hydraulic salamander

2009-03-12T11:31:00.000-07:00

This is from last nights Wheels of Glory III. In the first round I rode 1.24 miles in 2.5 minutes. It was the overall high but I lost in the second round by about .01 of a mile.

It was a lot of fun...

2009-03-09T15:50:00.000-07:00

2009
Time to resume my blog.
Last year was busy but I wasn't very inspired to keep up with this.
Most of my bike miles last year were at work but I did get some recreational riding in. I didn't keep accurate records but it was over 4,000 miles total. The recreational rides were not organized rides by Trailnet or Hostelling International but maybe this year I'll be able to ride some of those. There was a couple of fund raising rides. One started out as a 220 mile ride that we were going to complete in 36 hours, without sleep. Mother nature, goodyear, a vampire butterfly, some suicidal frogs and a killer turtle had other plans for us. We only got 120 miles in 24 hours.
My first Moonlight Fiasco was last year in November.
Oh one more big event, the Ride 64 ride. December 14th we rode on the newly finished highway 64 the day before it opened. It turned out to be a great event!

This year I plan to keep track of my bicycling adventures and anything bike related. So far this year I've attended the 7th annual St. Louis Regional Bicycle Federation's Swap/expo, the North American Handmade Bike Show in Indianapolis and Bicycle Day at Jefferson City, MO. Patty, Kevin and Jackson are going to Washington D. C. for the Bicycle Summit.
Also, I participated in two of Will Cycle for Charity's, Wheels of Glory races at Atomic Cowboy. The last Wheels of Glory race is Wednesday March 11th at 7 pm. That also happens to be a Moonlight Fiasco night.

I'm considering trying to ride one century a month starting in March. It will be mainly self-supported rides. More on that later.

This year I've also decided to restore/rebuild my vintage 1981 Trek 710. The frame was purchased in March of 83 for $325.00. Its been painted a couple of times, stolen once and ridden for thousands of miles. So its time to restore it. The Stronglight roller bearing headset that was on it, is going to stay. Also the Dura Ace seatpost, I just like the way it looks. It was stripped and painted by a company in Fenton, a dark blue with metal flake. It looks great but its starting to chip. Not sure what to do about that. It didn't start chipping until the decals were placed on it.

This is what it looked like in 2006, after 6 centuries and 23 years of hard riding.

Most all Dura Ace, including Dura Ace Biopace chainrings!!? and of course a Brooks Saddle.

This is what arrived in the mail today;

and on the inside...

It has an adjustable chain line feature. Very cool.

These shifters were purchased at this year's StL Bike Fed Swap/Expo (thanks Tyler).

Sparkly paint job!

Oh and one more part,

The front Derailler.

This is going to be fun building. I've used the parts from this bike and some extras that were laying around and built a stand in to ride while I'm getting this one finished. It will take a while to do. Money is short and NOS Suntour parts aren't easy to find.

2008-01-01T18:30:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

2007 was a recovery year for me. I did ride a lot. I started a new job in July with the St. Louis downtown Partnership as a Bicycle Guide. I average about 20 miles a day and I rode until the last week of December. I didn't really keep track of my milage last year, as i said it was a recovery year. December of 06 I started having problems with my right hip. I think it was a result of my fall while riding the Beer and Brat Century.

I am starting this blog again and I will probably add stories about work and post pictures of my bike projects. I have 6 new bikes. 4 Schwinns a Huffy and an AMC. Some of them will be projects and some I may just end up selling.

I have just finished a "fixie" for Kevin. It is an Austro Daimler. Its dark blue and looks really nice (pictures to follow).

The swap meet is three weeks away. I hope to pick up a few good sales...oh and pictures too.

2006-11-03T10:57:00.000-08:00

Final Century for the year?

Camp Hihaska make-up ride
Saturday October 7th

Two century rides in two weeks. Not much down time in between. But I did it. I rode in 5 Centuries for the Gateway Council's 5 Star Century Challange. I actually did 6 centuries with the Ride the Rivers Century thrown in for good luck but I didn't get credit for it from the HI people.

It was a cold day for a ride. I wore my wool socks and all my cold weather gear. It warmed up enough so that I just wore tights and my Bad Dog Jersey in the afternoon. Its great country down South in Bourbon Missouri with rolling hills and alot of coountry roads. It also has alot more dogs as well. I was chased by more dogs this ride thatn all of my other rides put together. I also met a woman who rode in the Beer and Brat Century. She also fell on the gravel at the first rest stop. We had matching road rash scars (mine is bigger).

I did this by myself (I found out later that other Chain Gang riders were there) and there were about thirty others who missed the Sandy Creek ride who rode as well.

Stats; Dst: 100 miles, Avs: 14.6, Mx: 39.5, Tm: 6:30

My average went way down from the first century. I always thought it should get better but it didn't. I'm not sure why.

I don't know if I'll do another 5 ride year or not, we'll have to see what next year brings.

One thing I know is I'm going to be wearing my Chain Gang Jersey to all the Centuries I ride in.

2006-11-03T10:12:00.000-08:00

Ride the Rivers Century
October 1, 2006

It was a great ride. Tom and I met early in the parking lot of the Tap Room. This was a good sign, we were going to end in the parking lot of one of the best micro breweries in St. Louis. We also got a free beer ticket to use when we were finished. The great people of Trailnet also gave us socks as the ride premium and as I was wearing my sandles I was glad to have the socks.

