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
Saturday, December 31, 2005
Thoughts about some readings
The November/December issue of Ultra Cycling has an article entitled "A Maui double" by Janice Tower is well worth reading. Janice rode 230 miles in 23:30 hours including over 20,000 feet of climbing. After climbing Haleakala (timing it so she arrives at sunrise), she rides the perimeter of Maui. Along the way, she faces head winds, dirt roads and heat. She weaves a very inspiring account, one that makes me want to follow in her pedal strokes.
In VeloNews, The Best of 2005 issue (Vol 34 #20), reports on the Red Bull's Road Rage, a different kind of time trial. The Tuna Canyon Course near Malibu is just 2.5 miles long, but it drops nearly 2000 feet in elevation in that short distance and tests a rider's descending skills. Myles Rockwell won in 4:24.7. David McCook was second - 1.2 seconds behind Rockwell. No, I do not plan on entering next year. I would rather wait for a hot day and climb up the course at 4 miles per hour.
Thursday, December 29, 2005
New Bike Leads to More Riding!
Yes it is true.
I had Tuesday off, and the weather was drippy. There were showers in the morning, so I worked on my web site (I'm designing an online bike log using MySQL and PHP). But, by midday, my mind was jelly. It was time for a ride.
Looking out the window, I was that the showers had stopped so I took the Redline out for a ride. And, just for fun, I headed for the West Salem hills. I rode Gibson and the back side of Orchard Heights twice for a total of 38 miles and 4000 feet of elevation gain. Trust me, a 1 mile to 100 feet of elevation gain ratio is one fun ride!
Dogs
I do not like dogs. I never owned dogs as a boy and then I was a paperboy. Enough said. So, I had just turned around at the near the intersection of Oak Grove Rd and Farmer Rd and was heading back uphill toward Orchard Heights. On my right, a large green field ran up a hill to a home over 150 yards away. I saw three dogs were running down toward me barking. The owner was running after them attempting to call them back. I checked the edge of the field and notice that there was no fence. Sigh.
Two of the dogs, perhaps the elder of the three, stopped and returned to the running woman but the third kept coming toward me, ignoring it's owner. I adding my voice to the yelling. "Go home! Go home!" I shouted. It stopped at the edge of the filed but continued to bark. I experience a moment in time where you know you have lost control of your environment. Will the dog come onto the road and attack me, or will I get out of here alive?
Then, the dog must have heard it's owner as it turned to look at the shouting, running woman who was still very far away. The dog stopped barking and started wandering around, no longer harassing me, but not obeying it's owner either. I continued up the hill until I was pass the field. I survived another dog encoutner.
Wednesday Night
I worked out with Martin and then went for an easy ride with my wife. Martin has been in California for the holidays so we had good "makeup" workout. In other words, we worked hard.
After the workout, I rushed home and got into my cycling gear and Joanne and I rode 20 miles north of Salem. We took it easy and my average heart rate was just 99 bpm. But, my legs were reminding me of the 500 lb leg presses I had done earlier in the evening.
Monday, December 26, 2005
It was a good day to ride the Rain Bike
We met at the Red Lot for the 10:00 am Salem Bicycle Club under theatening clouds. Just before the ride started, the threat came true and it started to rain. It was not hard, but it was quite wet. My Redline handled it like champ. I really like the disk brakes. When I applied the brake lever, there was no grating sound of brake pads contacting the rim of the wheels. Just a nice, quite stop.
After a few miles, the rain stopped and stayed away for the rest of the ride. Of course, we did just 28 miles, but to give us credit, there were some hills - 70th, MacLeay and Joesph to name a few.
One the down side, due to the rain, my Redline is no longer clean.
| Actual | Average | Record | |
| Temperature | |||
| Mean Temperature | 50 °F / 10 °C | 39 °F / 3 °C | |
| Max Temperature | 54 °F / 12 °C | 45 °F / 7 °C | 60 °F / 15 °C (1980) |
| Min Temperature | 46 °F / 7 °C | 33 °F / 0 °C | 5 °F / -15 °C (1924) |
| Moisture | |||
| Dew Point | 46 °F / 8 °C | ||
| Average Humidity | 86 | ||
| Maximum Humidity | 100 | ||
| Minimum Humidity | 66 | ||
| Precipitation | |||
| Precipitation | 0.12 in / 0.3 cm | 0.20 in / 0.51 cm | 1.46 in / 3.71 cm (1917) |
| Month to date Precipitation | 5.94 | 5.48 | |
| Year to date precipitation | 32.88 | 39.02 |
Saturday, December 24, 2005
A New Rain Bike
I have purchased a new bicycle - a Redline Conquest Ti.
You will note that this is a cyclecross frame and it is compatible with disk brakes. The purpose of this bike is to become my rain bike, the bicycle I ride in the rain, which it does a lot of here in Oregon.
