Monday, August 31, 2015

Woo Hoo!

 After riding 8 consecutive days, I got busy with details around moving my mother into a new living situation and haven't been on my bike in nearly a week. Today, finding myself with a bit of time and noting that I was 15 miles short of riding 500 miles in the month, decided that I really needed to go for a ride.

I puttered around locally and stopped for lunch.

As I was finishing up I rode through Wilsonville's Korean War Memorial.


The story of the Korean War is engraved in stones that are arranged around the memorial. Since World War II, the story is a familiar one.  Tens (or hundreds!) of thousands of people die for causes that are never realized.  Korea is still divided, Vietnam is still divided, and let's not even get into the goals of recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and whether those goals were realized.  My history teacher had it right, "Learning history teaches you that mankind never learns."

I finished up my ride, and it is a reflection of my low mileage year, that the month of August, with just over 500 miles, ends up being at least double the mileage of any other month this year, except for January.


........Road bike........Rollers.......MTB.......Lifecycle....Total
Today.......17...............0..............0..............0..............17
Jan..........765.............0..............0..............0.............765
Feb..........248............0..............0..............0..............248
March......183...........0...............0.............0...............183
April........228...........0...............0.............0...............228
May.........200............0..............0.............0...............200
June.........199...........0...............26...........0...............225
July..........246...........0...............0.............0...............246
August.....502...........0...............0.............0...............502
Total........2571.........0...............26............0..............2597

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Home Turf

I joined a few folks for a ride in Washington County.  I spent the first 50 years in Washington County so this was a ride on my home turf. I knew the roads, and the most of the folks who lived on the farms.

We met at Panera Bread's parking lot in Hillsboro.

Jose A C photo




We started pedaling at 8 AM, there was still a chill in the air.
The idea was to beat the heat of the afternoon.
Mike was a good trip leader.  He navigated well and made sure that nobody slipped off the back.
It didn't take long to get out of town and into the countryside.

Jose A C photo
The winds had shifted and the smoke for forest fires now was blowing back eastward, and away from the Portland Metro area.  The only air quality issue we had was some blowing dust from farming operations. It was a small price to pay for being able to ride in the countryside.

 We only had one hill of any significance today, and even it was only "half of a Westhills climb".   We climbed about 600 ft up Old Pumpkin Ridge road before turning back toward the valley.

We finished up at 11 AM, well before the heat of the day, that would reach near 90.

I noted that we had an 11 mph average speed.  That comment was met with incredulous looks, and folks pushing buttons on bike computers.

They were all showing somewhere in the mid teens for average speed.

They only counted "on bike" time.

33 miles in 3 hours seems like an 11 mph average to me.

Oh well.  We all had fun on our bikes, and that is what counts!



........Road bike........Rollers.......MTB.......Lifecycle....Total
Today.......33...............0..............0..............0..............33
Jan..........765.............0..............0..............0.............765
Feb..........248............0..............0..............0..............248
March......183...........0...............0.............0...............183
April........228...........0...............0.............0...............228
May.........200............0..............0.............0...............200
June.........199...........0...............26...........0...............225
July..........246...........0...............0.............0...............246
August.....485...........0...............0.............0...............485
Total........2613.........0...............26............0..............2642

Sunday, August 23, 2015

Oh the humanity

The winds were such that there was still smoke in the Willamette Valley, though not as thick as yesterday.  I had signed up to join a group for a 33 mile ride around east Portland.  This morning found folks dropping like flies before the ride even started because of "smoke".  I decided to ride, even if everyone dropped out, just because. There is a saying floating around that came to mind today, "those that want to will find a way, those that don't will find an excuse"

The smoke in the air did made for a colorful sunrise.


I drove as far as Sellwood Riverfront Park, met with the ride leader, and planned to ride the nearly 5 miles to the ride. Some frivolity ensued.


We rode along the Springwater Corridor to Division St, then turned eastward.  We rode through the new construction related to access to Tillicum Crossing.


