The Riding Season Begins
April 15, 2009 at 2:46 am | In Long Rides, Off-road, Weekend Rides | Leave a CommentI haven’t written much this year because I haven’t ridden much this year. But, the season is beginning.
Since the last post, I rode my commuter bike once for 30+ mile ride; rode my mountain bike in Wapehani once; and last Saturday, I rode my road bike for 42+ miles.
The Saturday ride was a challenge for me. My daughter, her spouse and I rode. We kept a fairly steady pace for two standard courses – Airport and Old 446. The day was cool and I thought I would be overdressed as the day warmed but it didn’t happen. A bright sunny day and not cold or warm.
Bloomington is a great place to ride in April and May, especially in the mornings. I hope to ride more steadily now.
Back to Bicycling in Bloomington 2009
January 2, 2009 at 6:21 pm | In Commuting, Indoor Riding, Long Rides, OWLS, Weekend Rides | Leave a CommentThe start of a new year and a short summary of the past couple months.
Right after the Hilly Hundred in October, I started to train for a 10K race in Niles Michigan on Thanksgiving Day. This is the fourth year that I, my wife, my daughter, and one or two grandchildren have run the race (some do the 5K). My wife has consistently placed in the top three in her age group and this is the first year that I made the podium (sorta). I was third in the 60-64 age group.
My recreational bicycling during this period was limited to one trip to Wapehani. However, during December, I was able to ride indoors about 8-10 times. It’s not the same as outdoor riding but it’s probably more time-efficient.
I was able to commute consistently from September through December 22. There were few days that I did not commute during that time and mostly because of travel or the need to transport heavy materials between home and work.
In 2008, I had roughly the same mileage on my road bike and my commuting bike – about 1100 miles. My commuting miles were a little higher than previous years because I had many trips across campus for meetings. My road miles were fewer and I had fewer mountain bike rides. In 2009, I hope to do more road and mountain bike riding. I doubt that I would increase my commuting miles very much.
Despite the lower road bike mileage, I think that I was more comfortable doing the Hilly, including the Mt. Tabor climb, this year than any previous years. I am attributing it (without good evidence) to the OWLS rides. Having two good rides a week for part of the year probably helped. This year, I expect to participate in more OWLS rides. I missed yesterday’s ride because of another commitment. Fortunately, there are so many opportunities for biking in Bloomington that I should be able get in more rides.
As many do in the beginning of the year, I am setting some goals for the year – more riding, more running, more yoga, more strength training, and more tai chi; along with more reading, more gardening and more household maintenance. I also am planning to try to work fewer hours. It’s unlikely all or even any will happen.
Happy New Year.
End of Biking Season Summary
November 3, 2008 at 2:54 am | In Long Rides, OWLS, Off-road, Weekend Rides | Leave a CommentIt’s been six weeks since I posted. Too many distractions, a heavy work load, and not enough time. Let me briefly summarize the rides.
Sunday, September 14
Ike was coming through Indiana that day. It was predicted to arrive late morning with heavy winds and possibly very heavy rain. I generally don’t mind getting wet while riding but heavy rains means that drivers can’t see as well, so I am cautious.
When I left home at about 8, it was so sunny that I put on sunscreen. I chose a route that would allow me to head home if bad weather happened but stay out as long as possible. The route was a variation of my airport ride.
A new part for me was staying on Vernal Pike instead of going up Oard Rd to 48. Vernal Pike went through some nice farm country. When I got to 48, I turned east and then turned on Garrison Chapel Rd. New hills; challenging hills. At this point, the sun was gone and the air was getting chillier. At Airport Rd, I decided to head towards home. I got home too early. I could have stayed out for a longer ride but the gray skies and wind made choose a shorter route.
The traffic was light; hardly a car on the entire route. Bloomington experiences the tail end of hurricanes about once every 3-4 years. I can’t remember any previous ride that was affected by a hurricane, so I guess this was a unique day.
