Five Weeks

Has it really been five weeks since my last road bike ride? To be sure, my last ride outside was on Saturday September 26th! Yep, that's exactly five weeks.
Of course, everyone kept reminding me ... "take it easy, don't over do it!" Balderdash! I love riding my bike so much that taking it easy is not an option!
After a great morning of watching my grandson play soccer, carving pumpkins at my son and daughter-in-law's house, and going grocery shopping; it was finally time to embark on that first ride! Yes, I was a little cautious for the first mile or so and then I dialed up the intensity just a little.
It felt great to be back on the bike and as I traversed Iron Point Road my rhythm seemed to be pretty good. A minute or so slower to the first marker wasn't bad so I kept it rolling. By the time I reached the hatchery, it seemed like I hadn't missed a beat.
At approximately the ten mile mark, I dismounted and marked the pavement with yellow chalk. After that, I travelled on the American River Parkway trail for 3.1 miles where I again marked the pavement with my chalk. After spinning another mile or so I stopped, turned around, climbed back on the saddle and headed east towards home.
The purpose for these markings was to set a base for a 5K (3.1 miles) time trial. Last week while surfing the net I discovered the Senior Games web site. In looking at the cycling results, the sixty to sixty-four age group had a winning time of 6:36 for the 5K time trial. Today, I was going to measure myself against that standard ... to see if I was competitive.
Approaching my chalk line on the pavement, I ramped up my effort and tried to maintain at least 20 MPH until the next chalk line came into view. While I peaked above that speed on several occasions, it was difficult to maintain the 20 MPH average speed I'd hoped for. I intentionally included an uphill ramp of about 50 yards and the section of the American River Parkway that always seems to slow me down. Today, the uphill ramp was no problem and while I slowed on the winding section, it was not as slow as usual.
When I hit that second yellow line, I stopped and immediately checked my time and average speed. Guess I've got some work to do! My time was 10:02 or 3:26 slower than the Senior Games winner. My average speed was 18.54 MPH. A little disappointing yes. But, since it was my first time out in over a month after my surgery, I'm encouraged that I can better that time with some concerted effort.
Upon arrival home, I thought to myself "you should have stayed out longer!" In reality, this was the perfect ride for my first day back on the bike. I really love cycling! Yep, I really do!

"O.T.B."

Twenty oh-nine has been the best cycling year in a long, long time! Honestly, it has been a "born again" cycling experience.

In addition to riding almost 3,000 miles so far, there have been many great days on the bike! Most of my riding is done on the beautiful American River Parkway bike trail. Just about every day out there I meet someone new. Here are a few examples:

1. On a ride down to Watt Avenue and back to Folsom, I met Roger. He is a 70-year old retired physician. We talked about how blessed we are to have the American River Parkway for our cycling. Neither of us care much for riding on the streets.



2. While returning from a ride to Sac State, I met Fernando. He was wearing a Kinetic Cycles kit and I always shout out to those guys. Turns out Fernando is a Sacramento County Sheriff. We rode together for a few miles and had great conversation.



3. A few weeks ago I met three guys riding from San Francisco to Georgia. They were doing the ride to raise money for the Make A Wish Foundation. Very cool!
   

In addition to meeting people out there, one can enjoy to peacefulness of the American River and surrounding park areas. It is such a great way to relieve stress, ponder, and even pray. I really love it that we have such a great resource so close to home

Now for today's photo and title of the post. The photo is of me sitting at the computer reading VeloNews! The title "O.T.B." is my acronym for "off the bike!" Due to a little surgical procedure a couple of days ago the doctor has suggested I stay off the bike for a few weeks. Oh boy! This just hit at the wrong time. Finally, after all these months, got a good groove on the bike, riding faster, and now ... wham ... no riding!

A great time for a post aye? Of course in the photo I had to put one of my cycling jerseys and helmet on to simulate actually riding. Pretty funny!

Up, Up, and Away ... sort of!

Recently, a good friend and cycling guru sent me an email with a link to a blog he thought I would love. To be honest, I do enjoy the blog and the sense of humor of the blogger!

The name of the blog is "superclydesdale" which is one name used to describe the big guys in the world of cycling. There are not a lot of big tall dudes in pro cycling. Those that exceed six-feet typically weight between 165-180 pounds ... now that is skinny! A rider at 200 pounds is considered a "Clydesdale"; at 220 pounds a "Superclydesdale"; and a "Pachyderm" if said rider is way over 220 pounds. OMG ... I've always considered myself a "Clyde" and now I find out that I am an elephant! Now that really hurts!

Being a big guy has it's share of good and bad. The good is that we really fly on the downhill sections of our rides. We also make it easy for the little guys to draft behind us since we cut a large swath through the air. On the bad side ... the single most challenging thing for the big rider is going up hills. In all my riding, I make sure to steer clear of any big long climbs. Just never been able to convince myself that pedaling up a steep hill is fun!

