Another busy week. I worked out in the gym with Martin on Monday. After a weekend of cycling, leg pressing 500 pounds is always a joy. On Tuesday, I swam (20 laps) and then attended my wife's yoga class for the first time since spring. Yes, yoga is as hard and is as painful as I remembered. Yesterday was a rest day.

Well, the last double of the year is this weekend, the Fall Death Valley Double. Joanne will be joining me and riding the century. We leave this morning and the drive will take us two days. The weather may impact our drive. There has been snow storms is the sierra and many of the passes are already closed for the year. Our route is open, or open with chains, depending upon the web site we visit.

The ride is Saturday and the forecast is for temperatures in the low or mid 70s° F. This is Death Valley and temps in the mid 70s°! What happen to the 107° that I faced on the first year I attempted this double? It is almost not worth while to go. And some people still don't believe in climate change.

Posted 6:31 AM by John Henry

A recovery ride today. I did 40 miles, mostly flat, but with a head wind going out. I rode with my wife and we enjoyed hot chocolate at the DQ in Stayton.

The ride back had some hills, but nothing really serious.

Next weekend is the Fall Death Valley Double, the last one of my long rides for this year. It will be number eight and I am looking forward to riding it and being done with double (for this year).

Posted 9:07 PM by John Henry

Rode some hills today. I did 40 miles and 3000' of elevation gain. Included in this altitude fest was Gibson Rd and I did it 6 minutes faster than the last time (when I climbed it with 90 miles on my legs).

I was descending a steep hill, one that I could achieve 50 mph on. Looking up, I saw a cat slowly crossing the road. It did not hear me speeding down toward it so I yelled out a warning. It stopped in it's tracks and stared at me, not moving. I could only brake and slow down. Just as I approached, the cat ran off into the brush along side of the road. I had lost most of my momentum, but both the cat and I lived.

Posted 9:07 PM by John Henry

Another busy week. On Monday I took a day off and went to see Michael Moore.

Tuesday, I worked out at the gym with Martin.
Wednesday, I rode my bicycle in the dark for 25 miles.
Thursday was another night at the gym with Martin.

Riding in the dark has a certain allure. The only part of the road you can see is in the small circle of light in front of you. You can't see beside you, or behind you. But, you notice houses along the way that you usually ignore. As the windows are lighted, they draw your eye and you become a rolling voyeur.

Posted 9:07 PM by John Henry

Sunday, I woke up to the sound of a strong wind blowing the wind chimes about creating a loud but soothing sound. But then I heard the rain beating against the south side of the house. A strong south wind coupled with a heavy rain did not make me want to ride. So, I was glad that Keith Lippy called and suggested we go hiking in the rain.

Keith, Pat, Joanne and I did seven miles in the wet forest. It was wonderful!

However, I did a whopping 25 miles this weekend, but my lower legs are sore from hiking.

Posted 5:20 PM by John Henry

A short ride today, just 25 miles as I had to go to work to upgrade a server. But, I did fit in one hill - Orchard Heights from the back side.

The forecast was for rain, so I rode my rain bike. But, perhaps I did ride the rain bike, it did not rain. In fact, it was rather nice.

Tomorrow is another long ride with elevation. I hoping to do 110 miles or so. I hope it does not rain.

Posted 5:27 PM by John Henry

Yesterday evening, I rode with the group from Scott's Cycling. We headed north along the Windsor Island Loop. This is a flat route with just one short, steep hill. Al D. likes to attack on the hill and hopefully be the first one on the top. As we approached the hill, I was in 8th place and Al was right behind me. At the foot of the hill, Al attached, but no one followed. Then, after a few yards, we gave chase. Al was second and I was fourth. I can wait till next Thursday.

Again, the weather was nice all week long and is now turning to rain. I plan a short ride tomorrow because I have to go into work in the afternoon. Like last week, my long ride will be on Sunday. I think I will head south out of Salem hoping that the weather will be better in that direction.

Posted 8:23 PM by John Henry

I have been busy this week.

On Monday, I went to the gym and walked on the treadmill for 45 minutes. It was sort of a rest day, so I did the treadmill instead of the stairclimber.

On Tuesday, I swam for 30 minutes doing 20 laps. Tiring.

Tonight I did 22 miles on the LeMond at 17 miles per hour. It is fun riding in the dark (with lights).

The weather has been very, very nice this week. Clear skies, warm during the day and not a drop of rain in sight. Too bad this will change for the weekend. Looks like the rain bike gets to come andplay again. Oh well.

Posted 9:28 PM by John Henry

I hate riding in fog. It is cold. It is wet. It is bleak.

