Apples and Oranges

Ride #1

Growing up, my favorite day of the school year was the very first day.  I got to wear my new school clothes that matched my awesome scrunchies and put my new pencils to work on fresh, crisp notebooks.  I seemed to run faster and write prettier. I felt fancy.  Everything seemed to be as it should be because it was all new.  Truthfully, I still get this way each school year even as a teacher, but that’s another story for another day.

I had a feeling riding this new bike would be very similar to my feelings when August rolled around.  I was hoping for the best but preparing for the worst. The only difference was this course didn't come with a syllabus. 

When I ride with Lori, we typically meet up at her house, drive to our starting point, and then begin our ride.  This particular time we started from her house.  The last time we started from her house, I drove the struggle bus while she practically pulled me the entire way.  Thankfully, she was kind enough to let me draft off her back tire for the majority of the ride.  Needless to say, I was slightly apprehensive.

I’m not sure if it was the excitement of using a new bike that boosted my confidence but I could immediately tell that this was going to be different.  The kind of different that doesn't make you hate life. Here are some of the key differences I was able to notice within the first few minutes of our ride:

Bike Frame:

The carbon frame made a bigger difference than I anticipated.  I’ve heard it said before that carbon is better and it really is worth spending the extra money, but I never believed it. The light frame helped reduce fatigue far more than I could have imagined.

The Specialized Rumor mountain bike I had ridden before is made of aluminum. It's great for the trails but didn't hold a candle to the lightness and agility of the carbon frame on the gravel bike. 

Handlebars:

 mountain bike handlebars

gravel bike handlebars

I have always been accustomed to using handlebars that go straight across.  However, this bike’s set up is very similar to that of a road bike, including the handlebars.  There are three options to place your hands; it took a minute for me to get adjusted to having my hands in different positions but it quickly became second nature. 

The only obstacle I ran into was trying to use the brakes while my hands were in the drops.  My hands are rather small so it's a stretch for my fingers to reach and grab the brakes when needed.  Other than that, I noticed using the drops on downhill portions of the road gave me more control of the bike and helped maintain an aerodynamic position to increase speed. 

Gears:

I’m used to seeing what gear I’m using on my mountain bike though you can certainly go off of feel.  On this specific gravel bike there aren’t visual indicators as to what gear you’re using.  I’m sure there is a rhyme and reason.

Gear shift levers are on the front side of the bike by the brakes and right above the drops on both sides.  The right side operates the gears while the left side controls the transition from the big ring to the little ring.  These are utilized for climbing hills.

To shift down you move the shift lever towards the front wheel and to shift up you move both the brake and the lever towards the front wheel.  This is a transition from my other bike; there are four shift levers. All of them are controlled independently. 

Tires:

mountain bike tires

gravel bike tire

These tires are a happy medium between a mountain bike and a road bike tire.  They are able to go over rough terrain and take a slight beating but can’t handle the more difficult surfaces and obstacles like a mountain bike tire.

They certainly held their own on the gravel roads, yet they were light enough to tackle the pavement without feeling like a ton of bricks were in tow.

Shocks:

gravel bike shock

mountain bike rear shock

mountain bike front shock

This gravel bike stands tall with a total of one shock and it is located in the stem of the handlebars as opposed to my Specialized Rumor which is a full suspension Cadillac. Where hitting large bumps and potholes would be like a small bump, I now have to be more careful unless I want to cause damage to the bike as well as my back. However, the shock in the handlebars is a nice little bonus and better than nothing.  I’m assuming there are more options when it comes to shocks as the price increases.

With my full suspension mountain bike I do have the option of locking out both the front and rear shocks. This is a nice option if I wanted to make it a stiffer ride for different types of terrain. Prime example: pavement.

Water Bottle Cages:

gravel bike bottle cages

mountain bike bottle cage

I know this may not even seem noteworthy but proper nutrition during any kind of physical activity is just as important as the activity itself. Replacing electrolytes and staying properly hydrated is half the battle.

Depending on the design of the frame you can place multiple cages on your bike.  With my mountain bike I only have room for one due to the rear suspension.  This forces me to ride with an extra bottle in the back pocket of my jersey or wear my Osprey hydration pack.  The option for two bottles on the gravel bike is a huge perk!

I wasn't anticipating to enjoy my first ride on the gravel bike as much as I did.  I'm sure part of it was the adrenaline and excitement of a new toy, but I didn't hate it one bit.  The ride was far more enjoyable than previous rides. Climbing hills didn't feel like I was carrying 200 pounds.  I was able to sprint up the hill; "sprint" being a very generous word.

Both bikes are incredible options for their respected categories. But just like I wouldn't wear high heels to run a half marathon, I don't think I would ride my mountain bike on gravel roads when there are options that are better suited for the job.   

Why Blog About Cycling?

I thoroughly enjoy anything that pushes me physically (except running...unless Chick-fil-a is involved). That's why I like CrossFit.  It's challenging and I leave feeling like I have accomplished something awesome enough to remove the guilt and shame of consuming a big bowl of Bluebell ice cream. Even though I'm a creature of habit, I do enjoy trying new activities.  So when a friend from the gym asked me if I was up for riding gravel roads with her, I immediately agreed.  I wanted to see how my ability in the gym translated to something different; truth be told, I just wanted to see if I could keep up with a seasoned cyclist who could easily lap me.   