We started riding West through St. Louis and headed to St. Peters and the Missouri River. The food for this ride was great. Normally you get the usual cookies and banannas but on this ride there was clif bars, apples, orange slices, oreos, trail mix and enough so every one got as much as they needed.

At the fist rest stop I saw Bob Foster who had a broken spoke on his front wheel. He left the rest stop after Tom and I did and finished the ride with a broken spoke and the front tire wobbling. He is a better man than me...

Well the first half of the ride was hilly and very scenic. Very peaceful and a great ride. We crossed over two rivers on ferries. The Golden Eagle and the Brussels ferries. The Golden Eagle ferry has a fee for crossing but the organisers took care of that and the Brussels ferry is free. After crossing the Big Muddy (the Mississippi) we went through Pier Marquette State Park and arrived in Grafton for lunch. It was sandwiches but you got a choice and it was made to order for you. The bathroom accomindations were lacking but the stop was really nice.

After lunch we rode South on the River Road out of Grafton to Alton. I've ridden this many times in the past but it was always earlier in the day. We were in the midday sun and against the wind. It seemed like we rode for 40 miles this way and I was getting tired but I had the Tap Room to inspire me to finish.

Once we were out of Alton we took stayed on the levys along the river until we got to the Chain of Rocks Bridge. We then took the River front path to Laclede's Landing. There was a couple of events going on at the same time and we actually got stuck in traffic on our bikes.

Tom and I arrived at the finish around seven hours after we started, thirsty and tired.

Stats; Dst: 100 miles, Avs: 15.1, Mx: 32.5, Tm: 6:25

2006-10-16T09:26:00.000-07:00

I'm sitting in my dining room writing this as it rains outside. It is cold, dark, and rainy at 11:30 in mid-October. I've heard it has snowed over the past weekend in far-off exotic places like Buffalo and Chicago. It hasn't snowed here but it could have.

It is hard to think about cycling this morning but I need to get the final three centuries posted before I totally forget them.

Tom and I rode several times to train for the Sandy Creek Century. Tom wasn't riding it just me, but Tom was riding with Dave and Brian on a week long ride so he needed as much time in the saddle as he could get. We rode in West county where there are great hills. I seemed to have lost the specs for the ride. I remember riding around 35 miles. Tom if you have the stats from the ride send them to me and I'll edit the post.

We also rode in Columbia, IL for around 20 miles.

My fifth century was going to be the Sandy Creek Century on September 23rd. I started off with a big problem. I was planning to ride and finish in around 7 hours and then go to work. I had it figured out that if I started at 6:00 am and it took me 7 hours I would finish at 1:00 pm and that would give me 2 hours to get to work shower get dressed and be ready for work. Seven hours is reasonable for me. All my other centuries I finished in 7 so as long as nothing went terribly wrong I could do it.

I woke at 4:30 am the morning of the 23rd to the sound of rain. I thought I could still do it. It had rained in at least three of the other centuries. I drove an hour to get to the start. It was 6:30. Already half an hour late. I signed in. Still raining. And now thunder and lightning. I waited until 7:15 to start. I figured I could call in late. If I was an hour late for work it would be OK still.

At the ten mile mark I realized that I wasn't going to finish. I was soaked, and cold. I had fallen on gravel on thse last century, just one month befroe, and my right elbow and right hip were beginning to nag me about falling again. So I stopped at a gas station and looked at the map and decided to go to the first rest stop (at the 20 mile mark) and take the Sag back to the start.

You got to understand, after at least 20 years of riding in organized and unorganized rides I had until that point never Sagged back to the start. Even after falling off my bike.

Well, I knew at this point, I couldn't expect to finish the ride and get to work. So I got to the first rest stop. It was thundering and there was no break in the clouds at this point. The rest stop had two volunteers helping out. One of the volunteers was Jasper a Turbo rider from the Gateway HI. He is one of the 70+ youngsters that Tom and I have had the pleasure of riding with, or pleasure of trying to keep up with on some of our training rides. He and I talked for a while, while I was waiting for the Sag.

Right as the Sag got to the rest stop to pick me up the sun came out. Susan, another Gateway HI volunteer who I've ridden with on other centuries, was the driver of the Sag van. She offered me a cup of hot chocolate. It was the best hot chocolate I've had since the last time I was camping.

Anyway I only went 20 miles on this ride. I averaged around 15 miles per hour, not my best but this was the Sandy Creek Century. The hilliest ride of the year, so far...

2006-08-21T19:14:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted in awhile but that doesn't mean I haven't ridden. I have 5 rides that I need to catch up on.

The first ride was Saturday August 5th
Buder State Park in Jefferson County Missouri.
I found out earlier in the week that the last Century of the Five Star Century series was going to be the hardest century of all five. It was mainly the hills that were going to make it hard. Jefferson County, for all of you who don't know, is very hilly. There isn't a flat spot in the whole county and the hills are big ones. So it is a great place to train if you are going to ride a century in the hills.