Tuesday, September 16
The OWLS did a ride that was very similar to a standard ride for me – Smithville. However, when we got to Old 37, the group decided to head south for a few miles on Old 37. It was a beautiful late summer evening and we just wanted to be out a little longer. We got back with enough time for all to get home before dark.
As we started after the stop to discuss the change, I missed my first push on my open pedal and went down. I’d guess that I fall about once a year. This was an easy fall. Embarrassing but it didn’t hurt physically.
Sunday, September 21
The day before, I ran about 7-8 miles. I haven’t run that far this year, so it was a little challenging. Then, late afternoon, my anterior tibulus spasmed for the first time in awhile. So I decided that I needed an easy ride on Sunday.
I rode around Lake Monroe – about 35 miles. It’s interesting that I think the ride around the Lake is easy. It has only 2 big hills – up from the Lake’s causeway and “the alps.” I came back on Fairfax instead of Ramp Creek to avoid another big hill. Because I was concerned about my leg, I rode easy but I guess I usually do ride easy, because my average speed was only a little slower than my typical pace (13.9 mph vs 14 mph or so). I kept my HR below 145 except for the first hill on the alps. As I get closer to Hilly, I focus on riding hills comfortably.
The ride was fun. Traffic didn’t exist and the weather was great. (NOTE: my anterior tibulus has not hurt since September 20.)
Tuesday, September 24
The OWLS ride really didn’t happen for me. We went out towards the Water Works and then down Ramp Creek. I flatted at the bottom. I told the group to go on without me. I fixed the flat and turned around and went home. I’d guess it was about 12 miles.
I don’t think any bike ride is really disappointing but I was disappointed that the ride didn’t work out as planned.
Sunday September 28
My challenges to ride on the gravel roads east of Bloomington continue. I planned to ride this route (roughly):
I actually rode this route:
I missed the turn for McGowan Rd. I totally missed it. I didn’t even look at a road to the right and wonder if it was the correct road. On Friendship Rd, I met a colleague who was birding at the Lake. She and her husband described how to find McGowan. I’ll try again during the winter.
The ride really was fairly nice. I enjoyed the new roads. I came back on Lampkins Ridge which is a long uphill but not too steep. I then went down to the Lake on Shields Ridge and up Stipp.
I finished the ride on the Bloomington Rail Trail and the new B-Line (also known as the Boondoggle Line). The current mayor says the Line is for economic development. Sure. The previous mayor’s flagship public works project was a wet toxic dump at the north entrance to Bloomington. (The website doesn’t mention that the detention ponds store toxic materials from the street run-off; a byproduct of Bloomington city governments Filthy Streets policy.) The current mayor is creating a path to nowhere with no function except to make city officials look better to themselves.
Overall, about 42 miles on a mountain bike riding mostly on the roads isn’t ideal but it was a fine day to do what I did. Diversity in riding is fun; the weather was great; light traffic; and I enjoyed myself, despite not doing the ride I planned.
Sunday, October 5
I didn’t have a chance to ride for a week. I hoped to get out some weekday mornings but I’ve had little time because of work commitments. I missed the Tuesday OWLS ride because I had to work late.
This ride was my Hilly Hundred training ride. I planned to do 50 miles and ride some hills. I went out 45 to Boltinghouse, up Lentz (a tough hill), over to the Forest (a long hill), two hills on Old 37 (relatively easy), down to Lake Griffey and up the other side (steep in parts), through town to the Clear Creek, Schacht, down Stipp and up Moore’s Creek (a long hill with a steep part at the bottom). The ride was about 52.5 miles. I rode at 14 mph and finished in about 3.75 hours.
I focused on keeping my heart rate low on the hills. On Lentz, I rang my bell (HR=158 which is my technical max for my age), and reached 148 on the bottom part of the Forest climb but 130 at the top. On the other climbs, I kept my HR generally below 135 (my assumed zone 2 limit). If I want to ride the Hilly successfully, I have to do the hills at a comfortable pace. Generally, I don’t shift much on my rides but I practiced shifting, too.
