Fifty Plus (50+) - Thread To Share Our Rides - 50+rs

Hmm!!

Squirrel racing! Maybe there is hope for me after all!

http://home.rmci.net/bikeboy/graphics-photos/CycleSquirrel.gif

Do you know what components the squirrel was using?

Welcome!

I went back down the trail after work today but the word must have gotten out.
I didn't see a single squirrel. Normally they are everywhere.
I don't know about the components, but your picture looks about right except this one was waring
a Du Rag.
This time I rode 7 Miles out and 7 Miles back, the first 3 miles back was in a real downpour, when I got home the only thing wet was the back of my shirt under my backpack. I guess Rain won't be a excess any more

Mojo Slim, that's the first I have seen of those pictures. Awesome. I've done a great amount of hiking and backpacking in the Sierra, but haven't had the opportunity to ride much there. I look forward to doing so, especially since Auburn is so close.


Dauphin-

Should you ever have reason to come through Quincy, let me know. We'll put together a ride.

A great ride! After three disappointing rides where I seemed to lose my stride I completed an abreviated Hogs Run course totally upright. I tried lowering my tire pressure, raising the saddle, standing more frequently and focusing on bunny hopping technique. I guess sometimes you have to go back to basics when things aren't going well to get focused before taking the next step.

Dauphin-

Should you ever have reason to come through Quincy, let me know. We'll put together a ride.
That's a deal!

It's 94F outside at 4:00 and the humidity is high. So naturally I decide to try another timed run at the American Tobacco Trail. It wasn't a bad day. I didn't feel the heat until the return run. The last two miles of the 11 mile run were difficult, the legs were tired, the side ached but I knew I improved my time and I was right. 13.5 MPH average. I'm still shy of the 15 MPH goal, but closing in. I purchased a garage sale bike that has 1.5 semi-slicks that might be a good replacement to the 2.0 Bontrager tires I'm currently running. But that means the Nishiki will be dedicated to this path. I think I'm going to try them on a cooler day and see if I can add another 1.5 MPH.

Today's ride went from Ophir, CA to Lincoln, CA and back. Total mileage was 42.20. Max speed today was 26.2. Total trip time was 3 hours and 38 minutes. Actual time was 5 hours. Gotta stop for lunch (hole in the wall Mexican restaurant) and water breaks!

Big group ride on Sunday, our usual 52mi course with 50 riders. Really a fast ride we started out the first 5 or so at about 18mph by mile 10 we were moving about 22mph and by mile 15 about 24mph. We head into the the first sprint zone at 25mph and the group is off, I look down and I am going 29mph. Now we start getting people falling off and I am getting yelled at to fill the gap, fill the gap? my HR is 98% and I am going 28mph!. Finish the sprint pretty gassed knowing there are three more sprint zones before the ride is over. I manage to hang on through two more sprints and then break with the group at 44mi to head home. I get home and the average was 20mph for the the 52mi, new record for this ride.

Felt pretty good yesterday and did a reasoable 20mi ride. Will do the same today. It is interesting how watching the TdF increases my desire to get out on the bike and ride harder.

My son turns 18 today and joined his stepmom & me with a buddy & our neighbor across the street on an 18-mile ride thru the countryside. Cloudy day with 70% prediction of rain but only a light cooling of drops on us. Humidity at 85%, temp hovering just below 80 degrees.

The skunks are out and evidently being surprised too often since I smelled 3 'zones of odor' during the ride. Then on the last leg, I turned a corner and the d*****ed dog that has been plagueing us for the past month launched himself at me. Everyone else was a 1/2 mile ahead so he could focus on me. As I endeavored to avoid his jaws, my front wheel hit a pothole, the handlebars flipped sideways & I found myself grinding gravel & asphalt into my left side. Fortunaely I was not going fast but when I looked up the dog had gotten scared and run away. I stood, swore silently then looked at the house where the dog lives & declared in a loud voice that their dog was not long on this earth. There are no leash laws out in the county so canines run loose until run over, stolen or otherwise controlled by unappreciative neighbors.

First crash and mostly just road rash but a disappointing few minutes. Fortunately the birthday boy had already 'headed to the barn' so I was left alone with my heart racing and thoughts of murderous intent for uncontrolled animals bothering cyclists.

Still a good ride burning nearly 800 calories and great flood of endorphins...

Centex, I know exactly what you mean about those rural dogs. One of my routes is a 22 mile loop north of town. At about the half way point there is this young pit bull that can see me coming. I can handle most barking, annoying dogs, but this one doesn't bark. He's targeting right for the heels of my Specialized shoes.

I have three dogs at home, so when I take this route I started carrying milk bones with me to toss to the now growing pup. Now, as he sees me coming, his tail starts wagging and he begins jumping in anticipation. I can even feed him by hand. Lord help me if I ever forget the treats though.

