Where are my 2008 Resolutions?

To answer that question, let's review my 2007 Resolutions...


2007 Resolutions

1   Record all of my food intake at Fitday.com
2   Record all of my century rides in the UMCA Year Rounder Challenge
3   Finish the harest double century in California - The Devil Mountain Double
4   Finish the Davis 24 Hour Challenge with at least 350 miles
5   Finish the Ring of Fire 24 Hour Time Trial with at least 325 miles (307 last year)
6   Ride a week long self supported tour with my wife (Arizona perhaps?)

Results

1   I did not record all of my food intake at Fiteday.com
2   I did not record all of my century rides in the UMCA Year Rounder Challenge
3   I did not rinish the harest double century in California - The Devil Mountain Double (I did not even attempt this ride.)
4   I did not finish the Davis 24 Hour Challenge with at least 350 miles. I forgot to wear my orthotics and stopped at 12 hours due to foot pain.
5   I did not finish the Ring of Fire 24 Hour Time Trial with at least 325 miles (307 last year). Again, I stopped early.
6   I did ride a week long self supported tour with my wife and it was Arizona.

Posted 7:25 AM by John Henry

Posted 8:22 PM by John Henry

Power Cranks - First Ride Reports

And I thought I knew how to spin.

I installed the power cranks on my old Cannondale CAAD3 and purchased a trainer as per many suggestions that I try the Power Cranks on a trainer before I go out on the road. This was good advice. I could only sustain proper pedaling for a few minutes at a time. Based upon my reading, this was expected. None the less, it was somewhat frustrating. I had trouble bringing my right leg over top dead center. I would raise it up but before it went over, it wanted to stop. As such, I spent only 30 minutes on the bike during the first session. The next day, I was back on the bike and spent 45 minutes on it. The second session went much better than the first and I even got to the point where I could let my mind wander.

Posted 9:17 AM by John Henry

Feel the Power!

I have finally made the leap and purchased a set of Power Cranks.

Many of the local cyclists that I admire such as Kenneth Philbrick, Jon Wolf and Sal Ortega use them to train. How are Power Cranks different? "PowerCranks are a modified set of cranks that use a clutch bearing in each crank arm to allow only the crank to engage in a forward direction and as a result, the cranks operate independently of one another." (1)

In other words, you have to pull the crank up so you can push down on it. Ouch!

(1) Ben Larsen, PowerCranks: Crank it up, www.cyclingnews.com

Posted 10:32 AM by John Henry

Posted 5:15 PM by John Henry

Forest Ridge starts Biker Awards for students

Our local newspaper reports on the expansion of the Bicycle Reward Program that is the subject of my Alice B. Toeclip Award nomination. The short article can be view at the Statesman Journal Website.

Posted 7:34 PM by John Henry

Posted 8:11 PM by John Henry

Posted 2:29 PM by John Henry

Alice B. Toeclip Nomination

The local(?) bicycle advocacy group, the Bicycle Transportation Alliance "... presents the Alice B. Toeclips Awards to individuals, businesses, and organizations in Oregon and SW Washington whose work has promoted the use of bicycles and increased the livability of our communities."

With the help of Mary Schmidgall, a long time Salem Bicycle Club member, I wrote the following nomination...

Nominees: Don & Sally Hopkins, Bill & Gail Bonniksen,and Scott's Cycle & Fitness

For the past nine years, students at Highland Elementary School in Salem have had an extra incentive to finish their schoolwork. Every six weeks, the names of those students who have completed all their reading homework assignments are entered into a drawing to win a bicycle. Two lucky students hear their name announced, and know they will soon be pedaling their own brand new bike. So far, more than 140 new bikes have been awarded.

This program was begun with the 1998-99 school year by Don and Sally Hopkins of Salem. In 2005, Bill and Gail Bonniksen, also of Salem, joined with the Hopkins' to contribute the necessary funds. Each couple donates $150 every six weeks. The winning students are presented with a $200 certificate redeemable at Scott's Cycles & Fitness of Salem, with Scott's contributing the $50 difference. Owners Larry Lewis and Steve Lewis assist the child and parents in choosing just the right bike and a properly fitted helmet.

