A headache cure?

Season Miles: 1,876

Loomis, 26 miles
15.8 ave. speed
80 ave. cadence
Sun, 80, wind 5-10

Perhaps taking a bike ride can cure a common headache.
I didn't have a good night sleep, which is rare for me. The dog kept barking at something she either heard or smelled in the yard, which many times means the deer were around munching the plants!

Anyway, I woke up with a very sore left elbow. It dawned on me that on Monday while walking into a store the heavy door closed quickly behind me and smacked me in that elbow. I guess the  effects took a while to take hold.

After recording my Thursday PhilCast show I had also developed a headache and some eye strain. I felt like I was falling apart so I laid down for about 45 minutes.

When I got up I grabbed a sandwich for lunch and decided despite the headache hanging around I would go out and soak up a little sunshine on the Roubaix, just going down to Loomis and back.

Headache gone. Wonderful.
Nothing fancy here, just some good old fashioned exercise on the bike.
On the way back in Root River Parkway I had a young guy pass me, wearing not only no helmet but no shirt either. Ah to be young and foolish again.

Oh, and I think that was Craig Busche riding past me in the other direction close to home on the path nearing Bluemound. Too bad I didn't see him earlier and then we could have ridden together for a while.

Due to my schedule I can tell you that there is no more riding in my future until after Labor Day Monday.
So until then, enjoy your holiday weekend.

We've got two full months of wonderful riding ahead of us. Some of the best weather of the  year happens in September, and October provides some of the best scenery of the season on two wheels.

The lady butt-cracked me up

Season Miles: 1,850

39 miles, Tess Corners route
14.8 ave. speed
79 ave. cadence
Sun, 80, wind 5-8

As much as Sunday was about pushing hard tempo, today was about simply enjoying the near-perfect weather. Would someone please bottle this up and sell me a couple of cases of it in February?

Early in the ride I decided I would try to recreate the new route that der Jan had taken me on with "I Drop You" last Sunday down through Tess Corners, which will now be the name of this route.

I even took the path down to Root River Parkway instead of the road I usually take. It was there that I picked up the story of the ride for you today.

As I approached the Highway 100 underpass I could see a couple of ladies riding ahead of me. I'd have to pass them even though I was taking it easy, but I would wait until we cleared the underpass and got back out in the sunshine of the path.

The woman I was about to pass was not wearing cycling shorts. She wasn't wearing walking shorts either. They were those cloth shorts that kind of look like gym shorts we used to wear with tube socks and stripes in the 70's. Anyway...

I felt bad for her because of what was about to happen.

Just as I positioned myself to the left and was about to shout out "On your left" the woman raised slightly up from her saddle and her left hand came around to her backside as she started to grab whatever it was she was wearing under those shorts to pull it out of her butt.

This happened exactly as the first sound came out of my mouth. In a flash her hand whipped away from back there faster than Charlie Sheen's career ended. Obviously she had no clue someone was behind her and must have been very embarrassed to have been caught in the act of starting to pull something out of her butt.

I didn't stop chuckling to myself about that one for miles down the road. Poor thing. It's all about timing. Busted.

I found my way to Loomis and Ryan, but wasn't quite sure what to do from there. So I called der Jan and he picked up, gladly giving me instructions that would take me down 116th...St. Martins...College...Sunny Slope.

I ate lunch like a pro today, while riding. A sandwich and a granola bar down the hatch while pedaling away on a beautiful day. Funny, I thought to myself, I don't recall any of these surroundings from when we rode this as a threesome last Sunday. Then it dawned on me why that was; because I wasn't looking around. The only thing I saw was the small of der Jan's back as I tucked in behind those guys like a baby in the protection of the womb.

This time I took it all in and am pretty sure I have this route down now. It's a nice loop with that one climb on Sunny Slope before the path connects into Greenfield Park. 39 miles and plenty of scenery with some rollers. I'll be doing this one a few more times before winter gets here.

Like a TT

Season Miles: 1,811

Loomis, 26 miles
Ave. Sp. 16.8
Ave. Cad. 84
Sun, 76, wind 5-10

We were out of town this weekend and within 15 minutes of getting home Sunday afternoon I was on my Roubaix for a quick ride, wanting to burn off some of those calories I packed on 'weekend eating'.

I simply approached it like a 26-mile TT. The problem is that you can not get a decent average speed on a ride like this unless you warm up and start strong. I did neither.

In a hurry, I skipped any type of warm up and the first three miles or so were slow because I wasn't sure what I wanted to accomplish with this ride.

Once I set my mind to it I rode hard tempo for much of the distance. I had some head wind on the way back which slowed me as well.

Still, glad I got out there and squeezed a quickie in.