Dog biscuits & love are better than my admittedly hateful threats to kill the damn dog. He is only a dog, after all, and a fairly young half-witted Lab-mix at that. I'll carry dog treats next time. The silent-runners are worse than the barking ones - but I don't like either. The older dogs seem to have outgrown the tendency to rush at moving cyclists.

good response, turtleguy, and I guess I should be proud that my first spill was only some road rash & not anything more seriously damaged than my ego...

It was the hottest day of the year here in central NC. I decided that a road trip would be less stressful than my planned MTB ride and it has the advantage that I can quit early if I want to. So I left for a quick 6 mile spin before breakfast. Got a little carried away and decided to extend it to 12 miles, took a wrong turn and exended it to 17 miles. Maybe I should have gone for the MTB ride.

My wife and I rode for the fifth straight day today. Once again our ride took us to the American River Bike Trail. We started around 3pm which meant there would be plenty of shade on trail as we rode along Lake Natoma from Folsom toward Sacramento. Today we did 25 miles which brings our July totals to 107.5 miles. I even had her talked into signing up for the Auburn Century coming up in September!

Went for another road ride today after work. I teamed up with a very experienced cyclist/co-worker. He has a high end Raleigh and is a former tri-athlete. He set a really nice pace. I like cycling with someone else, it helps to pass the time and, with someone who has a lot of experience, I found I was much better at choosing my gear change points. This ride was only 15.6 miles, but for me, it was a big step up in speed. My average speed is usually around 10 to 12 mph. We turned in 15 mph. I knew the ride was going to be faster than my usual speed, but I was surprized at the 3+ MPH increase because it didn't feel that much different. Well, I'm invited to another after work ride tommorrow, mountain biking at Hogs Run.

Thanks for making that site available. I am just a youngin for a while yet, its good to see there is life after 50.
I for now am loving 49 for as long as it will last.

Well, sometimes 20 miles isn't 20 miles!

I led a group ride today for our senior's group at church. It was supposed to be about 20 easy miles over a neat little trail.

However, a week of heay and consistent rain made things a bit different. From washed out trails leading to detours and mud on the trail leading to muddy feet and bikes to one flat tire, 2 chains off the rings, and one malfunctioning brake on a 1991 Magma mtn bike, things were interesting and long.

Anyway, my wife decided to wait for us at a rest area, and I went back and picked her up. Lots of short steep climbs. BUt we made it and had fun - that's what its all about! (Isn't it?;) )

My wife and I went on a short 20 mile flat ride this evening along a nice section of the American River bike trail. We rode from around 7pm-8:30pm. It was a really relaxing, satisfying recovery ride after yesterday's 50 mile climbing marathon. I was a really nice evening. :)

Well, sometimes 20 miles isn't 20 miles!
.... one flat tire, 2 chains off the rings, and one malfunctioning brake ...

I hate it when that happens. I'm glad you had fun Dfox, cause flat tires and chains off rings are no fun in the mud. They usually choose the middle of the muddiest section of the trail to happen, almost like they know! Glad it worked out for you.

The feeling is back!

I have been dragging for some time now - just didn't have the oomph, and riding was getting to be a chore.

Not today - zoom - zoom - zoom - that is, for me.

Some lady tried to challenge me as I passed her - a BIG mistake on her part. No, she wasn't 95 years old - she was a young'un all dolled up in her Lycra.

Not long until she was a speck of dust in my mirror (if I only had a mirror).:D :D

Inspired by the pedalturning nuts in this forum, when I turned 53 this week I thought I should try to ride my age, 53 miles. With summer school teaching, I couldn't do it until today. The route was 26.4 miles each way, out and back, from College Station across the Brazos River, through the river valley to Caldwell in Burleson County.
The first 11 miles I did solo, leaving at 6:15 am, light westerly wind, 75 degrees & 75% humidity. At 11 miles my wife met me (she'd brought her bike in the van), I refilled my CamelBak & we cycled 16 miles through cotton fields, maze, then pastureland as we slowly climbed out of the bottoms. Two hrs & 25 minutes to reach Caldwell & refill water bottles then less than 2 riding back down into the valley. My wife stopped at 32 miles, I put her bike in the van & she headed home.
I was pedaling along the highway about 6 miles from home, the temps were into the mid-80's but the wind at my back when a guy pulled up next to me on a Specialized Allez. He's 50-something I'd say, works at the university, and when I told him I was now close to 50 miles & twice the distance I'd ever ridden, his comment of "you're doing well" gave me a real boost. Nothing effusive, just affirmation that my cadence was still steady .
We talked for the next 5 miles, riding next to each other when roadside conditions allowed and less than 2 miles from home, we parted company at the stop sign. I thanked him for riding with me because at that point I really needed some distraction.
Fortunately I hydrated well started yesterday and was able to stop twice to take a leak so I'm doing okay; ate a breakfast taco, some gorp, a protein bar & more water when I got home. Total time for 56 miles: 4 hrs, 32 minutes. My HRM claims I burned 3078 cal, heartrate averaged 125 with a max of 162. Mostly I want to thank all of you for your great humor & encouragement and thank my genetics for giving me enough health to accomplish this. Riding Central Texas in the summer requires real attention to heat-related issues but at this point all is well. Now I'm going to get rid of those knobby tires on the MTB & get me some Specialized Armadillo hybrid tires so these kinds of trips don't take so long.

