Great Lakes - Did you ride today?

5/13 = Not yet. But I did finish building a swingset out in the yard for the kids.

And it hasn't fallen down yet.

I feel like I have just discovered fire or created Frankenstein's monster or something. :D

Need to pick up some armwarmers and kneewarmers. Mine got nabbed out of my bike bag in my car when I was riding a forest preserve loop last Thursday. Note to self... don't leave the bag on the seat where thieves can see it . I sure hope they like CarbBooms and chamois creme. Bastards. :(
Aren't you glad I don't take this approach working on your bike?

Also - you should let Hip know that the Grouch socks are safe...

....snip.........I think it was a big hit. Much to my wife's dismay. He's been wanting to be with me all night since we got back.

;) - he is hooked.

speaking of hooked, click the link and scroll to the bottom.............i got her!!! :D

The Link (http://hampton23.blogspot.com/2007/05/finding-my-legs.html)


later.

speaking of hooked, click the link and scroll to the bottom.............i got her!!! :D

The Link (http://hampton23.blogspot.com/2007/05/finding-my-legs.html)


later.

Dude...that's friggin scary....your house:
http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/2350/ahamhousesmallhh8.jpg

My house:
http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/8263/myhousedw6.jpg


...weird...

Need to pick up some armwarmers and kneewarmers. Mine got nabbed out of my bike bag in my car when I was riding a forest preserve loop last Thursday. Note to self... don't leave the bag on the seat where thieves can see it . I sure hope they like CarbBooms and chamois creme. Bastards. :(

No way! Was your car unlocked? That really blows.

...weird...


:roflmao: :eek: :rolleyes: :D

No way! Was your car unlocked? That really blows.
Smashed a window, grabbed my gear bag. They did the same to the other rider I met there. My window was fixed next day via insurance, but it's the hassle of it all.

The only up side is that I actually pared down the gear bag a few days earlier to take out the heavy wool socks, tights, and a sentimental 1990 "Vetements Z" world champ stripe cycling jacket. Still.... :mad: :mad: :mad:

Hide your stuff the best you can when you park and ride.

Smashed a window, grabbed my gear bag. They did the same to the other rider I met there. My window was fixed next day via insurance, but it's the hassle of it all.

The only up side is that I actually pared down the gear bag a few days earlier to take out the heavy wool socks, tights, and a sentimental 1990 "Vetements Z" world champ stripe cycling jacket. Still.... :mad: :mad: :mad:

Hide your stuff the best you can when you park and ride.
If the Team Z-- jacket and the grouch socks had been lost I think that it would have upset the balance of the universe.

5/14 = Yes. Commute in for the first day of "Bike to Work Week". The leg in today was slow. I just don't feel like I have much in my legs anymore. Stats:24.48 miles - 1:37. Two minutes slower than usual.:mad:

It doesnt get any better as they get a little older, this is just the lower half of the fridge.

http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/9815/img0858rg2.jpg

^^^ magically only the letters that spell out my little girl's name came with our set????

and are we really posting pics of our kitchen appliances??

later.

5/16 = Yes. Morning commute. They have the trail shut down just South of St Charles into Geneva. Pain in the butt. I made it through on 31 :eek:. Sick. It was cold and wet. New PR though - 4 minutes faster.

That means I had a tailwind :( - afternoon commute does not look good.

Hey Psimet, any news on your calls to St. Chuck?? How bout just taking 25 into the trail by the Geneva dam instead of riding on 31.. 25 is less traffic and wider in most spots.

5/16 = Yes. But just a quick lunch 7 miler around the subdivision. Was taking corners as fast as I was brave enough to take them and almost met a pickup truck head on, but was able to lean a bit more and stay on my side of the road. :)

I'm about two weeks behind on where I wanted to be for year-to-date miles. Psimet, you're free to ride ahead on Saturday. Just wait for me at the finish, yeah? :o

Hey Psimet, any news on your calls to St. Chuck?? How bout just taking 25 into the trail by the Geneva dam instead of riding on 31.. 25 is less traffic and wider in most spots.
5/16 = Yes X 2

Horrible commute home. It was 25 that I was thinking of to begin with. I rode it this morning, but I hate how fast the traffic goes. I split up to 7th(?) just North of Geneva on the way home and then came back to the trail after crossing Main in St Chucks.

Rained on me most of the way home. I was frozen to the bone, and my cheap Performance rain jacket tore. Oh well I got 2 uses out of it. Time to invest in a decent one.

This was a miserable ride.....but when I got home....I felt better than ever!

CyLowe - I seriously don't have any speed so no worries. I just have stamina. Besides you are always in better shape than me anyway.

