So clearly I am not a blogger. I can't nor apparently have the desire to keep up with this. That said, let me at least update you on plans for 2011.
Kevin and I will be doing the WV MS Ride "Country Roads Ride" on August 20-21. It will be the first time together since Cape Cod since we couldn't make calendars work last year. I am looking forward to it.
And then on September 17-18 I will be in Tulsa OK riding in the "Mother Road Ride" from Tulsa to OK City. I am excited about this ride because my niece Karen lives/works in Norman and we are going to get to see each other. In fact, I might spend Saturday night at her home if I decide camping is too rough given that the town of Chandler OK only has two hotels and both have been booked for several months.
West Virginia MS Ride
Oklahoma MS Ride
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Morning Ride
Got my first before-work ride in this season. Went out on Tuesday by myself and did the traditional west loop - Windsor to Duncan to Old Church to Philo Road and back home. It's about 17 miles. It was wonderful to get out with temperatures in the upper-50s. Looking forward to many, many more - with Knut, Nancy and Rick, hopefully.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Welcome 2010
I went out for the first time this season today. It was a bright sunny day with only a slight breeze. Temperatures were in the mid 40s. It was supposed to get to 50 today, but I don't believe it will. Regardless, it was a good ride and good to get out. I did the west loop extended (meaning I went as far west as Staley before coming back).
I reset the bike computer before I went out so that it would reflect all of 2010 in the ODO totals. In doing so, I wiped off the 2009 total - a new record for me - 1902 miles. A great year. Let's see if I can top that this year.
I reset the bike computer before I went out so that it would reflect all of 2010 in the ODO totals. In doing so, I wiped off the 2009 total - a new record for me - 1902 miles. A great year. Let's see if I can top that this year.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
More on W.R.A.T.H.
Sunday was only slightly better than Saturday. It wasn't raining when we started the ride, but it misted and drizzled a lot of the day. For some reason (the lousy weather) the Society decided to cancel the long route (75 miles), so that let only the 44 mile route as the long option. That route took us back through Custer State Park With the mist and fog, we missed seeing any buffalo. However, on the ride, I did see several flocks of wild turkeys.
What I didn't do is figure out how to use my new Garmin Edge 705 GPS. And that is unfortunate, because I could have had a map of the route that would have helped me remember and retrace my steps. I have since figured out how to use the device and have used it to record several rides. I am still trying to figure out how to create and edit routes, but I think that will come with time.
Here is a picture from Saturday.
What I didn't do is figure out how to use my new Garmin Edge 705 GPS. And that is unfortunate, because I could have had a map of the route that would have helped me remember and retrace my steps. I have since figured out how to use the device and have used it to record several rides. I am still trying to figure out how to create and edit routes, but I think that will come with time.
Here is a picture from Saturday.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
W.R.A.T.H. 2009
The Weekend Ride Around the Hills is done.
The good news is that my new, really expensive Gore Bike Wear rain jacket works GREAT. The bad news is, I needed it all weekend. Most of South Dakota enjoyed sunny and warm weather this weekend, but there was a small little area that was centered around Mt. Rushmore that rained all weekend and never warmed up.
Saturday started with rain and for the next six hours, it rained. Sometimes hard, sometimes not very hard. But until about 2:00pm, it was really nasty. And climbing the hills (mountains?) in the rain is not fun and even scary. I smartly elected not to do the century and only did 71 miles, hitting a top speed of 43 mph coming down some hill. I have a feeling it was after leaving the four presidents. It was sunny then and the road was dry. And for those of you that have been to Mount Rushmore, you know the road down to Keystone is steep.
Dinner last night was at the Mount Rushmore Cafe where we got to select from anything and everything we wanted from the counters. I ate a lot. And then the staff gave away a few door prizes. I won the big prize of the night!! It is a new Garmin Edge 705 Bike Computer with the US Street map option. It is a wonderful device that I am anxious to learn how to use.
I am in Sioux Falls SD tonight. I'll write more later.
The good news is that my new, really expensive Gore Bike Wear rain jacket works GREAT. The bad news is, I needed it all weekend. Most of South Dakota enjoyed sunny and warm weather this weekend, but there was a small little area that was centered around Mt. Rushmore that rained all weekend and never warmed up.
Saturday started with rain and for the next six hours, it rained. Sometimes hard, sometimes not very hard. But until about 2:00pm, it was really nasty. And climbing the hills (mountains?) in the rain is not fun and even scary. I smartly elected not to do the century and only did 71 miles, hitting a top speed of 43 mph coming down some hill. I have a feeling it was after leaving the four presidents. It was sunny then and the road was dry. And for those of you that have been to Mount Rushmore, you know the road down to Keystone is steep.