In the last mile I was thinking, so if I can do this at 53, wonder what it will be like at 75? Hope it is still as much fun & as much sense of accomplishment.:D

best,

Tom

Congratulations on your 53 + 3 miles! Great stuff.

I did a bit different ride this morning.

I was scheduled to lead a ride for our senior's group, but the temp has been SO hot and was predicted to be hot (102F) that I cancelled the ride. Last thing I need is to have someone with heat exhaustion or electrolyte imbalance on one of my rides! Besides, folks are fully capable of riding without me!

So, I got out at 6:15 am with no breakfast nor nourishment (this is pretty typical for me) and did about 21 miles. Then, I bicycled by the gathering point for our cancelled group ride to see if anyone was there who hadn't gotten the cancellation email. Sure enough, there was a new guy there who had read about it in the bulletin at church, but was not on the email. So he and I did some hills together for about 8 miles, then he was tired and went back to his car. I continued on for another 4 miles to my home getting in about 32 miles, and having my bowl of oatmeal at about 9:30 am!

And the temperature?

Well, it cooled off and the current temp at noon is 76F! So much for weather forecasts.

'Twas fun!

Thanks, Dnvr: being able to ride that far meant a lot to me in terms of how far we've come in this 1st year of steady cycling.

The heat here has come down like a hammer on an anvil: lows in the upper 70's at night & then the mid-90's every day. When we went to bed last night after watching the 10 o'clock news, it was still 90 degrees! Now we're getting out at 6:15 am and riding 45 - 60 minutes because it is just too hot after that.

Don't know how you did 3 hours' riding on no food: no coffee either? I would have had to duck into Stapfam's tearoom for a bacon & brie baguette, I think.

Thanks, Dnvr: being able to ride that far meant a lot to me in terms of how far we've come in this 1st year of steady cycling.

The heat here has come down like a hammer on an anvil: lows in the upper 70's at night & then the mid-90's every day. When we went to bed last night after watching the 10 o'clock news, it was still 90 degrees! Now we're getting out at 6:15 am and riding 45 - 60 minutes because it is just too hot after that.

Don't know how you did 3 hours' riding on no food: no coffee either? I would have had to duck into Stapfam's tearoom for a bacon & brie baguette, I think.

I don't drink coffee. All I had was about 1 liter of water. I am sort of strange in that I can ride for hours on an empty stomach! Maybe it is just burning up some of that extra fat. I hope.

I did a two-day club ride from Santa Ana to San Diego this weekend, under less-than-ideal conditions: very hot even along the coast (highest temps on record in one beach town we rode through), and headwinds most of the time rather than the prevailing winds, which would've been tailwinds. The first day's 59 miles was the second-longest ride I've ever done, and the most difficult. Second day was shorter (42 miles) but no easier, and its highlight was climbing the Torrey Pines road, which some you know.

No big deal by many standards, but the longest, steepest hill I've done so far. So it was a weekend with some milestones. What's impressive is how good I feel the day after: no muscle cramps, minimal stiffness. God, am I hungry though!

QUOTE: So it was a weekend with some milestones. What's impressive is how good I feel the day after: no muscle cramps, minimal stiffness. God, am I hungry though!

Congrats on riding that far under what sounds like pretty adverse conditions. The cycling milestones are remarkably satisfying, aren't they?

And my cramps & stiffness don't come until 48 hours later!

I had a good ride Friday. I went over 43 miles and rode over some steep hills to get some
climbing in. I was out of town over the weekend. I was planning to get on the road at
6AM today but it was too hot. I wimped out. I took my new (mid April) Bianchi Volpe in
for a check-up which I haven’t had done yet. No relief from the high 90’s till Friday.
Commuting to work may be all I do this week.

The state opened the southern terminus of the Pine Creek Rail Trail in Lycoming County, PA. Pretty nice. Parking for at least 40 passenger cars, plus a separate area for rv's and campers to park. Rest rooms, information, everthing looks pretty spiffy. The only drag is a really bad street crossing that was installed about 100 yards out of the parking area on the bike path, headed north, just under a hill crest, which makes it pretty much impossible to see oncoming traffic on the parking lot side of the road until it crests the hill, at which point it is pretty much ready to run you over... I hope there are lots of warning signs for vehicular traffic as they approach this crossing - I haven't driven by to check it out yet.
ANYWAY, today was a soggy 15 miles on the path in two hours. Lots of pedalers, young and old. This path is now something like 64 miles long, and it is all scenic. I've ridden the whole length, in stages, and there is lots to see, nature-wise. Some good places to eat, too.