Over the years I've completed many century rides (100+ miles) and fought my way up the hills. The thing that is annoying is that the ride organizers always like to add the big climbs at about mile marker 87! At that point you are already toast and just want a nice downhill back to the start finish. But NO ... they like to torture the riders and I honestly believe they derive great pleasure watching the Clydes struggle on the climbs!

To illustrate, several years ago I did a Diabetes fundraiser called the "5 Lake Tour." The ride was in August and it was about eighty degrees when be began at 7:00 AM! At about mile ninety only a single climb stood between me and the barbecue at the finish line. The temperature was pushing up to almost one hundred degrees as I began the 3.5-mile climb up to Lake Matthews. The little skinny guys and gals were already enjoying lunch as I struggled to get to the top. Finally, I reached the top of the climb sweating and panting ... the water in my bottles was more than lukewarm but I soldiered onward. The reward was a seven mile downhill back to the park! Wish those little bitty riders could see me now ... flying down the mountain!

Let's fast forward to 2009. The majority of my riding the past several years has been on the flats. I'm still slow on the hills and don't really see that changing anytime soon. The difference is that when I do find myself climbing, my thoughts are positive and I've actually been climbing at a more steady rate while maintaining a nice rhythm! It's been a long time since I could say that!

Last Thursday, I ventured over to El Dorado Hills I spent one hour doing nothing but hill repeats! That is so unlike me and yet I felt pretty good. Struggled to maintain double digit speed going up but the 35-MPH on the downside made all the work getting to the top worthwhile.

Now where is that century ride that is guaranteed to be flat for the entire 100-miles?

Three Generation Ride

For the past few days, I've been hanging out with family and friends in a great playground called Tahoe Donner. Some months ago we began working on putting this adventure together and after finding an awesome place near Tahoe City we got the news that it had gone up for sale and our reservation was cancelled. Bummer! At this point, my daughter-in-law Keri picked up the ball and found a great spot in Tahoe Donner.
So, on Wednesday July 22 we all embarked with vehicles loaded towards our hideaway in the mountains. Of course, I was looking forward to riding my bike as much as possible while doing a few other fun things. On the evening of our arrival, after a fine dinner, I embarked on a ride from Tahoe Donner to Donner Lake. My speed approached 40-mph as I traveled down from the cabin. After going around the Donner Lake, I began my ascent back up the hill. Guess I'd forgotten the sign that said "10% Grade" as it took everything I had plus a couple of breaks to get to the top! It was certainly worth the effort! No problem going to sleep tonight!
On Friday, after a wonderful morning of swimming and water basketball with everyone, I took off once more. This time from Truckee down highway 89 towards Lake Tahoe. Another wonderful ride (is there any other kind of ride up here?) this time along the picturesque Truckee River. The headwind was unrelenting on the way down ... but the ride back was fast and sweet with lots of flat sections and the wind was now at my back.
You may have noticed that I skipped Thursday! That was on purpose! Here is the skinny: On Thursday Mark, Keri, Tanner, Parker, Carson and I drove down to the parking lot at the entrance to Squaw Valley. After unloading the bikes and Carson's little car we began looking for the entrance to the bike trail for our ride towards Tahoe City. As it turned out, only Mark, Tanner, and I rode down about 2.5 miles and then turned around to pedal back. Along the way back there was Keri, Parker, and Carson. They'd walked the bike trail down a way and we all took an nice break and enjoyed some refreshment!
The three of us then mounted our bikes and headed back to the parking lot. Once there,Mark and Tanner took a quick drive up to see Squaw Valley Ski Resort and by the time they returned the rest of the group was also back to the car.
What a fantastic experience for me to ride in one of the most beautiful places on earth with my son and grandson! This is one bike ride I will never forget!

New Shoe Review

Yes, I realize that in the photo above I am wearing a different shoe on each foot! Actually, that is intentional as this post is about the feet and shoes of the blogger.

Ride after ride, the one thing that is consistently annoying is how my feet get really hot! Sometimes the pain becomes so intense that I stop and take my cycling shoes and socks off. On rare occasions, I've been known to do this at the Sac State Aquatic Center so I can submerge my super hot feet in the cool refreshing waters of Lake Natoma!

Everything mentioned above changed on June 3, 2009 as I purchased a new pair of cycling shoes with an extra stiff carbon fiber sole. Several people advised me recently that this is the only way cure the "hot foot" problem. Curiously, my Sidi's were over seven years old! I didn't realize that I'd had them so long. No wonder the feet are crying! It should be noted that I also purchased new Shimano Ultegra pedals recently too. This combination should provide much more comfort on the bike.

After two intense sessions on the bike I can report the following: my feet have not bothered me at all and my speed has increased by about 2-mph on both outings!

