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.

 

 

So this part of Illinois is in a hot dry spell.  Many people lament the dryness.  Not me.  We don't need to mow, I don't water grass and it saves me money on gas and oil for my mower.  Now the good news.  Outdoor biking is great.  The wind is usually under 10 mph and at times 5 mph or less.  Perfect riding conditions.  An additional positive is that Ronni and I are able to do the Eureka Lake outdoor lunch.  I bike to the lake, Ronni buys a sandwich an the Breakers and we lunch in a serene spot on the lake.  I continue my ride like I would do after a SAG stop on my longer rides.  Also, since my older son has a new bike that fits his frame better, my original cross country bike has been returned to me.  I acutally like the 3 ring sproket on the older bike better the the double but the double is carbon whereas my older bike is aluminum. I will be riding my old one this weekend and probably leave it up north.  Thought about getting it tuned up but it had been ridden so infrequently it didn't need it.  Well, enough and I'm still looking for conditions to do the century.

Great day Sept. 8.  This weekend Christopher, Annie and my favorite 6 year old granddaughter Ruthie came to our house for my birthday.  What a great time.  As little Ruthie just learned to ride her bike without training wheels I looked forward to doing a ride with her.  Of course, her old bike was too small so, of course, someone had to purchase a new one for her.  Now let's see.  Who would that person be.  Ha, yea right.  Of course it was me.  And, to be sure, I thought we would go easy but as it turned out I actually needed to put forth effort to stay up with her.  Her average speed was over 12 mph and we actually did a five mile ride.  For most that's not much but for a beginner it was great.  Good time was had by all.  Still waiting for proper conditions to do my first century of the season but I will be patient.  Stay tuned

 ust ret

urned from Lake Tahoe. Made a short trip but had a great time at Hank's 90th birthday party.