My ride today was to take pictures of the fountains of
Kansas City. Not long after I left I lost my route
list out of my jersey back pocket. I was on the road
at 6:30 AM. It started out in the low 70’s. For a
while the Sun was covered with clouds. After getting
into the ride I realized that I would not have enough
time to go even to all the places that I remembered.
This type of ride was slow paced because of the stops
for photos and also stop lights. It was a good ride. I
went 42 miles and took 61 pictures of 21 fountains. I
also included some other interesting shots.

By the way, Kansas City is 2nd in the world for the #
of fountains. More than 200. Only Rome Italy has more.

I have a new goal. I want to take a picture from a
bicycle, of all the fountains of Kansas City,
Missouri.

To see these photos go here: http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v641/flufey_is_cute/Fountains/?action=view&curren
t=HPIM1110.jpg&slideshow=true&interval=3

copy and paste this link because BF did not reconize the whole link.

I did 30 miles this early evening
on my Rhoades Car and got back
after dark.

http://www.rhoadescar.com/4w1p-j.jpg

First time climbing hills with the thing
and it went smooth, but not fast.
It is a kick though, and the dark blue/
purple twilight in the little college town
(actually two college towns) made for
a wonderful ride. Light breeze, 68
degree temperature and no humidity.

It was a delight! And coming home I
reached breathtaking speeds of about
18 mph on 4 wheels and that was a kick
too and I still had two or 3 higher gears
that I didn't even use.

Another ride on Hogs Run MTB trail at Harris Lake. This time, both my sons went. We had a great ride. At the end of the ride, we reflected where we were 1 year ago. We rode at the same trail with two rigid fork bikes and one Trek 820. Today, the Trek 820 is the low bike as we now have two 05 Specialized bikes. My oldest son is surprized. In the past he used to run off on the Trek and leave my youngest son and I way behind. This time he noticed I was right behind him and Son #2 is only a minute or two behind us.
It seems Dads practicing and road riding is paying off! Its always a pleasure to ride with my boys.

Nothing special to this ride, but good picture to share. The photo is from the top of Cory grade, part of a 20-mile route I ride one or two times a week on my mtb. Almost all country roads, no traffic -- just cows, deer and the occasional coyote. Started out this spring at 1:50 to complete the loop -- tonight's time was 1:30 -- repacking the wheels paid off!

This picture looks up the Surface Creek Valley, which is a very enjoyable ride as well. In the background are the 'dobes, which are spectacular in the early morning or evening light. The mountain is back is Grand Mesa -- it beckons but I've yet to conquer the 5,900-ft climb to its 10,000 elevation (tried three times . . . at the 25-mile marker is an ice cream store which always seems to call my name! ;) Once my new Trek 7.6 FX arrives in Sept., I'll mount another attack on Grand Mesa!

Tomorrow night I'm going to up the ante on my club rides: I'm going with a pretty fast group from the area's oldest and biggest cycle club, the Wolverines (http://www.lmb.org/wsc/). They call it a "moderate" ride but "moderate" for these guys means 18-22mph, conservatively. I'm told 25+ is common at times. One saving grace is the route is flat, thru the Grosse Pointes. Just hope there's no wind...

Thus far I've only gone on their so-called "recovery" rides which have a way of creeping up into the 20mph range. Pretty entertaining for them when I was still on my Trek 7200. Otherwise, with "my" club I do rides from 14-18mph, depending.

Will I get dropped in the first 5 miles? Will I finish but spit my lungs out? Or will I find undiscovered reserves of strength? Stay tuned...

One thing for sure: I'll treat myself to a "recovery" chocolate milkshake afterwards!

Followup (for whoever cares): I did it! The ride split up into "faster" and "slower" groups (still pretty fast) and I finished with the latter, in good shape. My computer showed an average of 16.8 mph over a 30 mile distance at the end -- that includes traffic light stops and a 1 mile cooldown. The faster, mostly younger guys broke away early on in a 25+mph sprint and we only saw them again coming back the other way. I'll make it a regular ride. The ride turnout was huge, at least compared to anything I've experienced on club rides: around 40 or more riders total. People were friendly and helpful to the newb.

The milkshake was great, too.

Bad ride today. I tried a more difficult trail with a group that's younger than I am. Well, not surprizingly, they left me in the dust. But I found I was out of breath way too much of the ride. I've got to improve my endurance. I don't have to go fast, but I walked way too much of the trail instead of riding.