It has been about two months since I began writing this post. Some updates are in order. The bottom line is that when the air temperature gets up above 90 degrees my feet still have a tendency to heat up. The are several things to do to minimize (haven't figured out how to eliminate it) beginning with keeping the straps loose. These shoes have three Velcro closures and the two on the toe box are always closed very gently. The top strap is adjusted periodically. Additionally, I move my feet in the shoes and often times curl up my toes for relief. Another method is to pull (instead of push or push/pull) on the pedals. This motion causes my feet to lift off the bottom of the shoe and "float" between the sole and the top of the shoe. While still pedaling, if the problem persists, I release the painful foot (usually the left) from the pedal and continue to pedal using the opposite foot only. All of these things provide temporary relief and keep me on the bike. Worst case scenario, I get off and remove shoes and socks, message feet, and squirt some water on them. Usually, this routine will enable me to get back home without much difficulty.

All of the above refers to the Shimano road bike shoes. I haven't ridden the Stumpy enough with the new MTB shoes, also Shimano, to have a report. Since it is unlikely that I will participate in the Prairie City "Fall Flash" Race Series it may be some time before I have a report on the MTB shoes. I can say that I participated in the final race of the spring season and after one lap my feet were "on fire." Back to the drawing board!!!!!

Another remedy that was attempted was the use of essential oils. They've been around for centuries and I've used them for other maladies with great success. Spearmint was the suggested oil for the foot problem we've been talking about. After applying an ample amount to each foot I took off on a thirty-mile ride on the American River Parkway. The good news is that I didn't have to stop and message my feet even though I could feel the "burn" building. I did take one foot at a time out of the pedal (while pedaling with the other foot) to give the feet a break from the pedal. This seemed to work the first time. Subsequent trips, as the temperature climbed into the high 90's, resulted in my having to stop and remove my shoes as always. Perhaps I need to just tow a cart loaded with ice and when the feet heat ... dismount and drop them in the ice chest!

As a final note, since the "hot foot" condition has continued, I will try some Specialized Body Geometry insoles. These are specifically designed to help combat the "hot foot" problem. I've been fitted, just waiting for a pair in my size! Once I've tried them, if the feet are still hot I guess I will have to concentrate on riding in the winter months exclusively!

What a Difference a Day Makes!

Last weekend, Elizabeth and I took a trip to Houston, Texas and Sulphur, LA. We attended the wedding of her niece, Melissa Kitfield. It was a nice wedding and we had a fantastic time hanging out with her cousins Claude and Ron Kitfield and seeing places we'd never before visited.
Upon arriving home at about 12:30 AM, I proceeded upstairs to watch the two hour season finale of "24" on the DVR. Hang in there Jack - we need you! By the time I hit the pillow it was after two! Then on Tuesday, I got up early to get a few things done. My goal was to take an early bike ride but before I knew it the clock said 2:30 PM!
Off I went on the bike and I knew instinctively that this was not going to be one of my better rides. My legs felt weak and tired and no matter how I tried it was difficult to maintain any rhythm at all! At my turn around spot near Pond Park I felt exhausted, hot, and wishing for a thirty-two once Coke!
By the time I was back to the intersection of Folsom Bl. and Iron Point I was totally spent. The rest of the ride is about 3.5 miles and most of it up hill. I pulled out the phone and called Elizabeth. Luckily she was just leaving for a dinner appointment and was willing to rescue me in the truck and then catch a ride home with a girlfriend. To say I was upset would be an understatement! I do not like not finishing a ride!
Today after work, I elected to once again mount my road bike and forgo the mountain bike racing at Prairie City. Wow, by the time I turned the corner on to Marsh Hawk I knew today was going to be the polar opposite of yesterday's effort.
I was flying down Iron Point and had the large chain ring engaged. My speed down to the fish hatchery was close to my personal best at 22-minutes. The farther I went the better I felt. No coasting ... just hammering the pedals! At about thirteen miles, I turned around after about a 45-second rest. Back on the pedals trying to catch all the fast riders out on this beautiful evening. Going up the long ramp just east of Sunrise, I caught the wheel of a tandem and while staying in the big gear easily made it to the top.
There were multiple sprints when I pushed up to over 20-MPH and it all felt good. Finally, back to the intersection where I bonked yesterday and I powered up Iron Point. A glance at the computer revealed double-digit speed all the way to Prairie City Road. At one point, I was spinning at 15-MPH on the uphill section near Intel. Across McAdoo in the big ring again and flying. One last right turn onto Marsh Hawk followed by a left on Sprig and up the driveway. Garage door open, release foot, stop and park bike. Back home feeling great! This was a memorable ride! What a difference a day makes!

B.O.S. Guy Hits Trail!

This season at Prairie City Race Series (mountain bike racing) I've been there each week with my sweet 29er but have just taken photos of my friends that are racing. Still being new to mountain biking I've just not gotten comfortable enough this year to go for it on Wednesday night.

That is until this past week. On May 6th I was ready with my bike and my camera. I thought I'd do a practice lap, find a spot for good photos, and then just settle in taking pictures. That all changed when I spoke to "Big Rick" the announcer for the series and general all-around good guy! "Come on Reg, perfect night and no pressure, right?" Well, yeah that is right! "What is your goal for tonight Reg?" asked Big Rick. To keep the rubber on the dirt and the paramedic in his truck! "Nothing to it Reg ... go for it!"