I got an invite from a list I'm on, I think its one from the St. Louis Regional Bike Fed, for a ride at Buder State Park starting at 7:00 am. This was organized by Bob Chekoudjian. Buder is an hour West of Belleville so that means I got up at 5 and got in the truck at 6 and was ready to go at 7. I woke up to a flat tire. I just bought new ones and put them on Wednesday night and must have pinched the front tube putting it on. I changed it again before I left. By the time I got to Buder it was flat again and I only had one more tube. The third time was a charm, I changed it and it held until the end of the ride.
We rode from Buder State Park to Shaw's Arboretum and back. The park is beautiful and the area around it is great for a ride. Tom has said many times in the past that he likes riding hills and he would rather ride a century in hills than flats because on flats you have to pedal all the time. I didn't understand until I rode this ride.
Stats: Dst:44.61, Avs: 15, Mx: 35, Tm: 3 hrs.

The next ride was on Sunday August 6th and it was in O'Fallon IL with Dave and Brian. Brian and family had just gotten back from Door County and Dave and family had gotten back from the Grand Canyon. It was an easy ride, we were mainly getting some time in the saddle.
Stats: Dst: 35, Avs: 15.6, Mx 31.5 Tm: 2:14.
We really weren't pushing it.

My third ride was in Jefferson County again, another Bob Chekoudjian organized ride. Saturday August 12th. Rockwoods Reservation to Pacific and back. Again many hills and a good group of people. We actually stopped for lunch in Pacific at a little diner called the Depot.
Stats: Dst: 44.35, Avs: 14.5 Mx:45, Tm: 2:50.
Yes, thats right, Max Speed 45 miles per hour! I glad I had new tires.
The hills were very big and with this route some of the down hills were long and straight. I actually walked up two of these hills. I couldn't ride up all the way.

The next ride was Tuesday August 15. Tom and I went to Alton and rode to Pierre Marquette State Park but we rode in from the back side and returned to Alton on the river road. There was a bunch of dogs on this route and the final dog pack was two mean Chihuahuas and a really ugly Pug. I fell off my bike at one place and had a flat but the rest of the ride was nice except for the feeling that I was on the set of the movie Deliverance a couple of times.
Stats: Dst: 44.35, Avs: 15.6, Mx: 34, Tm: 2:50.

The fifth ride was the Beer and Brat Century in Millstadt Il, Saturday August 19th. We had around 13 to 18 people in a group that stuck together for the first 67 miles. John & Michelle, Mike K, Virgil, Dave, Brian, John, Tom, Craig, Joey, Kathy, and three or four others I didn't know rode with us. The beginning of the day was very nice, overcast and about mid 70's and no wind. We stayed together for most of the first part of the ride. I dropped a tube out of my seat bag and had to go back after it but I didn't get left behind. Tom however dropped his water bottle and was very far back after about 30 miles. I slowed to see if I could help him catch-up but I didn't see him and I didn't want to get too far behind so I sped up to catch the pack. Well right before the second rest stop at Washington Park in Fayetteville I turned a corner on gravel and went down. Hard.
My bike was fine. I was a little scraped up, a little loss of skin and a large raspberry on my hip but no broken bones and no deep cuts. I got some first aid help at the rest stop and continued on.
I saw Craig leaving the rest stop as I came in, he wasn't fooling around. He stayed out in front of us the whole ride even tho he said he didn't feel well. He had just returned from a business trip and said all he ate was conference food (m-m-m donuts).
Tom caught up with us at the rest stop and we rode together again for about another 20 miles and then Tom flatted. He ended up with two flats on the road and the last tube he had was going flat as he ate lunch so he stopped at 67 miles.
After lunch we got ready to go and Dave had a flat. He fixed it and we got started and about 10 miles into the last 30 Dave had another flat. Some of us went on and some stayed with Dave. Brian and I rode together and met up with another rider from the Belleville area. Brian had a flat at the 80 mile marker and we had a little difficulty getting it aired up. Dave and the group with him passed us and continued on. We eventually got Brian's tire aired up and rode on.
The total flats for the day for our group was 9. Total for people falling off bikes in our group 2 (Michelle also went down but she was OK). I heard of several others having trouble with the gravel that day. The Illinois roads were covered in gravel this weekend.
Stats: Dst: 100.6, Avs: 17 (sad times but I think it was because of all the gravel), Mx: 32.5, Tm: 5:54.
This is patch #4 for me...
I heard it was Joey's first century. He looked strong, he'll be out there again I'm sure.

One more picture from the day of the ride...
Arm road rash...

I also wanted to mention, Joey, Dave Brian, Kathy and I talked about the team jerseys after the ride and we have a date of September 18th for delivery, if I can get the art to the printer by Thursday the 24th. We have sponsors and we have a design all I need to do is put the two together and send it to the printer and we will have jerseys.
We would have looked awsome on this century, riding in a pack of 15 with matching jerseys...

2006-08-01T10:18:00.000-07:00

Logo, New Tires and a new Bike!!!

Here is a drawing for the Team Logo. It will be "Chain Gang" and I thought a catchy tag line should read "Take No Prisoners" just to sound like we have a really bad attitude.
Vote whether you like it or not.

Brian, I will incorporate the line of riders in the over all logo.

NEW TiRES!! I wanted to wait until I rode all 5 centuries before I got them but I noticed the threads coming through the rubber on my old tires.
This is a momentus day my friends...

