That was the June that was.

My riding mileage is waaay down this year. A number of factors have cooperated to make this so. Weather, job situation, and conflicting needs for my time elsewhere. I've also had ride-able days that I just did not want to get out and ride on.There have still been some nice outings though and yesterday's was no exception in this regard. I finally posted a metric route with a stop for brunch time bagels and hoped that it would see some response. It has been a while since we rode somewhere for the express purpose of eating.

My two most regular riding buddies were not able to make it, but two others (Glenn and Robert) showed up at the start point. Ron also came by to say hello before heading to the store to pick up groceries. He said that he was not up to the distance quite yet, as he rehabs following last year's injury accident. Nice to see him though. Truth be told, I think he could have ridden with us okay, but he knows how he feels best.

Robert zoomed into the parking lot, as he was running close on time and jumped out to start putting all his gear together. Then he looked up and said, "I can't go. I forgot my shoes." He has the delta style cleats and did not want to do a metric on those pedals in his sneakers. ("why not?" I thought to myself. "I've done that.") Ron offered to swap pedals with him, but had no pedal wrench next to the kitchen sink that he has mounted on his bike. (If you saw Ron's bike, you'd understand. he has shown up for a ride with a folding chair mounted, and usually rocks 3 handle bars simultaneously). No one had the wrench. Then Glenn suggested we ride the route in reverse and pick up Robert in MIllbrook, where he lives. That's why Glenn is a project manager! He and I pulled out to ride the 6 miles over while Robert packed up and got back in the car.

We were only a block up the road when I saw blue flashing lights in my mirror. Turning around, I saw that Prattville's finest had pulled Robert over! Wonder what he did? Anyway, Glenn & I decided to keep on. We figured he might be 30 minutes sharing information with the officer. You know, license, registration, wants and warrants. That sort of stuff. We got to the park in Millbrook and pulled up to wait. I took out my phone and started a text to let Robert know we were waiting. Before I finished, he came roaring up on his bike. It turns out he made a U turn in the middle of a main road and the officer explained that it was illegal and came with a hefty fine. Could he refrain from doing that?  Robert decided that this was a good time not to rant about government control and the police state, and simply said, "Sure thing Officer!" and was allowed to continue on his merry way.

We decided to do an out and back instead of the loop, as we had lost some time, but we were still looking at 52 miles. The ride over was fine, with overcast clouds and reasonable temps. It was very humid so there was still sweat, particularly when we were not moving. I have not gone this direction for a while and got disoriented in two neighborhoods that we went through, taking the back way across Montgomery. So yes, I had to do U turns too.  No police for those however.

When we got to Panera Bread, we ordered our food and relaxed with it out on the side walk.

You cannot get a bagel in Prattville, so this was a delicious treat for me. We did not get lost on the way back (the direction usually taken) and although there was a pretty decent headwind, we still made good time. Glenn was relaxing the whole time but I was working pretty hard. He just rides faster than I do. So does Robert, but his miles are also way down this year. Having a new baby can do that :). In fact, I'm looking forward to meeting her soon.

I was pleased that I ended with a decent average pace for me, that the bike (Rivendell) rode smoothly over some rough road, handled fabulously in general and that I just enjoyed the ride. It burns off the adrenalin and I felt so relieved and relaxed afterward.

June has seen other good rides too. At our Sunday relaxer last week, we had 2 new attendees. Brian (music director at church) is really new, having learned to pedal a bike in his 30s just a few weeks ago. He brought his brother in law Perry along and they were both fine companions. I hope to see them again. We did a very hilly ride in Wetumpka last Saturday and we rode in Pintlala the week prior to that, so we are getting a good taste of roads from all over.

After the ride yesterday, Sharon & I drove to Southern Homes & Gardens just to look for ideas, and we bumped into Michael S who was doing the same thing. Michael rode up Mt Cheaha with me a few years back. He works at the bike shop in Montgomery now and is a very good runner and rider. Then when Sharon & I went to the Ghengis Grill (very tasty and plenty of vegan options) for dinner, we saw Darren B in the parking lot. It was his birthday and he was meeting family there. Darren rode (and won!) for the local cycling team before it ended, and talked about a new one starting up. Both Michael and Darren are way faster than me and neither would ever be seen on a bike like I ride, but cycling is an activity where it's okay to come from different perspectives and we get along fine and appreciate what each other does.

