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
Thursday, February 28, 2008
February Summary
February Miles: 628.64
February Elevation: 25,592
Year to Date Miles: 1036.25
Year to Date Elevation: 35,579
February was a good month for me. I rode eleven times during the month, six times on one our tandems, my Lemond three times, and once each on my Colnago and Power Crank equipped Cannondale. I passed 1000 miles for the year and we traveled down to Death Valley National Park where we rode in Chris Kostman's Death Valley Training Camp and then extended our stay so we could add a RUSA Permanent, our second of the year.
My legs are feeling good, but I did not lose any weight during the month. I am at 200 pounds and holding. I need to drop to at least 185 by July and the Race Across Oregon.
March will continue to be a busy month for me. I have only three event rides schedules, all randonnées. I plan on riding the Snoozeville Populaire and the Birkie Brevet with the Oregon Randonneurs and Brevet with the Seattle International Randonneurs. But, more importantly, I plan on at least two "Ride to Sunrise" rides. I will wake up at 3:30 am, and ride to sunrise which is at 6:00 am at this time of year. The only thing the could stop me is rain. I dislike riding in the rain at night.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Sunday, February 24, 2008
A New Ultra-Cycling Event in the Northwest
Glenn Johnson is hosting a 12/24 hour time trial starting in Vancouver, Washington in May. The Seattle PI has a blog entry about the route.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Death Valley Training Camp Photos
Flowers north of Furnace Creek carpet the landscape.
74 year old Gerd Rosenblatt at the top of Dante's View.
My proof that I rode to the top of Townes Pass!
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Monday, February 18, 2008
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Handmade Bicycle Show
Last Sunday, Joanne and I attended the Handmade Bicycle Show mostly to attend the seminar on Long Distance Cycling as both George Thomas (Race Across Oregon) and Chris Kostman (The 508) were on the panel. In addition, Jonathan Mass (Cycle Oregon) was also a member. This is what I gleamed...
Jonathan Mass - "Cyclists will ride forever as long as you feed them every ten miles."
Chris Kostman - "You are telling my you have only thrown up once and you are quiting. What's up with that?"
George Thomas - "Long Distance is relative."
All three are pearls of wisdom.
Friday, February 08, 2008
Good Times, and Not So Good Times
I was looking through some old photographs when I came upon this picture of Russ and Meg Rawlings.
Instead of making me smile, I grew sad. Click on the photo of Meg below to find out why.
Thursday, February 07, 2008
These are not goals for 2008
These are the events I will ride this year.
1) Chris Kostmans' Death Valley Training Camp - Feb. 16
2) Davis 24 Hour Challenge - April 12
3) Race Across Oregon Four Day Training Camp - May 14
4) Northwest Tandem Rally - July 2
5) Race Across Oregon - Two Man 50+ Team - July 19
6) Oregon Bicycle Ride - August 9-16
7) Ring of Fire 24 Hour Time Trial - Sept. 20
Plus various Centuries and the Oregon Randoneur Brevet series
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Power Cranks Make Me Sweat!
The rain continues and no one showed up for the Salem Bicycle Club Wednesday Night Ride. So, I drove home and did 45 minutes on the power cranks.
While my average heart rate was low at 114 bpm, the sweat was dripping off my forehead!
I can now understand why Sal would choose to ride in the rain rather than doing back to back sessions with the power cranks.
Meanwhile, until the rain goes away and the sun comes back, I can only remember what a warm, sunny day in Montana feels like...
Sunday, February 03, 2008
It feels like Spring
When we were getting dressed for today's ride, Joanne asked me if I thought she should wear her rain jacket or her wind shell. I looked at her in disbelief. She knew from my look that the only correct answer was to wear the rain jacket. The average precipitation for January is 5.84 inches. This January, we have enjoyed 8.34 inches. December was no better; the average is 6.46 inches but we had 8.25 inches. It has been a wet winter.
But today was different. On our forty mile ride today, it never rained on us. It seems that every ride for the last two months has been in the rain, but not today.
We even saw patches of blue sky. It has been so long, I had forgotten how beautiful blue sky really is. Gorgeous!