I have a love/hate relationship with Virginia. The hot, humid, sultry days are the ones I am not particularly fond of. We have had a few of those lately. Last night was warm and still, but at about 2:30 I awoke to pouring rain and wind. Uh oh - the windows were open. I got up to check and sure enough, the rain had blown in the "bike room" windows. It had blown so far that the hardwood floor was wet for about 2 ft. Not only that, but Godiva was SOAKED! (For those of you who do not know, Godiva is my totally naked, not-a-drop-of-paint-on-her-frame, titanium bike. My "little [NOT] red sports car", if you will.) I grabbed a bunch of paper towels & mopped her off, then decided I should probably take a swipe or two at the floor. By that time it was approaching 3 a.m. and I knew I needed to get back to bed if I was going to be able to get up and make it to work this morning. Being a Monday, and considering I had missed a couple Mondays recently, I figured losing sleep over a wet bicycle was not a good enough reason to take off....
Here on Moonshine Mountain we have had three wonderful rain showers in the last 20 hours or so. Prior to the first one (above), it was getting pretty dry. In the heat of the summer it doesn't take long to get dry. What I love about Virginia is that once it rains this place is glorious. Mother Nature did us a favor with those showers - particularly the last one that came through just about an hour ago. She swept the air clean. The grass is a vivid shade of green; the flowers in the garden are glowing, and the birds are singing. Who needs music when the windows can be opened? Goldfinches are outside asking their never-ending questions, a red bellied woodpecker is chastising every blue jay that dares approach the feeder and the cardinals are chirping their joy at the clean air. In the edge of the trees a wood thrush sings the most beautiful song any bird could sing. His notes are pure and clear and I can't get enough of them.
I have been in a funk the last few days because what I want to do and what I have to do are two entirely different things. Want = ride my bike. Have = work, mow, clean, work more. I feel better now. Thank you, Mother Nature.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Washington and Old Dominion Trail Report
Today, I drove out to Vienna from Old Town Alexandria, to pick up the Washington and Old Dominion Trail. I went out there rather than picking up the trail at its beginning in Shirlington because I'd read that there were less street crossings from Vienna west.
I rode out about twenty miles toward Leesburg and it was great, a much different kind of charm than the Mt. Vernon trail. First, it's almost perfectly straight and flat. I averaged about 15.5 mph which was about all I'd be able to do even on a road without street crossings--especially with a temperature of 90+. I highly recommend it.
I'm so glad I brought my bike along for the week up here. I got in 20 miles on Monday, 20 on Wednesday, and 40 today. I liked the schedule of the day. Ride in the morning; lunch, then preparation for my evening presentations and "working" (if that's what you call lecturing and leading discussions of ethical issues) from 7-9 pm.
I rode out about twenty miles toward Leesburg and it was great, a much different kind of charm than the Mt. Vernon trail. First, it's almost perfectly straight and flat. I averaged about 15.5 mph which was about all I'd be able to do even on a road without street crossings--especially with a temperature of 90+. I highly recommend it.
I'm so glad I brought my bike along for the week up here. I got in 20 miles on Monday, 20 on Wednesday, and 40 today. I liked the schedule of the day. Ride in the morning; lunch, then preparation for my evening presentations and "working" (if that's what you call lecturing and leading discussions of ethical issues) from 7-9 pm.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Rist Canyon Race Report
Will be brief (or I'll try anyway):
Backstory first: I've been training pretty hard since November of last year. Didn't really take much time off, as I was hoping to come blasting into this season and get a few good results early. out here, the season starts in March, and if we have a cold winter that means it's really hard to be in shape when you first take the line. I trained, got into reasonable shape, then crashed badly while in a training ride up on the Peak-to-Peak hwy on March 1. Mental recovery from that kind of crash is the worst - you just lose the edge to take corners fast, go downhill quickly, etc.
So despite my preparations, the start of the season was a wash. Didn't really get my edge back until mid-May, and started to get some results. Raced 6 times in 9 days at the beginning of June, did a couple hard training rides, and mentally I was boiling over.