Components
Wheels: Velomax Sagitta
Shifters: Shimano Ultrega
Crank: Shimano Duraace Triple
Cassette: Shimano Ultrega 12x27
Front Derailleur: Shimano 105
Rear Derailleur: Shimano Ultrega
Brakes: Avid Ball Bearing Road
Saddle: Stella Italia Flight
Handlebar: Bontrager Race
Seatpost: Bontrager Race
Tires: continental 4-Season
I took it out for it's first ride today, and as per my history, I headed toward one of the toughest hills around - Gibson Rd. I needed to know how it climbed and descended. So, Gibson Rd here we come.
On the flats the bike felt very good. It is 3 3/4 lbs heavier (21 pounds even) than my LeMond Victoire, so it is somewhat more slugglish which is to be expected. I was afraid that it would be a slug on the hills, but my fears turned out to be unfounded. Climbing on the Redline was fun! The extra weight did not seem to slow me down. The Redline replaces my Cannondale CAAD3 R600 as my rain bike and the Cannondale is much heavier. The only issue I found was as I got up out of the saddle to stand, the front end is a bit more twichy than the LeMond.
Descending was fast and stable. The wheels felt stable on the curves and fast on the straight descents. I was up to my normal descending speed without worries.
Overall, the Redline performed well. I am very pleased with my first impressions.
Sunday, December 18, 2005
A Severe Weather Sunday Ride
Just got in from a 43 mile ride. Instead of the clear, cold blue sky we have been riding in the last week or so, the clouds started coming in from the south, which was the direction the Salem Bicycle Club ride went. For the most part, we were OK. The wind as strong coming from the northwest, but we were OK.
Then, just a few miles from town, the sleet started to fall. Joanne and I make it back to our house without too much damage, but sleet falling on your face is not a good thing.
Thursday, December 15, 2005
The two way tandem
No, Joanne and I are not having a fight, but the tandem color is very close to our own!
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Quote of the day, week, month?
I came upon a quote that I like:
"As bad as I feel right now, I'm still not gonna take up golf."
Richie Kondzielaski, RAAM 2000 finisher.
Sunday, December 11, 2005
A new bicyle?
I am looking to purchase a new bike. This will be a "rain" bike and could also be used for loaded touring.
To understand where I am headed, perhaps some history will be helpful.
In 1995, I purchased a Cannondale R600 that came with the 2.8 (pre-CAAD) frame. Is was stiff and much lighter than my steel bike. These factors helped me in climbing and sprinting. You step on the pedal and it goes! But, the ride was very harsh! In '02, the frame cracked and I received a CAAD3 as a warrenty replacement. I purchased one of Cannondales carbon fiber forkes and swaped out all of the parts. This was my "fast" bike until I purchased a '04 LeMond Victoire Classic (the all Ti frame). Now, the Cannondale is my rain bike. I got fenders on it, but it was a challenge.
Comparing the ride between the two frames, well the LeMond glides over chipseal while the Cannondale rumbles!
So, I have just begun looking for a frame to buildup. This would be my new "rain" bike and I would be putting many miles on it this seanson. (The Cannondale would become my "roller" bike.) My goals are...
1) Lightness is must.
2) Disk brakes are a must.
3) Being able to mount fenders is a must.
4) A non-harsh ride is a must (the LeMond has spoiled me).
5) Loading touring would be nice (I would swap the front fork).
Based upon the above, I have narrowed my frame material choices down to Ti. Steel is heavy and it rusts. Al is light but my history with it makes me want to advoid it. I love the ride on my LeMond Victoire!
As to frame style, I am looking at a cyclecross frame with disk brakes. While a bit heavier, I would be able to mount fenders and tour on it. The disk brakes would address rim damage/noise due to riding in the rain.
Just this weekend, I made the rounds of the bike shops in Salem (where I live) and I am looking at a Redline (http://www.redlinebicycles.com/) or a Desalvo (http://www.desalvocycles.com/). However, I am open to others; I have not made a choice as of yet.
Thursday, December 08, 2005
Keizer Christmas Lights Ride
The annual Salem Bicycle Club Keizer Christmas Lights Ride was last night. We met at Steamed Heat (a coffee shop) in Keizer and rode out to the show. The temperature was very low - the actual low was 35° F., but my fingers told me it felt much colder than that!
I hope to put up some pictures soon.
Monday, December 05, 2005
Willamette Valley Personal Century
After taking Saturday off, I rode a personal century yesterday. I left the house at 8:30 am and headed east out Sunnyside Rd to Cascade Hwy. There I turned around and headed back to town to join the Salem Bicycle Club for their 10:00 am ride. This ride headed north on the west side of the Willamette River to Amity. I did some extra hill climbing and got behind the main group. I spent most of the day trying to catch them. As such, I found a way to work hard. Then, I joined the Salem Bicycle Club for the 1:30 pm ride so I would end the day with 100 miles.
Here is the analysis for the day...