It was a sunny day. It started cold (about 46c and was about 66 c when I got home. I’d guess that fewer than 10 cars passed me from the start of the ride until I reached Bloomington. Riding in Bloomington offers some nice challenges (hills) but also some great conditions for just enjoying the ride.
Sunday, October 12
The last Sunday road ride for the year. Next weekend is the Hilly and after that I train for Thanksgiving Day 10K. If I ride in the next six months, it’s likely to be either mountain biking or shorter rides on my commuting bike.
I enjoyed the ride tremendously. I went around Lake Monroe and then west to Harrodsburg, up Rockport Rd to Kirksville, and then took Victor Pike most of the way back to town. 49 miles, 14.2 mph, about 3.5 hours.
The weather was just right for me. I started a little cold but climbing out from the causeway got me warm and I stayed just a little bit chilled for most of the ride. I don’t mind being hot when I’m riding but a little chill is pleasant. I kept my HR low climbing most hills. It was below 130 most of the time and only a short part of “the alps” and a hill on Victor Pike got it into the low 140s. I think I am ready for the Hilly hills.
As usual, light traffic, and perhaps fewer cars than ever on the ride. There were many times when the only sounds were some birds and the wind blowing past my ears and through the helmet. I especially enjoyed the climb from Harrodsburg to Kirksville (it seems like 10 miles) because I was going slower, so less wind noise and there was no traffic. The quiet was wonderful.
I need to ride from Kirksville to Harrodsburg sometime this winter. The ride has some of the best vistas in southern Indiana and they are especially impressive when the leaves are off the trees. It’s possible to see 40 miles of hills to the south.
While I might grouse a bit about traffic management and street conditions in Bloomington, the rural parts of Monroe County are wonderful for bike riding.
Hilly Hundred (Oct 18, 19)
The Hilly was fun as usual. The two fifty-mile rides are challenging but not terrible. The most fun is riding with a large group of people who enjoy bicycling. I rode with my daughter, her husband, and another couple from South Bend. The weather was great despite being a little cold to start. The ice cream at the lunch stops and after the ride make it even more fun.
Sunday October 25
The day prior (Saturday October 24), I ran a 10K in the Morgan Monroe forest. On my drive home, I went up Shiloh Rd. It’s about 4 miles mostly uphill. I decided to ride it the next day.
I rode on my commuting bike so that I wouldn’t be tempted to ride fast. The ride was about 33 miles and it took about 2.33 hours. Overall, a very pleasant ride despite being chased by a dog on Shilo. It may be the first dog that chased me this year. Traffic was very light but the roads I chose would normally have little traffic.
Sunday, November 2
Unlike the previous three years, this year I’m not training as hard for the 10K In Niles Michigan. I’m doing enough running to be certain I can finish fine but I don’t seem to have the desire to improve my time this year. Today, I decided to go mountain bike riding in Wapehani. I rode for about 1.5 hours. Great day for a ride; relatively cool and very sunny. As the leaves fall, the sun comes through more than in the summer.
I did reasonably well. No falls, always an accomplshment. I made it up one hill I usually struggle with. I didn’t make it up a second hill because I chose the wrong line for my skills. The trails were covered with leaves, so braking was a challenge. And, some obstacles weren’t apparent until I hit them. I guess it increases the challenge and thereby increases the fun.
A few trails are starting to disappear as the road development increases. I couldn’t find some that I normally ride. I rode a new trail that I struggled with the last time at Wapehani and did much better but I haven’t yet figured it out.
It won’t be so long until I post again unless I don’t get on the bike for awhile. But, the way I’m feeling now, I think I will be on again soon.
Hitting the Hills
September 12, 2008 at 2:59 am | In Long Rides, OWLS, Weekend Rides | 3 CommentsThursday, September 11
Five rides in 8 days from August 31 – September 7. That’s somewhat unusual for me but Labor Day allowed me an extra day to ride. In total, 6 rides in 10 days with the OWLS ride on Tuesday September 10. My most consistent riding all year.