So, I signed in and got my number plate (978) and ventured forth on a practice lap. At the first substantial downhill, I paused for several minutes and rode around in circles wondering how to best get down this slope. After watching every one cut the corner and run a line down the narrow right side, I opted for a wider turn and a straight shot down the face of the rutted ramp. It worked out fine and continuing around the 3.2 mile circuit I handled the hills quite well. Oh no, not another (more technical) downhill. Again, I watched the other riders lines as they familiarized themselves with the course and then followed suit. No problem!

Once done with the practice lap I rejoined my friends for further discussion and suggestions on the course. It should be noted that earlier today (5/6) I spent about four hours moving just about everything around in the garage and followed up with 30-minutes on my trainer. You see, I was not really expecting to ride tonight!

Once the race began I got to the aforementioned downhill sections and handled them with ease on lap one. Near the end of the lap I was tired and really thinking about calling it a day and just taking a DNF. But as I crossed the transition area for lap two there were many people cheering and ringing cow bells! I laughed out loud as I rode through this gauntlet of fans and elected to go after the second lap.

On this lap I travelled faster on the downhills and a little slower on the uphills! By the time I finished my two laps, most of the competitors were done and loading their bikes. This includes those doing three and four laps!

My speed (or lack of same) makes up the title for this post Big Old Slow Guy Hits the Trail! This goes along with my motto: I may be big and old but I'm slow!

It is all fun!!!!!

Chain Snake

Last Friday (5/1) I rode for two hours in the rain and had what was then my best ride of the year. Today, in spite of some setbacks, was even better!

This morning, I went out to get my bike ready for a good ride. Checked the tires ... OK! Filled the water bottles ... check! Got dressed and ready to roll ... check! One last check and I'm on my way. Opps! The computer isn't working! Not a good thing for someone who logs every ride. Now this new (to me) computer has worked very well; however, being in the rain last Friday may not have been in it's best interests! After about an hour of fiddling with it and calling the manufacturer it came to life! I'm off.

Right from the get go I felt an amazing amount of energy. With a pretty stiff headwind I was amazed at how fast I was traveling. My first time check on a typical American River bike trail ride is how many minutes from home to the Sac State Aquatic Center. Typically, I am trying to hit that in about 22-minutes. Today, it was a little under twenty-one minutes. Surprising and refreshing for sure.

Continuing down the trail to my next measuring point, William Pond Park, I was amazed to see that my time was only nine-seconds past one hour. Fantastic. After a short rest I began the trek back to Folsom. With the wind now largely at my back my pace quicken and I was absolutely sure that this was my best effort in quite some time.

Throughout this ride, there were some unusual sounds coming from the drive train. On several occasions, the drive train shifted without my pushing the lever to do so! After shifting to the big chain ring the problem seemed to fade away. It wasn't until shifting just prior to a long ramp up that the noise began again. As I got to the top of a short climb the sound got louder ... and then, the chain broke and my forward momentum came to a halt.

I called Dave L. and he was willing to come and rescue me. Once home, I took the bike to Bicycles Plus and had a new chain installed. The computer was another story. Looks like the old one will be reinstalled tomorrow so I can account for all my rides once again.

Oh, I did see about a three-foot rattlesnake today. In it's honor, I layed my decrepid chain on the bike trail so it resembled a snake.

Don't know if this is worse than the time when my seat post broke and I had to ride a five miles standing up.

I love riding my bicycle!

"Spinning in the Rain!"

Most of the time while riding my goal is about 85-90 RPM on the pedals. Over the years I've developed the habit of spinning in this manner with the result being a fairly smooth cadence. For example, my average cadence (RPM's) over the course of today's ride was 82. This was due to a slower spin on the uphill parts of the ride. My high spin was 137 RPM which equated to about 25.5 MPH. This high spin/speed had a duration of about 25-30 seconds. Today I ramped up the spin/speed five or six times. These short bursts of energy is called interval training. For those that race, a win at the line after a long day in the saddle may come down to a sprint finish. Those riders able to ramp it at the end of the day have a shot at the "W".

Okay, so today it was cloudy and dry when leaving the house but after about twenty or so minutes, the rain came! The sane thing to do would have been to turn around and head back home. Why do that?

I decided to complete my training ride and not let the rain "dampen" my spirits. So off I went in the the steady light rain. After about thirty minutes it subsided ... but just for a few minutes! After arriving at William Pond park on the American River bike trail it began again. Since this is where I turn around and head back to Folsom I did just that rather than take a break.

Perhaps the rain was a motivating factor today as I rode faster than usual and didn't let the fact that I was soaked from head to toe bother me. At one point, my socks were so wet that it felt like my feet were in puddles as I pedaled! All I could do was laugh, and I did several times on the way home. Oh, there were other folks out there to; runners, walkers, and other cyclists. It was amazing!

By the time I got back to the Nimbus Aquatic Center the water was dripping off my head onto my glasses and I couldn't see a thing! Thank goodness the bike trail has nice yellow lines in the middle. Since the rain had become just a spritz ... I stopped for a moment and dried the glasses and continued on home.

