After 4000 or so miles on the Cannondale it was time to take it in for some TLC at OYLC. New chain, new cassette and a lot of drivetrain cleaning. I got a wild hair while it was there to have the bars wrapped with fresh white Fizik tape and photographed while clean. They were happy to oblige and the glamor shot above is the result. I made it my desktop wallpaper and immediately fielded questions on Thursday’s business trip at both locations. Generally the questions shortly devolved into…”where are the pictures of your children?”

I switched to a more aggressive cassette in the rear moving to 12-23 vs. 12-25. I had three rides this week on the new setup and feel comfortable that the new gearing is perfectly acceptable. I think the reality of most climbs is that you just downshift until you are banging against the right STI shifter limit screw in sweet futility before you settle down and just climb it. This theory proved true and I didn’t really notice the difference on Spickert Knob or Dug Knob. The real difference surfaces on intermediate hills where I would normally just stand up and mash it out – the new setup makes it decidedly a bigger challenge.

This week also marked the full return of wool and embrocation. You know what really makes that embro sing?…a nice drizzle. I always remember stopping at some wretched c-store in the country with Mr. Wrench Webber as our legs slowly caught fire prior to taking back off. Between that and the post lunch ride/shower burn while I eat lunch and catch up on teh internet make it all worth it. I’m still using and enjoying Winston’s Hot and ready to try the Mad Alchemy custom blends now available at the aforementioned LBS. I love the intoxicating stink of the liniment left in the bathroom at work as I prepare to ride.

I’m set up for a nice 25 mile ride in the early afternoon tomorrow and things are looking good…

Coming down the hill just past the hairpin in my absolute favorite stretch of Southern Indiana I came along these renegade cows that took over this mobile home.

I shared a few beers with my cycling mentor today. As disparate as our riding is – it is always something to chat about riding and see that we are really after the same things overall.

I’ve been noticing that the best roads often have the word “creek” in them and can be easily ID’d on the googlemaps by the way they snake along pencil-thin waterways…

Of course the waterways are running pretty light right now…

The sleepy town of Westport, KY really has so much to offer in the way of lightly traveled roads that beg to be ridden. I climbed up and out the nasty little beast that is Rebel Ridge Dr. today…a first, but not the last.

I’m about to switch to a 12-23 from a 12-25…I wonder if it will be a mistake as the 25 maybe my special weapon? Hopefully I will just strengthen up to the challenge. I am nearing 4,000 on the CAAD9 and to say the chain is stretched might be an understatement. Lots of poor, unrequested shifting, not to mention awful chain slap on labored climbs.

I picked up a few goodies at the unfortunate demise of the Mountain Bike Depot. Although the majority of my meager business goes to OYLC it is sad to see the Depot not make it. The sadness on Joe’s face and manner was palpable. It was a bit of a drag. I did finally acquire the Smartwool arm warmers I have been looking for….and at a nice price.

That US 42 sure was head-wind strong from Westport to Goshen today…

Heading up north for work tomorrow via minivan bearing a bike, kit, and wool. Going to be looking to string together a little ride.

We planned an ambitious route today heading out to pick up Farnsley Knob (0.40 miles, avg. gradient – 15.7%!). Its been a year or so since I climbed it and I was ready to pay a visit. Coming out of N’albany was a little zany and after a few passes of the close nature I drifted into the shitty, unfinished shoulder on 111 as we made for Budd Road. No sooner than “gee, I’ll be lucky to not get a flat” ran through my head I heard the mighty escape of air and went flat on the rear tire. After getting to a nice shaded spot I pulled the rear tire off to find a blown out sidewall and 3/8″ hole in the tube…this baby was flat. Now we were only 3 miles into 25 so I had a decision to make. I said “hey man, you got a buck?” he says “I got a 20″, “That’ll do, lemme have it…you’ll get it back!”

We pumped the tire up and cautiously took off. On the plus side it was one of my finest and I even managed to get the tire back in without looking and feeling like a rank amateur. I’m glad to say it held just fine although it made for nervous descents. Speaking of descending we came down Blunk Knob for the first time and despite thinking it would be the other way its a pretty shitty drop down. The pavement sucks, the turns are real tight with no banking, and no guardrails or anything in case you misjudge. Just too sketchy in the end to enjoy coming down. I’m leaving it on the climb preferred list only. That Farnsley Knob though? That’s a doozy…

Here is the final damage on the way to the scrap bin:

I have mis-matched tires now…oh – the horror!

