|
Waterloo to Dubuque
Ride Across Iowa in 3 days!! Broke the string of 100 milers. Only 93 miles today. Took back roads again.
For the first time on these rides I just felt tired at the start. It was all I could do to turn the pedals. I had several HTFU conversations with myself. I reminded myself this was for fun, I was out riding because I wanted to and just take what the road gave me. After about 30 miles I found my groove, picked up a little helping wind and rode the next 35 miles in a zombie state doing 20-25 mph. I even zoomed past my sag support without even noticing! Stopped in Dyesville for a huge lunch. Hit a few hills near Dubuque. Actually climbed up to a ski slope!! In Iowa???? On to Illinois! (Anybody reading this stuff??? Getting too old???) Started out on bike paths in Waterloo. http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/a...sspzgdszz.jpeg Crossed over a river. http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/a...sovmh8dhe.jpeg New DRY shoes after yesterday's rain! http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/a...sii1tkipq.jpeg County roads with Share the Roads signs! http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/a...socmkvtia.jpeg A white water section in Manchester http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/a...svmxqkhlg.jpeg Self explanatory http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/a...sbr6ndvtw.jpeg http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/a...sbbsb7n8x.jpeg Gorgeous barn http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/a...snvn6rklw.jpeg |
No pics of the ski slope? ;)
|
Originally Posted by RonH
(Post 19042891)
No pics of the ski slope? ;)
My phone hit its storage limit until I could get back to Wifi. Seems like it was called Sundown Mountain Ski Resort? |
Nice
I'm reading your posts each day with interest...keep em coming.
|
Yes, I'm checking in everyday. So far, it looks like your having a great trip. Ride safe.
|
I'm enjoying your posts. You hit some serious rain when you crossed IA.
|
<--- I'm still reading your posts every day. You're doing great on describing each section in details that would probably run all together in your mind and be lost if you did the whole story at the end.
I'd offer to guide/ride with you through the Cleveland area, but you're much too fast for me - my 'distance' pace is more like 15-16mph. US20 through Indiana and western/central Ohio parallels the Indiana and Ohio Turnpikes. As such there are a LOT of truckers that take that route to avoid the turnpike tolls. When you get into Western Ohio, there is an ALT US20 that starts about 12-15 miles into the State, and following 60 miles that will take you to the southern edge of Toledo instead of through it where it rejoins US20 If you're still riding US20 through Ohio when you get near the Cleveland area, there is a rail-trail from Kipton (by Oberlin) into Elyria that you can take to avoid the US20 4-lane 'no bikes' section there. From the Oberlin/Elyria area to |
Yup, reading every day and enjoying it immensely.
It's been a wonderful blog/report and would love to see it archived for future reference. |
Originally Posted by Cougrrcj
(Post 19043611)
US20 through Indiana and western/central Ohio parallels the Indiana and Ohio Turnpikes. As such there are a LOT of truckers that take that route to avoid the turnpike tolls. When you get into Western Ohio, there is an ALT US20 that starts about 12-15 miles into the State, and following 60 miles that will take you to the southern edge of Toledo instead of through it where it rejoins US20 If you're still riding US20 through Ohio when you get near the Cleveland area, there is a rail-trail from Kipton (by Oberlin) into Elyria that you can take to avoid the US20 4-lane 'no bikes' section there. From the Oberlin/Elyria area to |
I'm reading your post EVERYDAY and throughly enjoying it!! I even go back to some of the older posts when I see a new comment posted and/or for reference. Definitely living, errr riding, vicariously through you.
Keep the posts coming!! Not sure what I'm going to do when you finally make it to Boston, maybe chair the JPPE Withdrawal Anonymous group.. :) |
Originally Posted by Barrettscv
(Post 19043766)
Same story in central and eastern Illinois. US20 is unusually dangerous for cyclists.
Actually, the riding was pretty good in the eastern part of the country. Where Hwy20 parallels I90 the riding was really nice. We found that most of the trucks took the Interstate instead of Hwy 20. Often 20 would go right under the interstate. Toledo was not a problem either; it is not too difficult to pick your way across a city. I would not classify any of the riding as "unusually dangerous." Our goal was to ride the longest contiguous coast-to-coast highway in the U.S., so we stayed on 20 as much as we could. |
Originally Posted by Doug64
(Post 19044334)
It has been awhile since my wife and I rode across the U.S. on US 20; we rode it on 2007. I really don't remember any real issues from the Iowa border to Chicago. We got off the busy sections where needed or when a nearby alternate when required.
Actually, the riding was pretty good in the eastern part of the country. Where Hwy20 parallels I90 the riding was really nice. We found that most of the trucks took the Interstate instead of Hwy 20. Often 20 would go right under the interstate. Toledo was not a problem either; it is not too difficult to pick your way across a city. I would not classify any of the riding as "unusually dangerous." Our goal was to ride the longest contiguous coast-to-coast highway in the U.S., so we stayed on 20 as much as we could. |
1 Attachment(s)
Originally Posted by jppe
(Post 19042889)
Ride Across Iowa in 3 days!! Broke the string of 100 milers. Only 93 miles today.Took backroads again.