Once home, I thought to myself that this was one of my best rides this year! Other than being drenched, I felt better than I have in a long time on the bike. Of the thirty plus miles I pedaled today approximately twenty-three miles were in the rain. You know, it just makes a guy feel young again to "spin in the rain!" Nothing like a sweet bike ride on your day off!

Is it summer yet?

Last week we had a few days that felt like summer was here. Temperatures in the mid-90's this time of year are pretty rare. The beauty of the heat here in Sacramento is that it peaks late in the day so riding early is always simple awesome. Unfortunately, the temps have dropped about thirty degrees to the seasonal norm with rain expected tomorrow (5/1) and beyond. Honestly, I know we need the rain but I can sure do without it ... it screws up the cycling!
Last night found me over a Prairie City for the Wednesday evening mountain biking extravaganza. Haven't raced yet this season but did take a practice lap yesterday and enjoyed that very much. At the conclusion of the racing, I joined a group of four other for some professional training on off-road riding.
Our instructor, Rob, is a physical trainer here in town. The class was a blast and Rob proved to be an excellent instructor. The topic last night was braking. We went through drills on both soft dirt and hard pack. The goal was to be in control of the bike and stop it within a specific distance. Rob set up cones for our drill.
First we learned and practiced the art of using just the rear brake. The goal was to apply the brakes, keep the bike straight and come to a complete stop with one foot down before reaching the next cone. My estimate is that the cones were about seven yards apart. In the soft dirt it is easy to brake too hard and have the rear wheel slide. It is all about body weight distribution over the bike and touch on the brake lever. After three tries, everybody seemed to be doing very wheel.
Next it was stopping with front brake only. Body weight distribution is even more important now because a quick stop on the front could catapult you over the bars if you're weighted to much to the front of the bike.
Finally, we were instructed in the proper way to stop using both brakes. It all takes practice and good execution. Next week we will work on cornering. Awesome.
Today, I jumped on the road bike and took off for a fairly quick trip up to Beal's Point. The ride down the hill makes the suffering climbing up worth it.

Ah, the joy of an evening bike ride!

Haven't been riding the bike enough lately so today after work I took off for something different. Most days I am satisfied heading west on the American River Parkway towards Sacramento but not today.

Made up my mind early this morning that tonight we'd attack the climb up to Beal's Point at Folsom Lake and then pedal across the new bridge. Left the house at about 17:27 with lots of enthusiasm. It took just under fifty-minutes to reach the top of the climb and I felt pretty good. On the way up my friend, Alan, passed going down. Once I got to the top I just turned around and headed back down. No time for a rest tonight!

Once down to Folsom Lake Crossing, I transitioned on to the new bridge and on up the hill to where I could get a good shot of the lake. My turn around spot was actually right at the termination point of the Folsom Dam Road! Took some photos and then headed back across the bridge. What a nice downhill at almost 35-MPH!

The bike trail from Beal's is twisty and fairly steep in some sections. What a blast to be flying down the hill amongst the trees! I set a goal to get back to Iron Point Rd. at 19:10 and beat that by a full minute. The ride was really invigorating and my pace was pretty good all the way up Iron Point to the high school. Slowed a little there and then charged back home.

All in all this ride exceeded my expectations and I am looking forward to doing it again soon.

Hanging in there!

Last post was about my first hundred mile cycling week in almost a year. Now, thanks to two consecutive days riding from home to Sac State I've done it again! That is I cycled over 100-miles for the second week in a row!
On Thursday and Friday (March 19-20) I got out in the early afternoon and pushed myself down to the University. Both days found many like-minded people out there pedalling a variety of bikes. One of the things I like best is seeing people of all ages, colors, sizes, and skill levels on their respective bikes. Most are very friendly ... some are ... well, some are just concentrating on their training that they rarely seem to notice anyone else. That used to bug me but I'm over it.
Here are a few examples of the folks I see out there:

• A middle-aged couple on a recumbent tandem.
• A pack of elderly gentlemen, all dressed in Sac Wheelmen kits, on their carbon bikes.
• A group of young women in a pace line at about 20-mph.
• A guy riding a HPV (human powered vehicle) that looks like a military aircraft complete with lights and gun sound effects.
• Fishermen in the river.
• The USC women's crew team.
• Lots of runners, walkers, moms with baby carts, and people having picnics.
• Occasionally, a large group of eastern Europeans celebrating a wedding or a baptism in the American river.
• Men with no legs sitting in low-riding trikes that they propel with their arms.
• Department of Fish and Game rangers patrolling in their jeeps.
• Teenager's in groups looking for something to do.
• And my favorite ... the guy riding a beach cruiser no hands while juggling three balls!

I am sure there are many other things that I could report but this is a good start. I will be more observant on future rides and let you know what else inhabits the great American River Parkway!

The Illusive Hundie!