When I agreed to ride with Lori, I had no idea what to expect. I prefer trails, handling downhills, and maneuvering around trees. The thought of sitting in a saddle doing the same monotonous motion without the thrill of dodging a tree seemed overrated.  

This one-time gravel ride quickly turned into weekly rides.  Lori would ask if I would be up for another ride and I would show right back up.  She has been gracious enough to answer all of my questions and even put up with my frequent grumbling.  This grumbling is often from a distance because I tend to be chasing her more often than not.  

                                                                  

My mountain bike

Our first ride went great! The only problem was I felt like I was working ten times harder than Lori and I could barely keep up, especially on the climbs.  I knew that she was going to stay ahead of me for the majority of the ride but I didn't expect to lose sight of her more than once.  Was it me? Was it the bike? Or just a healthy combination of both? 

One thing I did notice that caught my attention was how different our bikes were.  Handlebars, wheels, suspension, etc.  I started asking questions and picking her brain, but her answers didn't suffice.  Truthfully, I wasn't convinced that a bike made that much of a difference.

Lori's cadillac

                                                                

When our local bike shop caught wind that I (a newbie) had been frequenting the gravel roads with Lori (a veteran cyclist), they approached me and asked if I would be interested in documenting my experience.  They wanted to know what it would be like from a rookie's perspective. 

I'm not a blogger.  I have a few talents but blogging is NOT one of them. But when a good opportunity comes at your way, you jump on it. A "gift" of mine is the ability to not say "no". Combine the two and you have created the perfect storm.

So I'm blogging and documenting my experience(s).  I know very little about all of this so I feel very much like a newborn giraffe trying to walk, but I'm learning and enjoying the process along the way.  

All Bikes Are Not Created Equal

For as long as I can remember, I have always enjoyed a good challenge. My brother and I would make a competition out of anything and my goal was not only to win but to prove to him that I was as tenacious as my hair was big.

There’s just something about healthy competition.  Whether it’s against an opponent, the clock, or against yourself, there is a deep sense of accomplishment when you finish something you set out to do.  Long suffering and perseverance is sadly a lost art and one that I'm slowly learning to love. 

In 2012, some friends convinced me to do a local adventure race with them.  It’s basically a big team scavenger hunt with multiple tasks through each course of the race. Your goal: collect all the stamps for your “passport” and cross the finish line before everyone else. You run. You canoe. And you bike.  I like to call it a lazy man’s triathlon even though it leaves you exhausted when it's all said and done. The first adventure race I completed was an urban race and it was a blast. So I immediately agreed to the next one.  Little did I know that it was located at Kincaid Lake in KisatchieNational Forest.

At the time I had what I thought to be a decent bike. It was a hybrid that was more comfortable than my SUV. My bike did fine in the first race so I assumed that it would do great in the next one.  I didn’t know that all bikes are not created equal or that mine really wasn't designed for what I was putting it through. It was a lesson quickly learned and forever remembered. It’s hard to forget crossing the finish line while others are packing up and leaving because they have already eaten and enjoyed the post-race treats.  Did I mention how humbling it was for someone who thoroughly enjoys anything competitive?

I sensed these races would be part of the norm and I refused to drive the struggle bus again the same way I did at Kincaid so I invested in a mountain bike.  Nothing fancy. No bells and whistles.  Just an entry level mountain bike.  I was so proud! If I didn’t know what I was doing, at least I looked the part riding a bike that was better suited for what I was doing.  I still wanted to tackle the same trails that kicked my tail, but I had no idea where to start or what to do. 

Thanks to the kindness of a friend at the local bike shop, Red River Cyclery, that changed.  Matt was an experienced cyclist who specialized (no pun intended) in mountain biking. He had special shoes that were attached to the pedals. His gloves matched his shoes and his helmet didn’t look like the WalMart special I was sporting. But my hair did look better than his.  He frequented the trails as much as I frequented the local CrossFit gym and it was evident that he knew what he was doing. Though he was a veteran, he was kind enough to slow down, teach me the basics, and give me helpful pointers that enabled me to actually enjoy the very thing that demolished my pride a few months prior. 

My time on the trails had been utterly redeemed and I absolutely loved it.  There was something unique about that morning.  As kind and generous as Matt was to let me tag along, it wasn’t him.  Maybe it was the stillness of the morning and the ability to step away and unplug for just a moment. Or maybe it was the sheer silence from the hectic patterns of the everyday hustle and bustle.  More than likely it was the lightning speed of lactic acid building up in my quads combined with the desperate need of oxygen; that kind of feeling isn’t one you ever forget no matter how awesome the experience.

Though several years have passed and my skill level has improved slightly, I’m still a newbie trying to figure out this whole recreational cycling thing.  However, the lessons I’ve learned thus far and the respite it has provided in the midst of an ever increasing pace of life has been a good gift from a Greater Giver and for that I am utterly thankful.