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."
Mario Cipolini
"Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride."
John F. Kennedy
"The important decisions in my life I make while out riding my bike."
Former Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi
"Pain is temporary, quitting lasts forever.” Lance Armstrong
Thursday, October 30, 2003
Tonight, I rode with the group from Scott's Cycles. It was dark, we rode fast, and I didn't crash!
We headed north into the night, headlights blazing. It was a quick, flat ride but it was very interesting. Riding in the dark, even with lights, it is difficult to see road hazards. And I hit more than one unseen "bump in the night". None the less, I completed the ride with no flats.
However, the big news of the day is that I ordered a new bicycle frame!
I have wanted a new bicycle for some time.
However, my Cannondale still serves me very well. I have over six thousand miles on it. I have upgraded the components several times. The bike is pretty much "dialed in". Still, I found myself longing for something different, something that is a bit more comfortable on the long rides that I enjoy.
I started looking around. My first decision was frame material. My choices are: steel, aluminum, titanium and carbon ( or a combination of carbon and something else). First I ruled out carbon. This decision was not based on fact, I just like my bikes to go "ting" instead of "thunk". Next, I ruled out a mixture of carbon and a metal. Same reason. This left me steel, aluminum and titanium. Steel is very compliant, but is generally heavy. The Cannondale is aluminum, and I wanted something different. So, I took a hard look at titanium bikes. I was looking at Litespeed and Seven but I was not excited by either. Don't know why.
Then, one day I walked into the local bicycle shop and saw a titanium LeMond. The LeMond Web Site describes it as "One of the most elegant and technically advanced Ti frames available anywhere, from anyone. Handcrafted one at a time here in the U.S. using shaped Reynolds 3/2.5 Ti tubing that's mechanically butted as opposed to chemically milled for added strength." I had found my new bicycle!
Monday, October 27, 2003
The long dark nights of winter are here. Darkness falls at 5:30 pm now, so riding after work means riding in the dark.
Now, I am not opposed to that, but it brings on it's own set of issues. One is, "I can't see where I'm going!" I have lights, but no handlebar light can replace sunlight. The darkness hides hazards. I find myself making last moment avoidance maneuvers. Not a good thing.
A few years ago, I tried riding a trainer. The bicycle is supported at the rear wheel by the trainer, in effect, making a stationary exercise bicycle. You do not need to worry about balance. The trainer holds you upright. So, there you are, on a bicycle that can't fall down. Not exciting. In fact, it is boring.
The only thing to do is to ride rollers!
A few months ago, my good friend Martin gave me his rollers. Rollers are a set of parallel cylinders that you place the bicycle on. Then, you get on the saddle and start spinning. There is nothing to hold you up except your balance. Fun!
I set up the rollers in the doorway between the kitchen and dining room. I placed my Cannondale on them and got on, holding onto the doorway with my left hand. I slowly started peddling, picking up speed. It was a bit sticky letting go. I gently balanced myself and then quickly moved my hand to the handlebar. I was spinning! I was shaky at first, but I managed to stay upright for a full 15 minutes before I crashed.
I was just spinning along, when I found myself falling over to the right side. I fell against the doorway and no harm was done. I guess my mind drifted off and I forgot what I was doing. I got right back on and finished the hour long ride with only one more crash. Note to self: when on the rollers, don't daydream!
Sunday, October 26, 2003
It's getting close to the Thanksgiving Holiday, and that means that it is time for the Ballston Community Turkey Dinner!
Another really great day for a bicycle ride, and with a destination like the Ballston Community Turkey Dinner, life is very good indeed!
Saturday, October 25, 2003
Today, we rode with the Salem Bicycle Club to the Buena Vista Ferry. This was the last weekend of the year that the ferry will operate: it is closing for the winter. But the today's weather was nothing more than fantastic! The skies were clear, the tempters was in the low 70s and the riding was good. Took a few photos which you can see here.
We took River Road south out of Salem. This is a quiet road running along the east bank of the Willamette River. Due to the steepness of the bank, there are few homes along the road. As I came around a turn in the road, the heard the distinctive noise of a chainsaw. Now I grew up with chainsaws and I know what sounds like. My father was not a logger, but we had enough land that he could meet our family's fireplace needs with the wood that my father would cut up with his chainsaw. I looked up and saw someone using a chainsaw to clear the wild blackberrys along side of the road. Who needs a weed wacker if you own a chainsaw?
Tuesday, October 21, 2003
We had a very good trip!
Three of us, Tom Tilque, my wife Joanne and myself left the Randolph C. Collier rest stop on a cool but very clear Friday morning and rode to Happy Camp. Highway 96 is narrow, and winding, but very scenic. Traffic was light (it is October) and very courteous, except for one log truck driver who gave us a "thumbs down" sign. We spent the first night in Happy Camp, and we were happy campers. Joanne and I spent the night in the smallest motel room we have ever seen. We had to wait till we turned of the TV before we could bring our bicycles in!
The second day was tough. We enjoyed an "epic climb" of over 20 miles with the last nine miles at 9%. However, the descent was fun, if not a bit cool. We spent the night in Cave Junction, a town that owes it's existence to the fact that it is where the junction to the Oregon Caves is.
The last day was a quick ride in the rain to crescent City. Two sunny days out of three is more than you can ask for in October!
I forgot my camera, but Tom did not. Photos here.
Sunday, October 12, 2003
Sort of a clear - cloudy - raining day. That is, it was clear when we started out, but soon the clouds came in. The it rained. It rained so hard that we delayed leaving our rest stop for 30 minutes hoping that the rain would stop. We finally rode off during a slight let up, but soon the skies opened up and dumped on us.
None the less, the ride out to the pumpkin patch was fun. We saw barns, pumpkins, horses, baby chicks and tractors!
On the way back, we came upon another leftover from the night before.
Sunday, October 05, 2003
Today I lead the Salem Bicycle Club's "Highwheeler" ride in the Ankeny Wildlife Refuge. Only two of us braved the dreary skies. However, any day on the bike is a good day. My pictures are here.
Since it looks like we will not be doing the Death Valley Double, Joanne and I are planning a short three-day credit card pack down in Northern California. We will ride from the Randolph C. Collier rest stop on I-5 to Cresent City, Ca. This is a three day rice with stops in Happy Camp, Ca and Cave Junction, Or.
You can see a really large (2145097 bytes) map of the route here.
Saturday, October 04, 2003
Death Valley is a no go!
1) I mailed in our applications on Saturday, September 29.
2) On Monday, September 32, I received an e-mail directed to the Planet Ultra list advising that the ride is filling up and anyone who's application is postmarked by 9/29/03 will be accepted.
3) On Tuesday, October 1, I received an e-mail directed to the Planet Ultra list advising that the ride is full. Any applications received on or after 10/1/03 will be returned unopened. Also, if your name does not appear on the registration list, you are not registered. The e-mail goes on to say that I could join a waiting list by sending an e-mail.
4) Due to the confusing e-mails, I asked by e-mail what our status was. I have yet to receive a response.
I am a bit disapointed by the way all of this came about. First, they advised we would be in (by virtue of mailing by 9/29. Then, I was advised we were not in. As such, I am not riding today.