Bicycling in Bloomington

Sunday, June 3, 2007 – 8 AM – 11:15 AM (approximate)

I rode about 50 miles today. It was 10 more miles than planned but it was faster than expected, so I added a few more miles. The pace for the first 43 miles was about 15.3. I wandered a bit and then warmed down the last 1.5 miles, so the final pace was 15. 

The route was very similar to The Long Ride .  Spicewood, Smith Rd, 45, Boltinghouse, Anderson, up the Forest Rd, Hindustan, cross 37 to Bottom Rd, cross 37 again at Kinser Pike, Rogers St through Bloomington. At the bridge work south of town, I turned into a development; after a few wrong turns, backtracking, I found That Rd. Through Clear Creek, Fairfax, Schacht, Harrell, to Jackson Creek school, home on Sare.

One goal I had for the ride was to keep my HR low and I was successful. My HR going up the hill in the Forest was about 15 beats less than last week. Going up the Hindustan Hill, it never exceeded 125. It rarely exceeded 150.

The Sunday morning rides generally have little traffic and I experienced very little on this ride. I would guess that no more than 15 cars passed me going the same direction. From the time I turned off 45 until I reached 17th St on Kinser Pike, only 3 cars passed me.

During The Long Ride , my daughter and I were able to ride side by side for at least 2/3 of the ride. While Saturday morning generally has more traffic than Sunday, it was not enough to really affect much of the ride.

Friends in other parts of the country tell me how much vehicular traffic affects their rides. At least for rides in the rural parts of Monroe County, the traffic usually affects the rides very minimally.

Sunday morning traffic seems to be mostly people going to church. The “Buicks” pass slowly and cautiously. The SUVs pass quickly and perhaps more dangerously. The “Buicks” tend to be older couples who likely allow enough time to get to church. The SUVs seem to be stupids who are late for church.