Week 1: The Cow "Weighs" In...

I've decided that Fridays are a good day to not only reflect on the previous week, but it's also a good day to weigh myself (before weekend indulgence takes over)...

First of all, it's been a productive week I think. Even though I didn't work out as much as I would have liked due to one aggravation reason or another, I was still very mindful of what I was eating and tried to make the best decision possible. For example, on Wednesday, I went to Wendy's for lunch. I had chili (good decision) and a baked potato (moderately good decision) and about 10 crackers (not a good decision) WITHOUT butter (great decision). Wednesday night I skipped the glass of wine since I figured I had eaten enough calories in crackers earlier in the day. So, while the crackers weren't a great idea, I decided that was my indulgence for the day. When I start to prioritize when, where, and with whom I want to enjoy my meals, it makes it easier to eat healthy I think.

Another productive moment this week? Starting this blog! I've wanted to join the blogging world for like a year, and it feels great to finally have moved forward with that goal. It makes me feel somewhat accountable for my actions and I think it will definitely help keep me on track for my 100 miles on June 5th!

A not so productive moment this week? I went to bed at 7:30 on Thursday night and I wasn't even tired. I was just being a lazy cow.

In the end, I think getting myself back in the habit of making healthy choices and starting this blog contributed to an overall successful week - I weighed myself this morning and I lost 2.2 pounds!

So now? TGIF! I plan to have some wine and hopefully a good steak at some point and enjoy the company of a friend we haven't seen in a while. I'm also planning to go to two yoga classes and get in at least one long bike ride this weekend - the weather looks like it's going to be fantastic here in Wichita! I also plan to do some reading in my hammock on the deck.

What about you? What are your plans for enjoying a happy, healthy weekend?

Chelsea

The Girly Perspective on Cycling Gear

So, I'm not going to lie...one of the things I love about cycling is buying gear (minus the spandex- so gross). But, you really have to watch your budget because these bike things can get real expensive real fast...

Bike jerseys are my favorite! They can be as unique or as simple as you want. In fact, you can even get custom bike jerseys made (no, I haven't done this YET). I think I currently own six jerseys. I definitely don't need that many, but I can't resist - especially when I get them for a deal on Ebay or Craig's List. My favorite jersey came from a recent vacation to Napa Valley. We went to the Spoke Folk Cyclery in Healdsburg, CA. (Some very nice people there - ask for Kimberly. She's cool.)

On a side note, I think bike jerseys would be really cute with jeans and some funky sandals, but the husband disagrees. I haven't decided for sure yet, but I might try to start that trend. Stay tuned for more info. on "Bike Jersey Friday." It's coming...

The one downfall is that bike jersey fabric is easy to pick and then they look tacky and worn. So you really have to take care of your biking apparel and wash by hand. This is somewhat of a pain.

This is my favorite jersey from Spoke Folk Cyclery.

Then there's the shoes and clips (notice I've skipped the spandex bike shorts and went straight to the feet - again, spandex, so gross). I don't think there are quite as many options on shoes as there are on bike jerseys, but there are still many. I guess it mostly depends on what kinds of clips you have. I have Shimano SPDs. I like them, but I will say I take a long time to clip in which is bad when I'm stopped at a light and trying to cross the street, but I'm still not sure if that's user error or not. While I typically love shopping for shoes, bike shoes aren't exactly my favorite. They're not stylish, and they make you walk funny. I'm considering purchasing those mountain bike shoes that fit more like a tennis shoe. Anyone have thoughts or experiences on that one? The other option is to go with SpeedPlay clips for no other reason then they come in pink and that's just cool. Hopefully, clipping in faster would just come with the territory.

These are my current clips.

These are the clips I want - in PINK.

These are my current shoes.

The most important piece of gear for cycling is the helmet. You must protect your brain. You need your brain to go to work and do a good job so you can pay for all your hobbies - like biking. I don't really know what else to say about that one except go buy a helmet BEFORE you make cycling a hobby.

This is my current helmet (BORING), but it does save lives...

Then come the accessories. There's bike jackets, arm warmers, foot warmers, gloves, tights, sunglasses, little funny-looking mirrors that attach to your helmet or sunglasses so you can see behind you, bike bags, water bottles, bike computers, gps watches, and much more I'm sure, but this list is getting ridiculous.