Went to Eagle, Co to do the 85 mile "Rock the River Road Race" June 14. I'd been dreading it all week, but couldn't figure out why. I was pretty active in the first half of the race, keeping the pack fast and covering attacks that went off on the early rollers. Got to the one substantial hill before the turnaround and just cracked. The hill started with about a half-mile 10% wall, then leveled out to about 6% for another mile and change. Made it up the wall with he lead group, and just didn't want to ride anymore. Dropped off and limped home with a chase group fighting for 16th place.
A mostly off-week later (with one TT thrown in) landed me with several teammates at the Rist Canyon RR in Ft. Collins. 65 miles with some very painful climbs. We started out with a trip up to the Horsetooth Reservoir Dam, and rode along the dam road before dropping into Rist Canyon for the "real" climb at mile 11. The dam road has a series of very steep rollers, each about 3/4 to 1.5 miles long, that you have to ride over. They hurt, but I was hanging in there just fine, sag-climbing in the pack. We descended into Rist (55mph+) and started our climb up the valley. It's pretty moderate for the first few miles, but the 2nd to the last is at 9-11% and the last mile is steady 11-12%. I got about 2 miles into the climb and just realized that I didn't want to race. It was hot, it hurt, my drinks were already hot, and I just wanted to go home and drink beer.
Since I'd paid (and since my ride home was racing with me), I decided I couldn't just quit, but instead I just sat up and let the lead group ride away. Thought about riding up to a teammate to tell him I was out, but decided that just riding up through the group would hurt more than I was interested in. Did the middle of the ride mostly solo, and picked up a couple guys for the last 20 miles. Dropped all but one on the climbs back up to the res (we had to go all the way over the dam road again), and waited for the last guy every time I dropped him going up a hill. We rode the flat 5 miles back into town together, and rolled through the finish in 39th out of (65?).
Not the best showing, but believe me I was just glad it was over. I'm unofficially taking this and the next 2 weeks off of racing. Just riding and getting my head back in the game.
The after-party was good - free Fat Tire beer! My teammate Dave and I just stood at the beer tent pounding pints until our ride decided to leave.
Backstory first: I've been training pretty hard since November of last year. Didn't really take much time off, as I was hoping to come blasting into this season and get a few good results early. out here, the season starts in March, and if we have a cold winter that means it's really hard to be in shape when you first take the line. I trained, got into reasonable shape, then crashed badly while in a training ride up on the Peak-to-Peak hwy on March 1. Mental recovery from that kind of crash is the worst - you just lose the edge to take corners fast, go downhill quickly, etc.
So despite my preparations, the start of the season was a wash. Didn't really get my edge back until mid-May, and started to get some results. Raced 6 times in 9 days at the beginning of June, did a couple hard training rides, and mentally I was boiling over.
Went to Eagle, Co to do the 85 mile "Rock the River Road Race" June 14. I'd been dreading it all week, but couldn't figure out why. I was pretty active in the first half of the race, keeping the pack fast and covering attacks that went off on the early rollers. Got to the one substantial hill before the turnaround and just cracked. The hill started with about a half-mile 10% wall, then leveled out to about 6% for another mile and change. Made it up the wall with he lead group, and just didn't want to ride anymore. Dropped off and limped home with a chase group fighting for 16th place.
A mostly off-week later (with one TT thrown in) landed me with several teammates at the Rist Canyon RR in Ft. Collins. 65 miles with some very painful climbs. We started out with a trip up to the Horsetooth Reservoir Dam, and rode along the dam road before dropping into Rist Canyon for the "real" climb at mile 11. The dam road has a series of very steep rollers, each about 3/4 to 1.5 miles long, that you have to ride over. They hurt, but I was hanging in there just fine, sag-climbing in the pack. We descended into Rist (55mph+) and started our climb up the valley. It's pretty moderate for the first few miles, but the 2nd to the last is at 9-11% and the last mile is steady 11-12%. I got about 2 miles into the climb and just realized that I didn't want to race. It was hot, it hurt, my drinks were already hot, and I just wanted to go home and drink beer.