One day early

Season Miles: 1,785

53 miles
14.8 ave. speed
80 ave. cadence
Dousman
Sunny, 80, wind 5-10

There is an unwritten rule that many cyclists follow that you should ride your age on your birthday. I did it a day early. I did it today instead of on my 53rd birthday tomorrow because my schedule allowed for me to take the extra time for a longer ride today. And what a day! Not a cloud in the sky from the time I left at 11:00 until I got back home at 3:00.

As I left today I literally had no idea where I was going to ride. All I knew was that I felt a little tired and had a PB&J stuffed into my jersey pocket.

At the last second I decided to go west instead of south,  heading toward Wales where I thought I might eat my lunch if I could make it there. Like I said, I wasn't feeling the best as I started out.

But the ride came to me and it became clear that I would ride out to Wales for lunch and then back. After grabbing lunch there the thought of making this my birthday ride took over in my head and my goal quickly became to go 53 miles today.

Next I rode from Wales to Dousman where I stopped in at Bicycle Docs for a bottle of water and a couple of packages of Bloks. Boy was I glad I had remembered to stuff a $5.00 into my saddle bag. Black cherry and cran-raz to keep me fueled up on the way back.

(Dear Maker of Bloks,
I love your product but for the love of God would you please make the package easier to open?! I struggled for four minutes trying to rip the package open with my teeth!)

I rode back to Wales and stopped again there for more Bloks and water. It was a short stop because I knew I would hammer it from Wales to Waukesha on that slight downhill portion of the path.

Boom. I was on it and feeling good.


I have ridden my new Specialized Roubaix now for a week and it really feels like MY bike now. Today's ride was a great example of what I think this bike is all about.


On the way UP the false flat into some wind toward Wales I rode easy and in comfort, as I did at the end of my ride too. But in the middle in that section from Wales to Waukesha I put the Roubaix into racy mode and she responded. So did I.


At one point after holding a steady 22-23 mph I was starting to feel really gassed. Seeing a clean chunk of path ahead of me yet before the next stop sign I told myself no, you are not stopping yet. I dropped  into the drops and said to myself, "You're kicking 53 year's-old right in the ass... right here, right now."

I dug deep to push the last little bit out of myself, and then I was done.

Waukesha to New Berlin Trail sitting up, and one more push on the Roubaix toward the end of the path.
Then it was just a matter to taking it easy coming home.


53 miles was just enough too. The last mile I had the long muscle that runs down the inside of my left thigh about to lock up. If that happens you're done. In some cases you have to get off the bike. I babied it home and hit 53.5 miles a day before my 53rd birthday. Mission accomplished, which I have done for the past few years.


Under that brilliant blue sky I quietly thanked the Lord that I am healthy enough to have done it again this year.

"The Kissers"

Season Miles: 1,732

26 miles
16.0 ave. speed
84 ave. cadence
Loomis. Sunny, 80, wind 10-12

My legs still a bit tired from the hard Sunday ride with the boys, my plan today was to do a recovery ride. But the wind was mostly at my back on the way down, so I rode the first half pretty fast. Then, turning back into the wind, things really slowed down.

No shortage of something to write about though...two things to note from today.

On the way back I was minding my own business tooling along into the wind doing 18 mph when a car went past me. Right behind the car a rider I had seen coming at me from the OTHER way just a bit earlier went blasting past me on the left, huffing and puffing and rocking all over his bike out of the saddle like he was trying to draft off that car.

The odd thing was that once he got about a hundred yards in front of me he suddenly sat up, then did a U-turn in the middle of the road and continued on in the direction I first saw him coming at me. WTH? It really made it seem like all he wanted to do was chase me down and pass me for some reason. Well, to whoever you were...you are welcome. I guess I played your carrot today.

Then under the overpass at Wimmer Wetlands I saw a first. Two bikes...two riders...a man and a woman...in full lip lock and blocking the path totally. Again...WTH?

My exact words...
"On your left"
Nothing from them...I get closer.
"I'm on your left"
Nothing from them..still in full necking mode, helmets on and all.
"HEY....I'm coming on your left!!!!" 
I also had to come to a stop to inch around the woman who was startled by my passing. She started laughing and said, "Oops. Busted."

Honestly. Hey, I don't mind a couple of people getting frisky under an overpass, but do your  business off the middle of the path. Go get a room.

Ya never know what you're gonna see on a ride.

Watching the TT opening the USA Pro Cycling Championship on Versus. There will be coverage all week long each afternoon this week. I think it's great that big-time pro racing has returned to Colorado. Cadel Evans and the Schlecks are here too. This should be good.

Tuesday and Wednesday are rest days. Back on the Roubaix on Thursday and Friday is the plan.

39-16-84

Season Miles: 1,706

The new computer on my new Specialized Roubaix (now mounted on the stem which I really like) is set up to show me three numbers in the display as I ride; Speed, cadence, distance. So from now on those are the three numbers I will log from my rides. In today's case it was...