Tried a short ride on the road bike today as time could have been a bit short. Down to my usual stop on the seafront for a coffee and a slice of strawberry gateaux. Still had plenty of time so decided to go up the Zig-Zags. Just a series of hairpins to climb the 600ft rise to the top of the Downs. They are nowhere as hard as they look but once at the top and look down- you realise how high you have climbed.In fact it is only 500ft climb in.8 of a mile so it is not that severe. Makes you work though and I was about half way up and a roadie came past me at about twice my speed. Caught me by surprise and he encouraged me- simply by passing me- to put in a bit more effort. Got to the top and he was only a lean muscular skin and sinew 6' 25 to 30 year old on an old Specialised. How did I manage to see him again?- He was slumped over his bars still trying to get his breath back when I got to the top and cycled past him. Thank goodness I did not try and stay with him.
From here I decided that I ought to be on my way home so down an another hill- a straight run 15%er to work some frustration out of me. 30mph limit here but I got 48 out of the bike. Seems that the bearings are getting looser now. Back into the town and a bit of traffic to contend with. Wasn't the cars I had problems with- It was pedestrians. I was at a red light and this also controls the pedestrian lights. Just as they went Green for me- a load of pedestrians arrived to cross in front of me and they did not stop. I gave a quick yell of "Watch out" and I didn't either. This road bike is teaching me some bad habits. Heard a few swear words and insults but I just carried on.

Back up the trail on our local MUP and not too many walkers about. Lot of cyclists though. Had a chat with one of them that I caught and he had just finished 4 years of debauchery at University. No riding- no physical activity what-so-ever and he had put on about 30lbs. This was his 3rd week of a get fit again programme and he was beginning to feel the effects. His legs felt like lead- his lungs were burning and he had lost 4 lbs in 3 weeks. Only another 26 to go.

Not a bad ride- only 25 miles on a beautiful sunny morning that was just cool enough to keep me comfortable, and I enjoyed it. What more could I ask.

Not a bad ride- only 25 miles on a beautiful sunny morning that was just cool enough to keep me comfortable, and I enjoyed it. What more could I ask

What more indeed!

Thanks for sharing.

I did the Glendora Mountain Road/ Mt Baldy ride this past Saturday which was organized by BF member jschen. There was a good turnout, maybe 60 riders, including about 15 from my club. The ride itself was fun, with lots of climbing and high temps, but what makes it memorable was the chance to meet and ride with people from Bike Forums. I've ridden with some of them before and they are all friendly and fun to ride with, regardless of their ability.
There were some other 50+ riders there including The Fixer, who is not only very fit, but knows how to take a picture and capture the ride. http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=224989
I highly recommend getting together with other BF members in your area, if possible. You will make some new friends and create some great memories. I intend to do more of these rides.

I did the Glendora Mountain Road/ Mt Baldy ride this past Saturday which was organized by BF member jschen. There was a good turnout, maybe 60 riders, including about 15 from my club. The ride itself was fun, with lots of climbing and high temps, but what makes it memorable was the chance to meet and ride with people from Bike Forums. I've ridden with some of them before and they are all friendly and fun to ride with, regardless of their ability.
There were some other 50+ riders there including The Fixer, who is not only very fit, but knows how to take a picture and capture the ride. http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=224989
I highly recommend getting together with other BF members in your area, if possible. You will make some new friends and create some great memories. I intend to do more of these rides.

That is great.

In our area, BikeJournals.com has Club Hypoxia, with about 15-20 local members who do a lot of rides together.

Their riding is beyond my skill level, however. I.e., a bunch of them rode the Triple By Pass and to the top of Mt. Evans (14,000 + feet)

I would be the only member who is 50+ locally, but they do have a blast! They are often joined by other BikeJournal members from across the country.

As you said, it is a great time.

I just today happened on to the 50+ BF thread. Great idea! And it came at a particularly appropriate time for me. I live in the Madison, WI area which is hosting the WI Ironman tomorrow. It has become an annual event for me to ride (at least part of) the Ironman Bike route on the Saturday preceeding the actual event. So that's how I spent much of today. Every year I get passed by an increasing number of "Ironmen and IronWomen" on their last training ride before the big race-and thus I was humbled again today. But I was out there nonetheless, in the wind and cold and rain watching the $5000+ CF/Ti machines whizz past.

Although I won't be pinning on a number tomorrow and won't be anywhere near the winner's podium, I will assert that I enjoyed today's ride much more than many of the "hard cores" that flashed me a cross wise glance if they acknowledged me at all as they pounded in one last training session.

Perhaps all we have in common is that we were riding bikes. But I bet we all started for the same reason...it's fun. I remembered that today. I hope they do tomorrow.

Well Saturday, 9/9 was the Amish Country Tour out of Dover, DE. Tour draws over 1000 riders, and this was my second year. My baby sister (58) and I set out on our respective routes. She on her heavy beach cruiser went for the 15 miles at her usual 7 mph. I went for 25 miles on the Trek 1000. Thought I was setting a speed record for myself, but again my average was 14 mph. What I didn't know was if a flat course would be as easy as you would think, or if the need to always spin to move would be more of a challenge. And in this case, flat was easy. There actually were a number of slight down grades to permit some coasting. Actually after I settled in around mile 2, I rode entire route in one gear. Next year I'm riding for 50 miles. Anyway, southern Delaware is flat and not really much for great scenery. There were some road apples to dodge, evidence of the Amish buggies. The hylite of the event is the stop at the Amish School Haus. Where one is served as much PIE as you can eat. Apple, Blueberry and Cherry. Unfortunately for me I'm trying to lose some weight and I'm diabetic. So one piece of cherry for me. And it was really good pie. At Finish is also great food. Hot roast pork sandwich, hot beans and cold salad, all consumed with Live music. Sept 8th next year. I'll be back. Attached photo is actually last year, nothing really changed.

