shame on Jack

On my way to a meeting last evening I pulled through the Jack in the Box's drive through. The Jack in the Box is a newly opened establishment in my little town.
As I was waiting for my fix of cholesterol I noted the dining room hours posted on the window, as well as that the drive through window was open 24 hours. Then noted that they would not serve me if I was on a bike or walking "for my safety". I was invited to call 1-800-955-5225 if I had any comments.

I did so this morning. A very nice woman with a southern accent took my call. We had a very nice conversation where I explained that I may be riding my bike by early in the morning before the dining room is open and would want to swing through for breakfast or a warm drink. I asked why they discriminated against my mode of transportation.

She explained that cars might not see me and that if I got hit they'd be liable. I asked if she thought I was any safer riding on the street to get there, and that they were the only drive up window I had seen with such a notice. I noted that McDonalds was right across the road and did not have such a notice.

She tried to play into my sympathies and said "shame on McDonalds for not caring about cyclists". I responded "shame on Jack in the Box for not welcoming and accommodating cyclists. I would think the addition of a light to illuminate the window area would absolve them of any claim that the area wasn't safe for cyclists.

You might want to call that number if you also share these concerns.

In the meantime, I'll go through McDonald's drive through, whether in my car or on my bike. I think they understand me better. ;-)

flat, fast, fun.....a Peach of a Century!

What great weather to ride a century!

I started out at 7:30 AM with short pants on today (learned my lesson yesterday!) and short sleeved jersey with armwarmers. There were a few patches of low fog and a chill in the air as I started off but it soon cleared up and warmed up. The Peach of a Century is relatively flat and given that everybody has had all summer to get in shape this is usually a very fast ride. Today was no exception. I rode through the course without problems and finished the hundred miles in 5 1/2 hours.

Dave and Laura rode the metric century distance today and we met up at the peach pie table after the ride!

Soon enough it will be raining and cold....booties, rain jacket, full fingered gloves.........but we'll enjoy these glory days of fall as long as we can!

Next weekend it's up north for the Kitsap Color Classic

UPDATE:
Possibly scratch Kitsap Color Classic for next weekend.... I've just found out I may be a crew member for a Furnace Creek 508 rider! What an experience this will be!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
...............Road Bike.....LifeCycle.....Total Miles
Today............100...............0................100
Jan total.......98.....+........402....=..........500
Feb total.....385.....+.......220....=...........605
Mar total.....659.....+........41.....=...........700
April total...629.....+........57.....=...........676
May total.....642.....+........23.....=...........665
June total....804.....+.........0.....=...........804
July total....933.....+.........0.....=...........933
August total..732.....+........23.....=...........755
YTD...........5222....+.......766....=.........5992

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

ahhhh...pedals spinning again!

100% of those who said they'd ride today showed up! That would be all three of us. ;-) I belong to several bike groups, several of which have already suspended rides for the winter. Sucks to be them! What a glorious day to be riding.

We shoved of from the Scappoose Fred Meyer parking lot at 9AM. We rode west on Hwy 30 for a bit then headed up Canaan Rd and to the little "town" of Apiary. It was a rather hilly ride today with 3340 ft in the 66 miles we covered. There were plenty of ups and downs, but three big long climbs of note. Two of the three managed to hit 15% grade in sections. 7-8% grades today were quite common.

I got a chance to try out my new 56 tooth chainring today. I think it's going to be just fine! ;-)

It started out a bit brisk this AM, and was the first day this fall that I've worn my long legged riding pants. They felt good this morning, but when the sun broke out and we were climbing those hills I was plenty warm.

We finished up the ride like most of the "social rides" I participate in.....with food and a brew! In this case it was Mexican and XX Amber. A perfect way to end a perfect ride!

