150 miles outside this week.  Rest of the time, again, trainer in the basement.  The crops seem to be behind but with all the rain they will catch up.  Rode to Bloomington last Tuesday and encountered construction between Goodfield and Carlock.  Good news, bad news.  The good news is the road work involves installing 15 inch paved shoulder.  Great for bikers avoiding having to ride on the road.  Yet, most likely, they will put rumble strips down the middle of the shoulder which will put the riders back on the road.  Let hope not but it seems it is being done on a regular basis.  On another note, a former student and two of his buddies are doing a 5 day 250 mile trek across Missouri.  The route they will be taking is flat and smooth.  Now, let it be known that Missouri is quite hilly but the path they are taking is transformed railroad path.  That will be really helpful to rookie distance bikers. I met with him for breakfast Tuesday.  He wanted some advice on what he should do for a successful ride.  Best advice to new distance bikers is to train enough so the saddle will be comfortable to complete the ride.  Chamois buttr of come kind is a must.  I wear two pair of biking shorts to ensure comfort.  My second point is to be sure to eat foods that provide lasting energy.  High carbs the night before and energy bars along the way.   As for the bike, chain should be oiled after each day, check for debris prior to the days ride and have confidence that changing a tire is relatively easy.  He stated he was going to use a pump in case of repairing a puncture.  My advice was to purchase  CO2 cylinders as they are fast and easy.  Ultimately is boils down to taking care of Body and Bike.  I wish him and his buddies the best and look forward to he sharing the adventure when he returns.  More on that later.

 

Finally, finally, finally...after a Spring where I was only to bike outside two or three times, after a three day Mothers Day holiday, the temperature was where an outside ride was possible.  Tuesday with a 15 mile southern wind I rode 35 miles to Magnolia.  Now the bad news.  The temperature hit the 90 degree mark.  Afterward I could really tell.  And,  since I had not much outside riding it really took a toll.  But, I finished in fine fashion and was glad I completed the distance.  So I was so jacked up to ride outside again, I planned a 40 miler for Wednesday.  The wind was under 10 mph so I would do my regular route to Goodfield.  Now the bad news.  I knew it would be in the low 90 degree temp so I decided on an earlier starting time.  As luck would have it I didn't get on the road until 11:00 a.m. During my warm=up mile I felt the temperature would  be manageable. As the miles past I started to question if I had made a good decision.  Since there was no way to acclimate to the high temperature I thought I should stop rest and maybe call for a ride.  As I have often stated, if you start something finish it.  So I rode on and by the end of the trek I was pretty well done.  Good thing for air conditioning.  The lovely Veronica informed me that the temp was 94 with a heat index of 107.  Not smart to bike in those conditions without conditioning but nobody ever accused me of such.  Obviously it took extra time for recovery and my repaired knee began to hurt.  Lesson learned....be smart before biking in those types of conditions.  I've got absolutely nothing to prove.  Tomorrow is a hot day, I will bike but not as far and with a rest.  More later

 

Wow.  Here it is the middle of April and I was only able to ride outside once in the last two weeks.  Maybe one of the coldest and wettest springs I have experienced in awhile. Looks like this week the weather will be more conducive to outside biking.  Lets hope.  Riding in my basement on the trainer is getting rather boring and mundane but I shall persist.  Looking forward to my first century and as soon as weather permits I will attempt it.  So, enough for now as not much to describe.

 

 

Not much outside riding the last couple of weeks.  Two outside rides last week included a 50 miler to Spring Valley.  As usual, 99 percent of the traffic were respectful but another idiot made a very dangerous pass.  It was a semi trailer with no attached truck.  With no on-coming traffic this moron passed by a mere foot.  And as it passed the buffoon layed on his horn.  What was his intent I wondered?  Was it to cause me to wreck?  Was it to try to intimidate me?  No idea!  But its things like this that really frost my jibblets.  Anyway, all biking has been on my trainer for the last week. Also, would weather reporters try to be more accurate in their predictions?  Sunday was supposed to be cold and rainy.  After my "ride" in the basement I looked outside.  It was sunny and the temperature was 60 degrees.  The wind was a mere 2 to 3 mph from the  WNW.  It would have been a great day to get in a 35 miler.  Oh well. It is what it is.  There are certainly signs that spring is near.  With all the rain we have been getting and robins abound, it can't be long before my outside rides will resume on a regular basis.  On another note, my brother is looking at getting an e=bike.  I will do my best to see that he gets good value for his money.  As another shout-out to my local bike shop-Russells Cycle... I'm sure Joe will get the best deal for the amount of money he intends to spend.  Stay tuned.

 

 

My first outside ride (except for my Florida vacation) of the season. Two observations during this segment of the trek. First, my bovine buddies are absent from their normal roaming area. It would be to the right of the video beside the barn. Logic would indicate there are only two reasons for this. First, it is too early in the season to turn them out. Or, they were on the Tuesday special at the Western Sizzilin..Yum, Yum. Secondly, even though we have had two consecutive days of 60 plus temps there is still plenty of snow along the ditches....as well as a full compliment of trash. Enjoy

 Fifties this week...Hopefully outside biking.  Can't wait

 

 

Two weeks in sunny Florida, specifically Key West.  Biked eight of the ten days.  The weather was great, a little windy at times but nothing I could not bike in.  And, of course, there must be a bit of drama.  My first three days I rode from Casa Marina on the south end of the island.  I took my normal route around the Smathers Beach area.  Highway 1 is the only entry and exit from Key West so there was not much diversity in routes while in the area.  We then moved into a cute little cottage near the center of the island.  During my first day from that location there is a sidewalk/bike path.  Heading east I noticed two riders coming toward me.  Approaching an intersection with a narrow path to traverse the curb the idiots remained two abreast instead of single file.  As I approached I had a choice.  Continue forward and crash into the oncoming biker, hit a light post near the curb or go into the oncoming traffic.  Neither option was good.  So, I cut to my right with the hope I could "bunny hop" over the curb.  Didn't work.  As I tried to lift the bike, I hit the curb.  I was thrown off the bike crashing onto the grass on the opposite side of the trail.  The front tire was split and both front and rear tubes flattened.  My injuries were relatively minor with bruised ribs and a jammed right thumb.  Not enough to prevent me from further rides but I needed Ronni to get me and take the bike to the shop.  Eaton bike shop did a great job.  Within 10 minutes they had replaced the front tire and replaced both tubes.  I was back on the road. After that, I took a different route leaving the island.  It was as fast and much safer.  All in all a great time biking in the middle of winter.