Twilight Ride

*photo borrowed from rainybayart.com

We had a scorcher of a day here in Metro Louisville, so much in fact that work just about burned me out from the heat and humid conditions. Came home and actually laid down and rested in the coolness of the air conditioning which I rarely do. Did we go from temps of the 70's and 80's to 90+ and humid or what?

I did however go for a twilight ride up to Jeffersonville's downtown area, getting back just about dark. Had to use the headlamp and flashers in the west end of NA. For what I mentioned about Spring Street hill the other day, you may forget about it, they started making repairs to the road where it has fallen it. We do not get the Tribune, so there might have been a article noting the construction beginning and I did not know anything about it.

Eating Crow

Today I made a leap that I thought I might do at some point, but was hesitant because of yet another transition in to cycling that did not “fit me” mindset. I bought bike shoes; actually sandals and quick release pedals. Go figure and yes the crow taste good. Also purchased today after much research, talking with others and viewing what people use, I procured a new seat. Thanks in part to a recommendation from Dave Pierce of what he uses; I bought a Selle Itialia gel seat. Minor adjustments will have to be made to both the pedals and seat but went out for an easy tune up ride of ten miles and can tell a HUGE difference with the pedals and a much needed seat make over/update.

Memorial Day

Took a nice leisurely cruise out around IUS and back down Charlestown and Slate Run Roads this morning, before making my way back home via Spring Street hill. It was very humid and actually very warm. Had trouble with my bicycle seat not being adjusted quite right. Switched seats and now will go through the new adjusting procedure.

Spring St. hill is open enough for riders or walkers. There was a tree that had fallen across it, but part of the tree has been removed enough accommodate a ped path.

Ride early, it will be brutal today.

Power Plant Ride

This is what we call a ride our Sunday morning group sometimes takes. The Gallagher power plant road is about the halfway point and today we stopped to drink our water and partake of the fruit that one of our group's members packed.

This ride started at our house in Deer Run, down County Line Rd, cut through Chapel Creek, then on to Graceland Church where we turn right and cut through more subdivisions and IUS to Green Valley Road, going all the way down to Cherry, making our way to Main street and down it a few blocks until we turn left onto the road where we then turn off down the road that goes to the Power plant. (Sorry I don't know the name of some of these roads.)

Took a break and had a great time listening to 3 men complain about their aging bodies and trying to find clothes to wear. Then back on the bikes and riding along the river, coming out at Spring Street, ended up going up Slate Run road and cutting off to Old Ford road, crossing Charlestown and up Klerner lane until we were back at the subdivisions and from there we backtracked. Total ride was about 25 miles.

We didn't leave our house until 9, which was kind of late, when we leave earlier on Sundays, this is a better ride with less traffic. But still a great fun ride, with very few hills to climb.

Auspice

These past few days have been sublime to ride. We managed another trek to Jeffersonville yesterday, though not to Grinny Possum (thanks, ed) but simply to cruise along the river, enjoying the myriad modd of nascent summer. Our bikes are both mountain oriented but I think I prefer the stability.

Despite my earlier caution, perhaps a small ride Frankfurt Avenue could be schedulled: I am not on the same page as most of this retinue in terms of ability nor velocity, but I think such would be a benign endeavor.

One Could Only Hope For

No it was not the infamous Reivers Ride, nor posted Bike Route signs along the way. Maybe someday if we ever get this NAB Coalition up and running with some clout, we might be able to accomplish something so nice as the Southern Indiana Bike Routes. We live in a great area for just that, many have tried to do something in the past, hopefully one day it will become a reality.

Today I rode from our Silverhills home to Utica and back. Early sunday morning is slowly becoming my favorite time to ride: no traffic and being able to cruise on nicely paved surfaces is a big attraction for me. I was to Utica and back home in one hour and forty five minutes. To top it off I came up Spring Street hill on the way home.

I Just Made It Back Home

Well I had a little luck this afternoon while out riding up in Jeffersonville. With my back facing to the west, the sky to the east looked pretty nice, but when I turned to the north and started making my way back home, it looked as though I was riding into total darkness. I sprinted from 10th Street and Penn in Jeff, down Dutch Lane, over a short section of Hamburg Pike, the total length of Eastern Blvd, the Lewis & Clark and Hwy 62 to Beharrell Ave before making my way back to Silverhills. Was in the house not 5 minutes when the rain started.
Total ride was 22 miles.

Made my maiden voyage to the NA Bistro last night for a couple pints of Croupier and really good food before being called in to get the lights back on after the storms pushed through the area.

Finally ...

I had the chance to shed responsibility and put in 40 km today, first from home to work and back, then on to Louisville and (1) harissa sauce purchase at Lotsa Pasta, (2) coffee pick-up for the missus at Heine Bros., then (3) a meeting with her at Maido for Happy Hour sushi and BBC APA.

Hoping to do something similar on Thursday if the rain moves out.