Since I'd paid (and since my ride home was racing with me), I decided I couldn't just quit, but instead I just sat up and let the lead group ride away. Thought about riding up to a teammate to tell him I was out, but decided that just riding up through the group would hurt more than I was interested in. Did the middle of the ride mostly solo, and picked up a couple guys for the last 20 miles. Dropped all but one on the climbs back up to the res (we had to go all the way over the dam road again), and waited for the last guy every time I dropped him going up a hill. We rode the flat 5 miles back into town together, and rolled through the finish in 39th out of (65?).
Not the best showing, but believe me I was just glad it was over. I'm unofficially taking this and the next 2 weeks off of racing. Just riding and getting my head back in the game.
The after-party was good - free Fat Tire beer! My teammate Dave and I just stood at the beer tent pounding pints until our ride decided to leave.
Mt Vernon Trail II
This morning I rode the rest of the Mt. Vernon Hotel (see below). I rode from my hotel on King Street in Old Town Alexandria north toward the National Airport to the end of the trail at Roosevelt Island (between Key Bridge on the Kennedy Center on the Virginia side of the Potomac). I also crossed the 14th street bridge and rode (dodged tourist) over to the Washington Monument. I went over there because a student of mine at SU is an intern with Amnesty International and they were having an event on the Mall. They had a life size model Guantanamo cell; a bunch of folks were dressed in Orange jump suits carrying signs against torture, closing Guantanamo, and "counter terrorism with justice." I got to see our student and hear the head of Amnesty USA speak. I may also be in the background of a BBC news report!
The ride was much like the ride to Mt. Vernon from Alexandria as reported below. It's an enjoyable ride, but little chance for riding fast because of the narrowness and curves in the trail, the pedestrians, and the ocassional street crossing. The neatest thing was riding past the end of the runway at national while a plane was landing right over my head.
The ride across the 14th street Bridge was fine, but once you get across there are no signs directed cyclists to particular routes, so you're fighting pedestrians, policemen on horseback, and traffic. I did see a number or bikers actually riding in the traffic rather than on the wide sidewalks around the mall. I don't recommend riding in the area of the mall, but with some experience one might be able to find pleasant places to ride.
Of course, the views from the trail on the Virginia side across the river to the monuments is great.
The ride was much like the ride to Mt. Vernon from Alexandria as reported below. It's an enjoyable ride, but little chance for riding fast because of the narrowness and curves in the trail, the pedestrians, and the ocassional street crossing. The neatest thing was riding past the end of the runway at national while a plane was landing right over my head.
The ride across the 14th street Bridge was fine, but once you get across there are no signs directed cyclists to particular routes, so you're fighting pedestrians, policemen on horseback, and traffic. I did see a number or bikers actually riding in the traffic rather than on the wide sidewalks around the mall. I don't recommend riding in the area of the mall, but with some experience one might be able to find pleasant places to ride.
Of course, the views from the trail on the Virginia side across the river to the monuments is great.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
The Rest of the Story...
I am a new roadie and I have not yet reached the point in my cycling career where I can “just ride.” I am constantly evaluating a thousand things: fidgeting around trying to find the “sweet spot” on my saddle (as a horseman and saddler, I am amused that this postage stamp qualifies as a “saddle”!), remembering to hydrate, monitoring my balance, my cadence, my breathing—well, you get the idea…
So last Sunday, whilst tooling along a lovely section of our county back roads, I dropped in behind Jane to accommodate what I thought might be a “car back” and bumped her rear wheel in the process. Indeed, I bumped it briskly enough that I knew I was going to “fall down, go boom!” I did have the presence of mind to disengage (so I wouldn’t take her down with me) before I unceremoniously collapsed in a heap on the tarmac. I went down pretty hard. Naturally, my first inclination was to render first aid to my lovely new Tuscany. Not a scratch—the bike, that is. My body seemed to have acted as an adequate buffer. Oh joy. I was bleeding from virtually every point of contact on my right side, but my gleaming titanium beauty appeared to be unscathed.
