Last 2 Rides

6/17/06

Dave and I arrived at Tom's house around 6:30 and got started sometime thereafter. We rode the very same route Steve and I did on 5/27. Those same hills were tough, but I felt much stronger this time around than I did when Steve and I did it. There was no me laying on the side of the road wishing a car would smash me, and I made it up the last hill without stopping, which was the first time I did that in three tries. After that first 35 miles, Dave and I had a nice long rest at Tom's house where we washed up, ate some lunch, and stretched our legs and back a bit. Then Tom joined us for the second leg of our trip. We headed towards Camden, but made a right onto Short road before we headed down the big hill. On Short road, a funny thing happened to me: my left crank arm fell off. Just popped off, hanging from my shoe, no left crank arm. Luckily, we found the bolt that attaches it to the crank, and I had an allen wrench that fit the bolt, so I screwed it back on. We continued our ride, passing Tom's high school (preble shawnee?) and heading into Gratis. We then headed towards west elkton, into a fierce headwind, and somewhat uphill, on Wayne Trace. Dave and I decided to head home, Tom continued on for a bit to add some miles to his ride, and I finished with a little over 62 miles, with an average of 15.6 mph. The most important thing, though, is that I felt great afterwards. My legs were a little sore, but overall I felt, for the first time, that I'll be able to finish this thing.

M: 62
MTD: 608
ML: 392


6/24/06

Steve, Tom, Dave, and I showed up at the Preble County Fairgrounds at 6am, registered for the Buckeye Bridge Ride, and were off on a 76 mile tour by 6:30am. We started off my narrowly avoiding an oncoming train (don't ask), and then around mile 15 my crank arm, yes the same left one, fell off again. Excellent, right? Again, I was fortunate that I was able to fix it with my allen wrench. For the first 20 miles the ride was REALLY flat, and then we headed south towards Gratis, and it proceeded to get a bit more difficult. We started heading uphills, and into headwinds, until we got to Gratis, where we stopped for our second SAG stop. Tom had a wedding to attend, so he left us in his dust, and Steve, Dave, and I were left on our own. At mile 42, Steve decided to stick with us and complete the 75 miler, rather then breaking away and doing 45 miles. The next 20 miles we headed north, and basically the whole time was into a headwind. The map was a bit mismarked and I thought the last SAG stop was at mile 54, but by mile 56 we hadn't seen it, so I called the information and found out it was actually at mile 61. We pressed on, and after our last stop we rode pretty much with the wind, so it was bit easier. About 5 miles from the finish, I joked that we hadn't seen any hills on this ride that was any worse than the easiest hills on our previous rides around preble county. Then we hit the steepest hill (short...but steep) I've been on, and I joked that of course I had to open my big fat mouth. The rest of the ride was pretty much downhill into Eaton for the end of the ride. I felt great, although I did have some slight joint pain in my knees. Heart-lung wise I felt good, and my legs, although a little sore, felt ok. I felt, as I ate my lunch, that maybe I'll train to do a century ride at the end of the summer. This was, of course, my last planned major ride before the MS150. With Jill's family in town the previous week, and me not riding at all, I was a little worried that a week off would hurt me, but I don't think it did. I feel more confident than ever that I will finish the MS150 without a problem. I sure hope I'm right! Now...I'm off to Florida!!

M: 76 (at 15.3 mph)
MTD: 683
ML: 317

6/14/06

Tom and I rode 35 miles today. We did the typical head down into Camden, left onto whatever that road is, and into Sommersville. We had a nice tailwind helping us out, so we were cruising around 19 mph. We crossed 127 shortly after Sommersville, and made a right on that other road (what do you want from me, people?!). This was a pretty cool road, until a decent hill jumped out at me from NOWHERE. So up we go. And up some more. And then Tom saved a snake (which he didn't do on our previous ride...heartless jerk). And then up some more. Then we turned onto another road and headed up some more. Now at this point I know we're headed back into Camden, and Camden lies down on the river (pretty much...) and so where are we going to lose all of this elevation? Well, we finally make a right onto that other other road, and head down through a dark, forested road. Very cool ride, actually, and then down some more, and some more. So that's where we lost all the elevation we had gained. Anyways, we head back into Camden where I snag a refill of water and Tammy's Camden Kitchen (or something like that). Then we headed towards Gratis, but not quite to Gratis, as we turned right onto Quaker Trace (there, you happy?), into West Elkton, and back home through Rush Run. It was a good ride.

M: 35
MTD: 546
ML: 454

6/12/06

So the weather spoiled our plans to do 55 miles on saturday, and sunday I was a little sick, so the 55 mile ride was postponed until today. Unfortunately, Dave had to work, so of course, he couldn't make it. And so, it was just Tom and I in the wilds of Preble Co. We started off by riding down Hoel Road hill, headed into Sommersville, and then across 127. This was the same route Steve, Tom, and I took on our 35 miler. Again, immediately after crossing 127 we headed up to Taylor School road (up, as in uphill), and then made a left on Taylor School Road and headed uphill into Seven Mile. From there we took Cotton Run Road up to some other road into Jacksonburg, and then headed into Gratis. After a break in Gratis we headed back home through West Elkton and then Rush Run park. When we got to Tom's house we were at mile 40, so we ate some lunch and headed back out. This time we stuck pretty close to Tom's house, doing a 15 mile loop that took us through West Elkton. By about mile 50 I was toast, but kept on keepin on, and made it. 55 miles on the nose, with an average of 15.7 mph. Not too bad, if I may say so myself. And, I saved a turtle's life.