39 miles
16.0 ave. speed
84 ave. cadence
New route, Tess Corners to Sunny Slope (no name for this one yet)
Sunny, 76, breezy, 10-15

This was a Sunday morning group ride with 'der Jan' and 'I Drop You' (I nicknamed 'em both), who met me near Greenfield Park and away we went. We chatted it up about my new Roubaix as we headed south on my Three Bridges route to the sports complex in Franklin.

Once there der Jan suggested a new direction for me. Once again, as he has done in the past for me, he came up with a nice little variation of about the same distance back home but with one added climb.

A couple times we turned into the wind and one of those times der Jan said out loud, "OK Issac, this is why we brought you along!" Dutifully the young stud of the group took the point into the wind. The big strong man der Jan second in line, motioning for me to tuck in behind him in third position.

It's a pleasure to ride with these guys for a couple of reasons. I really like riding with veterans who are very steady on the bike. Heck, I Drop You can hold his own in the front 20 positions of a local race, so the guy knows what he is doing. And der Jan is my super domestique. He's always checking to make sure the pace isn't too hot for me to keep up with these guys. I trust them not to do anything stupid or to fall to the temptation of speed and just drop me, which they both could do in a heartbeat.

Now, having said that, the young buck of the group did stretch his legs up that one hill. Boom. I Drop You was gone up that hill faster than a Jimi Hendrix lick on a Stratocaster. After his most-awesomeness display of power he then pulled it back to once again simply pull me home basically.

The new Specialized was feeling good as was I today. Part of it was the fact that I had two guys in front of me for much of the ride. But I handled that climb fairly well today, choosing to stay in the saddle and take the slow and steady approach with the new compact double gearing.

Each ride I take on the Roubaix is a learning experience now. But I must say that today things felt very 'normal' to me. I never really struggled too much out there, which is always a plus. I could ride the bike faster when needed, yet I felt comfortable like a touring ride at times as well. I guess that's what this bike was designed to do.

Two sightings worth noting from this ride.
-Two big deer on the path toward the end of the ride near Bluemound.
-And he's still out there. Yup, we saw the infamous "Knave" at one point on the path also.


This is the point where I wrap up this post because I invited the boys over for granola bars and Gatorade before they continued home. You don't want to know what the conversation was about at one point. Honestly, cyclists are an odd lot.



 

Blame blinky light

Season Miles: 1,667

Things were not supposed to work out this way today. Nope. The plan was to do a short, easy ride on the new Roubaix today to test the new computer on it. Short and easy because I would have to go out after a lunch meeting at noon, meaning a ride later under the hot sun.

Either someone once told me or I once read that it's not a good idea to ride right after a meal. As I recall it was something about your stomach using blood and oxygen to digest food instead of sending that needed fuel to your legs.


I guess I might have been all right today if I hadn't seen old blinky light I'll call him.


First of all, I'm glad the new Cateye computer is working just fine. I'll have to get used to the new display and the fact that, unlike my old Flightdeck, I have no digital display of what gear I am in.


So things were going fine in the parkway heading toward 76th...my original plan of just the Loomis 26-mile route.

That's when I saw a rider up ahead with one of those blinking red lights flashing on the back of his saddle bag in the middle of the day. I figured to myself, 'How fast can a blinky light rider be going? I'll try to close the gap."


I'll tell you how fast a blinky bike rider can go...faster than me!
For quite a while I was getting nowhere chasing this guy. I was just about to give up when I got mad at myself and decided to ramp it up now.


Just before 76th street I finally caught the guy, a silver mustache, sleeveless jersey and guess what kind of bike? Yup, Specalized. What is it with these guys? Are all Specialized riders fast?


I got up next to him and said, "You're killing me. Thanks for being a carrot for me. I was working on closing the gap."


Crossing 76th I told him to enjoy his ride and away he went. But as I approached 76th I noticed he too was turning around there. Well, I didn't want to seem like a stalker. Looked to me like he was going to stop and perhaps load his bike into a parked vehicle there.


I made a bad decision at that point. I didn't want to seem like perhaps I was trying to stay with him, so I went straight with the plan now being 36 miles on the longer 3 Bridges route.


After a few miles in...what the heck??? It's blinky light dude next to me asking how I like my Roubaix!


Then he took the point and again I made a poor decision. I grabbed his wheel, and mile after mile he was pulling toward the Milw. Co. Sports Complex.


He on his red Specialized in red riding clothes and me on my blue Specialized in my blue riding clothes. I wasn't supposed to be doing this. What was i doing?! 18-19 mph constant, although I was drafting.