And finally. A new bike, well new to me anyway.
I've been looking for this type of frame for literally years.
I don't think I'm going to ride it in any centuries or even training rides just yet.

Its more for fun than anything else...

2006-07-23T11:36:00.000-07:00

Weekend rides
Saturday July 22, & Sunday July 23 2006

Saturday Dave and I met Brian and we rode the country side around O'Fallon. There is much damage from the two storms this week. So we rode slowly.

Stats; Dst: 31.11, Avs: 15.6, Mx: 31.5 Tm: 1.59.13

Sunday Dave, Brian, Joe S, Joey S and me. We rode to the catsup bottle in Collinsville.

Stats; Dst: 38.1, Avs: 16.2, Mx: 35.5, Tm: 2.20.44

Both days the weather was great. Cool around 70, a little wind on Sat and almost none on Sun.

2006-07-13T10:25:00.000-07:00

Sunday July 9 2006
Firecracker 100
Greenville IL

This ride is called the Firecracker, I imagine because of it being right after the 4th of July and normally it is really hot.

The weather was great for a ride. It rained a little but not enough to spoil the fun and the cloud cover gave us a rest from the heat. This ride was the day after the donut ride and a few of us from the donut ride woke up early and rode the country side of Greenville Illinois. Joe S., Virgil, John, Michele and Joe P. were in attendance. I arrived late and didn't ride with our group. I don't recommend this to anyone. If you ride a pretty fast race or ride one day and plan to ride a century the next day make sure you have someone to ride it with.

Riding by myself, I was continually thinking of the bad parts of the ride. Especially after 70 miles or so. The ride was great, there was enough hills to make it interesting, no dogs and the scenery was beautiful. But I got into a funk and couldn't see anything but the uphill climbs and the rough road. I did suck on to a couple of pace lines and rode with some really nice people. It took my mind off how tired I was, but it would have been better. I am going to make a point of riding with someone next time.

Enough complaining.

First off, I forgot my computer...

I don't know my times and distance from my computer but I took my time off the time sheet and the distance off the trip sheet and figured out the speed etc.

The scenery was great. This is a little country side church...

We rode on several small highways most of the time but traffic was not a problem...

Nothing but corn and clouds...

About 80 miles in I broke the pad on my aero bar...

Finally finished...

Once I finished I found Joe S, John, Michele and Virgil. They started out about a half an hour before me and I almost caught them. It wasn't because I rode so much faster, they rode 100 miles and I only rode 96. The course was set up for only 96.

My stats: Tm: 5.41, Dst: 96, Avs: 16.89

Not bad for a 96 mile ride the day after a 31 mile race.

2006-07-10T08:32:00.000-07:00

Tour de Donut cont....

Dave, Joe, Brian and Tom...

Sitting left to right, Dee, Dave, Joe S, Tom
Second row, Mike, John, Michele, Joe P, Brian
Third row, Kathy, Peggy, Virgil

Real times...
8 1 :20:41 Virgil Moehsmer
12 1 :23:32 Kathy Fisher
26 1 :27:05 Joe Switzer
29 1 :27:58 Mike Kapilla
49 1 :33:57 David Paeth
50 1 :33:59 Michele Hopkins
53 1 :34:05 Thomas Cramer
93 1 :41:02 Bryan Kendall
94 1 :41:03 Joe Pierce
135 1 :46:52 John Hopkins

Adjusted times...
1:11:03 Joe Pierce
I only ate 6 donuts and I finished 4th for the over 50 adjusted time group...

Specs off my computer, Tm: 1.35.31, Dst: 31, Avs: 19.4, Mx: 33
19.4 Average speed. That is an all time best for me for 31 miles.
We all really did well. Virgil, Kathy, Joe S, and Mike took off at the start and didn't slow down until they saw the finish line. Great job everyone!!

The whole town welcomed the racers. The main street in town was closed to automobile traffic and a lane was kept open for the riders to go through.

This was a very cool ride and I will do it next year...

2006-07-10T08:21:00.000-07:00

Tour de Donut cont...

675 people in the race...

Joe & Virgil at the front of the pack...

Brian and I started near the front of the pack...

Kathy was the first woman to cross the finish line (second from the left). At 1 hr, 23 min, and 32 seconds, she was the 12th person to cross the finish line. Way to go Kathy!!!

Gold medalist Kathy Fisher...

2006-07-10T08:07:00.000-07:00

July 8th 2006
Tour de Donut
Stauton, IL

It was a great day for a race. The morning temperature was in the low 70's and still, no wind.

We all met around 8:00 am and discussed strategy, actually we all talked about how little sleep we got the night before and tried to figure out who was going to eat donuts and who wasn't.

Dave didn't want to waste any time getting to the race so he slept in someone else's trailer and got up with the birds dressed and ready to go...

Joe was thinking if he left his glasses off he would be 6.2 ounces lighter and just a little faster. But can I see?!?

Discussing strategy...or dreaming of donuts...

The parking lot filled quickly...

Brian & Tom before the race...

2006-07-05T10:10:00.000-07:00

Fourth of July 2006

Columbia, IL

Once again Tom, Dave, Brian and Joe met at Columbia for a ride. This one we choose to ride the flats. It was flatter than the "Flat-as-a-Pancake" ride. We actually changed the ride from Alton to Columbia because of rain in the Alton area.