For the first time on these rides I just felt tired at the start. It was al lI could do to turn the pedals. I had several HTFU conversations with myself.I reminded myself this was for fun,I was out riding because I wanted to andjust take what the road gave me. After about 30 miles I found my groove, picked up a little helping wind and rode the next 35 miles in a zombie state doing 20-25 mph. I even zoomed past my sagsupport without even noticing! On to Illinois!
Originally Posted by Jim fromBoston
(Post 19032647)
… your pictures are very photogenic, and particularly illustrative in that they nicely capture all the elements ofthe Ride: the terrain, surfaceof the Road*, lighting, [and loneliness]etc., so relevant to a cyclist, and as I remember them on our cross-country ride.
jp,you obviously freely chose …the Roads you are now riding,with tough, as well as sublime riding conditions. IMO … how you handle these conditions tossed your way, brought on by your choices, represents your Character.
Originally Posted by Carbonated
(Post 19031785)
What difficult conditions yet you persevered!
You are one hell of a cyclist!
Originally Posted by Jimfrom Boston
(Post 17074510)
I'm very motivated by novelty, and stymied by boredom on a bike, but I do have the motivation of commuting to work. I have foundthat when I drive my frequent, decades-old routes I often notice things I had not seen before. I think it’s because I can look around at more than just the road surface when driving. So when the commute [route] is getting too familiar, I just raise my head higher and look over a wider field of view….
One other whimsical technique on familiar roads is to imagine I'm riding with a certain fellow BF subscriber from the Midwest I enjoy reading, and I'm showing him around on my route. I particularly enjoy having visitors to Boston and take them on tours…
Originally Posted by Steven Wright
”I have an imaginary friend, but he won’t play with me.” http://www.bikeforums.net/data:image...ECAwICRAEAOw==
Originally Posted by jppe
(Post 19042889)
...(Anybody reading this stuff??? Getting too old???)
Originally Posted by Jim fromBoston
(Post 19022742)
It just occurred to me that this is the first time I have followed a tour (or long race, e.g. TdF, RAAM) consistently in approximately real time.
Originally Posted by Jim from Boston
(Post 19010213)
So, jppe, I hope you don’t mind us spectators glomming and reminiscing on to your Ride threads…
Originally Posted by Wildwood
(Post 19020121)
Tanlines?
Originally Posted by Wildwood
(Post 19011226)
Nice pics. With our warm PNW days = I wanna see 'tan lines'!
Originally Posted by George
(Post 19043489)
Yes, I'm checking in everyday. So far, it looks like your having a great trip. Ride safe.
Originally Posted by Cougrrcj
(Post 19043611)
<--- I'm still reading your posts every day. You're doing great on describing each section in details that would probably run all together in your mind and be lost if youdid the whole story at the end.
Originally Posted by Steve B.
(Post 19043759)
Yup, reading every day and enjoying it immensely.
Originally Posted by dhender02
(Post 19043971)
I'm reading your post EVERYDAY and throughly enjoying it!! I even go back to some of the older posts when I see a new comment posted and/or for reference.Definitely living, errr riding, vicariously through you.
Keep the posts coming!! Not sure what I'm going to do when you finally make it to Boston, maybe chair the JPPE Withdrawal Anonymous group..:) I previously posted to this thread in 2014, “did you track your miles in 2014?”
Originally Posted by Jim from Boston
(Post 17446512)
I don't want to hijack this thread, but your story might be an interesting topic for the Touring Forum; how do you do a segmented, presumably connected linear Cross Country Ride?
Or maybe the OP and subscribers of this thread would be interested too, since we all seem to be mileage junkies ("Hi...my name is Jim, and I'm a cycling mileage junkie. It got so bad that I even rode in the Winter...I had to hide it from my co-workers and family...") BTW,at this point in the ride, is it becoming less a tour and now a way of life, totally dissociated from everything before? Is this your longest ride? As usual no need to reply, but otherwise welcome; but this is what I’ll ask you in Boston. :innocent: |
Don't know which way you will be leaving Dubuque, but if you leave via SR 20 into Galena, be very carefull once you leave Galena. That's a truck route and can get very dangerous. If you happen to go through Elizabeth, IL, stop in at eTown Coffee and Cork, have a really good panini and cappuccino and say hello to Liz.
|
Am enjoying reading of your journey, only thing to comment is as a 50+er listen to your body. It may not be a matter of HTFU.
scott s. . |
Originally Posted by Barrettscv
(Post 19044384)
It's unfortunate that you haven't traveled other routes through northern Illinois, much safer and more scenic alternatives exist. Rt 20 is not usually used by local cyclist in the eastern half of Illinois.
Hopefully, we have a few more touring years left, and it is never too late to see some new places. Northern Illinois might be one of them:) |
| All times are GMT -6. The time now is 08:42 AM. |
Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.