We arrived at the meeting point, a French Bakery, with plenty of time to spare.  Before long it was time for the pre-ride portrait.


Our leader billed this ride as "A bakery and a hill".  The bakery part was right, but there were more hills than one!  ;-)

It's okay, we all survived!




The smoke really wasn't an issue, it was hardly noticeable unless we had the ability to look across long distances.










After climbing, and descending, Mt Tabor, we got on Burnside St for 100 blocks.  Our ride leader invited us all to ride as fast as we wanted.  We were to regroup at a gas station at 182nd.
I watched from the rear as the group spread out. Finally I decided that I should join the fun.  I worked my way up through the group and as I passed the leader I was pedaling 22 mph.  I got on the aerobars and brought it up to 25 mph, and held it for the remaining distance.  I arrived at 182nd nearly 8 minutes ahead of the number two rider.  :-)

Our group pedaled on through the SE Portland neighborhoods. With every little bump we had to pedal over we reminded out trip leader that she advertised "only one hill".




After we finished up the group ride, the ride leader and I retraced our route back to Sellwood. This time a hint of tailwind, and an over abundance of energy reserves made for a quick trip. We pedaled  at a solid 20 mph all the way back along Springwater Corridor.

It was a fun ride, and a fun day.



........Road bike........Rollers.......MTB.......Lifecycle....Total
Today.......43...............0..............0..............0..............43
Jan..........765.............0..............0..............0.............765
Feb..........248............0..............0..............0..............248
March......183...........0...............0.............0...............183
April........228...........0...............0.............0...............228
May.........200............0..............0.............0...............200
June.........199...........0...............26...........0...............225
July..........246...........0...............0.............0...............246
August.....452...........0...............0.............0...............452
Total........2583.........0...............26............0..............2609

Saturday, August 22, 2015

The smoke has arrived

The smoke from forest fires that has been blanketing Eastern Washington and Eastern Oregon rode east winds through the Columbia Gorge today in filled the Willamette Valley.  It started or light this morning,  but got worse as the day progressed.  This photo was taken early in the day.  I got in a leisurely 58 miles on the fixed gear bike.

........Road bike........Rollers.......MTB.......Lifecycle....Total
Today.......58...............0..............0..............0..............58
Jan..........765.............0..............0..............0.............765
Feb..........248............0..............0..............0..............248
March......183...........0...............0.............0...............183
April........228...........0...............0.............0...............228
May.........200............0..............0.............0...............200
June.........199...........0...............26...........0...............225
July..........246...........0...............0.............0...............246
August.....409...........0...............0.............0...............409
Total........2540.........0...............26............0..............2566 


Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE smartphone

Friday, August 21, 2015

The dog days of Summer

Though we are officially a little late to be in the "dog days of Summer" it was still a warm day. I took the fixed gear bike out for a little spin.  I started in Tualatin and rode to Cook Park.


 I explored around a bit and ended up in Durham Park.  I followed roads out of the park, just to get my bearings.  Not surprisingly, I was in Durham.


I crossed back over Fanno Creek, then rode northward and went for a repeat of Wednesday's ride, taking the Fanno Creek Trail to Garden Home.
I turned around and came back to Cook Park, this time continuing my exploratory ways, rode around the park a bit.


I got to the boat landing and was surprised to see signage that said that personal watercraft (jet skis, etc) were not allowed on the Tualatin River.  That seemed strange that they could limit certain types of watercraft on the Tualatin, which I thought was classified as "navigable".  In my previous life as a whitewater enthusiast, (early 80's) we were told that any river, or section of river, that had steamboat traffic or had been used to transport log rafts was deemed navigable. That designation limits landowners from restricting use of the river.  However, while looking for citations as I'm typing this, it appears that the law may have changed, and a river is only navigable if it is on the list now.

But further research found this more recent finding, that again lists log rafts as one of the deciding factors.  I would think that if a jet ski operator was cited for traveling along the river in this section that they would have a good chance of getting the citation dismissed........after a lengthy and expensive court process.

