| (Long Distance) Ramblings |
|
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
|
Wednesday, September 22, 2004
Just a short, quick ride on the tandem tonight. I'm feeling pretty good, even if I have worked 22 hours in the last two days. Some time ago, I purchased a new set of glasses. Why, well I dropped my old glasses during STP and the RX frame broke allowing the lens to fall out. I did a five minute stop in a 7-11. I purchased super glue and fixed glued the frame back together. My criteria for my new glasses was... 1) Lightweight 2) RX capability 3) interchangeable lens I found what I needed in the Bolle Parole. In addition, I can remove the shaded lens and use the RX insert alone. This is nice for riding in the dark. I have decided to use the Camelback on Knoxville. Mainly because I can carry more Gu and Cytomax. On another matter, the local paper has endorsed my friend, and fellow Salem Bicycle Club member Hersh Sangster for Keizer City Council. Woohoo. Tuesday, September 21, 2004
Tonight, I began packing for my next double, the Knoxville Double Century. I picked out my clothes, gathered my Helmet and shoes, and found my lights. Tomorrow, I will work on the bike after my evening ride. Yesterday, I worked out in the gym with Martin. If you want my advise, the only way to keep a weight lifting regiment active is to have a work out partner, especially one who says that you are losing your gut. Thanks Martin. By the way, I pulled out my cycling log from 2002 and reviewed my stats from the last time I did the Knoxville Double. My average was just 14 miles per hour. The first sentence in my writeup was "This was the hardest double I have ever done!". Thinking back, I would agree. But, I believe that I am in better shape than I was in 2002. I will know for sure by noon on Saturday. Sunday, September 19, 2004
This has been a very wet September. It seems to have rained every day. So, I was not looking forward to riding today. I have gotten soft with riding in the warm weather of summer. Now that we are entering fall, I can no longer count on a dry ride. So, I got the rain bike out (Cannondale CAAD 3 fitted with fenders) and we headed down to the red lot. There was mist in the air and puddles on the road. The sky was grey and it looked like rain. Today's route took us to Sheridan, Joanne's hometown. It would be the first time I would be back in Sheridan since the death of Joanne's mom. Anyway, the grey skies stayed grey and even seem to lighten. Could it be? Could we have a day without rain? It was to be. The rain held off, but I am sure that it will come another day. Al and I rode together. The wind was calm on the way out and slight from the south on the way back. We took the hilly way, Brush College Rd both coming and going. Just for fun, we added Doaks Ferry on the way back. Stats: 15.9 mph average 63.08 total miles I rode hard today, on a day that should have been an easy day for me. You see, I will riding the Knoxville Double on Saturday. Knoxville is not an easy double and I have not been on a specific training schedule. I guess I will have to reach down deep and suffer. Fun. Saturday, September 18, 2004
OK, so it is hard to start blogging again after so a long absence, but I will try. So, why was I gone so long? Well, I had trouble with my cable modem, and then I was busy, and then I was lazy. But, none the less, I am back. I just got back from a week long bicycle tour of the Sunshine Coast and Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. We did 300 miles in one week enjoying the Canadian scenery and people. Both are great! We started just north of the Tswwassan, at a hotel at the intersection of 17 and 99. From there, we rode north through Vancouver to West Van and then North Van to Horseshoe Bay. We used the Ferry to cross to Gibsons and spent the first night in Roberts Bay at the Up the Creek B & B. Martin and Marney took very good care of us. The second day, we peddled north to Saltery Bay and stayed at the Brock Resort and B and B. This was another very nice place. We even were allowed to borrow their car so we could go to dinner! However, they are retiring from the B and B business at the end of this month. Along the way, everyone we met said we really must go to Lund, at the end (beginning) of the highway. So we did! But, no one told us about the 14% hill we had to climb! In Lund, we stayed at the History Lund Hotel. Now, we retraced our way back to Powell River and used the ferry to cross over to Comox. From there, we headed south on 19A, stopping for the night in Qualicum Bay in a log cabin at the Kwalikum Beaver Resort. Next, we headed up and over the "hump" to Port Alberni. Here, we stayed two nights in a cheap, smoky motel. On our rest day, we took the M.V. Frances Barkley to Ucluelet and back. This was a good plan as the rain really came down in the afternoon. It was a good day to take a rest day. Finally, we rode to Duke Point, by way of Namino, and headed back to Tswwassen and back to our car. We had a very good time, and were sad to leave. We were able to see only a small portion of the Sunshine Coast and Vancouver Island. There was much more to see, but we had to head back home.
|