For as long as I can remember, my typical cycling goal has been to log one hundred miles weekly. Over the years there have been a few times where that number has been exceeded; however, most weeks the total is somewhat less. In recent years, it has been a little more challenging to get it done.
Today, I left the house later than usual for a Saturday ride. Seems mowing the yard was what needed to be done and when I completed that task and the wind picked up, I thought of scrapping the bike ride. This is the typical routine ... make an excuse not to ride. Oh how I hate riding in the wind ... another good reason to stay home.
Then it hit me, a good ride would propel me to the illusive goal of one hundred miles for the week. So, with that in mind, I filled my water bottles and mounted my Roubaix for a windy ride. Traveling west (generally) on the American River Bike Trail, I wondered to myself why I was out here on such a windy day? Curiously, my speed seemed to be faster than usual. Interesting!
After arriving at Harrington Drive I turned around and headed back to Folsom. Wow, now the wind is at my back and I'm moving a lot faster too! Nice! At one point, a guy on a tricked out time trial bike passed me. He was wearing a red, white, and blue "Brooklyn" cycling jersey. I thought for a moment and then elected to chase him. Could I really catch this guy?
I shifted into the big ring and hammered the pedals with everything I could muster. A quick glance at my cyclocomputer revealed my speed to be approaching 26 MPH! Sweet!
Within a quarter mile, I closed the gap on him! As I passed the miniature train tracks the realization hit me that I was about to "red line" so I backed off and let him get away. At 160+ beats per minute, it was the right decision. What the heck, that was the quickest quarter mile I've ridden this year!
Upon arriving home, I was excited to get to the computer and log my ride. Yes, I made it over one hundred miles for the week! Nice job! In checking my journal, this was the first 100+ mile ride since the week of April 6, 2008. Let's not wait that long until the next one!!

Back to Basics

On Saturday, February 14, the Amgen Tour of California kicked off in Sacramento with a prologue. This is a test of man and machine against the time clock. In preparing for the event many of the teams arrived in town early and took advantage of the beautiful American River Bike Trail for training rides. On the Tuesday prior to the event, I was riding and saw five (5) members of the Rabobank squad resplendent in their blue and red kits cruising the trail. They were just west of Sunrise heading west and I was going east. I waved and greeted them. One of the riders smiled and returned the greeting. A few days later one of the local riders was out and not only got photos of the Astana team and Lance Armstrong, he also rode with them and talked to Lance for a few minutes. Next year if a Sacramento Prologue kicks it off I'll be patrolling the trail on the days leading up to it!
Today, I got out on my road bike and had a great ride down the trail and back to Folsom. This is truly my favorite type of riding! Yes, the mountain biking is fun and exhilarating, but it's just doesn't do it for me like being on the road does! While the mountain biking gets one out in the hills with snakes, bobcats, mountain lions, coyotes, and lots of like-minded folks it just ain't my thing! By contrast, being a roadie pits you against cars, trucks, buses, potholes, and a few idiots!
Case in point, years ago while riding my bike from home to work in South El Monte I had the following experience. Being summer, it was warm as I left the house at about 0530. Traversing the streets I had planned would be the least impacted by traffic mixed in with a couple of short sprints on LA County bike trails all was going according to plan. There were very few cars on the road and at about 5-miles from the office I was on Lambert Road transitioning on to Mines Boulevard. It was so peaceful and quiet ... then, out of nowhere came a motor home. The driver steered the bus as close as possible to me and then blasted his air horn! Whatever comfort I was feeling vanished as I think I just about jumped out of my shoes! I could see the driver and his passengers laughing it up pretty good. It took a few minutes to collect myself. I must admit that my attention to my surrounding was peaked for the rest of the ride.
Of course this not an ordinary experience. I've never really experienced cars trying to run me off the road ... or worse. Oh sure, I've heard every cuss word known to man and been the recipient of "the gesture" on numerous occasions too. But when I add it all up, riding the road bike provides the greatest feeling in the world. And, before I forget, as a roadie we ride in some of the most beautiful country in the world too. Like our mountain biking brethren, we see all the beauty of this place God created for all of us. The big difference is we don't have to pedal over rocks, roots, mud, and the like to "Enjoy the Ride!" ROADIES ROCK!