I say appeared because, as Jane has elucidated elsewhere on this blog, we were well into our ride the following Sunday when disaster struck quite unexpectedly. Following a thoughtful post-mortem, we collectively developed “The Little Bang” theory: The rear derailleur had apparently taken a hit during my previous fall, thus knocking it slightly out of alignment. It managed to soldier on, doing its job like a Trojan for several rides during the week, but it was definitely an accident looking for a place to happen. When it did finally give way (while I was shifting, of course), it quite literally exploded! Ripped loose from its moorings and torqued into something resembling an alloy potato chip, the derailleur spewed tiny bits of fine Italian metalwork in every direction as the dangling ballast pummeled the spokes mercilessly, actually breaking one. (In the interest of full disclosure, there is some debate as to which came first, the chicken or the egg: Did a compromised spoke break first and cleverly insinuate itself into the already ailing derailleur, or t’other way ’round? Scott Paisley of Blue Wheel Bikes concurs with the latter theory, but hey, six of one…).
Now, this particular route (the Moonshine Mtn./Tatum School Rd. Loop) is quite hilly, so it was fortuitous that we happened to be traversing a gentle stretch of road at the time. I was therefore able to keep the machine under control long enough to roll out of the road, unclip and rather gingerly step—rather than fall—off (as I have been known to do in the past). What a relief!
As of this writing, my lovely Tuscany remains hors de combat. Sigh.
Obviously, I have the “luck o’ the Irish” which, as any historian will attest, is all bad! But having said that, I was able to assist in moving not one, but two box turtles out of harm’s way as they attempted to cross the road. A very good thing! As this was my third, shall we say, “incident” since taking up group riding at the Tour de Madison, I’m confident I will remain upright and accident-free for some time to come (unless, of course, someone, somewhere is poking needles into a little Aden doll…).
So last Sunday, whilst tooling along a lovely section of our county back roads, I dropped in behind Jane to accommodate what I thought might be a “car back” and bumped her rear wheel in the process. Indeed, I bumped it briskly enough that I knew I was going to “fall down, go boom!” I did have the presence of mind to disengage (so I wouldn’t take her down with me) before I unceremoniously collapsed in a heap on the tarmac. I went down pretty hard. Naturally, my first inclination was to render first aid to my lovely new Tuscany. Not a scratch—the bike, that is. My body seemed to have acted as an adequate buffer. Oh joy. I was bleeding from virtually every point of contact on my right side, but my gleaming titanium beauty appeared to be unscathed.
I say appeared because, as Jane has elucidated elsewhere on this blog, we were well into our ride the following Sunday when disaster struck quite unexpectedly. Following a thoughtful post-mortem, we collectively developed “The Little Bang” theory: The rear derailleur had apparently taken a hit during my previous fall, thus knocking it slightly out of alignment. It managed to soldier on, doing its job like a Trojan for several rides during the week, but it was definitely an accident looking for a place to happen. When it did finally give way (while I was shifting, of course), it quite literally exploded! Ripped loose from its moorings and torqued into something resembling an alloy potato chip, the derailleur spewed tiny bits of fine Italian metalwork in every direction as the dangling ballast pummeled the spokes mercilessly, actually breaking one. (In the interest of full disclosure, there is some debate as to which came first, the chicken or the egg: Did a compromised spoke break first and cleverly insinuate itself into the already ailing derailleur, or t’other way ’round? Scott Paisley of Blue Wheel Bikes concurs with the latter theory, but hey, six of one…).
Now, this particular route (the Moonshine Mtn./Tatum School Rd. Loop) is quite hilly, so it was fortuitous that we happened to be traversing a gentle stretch of road at the time. I was therefore able to keep the machine under control long enough to roll out of the road, unclip and rather gingerly step—rather than fall—off (as I have been known to do in the past). What a relief!
