Yet another nice November weekend!

I rode this morning with a group that took off from Lakeside Bicycles in Lake Oswego.
It was a good group of cyclists with good bike skills. We rode a shorter ride than I had anticipated but did get some decent climbing in as we rode from Hwy 43 up through the cemetery to the Barbur/Terwilliger area. Finally had a chance to use my 56-11 coming down Terwilliger back into Lake Oswego. I smiled as I pedaled at 40+ mph past those with "lesser gears". The 33-27 side of things got a chance to rub off the spider webs too as I rode up through the cemetery. Some times a triple chainring is a pretty good thing to have!

After our little 25 mile group ride I milled around for a bit and finally decided I had time for a few more miles. The sun was shining, temps in the mid 50's, it was just hard not to ride!

All tolled, 55 miles today before my schedule called me back to duty.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
...............Road Bike.....LifeCycle.....Total Miles
Today............55...............0.................55
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
Sept total....338.....+.........0.....=...........338
YTD...........6164....+.......841....=.........7042
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Bike Pansy season

This time of year there are just those days when that little guy standing on my shoulder whispering in my ear gives a convincing speech on why it's just too (pick one) cold, dark, wet, hard to ride.

22 "miles" on the artificial bike tonight. The bike pansy won the arguement. :-(

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
...............Road Bike.....LifeCycle.....Total Miles
Today.............0..............22.................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
Sept total....338.....+.........0.....=...........338
YTD...........6109....+.......841....=.........6987
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

sunny, a little frost on the pumpkin........

.....but after it warmed up a bit it was a good ride. I was going to ride with my bike buddy Erinn today but alas she's come down with a touch of flu. I had everything ready to go so decided to ride all by my lonesome. I rode up to Council Crest and back. A beautiful day for a ride. A little breeze but my direction of travel meant it was a crosswind rather than headwind/tailwind combo. Gorgeous views from the top.

A little Thanksgiving present for y'all.......
I finally finished up my Furnace Creek 508 "documentary" DVD last week. I divided it into 6 pieces to slide in under YouTube's size limitations and posted it there. I've imbedded it into my FC 508 blog posts. Go HERE to take a look.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
...............Road Bike.....LifeCycle.....Total Miles
Today............46...............0.................46
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
Sept total....338.....+.........0.....=...........338
YTD...........6109....+.......819....=.........6965
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Sunny!

Who would think you could have two good weekends in a row in November....
Last weekend was good, yesterday was a good ride......... today was AWESOME!

The original 4 members of our Race Across Oregon team rode from McMinnville to Monmouth to meet with fire staff at Polk County Fire District #1 where a former college roommate of ours volunteered for 30 years. He recently passed away and we thought it would be a good way to honor him.

Nothing like getting a bunch of fast boys together to make for a fast ride. I was made to look like the pansy I am. I had a couple of pulls was all, the rest of the time I was relegated to the rear of the peloton enjoying their draft.

I saw 21 mph far more than I ever saw 16 mph. I haven't checked our average but it was fast.

We ended up with 60 miles..........and more importantly we ended up at McMeniman's Hotel Oregon!

While this is the original configuration of our Race Across Oregon team Terry had other plans and was unable to join us for RAO. However, the picture shows 3 of the members of the 4 Man over 50 team that set a new course record in `08.........by over 2 HOURS!

(L to R, J Murray, Terry, Cary, Kevin)


++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
...............Road Bike.....LifeCycle.....Total Miles
Today............60...............0.................60
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
Sept total....338.....+.........0.....=...........338
YTD...........6063....+.......819....=.........6917
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

A great Day

Despite what Adam said!

No wind, no rain, good company, 45 miles!


8 of us rode from Vancouver WA today to "ride to the ride" and join a social bike club on their ride 7 mile around Lake Oswego. It was a good ride! Tomorrow will be another decent ride....two days in a row! In the winter!

Oh, and a PS

Some idiot driver came right at us as we rode in the green bike lanes near the Rose Quarter. I moved over to keep from being run over.... and smacked the driver's side rear window hard with my hand as the brain dead occupant continued on his way past us. One of my social rider companions chided me saying "he probably just made a mistake". No doubt. Drivers mistakes cost cyclists their lives. I've been hit by a driver that "made a mistake" by running a red light. $26,000+ in medical bills makes me very outspoken on bike safety issues...... and accountability by both cyclists and motor vehicle drivers to operate responsibly.



++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
...............Road Bike.....LifeCycle.....Total Miles
Today............45...............0.................23
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
Sept total....338.....+.........0.....=...........338
YTD...........6003....+.......819....=.........6857
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

little time today

Stopped by the gym and did a quick "10 miles" on the artificial bike. The rest of the day was taken up with family commitments. That will change this weekend. I'm on the books both Saturday and Sunday for rides in the 50-60 mile range.