Tailwinds everybody!

Memorial Day Weekend

It's been a nice weekend. First, It's nice to live in a country where our freedom has been secure for so long. That freedom comes at a price though, and the price is the service of the members of our armed forces. Sometimes, the price is paid with their lives, and that is really the remembrance of Memorial Day. On both bike rides this weekend, I enjoyed the company of either present or past members of branches of the US military.

On Saturday, Frank and I were the only show ups for a new route, the South Autauga County Loop. All the roads have been pedaled before at one time or another, but this is the first time we put them together quite this way. I really liked the layout and this will be a keeper. Mostly quiet roads, and even an uphill mile or so of dirt road! Unfortunately, our buddy Steve H was not on hand to fully appreciate the rural ramble. He so loves to take his carbon Orbea with 18 mm tires on dirt. NOT!  We smiled though as we imagined what he would say as he rapidly scooted by to get done with that section as soon as possible. It really was better than some "paved" roads we've been on. No washboard or ruts.  Frank handled it on his race bike (28 tires?) just fine.  I had 38mm Pari Motos on and just floated along.
Plenty of climb and a couple of store stops. The blooms along the roadside were fragrant and we spent more time enjoying the scenery and less time staring at cyclometers. The old coach (Autaugaville HS BBall) at the Kingston store was in good spirits when we arrived and we chatted a few minutes. He asked me where we've been lately, as our rides have not brought us by his way. We ended up with 43 miles.

Today, 5 of us met at the high school and did the Memorial Day ride I do almost every year. Ray B took off on his own, and ended up with 103 miles at 16.7 avg (if I interpret his posting aright). Neil rode with us for about 50 miles, but got a call from his sick missus who needed him back at the ranch so he peeled off. Russ, Ray G and I pressed on. The winds were calm at the start but boy did they pick up. Stiff headwinds for most of the second half of the ride. That, and steep climbs in strong sun made for quite the work out. Russ did not look like he was working hard however. ("My average HR was 140" he told us afterward) but he had to climb all the same hills we did! Maybe the tri-athlete thing helps? :)  Anyway, he was great and hung around with us slower guys looking like he was just enjoying the workout, regardless of pace. Ray was battling a balky front shifter that wanted to dump his chain on the inside when he went to he small ring. I suggested "trimming" the lever instead of pushing it and that helped. After the ride I pointed out the travel limit screws for him to adjust. Just shy of 61 miles today and LOTS of hills and LOTS of wind. It took as long as the ride afterwards for my legs to come 100% back. They were okay for a trip with Sharon to Fresh Market grocery though. I scored some Sumatran coffee beans AND Sharon got me a bag of Good N Plenty. :)

In between the rides, I did our yard, and hobnobbed with our son while he got under his car and our daughter-in-law's to change the oil and otherwise poke around. My job was to sit and sip a cold beverage and occasionally hand him a rag or something. It was a nice visit with the kids actually.

Oh, Saturday after the ride, Sharon and I went car shopping. Our friend Mel suggested a certain Montgomery dealer from positive past experience, and we went there. We found a car I liked, we agreed on the price and we drove it home. I've had a take-home company car for the past 16 years, but my current employer does not work that way. I will use a company car this coming week for example to travel on company business, but the car stays in a car pool when not on business, so I need wheels of my own. I'm a little excited as this is my first personal vehicle since a '96 S-10 we bought in Plant City, FL. Our car buys since then have been for Sharon (Saturn, Hyundai) or Alex (Scion). I told Sharon she could have the "new" car (it's a very clean 2010 model Toyota) but she is happy with and wants back her Sonata. No problem.
I also worked on Gary's antique, err classic, Raleigh. Early 90s with aluminum top and down tubes and chrome moly everything else. It was all original and all the original running gear was orange in color. Not for style, but from rust. I gave him a list of parts to collect and he got most of them, and I went to work. New brake pads front and rear, new chain, new shifter cables, new rim tape, new tubes and new tires. I sprayed some stuff on the freewheel and WD 40 on the nuts and bolts. The bike will be fine, re-purposed for his son.