M: 55
MTD: 511 (over half way there...and with only 2 weeks to go)
ML: 489

6/8/06

Woke up early again this morning and rode the bike path twice. Both times heading towards the turn the wind was pretty ferocious, but I made it my goal to not drop below 16mph while riding into the wind. The second time I had planned on taking a break at the turn, but once I got there I was semi-out of breath, and decided to keep going so as to keep my heart rate up, and hopefully strengthen my lungs a bit. Dunno if it worked, but that's what I did. I averaged 16.4 mph for the ride.

Tomorrow, Tom, Steve, Dave, and I are planning to ride 50-55 miles. Here's hoping the route will allow us (me) to do so.

M: 24
MTD: 456
ML: 544

6/6/06

Ooooh....6/6/6 CRAZY! Whatever. I saw a headline that an online gambling site was taking bets with 10-1 odds that the world would end today. Which sucker plopped money on THAT bet? How would you collect your winnings if you won?! Anyways, Tom and I rode 15 miles around his house today. Nothing crazy, because I had requested we do easier miles, so we didn't go down into Camden, as per usual, rather we headed towards West Elkton, did a little 4 mile loop twice, and then headed back home through Rush Run. After the big uphill in Rush Run, I tried to keep pace with Tom, rather than puttin along like I normally do to catch my breath. So I finished the ride strong. We averaged 15.7 mph, so not too shabby.

M: 15
MTD: 432
ML: 568

6/5/06

I woke up around 8am this morning and drove to the bike path. I started out near the flag pole, and headed towards Dave's. Around 1.5 miles into the ride I look down and notice that one of my water bottles is missing, so I turn around, thinking perhaps it fell off. So I ride back the 1.5 miles at 9ish mph, searching for my bottle. Turns out I just forgot to put it on my bike in the first place. Sooo...back towards Dave's house I go. I made it to Dave's house, head back to the park and there I do a couple of 100 yard sprints on my bike, just trying to get the heart rate up a bit. Then I rested for about 5 minutes and stretched my legs some. Now, on the way to Dave's house there was NO wind, but of course, as I head to the turn I'm faced with a billowing flag and a decent headwind. Thanks Ma Nature, you really have my back. I stopped again at the turn and then headed back to Dave's, and again, the wind was dead. No wind. No tailwind. I'm not bitter, but just a little bewildered. I stop at the park again, stretch and then head back to the car, in of course, a headwind. Crazy. I finish 24 miles with an average of 15.7 mph. Not bad. I liked riding early, too. It made my day better, I think.

M: 24
MTD: 417 (another milestone!)
ML: 583

6/3/06

I decided I wanted to ride 45 miles today, trying to up my mileage in the hills by 10 each weekend. I just figured that we'd ride the 45 miles (which included the 35 miles I rode last sat.) that Tom rode last weekend. But, alas, twas not to be. Tom mapped out a route that he hadn't ridden or really driven before. We started out going down into Camden and then heading to Sommerville. By the way, riding along side train tracks with a train flying by is kinda cool. So anyways, 6 or so miles of downhill/flat terrain, and then we crossed 127 and headed up, up, up Sommerville Road. It was a looong, gradual hill and I was winded by the time I got to the top. Then, we headed south on 177 and turned onto Harris. I've driven Harris many many times and I can tell you it's nothing but hills. Tom has never driven Harris before, and he had no clue that it was nothing but hills. And when I say hills, I mean not-too-steep-not-too-gradual, but very long hills. So we did this. Then crossed 127 again and headed up, up, up on some other hilly road. Then turned onto another up, up, up hilly road. At one point Tom says "I have no clue where this elevation is coming from". So, I - being fat and not in great shape - decide to head home after my third rest in about 3 miles. Our ride ends up being around 32 miles, rather than 45, and I say this with no reservation: it was the toughest ride yet. But I learned a lesson, and that would be that I will drive any routes longer than 35 miles from now on if Tom hasn't already done so. I need to get on my bike for longer than 50 miles, but without killing myself.

M: 32
MTD: 393
ML: 607

Status

Bad news 1000 Miles readers. It doesn't look like I'll be able to ride 1000 miles before July 1. With recovery time, and mainly because I was a lazy SOB for about all of May, I believe I will fall short of my goal. I do, however plan to have ridden 856 miles by June 24th. Jill and I leave on the 25th to go to Florida for our anniversary, and the day before I will do a 75 mile ride. Unfortunately, I will be gone that whole last week of June, and my ability to ride in florida is questionable, at best. Tony (my stepDad) has a nice bike, but I'm not sure how much riding I'll be doing with the beach, and pool, and other such vacationy things around. So, ok, what does it all mean? Well, if I don't ride another mile after June 24th, then there is a 99% chance that I will not accomplish my goal. I may be able to get some miles in in florida before July 1, but I doubt I can get 150. So, my new, revised goal, is to get those 856 miles in before I leave for florida, and then with the ride being 150 miles, I will have ridden 1000 miles by July 10. Maybe I was just off a zero?

5/31/06

Tom and I decided to ride the bike path twice today. We had the wind at our back for the first 2 miles, and then at our face for the next 6ish. We turned around at Dave's house, and stopped at the turn. At this point I'm dreading my decision to ride without my bike shorts - my butt is way sore and it definitely does not feel like I can ride another 10 miles, so I crap out at about 15 miles (which I did at an average of 16.7 mph) - 9 miles short of the intended ride. Of course, Tom finishes in record time. I swear that guy is going to race in the Tour someday. I hate him.


M: 15
MTD: 361
ML: 639