I could just about hear Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen broadcasting this as a breakaway in the Tour de France. They'd put that graphic up on the screen showing the Italian in blue was doing 0% of the work at the front and talk about what a tool I was for not helping the break. But the truth would actually be that I had nothing. I was lucky to be hanging onto his wheel.


He peeled off just before the complex. I rode down to the end of the road and turned around.


That's when I realized I only had ONE water bottle. Remember, this was supposed to be  a short ride. Dumb, dumb, dumb. I was now rationing a quarter bottle of warm water with no place to get more.


I limped home for most of the second half of the ride. The final 5 miles or so were a real pain.


I was very glad when I finally got home and off the bike.


New stat on this computer now too..average cadence...which today was 88.

36 miles, Three Bridges route
Sunny and warm, 85-ish
Wind 5-10

Specialized

I am Phil Cianciola.
And I am "Specialized"

I always liked those TV commercials for Specialized bikes that I would see while watching the Tour de France.
Now I too am Specialized.

When I wrote here last week that I had completed an historic ride I wasn't kidding. In ten years of cycling I have never thrown my leg over anything other than a Trek bike. That all changed the day I jumped onto my new rig.

But I'm getting ahead of myself.

The back story here goes something like this...

Someone at Specialized read of my frustrations and came up with a creative offer. The next thing I knew I was visiting Crankdaddy's on Prospect for the first time since they, pardon the pun, specialize in Specialized.

After a complete, high-tech fitting session I was presented with not only a bike but the Specialized shoes to go with it. "Just go try it all out and tell us what you think," they said.

Well, the rest as they say, is history.

May I present my new Specialized Roubaix!

From the moment I rode this bike I was impressed. The Roubaix delivers a combination of comfort and performance, with no sacrifices on either end. The combination of the fitting and the bike was so amazing that for the first time in 10 years I was actually riding on a new saddle that felt like I was in an easy chair.

This being my first experience on a compact crank made things interesting too. So much was different that I had to soak it all in on some of my usual routes to compare and contrast the bike to what I had. The Roubaix passed my every test. That's what all the secret experimenting has been about for the past week.

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Specialized for working with me to make this switch possible, not an easy thing for me to do until I felt the quality of the product. Then making the switch became so much more easy.

And these shoes. These shoes! As I described them to someone earlier, they're sex, drugs and rock 'n roll all wrapped into one!

These are like wearing soft wings on your feet.

Not to mention they're just drop-dead sexy too. As I always say, if you can't BE fast then at least LOOK fast!

Steve at Crankdaddy's took painstaking time to make sure the fit of both the shoes to my feet and my body to the bike were just perfect. I'd recommend a fitting like this to anyone who rides on a regular basis. Fit is everything folks.

When I visited there today my jaw almost dropped as I waited for my new computer to be mounted. Guess who mounted it? The dude who blew past me on a Specialized that I wrote about earlier this week. It's true. A random meeting while on a ride on the south side...an exchange of info about Specialized while we were riding...and who would have guessed he ended up being one of the guys working on my new bike! He was pretty amazed at the story himself today. Thanks Mike. Crazy. Just crazy the randomness of it all.

I took the Roubaix out on three very different rides on tried-and-true long-time routes of mine to really get a feel for her. Each ride I became more comfortable and realized the potential of the bike. I first rode long and flat. Then it was laps on the Whitnall Crit race course. And finally some climbing. That's where I still need some work and bonding with the gearing. I look forward to not only continuing to learn about and bond with the Roubaix, but writing about the entire experience here.

Having this sexy sports car-like bike has lit the fire in my belly to not only ride out this season, but to ride harder and faster too. Because I don't think you should be out there on a bike like this just taking in the scenery, although you could. No sir, I'll take that combo of comfort and speed that the Roubaix has nailed.

It wasn't something I took lightly at all. But as I round out my tenth year of cycling since my total hip replacement I can tell you this:

I am Phil Cianciola.

And I am Specialized.

Important story to tell

No ride on this hump day Wednesday. Although the rain held off it is important to rest as planned. Without it, injury is knocking. So I stuck to my plan for other chores today.

Still, I felt there is an important cycling story to share that I forgot to mention with all the news from yesterday's ride.

This is important to me because all you ever hear about is the negative when it comes to the relationship between the cyclist and the car driver. This is not a match made in heaven, lets face it.

But I feel to be fair I need to tell you about the positive.

Tuesday's ride really proved a triple-header of 'nice' things happening. I wrote about how for the first time in 10 years of riding in Whitnall Park someone actually offered me something cold to drink from their party supply.

And I talked about how friendly that super-serious-looking roadie was to me once I caught him and asked him all about the bike he was riding.

But here is another story that proves that all those drivers, 'cagers' as many riders call them, are not bad people.

Approaching a four-way stop sign on my route there is a steep little hill, making this a place you really don't want to have to unclip and stop at as you prepare to go left. 