Stats:
Tm: 2.23.4, Avs: 17.4, Dst: 41.87, Mx: 25.5

We rode at a slower pace than usual for the first half of the ride and we found out it was with the wind. Once we turned around and started into the wind we picked up the speed and kept it around 20 for 12 miles, into the wind.

Great work-out. This is a good training ride for the upcoming Tour de Donut on Saturday. We should have around 8 people riding.

2006-07-05T09:45:00.000-07:00

Sunday July 2 2006
Columbia, IL (Yea, I know, Columbia again)

Brian, He did ride with his eyes open, really...

Dave and Tom

Dave and Joe

It was a pretty hot day with a lot of sun. We rode a route that Tom and I have ridden before a couple of times. But this time it was profitable. I found $36.00 and four Lottery tickets! I'm still not buying new tires.

Beer and Jerky was consumed at the finish.

Stats:
Tm:2.38, Avs: 16.7, Dst: 44.17, Mx 36.5

2006-06-26T08:42:00.000-07:00

What a great job. I get to ride a bike around the Missouri Botanical Garden. Its mostly at night but there is not usually too many people and the paths are very smooth. The total loop is around 1.5 miles and there are a few hills I can ride. Not much of a work out but I do get a bunch of saddle time.

I just need to watch out for the wild life, like the foxes...

2006-06-26T08:28:00.000-07:00

Sunday June 25th 2006
Temp 75

We got part of the group together to do a Sunday morning ride. Dave, Craig, Joe S, Joey S, and Joe P. The spicy meat sticks were tasty, the Fat Tire was cold and it was a beautiful day for a ride. We rode some of the roads around O' Fallon IL, some of the same roads we've been on before and some new. Joey must have been training on his new bike because he looked like Lance as he crested Rose Hill and even tho Joe S started out not feeling too great he led the pack for awhile until Dave and Craig changed the route.

We rode 42.47 miles, Avs 17.2, Mx 35 (down hill), Tm 2:27.

We also talked about getting a group together for the Tour de Doonut, so far we have five.

2006-06-24T10:05:00.000-07:00

Boy! Not much happening lately.

My wife and kids are taking the Road 1 class through the St. Louis Regional Bicycle Federation. So far they are having a good time. Tomorrow is the last class. They are riding on streets in Fergison MO.

I've been commuting to work and riding at work lately. Not many miles but a bunch of time oon the saddle. I'll take some pictures at work and post them.

My commute is only 2.5 miles to work and the same returning. The return trip however is at 11 PM. Some of the streets are a little dicey. I was spotted the other night by a laser spotter. I don't believe it was a gun sight laser but I've changed the route I'm taking now. Actually I'm starting to drive to work again.

I'm riding tomorow with the group.

We still don't have a name for our group.

2006-06-04T18:45:00.000-07:00

Pictures for flat as a Pancake ride

Most of the morning was cloudy

Finally the sun came out at about 20 miles

Fording the river...there actually is a road under there...

More water...no pot holes or snakes...please...

2006-06-04T17:40:00.000-07:00

Sunday June 4th 2006
Flat as a Pancake Ride or
How I spent a rainy, windy day, lost and fording rivers...

What a ride. I tried to ride with Craig this morning but we didn't get together. We wanted to start at 6:30 am so we could beat the heat and wind. I got up early and went out to put my bike in my car and noticed that the sky to the North West was dark and cloudy. There was also lightning but I went anyway. Craig called me, he didn't want to start in the rain so he started later.

It was fine until I got started. It rained for the first 15 miles or so. I don't like rain so I kept the pace down and there was also a good head wind so my average speed was around 16. A disappointing start.

Once the rain stopped it got better but the roads were still wet. For the first part of the ride we were pretty much riding straight North. When I got to the 25 mile mark I got a little concerned. I had just passed two people but I didn't see anyone else in front of us. I stopped and checked the map and realized we had missed a turn. We got directions from a Farmer who was passing on a tractor and decided not to turn back. We probably only added two miles. We turned and rode towards the route and joined them after a bit. But we missed a rest stop. That isn't too bad in the first part of the ride but I was getting low on water and the first part was 66 miles, so I had to get to a rest stop or buy some water in a gas station.

The next 20 miles were uneventful, the weather turned out to be great and no mishaps. After a rest stop at 45 miles with a water fill-up the pace picked up to a more normal 19-22 mph. The woman who was in charge of the rest stop warned us about flooded roads ahead and at 55 miles we hit it. The road was completely flooded over. Even the cars didn't want to go through it. I didn't want to turn around so ahead I went. My sandles were the best thing to wear as it turned out, because the water was about six inches deep and over my pedals at the bottom of the stroke. Other people were complaining of wet feet, socks and shoes. The water only lasted about one block but it was enough to slow many riders to a crawl.

Lunch was served at the 66 mile point. Once again it was cold cuts and chips. Some of the riders were passing up the lunch. I had a sandwitch and salad. I tried to eat light and fast.

My stats for the first half were:

Dst: 69, Avs: 17.5, Mx: 31, Tm: 4 hours. Not too impressive but I did have mother nature against me.