But there I was, riding north out of Salem in the fog. My glasses were covered with water, my bike was getting wet and there was a head wind. Looking left and right, I could not detect any signs that the fog was lifting, so I knew I had perhaps two more hours to "enjoy" the fog.

I was riding with Mel Lucas and Joanne toward the Donald Cafe, 30 miles north of Salem. From there, I would "go long" while they returned to Salem. We were on Manning Road, when suddenly Mel's Litespeed Duraace 10 bicycle fell apart. The non-drive crank arm disconnected from the bottem bracket axel. I looked over and saw Mel holding his left leg up with the crank arm dangleing from his shoe. We stopped at a driveway and reassembled his bike.

After a small breakfast at the Donald Cafe, I continued north. My goal was to ride a century, 100 miles. So, I needed 40 more miles before I turned back toward Salem. I rode all of the way up to the boat ramp on the Willamette River near Boone Bridge. There, I turned around and rode through Butteville and then pass Champoeg State Park. I then passed the Heirloom Rose Garden and headed toward the Wheatland Ferry. So far, I had ridden 75 miles with 1200 feet of elelvation gain. But this was about to change.

I had made the decision earlier, to climb some hills in the last 25 miles of the ride. In addition, I had not taken any breaks since the Donald Cafe, 45 miles ago. I guess I had decided to punish my body.

After the ferry, I headed toward Spring Hill Rd. This road goes up and down along the east side of the West Salem Hills. My elevation gain started to climb as I headed south. But unless I took a detour, I would come in short of 100 miles. So, I climbed Gibson Road.

Gibson Rd climbs up to Eagles Crest which leads one to Orchard Heights. As the names of the roads indicate, this route takes you up to the crest of the West Salem Hills. The route is just 3.76 miles long. Beginning elevation is 330' and the crest is at 1100'. However, after a difficult climb up Gibson, there are some rollers on Eagles Crest before the climbing resumes on Orchard Heights.

After riding a hard 50 miles without breaks, Gibson Rd was a real challenge. My legs were cramping and without strength. Soon, even my granny gear did not seem low enough for the steep sections (10% - 12% pitches). I slowly suffered up the hill with sweat running in my eyes. It was just about all I could do, but I persevered and reached the top in 31 minutes, seven minutes slower than the last time I climbed Gibson.

I turned around and flew down Orchard Heights toward West Salem and home. After crossing the Willamette River, I limped home with a final mileage of 99 miles and over 33o0 feet of elevation gain. Yes, I nearly tripled my elevation gain in the last twenty-five miles of my ride.

I also succeeded in trashing my body. But it was fun.

Posted 7:50 AM by John Henry

The weather forecast was correct, but we got caught in only one shower.

The sky was very unstable this morning. Rain clouds covered most of it, but to the east was some blue sky. Then the sun shown through lighting up the houses across the street in a magical light. I got the message - Today is a good day to ride.

But common sense told be to ride the rain bike, and it was the appropriate bike for today. The route headed south out of Salem up Liberty hill and into the headwind. Fun times were had by all. But seriously, I was able to ride hard and had a good work out. Sweat was even dripping into my eyes.

We stopped in Jefferson and ate lunch at the Mexican Bakery. Very good food.

The ride back brought the rain and we got a bit wet. But it was a short shower, not a real rain.

Total miles today was just over fifty and a relaxing 14.1 miles per hour average.

Tomorrow will be my long day and the weather should be better.

Posted 3:31 PM by John Henry

The weather forecast was correct, but we got caught in only one shower.

The sky was very unstable this morning. Rain clouds covered most of it, but to the east was some blue sky. Then the sun shown through lighting up the houses across the street in a magical light. I got the message - Today is a good day to ride.

But common sense told be to ride the rain bike, and it was the appropratie bike for today. The route headed south out of Salem up Liberty hill and into the headwind. Fun times were had by all. But seriously, I was able to ride hard and had a good work out. Sweat was even dripping into my eyes.

We stopped in Jefferson and ate lunch at the Mexican Bakery. Very good food.

The ride back brought the rain and we got a bit wet. But it was a short shower, not a real rain.

Total miles today was just over fifty and a relaxing 14.1 miles per hour average.

Tomorrow will be my long day and the weather should be better.

Posted 3:31 PM by John Henry

That illness came back and got me down the last few days. Yesterday, I slept 14 hours yesterday and I feel better today. So, it being a clear afternoon, I joined the group from Scott's Cycling and did a very quick 26 miles. The first half of the ride was in daylight, but then darkness fell and the lights came on. It was quite a sight to see 25 bicyles with lights going down the road.

The weather looks bad for Saturday, but better on Sunday. So, that's the day I will do my long ride.

