This is my second of my installment series. Not sure where "Installment" came from. From now on, it'll be "Days of Old."
Lately, I've been thinking of doing a brevet and thus, thinking of long rides, specificially long rides I did in the past. I have many memorable ones of 80 or so miles. Today, I'll tell you about what my memory is telling me is my longest day in the saddle, which is longer than the 200k I'm aiming to do early next year.
It was 1993. I rode a lot with Brian Dyer. We did lots of mountain biking and long road rides, of the 60-80 mile range. A natural thing for us was to do an organized century. We started talking about it and Kevin Ptasienski and Scott Stiener said they would like to join us. The ride was the "Flat as a Pancake Century," which was around Lake Cralisle, Illinois and while there was lots of flat as a pancake, there was also some good rolling hills too. Bryan drove us all over. When we went to get Scott, he was still sleeping! Turns out, he was drinking all night and only got home at 3am, it was now 5 or so. We were going to leave him, but he insisted on coming, so we let him. Then, he pulled out his mountain bike, with slicks. We looked at eachother. We were shooting to average 20mph and do rotating shifts in a paceline and now we had a mountain bike in our presence. Something told me this would be an epic ride.
We started off and quickly realized Scott wasn't going to take any pulls at the front and we were going to be dragging him around central Illinois all day. Towards the northern tip of the route, were the hills. Scott blew chuncks all over the place, had a map and said he'd see us back at the lake for lunch. The lake was the 65 mile point, with a provided lunch for the riders. Not bad either. Skinless, barbequed chicken and lots of snacks. Amazingly enough, we were making good time. We all ate "just enough" and figured if we hammered the rest, there would likely be plenty more food for us at the finish. Then, Scott rolled in. We wanted to leave him, but he said after he ate he'd feel much better. So, he ate and I rode around the lake, so I wouldn't cool off and cramp. After he ate, we set off again and all was good.
Brian and I were doing most of the pulls, nice long ones, with Kevin lending an hand on his turns and didn't skip many. Scott was tagging along at the rear. And then, Scott threw up again and told us to leave him. We gave him all the food we had and set off. Brian said with around 20 miles left, he wanted to hammer and do a solo time trial. He took off and didn't even say good bye!!! I started riding hard too, but noticed that Kevin was falling off, so, I stayed with him. Then, we entered the town of Carslile. The town of Carslile? Whoops, we missed a turn somewhere. I saw the tower at the lake in the distance, and we just set off towards it. When we finally got in, with the added around the lake riding I did and the trip into town, my computer had over 140 miles on it. Kevin and I got so far off course, within 5 minutes of our finish, Scott rolled in and fell off his bike. He was really in a state and took his clothes off and was standing buck naked in a huge group of people, cyclists and lake goers. We quickly got him dressed and apologized to families with children and explained the situation to them. All was good.
That was as I said, likely the longest day I spent on a bike. Overall, including stopping for lunch, rest areas and going slow, I still think I averaged somewhere around 18 mph overall. Scott, by the way, slept the whole ride back to St. Louis.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
A second post today
The bicycle is a beautiful thing. I met a woman today, that I felt compelled to tell you about.
On my ride into work, I saw a woman on the side of the road. She had a Breezer folding bike. I stopped and asked if she needed help. She said no. An hour plus later, she came into the shop just to look around. Turns out she is an over the road trucker. She had a load that she was dropping off at Deals, but they can't take it until tomorrow, thus, she was stuck in Fenton, with nothing to do. I have a few trucker friends, and know this happens a lot to them. She deals with it by, you guessed it, taking the folding bike with her to ride around and explore, while she waits. She obviously a recreational rider, but I envy her. She has ridden in more towns across this country than anyone I know, most likely. Anytime she has to wait, she rides.
The bike is a beautiful thing. It allows us to explore our world and take us to places we never been before.
On my ride into work, I saw a woman on the side of the road. She had a Breezer folding bike. I stopped and asked if she needed help. She said no. An hour plus later, she came into the shop just to look around. Turns out she is an over the road trucker. She had a load that she was dropping off at Deals, but they can't take it until tomorrow, thus, she was stuck in Fenton, with nothing to do. I have a few trucker friends, and know this happens a lot to them. She deals with it by, you guessed it, taking the folding bike with her to ride around and explore, while she waits. She obviously a recreational rider, but I envy her. She has ridden in more towns across this country than anyone I know, most likely. Anytime she has to wait, she rides.
The bike is a beautiful thing. It allows us to explore our world and take us to places we never been before.