++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
...............Road Bike.....LifeCycle.....Total Miles
Today.............0..............10.................23
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
Sept total....338.....+.........0.....=...........338
YTD...........5994....+.......819....=.........6802
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I didn't have time to ride the real bike with all that entails....I opted to ride the pretend bike in the gym. I had the lifecycle9500 in "race mode" and kept a 100 cadence for an hour. Ended up working hard (needed to after the Sunday reality check!)and logging 23 pretend miles.


++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
...............Road Bike.....LifeCycle.....Total Miles
Today.............0..............23.................23
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
Sept total....338.....+.........0.....=...........338
YTD...........5994....+.......809....=.........6802
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Thick fog!

It was foggy when I left home this morning and cool, in the mid 30's. I swung by to pick up my bike buddy Erinn, she lives with a little elevation under her and it was clear when I picked her up. However, as we dropped off the hill we were back in fog.

We arrived at Butteville and took off on our planned 60+ mile ride to Salem via French Prairie Rd/Wheatland Ferry/Wallace Rd and return via River Rd/Gervais/Butteville Rd.

On our way back north on River Rd who should we meet riding south but my brother-in-law Dave! He was out for a solo 50 miler. Glad to see him out there riding!

We had thick fog the entire ride. It gave my blinkies a good workout. So did Erinn!
While my training has taken a little time off since RAO to climb mountains, back pack, go hunting, and watch cyclocross she's continued to work towards her entry into an Ironman competition. She kicked my butt today!

We made a detour in the little town of Donald to search for a "sandbox" so our planned 60.5 miler ended up with just over 61 1/2.

It was a good ride, but we both agreed that it seemed harder than it should have been.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
...............Road Bike.....LifeCycle.....Total Miles
Today.............62...............0.................62
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
Sept total....338.....+.........0.....=...........338
YTD...........5994....+.......786....=.........6789
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

a great day to ride

Unfortunately I didn't have much time. I did get a short 23 miles in just before dark....which comes early this time of year!

the sun is shining!

So I got on the bike for the first time in a long time! Not going to set any mileage records this month. :-( I guess that's okay, it's probably good to have a bit of an "off season". Still planning on riding the Furnace Creek 508 next fall though so I can't take it easy too long.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
...............Road Bike.....LifeCycle.....Total Miles
Today.............33...............0.................33
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
Sept total....338.....+.........0.....=...........338
YTD...........5919....+.......786....=.........6705
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Rain, rain....................rain

It's that time of year. I should have been brave....... but it's the season of the bike pansy.

I rode the artificial bike in the gym. TV, earphones, and a puddle of sweat when you're done. Of course there's that hot tub right close by when your done!


++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
...............Road Bike.....LifeCycle.....Total Miles
Today..............0..............20.................20
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
Sept total....338.....+.........0.....=...........338
YTD...........5886....+.......786....=.........6672

At the Cross Crusade today. What fun!

The day was great fun. There was plenty of mud and plenty of excitement. A cyclocross event is all about fun. There were serious competitors and those in costume. There were special races for kids, some with training wheels! The last ride of the day was for single speeds. This group seemed to have more costumes than the other divisions, and a "more spirited" announcing team!

The clip below is the men's single speed start, followed very closely by the women's start. Many of the guys probably wished the women were delayed a bit more. Quite a few guys got a good look at the gals' toosh as they sped by the slowpoke testosterone deficient rider!

a bike free week

Not "bike free' as in no charge.
"Bike free" as in I won't have it with me. :-(

I'm heading to the Oregon Coast for a multi-day conference. I won't be back until Sunday. On Sunday I will be attending the Cross Crusade event at PIR and supplying the tables and quickshades for our social bike club's BBQ, but I won't be taking the Marin for a romp in the mud!

I thought about taking the bike along to the beach in hopes of getting time to go for a ride, but having multiple duties there I know I just wouldn't get time to ride it. :-(

So, it's off bike for a few days for me.
I'll get back into the swing of things when I return.

A short fast ride around

A short fast ride around the lake. Dodged the rain but the roads were wet. 28 miles

bikes in the rain

I babysat about 55 bikes today while their owners visited the Verboort Sausage Dinner.


Number of cyclists were down from last year, but of course last year was gorgeous weather....today was a bit.....drippy.
The Oregon Randonneurs ran a Populaire to Verboort today. Here's one member, Cecil Anne, checking in.


Portland Velo also visited today, as well as a few riders from Portland Wheelmen.

I took a little time to visit the beer garden this evening, a first for me in 45+ years of working at the dinner. The photo is from the beer garden.