As of this writing, my lovely Tuscany remains hors de combat. Sigh.
Obviously, I have the “luck o’ the Irish” which, as any historian will attest, is all bad! But having said that, I was able to assist in moving not one, but two box turtles out of harm’s way as they attempted to cross the road. A very good thing! As this was my third, shall we say, “incident” since taking up group riding at the Tour de Madison, I’m confident I will remain upright and accident-free for some time to come (unless, of course, someone, somewhere is poking needles into a little Aden doll…).
No bunny hoppin' but plenty of hoppin' bunnies!
Last night I took my underutilized MTB out for a 6.5 mile jaunt on gorgeous gravel Clark Road outside of Cville. What a picture perfect evening----and, d'oh, I left my camera at home! The riding was just fine, as always, but the real treat was the scenery and fauna. The Our Lady of the Angels Monastery property anchors the east end of the 3.5 mile road and takes up about a mile's worth of frontage on both sides. Beautiful pastures and fields, very little traffic, and the lovely sound of tolling bells floating out from the chapel tower on the hour. "Heavenly," so to speak!
I rode out to 810 and back. On the 810 end, I spotted a beaver playfully skimming the surface of the creek, about as much in a (non-)hurry as I was, LOL! No box turtles tonight---surprising---but more rabbits than I have ever seen outside of Easter Week! At least two dozen darted back and forth across the road as I cruised along. A couple of them were so small that at first they appeared to be mice or really tiny squirrels. Cute, cute, cute! Of course, if you're trying to maintain a vegetable garden out there, the cuteness factor quickly loses its luster, LOL!
At any rate, a 'nothing special' ride on an utterly beautiful evening.........Keep 'em coming! ..... Picture is of my darlin' border collie and sidekick Sam, convening a council of Monastery cows on Clark about a month ago. The whole herd gathered at the fence to check out their tiny B&W visitor.....
I rode out to 810 and back. On the 810 end, I spotted a beaver playfully skimming the surface of the creek, about as much in a (non-)hurry as I was, LOL! No box turtles tonight---surprising---but more rabbits than I have ever seen outside of Easter Week! At least two dozen darted back and forth across the road as I cruised along. A couple of them were so small that at first they appeared to be mice or really tiny squirrels. Cute, cute, cute! Of course, if you're trying to maintain a vegetable garden out there, the cuteness factor quickly loses its luster, LOL!
At any rate, a 'nothing special' ride on an utterly beautiful evening.........Keep 'em coming! ..... Picture is of my darlin' border collie and sidekick Sam, convening a council of Monastery cows on Clark about a month ago. The whole herd gathered at the fence to check out their tiny B&W visitor.....
Monday, June 23, 2008
What's up with the Sunday rides?
Sunday #1 - June 1 - Barry and I drive to Winchester (Barry drove, I told him how!) for the first annual Shenandoah Valley Heritage Ride. The ride was relatively uneventful except it was pretty warm and breezy and the ride got quite hilly as the miles ticked by. We even had the privilege of climbing - quite unexpectedly - S.O.B. #2! Oh yay! The only hill I have climbed on a bike that I can consider similar to those walls is one on the bike trail climbing up Vail Pass from the Vail side. Believe me, that hill is a BEAST - and in Winchester we had to climb two of them! yeesh! The only way to get up that hill is to stand and grind it out....and that's what I had to do. Twice.
About two or three miles from the finish of the ride, as we approached Winchester, we rode by a hay field that was in the process of being mowed. As it happened the wind was blowing across that field toward us - and suddenly my left eye was itching like crazy and felt like I had sand in it. By the time we got back to the ride start my eye was so swollen I could hardly see out of it! I was miserable. (My eye was so bad I would wind up taking Monday off to let the swelling go down.)
End of Sunday #1.
