Five days.....yes, five days of almost perfect riding conditions.  Temperature in the low to mid 80's, light winds less than 10 mph, roads in good condition and body parts working makes for an extremely fine bicycling experience. My riding distances are down from pre tkr 35-40 miles down to 30-35 miles per day.  But, that's not bad so I'll take it.  Am still looking for the right conditions to ride to Champaign for my first century in almost two years but hopefully that will happen sometime before Fall.  I'm interested to see if I have the endurance to do a century but, of course, I will give it my best shot. On another note one of our cross country bikers, Barbie, just got engaged.  Best wishes Barbie. As one of our community, all your fellow riders wish you all the happiness you deserve.  Stay tuned for more updates

 

Biking update. Here we are in the middle of July and my biking, for the last four days, has been on my trainer in the basement.  The reason?  RAIN, RAIN, RAIN.  Complaints of a "drought" last month have been answered with over 7 inches of rain in the last two weeks.  Be careful of what you wish for.  On another note, their have not been any conditions all summer that would be conducive to me biking my first century since my tkr.  I have been checking the 10 day outlook on the weather channel and nothing appears to meet the conditions needed for me to  make the jaunt.  So, I'm still holding out hope I can do one before my two year anniversary since my knee replacement.  But, time will tell.  Speaking of the repaired knee, I feel it's as good as it is every going to be.  Not 100% but functional to the point I can ride.  It is what it is and I shouldn't have expected the new knee get back to perfect.  More later

                                                             Another friend met on bike ride

Rain, Rain, Rain....Most of my riding was on my trainer but I did get in a few rides outside.  Rode to Spring Valley and met this lady who was sitting on the steps outside the church.  We got our time wrong so I had about forty five minutes to wait for my ride.  Resting my bike on a brick column by the steps our conversation started as she inquired where I began my ride.  Surprised I had ridden 50 miles she wanted to know my age.  Again, she was surprised I was able to bike that distance at my age and informed me I looked good in my biking gear.  She and her husband rode motorcycles and she informed me she liked to read.  Inquiring where my book was available I gave her the sites it could be ordered.  Soon Veronica arrived and since I usually carry books in my vehicles I gave her one with a personalized autograph.  She was delighted and once again I met an interesting individual during my riding experiences.  

So, on another note, I am still looking for the proper conditions to do my first century since my tkr.  Hopefully it will be soon.  Stay tuned

 

Wednesday was a fine day for a bike ride.  Started out with mild winds and temps in the low 80's.  Heading south I noticed a storm cloud in my path.  I had four choices. First do I take shelter until the rain passes?.  Second do I attempt to out run the rain?  Third, do I attempt to "skirt" around the storm? or Fourth continue to ride through it?  Of course I choose to ride through it.  I have done that many times.  It reminded me of the time I rode across the Mohave desert and the temperature was 110 degrees.  People reminded me it was a "dry" heat which meant it was really not 110 degrees.  So riding through the rain I would like to remind people, with certainty, it was a "wet" rain and I got wet.  There you have it.  The above picture is my destination when I do the two day ride to Glen Ellyn Il.  Near hear is the Prairie Trail.  I rode a 20 miler and had to remind myself it is mostly gravel with a high amount of walking traffic and rookie bikers.  That takes an adjustment to my normal riding terrain but it was well worth the ride.  I was the only one with a bell to remind others I would be passing them.  Faster bikers just zoomed by without so much of a "on your left".  Again, I needed to remind myself to adjust to this environment.  But all in all it was good.  More later!

              I claimed these are our group at the start of our cross country ride.  It's been so long we might even look like this.

Good times have returned.  Four days of outside riding.  Temperatures in the low eighties, wind less than ten mph and humidity virtually non-existent.  So, I will enjoy these conditions and ride as often as possible. The usual close calls and disrespectful drivers but that has been the norm for quite some time.  It looks like the covid thing is quickly being brought under control so I can do longer rides to destinations where I will stay overnight.  Wife and I fully vaxinnated. The knee is doing well and I just got a clean bill of health from my annual physical.  Until next time keep the rubber side down and to quote the famous Jim Lyle....RSRO...Ride safely...Ride Often.

 

Outside riding combined with trainer indoors.  Particularly rainy season currently so indoor biking is the rule.  But I was able to ride to one of my favorite destinations, Spring Valley.  It is a 50 miler with challenging hills going into the town.  With a favorable wind I was thinking it was going to be a non eventful trek.  And, in fact, that was almost the case.  Coming into town and gearing up for the mile of climbing out of the Illinois River valley, I was a half mile from the end of the ride.  So, what event?  Chugging along in granny gear and riding on the extreme right, often through parking spaces on the street, a black hillbilly pick-up comes up behind me.  The driver passes me slowly and after passing guns the engine so black diesel smoke spews from it's tailpipe.  That is a tactic known as "dieseling.  It happened a few time in Carbondale.  I just wonder what kind of jerk would do this and do they know the potential disastrous effect it could entail.  Anyway,  other than that is was a great day for riding a bicycle in Central Illinois.

 

 Yesterday came close to being the end of my biking career.  Two blocks from my house, just finishing my 30 mile ride, a car came around the corner at the end of the block.  As it approached it stayed in my lane and was headed directly for me.  Looking for a bailout area there were no reasonable options.  A curb blocked a quick escape.  And the car was still heading for me in my lane.  I thought about just falling and let the car run over my bike.  And the car was still heading for me in my lane.  My only hope was to yell at the top of my lungs so the driver could hear me.  And the car was still heading  for me in my lane.  About 5 feet before contact the driver diverted barely missing me.  As it passed I noticed the window was half way down and I made the driver keenly aware of my displeasure in his idiotic driving.  Yes, I did use some unseemly language that I don't regret using.  You think the driver would stop?  Hell no.  It kept driving like nothing was wrong.  It was probably a good thing the driver didn't stop as I was not a happy camper.  Unfortunately, as I was close to home, my bike camera was not turned on so I could not record this.  But, that was about as close a call as I've had without actually being hit.  Another exciting adventure biking in the USA.