My Most Recent Ride 2010 (Part III of the series)

Re: My Most Recent Ride - 2010

I am planning on being at the Cades Cove entrance gate by 0700h tomorrow. Ride the 11 mile loop, taking my time and taking pictures. Out before they let traffic in around 1030h. My first time there in a long time; haven't seen the new pavement. Probably drive back to Townsend and piddle around the greenways (before TDOT tells them to rip 'em up) and back toward Walland. Would've ridden to the Cove from Townsend but don't want to get up at 0400h.

Sounds like you went down Old AJ Highway to Straw Plains. Was there a week or so ago. On down a bit further west to photograph the new 1.3 megawatt solar power farm. Then back to Jeff City.

So far as the Angels in Gym Shorts, likely were Carson Newman College co-eds. Fall classes start tomorrow (Wednesday) morning so they may not be on the road with you.

Dave

 

Re: My Most Recent Ride - 2010

Tonight was one of those nights when everything seems to click. On the club ride, the upright group was averaging about 20 mph, and I just TOYED with them. Every direction was tailwind, and I'm pretty sure 2/3 of the route was downhill, too. With 8 miles to go, I cranked it up to 27 mph and left them all.

I think DALMAC is going to be fun next week. I'm ready.

 

Re: My Most Recent Ride - 2010

Was posta leave the first day of spring or so. I think spring was on a Saturday but i was not going to miss church Sunday so Monday if'n my memory is worki'n was the go day. But wife got real bad sick so i spent day and night from then till Easter bedside try'n to make her comfortable. Then after the funeral i jumped on my motorcycle intending to ride till i ran out of road or motorcycle.
This is one of those Dave learning or teaching moments. "Never go for a ride on a motorcycle when your mind feels like a kaleidoscope". I wound up with a busted up motorcycle a broken arm and hand but not enough functioning brain matter to take it to the doctor for about 5 weeks. So i have been hid out at my sis's up in Ohio for a couple months. Since i am too late to do anything good to help the hand and arm to mend and since the wife did not bother to return my text message a couple weeks ago, I have decided it is time to go back to the "other woman" in my life, Jezebel; and take her out for a ride.......

 

Re: My Most Recent Ride - 2010

I will be finish'n up on my way back about the time they are heading to class and from the cafeteria. Gives me a reason to keep pedal'n..................

 

Re: My Most Recent Ride - 2010

Gene, I well remember the problems you had this year and hope only the best for you in the future. I also hope sometime in the future we can get together again. After all, I still owe you a dinner.


John, good luck on the Dalmac ride. Have some fun.

 

Re: My Most Recent Ride - 2010

Well, MY MOST RECENT RIDE was tonight! I got on the star destroyer with Willie G and took off down River Road. The first mile or two we were basically just warming up and getting a good feel for the bike with the new seats etc. Then we picked up speed a bit and rode a good steady pace to Kinzel springs. At that point we rested a little and drank some water. The air was awesome, the temp was perfect and I was feeling great. I was a little sore,'cause I have not been riding in so long, and my left leg went through a small spasm spell but it went away. On the way back it was like the "memory" returned and things were really nice. We cruised along and went up the rollers without much effort and saw a HUGE rat/vole critter run across the road. We got back to the truck right at sundown. I was not out of breath, I wasn't feeling over tired or anything. Got home though and started chowing down on a pot of red beans and rice as if I had been starving all day. Anyway, I think it was a good ride.

 

Re: My Most Recent Ride - 2010

Man, don't know how I missed all that. Knew about the funeral, but somehow lost touch on everything since. Hope there's no permanent damage from not taking care of yourself. Sorry for all your troubles. Apparently you are back in Dandridge now?
Dave

 

Wednesday

On Wednesday evening, I started out with a few of the 'A' riders, but they pulled over for a minute and never caught back up. A few more miles down the road, I absently noted that I was on the training route for the racing club, which starts several miles from where I started. Sure enough, a few miles after that I caught a small group of them who were stopped at a corner and trying to decide which route to take from there. I guessed they were the slow group and had been dropped.

By now I'd forgotten about waiting up for the others and was cruising along. Down toward the far point of the ride, I saw a group of riders ahead. "Could it be?..." Yes, it was. I was steadily gaining on them, and they were following my mapped route.

They finally noticed me when I was about 300 yards behind them. I'm trying to take the attitude that it was just 'that time' in their ride and not because of me, but once they saw me they started speeding up. After the next intersection they started all-out sprinting, shedding one rider after another as they came off the front, totally used up. Like leaves on a late fall breeze. The final 4 were sprinting at over 30 mph, with me merrily following at a respectful distance, on the upwind side of their echelon. No accusations of drafting them allowed! It probably made a great picture for any of the drops to watch; them sprinting their brains out and me alternately pushing hard and then coasting while I got a drink of water, then pushing again. Another mile up, they had to finally stop at an intersection stop sign. Instead of rolling through and picking it back up again, they waited for all the drops. *I* rolled through, making the remark, "nice sprint, guys!" They were all breathing too hard to say anything back.