Bass Pro
I needed some new soft bait, specifically frogs. The bass at the Fabick Nature Area have been pounding the heck out of them. I only had one left, and it was almost impossible to keep it in proper position on the hook, it was so beat up. Normally, I go to Denny Dennis Sporting Goods, here in Fenton for my fishing tackle needs. But today, I wanted to do something "more special" for the boys, so we were off to Bass Pro, in St. Charles. I got what I needed and they had a great time, looking at the fish aquarium (I was drooling at that HUGE largemouth in there. Got to be well, I mean WELL over 10 pounds) and all the stuffed critters. We actually spent over an hour in there, then went and ate lunch at McDonnalds. McD's claims to have the world's best french fries. Well, whoever judged the competition, didn't eat the sorry excuse for fries we had today. In fact, it's been eons since I was served fries that were edible at a McD. Not that I eat there often, maybe once a month with the boys.
On the way home, I looked down on the Katy Trail. It's been a crazy long time since I've ridden any of it, mostly because of the fact that I didn't have a suitable bike for it. Then I realized that I now do. The One Way's 700c x 35s, with inverted tread would be a good tire for it. Maybe I'll give it a shot in the near future and get some easy distance logged in. For those of you not familiar with the Katy, it's a reclaimed railroad line, running along the Missouri River and adjacent farmland. It's hardpacked crushed limestone (construction minus) and as flat as anything you can ever ride. I've only ridden it a few times, mostly from St. Charles to Defiance or so and mostly on mountain bikes, when it was too muddy to hit the trails. I think the last time I rode it was with Jyri Niveri and we did it on cyclocross bikes. It was insanely cold, at least I thought so. Jyri is from the friggin' Arctic Circle, Finland to be exact. He was in their Air Force and was in St. Louis for a year to go to Boeing and learn some flight simulator program, to teach other pilots when he returned home. What was making my face freeze, was making him homesick. The ride was in snow and ice and simply stupid!!! We MAYBE did a total of 10 miles, before turning around. We both crashed around 20 times each on the ice or snowdrifts. Yet, it is actually a fond memory! I wonder what he's doing now?
On the way home, I looked down on the Katy Trail. It's been a crazy long time since I've ridden any of it, mostly because of the fact that I didn't have a suitable bike for it. Then I realized that I now do. The One Way's 700c x 35s, with inverted tread would be a good tire for it. Maybe I'll give it a shot in the near future and get some easy distance logged in. For those of you not familiar with the Katy, it's a reclaimed railroad line, running along the Missouri River and adjacent farmland. It's hardpacked crushed limestone (construction minus) and as flat as anything you can ever ride. I've only ridden it a few times, mostly from St. Charles to Defiance or so and mostly on mountain bikes, when it was too muddy to hit the trails. I think the last time I rode it was with Jyri Niveri and we did it on cyclocross bikes. It was insanely cold, at least I thought so. Jyri is from the friggin' Arctic Circle, Finland to be exact. He was in their Air Force and was in St. Louis for a year to go to Boeing and learn some flight simulator program, to teach other pilots when he returned home. What was making my face freeze, was making him homesick. The ride was in snow and ice and simply stupid!!! We MAYBE did a total of 10 miles, before turning around. We both crashed around 20 times each on the ice or snowdrifts. Yet, it is actually a fond memory! I wonder what he's doing now?
Monday, August 3, 2009
Installment #1
So, what is "installment #1?"
Instead of posting about things of today, these will be more of an ongoing story about me and bikes thru the years. Check back often, to continue the saga!!!
I currently commute by bike to work to Olde Towne Fenton Cyclery. Ok, so it's a measly 5 miles round trip, but at least I'm not burning fossil fuels to do it. I have commuted for many, many years off and on. Here are some of the ones I remember. My first job was at Trails West Bowl, in Ballwin. I used to ride my bike there most days, at least until I became 16 and could drive in. Even then, I'd ride in several times a month. When I worked at Watlow Electrical Mfg. Co., in Maryland Heights, I'd often ride in on Saturdays for overtime. I'd do this from my parents house, when I was still there and later from the townhouse in Marlborough. It was about an hour each way, if I remember. I did it on my trusty old Trek, before I converted it into a fixed gear. Actually, I may have rode it in as a fixed too. When I was at the Touring Cyclist in South County, I rode in every day, rain, snow, heat, whatever from our house in Lemay. I loved riding the Grant Trail at night and often turned off my headlight, to take it all in. On second thought, not everyday. On Tuesdays, I drove in, so I could head out to Gateway Raceway for the Tuesday Night Worlds. At Big Shark, I always rode in on Sundays, and when full time, also on the days I worked the day shift. I did this at both BS locations I worked at, which I had totally different routes to get to. I think the route I had to the "new" location was my perfered route, thru the Hill and Forrest Park. At G_______, I rode in a few times, mostly, when Amy was off work on maternity leave. Riding thur the 141 gauntlet in Valley Park at rush hour is not for the nervous and I did it a lot. By the way, since the TC commute, all of the commutes have been on fixed gear bikes.
Instead of our current government's cash for klunkers program, I'd rather see the money going to promote bikes as transportation. Think of all of the bikes that could be given out to people to ride! THAT would be change I could believe in.
