So, how's your training going? I'm happy to say I'm ahead of pace, having surpassed 100 miles in the saddle today. Tom Hicks and I enjoyed a noon ride along the trail and had lunch at Jerseys. I'm thinking I shouldn't have to count the calories in the french fries they brought me since I ordered cottage cheese.
So, due largely to my Florida vacation and considerably less to the Iowa climate, I'm at 109 miles. Last year, before I wound up biking only five of the seven RAGBRAI legs, I didn't pass 100 miles until May 22. In 2006, the year of the cattle truck rescue, it was June 30. Back in 2005, when this obsession started, I bought my bike two weeks from now. On June 12 of that year, I set a personal best riding 13.4 miles to and from my son's baseball games to surpass the 100 mile mark.
Three years later the odometer reads 2,217 -- not counting 70 miles in Florida -- and I'm as fired up for RAGBRAI as I've ever been. Losing 40 pounds certainly helps. I really like the route. The jerseys are cool -- both the RAGBRAI and CoeBRAI versions. Most of all, I'm excited about the returning riders and anxious to give the newcomers an experience of a lifetime.
Coe College meets RAGBRAI -- Iowa's greatest college tackles the nation's greatest bike ride.
Friday, May 9, 2008
Training rides
In addition to our weekly Friday noon rides, which officially begin today, I wanted to call your attention to some locally organized events that can help prepare us for RAGBRAI.
One that I just discovered is Ben Murphy's Bike Ride for Preemies. In it's seventh year, this ride raises money for babies born premature. Scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday, July 12, it offers a 20-mile bike ride that uses the beautiful Cedar Valley Trail from the New Shack Tavern to the Hawthorne Suites hotel and back. The cost is only $15, and you get a custom designed Ben's Ride T-shirt, water bottle, and other goodies.
There's also the annual Swine Trek on June 21 sponsored by the Hawkeye Bicycle Association. You have the option of a 25, 50 or 100 mile route beginning and ending at Pleasant Creek State Park near Palo. Registration is only $20 (before June 14) and includes fully stocked rest stops, a chicken dinner and other goodies. I rode Swine Trek last year, but suffered a mechanical breakdown.
One that I just discovered is Ben Murphy's Bike Ride for Preemies. In it's seventh year, this ride raises money for babies born premature. Scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday, July 12, it offers a 20-mile bike ride that uses the beautiful Cedar Valley Trail from the New Shack Tavern to the Hawthorne Suites hotel and back. The cost is only $15, and you get a custom designed Ben's Ride T-shirt, water bottle, and other goodies.
There's also the annual Swine Trek on June 21 sponsored by the Hawkeye Bicycle Association. You have the option of a 25, 50 or 100 mile route beginning and ending at Pleasant Creek State Park near Palo. Registration is only $20 (before June 14) and includes fully stocked rest stops, a chicken dinner and other goodies. I rode Swine Trek last year, but suffered a mechanical breakdown.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
he's baaack...
Hi,
I have experienced some technical difficulties with posting for a bit. Ergo, I've not responded to semi-trash talk from Doug, nor been posting photos of my new bike, yet. Weather here has been a factor in reducing my training time, so I'm not yet ready to tell Doug to "make my day". Indeed, I'd be currently reluctant to challenge Doug's grandmother to a race.
Thanks, Katie, for your nice words. We all look forward to riding with you again. Bringing the hubby? Nothing is more beautiful than a woman of power, and that's certainly you.
Separately, and back to 'my blogging habit': Stay tuned. I've already had issues with the *!@#%$ newfangled stems on these tubes. I got a tire jones of some sort. It's a bad, bad thing.
Yup, - you saw this coming, right? - I've already 'portaged' about six miles with this bike, from up a gravel trail last Friday to near home. (Sure, it's because I think myself invincible and didn't bring adequate equipment. I was just too excited about getting out there!) The shoulder bruises are starting to heal, the bike is clearly broken in (probably 50-60 miles total), and more is coming. Also, I did get a ride from a 20-something faintly stoner type, the last 2 miles home. He's going to crash a day or two of RAGBRAI, so maybe we'll all score some stuff, if we reconnect...
But, really - the important thing about all this is, on a daily basis: Can't you just hardly wait to get out? Isn't biking, for people who live in areas that have real seasons, just a sure sign of spring; a reminder of youthful days (or daze, as it were); the promise of weight loss and nice thighs; and more? Get out of your car, down off your horse, and ride!
Bob
I have experienced some technical difficulties with posting for a bit. Ergo, I've not responded to semi-trash talk from Doug, nor been posting photos of my new bike, yet. Weather here has been a factor in reducing my training time, so I'm not yet ready to tell Doug to "make my day". Indeed, I'd be currently reluctant to challenge Doug's grandmother to a race.
Thanks, Katie, for your nice words. We all look forward to riding with you again. Bringing the hubby? Nothing is more beautiful than a woman of power, and that's certainly you.
Separately, and back to 'my blogging habit': Stay tuned. I've already had issues with the *!@#%$ newfangled stems on these tubes. I got a tire jones of some sort. It's a bad, bad thing.
Yup, - you saw this coming, right? - I've already 'portaged' about six miles with this bike, from up a gravel trail last Friday to near home. (Sure, it's because I think myself invincible and didn't bring adequate equipment. I was just too excited about getting out there!) The shoulder bruises are starting to heal, the bike is clearly broken in (probably 50-60 miles total), and more is coming. Also, I did get a ride from a 20-something faintly stoner type, the last 2 miles home. He's going to crash a day or two of RAGBRAI, so maybe we'll all score some stuff, if we reconnect...
But, really - the important thing about all this is, on a daily basis: Can't you just hardly wait to get out? Isn't biking, for people who live in areas that have real seasons, just a sure sign of spring; a reminder of youthful days (or daze, as it were); the promise of weight loss and nice thighs; and more? Get out of your car, down off your horse, and ride!
Bob
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