Tomorrow it's off to Salem to ride the Peach of a Century.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
...............Road Bike.....LifeCycle.....Total Miles
Today............66...............0.................66
Jan total.......98.....+........402....=..........500
Feb total.....385.....+.......220....=...........605
Mar total.....659.....+........41.....=...........700
April total...629.....+........57.....=...........676
May total.....642.....+........23.....=...........665
June total....804.....+.........0.....=...........804
July total....933.....+.........0.....=...........933
August total..732.....+........23.....=...........755
YTD...........5122....+.......766....=.........5892

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

Garmin woes over, but not resolved

Well, looks like I don't have to fight with my Garmin 305 anymore. Today while following tech supports instructions to delete all traces of Training Center from my computer (including a cleaning of the registry)before reinstalling I ended up with a Garmin 305 that won't even power up. After doing all the steps except the registry edit I plugged the 305 into the computer to see if any program popped up trying to download data. It didn't, and more importantly, the Garmin 305 didn't show "charging" or anything else on the screen. I disconnected it and tried to turn it on....nothing. After futzing with it for quite awhile I've decided it's toast. I don't need to worry about THAT anymore.

I have to go to SW Portland tomorrow....thinking about taking my bike, just to see if I still know how to ride the darn thing! :-O

sort of bikey

I'm back from my annual fall adventure. Today I put most of my outdoor toys away and had a little time left so I worked on my bike a bit. Before I left I ordered a 56 tooth chainring to replace my 53, hoping to get a bit more top end. I also picked up an 11-21 cogset that I hope to use parts from to modify my existing 12-27 into an 11-27. ....all in the quest for more tailwind/long downhill speed. Today I put on the 56 tooth chainring. There is a little clearance issue when in the 43 tooth middle ring and the smallest 3 cogs. Because of the angle the chain runs at and the diameter of the big chainring the chain rubs the big ring. I will see what I can do about that, but may just have to shift to the big ring sooner than I used to. I'll put the 11 tooth cog modification in before I get too much time into adjustments.

The other bikey issue I am dealing with is my $%^%^ Garmin 305. I was having issues with it's spotty communication with my computer and it was a known issue. Garmin recommended upgrading the OS of the GPS as well as updating to the most recent version of the Training Center software on the computer. I did that in June. It hasn't talked with my computer since. Tech support has been somewhat helpful but has left a lot to be desired. It's been 4 months!
I'm about ready to pull what little hair I have left out.....or just sell the 305 to someone who has more patience than I do!

Maybe getting out for a bike ride will make me fell a bit better. I'll have to see what I can do about that.

bikes are everywhere!

I'm about as far away from my bike as I can get, but there are still bikes around! I ran into these folks today. They had ridden from Eugene to Lakeview and were now on their way back to Eugene via McKenzie Pass. (you can click on the photos to see them full size)



They were running in very low gears so I was able to walk along and talk for a short time. He said he had something like a 24 on his triple crank and a 43 on his cog. He just pedaled his way up the hill! He said he weighed 160, and bike and gear weighed almost 250 lbs, giving him over 400 lbs of combined weight to haul up the hill!



He was 62 years old. You go folks!

After a short time talking RAMROD, RAO, Race Across America, etc. I went back to my duties........looking for bucks, but being sidetracked by the views!

Off the bike.......

.....and into the wilderness! I was hoping to get a chance to ride this week, kept my bike with me everyday. But alas, just too busy to ride. Where are my priorities?

I have a midday meeting tomorrow then will be scurrying to get to the Three Sisters Wilderness just as quickly as I can. I will be there for 11 days so there won't be any updates on riding here. :-(

It will be the longest time off the bike since January 1 ...by far!

Hope I still know how to ride when I come back! I am signed up for a ~65 mile ride through the hills near Vernonia on Sept 27, and the mostly flat Peach of a Century on the 28th. After two weeks off the bike that will get me going again!

Headwaters Century

I got up EARLY this morning and made my way to Enumclaw Washington for the Tacoma Wheelmen's "Headwaters Century". I had decided to ride this ride in part because it's $16 registration competed very well with Cascade Bicycle Club's "High Pass Challenge" which had 114 miles, and an $80 registration. The High Pass Challenge was well within my capabililities this year, but the $80 fee, plus the start was at a private park that charged $5 to park, and $15 to put a tent in the grass made me think I could have just as much fun on the Headwaters Century, and keep the +/- $90 in my pocket!

