So, here is the plan.  Fly into Key West, get my bike from Eaton Bike Shop, pack it into the rental car and drive to Marathon about an hour east.  Next morning, do breakfast then Ronni drives to our cottage in Key West and I bike the 50 miles back.  However, wind direction is not the most desirable but it is doable.  Plan B.  Stay in Key West until Wednesday, then drive to Marathon with bike.  Ronni drives back and I bike back.  The wind direction on that day is perfect and the weather will be in the mid 70's.   Plan C.  Don't bike at all and spend all of our time on the beach and in the bars.  Ha!  

 Close, close, so very close.  The temperature has hit the magic 60 mark on Dec. 28.  Planned for a 50 miler to Spring Valley as the wind was supposed to be between 15 and 20 mph from the SW.  Perfect outdoor biking conditions.  Now the problem.  Heavy rains from 5:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m.  Then, another round of heavy rains at 2:00 p.m.  There would be a small window of biking opportunity that would allow me my annual outdoor December jaunt.  Having checked the last three years is appears the 27th and 28th I initiated a long outdoor ride.  So, as I began my preparation I assumed the weather channel would be somewhat accurate.  Not so fast buster.  At 11:30 it was still drizzling.  To get a proper ride I needed three hours and it looked like it wasn't enough time unless I wanted to ride in a deluge! Once again I was relegated to my trainer in the basement.  Sure enough the rain subsided by noon but by two the torrents of rain arrived.  Close, so very close.  Missed opportunity so maybe one later.  Nevertheless, my Florida trip will include biking every day with the 7 mile bridge on the horizon.  Stay tuned

 

Well, once again winter has set in and as a blogger, mostly about my biking experience, the inside riding on my trainer in the basement watching Impractical Jokers  is getting tedious.  My secondary riding in Glen Ellyn is also confined to the second bedroom on my alternative trainer with the same bike I traversed this country in 09.  I have no media to watch there but at least I can do some training.  As this routine continues, it will soon be interrupted as our yearly jaunt to Key West Florida is coming in January.  Hopefully this year I will be able to traverse the 7 mile bridge as one may recall I was unable to do so last year due to the horrible amount of rubbish on the small shoulder.  As determined by many experts, it is the most dangerous bridge in the world and was made worse last year due to the amount of debris impeding a smooth, safe ride.  We will see.  Also, no century this year due to the conditions I deem necessary for a successful trip.  Hopefully, next year will provide more opportunity for me to do so.  Stay tuned!!

 

On the biking front, weather has not permitted an outdoor journey for over a week. Thus, in the basement watching TV on the trainer is the modus operendi.  Unless I bike with the temperature in the low 50's with wind over 10 mph I'm doomed to the basement like the proverbial hidden dragon.  However, I'm still hoping for an anomaly weather pattern which will allow me a century before the first snow.  Also, I need to set up my son's trainer in our apartment so I can work out there.  Time will tell.  Stay tuned.  

 

Well, the season for outdoor biking is rapidly ending.  I've been on my trainer for the last week but earlier I wss able to do a 50 miler to Magnolia.  It was a 15-20 mile wind from the SSE.  Not the perfect wind direction but doable nonetheless.  I did have one chance do do a century but schedule and logistics prevented it.  Weather looks like outdoor biking is not forthcoming.  So, once again it's on the trainer in the basement watching Game Show Network. reruns.  We not currently have an apartment in Glen Ellyn Il.  Its location is perfect as the library is near and a bike trail is even closer.  One of my bikes will remain there and  last week I was able to to a 30 miler on the trail.  While 80 percent is fine gravel and not the best for road, turing bikes I quickly adjusted.  The biggest problem was the many roads crossing the path where cars are supposed to stop but, as usual, most do not.  Interrupting my rhythm and not getting being able to get up to speed made it a much different journey than I'm used to biking country roads.  But, it was better than nothing.  I am still holding out hope for a century this season but at this point it looks bleak.  Stay tuned.

 

 

Biking for most can be enjoyable but often very dangerous.  I have had my share of crashes and hit by cars.  Last Wednesday was another event which almost resulted in a driver getting punched.  Without going into great detail, it involved a semi grain truck and an idiot yelling out his window with me responding.  He then stopped, got out of his vehicle and approached me in an aggressive manner.  I reminded him I felt threatened and it would be best if he just left.  In the meantime, the semi drove off that was responsible for the problem left.  The a-hole returned to his car which was the best thing he could do.  Just another beautiful day riding a bicycle in central Illinois.  Still waiting for my century and I feel it will be soon. Later!!

 

Biking for me now encompasses a bicycle in two sites.  In an attempt to having more time with our granddaughter, we now have an apartment near the children and grandchild.  It is in a great location as the public library is across the street from our building which is great for Veronica and a bike trail behind the library.  I now have a bike in the new apartment along with biking gear.  The bike is  same one I gave my son, which doesn't  meet his needs and the one I rode cross the U.S. I actually like my old bike as it has a triple set and my current one has a double.  The weather has been great for biking but the weather people tell us we are in a drought.  Sooner or later we will get plenty of rain but in the meantime lets enjoy great biking weather.  Still looking for the weather that permits me a ride to Champaign.  Later.