Yes!! another great day for a bike ride. The temperature at the start of my ride was a comfortable 83 degrees with humidity at 90%. The wind was a reasonable 8 mph from the Southeast. Aha, perfect for my Forty Friday route. The first 20 miles were into the wind with the expectation I would be riding back with a, yes!!!! a tailwind. As I made my turn for home I saw a cluster of clouds in the distance. According to my meteorological background, perfect conditions for a "pop up" storm. The good news was that no storm appeared. However, as the clouds approached, the wind shifted so, on the ride back, the wind was from the Northwest. The good news was it was not a mere 8 mph, rather, 15-20 with gusts to 25 mph.; a 40 mile ride into a headwind. Now, this might sound a bit facitious but I considered it a good training ride in preparation for the East Coast. By the time I had arrived into town, as I passed the time and temp. sign at the bank, the temperature had climbed to 93 degrees. At least I am avoiding the heat of the day. Mad dogs and Englishmen!! Followers of this blog: My East Coast Ride begins two months from today. I hope to provide more pictures as well as description. Look forward to the comments.

Beautiful day to take a bicycle ride. 92 degrees, the wind from the SW at 15 mph and that was the good thing about the ride. Those who are not familiar with the Midwest probably are unaware that at this time of the year the Japanese beetles infest the corn and bean fields. It's not good for the plants and especially aggravating for the biker. In about a week planes will "crop dust" for those little bastards but, of course, they will not be totally eliminated so that next summer the cycle continues. There's nothing like cruising along and all of a sudden one of those Japanese/Asian beetles will do a kamikaze run into your face. It's painful and most annoying. And, it also hurts the biker. Ha, good one!! Now here is the irony of it all. Often a motorist will stop and ask directions. This has happened to me numerous times. Well today, a motorist stopped me on RT. 150 to ask if he was headed in the right direction to Pekin Il. (obviously not Peking china!!) Good thing he stopped because he was headed in the opposite direction. I instructed him to turn around and gave him the proper routes to get him to Pekin. In fact, I told him if he continued the direction he was headed he would indeed arrive in Pekin.....China that is!! Now for the irony. Dodging Asian beetles, a motorist stopping for directions to Pekin and the driver of the vehicle was........wait for it.......from China!!! Irony!!!

Following the current xc011 group as they head into their final week. It looks like Barbie has resolved her knee issue and will be able to finish the ride. Harry is still being Harry--drinking Bood Lite. never far from "spanners" and living the dream! I mailed his bike carrier earlier this week and hopefully it will reach Boston by next Friday. Fedex guaranteed it would be there.
I rode my first century of the season on Thursday with no significant problems. It starts in Washington IL. and finishes in Champaign at my brothers condo. As usual, replenishing fluids were required for me to get my mojo into equilibrium. As a followup, I did my usual 40 mile ride yesterday to be sure my recovery was complete. I am looking forward to the East Coast ride. But now for the not so good news. Hank e-mailed me and has encountered some physical difficulties. Hopefully, he will recover sufficiently and be able to make the East Coast ride with me. I would have to have to break in another roommate. Hank is one of the good guys! On that note, I wish Barbie and Harry safe riding and favorable winds as they complete the trip to Boston.

Harry with another wild and crazy hat!

Me and Barbie-loved her hat

Me, Darrell, Barbie, Magic Mike and Wild Harry

Busy week. Put about 200 miles on my bike knowing I would not be riding for few days as the Cross Roads group would be in Champaign this week. My plan included riding to Crawsfordsville In. and possibly on to Indy. Harry arrived from London Monday and I picked him up at the airport in Champaign. After dropping off his bike to be assembled, we spent a little time at Hubers to hydrate properly and Harry was dropped off at the hotel to catch up on sleep and recover from jet lag. The next day brother Larry treated us to a BBQ. Harry, ever the carnivore, devoured two well done steaks in addition to vast quantities of food and drink. Larry's other guests delighted in Harry's accent and quaint British colloquialisms (spanners, puncture, shag, etc). On the way back to the hotel, we were required to engage in another "pit stop" at Hubers. (Hey Hubers, you are getting a lot of publicity here!! How about a freebie once in awhile?) Darrell, another 09er, flew in from Knoxville Tenn. He is going to ride from Champaign to Erie. On Wednesday, Barbie flew into Champaign , we picked her up and enjoyed a nice reunion luncheon. That evening, Magic Mike, another 09er who currently lives in Springfield, about 90 miles southwest, joined us and we all headed out to have a nice dinner. The restaurant was an Italian one, Bastias, where those of us who were going to ride tomorrow, (Harry being the exception) carbo loaded on their fine Italian pasta cuisine. Of course Mike had a steak, sent it back as is his usual custom when it does not meet his exacting specifications, and we all enjoyed a fine dining experience. Mike was a tad worried when he first learned that the establishment had real cloth covers on the tables, but I assured him he could tuck it into his shirt and nobody would have complained. I could tell he was greatly relieved to be given this option.
The forecast for Thursday's ride was a possibility of rain and thunderstorms with a westerly wind 5-10 mph. That would have been a fun ride. Ha! Little did the group realize that when a preponderance of 09ers congeal in one place to ride bicycles, the wind will not be gentle and it will be directly into our face!! That, indeed, was the case!!
Awakening at 5:00 a.m. I immediately checked the local weather channel. The good news was that the rain potential was not very high. But, the bad news was that the wind was blowing from the east at 15 mph, gusting to 21 mph. including all points in our biking path to the east. That meant that the 80 mile ride would be into a 15-20 mile ride the entire day. I was looking forward to the challenge. However, without going into detail, family circumstances arose preventing me from joining the riders. I could have ignored the family situation but there would have been a dear price to pay so I wussed out. Never fear, the wind gods will make it up at some point. Thus ended reunion week with the 09ers but I am eagerly following Barbies blog.
On a final note, I saw Tracy and Rick. Both, of course, were part of the support staff for the 09 ride. Rick looked his usual fit self having recently recovered from illness and Tracy looked like she could still ride circles around most of the riders on tour; me especially. It was great seeing all of those people (yea, those people) and I look forward to seeing more this fall on the East Coast ride.

