MORE SNOW, night visibility test, and a mini goal

For the third day in a row the western Tualatin Valley had new snow on the ground this morning. What's up with that? There are years we don't get any snow, this year seems we just keep getting it. Unfortunately, at least on the valley floor, it's been melting each day meaning we have to deal with the slop and slush each day. There's just enough kid in me yet that I just wish it would cool a few degrees and SNOW.

I see that getting 500 miles in January is attainable with a little effort. (albiet mostly "pretend" miles in the gym this month) I don't have a monthly mileage goal but since 500 is so close I think I'll go for the nice round number.

The 53 mile birthday ride has been set. Up to 8 of us will be riding Sunday morning on the Butteville/Kaizer loop. If you want to join the "fun" (highs in the upper 30's, 60% chance of showers) leave a note here and I'll send you the details.

And lastly, a group of folks from the Cascade Bicycle Club got together a few nights ago to see what worked and what didn't to see and be seen on the roads at night.
To read their findings spend some time reading this forum thread.

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...............Road Bike.....LifeCycle.....Total Miles YTD
Today...........0................25
YTD.............98.....+........377....=.........475

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Making progress on the New Year's Resolution

As you can tell, I visit the gym regularly. Every year I note the increase in attendance at the new year. It lasts for a month to 6 weeks, then we are back to just the "regulars". Seems that most can only focus on the best of intentions for about 6 weeks then the trials and tribulations of life get in the way. If you read my first post here you know that this year I made my first new year's resolution. So far I'm still on track. I'm well into the planning stages for this year's Race Across Oregon. Still 5 1/2 months before it starts so I'll be ready. The week before I'm already signed up for the 204 mile STP. No concerns with finishing in one day, more concerned about damage to the old body a week before RAO. I haven't had sore muscles since the first year I rode, so that's not a concern, more concerned about getting a tender posterior from 14 hours in the saddle. Can't have that! Don't want to break anything on the bike. Never had that issue, but don't want to start that this year! Part of my new year's resolution was to crew for a Furnace Creek 508 entrant. As of today it looks like I may have the opportunity to do just that. I'll keep you informed as that firms up.
I've also resolved to ride more hills. I can make the first check off that list in two weeks when I ride Chilly Hilly. I'm already registered for Chilly Hilly. There are ongoing discussions with friends for other noted rides with vertical challenges from Mt St Helens to Mt Shasta. There are no dearth of volcanoes to ride up in the great northwest!

We had another 1/2 inch of snow on the ground this morning. It's pretty much gone now, still some slush around, and some really hard rain and or snow showers on and off. Once again this bike pansy has decided that the warmth and safety of the gym looks pretty darn good.

Gee, wonder what will happen next Sunday when I join a few folks to ride REAL bikes for 53 miles. Wonder if I will remember how to balance and shift at the same time? :-O


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...............Road Bike.....LifeCycle.....Total Miles YTD
Today...........0................21
YTD.............98.....+........352....=.........450

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The school kids are ecstatic

The west end of the Tualatin Valley woke up this morning to just under an inch of snow on the ground. As you moved east the snow depth declined rapidly until by the time you got to Hillsboro (about 8 miles from here) it was just a dusting on the barkdust.

Once again this pansy opted for the safety and comfort of the gym. I'm going to have to start riding the real bike soon or I'll forget how to ride it!

If you have a little time and like to surf bike blogs take a look at Cecil Anne's blog. ("Formerly Floyd Speaks" on my blog listing, right column, bottom) Also take a look at Lynne F's blog. ("Lynne Rides") Some interesting reading. Both those ladies evidently have more intestinal fortitude than I..... or more friends who are willing to join them on cold wet winter rides!
Eric "Thrasher" Troili has been updating his blog as well. If you are as interested in the Furnace Creek 508 as I am, this is a must read. Click on "Eric "Thrasher" Troili's Furnace Creek 508 blog". It is worth the read to see what these competitors go through to finish this event. My hat is off to them.

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...............Road Bike.....LifeCycle.....Total Miles YTD
Today...........0................21
YTD.............98.....+........331....=.........429

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A cool and foggy start to the day

Luckily it's warm and clear at the gym!

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...............Road Bike.....LifeCycle.....Total Miles YTD
Today...........0................21
YTD.............98.....+........310....=.........408

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The weather gurus were right!

There were stars shining at 5AM, low clouds by 7AM, freezing rain by 8:30AM. It'll be the artificial bike in the gym later today. I was looking at my totals, I guess it's just the time of year that the warm and dry (and TV!) of the gym win out over actual road miles. :-( That will change soon enough. Next weekend is my birthday ride, this year 53 miles. Two weeks later I make the trip to the Seattle area for Chilly Hilly. That might be chilly, it's sure to be HILLY! In between I will be in Central Oregon for a 4 day conference. I'm going to bring my bike and try to get in a little "high elevation training".

Yesterday I picked up a spare set of wheels for my bike. I put a new 12-27 9spd cassette on the rear hub this morning. Already got a set of Kevlar tires on them. That is one more step done in the preparation of Race Across Oregon. Since we are required to have our own support vehicle I'm going to have those spare wheels follow along. If I get a flat or break a spoke just swap a wheel and pedal on, have the support crew take the time to do the repairs. I currently have a triple chainring in front, 53/43/30, and 12-25 rear cassette. The 12-27 will give me the option of swapping in a lower gear ratio for the long climbs we will see on RAO.(does "Bakeoven Road" sound scary enough to you?)

Other news on the RAO front? My team is putting the final details on the registration plan. There is some talk about trying to obtain a corporate sponsor.
If you are a civic minded corporation looking to raise awareness by the public of your efforts, give me a shout. We four old coots will do you proud!

