is in the t-shirt drawer)
  2. Long cycling pants with chamois (for now I use my favorite Pearl Izumi Elite Women's bib with a pair of Target Dry Fit workout pants over top)
  3. Long sleeve jersey. Why not? I'm a girl. I like options!

Items I ALWAYS ride with and will NEVER be caught without (100 degrees or 40)
Mile 55 and I was feeling it. I look so serious!
But I'm wearing my LAS helmet, Pearl Izumi Elite bib and
arm warmers, my gloves and my Oakley's. I'm ready to roll!
  1. Gloves. Originally I started with fingerless gloves so everyone could see my pretty nails but after I crashed I opted for the full finger gloves. Safe hands are pretty hands! Check out my nails off the bike.
  2. Cycling bottoms with a chamois (my bib of choice is Pearl Izumi's Women's Elite. Remember, Love Your Lady Parts!
  3. Oakley sunglasses (or comparable). I have cut my eye open once before (in a non-biking related accident) and ever since then I love to keep them protected. No glasses, no riding.
  4. Most important - MY LAS HELMET! Got to keep the head safe. I don't care how much it costs, I want the safest because, damn it! My noggin is worth it.

Tell me about the items you can't ride without, and Pedal on, Lady Pedalers!