Sunday #2 - June 15 - The Three Stooges Ride (also, the Campy club ride). Aden, Bates and I started out from Bates' house at about 8:30, all on bicycles with Campagnolo drivetrains. The day promised to be sunny and warm - mid to upper 80's with probably 60% humidity. Typical summer day. Our plan was to ride up Weakley Hollow, then take a possible side trip up Quaker Run, then return. The ride would be about 30 miles. After just over three miles, in downtown Heaven (a.k.a. Haywood), we stopped at the intersection of Hebron Valley Rd. & Hoover Rd. Ever the tinkerer, Bates decided to adjust his seatpost. He did, then as he attempted to tighten the 5mm bolt on the seatpost it split. Bates decided to try and ride home - standing up all the way!
Aden and I pressed-on. Once we got on Bohannan Rd. we had settled into a good rhythm and were chatting while we rode when a UFO whacked into the left lens of my glasses. Normally that would not be a problem but said UFO then bounced down to my cheek and STUNG ME! OUCH!!!
My cheek stung but was ok so we kept riding. Somewhere up Weakley Hollow, Aden was riding just behind and to the left of me. He mentioned that he couldn't tell if the noise he heard was a car or the river beside us. Just after he said that, he pulled in behind me but in the process he clipped my rear wheel. I stayed upright but he went down in spectacular fashion! What incredible road rash he came away with! I make fun of it now, but he was hurting. Thankfully we had extra bottles of water so he could irrigate his elbows and knees. Always the trooper (he was a Green Beret, after all), rode on without a complaint. We decided that three things had happened so we were probably good for the rest of the ride. We were right - we made it back to the ride start in good shape.
It wasn't until after I had gotten home, eaten something, taken a shower and then a nap that I realized the left side of my face had swollen from just under my eye down to my jaw. I looked like a cartoon character who had a huge toothache! Just then I decided that if I looked like that the next morning I was calling-in sick. I did and I did.
End of Sunday #2.
You already know about Sunday #3 from my post about this past Sunday. So here's the question: Is there some mis-alignment of the stars on Sundays? Should I stay under the covers instead?
About two or three miles from the finish of the ride, as we approached Winchester, we rode by a hay field that was in the process of being mowed. As it happened the wind was blowing across that field toward us - and suddenly my left eye was itching like crazy and felt like I had sand in it. By the time we got back to the ride start my eye was so swollen I could hardly see out of it! I was miserable. (My eye was so bad I would wind up taking Monday off to let the swelling go down.)
End of Sunday #1.
Sunday #2 - June 15 - The Three Stooges Ride (also, the Campy club ride). Aden, Bates and I started out from Bates' house at about 8:30, all on bicycles with Campagnolo drivetrains. The day promised to be sunny and warm - mid to upper 80's with probably 60% humidity. Typical summer day. Our plan was to ride up Weakley Hollow, then take a possible side trip up Quaker Run, then return. The ride would be about 30 miles. After just over three miles, in downtown Heaven (a.k.a. Haywood), we stopped at the intersection of Hebron Valley Rd. & Hoover Rd. Ever the tinkerer, Bates decided to adjust his seatpost. He did, then as he attempted to tighten the 5mm bolt on the seatpost it split. Bates decided to try and ride home - standing up all the way!
Aden and I pressed-on. Once we got on Bohannan Rd. we had settled into a good rhythm and were chatting while we rode when a UFO whacked into the left lens of my glasses. Normally that would not be a problem but said UFO then bounced down to my cheek and STUNG ME! OUCH!!!
My cheek stung but was ok so we kept riding. Somewhere up Weakley Hollow, Aden was riding just behind and to the left of me. He mentioned that he couldn't tell if the noise he heard was a car or the river beside us. Just after he said that, he pulled in behind me but in the process he clipped my rear wheel. I stayed upright but he went down in spectacular fashion! What incredible road rash he came away with! I make fun of it now, but he was hurting. Thankfully we had extra bottles of water so he could irrigate his elbows and knees. Always the trooper (he was a Green Beret, after all), rode on without a complaint. We decided that three things had happened so we were probably good for the rest of the ride. We were right - we made it back to the ride start in good shape.