I let the battles of water access rest, and pedaled on.

I ended up with 27 miles, and took most of the afternoon to accomplish it!


........Road bike........Rollers.......MTB.......Lifecycle....Total
Today.......27...............0..............0..............0..............27
Jan..........765.............0..............0..............0.............765
Feb..........248............0..............0..............0..............248
March......183...........0...............0.............0...............183
April........228...........0...............0.............0...............228
May.........200............0..............0.............0...............200
June.........199...........0...............26...........0...............225
July..........246...........0...............0.............0...............246
August.....351...........0...............0.............0...............351
Total........2482.........0...............26............0..............2508

Thursday, August 20, 2015

Thursday!

And time again for the Thursday Night Ride!

I drove to Sellwood Riverfront Park and rode to the ride, which started at Salmon Street Springs. I was several hours early, so planned on doing a little preriding around.

Today's Alley Cat Race ended at the same location just before we began. I'm not sure if they were racing like these guys, but they all lacked the ability to shift gears.
 
                    

There were no tall bikes in tonight's mix, but there did seem to be a larger percentage of fixed gear bikes. 

There was plenty of bike activity to keep us all occupied.  Before too long the ride organizer showed up.

We rolled out right on time, 8PM.

We rode around for a bit.  We didn't get too much grief.  We were a group of 100 or more, and rode like we owned the road. (we did!). We got a lot of thumbs up and voicings of support.  And as usual, I heard one person ask why we weren't naked!

As we neared the end of the ride we stopped at a convenience store for snacks and beverages.


Fully supplied, we made our way to a Willamette River beach where a bonfire and beverages where enjoyed.




It was a nice night for a ride.  There was a bit of wind that made it feel cool as I rode, but I was in shorts and thin t-shirt.  There were a few goosebumps from time to time, but no shivering.


........Road bike........Rollers.......MTB.......Lifecycle....Total
Today.......28...............0..............0..............0..............28
Jan..........765.............0..............0..............0.............765
Feb..........248............0..............0..............0..............248
March......183...........0...............0.............0...............183
April........228...........0...............0.............0...............228
May.........200............0..............0.............0...............200
June.........199...........0...............26...........0...............225
July..........246...........0...............0.............0...............246
August.....324...........0...............0.............0...............324
Total........2455.........0...............26............0..............2481

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Fanno Creek

I was invited to join some folks as they did a leisurely ride of the Fanno Creek trail.  That sounded like a perfect opportunity to take the fixed gear bike.  The ride began at 8:30 AM at Garden Home in an attempt to beat the heat, making riding to the ride possible.

I started spinning pedals at 7AM and even with a quick stop for a breakfast burrito and large orange juice I covered the nearly 14 road miles in an hour.

By 8:30 there were 9 of us ready to roll.





Our ride leader for today would be Donna, a local resident, on her home turf.




I ride portions of the Fanno Creek Trail when I ride to Forest Grove/Hillsboro, but today we rode several sections I did not know about.  We started from the Garden Home Recreation Center, and accessed the trail immediately.

We followed Fanno Creek back southward.




We reached the southern end near the Tigard Library, then continued down to Cook Park.


We pedaled through Cook Park and across the Tualatin River before puttering around in Tualatin Community Park for a bit.

On the way back northward we came across the City of Tigard blocking the path with a pickup (with both doors open as we approached!) I understand that at times agencies need to bring in tools and supplies to maintain the trail, or in this case, pick up bags of trash,  but really, wouldn't an ATV be able to do what was being done here?


We took one slight detour because our ride leader said Summer Lake was worth the pedal.
It was.





We got back on the Fanno Creek Trail and returned back to Garden Home.


We had a post ride "debriefing" at the New Market Pub, then dispersed.
Donna and I both had to go the same direction, so we rode together for the first few miles.

By the time I got back to Wilsonville it was 94 degrees. Plenty warm enough!

I had 58 miles with the commute, but it was warm, and an extra couple of miles for an ice cold drink sounded good.