Sunday morning, I filled the pulpit at our church. I got a little disconnected in my thinking, but enough people got the message I was trying to bring that I think it was okay. What I lacked in organization, I made up for in brevity. Brevity is always generally popular in sermons. The concept was, when reading MT 25:40 (.. 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.') do we know what God means by "the least of these?"  That is, we tend to classify based on our per-existing mental filing systems, which may not jive with how God's economy works. My point was that while immediate physical charity (expressed in a number of ways) is laudable, it is sharing the eternal truths to those who are lost and lack them that is the better gift. (John 4:10 Jesus answered and said to her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water." )  Living water being a better gift than regular water, and etc..

So it's been a GREAT weekend. I head out tomorrow on my 1st sales swing for the new place, which is exciting and I have some bids that go in this week too.  Of course, what would be really great would be if something SELLS.

Tailwinds!

Mid May 2013

I'm back from a really nice pedal this morning. Despite lots of green and yellow on the radar, Russ, Max & I chanced it and were rewarded with some pleasant miles. It's the first Saturday outing for me in a several weeks. Starting the new job threw a wrench into cycling schedules, but one must eat and pay for the roof overhead. The first few weeks have been good by the way. I like my co workers and they seem to tolerate me. I'm in sales now instead of operations and I like that. Fortunately, a number of opportunities to bid on have come up and statistics say that if we are bidding on work, we'll get our share. I'm based in NW GA, but will be making sales swings from here in AL at times too. I've worked out a new routine to include some time for my usual morning calisthenics, and two after work rides each week.

Chad, in our office, is a runner (so he's fit) and a former mountain biker. He brought his Gary Fisher Tuesday and we pedaled a mostly off road, mostly very difficult short ride up Lavender Mountain to the House O'Dreams at Berry College in Rome. The dirt roads are steep and freshly bathed in thick streams of small blue stone gravel, making traction a rare commodity. That and about 1,000' of climb in a 2 mile stretch. Pretty at the top though. This view is back towards town.

The paved trail from the campus has a 3' diameter +/- Sun painted at the start. The planets are painted to scale in size and distance as you move out away from it. The planets are dots, and some are MILES away. The idea that gravity holds them all together is mind boggling.  It's called the Viking Trail,  perhaps named for the Mars exploration spacecraft of the same name?

Once we got to the top, we rested while Chad showed me the garden and explained that students at the school built it all in the 1920s, using materials from the site area.

 Here I am at the entrance drive. You can see I had my old Bridgestone MB-2 Mountain bike this time. I usually take a road bike.

EVERY road around this place is hilly, unless you are riding along the riverside. Which we plan to do one of these days. The hills are bigger and steeper than I am used to, but I guess if I ride them, my legs will adjust.

Here is the garden on opposite side of the house from the picture above. With wind chimes sounding gently in the background, this is a restful and delightful place. Sadly, we needed to leave in time to find our way back during daylight. On the way, Chad suggested a "shortcut" he sort of remembered. It was less difficult to ride on, but when I heard shots fired not too far away, I  began to pray in earnest for a safe trip back to the car! There is a controlled hunt in progress and the gate WAS closed on this road...




On Thursday, I took the same bike and rode up the toughest climb I've seen in many a day, if not ever. After topping Booze Mountain and descending to the traffic light on the other side, I found a bigger hill awaiting!  I had to stop twice on the ascent and catch my breath, re starting each time by traversing the road when it was clear to do so. The Garmin said 36% but I doubt that. 24% maybe at max and 12 - 15% otherwise. For a full 1/2 mile. Followed by 6 miles of steady gradual up in a valley.Pretty though, and fragrant with jasmine, honeysuckle and  maybe some other stuff.  The very quick mountain bike steering that works wonders at avoiding roots and rocks on a woodsy path is NOT what I want when descending at 37 mph. Which is a record for that bike, no doubt.