I continued on at my former speed, which since I caught them originally at that speed, was obviously faster than they wanted to go. Funny thing is, I'd designated that as a 'no burn' night and I was behaving. Kinda like eating ONE Lay's potato chip. "Roadies - betcha can't dust just ONE!"

 

Re: My Most Recent Ride - 2010

John, it looks to be cool for Dalmac but that should feel great after this hot spell we must go through the next few days.

We wish you a good trip! Enjoy.

 

Re: My Most Recent Ride - 2010

It looks like we'll get a little bit of everything. 40% chance of T-Storms on Wed and Thu, starting the tour at 80-85F and ending it at 67F (high for Sunday in Mackinaw City.) I'll have to pack shorts and tights, wind vest and rain jacket. At least I'll be able to use my 60F sleeping bag, which will save a BUNCH of room.

 

Re: Wednesday

Awesome

 

Re: My Most Recent Ride - 2010

Got out for my first ride since we got back from vacation. I had a busy with lots of appointments (dental phobia finish, driving lesson, Loke's heart check) and then got slammed with a VERY nasty cold. The sort where your voice is so torn up you can't talk, don't want to move so just lay on the couch and doze through TV.

I'm still not completely over the cold, but my husband has it too and I'm at least on the recovery upswing as he's coming down into the 'bad' part. Loke needed a walk and since I despise the discomfort of walking, I decided to take the trike out for the river loop instead. It wasn't cold, I was willing to do do a slow crawl for the entire loop if I had to. Better to coast along on the trike for 3 miles than walk 1 which hurts my back, ankles and knees.

Loke was actually glad to get out. It was a pleasant ride though it involved a LOT of swerving to avoid hundreds of little baby Frogs. I cringed every time I heard a crunch or pop under my tires, hoping it wasn't one of the little critters. I'm just too softhearted it seems.

It felt good to get out and no knee pain!

Terii

 

Re: My Most Recent Ride - 2010

OK, after sending my bent back to the shop to fix my squealing front brake (I currently call my bent "Piglet" for the Winnie the Pooh pig) I picked it up today. This is the THIRD time we have worked on quieting the front brake pads.

Here is what we have done so far.

1. Replace front and rear brake pads.
2. Replace front and rear wheel rims (which meant rebuilding the wheels).
3. Replace front brake pads (again).

So now Doc was going to try a different set of brake pads. If this didn't work, my choices were to

1. Not use the front brake.
2. Put up with the noise
3. Put a disc brake on the front (which included welding a disc bracket to the front fork, repainting front fork, installing front brake, paying $250 for all this.) Needless to say, I wasn't excited about this option.

Well, Doc told me he installed new brake pads and they don't squeal. (I heard that before.) So for $6 I thanked him.

Well I took my bent out for a 22 mile ride with some very big hills and I am HAPPY TO SAY NO SQUEAL!!! So Piglet went home and left me with my wonderful V Rex.

Beautiful day today. Temp in the mid 80s when I rode. Great ride. But best of all, a QUIET RIDE!!!

 

Re: My Most Recent Ride - 2010

Glad to hear the noise is gone. That is one thing I absolutely hate about riding any bike...is NOISE that shouldn't be there. It is irritating and ruins my ride.

 

Re: My Most Recent Ride - 2010

Well I am on a roll. Got a bike that works. Got weather that works. Got legs that work. Got time.

Today I will be riding my 5th day in a row. I only ride Monday - Friday at lunch time so this is a 100% week for me. I also think it is the FIRST TIME THIS YEAR I have ridden this much. Too much rain in Spring and too hot in Summer.

Gearing up for the Jack & Back.

On another side note, after reading Don's write up of the Erie Canal ride, I got interested in it. The organized ride sounds great. However, it would be a two week ride if I count driving up and back and everything in between. (Would want to see my Wife's relatives in Pennsylvania if we are that close.) So I was on the fence.

For $20 PTNY (Parks & Trails New York) has a Cycling the Erie Canal guidebooks. I just got it last night. It is a GREAT books. Has detailed maps of the whole ride. Has overview maps and then very detailed maps which only go 10 miles each. That way you have a lot of information about all the stops, what is available, restrooms, and places to stay. The guide even has one picture of two guys on bents (look like Bachettas but I can't tell). Too cool.

So I changed plans. I was planning to stay in hotels and my wife was coming along anyway. So instead of riding with 900 of my "closest" friends, I think I am just going to go solo and use the books to plan my trip. I plan to ride for 4 days and cover about 200 miles total (50 miles / day). That way I will get on the path at 8 and be done by lunch time. Then after I shower, Denise and I can play tourist in the afternoon at each of the places we stop at. That also means I can do the trip and see relatives in 8 days which works out much better for my pocket book and work schedule.

Don (or anyone else for that matter), if you see this post, I would appreciate your opinion on this idea.