Customizing comfort on your ride

This is the factory grips that came with my bike. They are decent, but could be better. 

I believe the easiest way to customize your comfort on your bike, whether it is your road bike or mountain bike, it to focus on the three points at which your body makes contact with the bike. I’m talking about your hands (handlebars), butt (seat) or your feet (pedals).   With your hands you can customize your handlebar grips, the bars themselves or maybe even the wrap you put on them. You can also change up for your hands, gloves. Some with more cushion in certain parts of the glove, finger less, full finger, etc. When it comes to your butt or your seat, you can choose gel seats or a seat that allows only for your sit bones to make contact with it. There is also the option of the padding you wear in your shorts. A gel pad, a thicker chamois, etc.  For feet you have a few options there too. Shoes, pedals and lets not forget the socks. Thicker socks, no show, moisture wicking, etc. The three contact points on the bike can be totally customized for your comfort. In speaking of comfort, I recently swapped my grips on my mountain bike. I have been riding with the stock grips for the past eight months. They seem to be missing cushion. I switch back and forth using gloves to not using gloves. A major bonus in using gloves while out on the desert mountain bike trails is protection if I fall. Not just scrapping along the rough rocky ground but possibly falling into a cactus. In switching the grips, I did some research, wanting a good cushion but a better thicker grip. I went with the ESI Chunky grips. Super easy to install, using a little bit of rubbing alcohol to help them slide on the bars, installed the end plugs. Took no more than five minutes. No Allen wrenches needed or any tools.  Took my first ride on them last week and I am very impressed with their feel.  They may not be fore everyone, but they are worth a try. So when it comes to customizing your comfort on your ride, think about the three points in which you make contact with you bike and start from there. 

Easy to install in minutes and feel great out on the trails. 

Time to organize the garage, AGAIN

With a lot of time now, I have begun to organize my garage again.  To get the bikes off the ground and up on the wall I am using the SteadyRack.  Easy to install and easy to use. They can be mounted in studs in wood walls or masonry. 

Needed items to install the SteadyRack

Tape measure

Drill with 3/8” and 3/16” drill bits

Phillips screwdriver or bit

9/16” socket to tighten the bolts

Cancelled race, yet still doing it virtually

Like many races, fun runs and other organized athletic events being cancelled or postponed, the DC Wonder Woman Run I was going to do this Sunday in Tempe, AZ was cancelled. 

I signed up to run this fun run with my daughter, both of us running the 5K distance around Tempe Town Lake. 

Last Friday, this notice was posted on the race’s Facebook page. 

“Due to the concerns surrounding the coronavirus, and taking into consideration the guidance from health and government officials around avoiding public gatherings at this time, we have made the unfortunate decision not to hold the upcoming Tempe and Houston DC Wonder Woman™ 10k/5k races at their present venues. This decision was not taken lightly, but the safety of the community and our staff is of the utmost importance.

We understand how disappointing this is, but we still want to provide a great experience for you. That’s why we've created the Tempe and Houston DC Wonder Woman™ 10k/5k VIRTUAL RUNS! What does this mean for you? We have switched all registered participants to virtual runners and are going to ship all of your goodie bag items- tech tee, commemorative tote bag, and wrist cuffs, along with the finisher’s medal, and race bib, direct to your door.”

So the race being cancelled, I plan on still doing the race with my daughter, only the two of us logging the 5K distance on a course near our home.  We will be practicing “social distancing”. 

If you have signed up for a race, maybe this exact one, still get out and get the miles in. 
It is important to still exercise and be active, even though we might not be able to gather in the massive group of runners are doing it on the same course at the same time. 

"Disclaimer: I received free entry to DC Wonder Woman Run Series race in Tempe, AZ as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!"