Another dry day ............so far

The weather gurus say we will have rain today by 2PM......... a bit of a south breeze this morning (a sign of impending rain) but we shall see. The sky is mostly cloudy but at this point doesn't look like rain coming any time soon. What's more important is that I got another 20 miles in on the road bike today without getting wet! :-)

I rode a big loop around the Hillsboro Airport area. Nice wide roads, most with bike lanes, and low traffic. I even got to see my shadow from time to time!



Duck, duck, goose!



EVENING UPDATE @6PM

Well, the weather gurus finally hit it right. I was driving near McMinnville today at 2:07 when I turned on the windshield wipers. That's 7 minutes after the rain was predicted! Not bad. Of course there is a saying that give a chimp some paper and pen and eventually it will write the Bible. ;-)

The most important update for today is that I just found out that a member of our Race Across Oregon team has had to cancel. If you are a male cyclist over 50 and want to fill out a 4 man team be sure to contact me. After March 15th the registration fee jumps $100 so we'd like to get our registration completed in the next week or so. For information on Race Across Oregon take look here. The remaining team members have goals of 1) finishing 2) finishing respectably. If this sounds like an adventure you just don't want to miss be sure to contact me ASAP. We'd love to have you join us!

And finally this puzzling event. A driver who had a cell phone in one hand, a cup of coffee in the other, and a lap dog running around the foot pedals runs off the road ending up in a river and makes the news. Wouldn't it be more news worthy if he HADN'T run off the road with all that going on?
It's no wonder cyclists are at such risk.


++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

...............Road Bike.....LifeCycle.....Total Miles
Today...........20................0
Jan total.......98.....+........402....=..........500
Feb total......385..............220....=..........605
YTD............483.....+........622....=.........1105

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

A busy day

I have a busy day today so got out on the bike early. I generally don't like to be on the bike during morning commute hours, too many drivers thinking about other things other than paying full attention along with low light or sun in the eyes.
I did manage to get in a quick 10 mile out and back without any problems. Oh, and still no rain, dry roads and mostly sunny skies!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

...............Road Bike.....LifeCycle.....Total Miles YTD
Today...........10...............0
YTD............463.....+........622....=.........1085

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

When the police won't..................

I could have edited the previous post of today but figured this was noteworthy enough to warrant it's own posting.

I just heard on the news (and followed up by reading it in Bikeportland.org) that the citizen initiated citation filed by attorney Chris Heaps on behalf of Siobhan Doyle was successful. You might remember that Ms Doyle was riding on Interstate at the intersection of Greely last November when a car "right hooked" her. This occurred at the same location that Brett Jarolimek was killed not too long before. The Portland Police failed to issue a citation so attorney Chris Heaps went through the tedious (and well publicized red tape) process to file a citizen citation to try to get some measure of justice. Today it was announced that the driver in the case, Lisa Wheeler, has plead no contest and was fined $182 for violating ORS 811.050, "failure to yield to a bicycle in a bicycle lane". While $182 is not a huge fine, it does affect an insurance company's ability to claim that their insured did nothing wrong.
It will make getting medical bills and property damage compensation easier. Depending on the driver's previous record it might also might affect insurance rates.

While rules concerning investigation by police of bike accidents has changed since then, I also hope that this result opens the eyes of some police. When I run a red light I'm guilty. When I fail to yield to a bike in a bike lane it should be just as cut and dried. In the recent past it has not been so. IMHO, that needs to change.

For more details and background info go here

Ho hum, just another nice day in February.

It has been an almost unbelievable run of dry weather. I shifted my duties around a bit today so that I could take advantage of the dry pavement and mild weather. I took off late morning with no particular route or destination in mind and ended up on top of Council Crest! With the warm temperatures and substantial climbing I was down to short sleeves in no time.

On the Nike campus, "near" Beaverton:




and the next two taken from the top of Council Crest:





++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

...............Road Bike.....LifeCycle.....Total Miles YTD
Today...........45...............0
YTD............453.....+........622....=.........1075

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Yet another beautiful day

I have some business to attend to in Salem so I had to cut my ride short. I did manage to get in 20 miles, including this little loop through one of the nicer neighborhoods around here:



(people who say cyclists shouldn't use MP3 players so they can hear traffic coming have never heard the wind rushing through a helmet .......or past a mic.... at 20mph!)

