On the way to STP!

Dave and I are taking the Portland Wheelmen's bus up to Seattle for STP. A very reasonably priced way to get a person and their bike up north! The picture is of Dave in the window seat with another cyclist in residence next to him.

the last hurrah

Well, before leaving for Seattle and the STP anyway!

I met a member of our social bike group for a ride planned to be of about 50 miles but with no preplanned route. Before taking off we both came up with a ride to Hagg Lake as a good option for today.



The weather was nice for riding, not too hot, not too cold, not too windy. If only STP can be as nice!

It was a more social pace today. I averaged 15.6 for the 69 miles. We stopped for buffalo burgers and teriyaki at Cooper D's in Gaston. The proprietress of this small town eatery was impressed that we had cycled from Hillsboro to Gaston. When she heard the plans for the rest of the weekend she about fainted! (didn't have the heart to tell her about October plans!)


+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
...............Road Bike.....LifeCycle.....Total Miles
Today............69...............0.................69
Jan total.......501.....+.........30.......=.......531
Feb total.......614.....+.........0........=.......614
March total.....860.....+.........0........=.......860
April total.....790.....+.........0........=.......790
May total.......901.....+.........0........=.......901
June total......543.....+.........0........=.......543
July total......422.....+.........0........=.......422
Year to date...4692.....+.........30.......=......4722
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

A cool day compared to the weather of the last few weeks. A perfect day to go ride some hills!



The wind was out of the south today. Hope that doesn't hold until Saturday. That would make a 204 mile LONG bike ride into the wind for STP!

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
...............Road Bike.....LifeCycle.....Total Miles
Today............38...............0.................38
Jan total.......501.....+.........30.......=.......531
Feb total.......614.....+.........0........=.......614
March total.....860.....+.........0........=.......860
April total.....790.....+.........0........=.......790
May total.......901.....+.........0........=.......901
June total......543.....+.........0........=.......543
July total......353.....+.........0........=.......353
Year to date...4623.....+.........30.......=......4653
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

90 days

or pretty close to it. Time is ticking. Excitement builds. Trepidation never too far away. Unfailing confidence still supreme.

bored

I had a lot of errands to run today but I did have my bike with me. About 11 AM I was feeling a bit down, had a few set backs, and sort of lost direction. None of my friends answered their phones. I decided I should go for a short ride. I was near the ride I did last Thursday when I joined Luis for his afterwork ride. The 23 miles with some hills sounded just about right.

As it ends up, Dave invited me to join him on his commute to work tomorrow giving me the opportunity to repeat last Wednesday's ride, but alas, I have a morning commitment.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
...............Road Bike.....LifeCycle.....Total Miles
Today............23...............0.................23
Jan total.......501.....+.........30.......=.......531
Feb total.......614.....+.........0........=.......614
March total.....860.....+.........0........=.......860
April total.....790.....+.........0........=.......790
May total.......901.....+.........0........=.......901
June total......543.....+.........0........=.......543
July total......315.....+.........0........=.......315
Year to date...4585.....+.........30.......=......4615
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Paul's SX4 Hagg Lake ride

I joined 6 other members of our social bike group on Paul's SX4 ride. (Sunday Social Saunter Series)

We rode from Scholls Heights Elementary School out to Hagg Lake where we joined others who were just there for either a lap on MTB bike around the mtb trail or a 10 mile lap of the lake via road. As it ended up, both who showed up at the lake chose to do MTB. Our trip leader has a touring bike that does double duty so he joined the other two on the single track. As it ended up, the single track was a dangerous place to be today!



The weather was very nice. It was markedly cooler, with a high in the mid 80's. The wind shifted to out of the south, a sign of impending wet weather, and we picked up some high and scattered clouds. Our route didn't expose us to a headwind too often so it was all good.

We made it out to the lake without incident and took up residence at a lake side picnic table where we had our lunch and divided into those who would dirt track it, and those who were dyed in the wool roadies for the day.


After eating a fine picnic lunch we continued around the lake.


After a circuit of the lake we took an alternate and slightly less busy route back to Scholls Heights. We stopped for water refills from time to time, here at Forest Hills Golf Course.