Keep in mind there is usually no traffic here either.

As I begin to go up the short hill wouldn't you know it...I hear a car behind me. I glance back and signal a left turn. What does the driver do? The right thing! The car hung back clearly letting me know it was cool for me to drift over to the left lane at the sign to make my turn.

Then ahead I see another vehicle already stopped and ready to cross from the opposite direction. Despite obviously having been there first and having the next right of way the driver signaled me to go ahead through and make my left turn, thus saving me from having to unclip on the hill.

Two cars. Two drivers. Two people who did something nice for a cyclist. 
I simply wanted to mention it to readers because too often the bad guys are the only ones who get any attention.
....

On another matter, I have a second appointment on Thursday as it relates to my secret experiment which remains on going. Part two of all this will play out on Friday and the weekend. Then, at last, a final decision will be made and I will write all about what has been going on behind the scenes...probably early next week.

"The Offer"

Season Miles: 1,631

They say things happen when you least expect them. Such was the case today in Whitnall Park. The great experiment of the 2011 riding season continued today as I headed into familiar turf, the Whitnall Park crit course where I completed five laps in wonderful summer weather today.

Sunny
83 degrees
Light wind
Whitnall Crit, 5 laps, 30 miles

After 10 years of riding it finally happened, and when I least expected it to happen...on a weekday afternoon. You see for years when I have ridden laps in the park on the weekend I always stop at the same picnic area bubbler for water, an area that, on weekends, is usually buzzing with people gathered at some sort of family party. Not once has anyone offered me something cold to drink as I pull up to get warm water from the bubbler there. But that all changed today.

There was a large kids' blow-up bounce house set up on the grass and what looked like quite a bit of food and some coolers up under the shelter where two women were sitting. They were obviously waiting for the others to arrive....and checking out the dude on the bike who just pulled up.

After glancing over at me a few times one of the women offered me a cold water. I could hardly believe it. At first I said no thanks, that I had the bubbler. But then I thought better of it and told them what the heck...that bubbler water is kinda warm. One of them reached into a cooler and grabbed me an ice-cold bottle of water that tasted great after five laps in there.

They started asking me all about my fancy shoes (no more info on that...it's all part of my experiment....you'll see soon) and I was happy to chat them up while sipping my water.

Finally...someone offered me a cold drink. Mark this date down!

Then on the way back I have a story too...
I heard a noise behind me in the parkway and sure enough there was a rider back there. Not for long. Some guy who looked like a pro racer just blew past me in a flash. As he started to distance me it occurred to me that I should pick his brain about the bike he was riding. (the mystery deepens)

It took a really hard effort on my part to bridge the gap. But I managed to get up alongside of him and asked him straight out about his rig. He was more than happy to sit up and answer all my questions. Really nice guy. After about a mile or so I told him, "Thanks for the info. I don't want to hold you up. Have a good ride."

Away he went. There was no grand effort on his part to leave me in the dust either. No rocking shoulders. No hammering out the saddle. Just a smooth-as-silk acceleration away from me and within minutes I couldn't even see him ahead. Wow. That guy has to be a local racer.

All in all a really good ride today.

I need to point out here that this entire experiment I am in the middle of has rejuvenated me like I can not tell you. It has put the fire back in my belly to not only ride, but ride better and faster again. It has been fun. And as much as I would like to tell the story right now, I fear it may be delayed. Based on the info I received from the rider today, I may be extending this experiment into next week.

Stay tuned!

Climbing

Season Miles: 1,601

Part two today of my secret experiment. I promise, I'll have plenty to say about all this at the end of this week.

I had to do some climbing today specifically, so I took to the hills of the Minooka Park route.

Mostly sunny
80 degrees
Light wind
Minooka Park, 30 miles

This ride features a steep jump up into the dog exercise area of the park, and then the more drawn-out climbs of Guthrie (Wauk. water tower road) Rd. and Beheim Rd. I'll explain later this week why it was necessary today to put my legs into a bit of bother. But the point is, it was only a BIT of bother today.


All is well on the riding front as I type this.


One more experiment planned for Tuesday, then it's meetings and behind-the-scenes stuff before I go public with any of this.


Stay tuned!


Great weather for riding though, that's for sure.

Special ride

Talk about perfect riding conditions. Today was it!

Sunny
80 degrees
Light wind, 5-10
Wales, 41 miles


This was an historical and very specialized ride for me because I did something today that I have never done in my 10-year cycling career.


I rode out to Wales to have a sandwich and granola bar, then quickly got back on the bike and cranked it out coming home, when I ran into a chap and chatted for a bit as we headed to GF park on the NB trail.


But the thing that made this ride historical and special can not be revealed here just yet. I probably will not write about all the details until next week, when final decisions have been made.


Best rest-assured, when the time comes I'll have plenty to share with you here.