Cross Posted from the Road Cycling Forum with an edit or two...

Sunday I rode in the LiveStrong Challenge, and I was injured.... Many of you saw the crash in the TdF where a rider flew over the guardrail... well something just like that hapened to me... That's my story, and I'm sticking to it!

Actually, when I was discussing the real source of my injury with the medical team, that's the story we came up with... :D

The truth is stranger than fiction.

I woke up at 5:00 Sunday morning to drive to the start, and due to fog and closed lanes, I got to the start just in time to sit and watch all of the riders as they went through the first intersection. I have never been on a ride with rules like this, but when I got checked in, I asked about markings, and I was told that I wasn't supposed to start after the group had left. I really didn't feel like trying to cycle alone along a 70 mile course with a cue sheet that was black ink on dark red without my reading glasses... So I was ticked off... I drove 2.5 hours and had a 2 hour ride home, but I decided to wait for about 2 hours for the only remaining ride, the 10 mile ride. This was pretty disappointing because I had planned to take the 70 mile route and possibly the 40 mile bail-out depending on how I felt...

As I was waiting for the starting time, I rode about 7 easy miles around the parking lots, and was feeling real good and relaxed, glad that I spent some time in the saddle instead of stewing. I got off my bike and walked around a few times to get drinks etc, and eventually, I got off and started milling around the starting area. As I was walking over, I hit my shin on my pedal, and swore under my breath as I walked a few more yards to a good place to stand, hoping that nobody saw my klutzy approach. After I had been standing there for about 5 minutes, another rider asked me, "Do you know you're bleeding?" I looked down and thought I would wipe the blood off, and I did, it immediately reappeared. I realized I was really bleeding when I looked at the ground and saw what looked like a couple of dozen dark red rose petals... scattered in the area I had ben pacing around in... I realized that it was my blood.

I walked over to the medical tent and grabbed a couple of bandages, and some paper towels. The first couple of paper towels soaked through very quickly, and the bandages did no good. I then sat down and put my leg up as someone suggested. Shortly after that, the doc (as one of the paramedics referred to him) came over, and started applying direct pressure. After several minutes the bleeding finally stopped, and my calf was wraped in gauze. During the process, I did mention that this isn't the way clipless injuries are supposed to happen, it is supposed to be a tip-over. :D

After the doc finished, I took a couple of paper towels to clean off my shoes and the top of my sock. Two more paper towels were soaked in blood this way... So, having been patched, and not prevented from riding, I thanked the staff and went back to the starting area. The ride started and I had a great ride, and it finished at about the point that I felt like I was hitting the zone... But, I decided to call it a day because of my injury. I rode up to the first aid tent, and thanked them again for their help, but the doc wasn't there...

I rode over to the post-ride party area, and pulled up beside the bike racks, I was the first bike on the rack, even though I know several people had finished before I did... The 10 mile route only had about 30 people.

Anyway, as I rode across the grass to put my bike on the rack, I did it... I did my second career clipless tipover. As I get up laughing, I see someone walking over... I had hoped that everyone was watching the band...

When he asked me how my leg was, I realized that it was the doc... :o

After I got home, I took off my shoe, it was sticky. I took off my sock, it was stiff as cardboard around the top. My shoe was discolored with blood inside and out... I rinsed out the sock for about 30 seconds, and it was still running quite red when I wrung it out...

I don't know what I hope to accomplish by sharing my embarrassing day, but I hope that it does bring a smile to someone's face. :D

I don't know what I hope to accomplish by sharing my embarrassing day, but I hope that it does bring a smile to someone's face.

:D

Blood, chain tatoos, cyclist's tan, road rash. All good stuff. That which only stains our socks makes us stronger.

How many times have we caught the shin on the Pedal, swore a bit, or a lot, and got away with just a small bruise to show the pain. At least you did it properly. Pity about the ride though.

Wonderful 34 mile ride today in lovely fallish weather!

My last ride before leaving for New England.