Sunday, I signed up for a fundraiser ride in Chicago to promote green energy. It turned out to be a beautiful day and somewhat windy but it was the first time I had ridden along Lake Shore Drive for 25 miles. I was joined by my son Christopher and his friend Cindy. It turned out to be quite an interesting experience. I had no idea that the south side of Chicago had this impressive bike trail. I will probably do more riding along Lake Michigan in the future. Also, as you can see from the picture Christopher is not wearing biking shorts rather khaki cargo pants. We who have ridden for some distance know the dangers of biking without equipment intended for that purpose. About four miles into the ride he indicated a"chaffing" sensation. I think in the future if he rides any distance, he will opt for the spandex even though it doesn't look as "cool" as regular shorts.
On another note, I'm looking forward to meeting with Wild Harry and Barbie in June as Barbie finishes her ride across the country. Hopefully, Magic Mike will join us in Champaign to have a mini reunion. Also, I'm also looking forward to the East Coast Ride in September and, as Jim reminded me, to not go into training mode too early. He is absolutely correct as I am recovering from "overuse" injuries as I write this. I will back off and begin a more reasonable training agenda later.
Also, if Lance Armstrong did indeed use EPO, how was he able to avoid detection for those 500 drug tests. (Yes, I am aware that the last entry was a non-sequitor) More later!!

Just finished a 40 miler to test all body parts that have been malfunctioning the last few weeks. All in all it was a good day. The wind was somewhat problematic as it was blowing from the south at 15-20 mph gusting up to 25. I also rode through the Mackinaw river valley to work on hilly terrain. My focus was to maintain a good pace without worrying about doing it at what I consider a fast pace. If I abstain from watching my computer speed, I do okay. Half way through the ride I met the boys at the Busy Corner for breakfast. I usually do not ride immediately after eating a big breakfast but two pancakes, bacon and coffee did not substantially hamper the second part of the ride. However, the wind picked up speed so half the way home I had a tailwind and the rest of the way was a substantial cross wind. Also, I am always surprised, but at this point shouldn't be, at the number of dead animals on the road. Spring is usually the time I observe the most road kill on the route I take. Today there were two possums, three deer, two skunks, three squirrels, an assortment of unidentifiable squashing and one armadillo. Okay, you caught me, I lied about the armadillo but I think that is an inordinate amount of road kill. I blame it on global warming!!
On Sunday the XC011 group started their cross country adventure in Huntington Beach. It looks like one of Tracy's smallest groups at fourteen riders. When they arrive in Champaign on the 8th of June, Barbie, who began in 09 with our group will be completing her journey to Boston with them. Wild Harry is flying in from London to join Barbie and the group. He will be riding to Boston also. I plan to ride from Champaign to Crawsfordsville IN. and possibly Indy as part of my training rides prior to the East Coast trip. As it happens, Magic Mike from the 09 group moved to Springfield Il. last week. I will attempt to have him meet us in Champaign and we will have a mini 09 reunion. Since Champaign is my hometown, I shall appoint myself host and tour some of the watering holes that most tourists are not acquainted. Obviously Bud lite must be served or Harry will be greatly disappointed. Enough for now, but the picture in this entry comes from Jim Lyle who was at the start of this years ride. I had forgotten how steep the road from the beach was but looking at the picture it brought back memories. A great way to start a 3,400 mile ride!!

Ahhh. Finally a week where riding outside is not a constant battle with the weather conditions. Back into training for the East Coast Ride. Currently riding 35-40 miles a day but last Wednesday I got to "feelin frisky" and did a 60 mile jaunt to Leroy. My usual watering hole was open so I could replenish "vital fluids". This is a picture of Doris, the owner. Her tavern was a regular stop during my training days before the big cross country ride.

On a more somber note, Fred, one of our group of cross country riders died on April first. Oddly enough it was not a biking accident, rather, he was cutting down a tree and it fell on him. His wife Susan informed the 09 group of the accident. Our sympathies are with Susan and the family on their loss.

I haven't heard from Hank in awhile but I assume he is signed up for the East Coast Ride. Also, Teddy Herrera, whom I wrote of in earlier blogs, has finished his ride. He started in Sacramento CA. rode to Boston, then to Miami Fl. throughout the south to LA and back to Sacramento. 11,000 miles. I met him in East Peoria at a breakfast place, he stayed at our house for the night and I rode with him to Metamora to get him on track to go to Chicago. It looks like he is using that experience to promote awareness of childhood obesity. I wish him luck and will probably keep in contact with him. Here is an interview with him at the local Sacramento TV station. Enjoying the weather and will keep up to date on the East Coast ride. __Winning!!!

Teddy Herrera Sacramento News Video Breaking news video, sports video, weather forecasts, live-online video for.