I picked up my packet then proceeded to get my bike ready to go. Somewhere since yesterday my Garmin GPS must have got bumped "on" because the battery was dead. I had just picked up a little solar panel with a USB connector, so it was time to put it to the test. I rigged up a system so the solar panel would ride on top of my rear pack with the USB cable running along my top tube to the Garmin. I soon found that there wasn't enough clearance to attach the USB cable to the back of the Garmin in the location I've got the unit mounted. I took the Garmin off and put it in a side pocket of the rear bag. My hope was that it could still "see" satellites from in the pocket, and that the solar panel would charge it as I rode.

The charging part worked pretty well, the seeing part not so much. The Garmin did manage to log about 80 miles of the 100 I rode, a little spotty and hit or miss.


Anyway, back to the ride........ the shorter routes started with their backs to the rising sun, we 100 milers started straight into it. As I approached a traffic signal I couldn't see what color the lights were so I stopped, slid my yellow glasses down a bit to get rid of the glare and shielded my eyes with my hand to see the light. It as green so I rode on.

At .83 miles into the ride I hear a metalic "clang". I looked around trying to see what had made the sound but didn't see anything. Ahead I see I guy sitting on the ground next to his bike. I figured he had a flat tire. I stopped to see if he needed anything then found out what the noise had been.

The road at that point goes from 1 lane each way with a wide paved shoulder/bike lane to just 1 lane each way and a gravel shoulder. As the paved shoulder evaporates the highway folks have put those little white rounded buttons on the pavement in diagonal lines directing you into the lane. At the very end of the bike lane there is a metal post with a yellow rectangle with black chevrons on it.

The rider rode right into the sign and had sliced his hand open pretty deeply. I took out my Cascade Bicycle Club supplied "ouch pouch" and fixed him up as well as I could, but it was obvious his 100 mile quest was over at 0.83 miles.

He said the sun was in his eyes so he was just riding with his head down and didn't see the post.

What's good for the goose is good for the gander. About a year or so ago an auto driver had hit a cyclist and the defense was "I couldn't see, the sun was in my eyes". If I remember correctly, the driver was not cited. My comment at the time was "if you can't see, don't go!" The same goes whether you are driving or cycling, if you can't see adequately for any reason stop! The life you safe may be your own.

After getting SAG to take him back to the start I proceeded on the course. We climbed up toward White Pass. After some climbing we turned and looped back around to Enumclaw via Mud Mountain.

We soon were back to Enumclaw with the first 20 miles under our belts. From here we picked up a few more riders as we now shared the route with the 80 and 65 mile riders. I think they even had a ~40 mile "family ride" option.

The first rest stop came at Flaming Geyser State Park. I had been there years ago in my previous life as a white water rafting enthusiast. This time I took the time to find the geyser!
Here it is:

It's about 1 foot tall now. In the 60's the flame was 6-8 ft tall according to the information posted there. Some trouble makers had messed around and with the help of some dynamite had altered the flow of gas so now it's a small flame. The area has coal mines and the gas is methane that has made it's way to the surface from the coal seam far below. (I never knew there were coal mines on the west coast until I started riding bike!) In this case, the methane found it's way to the surface via an exploratory hole drilled about 100 years ago to look for coal.

As we left Flaming Geyser State Park we climbed the biggest hill of the day. I was told it was 8% and that it went for 2 miles. I had my 12-27 cogset in today so I didn't have any fears. I just pedaled up. I wasn't even in the lowest gear! I maintained about an 8mph pace. I passed quite a few folks, even some who were WALKING their triple crank equipped bikes!

The route had a lot of climbing, but generally not hard hills. A lot of short climbs followed by short descents. I did manage to attain a new speed record on my road bike today, 48.8 mph, before clamping on the brakes to get stopped for the stop sign that appeared!