I've got to tell you about a bike race I got into Saturday August 26, 2006. Binghamton has a bike race weekend called the Chris Thater, the amateur race for males up to age 18 and over 50 and all women was 11:30am. I got in this race and started at the back and at the quarter mile point there was an uphill. I figured I'd go up the left side on the hill and move up to people who were going my speed. I got to the left side and started to pass people and passed everybody in the race. I know sometimes bike races are casual affairs where everybody waits for the last lap (this was a 15 lap race) and then sprint to the finish. In fact I got in a bike race last year in Arizona and it progressed just that way and I just followed everybody to the finish taking eighth place out of eight. I think in my mind (it wasn't a firm thought) I didn't want to replay that scenario. So, I got in front of everybody, and I was going a bit faster than anybody else by passing them, and decided to just keep going ... I was going to break this into a bike race and not a technical exercise. I just kept pushing. I came across the start/finish line in the lead and the public address system blares out my name "and the leader is Jim Landis" (he read my number and got the name off a list I guess) and the assembled multitudes applauded. Wow, it was a whole new experience and a great one.
I got passed as I got to the hill again by about a dozen people and never again saw the front. But I was stronger than anybody else in my group on the uphill and twice I lead over the top only to be drafted by my group through the next half lap and then they would slingshot past. The lead group (mostly made up of boys up to the age of 18) passed my group on our 12th lap and slowly moved away. Now the race is over when the leader does his 15 laps, so my group just subtracted one lap from what we needed to do ... we had two left. When my group we was on our last lap and approaching the hill, I decided to see if I could catch up to the tail of the lead group and catch their draft and thereby loose my whole group and get dragged in by this faster group. I did break from my guys and halfway caught up, but halfway doesn't make it and I tried as strongly as I could to go fast but some guys caught my draft and slingshot past and ahead of me 100 yards from the finish. Three guys beat me by a second or less right there. There were six guys in my 60+ age group and I took first in that group by almost 2 minutes and would have taken forth in the 50 - 59 with my finish, but if I could have held off those last three guys I would have taken second.
I guess you can tell I'm pretty excited about how the race went and through the rest of the day and for days later I could feel the euphoria. I told everybody I ran into whether they wanted to hear it or not. I went to church the next day and during that time in the service when people can go to the microphone and say what is happening in their lives I told this story … the congregation applauded me.

Sunny, 70s, not noticeable wind, September day … couldn’t ask for better weather. Ride started by the Schuylkill River at the Lloyd boat house. About 900 riders, started together at 8am (Sunday, Sept 10). Figured I'd do the 62 miler and started at a good clip ... probably 18mph or so. Like a bunch of frisky young male animals the guys would pass strongly and put on a show of strength every now and again ... hell, I did a bit of it myself and we rode this way till the first food stop at about the ten mile point ... I was thinking wow a food stop at only 10 miles. I had forgotten my water bottle and used a wrapper from a candy bar to drink with. Then right in front of me this girl throws away a lemonade bottle. You know what I did ... yup I picked it up and washed it as well as I could with the water available and filled it up and used it for my water bottle. Left and two miles later there was another break place which I passed ... come to find out that there was another ride at the same time (a livestrong Lance Armstrong ride) and one of those food stops was theirs and one ours ... still don't know if I went to the right one. Around this time I hooked up with a group of fast guys, I don't know why I do this, but when somebody goes by me a little faster I want to tuck in behind and ride with them. This group of about ten guys was averaging probably better than 20mph. Constantly there were different guys blasting as hard as they could at the bottom of hills and then trying to hold as much speed as they could on the way up ... often they would attain the top and hold a lead for a short period of time and then fade and be absorbed by the rest of the group, usually falling further and further back till they were at the end. Stayed with them till the next stop which was at 32 miles. This was the best stocked stop on the course (except for the finish). They had these great home made baked goods. I drank a bit of water and had a beagle. There was a can of this stuff made out of ponca beans to spread on the beagle but no spreading knife ... we asked for a knife and the lady said use the peanut butter knife ... well my beagle was split and I just tore a half in half for a half moon and we used that ... worked pretty good. Leaving here I hooked up with a pretty quiet guy who knew the course and it was an easy ride for about 3 miles when two couples went by and got about 100 yards ahead when I decided to catch up and ride with them. Took some doing to catch them because I think they saw me coming and decided to stay ahead if they could. Finally caught them right before a steep down hill and the leader went flying down this ... I pealed off the back and went after him ... a fast exciting decent followed with a sever right turn across a bridge at the bottom. This guy and I started up the hill on the other side when I asked him if that road we just passed was the route for the 62 mile route ... he said it was, so I turned around and passed the other three on their way up the hill and noticed that the red haired girl this guy was with was probably his younger brother ... really nice long curly red hair though. I was alone now and went casually to allow somebody to catch me because the directions had about a hundred lines of turns on them and I had lost my sheet anyway. Didn't take long though when two guys my age caught me and I rode with them to the next food stop. Turned out these guys rode this route a lot and probably didn't take me on the official route ... but they got me to the next food stop.
This stop was at Benz Woods. Turns out there was a film studio here in 1912 (before talkies) and the buildings are still there ... this was not a small operation, with several large buildings that have been renovated. Started off from here and went the wrong way ... probably an extra two miles till I realized that I was not seeing any riders with numbers on them indicating they are on this tour. The exit from here is on a thin (maybe four feet wide) wood planked crossing of the Schuylkill River with what I think is route 422 on the left and the river on the right. This was so thin passing would be impossible here, but riding was a rush. I'm talking about being fifty feet above the river and all that separates me is a chain link fence that is probably eight feet high, but you sure can see through it and the abyss seems to be right there. Now on the left is another chain link fence and the 70 mph road is right there although we are about four feet above the highway. Exciting. We now went through Valley Forge. I hooked up with a group of about six other people ...it was lead by Frank and Lisa. Frank is a 50 something guy and Lisa looks to be about 35 ... both good riders. Several times some of us would race up the next hill and I could usually beat anybody else in the group, but I'd be spent at the top and then everybody would pass me and I'd hook up with the back and regain my strength. These guys knew their way, which went through a bit of busy communities. The last five miles Frank said lets create a draft line and power to the finish ... I was forth behind a guy from South America who told me the name of his country three times and I still couldn’t understand him. I thought I knew all the countries in that continent, but this is a small country is between Argentina and Brazil (only three million people). He also had a thick accent; anyway he didn't keep a steady pull getting a little behind and then catching up and we were flying (23 - 24 mph). This was 65 plus miles into the tour and I was tired too. Anyway, this guy decides to drop off and I watch Frank and Lisa ride off into the sunset and I've got no predilection to catch up ... actually for a few moments I did, but I can't imagine having the strength to pull it off. So this South American guy and I ride to the finish together.
Pizza and soda await ... real Pizza Hut stuff too. The Pizza with peppers was the best ... I had four pieces and three sodas. Met a guy named Art who was going to be 80 in November who rode the 62 miler ... oh, by the way, I rode a 71.5 miles in total. Art is still working four days a week and lives 16 miles from his job ... and rides his bike to work every day he can. He looked in great shape. They were giving free massages and I signed up for one and tired to talk Art into putting his name on the list, but he said his wife would be know if he did when he got home. I said would you walk in and your wife would know that another woman had her hands on your body ... he said YUP. I asked what would happen then "Well we'd have to get a divorce" he said. Neat guy.