I ended up with a nice round 60 mile day.


........Road bike........Rollers.......MTB.......Lifecycle....Total
Today.......60...............0..............0..............0..............60
Jan..........765.............0..............0..............0.............765
Feb..........248............0..............0..............0..............248
March......183...........0...............0.............0...............183
April........228...........0...............0.............0...............228
May.........200............0..............0.............0...............200
June.........199...........0...............26...........0...............225
July..........246...........0...............0.............0...............246
August.....296...........0...............0.............0...............296
Total........2427.........0...............26............0..............2453

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Riding for Donuts, not Dialing for Dollars!

Rode the fixie in to town for a morning treat.

........Road bike........Rollers.......MTB.......Lifecycle....Total
Today.......3...............0..............0..............0...............3
Jan..........765.............0..............0..............0.............765
Feb..........248............0..............0..............0..............248
March......183...........0...............0.............0...............183
April........228...........0...............0.............0...............228
May.........200............0..............0.............0...............200
June.........199...........0...............26...........0...............225
July..........246...........0...............0.............0...............246
August.....236...........0...............0.............0...............236
Total........2367.........0...............26............0..............2393
 

Monday, August 17, 2015

Pizza!

I spent the day taking care of a "to do" list.  By the end of the day I was ready for pizza (and beer, but that didn't happen).  I rode the fixed gear bike into town and had a small pizza.


Just like a pup, waiting patiently at the door.
After I finished eating, there was still daylight left, so I took the long way home.


.........road bike..........rollers.........mtb..........lifecycle.......total
  Today............7..............0...............0...............0.................7
 Jan...............765...............0...............0...............0...............765
Feb................248...............0...............0...............0................248
March...........183.................0................0..............0................183
April..............228...............0................0...............0 ................228
May................200................0...............0...............0.................200
June................199.................0..............26...............0.................199

July.................246................0...............0.................0...............246
August............233...............0.................0................0.................233
Total............2364...............0...............26...............0..............2390

Sunday, August 16, 2015

Keeping the Fixie Happy

After yesterday's 140 mile ride, the fixie was feeling left out.  I solved that problem by taking it out for a spin today.

I had thought about riding back to the Organic Brewer's Festival to use up the drink tokens I received for parking bikes the other day, but soon realized that the festival would be closed early on Sunday and that I wouldn't be able to get there in time.

Instead I rode around the Willamette River and enjoyed the afternoon, not an uncommon plan today.


Some folks were pedaling, but on the water!

Some folks were near the water, but oblivious to it!
I just tootled around, at times under the protection of magic green paint.


.........road bike..........rollers.........mtb..........lifecycle.......total
  Today............18..............0...............0...............0.................18
 Jan...............765...............0...............0...............0...............765
Feb................248...............0...............0...............0................248
March...........183.................0................0..............0................183
April..............228...............0................0...............0 ................228
May................200................0...............0...............0.................200
June................199.................0..............26...............0.................199

July.................246................0...............0.................0...............246
August............226...............0.................0................0.................226
Total............2357...............0...............26...............0..............2383


Saturday, August 15, 2015

RAHOO!

Joe Turner has been organizing a ride around Mt Hood for 7 years now.  Every year it gets bigger and better.  This year their were nearly 30 folks ready to take on the challenge.

As I drove to Joe's home, I was met with wet roads when just a few miles away. It continued to rain very lightly as the group gathered.

The gang is introduced to the SAG drivers
It would continue to drizzle lightly for our first 50 miles of riding.  It never really rained, more of a heavy mist really, but it was enough to keep the wheels throwing up a spray of water droplets.  Not expecting wet roads, none of us had on rain gear or booties.  Luckily it was warm enough.

Dave S. photo
Joe directed us to ride a "reverse RAHOO", giving us the majority of the climbing in the first 50 miles.  Usually the famous Gorge winds make that not a good choice, but winds were predicted to be light today. Part of our loop around Mt Hood takes us through the Columbia River Gorge, and taking that as a tailwind beats a headwind but Joe gambled that the prediction of 10-12 mph winds would hold true.  Some of the rest of us weren't so sure.