In many places the ride brought us through country that looked a lot like Tillamook. We were in working dairy country. A few scattered quarries around. When Dave, Laura and I rode the Daffodil Classic in April we were near here but at that ride we saw small cow operations, most no longer active. There were quarries all over the place. The views of Mt Rainier were not as impressive along this route, we were a bit farther away, and in many cases hills blocked the view this time. It was a very scenic ride however, even without the Mt Rainier views!

The roads were good, no rough chipseal. Low traffic and in some cases a good paved shoulder. The rest stops were spaced about every 30 miles. With the climbing I wouldn't want them spaced much farther apart than that!

The ride had about 300 participants, less than I anticipated. I had ridden the Tacoma Wheelmen's Daffodil Ride earlier and it had 1500 riders, so I was thinking perhaps I'd see 1000+. Organizers told me that the Daffodil is their most popular ride and 300 for Headwaters was about what they expected.

The rest stops were well stocked and staffed by friendly volunteers. It was a good ride!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
...............Road Bike.....LifeCycle.....Total Miles
Today...........100...............0................100
Jan total.......98.....+........402....=..........500
Feb total.....385.....+.......220....=...........605
Mar total.....659.....+........41.....=...........700
April total...629.....+........57.....=...........676
May total.....642.....+........23.....=...........665
June total....804.....+.........0.....=...........804
July total....933.....+.........0.....=...........933
August total..732.....+........23.....=...........755
YTD...........5056....+.......766....=.........5826

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

Even SHORTER ride...at least tomorrow I will ride! :-O

It's been a tough week to be able to ride. The weather has been great, but I just have been to busy with "life issues". September looks to be a low mileage month. I will be away from the bike for a good block of time mid-month, and the beginning of the month hasn't exactly been stellar!

I will be riding the Headwaters Century tomorrow so I'll get 100 in barring a major catastrophe. I did manage to get in a paltry 3 miles tonight (more precisely, 2.84 miles!) It was part of the process of shuttling my mother's car back to her house. It was dark when I started out but a comfortable 74 degrees. Glad I still had the RAO reflectors installed!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
...............Road Bike.....LifeCycle.....Total Miles
Today.............3...............0..................3
Jan total.......98.....+........402....=..........500
Feb total.....385.....+.......220....=...........605
Mar total.....659.....+........41.....=...........700
April total...629.....+........57.....=...........676
May total.....642.....+........23.....=...........665
June total....804.....+.........0.....=...........804
July total....933.....+.........0.....=...........933
August total..732.....+........23.....=...........755
YTD...........4956....+.......766....=.........5726

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

SHORT ride

I've been busy all week and haven't been riding because I didn't have "time to ride the distance I wanted to ride". Finally decided today that any ride was better than no ride. Rode a 22 mile route in the local area. Short, fast, over, and done.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
...............Road Bike.....LifeCycle.....Total Miles
Today............22...............0.................22
Jan total.......98.....+........402....=..........500
Feb total.....385.....+.......220....=...........605
Mar total.....659.....+........41.....=...........700
April total...629.....+........57.....=...........676
May total.....642.....+........23.....=...........665
June total....804.....+.........0.....=...........804
July total....933.....+.........0.....=...........933
August total..732.....+........23.....=...........755
YTD...........4953....+.......766....=.........5723

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

West Hills revisited

Started from Hillsboro, climbed up to Skyline via North Plains and followed it into Portland, then came home. Nice day, nice views.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
...............Road Bike.....LifeCycle.....Total Miles
Today............47...............0.................47
Jan total.......98.....+........402....=..........500
Feb total.....385.....+.......220....=...........605
Mar total.....659.....+........41.....=...........700
April total...629.....+........57.....=...........676
May total.....642.....+........23.....=...........665
June total....804.....+.........0.....=...........804
July total....933.....+.........0.....=...........933
August total..732.....+........23.....=...........755
YTD...........4931....+.......766....=.........5701

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