Also I have a buddy that might join us on the century route who really doesn't have any miles in him this year. I promised we'd go slow....no really.:D

5/16 = Yes X 2

Horrible commute home. It was 25 that I was thinking of to begin with. I rode it this morning, but I hate how fast the traffic goes. I split up to 7th(?) just North of Geneva on the way home and then came back to the trail after crossing Main in St Chucks.

Rained on me most of the way home. I was frozen to the bone, and my cheap Performance rain jacket tore. Oh well I got 2 uses out of it. Time to invest in a decent one.

This was a miserable ride.....but when I got home....I felt better than ever!

CyLowe - I seriously don't have any speed so no worries. I just have stamina. Besides you are always in better shape than me anyway.

Also I have a buddy that might join us on the century route who really doesn't have any miles in him this year. I promised we'd go slow....no really.:D


nice commuting! :) way to tough it out. i laughed when i read you were bringing a buddy, a slow buddy? who was the last buddy you brought to a ride? oh yeah, speedy! later.

10 mile TT this afternoon. 13 minutes out, 16+ minutes back... ouch. Stinkin NW winds this afternoon!

nice commuting! :) way to tough it out. i laughed when i read you were bringing a buddy, a slow buddy? who was the last buddy you brought to a ride? oh yeah, speedy! later.
Funny you should mention that. This buddy called me up again:
Him: "So how far are you guys riding."
Me: "The century route. I already told you that."
Him:"Oh yeah. You realize that the longest ride I've done this season is only like 20 miles?"
Me: "Well there will be others that will opt for the shorter route if you decide you want to drop off early."
Him: "How long do you guys normally take for a century?"
Me: "Approx. 6 hours ride time. Sometimes less. Sometimes more."
Him: "Oh! So you guys aren't averaging over 20 then. Yeah, I shouldn't have a problem."

F'n sandbagger. I say we carpool so he can't ditch us.

5/18 = Yes Daily commute. Was up until 2am rebuilding my main rig. With all of the other shop traffic (I think I've put close to 10 bike through there this season), a one year old, and wife I just haven't had time to do my own bike.

I got had every component dis-assembled and cleaned, re-installed, new chain, new cables, etc...I thought I would get it done to ride in today for the commute until I looked at the time and noticed I still had to wrap my bars. Bar wrapping doesn't really bother me, but it just takes a long time.

Woke up late and in my hurry forgot to eat breakfast. I bonked about 10 miles into the commute. Less than half way. Miserable the rest of the way.

Time to consume food.

5/18 = YES

The Ride (http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/2758660)

i decided to work from home this morning :)!!! so i knocked out a solid 30 miles. it was a lovely sunny 50 degrees at 8am when i departed and i enjoyed every minute of the ride, er, work. kind of my way of celebrating bike to work week.

now i sit in my office staring out the window thinking about tomorrows ride plans. i think it will have to be 50 and have to be a new route. maybe some rolling roads along the Fox River.

later.

5-18 = Yes

Finally got out on the trail by myself for a real ride. Only 20 miles but I did well for the 1st real ride of the year. Sure feels good, this 4pm-2Am shift has been kicking my butt, and weekends are always promised away since I get so few of them off normally, soIve been having a tough time finding time, but finally decided just to take time and sweat the small stuff later.

umm, 5/18

Great ride today, not as long as i would have liked but that's because i got my day off to a slow start. For whatever the reason though i was cranking my butt off. I kept looking down and reading 22...25...27mph i thought "must be tailwind" but...it never let up. And now i'm faster than Ryanf so i'm going to go win the TDF soon.

5/18 = Yes X2 - better ride on the way home. Felt stronger, and like Timmyquest I felt like I had a tailwind the whole way.

5/19 = YES

already knocked out 48 miles! went out early at 6am. the legs took some time to warm up, but they did eventually. part of this route is new to me and ran along the fox river. much better then my normal "plain field" scenery. the last 15 miles into home base had a nice little tailwind that help me avg 18.2 mph for the ride. good times! later.

The Ride (http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/episode/view.do?episodePk.pkValue=2764843)

I dragged my wife out for 30 miles today. Got buzzed by trucks twice, once close enough for my wife to shriek. Unfortuatley the ass pulling the horse trailer had no license plate. Not one other car in view in either direction yet he couldn't give us more than a foot, if that. Then the semi truck that buzzed us blew past us so fast, I was lucky to catch the name on the trailer and hold a line. First bad experience of the year, and I get a two-fer... and with my wife along no less. I just don't get why drivers have to be such asses to cyclists. :rolleyes: Oh well, off to Milwaukee to catch the baseball game this afternoon.

5/21 - Yes. Just a quick lunch ride, but it counts, right? :o

as a man you should well know that a quickie counts :) later.

i'm all about redefining "the nooner."