Ah-burn

One of my many pet peeves is how people pronounce things! The title of this post is an example of how the name of the city of Auburn is pronounced. Even the local newsreaders on television have a propensity to say "All-burn!" How annoying!
Last Saturday, January 31, 2009, I drove up to Auburn to do some mountain biking on what is called the Foresthill Divide trail. To get there, we drove up Auburn-Folsom road to the city of Auburn and headed east for a mile or so on Highway 80. After exiting at Foresthill Road, we traveled over the famous Foresthill Bridge. This structure is the third highest bridge in America at a height of over 700' above the canyon below. People come from all over to see this landmark! Today was no exception as there were lots of folks walking to and from the closest parking area with their cameras! Didn't see any "base jumpers" but they too are very fond of this amazing bridge!
A few miles past the bridge is a big parking lot and we started the ride there. Our ride leader, Jason, told us "...this is world class single track!" Jason wasn't lying! The trails were in pristine condition and while we're in the midst of a drought, the trees and foliage were beautiful. I must admit that I walked up a few of the hills as they were longer and steeper than the trails at Granite Bay. The payoff being that the down hills were equally long and fast! Yes, Papa Regis did use his brakes!
After about five miles on the single track I arrived back at Foresthil Road and at this point, being way behind the kids, elected to pedal back on the street. Really steep to start but the payoff was hitting 33.4 MPH on the downhill. Pretty darn sweet to be sitting on my 29er and flying downhill that fast! For once, I arrived back at the starting point at about the same time as the rest of the riders. Sure, my ride was shorter but it was still a blast. I want to go back with the guys from work and do this loop plus the more technical loop on the south side of the highway.
The only change I'd make for next time out there would be clear glasses, it was too dark in some spots with the shades!
One of these days I'm going to get the hang of this mountain biking thing!

Renewal

Many things are running through my mind! Firstly, we have a new president. Wonder if he rides a bike like the guy he replaced? I've heard he likes to shoot hoops ... maybe getting a bike will improve his game.
Yesterday I ventured out on the American River Parkway. It felt good to be on the bike and due to the forecast of rain I went a little faster than usual. All my concentration was on mechanics today. Spinning the pedals without bouncing on the saddle. A few fast sprints, where I pushed up to almost 24 mph, really felt good. The last sprint was to make the left-turn arrow at McAdoo. Made it!
The parkway is greener every time out there. We haven't had lots of rain, just enough to make it green and beautiful. On the other hand, the river is lower than I've seen it in the eight years since moving to Folsom. While pedaling, my thoughts were about how badly we need rain! We need it to nourish the land and everything that grows. We need it to fill our reservoirs so there is sufficient drinking water for the region. We need it to wash away all the dust and dirt from our roadways. So, late yesterday afternoon, the rain came. It is still raining today and it is expected to do so for the next few days. A good start ... but so much more is needed!
This is a season of "renewal" for me too as I have decided to get back to organized cycling events. The past couple of years I've been in a drought too. A cycling drought that is. Yes, there has been plenty of riding both on and off road ... but no fun rides with oodles of other people. Everyone is so excited at these events. The riders, the organizers, and certainly the volunteers. Each ride has it's own personality as do those involved with the planning and execution of the various events. Some are hilly and many have mountains to climb. The good news is that you are rewarded for the effort pedaling up by beautiful vistas and long fast downhills!
Yep, it is a time for renewal. A time to climb on the saddle and go. More time enjoying nature and more time enjoying the ride with other like minded folks.

Where Does a Circle End?

Just about all the posts on this blog have been about mountain biking. That is kinda funny since I've always been a "roadie!" It began in the mid-70's when I purchased my first "road bike." It was a Centurion LeMans and I probably rode about thirty miles that first day. Riding from Huntington Beach to Seal Beach and back I felt the wind in my face and the exhilaration of sprinting along Pacific Coast Highway. Upon being transferred to the service center in Huntington Beach, I became a bicycle commuter as I rode from our home each day. The Levis, boots, and long sleeved shirt was a far cry from the cycling attire most of us wear today!
After moving to Yorba Linda, my trusty Centurion was posted to hook in the garage and there stayed until the late 80's. There was a new bike shop up the hill that had repaired my Centurion on a couple of occasions. Riding with my neighbor, Dennis, typically resulted in some mechanical breakdown thus the trips to the shop.
One Saturday, I went down to the Orange County Fairgrounds for a "bike fair" and found my dream machine. A beautiful Raleigh with what I called "click shift." Up to now, all the bikes had what was called friction shifting where you had to move the lever and wait for the gears to change. The click shift was just that, click it and shift it. Nice.
Shortly after that visit, Pete at the local bike shop (LBS) hooked me up with a beautiful Raleigh road bike. Before long Dennis and I were flying down to Huntington Beach and back on Saturday mornings. We'd stop for a break near the pier and Denny would have a cup of Joe and I'd grab a Coke. Ah, the good life. We kept riding together and then in March of 1989, along with Elizabeth and Susan, ventured to Solvang for our first century ride. It was a cool and damp morning as we left the hotel for this 100-mile bike ride. Overall, the ride was uneventful but it set in motion a desire to do more of these organized events. Over the years, Denny and I completed ten or so of these together. What great fun!
So, I'm on this training ride one day on my Raleigh when it starts acting funny. I've had broken spokes before and thought that was the problem. An inspection of the rear wheel showed all was well. I lifted the bike and spun the wheel and it was perfect! Getting back on and heading out the wobble got even worse. This time I checked everything and to my surprise found that the lower tube in the real triangle had cracked and separated. Bummer!
After a call to the bike shop, I was rescued and told that the frame had a lifetime warranty and they'd get me a new one. A couple of days later they advised that this frame was no longer in production so they'd ordered me a new one. It was going to cost $85 for the new frame ... the new $950 frame! Wow! The new Raleigh Team frame was outfitted with a full Sachs drive train. At that time, Sachs was making a road group named "New Success" and it was made by Campy. In fact, it was identical to the Campy Chorus. Once built, this white beauty became my steed for many great rides. It is still in the family and I use it frequently for indoor training.
In 2004 we'd been living in Folsom for a few years and I had become well acquainted with the LBS-Bicycles Plus in old town. Near the end of the year, I opted to purchase a Specialized Roubaix Pro. This is a full carbon fiber bike with a Shimano Dura-Ace drive train. It is light and just right for many years of riding on the American River Parkway and wherever else I might venture. The Roubaix and I have completed a number of metric centuries (62-miles) and numerous trips up and down the bike trail. Every time I ride my bicycle I am uplifted by the beauty of our world. The time on the bike also provides opportunities for reflection, contemplation, and thoughtful prayer. Yes, riding my bike is a fun and healthy thing to do. It is also a very peaceful and spiritual experience as well!
To answer the question posed in my title ... the circle keeps going forever you just have to get on the bike and turn the crank!