Sally Hopkins, a former educator, says that the chance to win a bicycle serves to motivate the students in doing their homework. She says the feeling of "the wind blowing through your hair as you sail down the street" (wearing a helmet, of course) makes it worth doing that homework. Don Hopkins adds that their intention is to help the teachers to help the kids to learn. "The thrill of getting a bike really motivates!" says Don, an avid cyclist who rode two of the Salem Bicycle Club's event rides and obtained the 1,000 miles in the saddle milestone this year.

In addition to motivating the students, the bicycle award program teaches the hardworking students and their parents the value of owning a bicycle, with the feeling of freedom and sense of independence that only riding a bicycle can bring. It also gives the students a means of getting to school or going to a friend's house which keeps them active, reduces the number of vehicles on the road, and keeps our air cleaner.

This year, inspired by the Hopkins' and the Bonniksens, the program is being expanded to include Forest Ridge Elementary School in Keizer, sponsored by Ozzie & Carolee Rose and Lucille Whitman of Salem.

The Hopkins' and Bonniksens long-term, consistent financial commitment to supporting cycling for children in the Salem area introduces scores of children to the thrill and independence of cycling. This continuing support positively impacts hundreds of people throughout the Highland School district and beyond, and now will spread even further to other parts of the Salem/Keizer area.

Posted 12:53 PM by John Henry

Wet Wednesday Night Ride

Yes, I went for a short bike ride in the rain. Why not? It is only January in Oregon, the rain fall rate was not that high, and I do own a rain bike. So off I went.

Posted 7:48 PM by John Henry

PRESIDENT'S LINK

The Salem Bicycle Club has elected me President for the 2008 calendar year. One of my responsibilities will be to write a column in the Club's newsletter, The Spokes. This is the first of ten that I will be writing.


Allow me to introduce myself. I am John Henry Maurice, your Salem Bicycle Club President.

I started riding bicycles twenty years ago. My first bicycle was a $90 garage sale Miyata 210 and my first ride was just fifteen flat miles. During that ride, I saw others riding in groups. I soon found out about the local bicycle club. I joined and they took me in and taught me many things. They taught me that riding with friends was fun. They taught me that while a fl at road is easy, a hilly road makes you strong. They taught me that I can explore the world around me on my bicycle and it is a much better world than the one I see from my car.

Upon my return to my home state I joined the Salem Bicycle Club. Riding with the Club, I met many new friends. Club members introduced me to the roads surrounding Salem, and many of the hills. I met my wife on a Club Ride. A Club member introduced me to the two day Seattle to Portland Classic and another joined me on riding Seattle to Portland in one day. Another Club member introduced me to packed down bicycle touring. Other Club members introduced me to the Oregon Bicycle Ride and supported touring. But most of all, Club members introduced me to the fun of riding with a club.

As many of you may know, I ride somewhat further than fi fteen miles now, and my bicycles cost me more than I care to admit. But I always enjoy riding with the Club. That is why I decided to take a larger role with the Club. My only goal is to make the Salem Bicycle Club an inviting place for folks to experience the joys of riding a bicycle. I hope to see you on a ride soon!

Posted 6:14 AM by John Henry

Prairies and Wetlands

Four of us rode the Prairies and Wetland 200K RUSA Permanent. Sal met us at our house at 6:30 am and we drove up to the start in Newburg together. The drive was interesting. We drove through a heavy downpour of rain mixed with snow. The van's thermometer read 37 degrees F, a temperature that
we did not like. But, as we drove northward, the rain lessened and then ended. We arrived to grey but dry skies, very wet roads and an extremely strong south wind. Yes, our route took us to the south. Paul Rozelle joined us at the start to make a total of four of us.

After warm cups of coffee, we pushed off and crossed the Willamtte River on our way to Mt. Angel. The strong south wind kept our pace very slow and we made the control with just minutes to spare. Along the way, the rain began to fall, but soon ended. The only advantage of a strong wind is that it will dry you off quickly.

The worst part of the ride was riding Hwy 47, in the dark, and in the rain. But we made it to Forest Grove where we had a nice break. And, I had to fix three flats.

The best part of the ride was riding back to Newburg from Forest Grove on closed back roads due to a bridge outage. We just walked around the barriers making the second permanent in a row that we cross a closed bridge

Posted 4:59 PM by John Henry