Bicycling in Bloomington

 Sunday March 16, 2008

This morning, my ride was different from any that I have ever done. Inspired by Mitch Rice’s descriptions of rides off paved roads (Dubois Ridge, McGowen Rd), I decided to do something similar.

From my house, I went to Moore’s Pike, crossed over 446 and down Lampkins Ridge Rd. The road was paved but very gravelly. At the end, I turned right onto Friendship Rd. Soon after I arrived in Bloomington (21 years ago), I rode down Lampkins Ridge on my road bike. I was very surprised to find that Friendship Rd was gravel. It still is gravel and it has relatively big gravel. I wouldn’t ride my commuting bike very far on the gravel that big. I would walk my road bike.

Friendship Rd has 2 dead ends near Lake Monroe where the road was closed to let the birds rest. The roads open on April 15, so I’ll try again then. Riding on Friendship Rd is mildly challenging and a few times my off-road skills made it a little easier to keep riding.

On the return, I went up Gross Rd that is gravel most of the way to Old 446. It has one steep hill that wouldn’t seem especially challenging on a road with a road bike but was challenging because of the gravel. The last 30 yards were especially challenging because the gravel was much thicker and washboardy. The road conditions changed 2-3 times with each pedal stroke. As I got to about 15 yards from the top, the washboarding became very tight, so I decided to increase my cadence to get through it. It didn’t work and I spun the rear wheel out. Maybe I should have dropped a gear and pushed through it.

Gross Rd is paved near Old 446. When I got back to Old 446 I started riding faster because I had exceeded my 1.33 hour limit that I allotted for the ride. The ride took about 1.66 hours. I don’t know the distance because I forgot to start the computer. About a mile into the ride, I got off the bike to adjust the seat height, reset the computer, and adjust my toe straps. I didn’t know that I had to restart the computer, so I didn’t record the distance. I have 3 bike computers and there is little consistency among them.

Overall, the day wasn’t bad. It was 35^o when I started and about 38 when I got home. Cloudy but little wind. Traffic very light on the paved roads.

This summer, I expect to do more off-road road rides like today.

It was an easy bike week. Only 2 morning rides. My commutes were more interesting because the many drivers new to Bloomington are challenged by the traffic patterns. And, many young adults are testing their freedom in expected ways.

I was asked to do some courier work for our unit this week because it’s often easier for me to travel across campus or downtown locations on a bicycle than for others who have to drive or walk. Usually I don’t mind because it allows me to get out of the office and on the bike. I enjoy my time on the bike, even when drivers are challenging.

Last Sunday, while riding on the Louisville streets and sidewalks, I noticed how much fun I was having on the bike - jumping curbs, riding across unpaved areas, making tight turns around intersections. On the way home, I realized that I have fully bonded with my commuting bike.

I bought the bike about a year ago. I use it for commuting, morning rides, and some longer rides of up to 2 hours. It’s a Trek SU100. It’s considered an urban sport bike. It’s mostly like a mountain bike but without a compression fork and the tires are 1.5″.

Over the years, I’ve bonded with many bikes; mostly the bikes I’ve used to commute. At some point, these bikes become like good horses. We understand each other well; we know our capabilities, and we respect each other. Sometimes I lead my bike and sometimes it leads me. Last Sunday, for instance, I jump a curb onto the sidewalk at the wrong place. There was a light post on the other side of a short sidewalk. I don’t remember turning left to avoid it (I was mildly paralyzed while considering options) but the bike made the appropriate decision.

Many readers might think it’s strange to say the bike behaved appropriately but many who have used a bike for a long time will understand the relationship between a rider and a regularly used bicycle. They become one entity.

Today, I returned to my LBS to get help with the last pump/cage installation. They got longer screws and it worked. I also bought shoes for off-road riding, tube patches, and a lock for my new rack. I spent a lot over the past two days. I don’t check the prices much because I trust the LBS employees to sell me the equipment appropriate for my needs.

I sometimes use my commuting bike for road rides up to about 30 miles. This bike has toe clips and straps, so it’s not ideal for long rides. The off-road shoes can also be used for the road rides on my commuter bike.

The stiff off-road shoes should help reduce injuries to my feet when I fall off the bike like I did two weeks ago.

Tomorrow, the long ride with my daughter. I’ll report in the evening.