Evening Update:

I read in the print version of The Oregonian today that a young woman was "right hooked" by a Tri-Met bus while walking with the "walk signal" in a marked crosswalk.
Here's the article:
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TriMet bus injures woman walking dog near Lloyd Center
Posted by The Oregonian January 25, 2008 20:25PM

A woman remained hospitalized tonight after being struck by a TriMet bus while walking her dog near Lloyd Center in Portland.

The incident happened just after 4 p.m. at Northeast 21st Avenue and Multnomah Street. Witnesses told police that the bus, driven by 42-year-old Tracey Hughes, was turning north from Multnomah when it struck 65-year-old Patricia Smith in the crosswalk.

Smith was taken to Legacy Emanuel Hospital & Health Center with non-life-threatening injuries.

The bus had a green light when it was turning, and the pedestrian was crossing with the walk signal, the Portland Police Bureau reported. Investigators believe the driver lost sight of the pedestrian and continued her turn while the pedestrian was still in the intersection.

Neither speed nor impairment was a factor in the collision, police said.

-- Kimberly A.C. Wilson;
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What interests me about this (beyond the obvious concern for the pedestrian) is what will become of the Tri-Met driver. In previous posts I've asked the rhetorical question when discussing the Jarolimek/Sparling/Doyle right hooks, "what would happen if that cyclist were a pedestrian in a crosswalk?" I'll be following this to find out that answer. Yes, when I find out I'll post it here.

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...............Road Bike.....LifeCycle.....Total Miles YTD
Today...........0................21
YTD.............98.....+........289....=.........386

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The last sunny day

At least that's what the weather gurus are saying. I'm going to hop on the road bike and ride around Hagg Lake from the Lake Stop Store. That'll only give me a 15-17 mile ride if I remember, but by the time I get there that's about all the daylight I'll have left.

Just found THIS. Too much? Not enough? Chime in on the poll.

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...............Road Bike.....LifeCycle.....Total Miles YTD
Today...........15................0
YTD.............98.....+........267....=.........365

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Another beautiful crisp January day

It's a beautiful day, cloudless, a bit brisk, a moderate wind here in SE Portland, less on the West side of town. I should be out riding, there are a ton of bikes out today but I'm running around SE Portland gathering "supplies" for the Race Across Oregon endeavor. Since we are required to have a personal support vehicle I figured I might as well use it. I'm getting a second set of wheels and tires for my bike so I don't have to take time to change any flats, just swap wheels and let the support crew change the tire. I also figured given the hills that a rear cog set more in tune with climbing wouldn't be bad. If there is a long hill coming up take the minute or so to swap the rear wheel for one with the climbing gears. After RAO I'll let you know if that plan worked out for me. ;-)

Tired...lazy....saving my energy for tomorrow......whatever.
No bike today. I'll do better tomorrow

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...............Road Bike.....LifeCycle.....Total Miles YTD
Today...........0................0
YTD.............83.....+........267....=.........350

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Truck Driver who kills Tracey Sparling fined $242

The Portland Police have cited Rinker Cement truck driver Timothy Wiles for failure to yield to a bicyclist in a bicycle lane, ORS 811.500, when he drove over Tracey Sparling who was cycling in a bike lane. That citation carries a fine of $242. I did not know her, but am outraged that society does not value her life more than that.
As bad as that is for me, it's still better than the decision to not cite AGG Enterprises garbage truck driver Bryan Lowes for running over Brett Jarolimek.
While I agree with the finding that it does not appear that criminal prosecution is warranted, the driver DID NONE THE LESS FAIL TO YIELD. If I were the Jarolimek family I'd be looking into the possibility of filing a civil suit against AGG for putting a driver with such a bad driving record behind the wheel of one of their big trucks..... that resulted in the death of Brett.

Siobhan Doyle through a lawyer issued a citizen initiated citation when the Portland Police decided that they would not issue a citation to the vehicle that hit her as she cycled in a bike lane.

It seems that "I didn't see" the cyclist is a valid excuse to the Portland Police. I may try that if I ever get pulled over for running a red light. "Sorry officer, I was reaching for my cell phone and latte and didn't see the light turn red" :-O

BikePortland has a good article on these events. Please go here and read the full story.

I have other posts on this subject here , here
and here

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...............Road Bike.....LifeCycle.....Total Miles YTD
Today...........0................12
YTD.............83.....+........267....=.........350

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New links added

I have recently added 2 new links. Both are online ride search tools. If you want to know if there are any organized rides available just plug in your search parameters and out pops a list. Pretty cool I think. They are located along the right side of the page, right below the bike clubs listing.

UPDATE:

Perhaps I'm not a bike rider after all. I found myself with a bit of time this afternoon. The sky was cloudless, winds were just a bit breezy but manageable, cold, but not overly so. I could have/should have bundled up and hit the road. Instead I opted for the artificial bike at the gym. Pretty sunshine out the windows, and CNN in the earbuds. Clip in, tune in, zone out and pedal.

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...............Road Bike.....LifeCycle.....Total Miles YTD
Today...........0................31
YTD.............83.....+........255....=.........338

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Brrrrrrrrrrrrr

For those in NW Oregon I don't need to mention this, but for the rest of you.....
it was COLD today! The low this morning was in the mid teens and the high was 32 along with a very brisk east wind. Humidity was just below 30%. Tomorrow is predicted to be about 5 degrees colder on both numbers. That's a bit chilly for these parts.

I opted for the artificial bike in the gym tonight.

The training for STP/RAO and the whole rest of this crazy quest is going well. Resting heart rate this morning was 60, down about 15 since January 1st. It will be down another 15 or so by the end of March.


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...............Road Bike.....LifeCycle.....Total Miles YTD
Today...........0................22
YTD.............83.....+........224....=.........307

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