What great weather for riding. I only wish we had a day like this coming on Saturday for my Tour de PhilCast II ride out in the countryside. Rain seems likely, and if it's wet the ride will be postponed until a later date. An announcement will be posted Saturday morning by 9-ish on both Twitter and Facebook accounts. 

CLICK HERE for my FB account


CLICK HERE for my Twitter account


Season Miles: 1,571

Corn thieves and a 'complex' question

The main feature of this ride was the return of wind...lots of it. I haven't felt gusts of wind like that in a long time.


Partly sunny
82 degrees
Wind 12-20+ gusts
Three Bridges, 36 miles


Lets see, lots to cover today including corn, water, snot and noises.

Taking it easy and enjoying a little sunshine, I noticed on the way south into Franklin that the wind was high and going to be a bitch coming back home. Trying to put that thought out of my head, I pushed onward at an easy pace without much of anything or anyone around me.


At the halfway point is when I made my first stop. This is where my 'complex' question comes in. Down at the Milwaukee County Sports Complex you would think there would be a source for water somewhere at that building. It IS after all a SPORTS complex that is located right next to a popular multi-use bike trail. Nothing at all available outside on the building or near it. Today I pulled up to the doors and tried them to see if they were open. Indeed, that set of doors was open, leading to a second set of doors also open. In I went with my bike to explore on foot.


I figured there would be a bubbler in what is a huge and empty hallway of sorts. Nothing. So lets review. No bubbler or water faucet of any kind outside on the building and no bubbler inside. I walk on and see a small game room, where I at least see a soda machine. Still, no place to get a cold drink of water. 
Come on Milwaukee Co. Sports Complex...stick a damn bubbler up there!


Heading back into the wind now, there is a section of the Oak Leaf that runs alongside a corn field. I saw a couple walking together on the way down, but now the woman was standing with her back to me as the dude came walking out of the field juggling about a half-dozen ears of freshly picked corn! Really? Corn thieves caught in the act. Wow.


I was really irritated by a running right nostril for most of this ride. Snot city! I have NEVER had allergies throughout my entire life, but that has to be what this is, right? Those of you with them...was there something about today's weather? Is this a time of year when something is in the air? Help! I don't get it. But all I know is that it's my right side....eye waters a bit and I swear I could be doing the farmers blow out of the right side every five minutes. It's really very irritating on a ride.


Speaking of irritating...
My bike has started making noises again.


Do you know what a sandhill crane squawking sounds like? Well, my bottom bracket kinda sounds like that at times now. Then to keep up with the bird sound theme, adding to that noise I noticed that when freewheeling at times I would hear a high-pitched squeaking noise that sounded a little like baby birds in a nest. Now, I know there was no nest back there around the area of my rear hub where the sound was coming from, so I assume that once again my bike has developed some technical issues.


I'm a stickler for a quiet bike, and right now, I'm not riding one. Guess I'll head out to do a little lubricating and see if that helps on the next ride.


Season Miles: 1,530

Mission accomplished

It was supposed to be a nice sunny day today.
Nope.
The plan was to head out on a ride at about noon Monday, but as I looked out my windows all I could see was the occasional bit of hazy sun through some dark, stormy looking clouds.

Should I stay or should I go?

Well, since you are reading a post here I gather that you have figured out how I answered that question. I did the right thing. I rode, figuring what would be the worst thing that could happen...a downpour? Been there. Done that. Lets ride.

About a mile or so in the plan came together. I'd only go old school on a short 26-mile Loomis and back route, but I'd do it fast, pushing to see if I could come up with a little better average speed for a change. Plus, the faster I go on a short route the quicker I am finished and the less chance there would be for me to get stuck in the rain.

Big ring. Hard tempo at times, just like Saturday, only this time there were no carrots dangling in front of me to act as incentive. This one I did all by myself. By the second half when I started to tire I kept up the effort in Root River Parkway with the voice of Johan in my head. I could hear him telling me in my earpiece, "Come on Phil. You can do it. Keep up the pace. Allez, allez Phil. You can do it. Come on!"


I wonder if that's what he actually yells to his riders from the team car. I'll have to ask "Matty Hollywood" Busche about that.


Anyway, I made the effort like the old days. Rather than just ride, I rode today in the hopes of seeing a better average speed than normal. For the first time in a long time when I was finished and turning off my computer it was with great anticipation that I flicked through the options to get to the 'average speed' display.


It did it.
16.4
Mission accomplished.


Hazy sun, black clouds mix
84 degrees
Wind 5-10
Loomis, 26 miles (16.4 ave. speed)


To think, I was going to blow off the ride because of dark clouds too! I only felt a few drops six blocks from the end. That's it. Glad I made the right choice today.