Most of the ride today was on 4 lane roads with smooth pavement and wide bike lanes.
Time of day lent itself to low traffic volume.
The weather was perfect!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

...............Road Bike.....LifeCycle.....Total Miles YTD
Today...........20...............0
YTD............408.....+........622....=.........1030

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

A short ride day

Being gone all weekend I had quite a few things to catch up on (updating a blog, lunch with my sister, etc!) but I did get a short ride in tonight just before dark. Just a little out and back, nothing of note. It was nice not to have to be on pins and needles with all the bike traffic of Chilly Hilly to contend with. Since rain doesn't seem to be an issue in Oregon anymore ;-) I'll try to get a longer ride in tomorrow.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

...............Road Bike.....LifeCycle.....Total Miles YTD
Today...........10...............0
YTD............388.....+........622....=.........1010

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Not so Chilly but oh so Hilly! ;-)

Chilly Hilly was a GREAT ride!

It was hilly, but not too chilly. $5000+ bikes do not a rider make, I saw lots of bikes much fancier than mine being walked up hills today. Mine went up the way it's supposed to........ ridden! The miles accumulated since January 1st must be doing some good! The 33 mile route with 2,675 feet vertical compares with the 10 mile loop around Hagg Lake with 900 ft that I've been riding the last couple of weeks, ie: about 90 ft/mile average. There were some steeper sections on Chilly Hilly, but for the most part just a lot of up and down. Probably the biggest issue for me was the traffic. With 4000+ riders and only 34 miles, there was not enough distance for the crowds to thin out much. I had to continually lose momentum to avoid slower riders and/or faster riders maneuvering around slower riders. Maximum speed today was 41.8 mph, could have been faster but heavy bike traffic prevented an all out descent. Average speed was only 14.6, again, too many times on the brakes. It was still a fun ride, I'll do it again next year!

One of the longer grades, taken from about half way up.



Here's a slide show of some of the sights of the day:

The Kitsap Sun newspaper has posted a series of great pictures from the day HERE


I took a lot of video from my helmet cams. I've got one mounted on the handlebars and one on my helmet. The handlebar cam gets better video, but sound is pretty much limited to vibrations and wind noise. :-(

The helmet cam gets better sound, but video suffers from "looking both ways when you cross the street", checking chains on sprockets, etc. This was the first time I used the helmet cam and found that my aim was a bit high. For the most part when I viewed the video the camera was pointed above what I was "thinking" I was filming, so I haven't posted those. As for those I did post, it's kind of like watching video of someone else's kids, you may find these somewhat interesting if you are "bikey", somewhat less interesting if you're not! Feel free to click on them and watch, or not. ;-)

From the road:



From the road:



A rest stop:




Climbing one of the hills:




Bikes galore!



Preparing to "de-bike" a ferry:








With my round trip "commute" to the ride from Tukwila I managed 61 miles today.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

...............Road Bike.....LifeCycle.....Total Miles YTD
Today...........61...............0
YTD............378.....+........622....=.........1000

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

OK, hardly bikey, but I DO have my bike along! I am taking a break from the drive at Cabela's in Lacey

UPDATE: Arrived in Tukwila

I got checked in, then drove to the ferry terminal in Seattle to make sure I could find it in the AM. I am planning on riding the bike from here. It's not quite as clear cut as I had hoped, the preferred route doesn't allow bikes for about the last 2 miles. I'll improvise........ I hear that "foreign jails" aren't the best places to be! It's going to give me about a 13 mile warm up before arriving at the ferry terminal for the ride start.

Another dry ride.........In February????

There were a few dark clouds hugging the hills to the west and a brisk south wind this morning (a sure sign of impending rain in these parts of the country!) but I decided to haul the bike out to the Lake Stop Store and hopefully get some miles in around Hagg Lake before it started dripping.


From the handlebar cam:



From the helmet cam:



I got in a lap and it still hadn't rained so I did some "interval training" across and back the dam a few times for a total of 22 miles. It still hadn't rained on me by noon though there were some showers playing around in the hills.

The end of the run out from the lake taken from the handlebar cam:



Since Saturday will be a travel day for me this will probably be it for real bike miles until Sunday when I ride Chilly Hilly on Bainbridge Island, though I plan on a few miles in the gym on the artificial bike before then.

UPDATE: I managed to ride 10 pretend miles in the gym after dark tonight.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

...............Road Bike.....LifeCycle.....Total Miles YTD
Today...........22...............10
YTD............317.....+........622....=.........939

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

7 days with no rain!

It's yet another sunny day in Western Oregon! I took the bike out to the Lake Stop Store near Hagg Lake and made a couple of laps around the lake. It was a cool morning but wanted to take advantage of the nice weather to get a bit of hill work in before Chilly Hilly this coming weekend.