Instead of posting about things of today, these will be more of an ongoing story about me and bikes thru the years. Check back often, to continue the saga!!!
I currently commute by bike to work to Olde Towne Fenton Cyclery. Ok, so it's a measly 5 miles round trip, but at least I'm not burning fossil fuels to do it. I have commuted for many, many years off and on. Here are some of the ones I remember. My first job was at Trails West Bowl, in Ballwin. I used to ride my bike there most days, at least until I became 16 and could drive in. Even then, I'd ride in several times a month. When I worked at Watlow Electrical Mfg. Co., in Maryland Heights, I'd often ride in on Saturdays for overtime. I'd do this from my parents house, when I was still there and later from the townhouse in Marlborough. It was about an hour each way, if I remember. I did it on my trusty old Trek, before I converted it into a fixed gear. Actually, I may have rode it in as a fixed too. When I was at the Touring Cyclist in South County, I rode in every day, rain, snow, heat, whatever from our house in Lemay. I loved riding the Grant Trail at night and often turned off my headlight, to take it all in. On second thought, not everyday. On Tuesdays, I drove in, so I could head out to Gateway Raceway for the Tuesday Night Worlds. At Big Shark, I always rode in on Sundays, and when full time, also on the days I worked the day shift. I did this at both BS locations I worked at, which I had totally different routes to get to. I think the route I had to the "new" location was my perfered route, thru the Hill and Forrest Park. At G_______, I rode in a few times, mostly, when Amy was off work on maternity leave. Riding thur the 141 gauntlet in Valley Park at rush hour is not for the nervous and I did it a lot. By the way, since the TC commute, all of the commutes have been on fixed gear bikes.
Instead of our current government's cash for klunkers program, I'd rather see the money going to promote bikes as transportation. Think of all of the bikes that could be given out to people to ride! THAT would be change I could believe in.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Twenty five
No, 25 miles isn't a big deal. I used to ride that everyday...at least. Now, considering I haven't been riding in a year or two, the distance means a little more. Today, I added in the first hill. Not a hard hill, but when your out of shape, pushing a 42x15 fixed gear, with 700x35 tires at 80psi, you feel it. My route (more or less) was from the house to 141, then north to Dougherty Ferry, to Geyer (the hill was there, not steep, but a long trudge), to Rott, to Minne Ha Ha, to Old Gravois, to the road along the Meramec in Fenton, to the north outer road of 44, to Maritz, to Valley Park road and home. It's a nice little loop. I've done it a bunch of times on fixed gears in the past. When I was in shape, Marshall road would be the general route and I rode in a 48x16, with 700x23's at 115psi. Big difference.
Today, was the first time I craved more speed. Then I thought of this. The fixed gear at a slower pace will keep my mind in a better state, more close to the Zen type I want to be in. Agressive, balls to the walls riding no longer interests me. I want to be steady and strong. 160 more kilometers (about 95 miles) longer, and I'll be at brevet distance. That's the goal. Not that distance is my master. I'm riding for fun. Doing a brevet is more of a challenge, not set in stone, but something to aim for. As Bruce Lee said, "sometimes goals are not meant to be reached, merely something to strive for." Having typed that, don't think I'm wussing out already. I WANT to do the brevet. I'm just not sure if riding long distance one day a week will get me into the proper condition to do it. Right now, I ride to work and back 5 days, which is around 4 miles or so, maybe a 15 miler on Thursday, then Sunday morning for a distance ride. We'll see how it goes. I do know I'm feeling better physically. Knee ache (no LC, not from the bike, but stiffness that crept in in my time away fron the bike) is a thing of the past, upper body strength is improving and I'm not really tired or spent after a Sunday ride. Good stuff.
Today, was the first time I craved more speed. Then I thought of this. The fixed gear at a slower pace will keep my mind in a better state, more close to the Zen type I want to be in. Agressive, balls to the walls riding no longer interests me. I want to be steady and strong. 160 more kilometers (about 95 miles) longer, and I'll be at brevet distance. That's the goal. Not that distance is my master. I'm riding for fun. Doing a brevet is more of a challenge, not set in stone, but something to aim for. As Bruce Lee said, "sometimes goals are not meant to be reached, merely something to strive for." Having typed that, don't think I'm wussing out already. I WANT to do the brevet. I'm just not sure if riding long distance one day a week will get me into the proper condition to do it. Right now, I ride to work and back 5 days, which is around 4 miles or so, maybe a 15 miler on Thursday, then Sunday morning for a distance ride. We'll see how it goes. I do know I'm feeling better physically. Knee ache (no LC, not from the bike, but stiffness that crept in in my time away fron the bike) is a thing of the past, upper body strength is improving and I'm not really tired or spent after a Sunday ride. Good stuff.
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