The second half was pretty uneventful. It turned out to be great bicycling weather. There was a little wind and near the end we rode right into it. At one point some buzzards were circling but I wasn't dead yet.

My stats for the second half are:

Dst: 104 miles, Avs: 17.2, Mx: 31, Tm: just over 6 hrs.

Not too bad considering. And once again my tire held out.

This was at mile 1, raining and cool.

This was the 20 mile mark and when the sun first came out

Clouds. What I was looking at for the first part of the ride

80 mile mark. This is what most of the ride looked like

I played tag with this couple for most of the last part of the ride

The buzzards were circling but I wasn't finished yet...

2006-05-30T21:59:00.000-07:00

May 29th 2006
The Great Pizza Ride and Recumbent Rally

Boy what a ride. Under 50 miles in 90+ degree heat some small hills, not big enough to speak of, and we even had a GIRL RIDING WITH US and she didn't even seem scared of us when we finished! Even tho Tom had his "Show-Me-State" license.

Anyway, as I was saying, the ride was in Millstadt where Tom and I have ridden at least three times this year. Its an OK ride but I'm going to avoid Millstadt and Columbia Illinois for at least another month. I just want to see more of the country side. We started off with a bang. Literally. Brian had a blow-out before we even started and normally that would have been a bad sign but even my 10 year old Continentals held out for the rest of the ride. While we were getting ready, the organizer of the ride (the Trailnet guy) kept announcing that we had to be very aware of what we were doing on the road because bicyclists are getting a bad name in Madison County Illinois and St Clair is beginning to not like cyclist as well. Well that was what I got from what he was saying.

We didn't see any problem with authorities the whole ride until the end. While we were partaking in our end of ride ritual (beer and jerkey) a Millstadt Police Officer pulled up. He sat in his car for a minute or two and made us a little nervous. When he finally got out he came up to us and asked if we were the organizers (I guess it was all the grey haired executive types standing around[see picture below]). It seems that the Mayor of Millstadt got a call that there were a bunch of bicyclists on the rode and no-one even bothered to call them and tell them that the ride was happening. The Officer said that they just wanted us to have fun and if Trailnet had notified someone they could have shut down some roads for us and gotten more Police on duty even had some extra Paramedics to stand by if needed.

Kathy (the girl with us that put some of the boys to shame) retrieved her ride sheet and gave him Trailnet's SAG number. We told him we thought he was going to tell us that we couldn't drink in a public place but he said they just wanted us to have fun. What a great guy.

The ride itself was pretty fast paced. We rode with Craig and some of his friends. They kept the pace at 20+ mph even in the 90 degree heat.

My stats for the day were:
Dst: 43.35, Avs: 18, Tm 2 hrs, 24 mins Mxs: 31.5

The beer and jerkey was consumed quickly...

Joey, didn't wait long after the ride was finished to get back to work...

Left to Right, Brian, Jeff, Joe, Dave, Kathy, Mike and Tom

Standing, Left to Right, Brian, Joe, Joe, Dave, Kathy
Kneeling, Left to Right, Joey, Tom

Thanks to the guy who took the pictures, who ever he was...

2006-05-30T17:34:00.000-07:00

We need a name for our group.

It would be much more impressive to ride in a pace line at 22 mph if we all had matching jerseys. And if it had a name printed on it that let everyone know how really bad we were, we would be memorable, famous even!!!

Any suggestions will be considered (mainly because I can't think of anything right off hand). Tom suggested Road Warriors (or Rode Warriors I'm not sure which). Once we come up with something everyone can agree with I will create a great logo and get shirts designed and printed.

Lets keep it classy but bold, bike related and something to do with the animals we think we are.

You can post your ideas on this blog in the comment section. This way we can all add or dis the comments posted by others. Be nice...

Vote early and often...

2006-05-30T10:49:00.000-07:00

May 29th 2006
Millstadt IL
The Great Pizza Ride and Recumbent Rally

I'm not sure what eveyone is laughing about.
I think Dave was saying something about the ride?

I'll add more pictures and a run down of the ride later today...

2006-05-30T10:29:00.000-07:00

May 25th 2006

I recovered pretty quickly after the century Tom and I rode. We went on a "cool down" ride on the Thursday after. We went to Horse Shoe Lake State Park and rode the trail to Edwardsville and back. It is a great ride if you don't want to deal with traffic and if you ride during the week in the day time there isn't much traffic on the path.

Stats;
Dst: 31.91 mls, Avs: 15.8, Mxs: 22, Tm: 2 hrs 1 min.

Fun ride and we weere riding with some wind but it wasn't too taxing of a ride. Like I said it was a "cool down" ride. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.

2006-05-23T07:39:00.000-07:00

May 20th 2006
Indian Crossing Century
Portage Des Sioux MO

Our first century of the year and Tom and I did our best.

We started out at 7:00am at the check-in, we got our time cards (HI was timing the event) and lunch tickets. It was a little chilly but we both wore only jerseys and shorts. It was a little breezy and the wind stayed with us all day. The wind made it a little tough in the last thirty miles, but I'm getting ahead of myself.