The Tour of California riders don't have such nice weather. They are once again riding in rain. As I type this they are about 25 miles into today's stage. I'm a dyed in the wool Oregonian, but I do have to admit that they are traversing some awfully pretty country today.

Tomorrow's Tour of California stage 5 is a 15 mile individual time trial taking place near Solvang.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

...............Road Bike.....LifeCycle.....Total Miles YTD
Today...........26................0
YTD............295.....+........612....=.........907

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Still dry here, and also dry at Tour of California

I'm in Salem today for a meeting but am managing to watch the Tour of California from time to time. Today's stage 3 runs from Modesto to San Jose. There are some killer climbs, in places to 19%, but at least the road is dry today.

Tomorrow's stage 4 runs from Seaside to San Luis Obispo, 135 miles along the coast. A very scenic stage, if you have some time available be sure to click on the above link for live coverage. Stage 4 begins at 10AM PST tomorrow.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

...............Road Bike.....LifeCycle.....Total Miles YTD
Today............0...............21
YTD............269.....+........612....=.........881

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Not totally blue sky, but no rain yet, ..not so in Sacramento!

I've still got a few hours of busy work before I can get on the bike today......... remains to be seen whether I'll make it on the real bike or not.

In the meantime excitement builds for next weekend's trip north to Seattle and Bainbridge Island for Chilly Hilly! Over 4000 folks huffing and puffing up hills on bikes in raingear! Come join the fun. ;-)

Cascade Bicycle Club has a nifty little video of the ride,



I forgot to mention that I swapped in my "new" spare wheels for yesterday's ride. I picked up the Bontragger Select Aeros with 12-27 cogset for use as spare wheels when I ride Race Across Oregon in July. That gearing teamed with my 53-43-30 triple should give me a better chance of spinning up those hills of RAO. I figured the close proximity and hills of the Hagg Lake route would be a good chance to try them out, make sure shifts were smooth, wheels true, magnets in proper location, etc. They worked like a charm. I'm leaving them on for next weekend's Chilly Hilly.


Just received a link to live coverage of the Tour of California.
Check it out!

UPDATE:
Today's stage of the Tour of California has ended, but you can see the last few minutes of the action rebroadcast here The Tour of California stages continue daily through February 24th.




Ran out of daylight before I ran out of tasks........
so back to the gym.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

...............Road Bike.....LifeCycle.....Total Miles YTD
Today............0...............15
YTD............269.....+........591....=.........860

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Another gorgeous day

How long can this nice weather last? I don't know, but it sure is great while it lasts! I started off from McMenamin's Grand Lodge in Forest Grove this morning around 10AM. It was still a bit chilly after a pretty good frost this morning but soon warmed right up. I made my way out to Hagg Lake

I forgot to check my camera's mode before I snapped the photos, so I've got a couple of Quicktime movies instead of still photos. :-(


I made a lap around Hagg Lake then made my way along Old Highway 47 to the small burg of Gaston where I availed myself of the best Bison burger this side of Wapato Lake at Cooper D's.

From there I skirted the north shore of Wapato Lake and joined Springhill Rd which I followed back to Forest Grove. It was such a nice day I added a few more miles by riding the back roads to Verboort and back.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

...............Road Bike.....LifeCycle.....Total Miles YTD
Today...........40 ...............0
YTD............269.....+........576....=.........845

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

A beautiful day, and a reality check

I rode today with a group that identifies themselves as the "Sunday Irregulars". There is the saying "If you can't run with the big dogs stay on the porch". Luckily, they didn't pay attention to that else they would have made me stay at the start today. It's a little early in the season for me to try to hold an 18-20 mph pace and I struggled. They were very polite about it, but there was little doubt, I was in over my head! That which doesn't kill you makes you stronger.......... I'll be back to ride with them again! It was refreshing to ride with folks who had good cycling skills.... good steady riding, pointing out hazards, calling out stops and slowing, not lapping wheels, signaling turns, safe lane usage..... all the good stuff.

We started at Longbottom Coffee near Hillsboro Stadium with a total of 6 riders.


I kept up reasonably well the first 10 miles or so. Here we are riding through the roundabouts near Verboort.

After passing through Verboort we made our way to Thatcher Rd and the base of the first hills of the Coast Range. We skirted along the hills and past the famous antlers on Love's barn, then headed east. We went through the little town of Roy then on to North Plains. At North Plains 4 of us headed up Pumpkin Ridge Rd. It's a steady grade of about 7 miles back up into the hills. 2 chose to avoid the climb and headed back towards Hillsboro. For better or worse, I chose to climb the hill. Here's a photo of Washington Grange situated about half way up the climb and 30 miles into our ride.

