So as part of our Summer of Adventure, J and I are doing the Escape from Alcatraz race in SF in June (see previous posts) and the very next weekend doing a 143 mile bike ride from Harpoon Brewery (in Boston) to Harpoon Brewery in VT (see links). I can’t say I’ve been on my bike longer than 4 hrs maximum. So the prospect of having my butt on the saddle for 8+ hrs isn’t exactly exciting. However, I’ve been convinced that “riding 143 miles in a group where you can draft is probably like riding 100 miles” (direct quote from J). But here’s the rub. I’ve never done either. My biggest fear is that my butt will get numb, chaffed, or both half way through the ride and I’ll be miserable.
Being the ultimate planner, I’ve been looking at some really high quality bike shorts, a la Assos or Castelli and asked various people their opinion about high quality (read: expensive) cycling shorts. Oddly, I only sought the opinions of men who I know spend a great deal of time on their bikes. Somehow I failed to get the female perspective. This probably stems from the fact that I have a slew of friends (male) who are cyclists and not many female friends who (a) cycle a whole lot or (b) would spend $150 on a pair of bike shorts. Believe me, it pains me to do it….but as a wise woman said, if you’re going to be on your bike for 8 hrs, and the shorts are $150, thats less than $20 per hour for guaranteed comfort. That’s just assuming I wear them once. Notice that both brands are not American (I’ve never been a huge “Buy American” advocate, but that doesn’t make me unpatriotic. It just makes me smart because I recognize that the Italians and Swiss know how to make good products. Cycling gear in this case).
Another piece of gear that has been the object of my desire is a really good pair of sunglasses. I am a sunglass whore. Really. I must have 8 pairs, 3 of which I use on a regular basis. I have a pair of Native Eyewear Hardtop (the most awesome-est sunglasses made with a great warranty), a pair of designer (really can’t remember which one) sunglasses that are polarized that I wear so I don’t look like a sports junkie all the time, and a pair of Specialized Helix Optics. The problem with the Specialized optics is that when I wear them biking, they’re clear as long as I’m going fast but the minute I’m climbing a hill or going somewhat slower, they fog immediately. There isn’t enough ventilation and the sweat from my brow gets caught in the upper portion of the lens and then smears, also making it tough to see. A friend loves the Rudy Project optics so I thought I’d try them.
Yesterday a.m. after biking at Hains Point for an hour, I came home, puttered around, and decided that while I was supposed to be getting ready to go to work, I’d rather go on Colorado Cyclist and buy a pair of Assos FI Lady Shorts and a pair of Rudy Project Kerosene Carbon. I should have them by Tuesday next week. I felt immediately guilty for dropping that kind of cash on bike gear but I’m sure I’ll recover.
I’ll report back once both purchases are in hand and somewhat tested. It will be good to see if the shorts are really worth the $$ and whether the glasses solve the ventilation issue. I’m all about being comfortable as I ride 80 to 100 miles at a time.