Today's ride was my 1st regular Saturday road ride of any length or effort since the middle of April. As I noted, Russ and Max met me up by the usual rally point and we did 35 miles of hills. About 2,000' of climbing in all. We were rained on (I packed a rain jacket and helmet cover, but truthfully, the rain felt good and I never took them out), paused to meet up with the mayor and join his annual bike ride for kids down to a park where some hands on exhibits were set up, and then completed our loop. Russ provided the blog material today. A super fit triathlete, I suppose he just can't go slow and the mayor's kids were only doing about 7 mph. He slid his front wheel on a rain slicked exposed section of old train rail and did a spectacular crash. It looked for all the world like he was aiming for this:













But it was more like this:




Russ did execute the "tuck and roll" as shown here by our stunt double, perfectly and broke no bones nor bike parts. He was skinned up a little, but seemed like he would recover. We prescribed aspirin, or similar.

And watch kids, this is why we say, "Always wear a helmet!"  Russ, you need to buy a new one if yours hit the pavement.

So, some good riding this week, and feeling 1/2 way normal in that regard.

I also went car shopping today. I need something economical just to get to/from work, and have a cycling friend in the business. I was surprised to find that no one takes you out and shows you CARS anymore. They show you cars on a laptop screen and say,  "we can get that for you." Well, no, there is a car being readied that is of interest and will be available to look at soon. I came home and hunted online and found numerous others. Anyway, I hope to have a pleasant car buying experience and end up with a serviceable used car. If things go well, down the road we'll upgrade that as we can.

I'm filling the pulpit again next Sunday (locals are always welcome to come and listen!). I always approach that duty with deep respect and nervous apprehension. Once I get going though, it seems to all work out. When the pastor first asked if I could fill in should the need arise, I began to jot ideas down and outline my ideas. In the past, I have written out my sermons and had them to read, but my recent experience preaching at the local homeless mission with outline notes instead has emboldened me to try this same approach. The source material is impeccable after all, and the Spirit is ever present to illumine. :)

I'm back in GA next week but then take off on my first road sales swing. Figuring out how to work in exercise and cycling there will be a challenge. And one that has to take a back seat to the primary mission focus, SALES.

  Tailwinds!

Don't Fence Me In

While I prefer not to be fenced in, we decided it would be a good idea to fence in our back yard so that our dog can run around out there, unfettered by the cable and stake arrangement we've been using. She gets tangled up easily with that and we really have to sit out there with her to keep an eye out. Neighbors have erected privacy fences along the back and one side of our lot, so we needed the other side and the short pieces extending from each side of our house. We got homeowner association approval and then I went down to the City Hall Annex and got a fence permit. One nice thing about a small town is that these things usually can be done quickly.  I went to Home Depot and bought the supplies and arranged for them to deliver. The materials came early yesterday morning and I went to work on it while the morning was still cool. I hoped that the recent rains would leave the red clay soil we live on soft enough to come out without problems. Even after a careful study of the sprinkler system plan, I was hesitant to use a power auger for fear of cutting through a PVC water line unwittingly.

The digging went as hoped. Each of the 10 post holes required 10 - 12 minutes of actual digging to get the required depth. It was a great shoulder and arm workout! The regular morning exercises that I do really helped here. Our son Alex  came by around mid-morning and he helped on a hole or two, but mostly he assisted with placing the fence panels, which was very much appreciated. We got everything in place yesterday and gave the dog a test run in the yard. She loved it. The fence we chose is a low height spaced Gothic picket. It provides closure for the yard, but does not spoil the sense of open view that we like on the unfenced side. Today, I will re adjust one panel to make it level, and install the gate hardware.

Alex brought the wife and kidlet along and we all enjoyed the visit. Our grandson grows while we watch, it seems. He worked the dog out in the back too. Or she worked him out. I'm not really sure.