Got caught in heavy rain last night and we cut our ride short, only 16 1/2 miles. Strong winds, 20 - 30 from the south so we headed into it and half way to River Falls from Hudson the rain started. Radar had shown spotty showers and T-storms so did not last. Headed east and back north a few miles later, thats when the skies opened up! I have only ridden in rain that heavy once before. Hard to see with sweat being washed down from the helmet pads into my eyes. It poured the last 5 miles and let up as we pulled back into the parking lot. But a ride in the rain is better than no ride at all.

Wow Dan, glad you made it back safe in the downpour!

5/22 - Another 'nooner' of 9.5 miles in just under a half hour. The wind was strong from the south, but my route was mostly east-west with only a short leg south, so the wind seemed to be pushing me along most of the way. Much fun.

Did 15 last night, and am supposed to do a timed 10 miler after work. That wind has steadily picked up through the day and is now over 21mph and gusting over 30. Should make for one huge suckfest of a TT tonight.

Edit: Holy suckfest. 14-15mph out, 30mph on the way back. Guess which direction we rode. Heart rate was 170+, cadence in the low 90's, 0% grade and I was still getting all of 15 mph into the wind. I can't believe I had to resort to the small chain ring on the way out. :(

I rode yesterday 14 mile round trip.Forest park to lexington Nursing home in La Grange IL.I rode on a ss coaster brake cruiser.Very smooth.The return trip took about 55 minutes Suburban riding on the street i saw a fox in riverside Ill otherwise pretty uneventful.I left the home at 8:05 and arrived at the domicile about 9pm.

5/25 = YES

a big fat YES. a lovely pre work morning ride. i made an attempt at doing some intervals as i wanted to maximize my limited time. plus, i think i may have a rather difficult ride coming up soon?!?

INTERVALS = (1 min all out with 3 min recovery) x 5.

Warm Up=13:41 / 3.75mi

1= .43mi 25.8mph 162/197 HR
2= .47mi 28.2mph 146/174
3= .39mi 23.6mph 146/161
4= .44mi 26.5mph 152/170
5= .43mi 25.7mph 156/170

cool down/home=34:27 / 9.21mi

total ride was 19.47 miles in 1:07:52.

off to work now. later.

5/25 = YES

a big fat YES. a lovely pre work morning ride. i made an attempt at doing some intervals as i wanted to maximize my limited time. plus, i think i may have a rather difficult ride coming up soon?!?

INTERVALS = (1 min all out with 3 min recovery) x 5.

Warm Up=13:41 / 3.75mi

1= .43mi 25.8mph 162/197 HR
2= .47mi 28.2mph 146/174
3= .39mi 23.6mph 146/161
4= .44mi 26.5mph 152/170
5= .43mi 25.7mph 156/170

cool down/home=34:27 / 9.21mi

total ride was 19.47 miles in 1:07:52.

off to work now. later.

This belongs in the training section so guys like me that CAN'T go all out for a full minute yet do not get too depressed!
I was feeling pretty good about my leisurely 5 mile run until I read your interval training ride!

Kenal0

5/25 = Yes.

Morning commute. Nice ride. 7 minutes quicker than usual.


Stop.




Hammertime....

Psimet,

Looks like they got the St. Chuck portion open again huh??

5/25 Yep, Just got home from a nice 25 mile ride.

Jeff

5/25 A stress relief 12 miler along the shore of Lake Michigan down to the South Milwaukee Yacht Club. Sunny skies and deep blue water ... ahhhhh.

Cerenity now.

jw

How was the wind down there John I was out yeesterday and man was it hard
on my legs .

Dynodan

How was the wind down there John I was out yeesterday and man was it hard
on my legs .

Dynodan


It's been breezy, but not too bad. I try to stay narrow with my hands and arms, that helps.

jw

Psimet,

Looks like they got the St. Chuck portion open again huh??
Yup! They finished it on time. Beautifully fresh new asphalt. Smooth as silk. Now if they could have cleared out the art fair downtown then I wouldn't have had to dodge the exhibitors on the way home.

Where do you commute? I could swear I saw you on the Fox Trail a few days back.

Also, since you guys ride farther north than I go....I'm wondering....I have ridden through St. Charles and crossed the bridge and followed the path. Going north it then turns into a subdivision and I follow the signs and go through a little park and then end up on Randall a little north of Dean? How do you connect from there to the Randall Road trail that goes on north without riding on Randall?

Is there a cut through somewhere?

Where is this new asphalt? Thanks, Crystal

If you're following the signs and ending up at Randall Road, then continue West on Dean St. to the Forest Preserve on the North side of the road, (Leroy Oaks if memory serves correctly), the trail goes thru the forest preserve up along randall road to Silver Glen. I think the path then hooks up with the Thornwood paths up in that big subdivision.

