DMZ

4/30/2011 4:54 PM(5:54 AM 5/1/2011 Seoul, Korea time) As I write this, I am sitting in my husband’s apartment in Seoul, Korea. It’s early and somehow after almost a week my body is still on good ole USA time.

A few days ago, we visited the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) and this really got me to thinking. Korea fought for decades to get their freedom from Japan. In 1945, they finally did! In 1950, South and North Korea engaged in an all-out civil war. They ARE still fighting this war and are the only country in the entire world that is divided currently. On the 38th parallel is where the country is divided. Along this there are huge barbed wire fences with armed guards and if you cross the 38th parallel, you will either be shocked or shot. This is truly a site to be seen. There are tunnels underground from North Korea that were literally made with dynamite and were intended to launch a full attack on Seoul. South Korea requires their young men to spend 23 months in the ROK Army (Republic of Korea) and North Korea requires their young men to spend almost 10 years in military service.

The DMZ is a 2 mile zone on each side of the 38th parallel. This is a buffer zone between the two sides. Now, we might just think this is a line…but this line divides families, friends, and people of the same country. Very few people are allowed to cross the 38th parallel and if and when they do, it is really restricted as to where they can go.

As we were lucky to see this area, it got me to thinking how lucky we are as Americans. Most of us have never seen any effects of a true war. We very rarely think of those who are fighting in a war and while we truly appreciate them, we can never know what that might be like. We take for granted that we can usually go and see our families and friends with little government restriction. We do not have to look at armed guards every day that are trained to shoot on site. We go about our daily business and dwell on what we think is important and dwell on injustices or something someone did or said to us. I am one who is very guilty of both these things. My own husband has fought in a war that I don’t even want to think about what he does while I am mad because my grass isn’t perfect or someone didn’t invite me to go on a bike ride. REALLY?!?! The DMZ really opened my eyes to how lucky we are all in the USA. Most of us were not alive when the last war was fought on US soil and we usually feel no effects (except rising gas costs which we complain about) so we have no idea what it is like to be in a country truly divided. We really don’t understand how lucky we are. We go about our business without any thought to people who have given their lives so we can go about our business without any thought.

In the Korean War alone, over 100,000 AMERICANS gave their lives to help ensure freedom for South Korea. What does this mean to us? We don’t live in Korea…but it ensures free trade from Korea (more products than you can imagine come from Korea) and an ally if we should come under attack. If you are in the military service, it could mean you might be stationed here and it ensures that Korean people treat you extremely kindly and are very friendly!

So, here’s what I can do about this…I can learn more about this war and appreciate those who gave their lives. I can share this knowledge with others. AND most importantly, I can stop to realize how lucky I am and how good my life is. I will probably keep complaining about my yard and bike rides. But I am going to try and keep it all in perspective and be thankful that I am an American and that God has afforded me opportunities that some people will never have. Here’s the challenge to you…can you do that? Stop! Think about how lucky we are and then be thankful for our lives as Americans and not complain about things that we are extremely lucky to have?!?! We have never really seen a true war and we can see anyone we want without government restriction. We do not have to be afraid of crossing from Texas into Oklahoma (or any other state) without being shot. We do not have to see armed guards daily and be separated by a 2 mile DMZ with nasty looking barbed wire…We can ride our bikes across the entire country if we wanted to!!!!

So, today, think about how lucky we are and be thankful! That’s what I am going to try and do!

More stuff you can actually use...

So, yesterday, I got in my April Century.  My friend, Lou, somehow convinced me to join UMCA - Ultra Marathon Cycling Association-Year Rounder Challenge (http://www.ultracycling.com/standings/umc.html)%20so so I have been trying to get a century a month.  Fortunately, they let you count a century over 90 miles because I ran out of daylight and my get-up and go-got up and went!  While I was riding, the front of my knee hurt like the dickens (and how bad does the dickens hurt??? hmmmmm....).  Now, I have made several changes to my bike so last night I went to actually look for a chart that would help me narrow it down.  I found one and it was very helpful and thought it might be worth sharing.  Now, do NOT take this in lieu of a professional fitting which you can get at a professional bicycle fitter/shop near you.  But here is a chart that may be helpful if you are trying to get dialed in or can't figure out what it could be at midnight...