"A Bike Trail Runs Thru It"

Those of us fortunate enough to live in the greater Sacramento area are blessed with a wonderful outdoor resource. The American River Parkway is an east/west playground on both sides of the American River. While the river extends easterly beyond Folsom Lake, the Parkway boundaries stretch from Old Folsom to Old Sacramento where the American spills into the Sacramento River.
Along the river there are numerous parks, golf courses, swimming holes, and an abundance of wildlife. At Nimbus Dam, there is the fish hatchery which provides lots of fun for all when the Salmon are running.
My view of the river is from my bike. Traversing the American River Parkway by bicycle provides a fantastic vista of all described above. Today, for example, I stopped to take a photo of men fly fishing in the river. The way they line up in the water in what seems like a predetermined formation is amazing! I've never been fly fishing myself but it sure looks like these guys are loving life by wading into the water and slinging their respective lines out. The weather man sure provided a beautiful day for them!
Things like this are so exciting to see. I don't go too fast anymore and am always ready to stop and take a photo of a deer, squirrel, snake, or fisherman. One of these days, I will get out there with my big camera and take some shots of the bike riders.
While riding today, I thought about returning home and tapping out an entry about the riders I see on the Parkway. It was going to be colorful in description and language. Well, the ride was so awesome that I elected not to waste the time or blog space on dishing out my word picture of the various cyclists. Suffice it to say that we are all out there enjoying what the Creator has given us. It is really unimportant whether one is fast, slow, skinny, large, on a $10,000 bike or a $10.00 bike.
The realization that right here in the middle of Sacramento County is this beautiful verdant green paradise where we can enjoy so many different activities is in itself an unbelievable blessing! From the rich and famous, to the homeless person trying to find shelter, to the rest of us average Joe's, the American River Parkway is a wonderful playground for all of us.

"What Lake"

Several years ago when our son Mark visited Folsom for the first time he was making fun of Folsom Lake by exclaiming "what lake!" In those days, the Folsom Dam Road was still open and after driving across the dam, he said "there really is a Folsom Lake!" Over the years we've been boating on the lake and when I ride up to Beal's Point on my road bike I always take a break and enjoy watching all of the fun people are having on the lake.
Well, today I again rode the trails of Granite Bay and was amazed at the lack of water in Folsom Lake. It seemed even lower than my last ride here almost two weeks ago. Certainly there were plenty of mountain bikers, joggers, walkers, and horseback riders out there today. It was a beautiful blue sky day in northern California and with the sun shinning folks were out enjoying nature. Awesome!!
Since I was late getting to the start point today I missed most of the kids. Did see a couple of them out there as I looped around seeking the least challenging route around. The bike handled flawlessly and I took the time to snap a few shots of some of the more technical parts of the trail as well as some shots of the lake ... or should I say puddle!
The bottom line for today: Mark, your comment would be perfect today. If we don't soon gets lots of rain everyone will be saying "what lake?"

After the Rain

If it is Saturday and I am not working ... I'll be out trying to keep up with the Folsom High School Mountain Bike Team. Impossible!
Today, at 0900, the group met in Old Folsom for single track loops around Lake Natoma. An impressive group for sure as we pedaled through town towards the old bridge. Once across, the fun began.
Did I mention that it rained Thursday night and Friday? So in addition to the nice firm trails, we were blessed with an abundance of muddy puddles. One of the girls cried out, "my butt is all wet." They all laughed and kept going ... a little mud wasn't going to deter this group today.
The hills are green and with the sun shinning brightly, it made for a wonderful ride. Of course, I lagged behind as usual but really had a great time. After leaving the single track and entering the paved bike trail, I met two couples riding. They were taking photos of each other so I offered to take one of the four of them. Nice shot on the wood bridge near the aquatic center.
From there I took a combination of off-road and bike trail. Arriving back at the parking lot with both the bike and I covered with mud signified that today's ride, while difficult, was fantastic.