These are my gloves. I thought about investing in a cool pair, but I've since learned that when you need to wipe your nose mid-ride, this is where it goes. Lesson learned?

Don't spend a lot of money on gloves.

I also have a Garmin GPS watch that I'm still getting used to. It's huge - like literally wearing a computer on your arm. But, it does make me look like I know what I'm doing.

This is my Garmin GPS watch. Not attractive, but functional...I guess.

OK, I guess I have to say something about spandex shorts since you have to wear them (unless you enjoy having a numb butt). I recommend first trying them on in the fitting room. This will more than likely be an unpleasant experience (well, maybe it's only bad for cows - I don't know). Whatever you do, don't try them on with a full stomach. You'll want to die. Second, the more uncomfortable these shorts are in the fitting room, the more comfortable they'll be on your bike. I remember thinking that there was no way I would ever wear my shorts again. They felt like I was wearing a diaper. But I was forced to get them because I had bike plans the next day. Let's just say I've never regretted that purchase. Your spandex is another thing you'll want to wash delicately and take care of. They don't come cheap and I don't know anyone who wants to spend a lot of money on that! I have two pairs of bike shorts. My Pearl Izumi's (the diaper shorts) I wear on longer rides and the Quest shorts are for 20 miles and under.

I told my husband about this post before it was published and he asked if I was going to include things about wrenches and stuff. That's why I changed the name of this post from "Cycling Gear" to "A Girly Perspective on Cycling Gear." For any guys reading this, wrenches and other things manly will be included in a later post about tools and equipment (something I still need to learn more about).

So, do any of you have any bike gear or accessories you really like - besides a basket? (Although I do have one of those on my leisure bike, too.)

On another note, blogging is fun. My only problem is that I read these posts 8 million times before I publish. Will I ever get over that?

Happy cycling,
Chelsea

Yes, I'm a crazy cycling cow...

My name is Chelsea.

I like to ride my road bike. Actually, I like to ride all kinds of bikes. Something about a beautiful day and fresh air just doesn't seem like exercise. I hear that's how all exercise "should" be. To bad, I just can't agree with that, but I do like cycling.

During the summer of 2009, I was determined to no longer be a cow. Kudos to me! I lost 25 pounds. Then I became so satisfied with my progress, I quit trying to loose more weight (even though I still had about 35 more pounds to go). And so, I stayed a cow - just a smaller cow.

Around that time, I discovered cycling - mainly because my husband does triathlons (yes, yes, woa is me, I'm a cow and my husband is skinny- whatever). But I had the best summer last year because I truly enjoyed our Sunday morning date rides, and I decided that this was the activity for me! Go out and burn 1,000 calories while having the time of your life. What a deal, right? (This takes us to present day...)

Since I'm enjoying cycling (and even winter spin classes), I've decided it's time. It's time for me to kick this cycle love up a notch. My new venture is to train with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Societies (LLS) Team in Training to do a 100-mile bike ride in Lake Tahoe June 5, 2011.



Have I lost my mind? Probably. Do I have to raise a lot of money? Yep. Am I probably going to regret this somewhere along the way? Sure. But right now I'm excited. And I'm sure it will all be worth it when I cross that finish line on June 5th. Not to mention, I'm helping a lot of people with the money I raise. (By the way, if you've already donated to my ride, THANK YOU! If you want to donate, visit http://pages.teamintraining.org/ks/ambbr11/cgaspard.)

Finally...the purpose for this blog:
I will document all my training and fundraising experiences here. I'll also probably talk a lot about food because riding my bike makes me hungry and I like to eat. And since I want to ride 100 miles, I need to try and loose about 15 more pounds (the less junk I have to tote in the trunk come June 5th, the better). So...I'll be more hungry from more exercise and I still need to loose weight? This should be an interesting blog.

Anyway, I hope you'll stick with me through this new venture and provide your insights and comments wherever you want. (FYI - The more motivation you can give me the better.)

Now I'm off to eat a Lean Cuisine even though I'd much prefer Taco Shop...
Chelsea