Bicycling in Bloomington

It’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 46^c 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.