I tried cycling for ANOTHER 30 days

Makari Espe

15 Sept 202408:39

Summary

TLDRA cyclist shares her journey preparing for a 125 km bike-packing trip. She details five key tasks recommended by her audience, starting with a bike tune-up, bike fit adjustments, and replacing an outdated helmet. She also stocks up on essential gear, including lights, a tire repair kit, and a handlebar bag. Lastly, she focuses on proper nutrition to avoid exhaustion during long rides. Despite the challenges of hilly terrain and bike issues, she emphasizes the importance of pushing past self-doubt and enjoying the adventure.

Takeaways

🚴 The narrator recently bought a used gravel bike and now aims to go on a 125 km bike-packing trip to a small island.
🔧 A bike tune-up was recommended as the first step, especially since the bike was bought second-hand, to ensure everything works properly.
🧰 A professional bike fit was done to address discomfort and pain while riding. Adjustments to the seat position were made to improve comfort.
⛑️ The narrator replaced an old helmet after a bike professional advised it was too old and potentially unsafe, highlighting the importance of proper cycling safety gear.
💡 New gear, including front and rear lights, a second water bottle cage, a tire repair kit, and other accessories, was purchased for safety and convenience during long rides.
📦 Installing new bike accessories, like a handlebar bag and a rear pannier rack, took longer than expected but was eventually completed with help.
🥤 The narrator emphasizes the importance of proper refueling during long rides to avoid exhaustion, also known as 'bonking.' Snacks were packed for emergencies.
🛠️ The bike trip faced a few challenges, including tough hills and needing to stop for repairs, demonstrating the unpredictability of bike-packing adventures.
😅 Despite the difficulties, the narrator found the trip rewarding, noting that stepping out of comfort zones can lead to surprising achievements.
🗣️ The narrator encourages overcoming self-doubt, as attempting new challenges can reveal that people are more capable than they often believe.

Q & A

What was the speaker’s initial goal after buying a used gravel bike?
-The speaker's initial goal was to become a 'hot cyclist' who enjoys long bike rides and fun treats along the way.
What is the speaker’s new goal after accomplishing their first one?
-The speaker’s new goal is to go on a 125 km bike-packing trip to a small island.
What was the first thing the speaker needed to do before their trip?
-The first thing the speaker needed to do was to get a bike tune-up to ensure everything was working properly.
How did the bike fit session improve the speaker's cycling experience?
-The bike fit session helped reduce the speaker's upper back and 'nether regions' pain by adjusting the seat and recommending a potential wider saddle for comfort.
Why did the speaker decide to replace their old helmet?
-The speaker replaced their old helmet because it was from 2017, and the foam inside had likely degraded over time, making it less safe.
What new gear did the speaker purchase for their bike-packing trip?
-The speaker purchased a front and rear light, a second water bottle and cage, a tire repair kit, a small bag for emergency gear, secondhand panniers, a rear rack, and a handlebar bag.
What was the most challenging part of preparing the gear for the trip?
-The most challenging part was assembling the handlebar bag, which took much longer than expected, requiring an hour and a half to complete.
Why did the speaker need to eat more while cycling?
-The speaker needed to eat more during longer rides to avoid extreme fatigue and what cyclists refer to as 'bonking,' where energy levels drastically drop.
What was the speaker's experience with the energy gels (‘goo things’)?
-The speaker found the energy gels disgusting but acknowledged that they provided much-needed energy during the trip, especially by day three.
What was the speaker's takeaway from completing the 125 km bike-packing trip?
-The speaker realized that people are more capable than they think and that they don’t need to wait for someone else to show them how to do something—they just need to silence the inner voice that says they can’t.

Outlines

00:00

🚴‍♀️ Mission Accomplished: Preparing for a New Bike Trip

The narrator shares how they bought a used gravel bike and achieved their goal of becoming a dedicated cyclist. They now aim to go on a 125 km bike-packing trip to a small island. Before embarking on this journey, they need to address five major tasks based on audience feedback. The first step is a bike tune-up to ensure the bike’s functionality, which they completed successfully.

05:01

🔧 Bike Fit: Solving Pain and Comfort Issues

Following the tune-up, the next priority is a bike fit to address pain in the upper back and lower body. At a local bike shop, the fitter adjusted the seat to reduce movement and discomfort. The narrator considered additional upgrades, such as clipless shoes and narrower handlebars, but decided to wait and see how the current adjustments improve comfort before making further purchases.

⛑️ Helmet Upgrade: Prioritizing Safety

Next, the narrator focuses on helmet safety, noting that their old helmet's straps were too loose and the visor obstructed visibility. A bike fitter recommended replacing the 7-year-old helmet due to foam degradation. Taking this advice, the narrator buys a new helmet, stressing the importance of safety. They humorously share an embarrassing moment from the purchase and thank the shop for their help.

🛒 Gear Haul: Preparing for the Adventure

In preparation for the trip, the narrator goes on a gear shopping spree. They purchase front and rear lights, a second water bottle cage, a tire repair kit, a storage bag for emergency items, and secondhand panniers. Despite not knowing how to use some of the gear, the narrator remains optimistic, hoping they’ll have cell service if they need help. They also fit a handlebar bag, made by a local artisan, for easy access to items during the ride.