Sunday August 30, I did a relatively hilly ride (6 hills). I went out to Mt. Gilead (1), over to Shuffle Creek, South Shore Dr, North Shore Dr. North Shore has one steep hill that always challenges me (2). I needed to switchback to get over it. Then to Anderson and into the Morgan Monroe forest (3). The forest hill is long but not nearly as steep as North Shore. Down Old 37 and up to Hindustan (4). From there I went down Old 37, up Firehouse (5), Bethel, down to Lake Griffey and up to Dunn (6). I rode a convoluted route home to get 50 miles. It took almost 3.5 hours and I averaged 14.3 which is my typical pace for hilly rides. Light traffic and nice weather. (I stopped mapping at the point I reached town.)
Monday September 1, Labor Day. I went to Wapehani for some mountain bike riding. Overall, I didn’t do well. My handling skills seemed rusty and I was less willing to take chances. I found a new path that’s fairly challenging for me now but I could probably ride better if I did more mountain biking. On the plus side, I rode up two hills that usually give me problems. On one hill, a log pile has been replaced by big stones and I could manage the stones. I never was able to climb the log pile. I often make it up the second hill, but usually after a couple rides in Wap when I learn the best route for me to ride the hill. It’s rare that I successfully climb both hills in one ride unless I’ve been to Wap regularly.
Wapehani has lost some trails. There’s a gravel road from Tapp Rd that leads to a cell tower. The paths cross it a couple times and it’s a little bit challenging to follow them. I ended the ride doing some single track trails that are the most fun in the park. Overall, it wasn’t a bad day but I know I need to mountain bike more often. Riding in Wapehani is much different than the Brown County State Park trails that I ride. Wapehani is more technical and there are no long gaps between challenges.
Tuesday September 2, OWLS ride. This ride was supposed to be similar to a ride we did earlier this year – Leonard Springs. However, at the end of Leonard Springs Rd, the lead group turned right instead of left onto May Rd. We rode a series of steep short hills and then reached a monster hill. At the bottom, I was certain that I would have to walk. I was tired from the short hills and the hill scared me. I managed to climb it mostly because I was too afraid to try to click out of the pedals. I was certain that I would fall over if I missed the click out because I was going so slow. When I reached the top, my HR was 172, way into the red zone.
No one in the group had ever ridden the hill before and one rider who knows the county said it’s harder than Miller Rd which is considered the most difficult in the county. We decided there to turn around and get back on the route. However, we didn’t finish the ride we planned but took a little shorter way home without a long hill that we originally planned to ride.
Thursday September 4, I planned to ride Old 446 in the morning before work but I got caught up in some work at home and used up most of my riding time. I rode about 30 minutes on local streets.
Sunday, September 7. I rode a variation of a ride that I did last summer. Around the Lake, through Harrodsburg, up Rockport to Kirksville. This time, I turned on to Harmony Rd in Kirksville. I took Harmony to Ison to Leonard Springs, and then home on the airport ride route. The ride started in light rain and the rain was off and on until I reached Ison. The ride was about 52 miles. Average speed was 14.0. It’s a little slower than last week but I’m a wimp when it’s wet, so I go slower around turns, etc. Total time was about 3.67 hours.
The traffic was even lighter than usual. I would guess that no more than 10 cars passed me until I crossed 37 on That Rd.
Tuesday September 9, OWLS ride – the OWLS ride was a ride I do regularly, often in the winter or spring when I don’t have much time or it’s too cold to ride far. Water Works, Stipp, Swartz Ridge, Old 446. About 22 miles at a mixed pace. Sometimes we rode hard, sometimes easy. Any ride with 2 long hills is a good ride. I think I enjoyed this OWLS ride more than others. The first cool evening. We think that we have about 3-4 weeks before we won’t have enough daylight to ride.
Riding in Bloomington brings hills both on- and off-road. Most are fun, some are challenging. They make me think that a triple will be on my next bike.
