Bicycling in Bloomington

 When I lived in State College, PA in the mid-80s, for 2 or 3 years, I would ride my long ride of the year on July 4 - about 56 miles. I rode from our home out to Spring Mills and back. It was a nice ride and I stopped at a general store near Spring Mills for a Pepsi and a Tasty Kake.

Today, I rode 58 miles. I first rode around Monroe Lake (roughly the 35 mile Hoosier Hills ride). Out 446; down to the Lake and up again; right on Chapel Hill; around the south part of the Lake; Strain Ridge, and Ramp Creek. In Handy, I turned right and went down Moore’s Creek and back up to Snoddy; Smith; 45 to Bethel Lane; rode Bethel Lane to the turn to Lake Griffy; and back through Bloomington to home. I added some loops near home to increase the miles.

Overall, a good ride but I didn’t have a lot of zip. Rode more slowly than my other long rides. I don’t know why but I’ve learned over the years that it’s not important. Today was surprisingly windy. The wind seemed to come from multiple directions and always in my face. The wind might have affected the ride.

The day was cloudy and relatively cool. In a way, I felt like a Tour de France rider. I would get warm going up the hills and chilly going down. The traffic was very light except on Smith Rd and 45. For most of the ride, I had the roads to myself. I started earlier, so it may explain the empty roads. I saw only 3 cyclists on the ride.

Until the past few years, riding more than 50 miles was rare. Now, I ride 50+ a few times each year. State College is very similar to Bloomington with many lightly-traveled roads and interesting places to ride to. One difference is that I could ride long distances without encountering stop signs and traffic lights which is unusual in Bloomington. Once on a ride in State College, I rode no-hands for about 10 miles because I didn’t have to stop.

Yet, when I lived there, I thought that riding 40 miles was a long ride and did only a few rides longer than 30 miles each year. The re-started tradition of a long ride on July 4 is a good idea but the long ride is not so unique now.