Short term...satellite shows a strong surface low near 52n/138w this

evening slowly shifting to the northeast...with ETA model and GFS similar

tracking the low northeast to the Queen Charlotte islands by 06z Sat

and weakening it. The models then move the low onto the British Columbia coast Sat.

The trailing rather strong cold front will probably produce gales

ahead of it tonight and early Friday...and some possible heavy rain due

to precipitable water values up around 1.5 inches. Satellite and

models still showing a double frontal structure south of 45n...but

ETA model and GFS similar merging the bands later tonight. Models have

fluctuated a little on their timing of the frontal movement and

associated precipitation...however, current model run looks similar

to last nights timing with heavier precipitation to the coast by 12z and

inland 18z-00z. Snow levels are fairly high with the front itself so

do not expect heavy snow with the front. Colder air behind the front

comes onshore Friday night and Sat and will likely drop snow levels in

the Cascades down to near 5000 feet. The orographics late Friday night

and Sat are fairly decent as the upper trough swings inland and some

potential exists for the first Snow Advisory of the year although

would likely be above the main passes.

Posted 9:47 PM by John Henry

Well, the looks like it is going to take a turn for the worst. From the National Weather Service:

Long term...little change planned at this time. The next front moves

into the area mainly Friday...as the medium range models struggle

with timing in the increasing amplitude flow. Recent model runs show

some cooler air dropping snow levels down to 5000 feet or so as the

main upper trough comes onshore Saturday. Another system brushes

through Sunday then northwest flow behind this system looks to be on

the showery side.

Posted 8:26 PM by John Henry

Another fine day in paradise! Woke up to fog, but it quickly cleared to become a picture perfect autumn day.

Joanne and I rode our tandem on a hilly, 65 mile route southwest of Salem. We got to climb both Fishback and Liberty hills today. We felt strong and climbed well.

I am trying to maintain a high level of training miles as I am planning on riding the Fall Death Valley Double on October 30th. This will be my eighth and last double this year. I have successfully completed it twice but DNF on my first attempt in 2001 (heat and illness). So, in keeping with a good training plan, I should do a very long ride next weekend, perhaps as much as 140 miles. I hope the weather is good.

On another note, usually when bicycling is the subject of a newspaper columnist, the tone is anti-bike. However, I came across this column by Bob Miller in the Southeast Missourian. Not being a bicyclist, but wanting to write about the car/bike adversarial relationship, he decided to learn what it was like to ride in traffic. His piece is well written and honest.

Posted 8:23 PM by John Henry

My friend, Martin, made the local paper today.

today's ride was to Hubbard and back. It was flat as flat can be. My max speed was just 26.5 mph. None the less, Gus, Lee and I rode hard and had a good time.

By the way, this ride put me over 6000 miles for the year!

Posted 9:14 PM by John Henry

An illness has gotten me down, but I'm feeling better now.

I finished the Knoxville Double in 17 hours and with an 14.5 mph average. This was the hardest double so far this year. The elevation gain was over 12,000 feet and nearly 2000 feet more than the next hardest double - Eastern Sierra.

My plan was to leave at 4:45 am, but at 4:44 I discovered that I had left my helmet at the motel. I had to drive back and get it so I did not leave until 5:15 am. None the less, I soon fell into a group of quick riders and rode with them to the base of the first major climb of the day.

descending into Napa Valley, the air became cold and nearly bone chilling. Both my fingers and toes were complaining as I peddled toward the first rest stop. There, the sun finally come over the ridge line and began to warm me. By the time I reached the second major climb of the day, I was warm again. This climb was fun, but not easy. Soon, I reached the top and began the "... Extremely fast, twisty, wicked descent!" The Quackcyclists do not lie.

Now comes the third and longest climb of the day, Knoxville Rd. When I last did this ride, this climb was very difficult and I really suffered. I was please to find that I did much better this year, but I did suffer. Just before the start of the climb, during a short descent, I hit a bee with my face, my lip in fact. While I do not believe that the bee stung me, some venom must have been released as the right side of my tongue went numb. This cause me some concern, but I could only keep peddling and after several miles, I regained feeling in my tongue. Just in time for the lunch stop in fact.

After a quick lunch, I did the fourth major climb of the day and then descended on Big Canyon Rd. The name of the road must be in reference to the size of the pot holes. Will someone please fix this road?

The rest of the ride went well as most of the climbing was now over. I rode mostly by myself but hooked up with Ron from LA once darkness fell. He was completing his 49th double, and he started riding doubles once he retired from motorcycle racing when he turned 60 years of age. Yes, he could out climb me.

I finished at 9:20 with five more miles than last year due to course changes.

If I ride this double next year, my goal will be to get beyond Highway 128, and all of the pickup/boat trailer traffic, before dark. Scary.

Posted 9:15 PM by John Henry