We continued along through the countryside.



and found that fresh fruit is indeed a treat!




Before long we arrived back at Scholls Heights and most said their goodbyes. A few of us decided that a slice of pizza and a cold adult beverage would be a good way to wrap up the day. It was!




+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
...............Road Bike.....LifeCycle.....Total Miles
Today............65...............0.................65
Jan total.......501.....+.........30.......=.......531
Feb total.......614.....+.........0........=.......614
March total.....860.....+.........0........=.......860
April total.....790.....+.........0........=.......790
May total.......901.....+.........0........=.......901
June total......543.....+.........0........=.......543
July total......292.....+.........0........=.......292
Year to date...4562.....+.........30.......=......4592
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Independance Day

It is predicted to be another very warm day, a perfect day for all the events of Independence Day. What fun would it be to be watching fireworks with an umbrella or wearing a warm coat at the family reunion picnic along the river?

I took a very easy short ride this morning. I had a partial family reunion of sorts and rode my bike along side as my sister went for a morning walk.

A whopping 5 miles, at a 4.1 average!

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
...............Road Bike.....LifeCycle.....Total Miles
Today.............5...............0..................5
Jan total.......501.....+.........30.......=.......531
Feb total.......614.....+.........0........=.......614
March total.....860.....+.........0........=.......860
April total.....790.....+.........0........=.......790
May total.......901.....+.........0........=.......901
June total......543.....+.........0........=.......543
July total......227.....+.........0........=.......227
Year to date...4497.....+.........30.......=......4527
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Shhh.....Brian's Super Secret Ride

7 of us took off from Scappoose today following our social bike club's illustrious leader on what he calls his "super secret ride". (Brian, our grand poohbah!)
It was a warm day with temperatures in the low 90's, however with the copious shade it wasn't all that bad.


We ended up with 65 miles, 15.1 mph average, 11,881 ft of climbing, and burned through 6658 calories. A very good ride with great company. We all ended up at Ixtapa for margaurita's and "the best Mexican food I ever ate".



+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
...............Road Bike.....LifeCycle.....Total Miles
Today............65...............0.................65
Jan total.......501.....+.........30.......=.......531
Feb total.......614.....+.........0........=.......614
March total.....860.....+.........0........=.......860
April total.....790.....+.........0........=.......790
May total.......901.....+.........0........=.......901
June total......543.....+.........0........=.......543
July total......222.....+.........0........=.......222
Year to date...4492.....+.........30.......=......4522
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Local Ride Night

A half dozen of us were led by Luis late today on what was billed as an "after work ride". It was 95 degrees as we took off, 85 as we finished. We ended up with a little time to unwind at Cornelius Pass Roadhouse. It was a good ride, 23 miles with 2843 ft of climbing. Dave and I rode a flat little 10 mile out and back on Evergreen as a warm up. We ended up with a 15.7 mph average and burned 2272 calories.



+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
...............Road Bike.....LifeCycle.....Total Miles
Today............33...............0.................33
Jan total.......501.....+.........30.......=.......531
Feb total.......614.....+.........0........=.......614
March total.....860.....+.........0........=.......860
April total.....790.....+.........0........=.......790
May total.......901.....+.........0........=.......901
June total......543.....+.........0........=.......543
July total......157.....+.........0........=.......157
Year to date...4427.....+.........30.......=......4457
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The value of nutrition

I took off very early this morning on short notice to join my brother-in-law on his 20 mile bike commute to work. Unfortunately he didn't know I was coming........and I didn't know his route! I arrived at his work shortly after he did. It was such a nice day I decided to ride more even though I only had one water bottle with me, no food, and no money! Here's where I went:



The Garmin software, "Training Center", tells me the total miles was 124.36, it goes on to say that I burned 10,475 calories, and climbed a total of 16,314 ft.

I took it a bit easy since I knew I was going to be running on empty. Dave lent me $10 before I pedaled away this morning. That got me a good breakfast at Village Inn Pancake House with a few bucks to spare in reserve for later in the day.