It wasn't until after I had gotten home, eaten something, taken a shower and then a nap that I realized the left side of my face had swollen from just under my eye down to my jaw. I looked like a cartoon character who had a huge toothache! Just then I decided that if I looked like that the next morning I was calling-in sick. I did and I did.
End of Sunday #2.
You already know about Sunday #3 from my post about this past Sunday. So here's the question: Is there some mis-alignment of the stars on Sundays? Should I stay under the covers instead?
Picture from Annual Conference/Holy Rollers
I spoke before the Virginia Annual Conference on behalf of the Holy Rollers. A friend sent me the following picture.
Mt. Vernon Trail
I'm just back from a ride from Old Town Alexandria to Mt. Vernon on the Mt. Vernon Trail. My hotel is one block from the trail, where passes through Old Town on the streets, and it's exactly 20 miles from here to Mt. Vernon and back.
It was a most enjoyable ride. It is NOT the kind of riding we are used to in Madison. The trail is very much like the parts of the Cap to Cap trail we've been on. It's narrow and crooked and there were lots of walkers, joggers, and bikers...mostly on hybrids or commuter bikes. There was no place I was able to put the hammer down. I averaged 12.4 MPH on the entire ride.
Still, for what it is it was a great experience. Mostly flat with some rolling knolls (I won't call them hills). Some beautiful views along the Potomac, particular down toward Mt. Vernon. It crosses lots of streets, but in residential areas along the Parkway where there is little traffic and well-mannered. The one time I would have actually had to stop for a car, the car stopped and waved me through!
There is one place about 3 miles from Mt. Vernon where a bridge on the trail is under construction and I had to walk the bike for oh 50 yards or so.
It was weird going under the Wilson Bridge which is under construction. There was actually a flag man under the bridge working the trail telling cyclists to slow or stop. They were working on cranes up under the bridge, which is quite low right there, as I passed.
A recommmended experience, but not for training for a fast or hilly ride!
It was a most enjoyable ride. It is NOT the kind of riding we are used to in Madison. The trail is very much like the parts of the Cap to Cap trail we've been on. It's narrow and crooked and there were lots of walkers, joggers, and bikers...mostly on hybrids or commuter bikes. There was no place I was able to put the hammer down. I averaged 12.4 MPH on the entire ride.
Still, for what it is it was a great experience. Mostly flat with some rolling knolls (I won't call them hills). Some beautiful views along the Potomac, particular down toward Mt. Vernon. It crosses lots of streets, but in residential areas along the Parkway where there is little traffic and well-mannered. The one time I would have actually had to stop for a car, the car stopped and waved me through!
There is one place about 3 miles from Mt. Vernon where a bridge on the trail is under construction and I had to walk the bike for oh 50 yards or so.
It was weird going under the Wilson Bridge which is under construction. There was actually a flag man under the bridge working the trail telling cyclists to slow or stop. They were working on cranes up under the bridge, which is quite low right there, as I passed.
A recommmended experience, but not for training for a fast or hilly ride!
Sunday, June 22, 2008
The Three Stooges do it again...
For some reason there is this weird karma with my Sunday rides. (oh no, Barry....here' s your opening!) The good news is, I made it back safe and sound from our 32 mile ride this morning. However, there was trouble on the road. I will get to that shortly.
Today dawned bright and sunny despite the NWS forecast of "cloudy". There was little or no wind and the temperatures were slowly rising into the low-80's. Humidity was low for Virginia at about 58%. Bates, Aden and I decided to do the "Moonshine Mountain > Tatum School Loop", leaving from the top of Moonshine Mtn. Virginia is so lush and green now; we have had just enough rain to make the vegetation happy. We rode past fields of cattle with new baby calves, past fields of newly baled hay and past flower gardens full of black-eyed Susans. The Clydesdale farm has two mares with foals out by the road - talk about cute! Oh my, those 500 lb. babies are adorable. As Aden said, it looked like a post card.