The course was two loops a larger one for the morning, 65 miles and one that was smaller but covered much of the same territory for the afternoon for 36 miles. Tom and I started out very strong. We were riding at a 19 to 22 mile per hour pace most of the time. We drafted each other some of the time but for most of it we rode side by side and talked. We commented that it seemed a little too easy. I picked up some GU from Maplewood Cyclery and some of Jelly Bellys new sport jelly beans, Tom and I kept our energy levels "up" and after about 40 miles we were averaging almost 19 mph! We caught a pace line after a rest stop at about 45 miles and were cruising at 23mph for at least ten miles. A couple of these guys were really big. Probably six five and well over 200 lbs. They were wearing Discovery team shirts and some other yellow jerseys but they seemed to be very used to riding together. We stayed with them until a turn where I got behind and lost the line and Tom slowed so I wouldn't be by myself. We rode at a more reasonable pace for me until another pace line lead by a tandem passed us and we caught it but once again I couldn't keep up. Tom stayed with them this time, we were about three miles from the finish.

My 65 mile stats were; 18.4 avs and time; 3 hrs 34 mins. Pretty good for the first big ride.

We then had lunch which was sandwiches, potato salad, chips and cookies and after we set out to finish this bad boy and claim our patches.

Well, I knew I was in trouble right away. When we got out away from town we turned directly into the wind. It wasn't too strong but it was enough to hurt.

The afternoon loop was 36 miles and kinda inside the morning loop. So Tom and I started a pace and drafted each other for a little while but I felt better at a 18 mph pace and I know Tom was itching to go faster. I caught some other riders going closer to my pace and told Tom not to wait for me. We split up about ten miles into the second part of the ride. I think we ended up riding by ourselves for most of the last part of the ride. I ended up 15 minutes behind Tom which is a pretty big difference.

The roads were great, smooth, not too much traffic, flat. The weather was great, just enough sun and not too hot. The sights were great. All-in-all it was a great ride and I'd do it again, all except for the last half mile. At the end of the ride, at one hundred and one miles the ride organizer took us past a monument at the river front to see the river in all its splendor and then you were to take a u-turn and go back to the start. I couldn't believe we were riding down to the river! All I want to do after I hit the one hundred mile mark is finish, and get off my bike. If they had put the scenic part in the middle it would have been more appealing.

Oh well enough, the stats are as follows:

Tom, 102 miles, 18.5 avs, riding time 5 hours, 31 minutes

Joe, 102 miles, 17.6 avs, riding time 5 hours, 45 minutes.

The official times will be posted on Hostelling International's web site. I'll try to remember to post them.

And one last thought, I wonder what times the guy in the backround of the picture turned in...

2006-05-17T17:54:00.000-07:00

May 17th 2006

OK. Tom and I rode today. We're getting ready for a century this Saturday. I'm not sure that I am totally ready. I need to get some energy gel, and at least one spare tire. Otherwise I feel better than I have in a long time.

Today's ride is one we did about a month ago. It starts out in Columbia Illinois and winds through the farmlands of the Illinois side of the St. Louis region. It winds around the river bottom and then up the bluffs to Millstadt and then back to Columbia. It is a really peaceful ride with some hills. The roads are good on most of the ride but there are some rough parts and a couple of roads you have to fight traffic. But it is a good training ride. The only negative about today's ride was the wind was pretty strong out of the West and we had a head wind most of the way back.

Ride stats; Dst: 45 mls, Tm: 2 hrs, 44 mins, Avs: 16.2, Mxs 35.5 (and this was down a steep hill that is very badly paved).

We hope to ride again tomorrow.

2006-05-04T10:34:00.000-07:00

This is what I've been riding since 1983, with a few modifications.

2006-05-03T11:02:00.000-07:00

Tuesday May2nd.

Another great day for cycling. It was in the mid 60's when we started (9:00 am) and sunny. Tom and I joined the Hostelling International ride in Milstadt Il for a 44 mile ride on the countryside. There was a good group of people riding. Tom and I started out in a large group, about 15 people, and we soon broke out with 6 others and we were going at a good clip, around 22-23 miles per hour. Pretty soon I started to feel a cramp in my side and I was getting winded. I realized that this was too fast a pace for me and I slowed to my usual 18-20 mph pace. The grou[p got ahead of me but not too far. I kept catching them on intersections with stop signs. They also got a littl lost and added about three miles to the total trip. The thing that made me feel like a looser was that three of the guys were over 70 years old. Real animals and great riders. Paul and Jasper who we had ridden with before were the strongest of the three.

Anyway the stats are as follows;
Distance: 47.35, avs: 16.6, tm: 2hrs, 50 mins, mxs:30.5.

2006-04-30T09:18:00.000-07:00

Thursday April 27th at 9:00 am in O' Fallon Missouri.
Tom and I rode from the O' Fallon Community Park through the surronding area. It was a beautiful day, sunny and around 65 with a little breeze. The area we rode was hilly, not too much so but it had almost not flat aras. The hills were not steep and the scenery was relaxing.
Ride stats, Distance; 40 mls, Avs; 16.9, Mxs; 36, Tm; 2 hrs 20 mins.
This is a ride I'd reccomend to everyone.

2006-04-25T09:51:00.000-07:00

Spring Chicken ride

Jeff, Craig, Joe, Brian and Dave. Tom took the picture...

2006-04-25T09:43:00.000-07:00

This is our group.

From Left to right:
Dave, Joe, Joe, Joey, Brian and Tom...

