shoe blues => new shoes

That old pair of Diadoras has logged 2,296.56903005 mi. They are now a puppet. I can haz new shoez.

I found out that I've been rocking MTB shoes/pedals on my road bike all this time. Also, there was a considerable amount of grit in the bindings. Thanks to Glendale Cycles for hooking it up in the 'hood.

Also, we saw a horse of a different color at the show Cavalia Odysseo in Burbank, CA. Acrobats, stunts, dancing, music, it was like the Emerald City brought before our eyes. And William Chatner was there too!

What a Super Tuesday!  Tags: clipless, cycling, dancing, diadora, distance, education, green, love, Map My Ride, motivation, mountains, pain, pedals, plants, shimano, shoes, spring, summer, teamwork, technology, weight loss, winning, winter, writing

Seduction

The chemistry of seduction is an elaborate molecular dance.  I was driving to school the other day thinking about how I was seduced by the whole idea of being a working, participating scientist.  The image came into my mind about being female, being seduced, being the object, being the target, reining in the sexuality, dominating the competition, overcoming skeptics, and always going back to Eve and that tree of knowledge.

Why does sister sound like sinister?  I went to a workshop in NoHo and there was no hate to be found there.  We exorcised it...gave it a break...broke the chains...freed our hearts...Rather than the typical battles, we just showed up and gave each other our support. What if all of life was like that?

According to about.com "abilities in subjects such as math are actually strongest when both halves of the brain work together." Therefore, engaging in dance (study of music), color, recognizing faces, expressing emotions, reading emotions, following one's intuition, and producing creative work is necessary to keep the brain of a person who regularly exercises logic, critical thinking, numbers, reasoning, and language healthy and connected.

Also, thinking about body language.  My friend is starting an acting class, the first topic of which was body language.  In a classroom, I bring a set of body language to the environment.  So far, I have had the desks in my classroom in clusters of 4, split in half by a diagonal, facing front, facing side.  We're getting to know each other, the students and I.  There is a "reading assignment" and "lecture topics" list posted now for each class meeting.  I really enjoyed the Rock with H.E.R. workshop because it gave me a bunch of confidence, and a set of body postures to match.

Also thinking about didgeridoo.  We attended a public lecture about sleep apnea given by USC Medical School.  The last seminar of a 4-seminar program was about how playing the didgeridoo could improve the quality of life for sufferers of sleep apnea.  The link to an article in the British Medical Journal is here.  I was driving in my car and heard Jamiroquai Synkronized and started jamming with Wallace Buchannan on the digderidoo.  Talk about rhythms and vibe.  I don't think we'll buy one, but maybe tapping into the Hu could work with or without the instrument.

Speaking of cycling news, in the course of biking to school twice I busted my shank.  So I guess that means it's time for new shoes.  But that's two days of not driving and two days of biking a moderate distance.  It was scary the first day and less scary the second day.  I don't know what I'll do this Tuesday because I fear at any moment my shoe will disconnect itself, leaving the bottom half clipped to the pedal and the top half flapping in the breeze.

Clipless pedals

So, I finally got my first donated gear and it is all the more special because it comes from someone I love and respect very much, my cousin Josef Nygaard. He gave me a pair of Diadora Geko road shoes (men's size 7) that he had outgrown several years ago. They turned out to be perfect for me because they are already "broken in" but not completely broken down. To match them, I got Shimano 505 Clipless Pedals from my local bike shop (Anthony's Cyclery).

I have already been warned from experienced cyclists that they really are entry level pedals, recommended because they are "perfect for first timers" due to their doublesidedness, and they are not really suitable for intense training. They are advertised as being stylish, durable, and affordable, I got the whole system for under $60. I've been told that they are appropriate for "commuting and easy riding" and I have also been told that on intense rides I will experience the "burning diamond" of heat generated in the small area where the shoe contacts the pedal. I'm hoping to train on them for at least 6 months before upgrading to something more professional. If I don't notice any problems, I can just keep them.

I've already enjoyed a couple easy rides back/forth to work (3) and several leisurely rides around Riverside (10.26 mi last Saturday and 32.96 mi this Tuesday) and I haven't noticed any serious problems except for the first time I clipped in and panicked when I tried to clip out and stop. Unfortunately, I tipped straight over, but I hear this happens alot.

It had been said to me over and over that pedal systems conserve energy, helping the cyclist ride longer, stronger, and faster. So far I've noticed the benefits most on challenging hills that previously were a lot of work, but now seem downright fun. It's definitely easier to sprint uphill. As for flat ground, being clipped in helps when trying to maintain a steady but quick pace. I do have a bit of anxiety about going downhill (coasting) and being clipped in. In fact, I had a near collision at the bottom of the Canyon Crest hill (near the golf course) where a truck almost turned right into me. Luckily I was able to slow enough and he saw me and stopped also. Glad I didn't completely panic and fall over again. I did experience a tiny bit of fishtailing of my rear tire so I guess I need to consult "Effective Cycling" for more adventageous braking protocols.