The girls showed us just how you are supposed to ride a bike, riding clear to the snow! Charlie and I stopped about 1 mile short, deciding that we were just too old to enjoy playing in snow!

Before long Sarah and Alanna came whizzing back down the hill so it was time to put the jacket back on and follow them back down the long downhill run to North Plains.
The fun of that easterly run was tempered by a headwind that was picking up. It easily cost us 5-7 mph.

Once on the flats we headed towards Hillsboro, again into a very noticeable wind.
I finally straggled into the Longbottom Coffee parking lot where the others were already "de-biked" and waiting.

I ended up with 44 miles. Some had more, some had less depending on how far up the hill we went.

We finished up with a warm drink and visit at Longbottoms.

Great folks, great ride, great day!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

...............Road Bike.....LifeCycle.....Total Miles YTD
Today...........44 ...............0
YTD............229.....+........576....=.........805

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

A great day to be on a bike

Dave, Laura, and I took to the road today. It was a great day! We started at Butteville and rode a 34 mile loop, hitting the rural "metropolises" of St Paul, St Louis, Gervais, and Donald, before ending up back in Butteville. We had to cut the day a bit short because Laura had another engagement. That's okay, it was still a season high one day mileage for Dave and Laura. It's only February, by the time summer comes they will be cyclists! ;-)

Tomorrow I ride with a group that can offer a bit more challenge. We shall see if I'm up to it!

The halfway point of today's ride, Fairfield Grange

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

...............Road Bike.....LifeCycle.....Total Miles YTD
Today...........34 ...............0
YTD............185.....+........576....=.........761

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

A little taste of Spring!

Wow, mountain pass temperatures are in the 40's and 50's, the sun is shining, birds are chirping. It's beginning to look like Spring! Of course, it's only temporary! But while the nice weather is here it's time to hit the road!

Saturday morning a group of us are riding 30-40 miles beginning at the Butteville store at 9:30AM.
On Sunday, a larger group is riding from Longbottom Coffee near the Hillsboro Stadium beginning at 9AM.

If you are in the area come join us!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

...............Road Bike.....LifeCycle.....Total Miles YTD
Today...........0 ...............15
YTD............151.....+........576....=.........727

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Valentines Day

At least the sun is shining today and supposed to be nice through the weekend. No Valentines for me to pass out today :-( and a bit icey this morning so I rode the pretend bike a little longer than normal.

Hope you all had a good Valentines Day.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

...............Road Bike.....LifeCycle.....Total Miles YTD
Today...........0 ...............30
YTD............151.....+........561....=.........712

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Just trying to find out the facts ma'am

A few weeks ago a Tri-Met bus collided with a pedestrian in a crosswalk near Lloyd Center. I emailed the Oregonian reporter who originally filed the report asking if the police had finished their investigation yet or if a citation had been issued. I have not received a reply yet.

Monday night a Tri-Met bus collision killed a 15 yr old male as he rode his bike near the intersection of Murray and Farmington Rds.

Facts in that case are not being released pending police investigation.

UPDATE 5:30PM : The police investigation is going slowly. Read the Oregonian update here.

Justice moves slowly.............. and in the case of Brett Jarolimek didn't move at all.

Hopefully the excuse of "I didn't know the cyclist was there" has run it's course and no longer holds up.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

...............Road Bike.....LifeCycle.....Total Miles YTD
Today...........0 ...............21
YTD............151.....+........531....=.........682

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Tri-Met/Cyclist Collision

Around 5PM yesterday Austin Miller, a 15 yr old student, was killed in a collision between his bicycle and a Tri-Met bus at the intersection of Murray Rd and Farmington Rd in Beaverton. There aren't many details available yet. I'll post updates here as I get them.

The Oregonian has early information here.

More information from the Beaverton Valley Times here

2PM UPDATE:

There will be a memorial for Austin at the intersection of Farmington and Murray Rds in Beaverton at 5PM today.


++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

...............Road Bike.....LifeCycle.....Total Miles YTD
Today...........0 ...............21
YTD............151.....+........510....=.........661

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Back to the Routine .....and the "not so much" routine

After a few days away in Central Oregon for a conference I'm back in the Tualatin Valley. Upon my return I had a mailbox full of mail, a piece of which was my registration packet for Chilly Hilly ride on Bainbridge Island on Sunday the 24th! Over 4200 folks rode this last year, it should be a blast!