Dinner last night was at the Mount Rushmore Cafe where we got to select from anything and everything we wanted from the counters. I ate a lot. And then the staff gave away a few door prizes. I won the big prize of the night!! It is a new Garmin Edge 705 Bike Computer with the US Street map option. It is a wonderful device that I am anxious to learn how to use.
I am in Sioux Falls SD tonight. I'll write more later.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Broken Seat Bolt
I had a new experience this weekend. Knute and I were out riding Saturday morning going to Homer Lake and back. And on our way back, as we were riding down a newly oil and chipped road, the bolt holding my seat snapped. After collecting most of the parts, and calling Jeanne, we road back to Homer Lake Road and I waited for my ride.
I thought that buying a new bolt would solve my problem. How silly of me.
I first went to the bike store where I bought the bike. With parts in hand, they looked for a bolt. When they couldn't find one, they offered to order one for me. I knew that would be several weeks before I had a bolt, so I suggested I would check the competitors in town to see if I might get a bolt from them. So I went to the nearby competitor. They spent a lot of time trying to find the correct bolt (after commenting that my bolt was smaller than normal). So although they couldn't find a compatible small bolt, they came up with all the parts I should need to use the bigger bolt type. I went home happy.
However, what we both failed to remember was that the hole in the seat post was at the smaller 7mm size, not the new 8mm components I now had. Back in the car to go to the closer bike store to see if they might have the 7mm bolt I needed. They didn't either, but they suggested I go to Do It Best Hardware and simply buy an appropriate bolt.
You all know the drawer after drawer of nuts and bolts the hardware stores have. First recognize that most of those drawers of stuff are standard, not metric. Of the few metric drawers, most will have 2-4-6-8mm stuff, but not 7mm. Only one drawer in that entire isle of nuts and bolts contained 7mm bolts. I bought one that was estimated to be the length of the one I broke.
It turned out to be too short.
Rather than returning to Do It Best, I thought I'd try my local True Value. They had the longer bolt and it appears to be working. I have it installed and have ridden a few miles to make sure I had the seat adjusted correctly. I am keeping my fingers crossed.
Oh, and so I went back to my original store to have them order the proper bolt so that I could ultimately replace the one from the hardware store. After spending much time on the computer looking at his parts lists, it seems like we can't order just the bolt. I will need to buy an entire new seat post to get the bolt I need.
A $25 seat post for a $0.75 bolt.
I thought that buying a new bolt would solve my problem. How silly of me.
I first went to the bike store where I bought the bike. With parts in hand, they looked for a bolt. When they couldn't find one, they offered to order one for me. I knew that would be several weeks before I had a bolt, so I suggested I would check the competitors in town to see if I might get a bolt from them. So I went to the nearby competitor. They spent a lot of time trying to find the correct bolt (after commenting that my bolt was smaller than normal). So although they couldn't find a compatible small bolt, they came up with all the parts I should need to use the bigger bolt type. I went home happy.
However, what we both failed to remember was that the hole in the seat post was at the smaller 7mm size, not the new 8mm components I now had. Back in the car to go to the closer bike store to see if they might have the 7mm bolt I needed. They didn't either, but they suggested I go to Do It Best Hardware and simply buy an appropriate bolt.
You all know the drawer after drawer of nuts and bolts the hardware stores have. First recognize that most of those drawers of stuff are standard, not metric. Of the few metric drawers, most will have 2-4-6-8mm stuff, but not 7mm. Only one drawer in that entire isle of nuts and bolts contained 7mm bolts. I bought one that was estimated to be the length of the one I broke.
It turned out to be too short.
Rather than returning to Do It Best, I thought I'd try my local True Value. They had the longer bolt and it appears to be working. I have it installed and have ridden a few miles to make sure I had the seat adjusted correctly. I am keeping my fingers crossed.
Oh, and so I went back to my original store to have them order the proper bolt so that I could ultimately replace the one from the hardware store. After spending much time on the computer looking at his parts lists, it seems like we can't order just the bolt. I will need to buy an entire new seat post to get the bolt I need.
A $25 seat post for a $0.75 bolt.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Riding to SD
In just a month, I will be riding in W.R.A.T.H., the MS150 ride in Rapid City, SD. I have my hotel reservations and have been training all summer. But I recently discovered that what they call "hills," this flatlander might call a mountain. There are three routes to choose from on Saturday - 27, 67, 99 miles. For the past several years, I have been doing the century ride on Saturday. But this particular route has a climb of 8605' at about mile 80. That just isn't very nice. The 67 mile route climbs only 6575', peaking at about mile 46. I am thinking I will take the shorter of the two. The return trip on Sunday (75 miles) only climbs to 6302'.
Where can I find some hills to train on in Champaign County?
Where can I find some hills to train on in Champaign County?
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