Season Miles: 1,494

Carrot legs & the family reunion

One of the most satisfying things about cycling to me is the fact that you never know what each ride will bring you. Today my ride brought me joy and plenty of stories to share with you. THIS is what summer is all about. A ride. A post-ride lunch of chicken salad, red grapes and watermelon chunks after a shower and then the ritual of writing up a ride post out on the screen porch with a large lemonade at my side.


Before I left today I told my wife about a running gag I have regarding Saturday rides in Whitnall Park. I decided that is where I would go today to check out all the people at picnics there. I explained to Sandy that there is a bubbler in a picnic area right in the middle of what is my crit course there.


Over the years while riding here on a Saturday I have stopped there for water as a large family gathering was enjoying a party in that same area. Not once has anyone offered me something cold to drink. Not once. Seems odd to me. 
I told Sandy that maybe today would be the day that someone would actually offer a hot cyclist something to eat or drink from their party.


But before I get to what happened there, I must first share the first of the carrot stories with you.


Not far into the ride I picked up a couple of roadies wearing matching gold-ish in color jerseys that said 312 on them. After they passed me I decided to stay within shouting distance. This meant picking up the pace to about 19 mph to hang with them once I caught them. I like to take situations like this and use them to push myself to ride a harder tempo than normal.


I have found this summer that I am slower than ever, getting much too comfortable in the middle ring most of the time going 15's. Not today. Today it was like old times. Big ring. Hard tempo. The two riders stayed on the path while I went straight at one point on the Oak Leaf Trail.


While waiting at the light at Highway 100 I figured I would see them cross on the path a couple of blocks down. After a couple of minutes...boom...there they were. The chase was on again for me.


I kept repeating in my head to myself, "Bridge...bridge....breathe...bridge....bridge...close the gap nice and steady."


I was able to catch them a second time when they slowed at an intersection. Then this time for some reason I ended up taking the point. So there I was turning 19's in front working hard and they were having a nice little conversation back there. Then it went quiet. They must have turned off. I appreciated having them to use as my carrot to chase.


Into Whitnall Park I saw about a 10-point buck just meandering down the side of the road next to me. Then another few miles down the road I saw three more deer eating.


When I started doing laps there they were...a family gathering right where I had predicted there would be one today. I did two laps hard to make sure they saw me before I pulled off to get water.


There must have been 50 people there and it appeared as if they were all in the process of gathering for a large group photo. I got a few looks as I pulled out a Powerbar and stretched my legs at a nearby table.


A cute young girl in a sun dress gave me a shy glance a couple of times. I thought to myself, "This could be it. This could be the moment when someone, after all these years of doing this, was going to offer me a cold drink!"


"Would you mind taking a few pictures for us?"


Are you kidding me? That's why you were looking my way?


Sure. Who can say no to a cute girl in a sun dress on a summer afternoon? She piled two smart phones into my sweaty, gloved hands and showed me where to snap.


I proceeded to take numerous pictures for them with both phones. Then another lady from what I believe was the Hansen clan came out from her pose and asked me to take more pictures with HER camera.


I did.


Then I pointed the camera at myself and took a picture, giving them all a laugh. As I filled my water bottle a guy walked toward my bike and was looking at it. Maybe this would be the one to ask if I wanted a soda!


"Just checking out your wheels," he said. Then he proceeded to tell about his bikes. Then I filled my water bottle up and mounted up. Someone yelled out thanks. That was it. Not a single offer of food or drink. My streak stays in-tact. I don't get it. But that seems to be the norm.


Getting closer to exiting the park I saw a sign that said Landworks at what appeared to be a company party. I pulled in because my wife has an old friend of hers that owns that company and I wanted to see if indeed it was her company. As I pulled in I saw her at a table and we chatted, having not seen each other in years. It was a nice chat, but again, no offer of a cold drink. Good thing I wasn't thirsty or low on fluids on this ride.


Then the second carrot was dangled in front of me on the way back in Root River Parkway. Approaching Loomis I looked up only to see what appeared to be an amazing pair of legs riding at me in the opposite direction. (Not a guy's legs either!) I never in that glimpse even saw what those legs were connected to. All I remember is thinking to myself, "Why aren't legs like that ever ahead of me? Why are they always just passing me from the other direction?"


I rode on to Loomis and then decided that my body felt pretty good in the heat. It was time to push again. I would hit the hammer (as much a hammer as I have these days) and ride hard in an attempt to see if those legs were somewhere ahead yet. She had a big head start on me, so this seemed a little foolish. But what the heck? A carrot to chase is a carrot to chase, right?


For a long time I held a steady 20 mph as was working to do that. Nothing in sight up ahead. I forged on hoping it would pay off, making this a game of sorts now.


Then I saw someone...yes...a rider up ahead. Maybe it was legs. 
I pushed on closing the gap rather quickly only to find it was a dude.