 Directly From http://www.caree.org/bike101bikefit.htm

 

Troubleshooting Common Bike-Fit Problems

 

Symptom/Likely Cause /Solution

 

You’re always scooting forward on the seat /Stem may be too long so you pull yourself forward as you ride; saddle nose may be tipped down too much/Install a shorter stem; level saddle

 

You’re always scooting back on the seat /Stem may be too short so you feel cramped and push yourself back; saddle nose may be tipped back; saddle may be too far forward on the rails /Install a longer stem; level the seat and center it on the rails; move your seat back

Lower back hurts /Stem too low or too long; must strain back to reach bars; or seat may be too high, causing rocking when pedaling /Try raising the stem/handlebars; still hurts? try shorter stem; check and adjust seat height

 

Neck hurts /Stem too low; must crane neck to see/ Raise the stem/bars

 

Hands hurt /Stem too low; too much weight on hands; saddle may be pointed down /Raise the stem/bars; level saddle

 

Front of knee hurts /Seat too low and/or too far forward, straining knees /Raise seat; may need to move seat further back as well

 

Back of knee hurts /Seat too high, over-extending leg /Lower seat

 

Numb bum all the time /Too much weight on the seat; may need to slide back a little on the seat. /Try to sit such that you feel the weight on your sit bones rather than the front or center of your crotch Lower handlebar position; check seat height as it may be too high; May need to try another brand of shorts and or seat; lose weight

 

Achilles tendon hurts/ Pedaling too much on your toes; cleats too far forward on your shoes; feet may not be forward enough over the pedal /Keep the balls of your feet over the pedals when you’re pedaling; move cleats back.

 

Bad gas/ Eating too many energy bars /Ride at the back of the pack

 

Extra Bike-Fit Tips

•  How you ride has a lot to do with comfort, too. The number one problem for many cyclists is what I call the vulture riding position, because it resembles that animal’s posture. It’s what a cyclist looks like when he locks his elbows and raises his shoulders, a position even hard-core pedalers often develop. You’ll feel a lot better if you RELAX. Every few miles, shrug your shoulders and let them drop and keep those elbows bent.
• Never raise any bike part too high because it can lead to failure and a crash. Parts are usually marked with limit lines that, when exposed, indicate that the part is too high. Heed these markings.
• Once you’ve found the correct seat height, mark the seat post. Please do this before you travel. This way—if the post slips, or when you pack the bike for shipping—you’ll quickly be able to get it back in the right spot.
• Likewise, measure from the top of the saddle to the center of the pedal axle (put the pedal at the bottom of its stroke, down around six o’clock) and memorize and jot down the number where you can find it. It’ll come in handy if you have to set up another bike, say a rental or borrowed one.
• Early in the season you’re not as flexible and you’ll probably enjoy a higher handlebar position. As you ride more regularly, you’ll gain flexibility and may want to lower the bars to stretch out a bit more.
• Women often require additional changes such as narrower handlebars, shorter stems and easier to operate brake levers.

 

 

 

 

 

A post you can actually use-how to pack your bike bag

As I was repacking my bike bag to ride this morning, I thought of my dear friend, Ginger.  She taught me this valuable trick some time ago and while I would love to say I thought of it, I didn't!! However, it is extremely valuable and thought I would share it with you!

How to pack your bike bag that goes on your bike:

1. Gather your supplies.  I carry two tubes, two Co2s, two Co2 heads, 3 tire levers and an alien tool.  Why?  1) I have gotten two flats on one ride, 2) if a friend has a flat you have spare stuff, 3) if you have one flat and forget to reload your bag, you still have one set of repair supplies, 4) if you lose one Co2 head on the road, you still have an extra.

So, how do you get all this stuff in that little bag...here's Ginger's trick...take the tubes and wrap them in plastic wrap.  It gets all the air out and makes them smaller.  So, I actually hate plastic wrap so if that doesn't work, use aluminum foil.  You can still squeeze the tube together tight. It is not quite as effective but it will work in a pinch.  As you can see I have one in plastic wrap and one in aluminum foil. 

2. It depends on the size of your bag but usually putting the tubes at the bottom and a Co2 cartridge in the middle works for me.  Then work the rest of the goodies into the bag.  See, I have my tubes at the bottom, one Co2 on the bottom.  My alien tool, other Co2 and tire levers are on top.  You can't see this but there is a pocket on the inside of the flap and that's where one of the Co2 heads are and one is actually on Co2 cartridge to save a little more space. It might be a tight squeeze but you can do it now the tubes are much smaller!  Thanks again Ginger!  Do you really need all this stuff?  Maybe not the additional Co2 head but the rest I would take!

3. Yes, I really do have all this stuff in my bag and on my bike.  Stop me and I will show barring I don't have a flat and forget to repack it.  Not only do I have it on my bike, I have bottle holders on the back of my bike and my bag is tucked under that.  This is very useful also because in the summer, I go on long rides with few stops and I drink a ton of water/electrolytes. 

Now, go ride your bike!