Another cold one.  Temperature consistently below 0 degrees.  No thoughts about cycling outside.  But, that"s why it's called winter.  Haven't had one like this in awhile but have seen many in my lifetime.  It just seems the news media likes to embellish the weather conditions.  Yea, it's cold and snowy but it just means we will enjoy the warm, sunny weather just ahead.

 

Terrible weather this week so as usual my biking in on my trainer in the basement.  I need to back off as my good knee is getting a little sore.  Hopefully a little rest will rectify the situation.  And after getting my first Covid vaccine on Monday, with the second one March 1, I will be making a trip to Florida to attend the memorial for Fred.  (From last post pic). The ceremony is March 15 so we will be fully immune, or so we hope.  Otherwise we wouldn't have made the event.  We are staying an extra day so, hopefully, I can get an outdoor ride in West Palm Beach.   We will see. Looking forward to the end of this pandemic to get to some semblance of normality. 

 

Waiting for some warm weather.  Biking outside not happening and my rides on the trainer in my basement are getting boring.  Followers of this blog will note that I rode two rides with good friend Fred Hampton from Key Largo to Key West.  Two weeks ago Fred was taken from us as a result of the insidious disease Alzheimer's/dementia.  It took him relatively quickly which is somewhat good news so that it was not a lingering situation.  RiP Fred and thanks for the good times biking.  Thinking about doing a yearly memorial ride from Largo to Key West but we will see.  More later

 

 Ground hog day.  My biking consists of doing my routine on the trainer in basement....same time with different routine but it gets quite boring.  Because of the Covid our travel is limited as well as my biking options.  We just endured an ice storm which used resulted in the loss of two branches off two of our trees.  Amid all this a biker was making his way down the street.  All I could think of was there is absolutely no way I would ride in the conditions.  But to each his own.  Can't wait to be able to ride outside and get into a routine like that again, but it will have to wait. Later

 

 

I need to post a tribute to one of my best friends for over 60...yes 60 years. Met Fred Hampton when I was in second grade. He and his family moved into our neighborhood. Being the same age and in the same school we became good friends and remained friends though out our school days. His family treated me like one of their own and it was greatly appreciated. Fred had the nicest bicycle in the neighborhood, a Schwinn with knee action, and would often ride me on his handlebars. After high school he went to college and eventually joined the Navy while I attended college. We stayed in close contact during that time. After his service he married the lovely Sue. His brother was best man and I ushered at the ceremony. The following week I married the lovely Veronica. Fred was best man at that ceremony. By and by both he and I had two boys approximately the same age. 

     As the years passed, Fred moved to Florida and started a business....Gator Glass. We remained in close contact and visited them on a regular basis. They were gracious hosts and each family looked forward to the visits. Fast forward  to the fall of 2014. Fred and Sue were in Champaign and we attended a U of I football game with them. At the tailgate party, prior to the game, Fred mentioned he was riding his recumbent bike quite a bit. I mentioned, somewhat jokingly, that we should bike from Key Largo to Key West....a hundred miles....over two days. Our wives would be our support crew. Much to my surprise he agreed. So, at the end of January 2015 we completed that ride and a good time was had by all. While Fred had never ridden that distance he did a great job and finished EFI….Every Foot and Inch. 

     Then in 2019 Fred mentioned his boys thought they would like to do that same ride. I guess I horned in and said it would be great if I were invited to join them. Of course, he agreed. In April of 2019 Fred, Aaron, Justin and I, along with two lovely support staff, Sue and Veronica, biked from Key Largo to Key West over two days. It was quite an adventure but at the end of day two we reached our destination. Mission accomplished. Along the way there were signs of Fred’s confusion but I thought it was nothing to be concerned about. Without going into much detail, Fred was taken from us last Sunday from an illness that is affecting more and more people of our generation ….dementia. Let it be known that Fred was one outstanding individual, loving parent, grandparent, sibling and as good a friend as one could hope for. Prayers to his family. We hope to continue to be part of their lives in the future. His good nature, positive disposition and overall kindness will be missed. We need more people like him on this earth Rest in Peace my friend.

 

 Second day of riding my bicycle around Tazewell/Woodford county; a rare occurrence at this time of year. On my regular route my bovine buddies were basking in the sunshine as I rode past. As usual they gave me the "stink eye" knowing at some point they would be on my dinner plate. As this is the Christmas season I could hear them moooing in unison that great bovine Christmas Carol......."Eat More Poultry" to the tune of Silent Night. You will notice they have no concern with Covid as they are anti-maskers, do not practice social distancing and rarely wash their hooves. And yes, I am spending to much alone time on the bike

 

Getting in the last of the season's outdoor rides.  Rode 110 miles over a two day weekend.  Another 70 miler to Ottawa on Thursday followed by a 40 miler on Friday.  Weather was favorable as the wind was a brisk 20 mph with gusts to 40 from the SSW.  The temperature neared 70 degrees and the forecast  for the next few weeks prohibits much outside biking.   Obviously Ottawa is NNE from Washington so it was a nice tailwind most of the way.  Crosswinds from Magnolia to Streator were interesting but doable.  Reaching Ottawa I was very tempted to complete a century.  Riding along rt. 71 into Yorkville would have been right at a 100 miles.  Forgetting the time change, it would have been dark if I traversed that distance and it is a very busy road with not much of a shoulder.  I suspect that was my last opportunity to complete a century before the end of the year but nevertheless, I am pleased with my progress.  Friday's ride was shortened because of wind and rain so after 25 miles I rode home and put the bike on my trainer to complete the 40 miles.  All in all a good week of biking.  Stay tuned