I passed him and pushed onward. After a couple of miles I saw something ahead again. Yes. Maybe this was legs. Keep pushing.


I caught her. It wasn't legs. It was an elderly lady.


I was pretty gassed and nearing Greenfield Park by this time so I gave up any chase, knowing that the carrot in the shape of nice legs served me well today. For the first time in a while I rode with purpose today. Rusty, but it felt good.


Partly sunny and warm
84
Wind 5-10
Whitnall Crit 2 laps + Loomis Loop, 31 miles (15.5 mph ave)


Two years ago seeing that average speed would have been a disaster. Now days, I'm quite pleased with my effort today.


So lets review shall we?


--No one at a family picnic has ever offered me a cold beverage yet
--Nice legs make a good training carrot to chase
--I'm slow
--I still love the simple joy the adventure of a ride can bring.

Season Miles: 1,468

Happens to the best of them

It's Saturday and the weather can not seem to make up its mind...clouds or sun? At least it's dry and I am thinking about taking a ride later in the day. Errands and yard work call for most of the day however.

Reading my friend Matthew Busche's blog I had to smile at his stories of bike woes while racing in Poland. Even the pros with the best of equipment can struggle at times. His was an odd chain issue out of nowhere.

He had a puncture too, something I have not had to deal with in a long time. But I guess I just jinxed it now.

A week from today it's the PhilCast show ride...Tour de PhilCast II, rolling out from Backyard Bikes in LaGrange at 11:00...as long as it's dry! Social ride...two groups...13 and 26 miles with lunch outside afterward.

phil@thephilcast.com if you are interested...let me know.
 

Thank god for Andy and iced-cold Pepsi

Turns out I bit off more than I could chew today.

My schedule was open and the weather was great. I decided to put some miles in today....more than usual. I wasn't sure exactly where I would end up, but I headed west with my jersey pockets stuffed with lunch.

All along the plan was to take it easy, thinking maybe I'd even attempt a round-trip out to the lake house and back, which would be 80 miles. Could this have even been the day I attempt my one solo century of the year?

I rode out to Wales feeling fine. After a break to eat the PB&J and banana lunch I packed I hit the trail west again. I stopped to do a good deed, helping a rider I saw west of Wales who was walking with his flat front tire in hand. Turns out he changed his flat but the air cartridge he had didn't work for him....stranded....until I came along because I ride with  a small hand pump on my back. I gave it to him and he pumped up the tire enough to be on his way. So was I then, feeling good about the fact that I could help out a fellow rider in need.

I took Waterville Road just east of Dousman and its rolling hills feeling the energy leaving my body. As I continued it became clear there was no way I was going to ride 80 miles today. I began to struggle.

I had the thought to turn around before making it out to the lake house to make the return trip a little shorter. But that would have left me without the chance to re-fuel on food and beverage at the lake house. I was stuck heading all the way out there.

I made it to the lake but was spent. The thought of riding 40 miles back seemed impossible.

I called my friend Andy on his day off and as luck would have it he was ready, willing and able to drive out and give me a lift home.

That's why I say thank goodness for Andy and ice-cold Pepsi, which sure hit the spot once I got to the house.

Sunny, 82
Wind 8-12
40 miles 

What seemed like it was going to be a great long day in the saddle turned out to be an interesting 40 miles instead.

Who knows why? Some days you just don't bring it. But in my head I thought I was going to be able to.

Still, a 40-mile ride on a beautiful sunny afternoon ain't bad....as long as you've got a good friend on standby to come get you once you crap out!

Season Miles: 1,437

Old school

When I first started riding the main route I took was south to Loomis and back, a simple urban 26 miles.

I don't ride it that much these days because 26 miles seems short to me.

But today, with some dark clouds looming I wanted to keep it short...thus a return to the old route.


But about 1/4 of the way in I decided to try to ride it harder than usual, you know, treat it like a TT. This is the same distance as the TT that Cadel Evans used to win the Tour de France.


Problem is that if you want to ride this fast you need to do that from the start. Plus, it would help if I could get out of the saddle, which I still can not. My right foot is still hurting. In fact the front half of that foot was numb with pain for much of the ride.


This is a tough route to ride for average speed. There are a lot of intersections meaning a lot of stop lights and signs.


In the old days it went like this:
-Normal average speed on this route would be in the 16's.
-Average higher speed/bigger effort would be 17's.
-Fastest was an 18 ave. speed all out on this course.

Today my average speed was 15.3. Yikes. I was actually trying in the big ring for the first portion of the ride too! 


Hot and muggy, 92 degrees, hazy sun/clouds mix
Wind 8-12 mph
Loomis, 26 miles


I hope this condition with my foot goes away before the snow hits! It's too bad because the rest of me feels pretty good these days out there.

Season Miles: 1,397