50 mile bike ride to Spring Valley. Love the water tower. Don't see many like that anymore. Also, bringing back the tank to protect my property from the coming chaos

                                                Not quite the incline, but it seemed like it.
 

A tale of two rides.   Last week as the wind blew from the SSW at between 15-20 mph I decided to layer up and ride 50 miles to Spring Valley Il.  It's a straight ride down rt. 89.  The only shoulder wide enough to bike safely is about a 6 mile stretch between Casinova and Washburn.  The good news is it is less traveled than route 150 from Goodfield to LeRoy.  Hence, I felt comfortable with that road.  I could have taken all county roads but it increases the mileage and parts are gravel with oil/chip.  Not the conditions I prefer. Low 60's was my starting temperature.  But as the day continued the temperature rose to mid 80's,  While I removed my jacket, I still had three more layers to contend with.  After the 48 mile mark, I was starting to feel the effect of the distance and heat.  To add to the situation a road sign showing a truck on an incline meant that a severe downhill was ahead.  As a cyclist, we all know for every downhill, there is an equal and severe uphill.  Coming over the ridge and on the downhill slope I could see what looked like a straight uphill ahead.  It was the bridge that crossed the Illinois river at that point.  At the bottom of the slope sat the Lovely Veronica sitting with the van that would take us home.  I stopped and had to decide whether to hop in the van and eschew the climb over the bridge or use what little energy I had left and climb.  In the past there would have been no decision....climb baby climb.   But being older and wiser,  I hopped into the van and rode home.  However, as I related this to friends they all were surprised at my decision.  And, it bugged me.  

Today the wind was a brisk southerly wind at 15-20 gusting to 30 mph.  Riding north to Magnolia would have given me a respectable 35 mile ride, so that was the plan.  The temperature was mid 50's thus heat would not be a problem in terms of sapping my energy.  Upon reaching Magnolia the Lovely Veronica awaited with the SAG back to Washington.  Realizing I have plenty of energy to continue I decided to ride to Spring Valley to complete a 50 miler.  At the 48 mile mark I again realized the severe climb awaited me.  In the past, I have climbed paths with higher grades but none since my tkr.  I decided to attack it full on.  Low and behold, it had a very wide shoulder so that a biker could ride safely across.  And, the climb was not as severe as I had imagined it.  Another two smaller climbs followed but they were both quite reasonable.  Climbing the third hill I saw the Lovely Veronica on the opposite side of the road so I decided that "mission accomplished".  Lesson learned.  Accept the challenges and do not equivocate. That has been my "modus operendi" for quite some time.  Now is not the time to stop that attitude.  Looks like there will be more outside biking in the coming weeks. 

                                                     At Washington Park in Ottawa Il.
  

This was a most interesting week of bike riding in central Illinois.  It has been very windy all week but I still felt the need to ride outside.  Wednesday, with the wind blowing at 20-25 mph from the south I decided to ride north to Streator, a 55 miler.  The first 30 to Magnolia was a "breeze".  Pun intended.  But the next 20 to Streator was due east.  So, I had a severe crosswind for that 20 mile trek.  It was a battle and all I could think of was the Dalhart section of my cross country ride.  After arriving in Streator, I decided to reward my effort by riding north to Ottawa, another 18 miles.  So, another 70 miler.  Then, on Friday I decided to do my regular circuit around Tazewell/Woodford county.  I planned on a 40 miler but as I began I realized that may be a mistake.  The wind was from the wind at a blistery 20 mph.  As it turned out I shortened my distance to 25 miles and riding into the wind was brutal.  But it looks like my knee is holding up well but I don't think I will be doing any riding outside when the wind is that brisk.  All in all a interesting week of biking.

 

Got my route to Glen Ellyn figured our.  Unfortunately after I get past Ottawa the roads are crowed with traffic.  There are numerous roads but it looks like they are all pretty crowded.  I will use sidewalks and bike paths as much as possible.  Hopefully, the motorists will give me my space but we will see.  On another note, I am amazed that the primary road from Ottawa to Oswego, route 71, has a nice shoulder but for some reason they put "rumble strips" right in the middle.  That means I will use the road.  I know it pisses off motorists when a cyclist doesn't use the shoulder but other than finding another route I can't ride the narrow part of the shoulder between the rumble strips and edge of the shoulder.  Oh well, it is what it is.  I'm currently getting about 150 miles outside per week and the rest of the time I'm on my trainer.  And for the first time I was able to clip my right side for the first time since the tkr.  Can't wait for this pandemic thing to get over so I can return to my rides where I stay at hotels.  We aren't comfortable doing that at this time.  I still think I can get a century in before the cold weather sets in but we will see.  Enough for now.  Stay tuned.

 

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.