Training for the Hilly Begins
August 11, 2008 at 2:54 am | In Long Rides, Weekend Rides | Leave a CommentSunday, August 10, 2008
I’ve been off the road bike for almost two weeks while attending professional meetings and a short vacation.
Today, I began preparing for the Hilly Hundred. So far this year, I haven’t been able to ride as much as I would like because of work, travel, and household commitments. I have 360 miles on my road bike so far this year and maybe about 75 more road miles where I used the commuting bike. (I have a little more than 700 miles on my commuting bike and I’ve done a couple mt bike rides.)
Earlier this week, I heard that Shiloh Rd was recently paved. A couple years ago, I drove Shiloh and thought it would be fun to ride it. It’s mostly a long downhill with many 90o turns. But, when I rode it, the road was too beat up to enjoy the ride. Today was much better. The paving isn’t complete and a lot of paving detritus was on the road but it was manageable. It should be much better in a couple weeks.
I rode about 54 miles. I left home about 8:00 and temps in the low 60s. I arrived home about 11:45 and temps in the low 70s. A very pleasant day for a ride. I rode out 45 to Mt Gilead, down Tunnel to Shiloh, to Anderson, through the Forest, over to Bottom Rd, up to Kinser and Rogers through town, Church, Schacht, Stipp, Moore’s, and home.
Traffic was very light. No more than 10 cars passed me before I reached the bypass after about 38 miles. Three riders passed me on Bottom Rd. They were doing time trials. One rider had a time trial helmet.
A surprising amount of the ride was in the shade and it caused problems because I wore dark sunglasses. For the past few months, I’ve been wearing amber lenses to help with shadows. I regretted not wearing them today. In fact, on Shiloh, I took my glasses off to help find the paving detritus. The wet spring and summer has allowed the trees to produce a lot of leaves which has increased the shady spots more than previous years.
It was a good ride to start preparing for the Hilly. Enough distance and five hills. I was tired by the end but with a few more long rides, I should be ready.
Multiple Rides But Not Enough
July 24, 2008 at 1:52 am | In Long Rides, OWLS, Weekend Rides | Leave a CommentWednesday, July 23, 2008
It’s been more than a week since I last posted. During the time, the weather has been very good in Bloomington for riding. Unfortunately, I have not been able to ride much.
Last Tuesday, I had to miss the OWLS ride because of work commitments. Wednesday morning, I treated myself to a little longer ride – about 1.25 hours. I rode the Water Works ride. At the Water Works, I turn almost always around. On a few rides, I’ve gone to the right along a road that has some very nice houses that overlook Lake Monroe. It’s about a mile and dead ends. Last Wednesday, I decided to explore the road that goes straight.
Over the years, I’ve wondered about it but always thought it was perhaps a driveway or that it might turn into a gravel road. The road goes down to the Lake. I was very surprised to find a State recreation area at the bottom. There are no signs anywhere that point to it. Very strange. It was a fun ride down and a fun ride (for different reasons) coming back up. Overall, a nice morning ride.
I have gone to the Water Works at least 100 times (at least 5 times each year for 20 years) and never went down the hill. It surprises even me.
Last Sunday, I rode about 36 miles with my daughter. We rode a version of the OWLS ABC ride – out 45, down and up Mt. Gilead, back on 45 to Shuffle Creek, Tunnel, Robinson, Old 37 to the Firehouse, down to Cascades, through Bloomington on Rogers to the south end, back on Gordon and Rhorer to Sare and home. Traffic was very light, the weather was relatively cool but I finished two big water bottles.
As usual, I rode harder than I liked but still struggled to keep up with her. After the ride, we ran 1.5 miles. I don’t run well after riding. It was a challenge, as it usually is.
Last night, I rode with the OWLS. A very pleasant ride and a little shorter than the other OWLS rides. It was just the right amount for me and I got home at a more reasonable time. The ride had enough challenges, both pace and hills, to consider it a training ride. At the same time, enough good will and cooperation to make it an enjoyable ride.