Under the "anything but routine" tab comes this:
Did anyone attend the Handmade Bicycle Show in Portland over the weekend?
If you did, you saw this:



Yup, it's a wooden framed bicycle! Don't laugh, it's a serious riding machine. Read more HERE


Today is pretty decent weather. I could have been out on the real bike for a lap around Hagg Lake but I am still trying to get caught up on things that got pushed aside when I was at conference. Today in the interest of time it was back to the gym for the artificial bike and a round of free weights.


++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

...............Road Bike.....LifeCycle.....Total Miles YTD
Today...........0 ...............30
YTD............151.....+........489....=.........640

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Bikeless in Bend.....but not at the Oregon Convention Center

I'm in bike withdrawal! :-( I'm at a conference in Bend and don't have my bike with me, but with the lack of free time and ice and snow on the roads it wouldn't have made a difference if I did. It was a bit dicey getting over Santiam Pass at 5AM on Thursday,

(5 AM about 15 miles west of Santiam Summit)

but once here it is very beautiful this time of year.

The Deschutes River from the deck of The Riverhouse Convention Center, Bend OR


If you find yourself with a little spare time you might want to go to the Handmade Bicycle Show going on now at the Convention Center in Portland starting today and going until the 10th.

Busy day!

Another frosty morning, and a very busy day. I'm off for a 4 day conference in Central Oregon beginning at O'dark hundred tomorrow. I hope the facility has a mini-gym. I don't think I'll have daylight hours available to ride my real bike. Today I made a quick trip to my local gym and rode the lifecycle before heading down to Salem for some meetings.


++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

...............Road Bike.....LifeCycle.....Total Miles YTD
Today...........0 ..............15
YTD............151.....+........459....=.........610

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Bike legend Sheldon Brown died

Bike legend Sheldon Brown died today.


A memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. March 2, at the Unitarian Society in Newton, MA at 1326 Washington St.(across the street from Harris Cyclery) West Newton.

There is also a website set up in Sheldon Brown's honor.

Back to normal

With the clearing yesterday it was no surprise that we woke up to a hard frost this morning. It finally thawed just before noon, but by then it was clouding up and threatening rain. The drips started in by 2 PM. I really considered riding around Hagg Lake around noon time, but the snow that still blankets the little hills around here made me suspect there would still be ice and snow around the lake. So........... the bike pansy in me won out. Back to the warmth and safety of the gym!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

...............Road Bike.....LifeCycle.....Total Miles YTD
Today...........0 ..............21
YTD............151.....+........444....=.........595

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

God is a Cyclist!

Or so it seems! Having a birthday in early February and having this habit of riding bike as a way of celebrating it one can't really expect to have decent weather in Oregon. It could be snowing, there could be(should be) ice, there definitely is more chance that it will rain than not. But in the 4 years since I've been doing this bike thing we've always had decent weather. On the very first one we had one light shower, the rest of the years have been dry, and today was no exception. Not a drop of rain fell on us as we made our way around our 53 mile loop today. There was only the slightest wind, certainly less than 5mph out of the South. Temperature was a few degrees warmer than predicted so we were quite comfortable. The sun even poked it's face out from time to time.

Dave, Laura, Cary, and I made the trip today. The 4 others who expressed an interest decided against riding. After the last two weeks of weather it's probably understandable............ but they missed the boat today. It was a great ride!

Makes getting a year older not quite so bad. ;-)


Picture taken with my cell phone about 4 miles into our ride today. My bike is in the photo, but I'm behind the phone taking the picture.



Me at the end during the wash and lube process!



++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

...............Road Bike.....LifeCycle.....Total Miles YTD
Today...........53...............0
YTD............151.....+........423....=.........574

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Back to snow, and back to the gym

We had rain mixed with snow on and off yesterday, it turned straight snow about 7:30AM, by 8:30AM we had an inch on the ground. Even the highway was packed snow and not slush!

I managed to make my way to the gym where I added to my "non real bike ways" and spent a little time on the lifecycle.

Hopefully we don't get snowed out of the ride tomorrow.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

...............Road Bike.....LifeCycle.....Total Miles YTD
Today...........0................21
YTD.............98.....+........423....=.........521

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

No miles today, but still a bit "bikey"

Well, I started off February with no miles on the bike or the pretend bike. :-(
But I did drive the 53 mile route that we will ride Sunday just to make sure it was ridable. (no gravel, decent shoulders or low traffic, etc) Does that count?

I'm making cue sheets tonight for my fellow riders. Gee, maybe I should have been all official and placed Dan Henrys on the route? ;-)

Of course it would have to be dry for that, and I am putting the cue sheets in plastic!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

...............Road Bike.....LifeCycle.....Total Miles YTD
Today...........0................0
YTD.............98.....+........402....=.........500

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++