The Week In Review

It has been a week since I came home from my vacation and was lucky enough to log one hundred miles in this week, most of which was gathered yesterday and today. Was so good to get on my own bicycle after riding a converted mountain bike my whole time while staying with a friend out west. Don't get me wrong, his bike was very good and the kind jesture was most appreciative. But, we all know their is nothing like riding your on wheels. The comparison I will give in the difference between the two bikes was something like, the difference between driving a heavy SUV and then driving a light weight sports car. That will probably not happen again if at all possible, although I learned along time ago to never say never. Especially when I head back California, it is so user friendly at the airports with bikes. To listen to Roger and others about taking bikes to Europe, the airports must be very similar in the way they approach travelers with bikes.

Wonder how many people in the area rode bicycles to work on May 18th? If I could have I would have, believe me?

Bamberg and Prague planning for the summer biking trip.

I’m beginning the process of tightening arrangements for the first two stops on our summer biking jaunt in Germany, the Czech Republic and Austria.

To reiterate:

Air arrangements have been completed for Graham Phillips and myself. Graham will be in Bamberg on the evening of Sunday, August 27, and I’ll arrive the following day. I’m not listing departures, at least yet; I must be in Vienna to meet Diana on Sept. 11, while I know Graham’s staying a few days past that and has indeterminate plans at present.

In Bamberg:

Accommodations at the Bamberger Weissbierhaus, which is located a couple blocks down the street from Spezial (which is closed during the period of our stay) in the direction of Mahrs. The plan is to stay in Bamberg on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings (Aug. 28, 29 and 30). I made reservations through the tourist office, and can adjust if necessary. Currently, we have one single room (Craig’s preference) and two 3-bed rooms.

Thursday, August 31, is a transit day to Prague.

In general terms, the following conditions await us in Prague:

(1) Almost every account suggests that the Prague city center is not a good place to bike.
(2) The Prague-Vienna Greenway trailhead is somewhere in the southwestern suburbs of Prague.
(3) A Metro line extends from the center to somewhere near the trail.

All along, we’ve been operating under the assumption that it would be good to stay outside the center while in Prague, preferably in the vicinity of the trailhead, if not exactly atop it, as this would make the day of departure infinitely more pleasurable (and we can get back and forth by public transport, anyway).

Accordingly, I’m discussing group lodging possibilities with Mr. Stanek at Camp Drusus, a campground well out of the center but very close to a Metro line, which means that the center is only 20 minutes away. There are bungalows there, and the price is quite attractive. Please examine his web site.

We know we’ll be staying somewhere in Prague on Thursday, Friday and Saturday (Aug. 31, and September 1 & 2), and traveling by train to Zatec (an hour and a half ride) for the hop fest on Saturday, Sept. 2.

The questions:

1. Do you like the idea of staying at a place like the campground?
2. Do we want to begin the Greenway on Sunday or Monday? My personal preference is to begin on Sunday, which would give me eight days before having to be in Vienna. But, I’m willing to defer to the group.

Okay, group – What are your thoughts?

Ride This Sunday?

Anyone up for a ride this upcoming Sunday morning, meeting at RichO's or Kye's, say 9 or 10 o'clock?

West Coast Trip Summary

Well the trip out west finally came to a close on Saturday. With it all said and done it wound up with us riding a little over three hundred and fifty miles in eight days, which I was real pleased with. We were going to do a longer ride on Thursday but mechanical problems with my buddy Terry’s bike prevented us from going very far away fearing more mech problems. Most of trip, other than over the mountains was spent either in designated bike lanes or bike path. Yes bike paths. The area around Mountain View, Los Altos and Palo Alto is virtually loaded with bike paths, so much in fact, that we rode thirty miles one day without leaving the same bike path in one direction.

By far one of the best rides we did was to ride the 58 miles from Los Altos to Santa Cruz via the Santa Cruz Mountains. This is a unbelievably beautiful ride that starts flat, then hits a rails for trails for 15 miles and then climbs hard up the Old Santa Cruz Highway that winds its way through the old growth redwoods to the summit of near 2000 feet. Most of the cruise down was winding, picturesque and very fast. We did that ride in four and half hours with a few breaks for water and rest. On conclusion, we hoisted pints at Seabright Brewing and 99 Bottles in Santa Cruz before resting over night, then taking the bus (with our bikes) back to San Jose.

Another nice ride was taking the Caltrain (that has a bike car) from Mountain View to San Francisco, then riding around the Embarcadero, Fisherman’s Wharf, the Presidio and then up and over the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito. From there we rode bike lanes to Tiburon and then on to Larkspur to Marin Brewing Company. We took on fuel (beer and food) at Marin Brewing Company and then took the water ferry back to San Francisco. Back on the Caltrain and then down to Mountain View station. That ride was forty eight miles.

There are so many other great stories that I’ll not bore you with. I had a great time, but it is always good to get back home, sort of. Sunny and warm last week and rain today? Oh and I must mention, I did not ride in a automobile for eight days. We either rode our bikes or took them with us on public transportation.