I thought a lot on my ride today about a post from Mr. Smith about the ambiguity of rural signage. Specifically this passage:

…we consulted the map (again) to verify cue sheet directions with random map names that we certainly find in both KY and IN. Do other states have so many random road names that don’t correspond on map sources?

It reminded me of the trip I took in May and couldn’t seem to muster the time to post about here. I traveled to Murphy, NC for business and took advantage of its prime location to take a 60 mile and 100 mile excursion. The rides had a combined total of 21,000 feet of vertical climb and the century included the well known Brasstown Bald.

The reason I bring it up is that I managed 160 miles of navigating completely unfamiliar roads armed simply with cue sheets generated at Ride With GPS. Now Ride With GPS is a nice mapping site but to have zero navigation errors in this situation is practically unheard of. What do I attribute this to? Take a look at the normal road sign just out in the sticks:

Just look at all of the information on that sign:

Colloquial Name – Beaver Dam
State Road – 1331-B
That little arrow – many times I came upon crossroads that meet at funny angles etc. This was SO helpful

I have ridden fairly extensively in Kentucky and Indiana both and never encountered such fine signage. This is how it should be done.

It invariably makes me think of the Cycling Classics such as last weekend’s Gent-Wevelgem, this weekend’s Tour of Flanders and of course Paris Roubaix in two weeks. These thoughts were especially on my mind as I set out from home on Sunday morning. I sat and then paced helplessly on Saturday as we experienced the finest weather of the year. My day for riding was to be Sunday with a forecast of cold, rain, wind, and the actual killer – thunderstorms. Would it be my luck to wait for Sunday only to not be able to ride?

I woke up and tended to all I needed to get done prior to departure – feeding children, dressing them, picking older brother up from a sleepover, etc. All through the morning checking various forecasts. TV indicated rain and such but probably no thunderstorms…that was enough for me. I kitted up, embro’d up, pumped tires and hit the road. Two omissions – no lights of any type, and what would prove to be the worst – no chamois cream.

I met my friend Michael at what seems to be the primary ride departure zone of the Heine Brothers at Eastern and Bardstown. We had 86 miles planned heading way out into Oldham County and back. It was actually the first time I’ve ridden all the way across River Road into Oldham as I normally start from my folks house in the middle of it. This is the route I planned for. I had some concerns about crossing the old one lane bridge that is closed to AUTO traffic but I thought we could still get through.

Highlands to Goshen – went well. Soft sprinkle across River Road, decided to climb out on Wolf Pen Branch and didn’t even look at the aforementioned bridge crossing although we went right by it. Fast drop into crowded Prospect and the rain really picked up. After stopping on Rose Island Road we thought it a good idea to actually put on the rain gear we brought. I wore my favorite wool jersey and covered it with a promo Continental rain jacket I got as a “gimmie” from a local shop. Pretty ugly but pretty effective. It was not to come off until I got home.

Climb 1 – The Backside of Goshen Lane – after strolling out river flatlands we turned the corner up this strong climb. It was nice to try it with warmed-up legs as opposed to the stone cold condition I usually am in.

US 42 to Westport – We turned onto US 42 for the second time and headed out once again following stretches of the Louisville Ironman course. This is 11 straight but rolling miles. It was here I realized I was riding with a very complimentary rider. Many times in the stretch I end up ahead of my companion(s). Every time I looked back he was right on my wheel. It was to be this way the whole day. It is hard to overstate how much this can improve the riding. I enjoy riding with all types but I think I would take this anytime.

Climb 2 – Out of Westport – Coming out of Westport on 524 is a pretty saucy climb. I had some issues with drivetrain and kept slipping but I stayed in the big ring the rest of the day and it did fine there some maybe its the small chainring. This put us on 42 once again and out to the only planned rest stop at the only gas station in 20 miles that is open on Sunday. We refueled, filled bottles, and stood around with our wet legs burning with the awakened liniment. We were 54 miles in and averaging a healthy 18 mph.