The San Diego Tour Guide had spent a good deal of time helping me navigate in San Diego and really went above and beyond by supporting me in my crazy riding in Death Valley. It would have been nice to have returned the favor today by showing the Tour Guide one of my favorite rides, as well as a stop for breakfast along the way!

Having fueled up I decided to head eastward towards the Columbia River Gorge. The ride out was uneventful while at the same time being enjoyable. I only had one water bottle with me so I kept an eye open for opportunities to refill it. I didn't have much trouble keeping hydrated today, but it was straight water, no added goodies.

The new bike made it up to Chanticleer Point like a champ.


I rode to Multnomah Falls where I used my remaining monetary supplies to get a corndog, the only thing on the menu that I had enough to cover!

I continued on my way eastward out past the recently reopened Oneonta Tunnel.

I rode as far as I could without getting on the freeway. That amounts to a few miles beyond Ainsworth State Park to a dead end after crossing under the freeway.

Surprisingly, winds in the Gorge today were light, almost imperceptible. I turned around and began the return trip. Just before reaching the Oneonta Tunnel I came across two "grandmotherly type" women, one had crawled have way under their car. I stopped and offered to help. I had no tools or supplies of any kind with me but figured maybe I could do something. A plastic splash pan had come loose under the engine and was dragging on the road. To make a long story short I used some gauze from their first aid kit to tie the offending piece back up and send them on their way. Just trying to earn my way to heaven!

The waterfalls today were in fine form.


I was bonking hard. My stomach was growling, my legs were cramping, I was tired. I just kept pedaling along because there was no other option. Once I got to Troutdale I pushed along pretty hard because I was to meet Dave back near the Rose Garden and join him on a 28 mile return ride to Wilsonville......via Pete's Mountain! I didn't take time to refill water along this last leg and paid for it a bit. I really was in hydration deficit by the time I arrived at his work.........with 2 minutes to spare.

We rode along the waterfront on the Springwater Trail. Near Oaks Park Dave gave me a Cliff Bar from his supplies. I downed it quickly, I could have eaten a dozen of them!
Just before beginning the climb of Pete's Mountain Dave handed me his last treat, a strawberry Cliff Shot. Dave led the way up the climb with me just trying to hang on.

As we made our way out Mountain Rd just east of Wilsonville Dave was out in front by a good half mile. Dave has beaten me back to his house the last two rides. I saw him attacking the hills hard. I knew he was going for a threepeat. I was tired, I was hot, I had already ridden over 120 miles with temps in the upper 80's,..........but I had this new carbon bike and some pride. Dave was NOT going to beat me today. I dug deep and tried to close the gap. He made the turn onto Advance Rd and I had closed the gap to 1/4 mile. There are some tight turns on a descent. I have a little less trepidation on descents than Dave does. I hit the hairpin corners a little faster than Dave did, and as he began the climb out of the little del I carried enough momentum to catch him before he reached the top. I continued to pour it on because I was NOT going to let him "reach the barn" before me. I wasn't sure I could hold out, but was going to do my best.

There are some big roller coaster hills on Advance Rd. The first one being the biggest. I got a good run at it, but with tired legs it wasn't quite good enough. Dave caught me again just before the top. We traded the lead back and forth a bit.
He had the lead as we hit the second roller coaster but not by much.

It is said that all is fair in love and war.........what they don't tell you is that some times all is fair in friendly competition between brother-in-laws. With just a few blocks left Dave was ahead by about 40 ft. He continued straight ahead to take the road that cars take. .....I turned left 1 block earlier, inched my way around a locked gate across the road, and pedaled HARD. I pulled into his driveway about a minute ahead of him. Enough to break the string!


+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
...............Road Bike.....LifeCycle.....Total Miles
Today...........124...............0................124
Jan total.......501.....+.........30.......=.......531
Feb total.......614.....+.........0........=.......614
March total.....860.....+.........0........=.......860
April total.....790.....+.........0........=.......790
May total.......901.....+.........0........=.......901
June total......543.....+.........0........=.......543
July total......124.....+.........0........=.......124
Year to date...4394.....+.........30.......=......4424
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++