| (Long Distance) Ramblings |
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I like to ride my bicycle - for long distances. I have earned the California Triple Crown and finished the Furnace Creek 508. My goals include qualifying for RAAM and ...(read the blog to find out). "The bicycle has a soul. If you are able to love it as it deserves, it will give you emotions you will never forget." "Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride."
"The important decisions in my life I make while out riding my bike."
"Pain is temporary, quitting lasts forever.” Lance Armstrong
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Sunday, April 28, 2002
A productive weekend - 180 miles. On Saturday, I rode to the beach and back - 144 miles. The weather was better than the forecast. Most of the day I was in sunshine or mostly sunny. However, a stray shower found me both going and returning. I took the Reach the Beach route through West Salem, Lincoln, Amity, Sheridan and Grand Ronde to Pacific City. There, I has a great lunch and returned via the same route (more or less). Surprisingly, there was over 4000 feet of elevation gain, so it was not the flat ride I was expecting. The ride went well. My right hand did not trouble me (because of my fall on Thursday). I felt good for most of the ride, but I did suffer between mile 115 and 135. At mile 135, I stopped at the Lincoln Store and ate the "miracle" macaroni salad. I felt much better after eating. Sunday was a rest day. I did a short and flat 36 mile ride to Nusom's and back. Friday, April 26, 2002
OK, I know crashes are a part of cycling, but I don't like them! On Wednesday, I did the Salem Bicycle Club evening ride and got in 27 miles. The pace was good - hard but not all out. On Thrusday, I was heading toward the West Salem Hills when I failed to clip in and crashed at low speed. This time, I did not break any bones, but my right hand is badly brused. As to the bike, I rode to Scott's Cycles and they fixed it on the spot by bending the rear derailleur back into place and straigting the right shifter. I then joined them for their evening ride, but my right hand grew painfull so I cut it short and headed home. Today (Friday) it is feeling a bit better, but is still sore. The training plans calls for 140 miles on Saturday and 20 on Sunday. It could be painful. I plan to ride to Pacific City and back on Saturday. This should be about 150 miles, but not that much elevation gain. Next Saturday is the Ride Around Clark County - 103 miles. Joanne and I will ride the tandem and I will try to ride it very fast. The following Saturday, I plan a 140 mile ride up Mary's Peak and back to Salem. This should give me my long distance with climbing training ride. The following weekend is Davis. Sunday, April 21, 2002
On Sunday, my wife Joanne and I took our Meridian tandem out on the Salem Bicycle Club ride - The Hills East of Sublimity. This includes the infamous Flypaper Hill, a 22% grade! Our lowest gear (30x32) allowed us to get up the hill, but it was a chore! Fifty miles later, we were glad to be home. Saturday was a long ride - 111 miles. I rode north into a slight headwind thinking that I would enjoy the tailwind on my way home. I rode all of the way into Portland to my job at Portland Community College. This was my first experience with urgan cycling since I left Phoenix ten years ago. I didn't like it. Turning around, I head south but found that the wind had changed, it was now a cross wind from the west. Oh well. I intended to get something to eat at the Butteville store, but it was closed. As such, I bonked at mile 101 and the last nine miles were very hard. Gotta remember to bring the power bars! Friday, April 19, 2002
Three rides this week - Tuesday was at medium intentisy and 31 miles long. Wednesday was cold, wet and easy - only 20 miles. Thursday was Gibson Hill (23:33 minutes) and then Scott's Cycling. The total was 45 miles at a very intense pace. So, 96 miles for the week! Thinks are looking good. Wednesday, April 17, 2002
Sundays ride was only 53 miles and again, we were on the tandem. Just like yesterday, we went out with a strong tail wind and returned against the head wind. We went to the Wooden Shue Tulip Farm in Woodburn (Monitor really). However, this year we did not walk out to the tulips as it was muddy and we had to back in Salem for an afternoon appointment. This was a long weekend, and my legs feel it. On Saturday, I did a long ride - 110 miles. I rode to Champoeg State Park and joined my wife for the Blueberry Ride (http://www.blueberryrides.com/). We did fifty miles on our tandem and then I rode back home (and into the wind for 33 miles). It was another very wet day. This was made worst by the fact that I had to remove the tandem's front fender as the IRC Tandem tires are much larger than the tires I removed. As such, my feet got very wet. Oh well. I rode my rain/touring bike (Trek520) up to the park. With the strong tail wind from the south, my pace was very good - over 19 mph. Lots of miles last week. I only rode two week nights - I forgot that there was a Salem Bicycle Club board meeting on Wednesday night. On Tuesday, it was raining when my wife and I started, but the rain soon stopped and we did not get too wet. However, on Thursday, I rode with the gang from Scott's Cycling and we got dumped on! At least it was a warm wet. Also, they just flew! It seems some guys from Capial Velo joined in and picked up the pace. I managed to hang on, but my heart rate was way up there! Monday, April 08, 2002
140 miles this weekend. On Saturday, I did 80 miles of which the first 45 were flat and the last 35 were quite hilly. In fact, I did 3200 feet of elevation gain in just 35 miles. On Sunday, my wife Joanne and I rode the tandem for 60 miles. She was not feeling well, and I was very tired from Saturday, so were were a bit on the slow side. The weather both days was cloudy with Sunday the cooler of the two days. Today will be a rest day, and I plan on riding Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of this week. Friday, April 05, 2002
Well, the weather has changed. Looks like rain on both Saturday and Sunday. The training plan calls for 80 miles on Saturday and 50 on Sunday. Oh well, it is a good thing I did not pack my booties away for the summer. Thursday, April 04, 2002
The weather has been excellant, but my local bicycle club (The Salem Bicycle Club) has started their weeknight rights. So, I have less than an hour to ride before sunset as the club rides start at 6:00 pm. I rode on Tuesday and Thursday and have about 35 miles between the two days. It is so nice to ride in this warm and clear spring weather! No jacket, no long tights and no booties! WooHoo.
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