The ride was uneventful with lots of fun downhills (followed by some "ups) when 23 miles into the ride I heard a clanking noise and some four letter words from behind me. I turned to see Aden and Bates off their bikes and in conference with one another - and looking at Aden's bike. It seems somehow his rear derailleur exploded. Sort of. I have no other way of putting it. It was in pieces on the road and hanging by a thread...uh....cable....but not attached to the bike frame any more. There was one broken spoke and another bent, and the poor rear wheel was way out of true. Despite valiant efforts by Bates "MacGyver" McLain, Aden was done for the day. We left him sitting in a yard under a big oak tree, as we pedaled for home. Bates took off to pick him up.
That's all I know, so I will let Aden or Bates (or both) pick up the story from here.
Regarding the weird karma, that is for another post - stay tuned - I will tell the story of the "Three Stooges Ride" from last Sunday soon. For now I will get off here and go clean my bike. I love a shiny, clean bike! Ride safe out there!
Today dawned bright and sunny despite the NWS forecast of "cloudy". There was little or no wind and the temperatures were slowly rising into the low-80's. Humidity was low for Virginia at about 58%. Bates, Aden and I decided to do the "Moonshine Mountain > Tatum School Loop", leaving from the top of Moonshine Mtn. Virginia is so lush and green now; we have had just enough rain to make the vegetation happy. We rode past fields of cattle with new baby calves, past fields of newly baled hay and past flower gardens full of black-eyed Susans. The Clydesdale farm has two mares with foals out by the road - talk about cute! Oh my, those 500 lb. babies are adorable. As Aden said, it looked like a post card.
The ride was uneventful with lots of fun downhills (followed by some "ups) when 23 miles into the ride I heard a clanking noise and some four letter words from behind me. I turned to see Aden and Bates off their bikes and in conference with one another - and looking at Aden's bike. It seems somehow his rear derailleur exploded. Sort of. I have no other way of putting it. It was in pieces on the road and hanging by a thread...uh....cable....but not attached to the bike frame any more. There was one broken spoke and another bent, and the poor rear wheel was way out of true. Despite valiant efforts by Bates "MacGyver" McLain, Aden was done for the day. We left him sitting in a yard under a big oak tree, as we pedaled for home. Bates took off to pick him up.
That's all I know, so I will let Aden or Bates (or both) pick up the story from here.
Regarding the weird karma, that is for another post - stay tuned - I will tell the story of the "Three Stooges Ride" from last Sunday soon. For now I will get off here and go clean my bike. I love a shiny, clean bike! Ride safe out there!
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Let's get going!
Welcome, MadCyclists!
It was suggested to me, based on my MS150 ride report a couple weeks ago, that I start a blog to record the MadCyclists' thoughts and opinions of cycling....and other stuff. I know we have several members who are talented writers - and then there are the rest of us - who are a diverse group of people who happen to love one common thing - cycling. I am looking forward to reading what everyone has to say. I do have a few rules I would like all to follow (hey, I can do that - it's MY blog!):
1. No flaming other posters
2. We are all adults (right?) so let's act that way and keep all discussions and posts civil
3. No heated discussions about religion or politics
4. No porn, none, never.
5. Proofread what you post before you publish it!
OK gang - let's get going!
It was suggested to me, based on my MS150 ride report a couple weeks ago, that I start a blog to record the MadCyclists' thoughts and opinions of cycling....and other stuff. I know we have several members who are talented writers - and then there are the rest of us - who are a diverse group of people who happen to love one common thing - cycling. I am looking forward to reading what everyone has to say. I do have a few rules I would like all to follow (hey, I can do that - it's MY blog!):
1. No flaming other posters
2. We are all adults (right?) so let's act that way and keep all discussions and posts civil
3. No heated discussions about religion or politics
4. No porn, none, never.
5. Proofread what you post before you publish it!
OK gang - let's get going!
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