🍫 Fueling Up: Avoiding Bonking on the Ride

The final task is to eat more during rides to avoid fatigue or 'bonking.' The narrator explains how they felt exhausted after recent long rides, particularly in the legs and butt. They plan to carry both whole foods and energy bars, like goo packs and Hornby bars, in case of emergencies. With these preparations, they are ready to embark on their journey, hoping to catch the ferry to the island.

⛰️ Island Ride Challenges: Hills, Breakdowns, and Goo

The narrator describes their challenging experience riding on the island, including steep hills, bike breakdowns, and the unpleasant taste of goo energy packs. Despite the difficulties, the narrator emphasizes the fulfillment of completing the trip and reflects on how capable they are, encouraging others to stop doubting themselves and to take on new challenges.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Bike tuneup

A bike tuneup refers to a general maintenance check and adjustment of the bike to ensure all parts are working properly. In the video, the speaker mentions getting a tuneup after buying a used gravel bike to avoid any potential safety issues, like squeaky brakes or gears that don’t shift properly. It sets the foundation for her upcoming bike-packing trip.

💡Bike fit

A bike fit involves adjusting the bike to match the rider’s body dimensions, improving comfort and reducing physical strain. The speaker visits a local bike shop for a fitting, where adjustments are made to her saddle and handlebars to alleviate pain in her upper back and lower body. This fit is crucial for long-distance riding.

💡Clipless shoes

Clipless shoes are specialized cycling shoes that attach to the pedals, improving efficiency in pedaling. The speaker considers this upgrade but decides not to try them yet, as she's more comfortable with her current setup and prefers stability on gravel trails. This is an example of how she’s balancing comfort and performance.

💡Bonking

Bonking is a term used in cycling to describe extreme fatigue caused by the depletion of glycogen stores during long rides. The speaker mentions feeling exhausted after previous rides and learns she might have experienced 'bonking.' To prevent it, she stocks up on energy gels and bars to fuel her body during her trip.

💡Handlebar bag

A handlebar bag is a small bag attached to the bike’s handlebars for easy access to essentials like snacks or tools. The speaker buys one from a local shop and praises its practicality for bike-packing trips. It represents her growing preparedness for longer cycling adventures.

💡Bike-packing trip

A bike-packing trip involves riding a bike over long distances while carrying necessary gear for overnight stays. The speaker’s goal is a 125 km trip to a small island, and she prepares by following advice from online comments, adjusting her gear, and preparing physically for the journey.

💡Helmet safety

Helmet safety refers to the practice of ensuring that a bike helmet meets current safety standards to protect the rider’s head during accidents. In the video, the speaker replaces her 7-year-old helmet after being advised that the foam may have degraded over time, emphasizing the importance of safety during rides.

💡Gravel bike

A gravel bike is designed to handle both paved and unpaved roads, making it versatile for different terrains. The speaker's used gravel bike is the central piece of equipment for her trip, reflecting her transition into more adventurous, off-road cycling experiences.

💡Tire repair kit

A tire repair kit includes tools and materials to fix flat tires while on a ride. The speaker mentions getting a kit to avoid relying on others for repairs during her bike-packing trip. This reflects her effort to be self-sufficient and prepared for any issues on the road.

💡Energy gels (goo things)

Energy gels, referred to as 'goo things' by the speaker, are quick-digesting, high-energy snacks used by athletes to refuel during endurance activities. Despite finding them unpleasant, the speaker acknowledges that they helped her finish her bike trip, highlighting the balance between nutrition and performance in endurance cycling.

Highlights

The user bought a used gravel bike with the goal of becoming a dedicated cyclist who enjoys long rides and fun stops.

The first step was getting a bike tune-up to ensure everything worked properly, especially since the bike was bought second-hand.

After the tune-up, the user's brakes no longer squeaked, and the gears shifted smoothly.

Next, the user got a bike fit to resolve back and saddle pain, resulting in seat adjustments for better posture and comfort.

The bike fitter suggested considering a wider, padded saddle and clipless shoes, but the user decided to wait before making additional purchases.

The third essential task was replacing the old bike helmet, which was from 2017 and deemed less safe due to foam degradation over time.

The user purchased a new, safer helmet after being advised by the bike fitter, highlighting the importance of cycling safety.

For better visibility and safety, the user bought heavy-duty front and rear lights and a second water bottle with a cage.

The user also acquired a tire repair kit and learned about the importance of being self-sufficient with bike repairs.

They fitted a rear rack and a handlebar bag, which was custom-made by a local business.

The user emphasized the difficulty of installing the rear rack and handlebar bag, which took over an hour and required help.

The final piece of advice from the comments section was to fuel up properly before and during long rides to avoid exhaustion.

The user carried energy gels and Hornby bars to avoid 'bonking,' a cycling term for running out of energy during long rides.

Despite difficult hills and several bike repairs, the user completed the trip and reflected on overcoming self-doubt.

The trip was a personal achievement, and the user encouraged others to believe in their own capabilities.