A Nice ride with my freind from work. Set another personal best. 21.5 miles at 16.5MPH average. Not my longest ride but my best speed. It's time to expand further go for 25 miles or more, but it has to be at 15 MPH or better. I also found out my cyclocomputer is off by 3% slow. So when it says 10 miles, I've really traveled 10.3. It's a Cateye Mity 3 and I don't have the owner's manual. I tried to correct it, but could not find the setting. So I think I'll just leave it.

Go to the Cateye website and you'll probably find the appropriate manual there--easier to read and use if printed out from online than the awful owner's manuals Cateye includes with their products.

Nice MPH, BTW.

I did a ride called The Angeles Crest Century on Saturday with some friends. It's in the local mountains and features 11,000 feet of climbing, (O.K.,I skipped 2 miles). I do a few of these climbing centuries and usually finish in the last 1/3 of the group. I'm 52 but I'm also 210 pounds, so a lot of older guys drop me out there. I'm always amazed by the number of grey beards and older women who can just hammer through the mountains all day. Maybe there's hope for me yet.

Most of these rides I've read are beautiful and I've been on those as well but posted this one instead because it was special to me in a way I will never forget.
The ride was on the edge of a large city with a freeway system that lets off near by. I was in that area on my way to downtown where I love to ride. Off to my right I saw something shinny in some over grown weeds at the exit ramp of the freeway. Cars were stopping and going from that area like there was nothing wrong but I had to see what it was.
Laying in the tall grass was a middle aged guy laying under his Harley pinned to the ground! OMG! I couldn't believe it, and worse was that NO ONE WAS STOPPING TO HELP THIS GUY! I laid my bike down then started to remember reading how you do this with your back to the bike and etc and was able to get it off him with his help (try doing that in Look cleats !).
He gets up looking shaken and sorta strange and he's saying something but I can't hear him, his voice was like a muffled whisper. I got real close to him with my ear turned and he was telling me "thankyou brother thankyou thankyou" and he hugs me and started to cry. I tell him come on man, and then he spoke again, in a faint whisper "I just found out I have lung cancer" he points to his throat, "and all I wanted is a couple more good rides and this happened; ....I'm gonna die" he started crying harder. Oh man,, made my stomach sink, very sad empty feeling to have; didn't know what to say, shook me good. I told him to see if his bike would start and it did and said good, you should go ride; gave him a hug back and said good bye and I left. Didn't even go downtown, no longer felt like having fun, just rode back home feeling very quiet inside. Some days are really special.......

I told him to see if his bike would start and it did and said good, you should go ride; gave him a hug back and said good bye and I left. Didn't even go downtown, no longer felt like having fun, just rode back home feeling very quiet inside. Some days are really special.......

There just aren't words. This story is so sad and so beautiful. Strange how often those two go together.