An update on my new knee. Many people have inquired as to how I'm doing with my new knee. After a year of rehabbing I decided to put it to a max test today. I rode my bicycle from Washington Il. to Ottawa Il a total of 70 miles, After factoring in all the variables of favorable wind, road conditions, shoulder width and amount of traffic I actually rode.......70 miles. While in previous year that would not have been exceptional I was quite pleased that I rode close to my age. Some have wondered why not a century.  I think that will come later this fall but I felt pretty good after the 70 and felt I could have completed another 30. But for now I am pleased.  Looking for the perfect weather day for my century.  Stay tuned

 

 Okay, the time is near.  I have plotted out a biking route from my house in Washington to my sons house in Glen Ellyn, Il.  It is about 140 miles and will be over 2 days. Day one takes me from home north to Ottawa Il.  Route 89 to Magnolia about 32 miles.  I will follow back roads to Rt. 18 into Streator which is another 20 miles.  From there it will be Rt. 23 into Ottawa which connects with Rt 71.  This 20 mile stretch which will end my first days journey.   Now the real decision.  Do I ride home in the SAG or stay the night at a hotel and set out the next morning?  At this time I have not decided but with the Covid still very prevalent, the safest option would be to come back the next day to finish the ride.  Day two starts on route 71 but I need to take a diversion before I hit route 47.  There is a significant construction zone that I do not feel comfortable riding through and I have found a path that can circumvent that obstruction.  Eventually I will return to 71 until I hit Wolfs Crossing Rd.  I follow that to Eola road north.  My next turn will be a right turn at Ferry road.   I continue until I hit Naperville road.  A right at S Blanchard will take me into Glen Ellyn where I will zig/zag to finally arrive at the my sons house.  Day two ride will be near 70 miles and that will determine if I have recovered and trained enough to do more distance riding.  Later. 

 

Knee update-It's about as good as it's going to get so my riding now is to built up endurance for distance rides.  After my 35-40 mile rides I feel pretty good.  Good enough, in fact, that I have determined I will ride from my house in Washington to my son's house in Glen Ellyn, close to 140 miles.  It will be a two day event of about 70 miles per day.  Ronni and I drove the route last week.  That was a good thing as I could record distances between towns and turns.  Also, checking road conditions favorable to biking and where construction sites that need detours was a huge reason for the road trip.  It begins in Washington to Magnolia along route 89 for 30 miles then turning east to Streator another 20. At that point I turn North for another 20 miles and end day one in Ottawa. The following day take route 71 to Yorkville.  Before driving the route I would have taken 71 to route 34 but a huge construction zone obstructs that path.  Therefore, I will divert around by using by going north on route 47 through Yorkville where I will then  connect with route 34.  Route 34 turns into Ogden Ave. which is a road with fairly heavy traffic.  That intersects with Naperville road which takes me to Wheaton.  From there it's city roads to Glen Ellyn.  I have not recorded distances for day 2 but will before I do the ride.  From that I will determine my physical ability to continue doing distances and ultimately the century to Champaign.  Now I need to get two days of favorable weather for the plan to go into effect. That's the plan so stay tuned for updates.