With my lack of riding this year I knew I'd likely be the slowest on the road today.  I planned to keep my bike moving.  It was a tortoise and hare game plan that I'd hoped would see me back to Gresham before dark.

Joe had provided for 3 support vehicles.  I bypassed the first SAG meeting spot and just kept riding.  I had plenty of water on this wet morning to ride 10 miles, and then some.

As I pedaled by the meeting point and saw the gang standing around the SAG vehicle, I knew that I was now near the front of the "peloton".

Dave S. photo
About 19 miles into our ride we were to turn off Highway 26 and take E Sleepy Hollow Rd.  At 19.3 I picked up a radial tire wire and my rear tire went flat.  One by one the peloton passed me.  I finally got the tube replaced and was back on the road.  As I rolled by the next SAG meeting point (mile 21.6) Joe informed the SAG drivers that I was the last one, and they could now move up the road.

Needless to say, that was a wakeup call!  To be dead last so early into this event was not good.
I pedaled along and caught up with Steve, we chatted a bit, then I pedaled on up the road.

I caught up to a couple of the other riders in our group, and passed them just before our next "off Hwy 26 side trip" onto Kiwanis Camp Road (aka Rd 39)

This was a nice alternative to riding Hwy 26 which is undergoing construction in the zig zag turns just below Government Camp.  Road 39 is evidently the old road before the new Hwy 26 was built. There was some artful old concrete work at bridges that indicated the road's historic significance.  The road has been made impassable to motor vehicles so it was just us bikes (and any intrepid hikers) that would by going through today.

The first few miles were driveable as it provided access to a few organizational camps and some trailheads.  Where the road crossed a creek it became an abandoned road only accessible to us. There was asphalt the entire way, but the vegetation was creeping in from the edges.

Joe T. photo
The "road" finally ended with a scramble over the guard rail to get back on Hwy 26.

Joe T. photo
The fact that the Cascade Mtns are a dividing line between wet Western Oregon and arid Eastern Oregon was no more evident than today.  As we crossed the summit at Government Camp the drizzle stopped, and the road dried out.  We saw Mt Hood for the first time today, from the east side!

Where is all the snow?



 I had continued to catch up and ride through the tail end of our group.  While they stopped at SAG locations, I'd ride on through and only make quick stops at convenience stores for  chocolate milk. (good thing I'm not lactose intolerant!)
After we passed Government Camp we dropped into the White River Canyon, then climbed to the high point of today's ride, 4674 ft Bennett Pass,  I rode along with one of the women as she slowly made her way up Bennett Pass . I know that it is no fun to be out there all alone.  Once we hit the summit she pulled off to avail herself of the SAG vehicle stationed there, I kept on rolling, now facing a 40 mile,  4600 ft descent.  This was going to be fun!
There were good views to be had as I rolled down toward Hood River.


Mt Hood
Mt Adams
I rolled into Parkdale while the leaders were still at the meeting point.  Some left before I could get chocolate milk #3 but I was shortly on  my way.
Those that were still at the store when I left caught up soon enough, and immediately dropped me.


Our next rendezvous point was in Hood River .  As I rolled through I waved at the gang, who were gathered near McDonalds but I kept moving.  I made a quick stop at a gas station's convenience store for an ice cream sandwich.  It had warmed up a bit, and ice cream sounded good!
Once in Hood River our route would turn west, into a wind that was now blowing in our faces in the 15-17 mph range. 

I struggled along about 10-12 mph.  My lack of bike fitness was showing.  After a few miles the peloton came up on me and invited me to fall in line. We soon formed a double pace line and my speed immediately jumped up to 14-16 with the benefit of some strong riders riding point. 

Dave S. photo
The first  miles west of Hood River require us to ride on I-84's shoulder.  It's  wide, but noisy, and today was littered with debris. We felt lucky that our group only suffered only one flat in this 13 mile stretch.