If the weather holds (we’ve had relatively less rain in the past week), I will be in Brown County State Park on Sunday morning for my first local mountain bike ride this year.
Rained Out but Alright
July 16, 2008 at 2:46 am | In Long Rides, Street/Road Conditions, Traffic, Weekend Rides, weather conditions | Leave a CommentTuesday, July 15, 2008
I hoped to do a mountain bike ride in Brown County State Park on Sunday, but the pervasive Bloomington rain prevented it. Saturday morning was rainy but late morning and all afternoon were bright, sunny, and warm. When I got home from work on Saturday, I adjusted the mountain bike for off-road (dropped the seat and lowered tire pressures). Saturday evening, I went to a show at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater. During the show, the lights went off and on and it wasn’t part of the light show. Various booms were heard that were not part of the music. A very strong storm came through. No mountain biking.
Sunday morning was cool, crisp, and sunny. It was my first ride of a route I did a few times last year – 45, Bethel, Boltinghouse, Old 37, Anderson, through the Morgan Monroe Forest, Old 37, Chambers, Dittemore, Bottom, and home through town.
The roads were fairly dirty with a lot of blow-down. Broken branches blocked at least 1/2 of the road in 5 places. It was a day when riding into corners or shadows called for caution.
The pace was fairly good based on how little riding I’ve done this year. At Kinser Pike and the Bypass, the average was 15.3 (~37 miles). It was 15.0 when I got home (42.7 miles). From the Bypass to home, almost every corner seems to have stop sign or traffic light.
The hill in the Forest seemed a lot steeper than last year. All hills seem to require more than I did at the end of last year. I measured by my heart rate at the top which was consistently in upper 140s to low 150s on the big hills.
Little traffic as usual. Three pickups passed me on 45. From Bethel through to end of Bottom, 3 cars passed me. The county roads on Sunday morning are a bicyclist’s pleasure.
When I’m riding alone, I don’t shift often. I categorize my climbs sorta like the Tour, based on the rear cog. I generally ride in the 6 cog (I’ve never counted the teeth). There are two 4 hills on Anderson, the Forest hill and Old 37 are category 2. Climbing from Bottom to 37 is a category 3. I don’t think I shifted 10 times during the ride.
The rain prevented a mountain bike ride but the road ride but the road ride was darn nice, anyway.
Ride ‘Round the Lake
July 9, 2008 at 1:52 am | In Long Rides, Weekend Rides | Leave a CommentSunday, July 6, 2008
A wonderful morning for a ride. The temperatures were in the 60s and low 70s. Plenty of sun. No wind.
I decided to ride around the Lake Monroe. Despite sharing 446 with a few cars, it’s generally a quiet ride. There were few cars on 446 and almost none on the roads south of the Lake. Coming back north to Bloomington, there was a little traffic but nothing that was troublesome.
Most of the ride was at an easy pace. My heart rate didn’t exceed 130 climbing up from Lake Monroe on 446. It was mostly in the 110s south of the Lake. It reached about 140 at the top of “the alps” (Mission Valley Rd). The day was so pleasant that I wanted the ride to last for a long time.
After climbing the hill from the Lake Monroe dam, three riders picked me up and carried me at speeds I wouldn’t normally ride for about 5 miles to Smithville Rd. Two had Royal Toyota team jerseys. They were serious riders. My heart rate increased substantially riding with them.
I rode the Hoosier Hills 60K ride mostly. Instead of doing Ramp Creek, I rode on Fairfax because I couldn’t remember ever riding it. I took Fairfax to Rogers St and then back to home.
Mapmyride has the route at 36.66 miles but my computer has 38.1. I think my computer is more accurate because it’s similar to Garmin distances and I don’t map my rides accurately. I did it in about 2.33 hours. My computer said the average speed was 15.5.
In Bloomington, with the academic calendar, July 4 weekend means that summer is coming to an end. School ends in early May, so we’ve been on a summer schedule for 2 months. But, summer riding is here and as long as the rain holds off, I anticipate more pleasant rides over the next few weeks.