Brown came and delivered a new carburetor for the lawn mower. After visiting 2 repair shops in town, I discovered that these Chinese imports are essentially "disposable" units. It costs more to have someone rebuild a dirty one than buy a new one. I may take the old one apart and tinker with it though.The mower started up immediately once the new unit was on and I mowed the yard as long as it was running.

Max decided to dip his toe in the water of the high speed race riders on the other side of town last night, so I was his designated replacement for the club ride locally. Only the club treasurer showed up to ride. Two other riders came by to say hello, but Robert and I were the only ones to go out and do the route. Weird, because it was a PERFECT evening to ride. We almost finished before sunset as well. I felt a little zip in my legs but decided to work at about 75% and not get too worn out. I'd already had a busy day. Robert did time trials the night before and a century last Saturday. A slower paced ride was ideal for him. So wwe averaged about 14.5, which is fine considering the couple of long 7% and 9% climbs we had to make along the way.

It's been a thoughtful week. Someone I knew from church died on Saturday. I had just gone to see her with some other people about a week prior. We had communion together, because she was unable to come to church any more. Serving the supper does create a closer sense of kindred, I suppose. In any event, her passing (which is great as far as the being in Heaven and not suffering goes)  affected me more than I would have expected. Sharon dispatched me with food to two other houses this week. One, a recent widow and the other a recent pace maker recipient. In each case, I paused briefly to chat a little. You get better connected to and care more deeply for others when you become part (even a little part) of their lives. It's so easy to get wrapped up in my own plans and goings on. These reminders have been good.

Nice Day to Ride

When local riding buddy Rick & I were talking the other day (after he graciously came by and helped out with my lawn. Our mower is a non starter at present. I thought he was going to help me fix it, or loan me a mower for 30 mins - that's all my yard takes me, but no. He mowed my yard with his commercial rig, in about 10 mins, then we ran string trimmers to tidy it all up.) and he mentioned that a 50ish mile ride this weekend would be good. Since current circumstances preclude my presence in Atlanta for a pen show, I thought his idea had plenty of merit.

6 riders showed up for a reprise of the route from last June, which ended with a farewell BBQ to a friend finishing up at the local air force base class and heading "down East" as they say up there in Maine. A good mix of terrain with convenient stores along the way if needed. It was in the upper 40s at the start, and I added a thin wool tee under a s/s merino jersey, wool arm warmers and  wool knee warmers under my shorts. It really was just right. The arm warmers came off about 30 miles out, the knee warmers stayed on as it was really only upper 60s or so when we came back. We did 52 miles, and climbed 2,500' +/-, all rollers, no big hills.

Here are Rick, Mario, and I pedaling up a slight grade near Prattville.  I was looking down at the Garmin to see exactly how slight, it appears.

Plenty of wind (headwind outbound, and at the very end. Tailwind in between) and climbs in the 9% - 11% range. Nothing terribly tough, in other words.  The lead riders took off at a crisp pace, then there were 2 middle speed riders who re connected with us at the stops, then Rick and I, thoroughly enjoying the view from the back. We climbed steadily and slogged into the wind steadily. We enjoyed decent pace on the flats. To say that the azaleas are lovely does them a great disservice. They are spectacular. Plenty of other leafing and flowering things were beautiful to look at. Great reason NOT to stare at a cyclocomputer or down at the road.There were a few dogs today; none of any imminent threat. I saw a brilliant Indigo Bunting over a field and the distinct yellow belly of the Eastern Meadowlark soon after. All the usual animals were out as well.

I put the original wheels back on my Rambouillet and was surprised (again) at how well it rides. It's had other crank sets and wheels on to try but it's back to stock status and rides best that way. Apparently, its designer was onto something with the build he selected.  One of the other riders was on a very nice looking bike that was a size or two too small for him. He's made it work with lots of after market stuff, but he agrees that a larger frame would suit him better. It's so nice to finish a ride and my back, neck, hands and shoulders do not hurt. My legs are a little sore from work, which is okay and my bottom can tell it did something today, like sit on a saddle for several hours. But that's okay, and improves as the season goes on. The reason nothing hurts after 50+ miles is because the bike is properly fit. When the bike fit is right, the ride is so much more fun.