 Before long we exited the freeway to take a frontage road.  It was nice to be on clean and quiet asphalt again.



It will be nice when ODOT finally finishes the last 10 miles .(if you have any interest at all in the Historic Columbia River Gorge trail project click HERE) If you'd like to contribute time, talent, dollars, or just add your voice to those wanting to see this project move forward quickly go HERE.

 The gang pulled off again in Cascade Locks.  I continued on , because that is what a tortoise does!  I stopped at a drinking fountain just before accessing the old Historic Columbia River Gorge Hiking Trail on the west side of town and refilled my water bottles.
I love this section of the route. The hills are gentle (the old highway was built with maximum grades of 5%)  and the scenery is superb!

At Tooth Rock the old road was left hanging high and dry when the freeway was built. Up to just a few years ago bicyclists traveling through here had to ride the freeway through the Tooth Rock Tunnel. Now the new trail connector accesses the orphaned historic road via a staircase. There is a track built along the side of the steps allowing heavy bikes to be rolled along rather than carried.


I knew that there were still about 30 miles to go, with some pretty decent hills. At the top of the stairway I ate one of the Clif Bars I was carrying to keep my energy level from dropping.


Bonneville Dam 


A new bridge on the connector, made to fit into the style of the old road.

Horsetail Falls
Multnomah Falls
 At Multnomah Falls I picked up a chocolate ice cream cone.  Just as I was finishing it, the leaders of the peloton rolled in. I finished my cone and pedaled on.



Vista House
I was stopping to take photos and it wasn't a race. I just wanted to finish before dark!  I knew that I was the slowest rider on the road, but was amazed how well I stayed up with the group.  Two of the fastest riders caught me again about 200 yds from Women's Forum State Park (Chanticleer Point) which was the high point of this last big climb.  They pulled off at the park, I rolled on down the hill. There was still plenty of climbing to come.

I rolled down to the Stark Street Bridge and crossed the Sandy River.  I was now on the 2008 Race Across Oregon route, a section I remember well!

I turned on Kerslake Rd and began climbing. As I made my way along 302nd, grades reached 17%. This were the steepest climbing on the 2008 RAO and of our route today!

As I inched my way up these last steep pitches the fast boys caught me again. The 40 mph speed sign in the photo below was wishful thinking.  I was riding closer to 4 mph. (but I was still riding!)

Joe T. photo
I rolled into Joe's driveway as the number 4 rider, about 3 minutes after the leaders.  I shifted into my small chain ring as I bounced along the driveway slowly.  The chain jumped off and jammed between the 30 tooth and 42 tooth rings.  My lack of forward motion made for a slow motion roll onto the lawn.  As I lay there contemplating how to unclip and get upright, my Garmin played a little tune and displayed "training complete, you win!"  Ha ha, I guess so!

As I walked the remaining 200 ft to the house, the peloton rolled in.  There were still a few stragglers out on the route, and Joe was accompanying them back in.

We would be finished with our spaghetti dinner (thanks Lynette!) before the last riders came in with lights on.

I was carrying my light too, but was really happy that I didn't have to use it.

Thanks to Joe, Lynette, and the entire Turner family for putting together this great event, providing support vehicles, and even dinner afterward.  It was a GREAT day to be on a bike!


I finished up with a 10.9 mph clock time average.  That was good enough to keep up with those who were showing a riding average of 14-15 mph today.

.........road bike..........rollers.........mtb..........lifecycle.......total
  Today............140..............0...............0...............0.................140
 Jan...............765...............0...............0...............0...............765
Feb................248...............0...............0...............0................248
March...........183.................0................0..............0................183
April..............228...............0................0...............0 ................228
May................200................0...............0...............0.................200
June................199.................0..............26...............0.................199

July.................246................0...............0.................0...............246
August............208...............0.................0................0.................203
Total............2339...............0...............26...............0..............2365