First OWLS Ride
June 25, 2008 at 9:46 pm | In Long Rides, OWLS | 2 CommentsJune 25, 2008
Last night, I rode with the Bloomington Bicycle Club OWLS (Older, Wiser, Little (bit) Slower. We did the ABC ride.
The ride was well-organized. That is, it was organized well for safety and fun and at the same time, it allowed for both personal and group achievements. Some chat but not continuous; riding with different people was fun; all riders seemed roughly the same level of fitness; and they have a strong appreciation of what bike riding should be. Also, I observed some things that others did that I thought were my personal quirks. They might be generational things.
The route was reasonably challenging with three hills. Much more traffic than I experience on my typical rides but it wasn’t really a bother. I was a little concerned that we could cause some problems for drivers when we were climbing Old 37 (Firehouse) because it has many curves and it can be a challenge to get around 13 riders. But, the cars seemed to manage.
It was a night of firsts for me:
- 1. First group ride (more than 4 riders), except Hilly Hundred and Hoosier Hills, in about 30 years
- 2. First long evening ride
- 3. First time I rode a bike for more than 1.25 hours on a work day.
I hope to make the Tuesday OWLS ride a regular part of my riding.
Other Rides
Actually not much to report about other rides. Last week, I commuted only one day because of travel and other commitments. Last Sunday, I rode 26 miles at 16 mph. I pushed a little on a series of 3 local loops – Old 446, Water Works, Clear Creek. I tried to stay within 130 – 145 bpm on my HRM. It was a nice morning and I think I will call it my June Day.
This week, I’m doing fine with commuting. I took my commuting bike to the Bike Garage for a much needed tune-up, so I’m using my mountain bike to commute. It always feels a little uncomfortable to ride the bike on the roads but not so uncomfortable off-road. Maybe because I’m concentrating so hard when off-road riding that I don’t notice the positioning.
Overall, the weather has been great and especially this evening. It was a little surprising for the ride to finish cooler than it started. Since all my other rides start in the morning, they usually end warmer.
I now feel the summer riding season has begun.
Biking Woes Continue
June 17, 2008 at 9:18 pm | In Equipment, Long Rides, Weekend Rides, weather conditions | 1 CommentJune 17, 2008
Again, not much biking to report, to include fewer commutes by bike than usual. A variety of factors are getting in the way and will continue to do so until the end of this week. For example, today may be the only day this week that I rode to work.
Last Saturday, I rode with my daughter. We rode just a bit less than 45 miles. We finished the first 42 miles in about 2.66 hours. The last few miles, we meandered through back streets and parking lots which slowed our time considerably. However, at the end, it was enough riding for me. The weather was humid to start but less humid by the end. There was more traffic than usual. We rode a longer version of the airport ride.
Sunday, I did a 4.5 mile run by myself and then a 1 mile run with my grandson. Sunday was probably my “June Day” for the year. I planned to ride with the Bloomington Bike Club OWLS (Older, Wiser, a Little Slower) on Tuesday evening but my road bike has a flat – a “garage flat.” I don’t think it was flat when I finished the ride on Saturday but it was flat on Sunday morning. This morning, I replaced the tube but broke the valve stem when trying to inflate the new tube. I didn’t have time to change it again and I think my floor pump might have caused the valve stem to break.
I considered using my commuting bike for the ride but I can’t shift the rear derailleur without causing unanticipated changes. It seems to change gears intermittently and randomly, so I don’t shift often. A trip to the bike shop is coming soon.
Addendum: Later in the afternoon, I considered riding my commuting bike on the ride and using the three rings for up, flat, and higher speeds. On my ride home, I tested the small ring. The front derailleur wouldn’t take it down that low. I would have experienced some tough cycling on the hills If I tried to use the bike. Also, I changed the tube on my road bike tonight with no problems. I guess I wasn’t careful enough this morning.
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