2006-04-25T09:35:00.000-07:00

Me...

2006-04-24T09:58:00.000-07:00

Sunday, April 23rd, Earth Day.

What a wonderful day for an early morning ride! It was in the low 60's and just a slight breeze, and the sun was out. There was a storm that stayed out to the South West until well after we finished. I actually started clouding over where we were in the parking lot after the ride but It didn't rain and I was able to drive home the whole way with the top down and I didn't get wet.

It was the annual Hostelling International "Spring Chicken" ride in St. Libory Illinois. There was a great turn out. When we got to the parking lot at the American Legion Hall there was a parking attendant and we all laughed at him for wanting us to park close together. When we finished I was surprised that there was so many people there. I guess they came for the chicken. There is a restaurant in St. Libory called amazingly enough "Chicken" that is supposed to have great fried chicken. I haven't tried it yet. Someday...

Well, our group consisted of some of the usual suspects, Tom, Dave and Brian and we had Jeff join us who is a friend of Brian's and Dave's. We also had Craig join us. Criag is someone who Dave and Brian met on a ride on Saturday, he lives in the neighborhood and is an avid cyclist. He complimented us on pushing him to ride fast but we all were trying to keep up with him. I guess its a male thing, to see who can stay at the front. Anyway we arrived around 8:30 am and rode just under 44 miles, avs 17.8, my max speed was 27 and the time was 2 hrs and 27 min. It was a great ride for us all.

We talked about a name and some team shirts for our little group. We are getting to be a big enough group to get shirts and look impressive on our rides. The only name submitted so far was "Road Warriors" or "Rode Warriors" I'm not sure which spelling Tom was suggesting.

Joe and Joey were busy this weekend so they didn't join us, they were missed. And I have to say, we are missing Kate. She hasn't rode with us in a while and we need that equilibrium of a woman in the group...the yin and yang thing...

Tom took pictures again and once I figure out how to post them I will start...

2006-04-20T10:43:00.000-07:00

Tuesday April 18th, another great day for bicycling. I met Tom at the Kirkwood Community Center at 9:00 am. we went on another HI weekday ride, this was the Azalea Ride. The Azaleas are blooming right now and the ride took us through some of the neighborhoods of West St. Louis city from Kirkwood to the Botanical Garden. We were supposed to go through the garden once we got there but I had to go to work by 2:30 pm so we skipped the garden walk part. Tom and I don't like to stop for very long anyway.

We put in 28 miles, Mxs: 28, Tm: a little over 2 hrs, Avs 14. The day was very nice lower 60's and a little breezy but not bad.

Once again, thanks to Tom for helping me get my average time up.

We talked a little about the 5 century challange and a 60 mile ride Tom wants to do from his house to downtown Stl and through South City and back to his house. I think I'm ready for it.

This weekend is Earth Day Celebrations and the Spring Chicken Ride.

2006-04-11T09:00:00.000-07:00

Sunday April 9th at 8:00 am. It was in the high 30's and very sunny and no wind a great day for cycling.

The ride group consisted of Joe, Joey (a Father and son duo), Brian, Dave and Tom, this is my core group, Kate usually rides with us but she was training a new employee so she couldn't make it.

We rode our quasi-normal ride with an added route by the Catsup Bottle Water Tower. There are a few hills, some medium some small no really large hills. There are a couple of dogs but they are getting used to us so they don't chase us far.

Our ride time was about two and a half hours, average speed was about 15.7, distance was around 41 miles and my maximum speed was 35.5 mph.

We also talked about the first century of the year coming up, May 20th. I hope to be in shape by then to do it. We'll see.

My total milage for the year at this point is around 260 miles.

2006-04-05T10:23:00.000-07:00

Another great ride yesterday. 45 miles, 2 hours and 55 minutes, average speed 15.3 mph.
It was breezy at first and ended up with a headwind at about 7 mph. Some hills but mostly flat. We started out in Columbia Illinois and rode through a couple of small towns.

Once again I rode with Tom.

2006-04-03T11:43:00.000-07:00

Ok, I'm finally going to add another post.

On Friday the 31st of March, I was able to use the bike at work to make rounds. I only rode for a couple of hours, I'm not sure how far I rode but the point is I am able to ride a bike as part of my job!

April Fool's Day I rode in a Hostelling International ride from 5 miles North of Alton Illinois across the Confluence of the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers to Brussels Illinois and back. We took the Brussels Ferry across. It was about 48 miles round trip. It was flat for the first 12 or 13 miles and then rolling hills to Brussels, beautiful scenery. Average speed 16.6 mph. The day couldn't have been better. There was a head wind that was about 5 mph and it stayed with us on the return trip. The temperature was around 62 and it was sunny. A great day!

Tom was my riding partner. He's great to ride with. He's a much stronger rider and he's helping me ride faster and longer. I'm hoping to do the Hostelling International 5 Century Challange this year.

Tom and I were riding in a pace line in the beginning and the person in front of me kicked up some road debris. I missed it but Tom hit it and flatted. That was the only bad incident on the whole ride.

We are riding again tomorrow, I'll keep ya'all posted...

2006-03-31T09:15:00.000-08:00

This is my bicycling log of my group rides for 2006.
It will also have pictures of cycling related events and happenings...