October Rides

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Miles: 18.0
October Total: 526.8

Joanne and I rode the tandem on the Salem Bicycle Club Wednesday Night Ride. And we rode it very slowly as I was no where close to being recovered from the 508.

Thursday, October 12, 2006

Miles: 34.61
October Total: 561.41

I rode with the folks from Scott's Cycling. Again, this was a recovery ride.

Saturday, October 14, 2006

Miles: 93.33
October Total: 654.74

Yes, just one week after the 508, I'm doing a Saturday Century. Peter Davis gave me a call and said he wanted to do a Saturday Century with me. I did not have the heart to tell him no, I was not up to it. Instead, I said yes and we made plans to meet at the local coffee shop Saturday morning.

Luckily, Peter is a touring cyclist, not a Cat-1 racer. So, I had an enjoyable, long, slow ride on a very flat course. He started off by riding to Jefferson where we stopped for breakfast. Then, we took in the Dever/Conner sights before stopping at the Millersburg Market. Finally, we headed home by retracting our route back through Jefferson.

The weather was good enough, fog turning to low clouds, but I did miss the warm temperatures and clear blue skies of the Californian deserts.

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Miles: 33.55
October Total: 688.49

Another ride with the Scott's Cycling folks. I'm feeling better and even contested MacLeay Hill. I stayed with the lead group (of the not fast riders) letting a solo rider attach half way up the hill. Earl got 100 feet on us but could not extend his lead. We slowly worked our way up to him and as we approached the summit, I came around and attached. He heard me coming and jumped out of the saddle. We were side by side as we reached the summit! My maximum heart rate was 184!

Wednesday, October 18, 2006

Miles: 23.18
October Total: 711.57

A quick ride, but a recovery ride none the less.

The evenings are getting cooler, but only after the sun goes down. Do I dress for the start of the ride when it is 65° or for the end of the ride when it is 55°? Sweat early or freeze late?

Saturday, October 21, 2006

Miles: 82.52
October Total: 794.09

I intended to ride another Saturday Century, but I came up short. I started out alone and headed north along the Willamette River. My first stop was at Champoeg State Park before riding to the (very) small town of Barlow. Then, I headed to Aurora where I met my wife and rode back home with her.

I was very tired the second half of this ride. I was really glad to reach home and I had no intention of riding an additional eight miles to reach a UMCA century of 90 miles minimum.

Will I ever recover from the 508?

Wednesday, October 25, 2006

Miles: 16.18
October Total: 810.27

I took Tuesday off, but joined my wife for the Wednesday night ride. Feeling better, I rode well, but I'm not completely recovered yet.

Thursday, October 26, 2006

Miles: 27.32
October Total: 837.59

I joined the group from Scott's Cycle and we headed north to do the Windsor Island Loop. I had two flats tonight. The first I found as I was getting ready to leave the house. The second came early in the ride when I pinched when hitting something in the bicycle path.

Saturday, October 28, 2006

Miles: 93.24
October Total: 930.83

Another Saturday Century! Mark joined new century rider Jerry and we headed up around Silver Creek Falls State Park.

This ride had a couple of firsts for me.

1) The first time I rode down Timber Trail, one of the steepest hills around Salem. I was doing 40+ mph without trying, but had to slow for a hairpin turn. My brakes did the job, but I was wishing for my Redline with disk brakes.

2) For the first time in my cycling career, I had a migraine attack while I was on the bike. I rode thought it, and it was painful, but I think that climbing helped the pain. Perhaps my heart was sending blood to my legs instead of my head. Anyway, but the end of the ride I was feeling much better.

Posted 7:35 PM by John Henry