Best beers consumed on this trip were:
Moylan's Hopsicle
Russian River's Pliny The Elder
Speak Easy's Double Daddy

I'm Not Coming Home

Well of course everyone makes that same kind of statement when you are enjoying a great vacation now, don't we? Have just been enjoying the much needed break from work and other life pollution out here in the State of Arnold The Terminator. We have ridin on average over 40 miles and 5 pints a day. Monday we rode over the Santa Cruz mountains to Santa Cruz; 58 miles in about 4.5 hours. Thankfully I trained in the Knobs for such climbs of rather easy but long grades of six percent.

Today we are going back to Frisco via Caltrain and take a Ferry to Oakland where we will ride the east bay of Alameda/Oakland /Berkeley before taking BART back to downtown Frisco.

More postings upon my return.
ps...Welcome beercyclist to our blog

Can't come soon enough for me.

Beginning of an end for Big Four; Designs unveiled for Ind. side of walkway, by Alex Davis (The Courier-Journal).

Pedestrians and bicyclists could ascend to Indiana's side of the old Big Four Bridge via a 700-foot hanging ramp system, according to drawings by a Cincinnati design firm. Costing an estimated $2.89 million, the metal ramp would be far cheaper than an elevator that also was studied by KZF Design.

(Photo credit: Courier-Journal)

OUCH!!

Another fine weekend comes to a close and albeit I'm sore in places I'd forgotten having, I enjoyed it!

Saturday & Sunday combined I logged around 14-16 miles on the bike and walked another 5 on foot. Not bad for an old geezer who's been sitting on his ass in a truck seat for way too long to admit.

But as someone mentioned Saturday, you gotta work thru the pain to feel better. Sounds good huh!

Keep on pedal'n!

Courageous youth.

Those suffering from Oaks hangovers missed a glorious Saturday morning. Both Lloyd and I biked from our respective abodes to Community Park and met Diana. The three of us walked (I did two laps, they did three). I rode back home via Green Valley Road, Martin and Bono, doing a fast pace when possible.

The only blemish was a carload of youngsters who found it amusing to let loose an air horn blast while passing me on Green Valley, and ignored by entreaties to stop and let me whip the lot of ‘em.

This indeed is the exception rather than the rule, and given that most drivers are running too fast and recklessly, most are courteous enough when it comes right down to specifics.

I’ll do a second ride to and from work today. It’s a good feeling to get out in weather like we’re having – you know how it’s going to be very soon.

Au Revoir

Cherokee People, Cherokee Tribe

Last night, hubby packed up the bikes and met me at Cherokee park, not far from where I work, and we rode 10 miles. Started at what I think they call Hogan's fountain, on the loop road that is set up for bikers, walkers and cars. On the left side of the road, bikers and walkers share, and on the right cars can take the loop. Lots of folks out last night.

The start at Hogan's fountain means you get to go down a long hill, so you don't even feel like you're exercising, but don't worry, because very soon, wham, you'll find yourself climbing a hill. We went around the loop once and then veered off the second time on Park Boundary Road and ended up at Seneca Park's trail area next to Cannon's Lane. Lots of people there too, walking, biking, playing baseball, basketball and soccer.

One the way back, we took a left at a place call Big rock, I think, and from there I promptly got lost, but I was confident that eventually we'd come out somewhere familiar and sure enough we did.

All those roads in Cherokee Park confuse me. :)

For the first time this year, my back was not horribly stiff when I got off the bike. Yes! I think I'm back into riding shape and now it's time for at least a 15 miler this weekend.

A Sisyphus of Colorado

Tim's weekend anecdote was masticated to great pleasure this evening as my beloved and I went for another evening ride together; I have achieved 64 miles since my last post. Included in such are a troika of rides with my better half, contrary to my habits, as many know, I belive - and I paraphrase Conrad - that one cycles as one dreams: alone.

The rash of activity is exciting and encouraging: maintain, my friends, maintain

Monday evening rejuvenation

Hi everyone, this is my first post for this blog.

Last night, as soon as I got home from work, my hubby and I went for a little jaunt down County Line road. We went straight through the new three-way stop signs near St. Joe church and on down to where the road stops at Hwy 60. Then we turned around and went back. Total ride is about 8.5 miles. The weather was awesome, the legs felt great, very little wind, and I came back refreshed and ready to complete my article for the paper which I send in every Tuesday morning.

Nothing like a bike ride to get the creative juices flowing.

I Needed That

Went for a ride after work today up in the hills past our home and did a nice 15 mile loop. My body and mind really needed to see if it was ready for the bike trip out west, in which I leave for in three days. The body is an amazing piece of machinery, with just a little rest it performs stronger and healthier. Bob Peter's told me once that in order to keep training for what I am getting ready to do, he said "your body will need rest at the same time as still working out". He was correct. For as tired mentally and physically from work the past three weeks with little to no rest, I know I can endure what is ahead of me.