So I picked my bike up from the local bike shop on Wednesday, nicely tuned (turns out the chain had stretched a bit and the rear tire was shot, so both were replaced), and stopped at MEC as well over the next couple of days to buy an odometer and cycling gloves. There are still a bunch of things I can't afford in terms of equipping myself and my bike, especially for longer rainy rides, but I am itching to get going again.
Last year, though the updates on this blog don't reflect that, I rode well into September, mostly commuting between Hamilton and Guelph for work. It was on the last ride home that I got a flat on a cool, rainy day, just a few kilometres from work. I was descending a fairly long hill and noticed the rear of my bike feeling somewhat swishy-weird, not cluing in right away that I had a flat. Finding no place nearby with even a decent shoulder on which to stop to change the tire in the rain, I got off and walked it for about an hour until someone was kind enough to give me a ride into the next little town. From there I called my partner to come and pick me up. Unfortunately the bead on the rear tire was damaged beyond repair, hence the replacement of the rear tire.
Anyway, being eager to ride again now and still being unable to afford decent gear for riding in cold, rainy weather, I'm not too happy about the near-constant rain we've had for the past four days. It looks like it may let up by early afternoon tomorrow. I think I'll take my bike along to work to go for a little lunch-time ride tomorrow.
While I was waiting, I did finally order a trekking, or butterfly, handlebar. I've been to a number of bicycle stores around Hamilton, Burlington and Guelph, but no one carries this type of handlebar. The owner of the little local bike shop had at least heard of it and suggested I check with Nashbar -- they were all out of stock. Harris Cyclery and Wallinford Bicycle Parts both carry them. I ordered mine from the latter. I look forward to its arrival and to installing it on my bike. Hopefully my cables will all be long enough and it will make a difference both in terms of hand positions and posture--it should allow me to sit up a little more. I may well have to get a new stem though, either an adjustable one or one with a sharper angle to raise the handlebar enough. See examples of bikes with trekking bars here, here, here, and here.
While visiting the various bicycle stores over the past few days, I also inquired into bike fitting. Along with a general snobbishness and a marked bias towards road bikes and roadies, I found that none of the shops offering bike fitting did so for mountain bikes, even when I mentioned that I was using mine largely on the road for longer rides. Given this situation, I think I will simply have to do some research and use the trial and error method, tinkering with this and that until I get a fit that works for me on my bike.