I had heard there might be a new tunnel under Randall, but have yet to see it myself and not quite sure how or where it hooks in to the trail. I always come out of the park onto 17th St. then ride Dean West to the preserve.

The other option would be the continuation of the fox river trail on the East side of the river.

This is my normal commute route, when I'm commuting that is.

5/26 = YES.

Went up and down the Bull Valley hills a few times today. Much fun. Glad I put the 12/27 on the rear wheel yesterday.

That steep section up Deer Valley road actually got easier the second time I went up. I was having a conversation with a guy who was training on his tri bike as we ascended. Maybe it was easier because of that.

Where do you commute? I could swear I saw you on the Fox Trail a few days back.

Also, since you guys ride farther north than I go....I'm wondering....I have ridden through St. Charles and crossed the bridge and followed the path. Going north it then turns into a subdivision and I follow the signs and go through a little park and then end up on Randall a little north of Dean? How do you connect from there to the Randall Road trail that goes on north without riding on Randall?

Is there a cut through somewhere?

Where is this new asphalt? Thanks, Crystal
I ride the Fox River Trail from Elgin to North Aurora during my commute. The only day I was commuting this last week was Friday. You really can't miss me. I ride with a big flashing LED light up front and two red blinkies on my tan messenger bag. Guys at work call me rocket man.

I pass a lot of riders and try to say "hello" or "good afternoon" to as many as possible. Yell, "Psimet" if you think it's me. I'll stop.:D

I only follow the East side of the river through St Chucks. The new pavement is along 25 from just South of down town through North side of Geneva.

5/26 = YES.

Went up and down the Bull Valley hills a few times today. Much fun. Glad I put the 12/27 on the rear wheel yesterday.

That steep section up Deer Valley road actually got easier the second time I went up. I was having a conversation with a guy who was training on his tri bike as we ascended. Maybe it was easier because of that.
I could have gone with you. :( My son is either teething (molars all at once) or sick. Miserable person to be around right now. Would have loved to have gotten out of the house. Oh well....

5/26 = YES

after pissing and moaning all morning about the crappy forecasted weather for this weekend i thought for sure i was NOT riding. i should have pulled up my panties and headed out this morning, but i didnt. so around 2pm everyone is taking a nap, but me. i pull up the weather radar and it looks like i have an opening.

well, even brant miller could have forecasted that as soon as i got 6 miles west the rain would start. it did, but i went 4 more miles into the front before turning around and heading back. it was really raining and a first for me. it was kind of fun. i even spotted two other riders out just when i was thinking how hardcore i was :)

as i was rolling back down my home street the wife frantically calls my cellphone to inform me of our just issued tornado warning. good times.

21.62 miles / 1:09:35 / 18.64 mph

later.

5/26 = YES

after pissing and moaning all morning about the crappy forecasted weather for this weekend i thought for sure i was NOT riding. i should have pulled up my panties and headed out this morning, but i didnt. so around 2pm everyone is taking a nap, but me. i pull up the weather radar and it looks like i have an opening.

well, even brant miller could have forecasted that as soon as i got 6 miles west the rain would start. it did, but i went 4 more miles into the front before turning around and heading back. it was really raining and a first for me. it was kind of fun. i even spotted two other riders out just when i was thinking how hardcore i was :)

as i was rolling back down my home street the wife frantically calls my cellphone to inform me of our just issued tornado warning. good times.

21.62 miles / 1:09:35 / 18.64 mph

later.

You went riding in the rain. I'm sure your wife was thrilled. ;)

^^^^ well, she was napping when i left and had no idea until she woke up! then of course she was NOT thrilled. she is one of these weather phobia freaks. she flips out when tornadic conditions are forecasted. AND when live in Plainfield where i think there is a history? :) later.

No riding saturday it rained all day. Friday I rode from home out to the nursing home then out to cicis pizza at butterfeild plaza .About a 20 maybe 22 mile round trip.Once again on the fat tire coaster brake cruiser.Not a fast ride at all .Just plugging along .I Left the house at 3 and was home around 10 with stops along the way.

Bike the drive day=NO..

Kinda po'd about this one. Woke at 0400 to rain. Went to the computer and saw weather was upgraded to 60% chance of tstorms and the Mrs & I decided no, after pre registering a long time ago for this. Woke up much later and saw sun and blue sky galore. I guess its lawn work for me today instead. Its a shame because my wife really enjoyed last years BTD and its one of the few times shes excited about getting up early for anything.

5/27

Rode home at midnight and back to work at 2:00 p.m. Beautiful ride home and I look forward to the ride back.