Old Sligo Road and others into Buckner – The weather looked pretty crappy at this point but it turned out to be mostly show. I knew from experience that Old Sligo was a brutal road. With 50 miles already in it was even worse. Highway 53 out of LaGrange was as menacing as always (for my money much worse than US 42) Then the first navigational error crept in – the maps indicated you can get over to 393 via Finley Mill road. I never saw the road and we ended up in Buckner. No big deal but the 15 miles to rejoin 393 were a beating and we made a brief stop to catch up from that.

Cedar Point & Old Zaring Although I grew up in this area I had never heard it referred to as “Little Appalachia” until I started riding bikes. It may not be mountainous but in the continuation of the days theme it rolled up and down for sure. We had our only run in with a dog on Old Zaring. It was running along a fence line and we thought it was cool but then out it came! Startled the two of us but laid off quickly.

Climb 3 – Covered Bridge Road – This road actually has a climb in the beginning and a big one at the end. It is maybe the finest road in the area for riding from a pure visual standpoint. It is simply beautiful, even in overcast, rainy muck. Every time I have come through on a bike I have turned off at Locke Lane. Today had us going all the way to US 42 (again) to begin the return home. It is quite a climb at that stage in the day and we took a bit of a rest at the Five Star in Prospect. In an odd bit of coincidence we ran into my father at the store…kinda funny.

Coming out of Prospect – we headed back out River Road toward home only to find the maybe passable bridge to be decidedly not passable. It was covered with fencing and there happened to be a dude there as well. At this point we were feeling pretty sure of earning a century for the day as we back tracked into Prospect to exit via 42. The ugly slog up the hill out of Prospect to Wolf Pen Branch was the most harrowing piece of riding for the day. Shit conditions, a strong hill and at least one way-too-close-for-comfort pass. I was glad to turn off for sure.

Last Climb – Lime Kiln Road – Instead of taking River Road all the way in I had elected to come up through the ritzy part of town into St Matthews. While this really is “no hill for a climber” the miles and climbing had taken its toll. We headed up and out 42 to bridge onto Rudy Lane and start making the way to the park.

The park and home… – at this point our internal mileage calculators were working and determined we might end up slightly short of a century and greedily to a lap in Cherokee Park to ensure the monument was reached. We split after this and I had to confront one last hill going up Trevillian towards the zoo. As I got off the bike I felt hobbled. I’m sure I was walking funny and not to mention soaking wet.

Being the kind husband I am I patiently waited before showering so my wife could get the nap I promised after her workday. I sat playing with the kids, legs burning, body aching and reveled in my accomplishment for the day:

This is the kind of hardman shit we live for right? The conditions certainly were “Belgie” for the day. That crust of dirt, sand, cinders, and God knows what left stuck to my legs…103 miles in the shit, 6,200 feet of climbing, 6 hours on the bike when most people avoided the outside for the day. Many thanks to Michael who made for a great day in the saddle and perhaps my favorite ride to date.

I parked and began various stages of getting ready – put the bike together, pump tires, arm warmers, get race numbers, add-on the 4/5 race, pin numbers on, etc. I have been talking all week and met up with the locust who kindly shared some Winston’s embrocation for the brisk morning. I set off to take a few laps prior to the race start and hit one with a guy I went to school with, and two laps with Mr. Wilson. This made for 9 o’clock and off we went.

I had been given the impression that this Cat 5 race (as opposed to last year with only a 4/5) would be maybe not too fast, and since so early in the season maybe a little sloppy and disorganized…not so. This course starts with a strong downhill right away and then turns left into a slight but selecting climb. My biggest concerns coming into the race were riding in a pack, and two tight turns around the 2/3rds area. In the first lap I settled toward the middle of the pack as I felt it out. I did have a guy in front of me take a funny line in a curve and I felt quite close to going off the road but I made it through and that was the worst. The finish to the race was uphill and as we crossed the line I was able to move up to the front group pretty easily. I followed that around and then in the third lap on the selecting climb I found my self on the outside line charging to the front. All of the sudden I was leading the race but absolutely could not hold as we dropped back down into the technical section. That was tactical error one, number two came shortly thereafter when I was unable to hold the last wheel of the group and I was not to see contact again with that bunch. I found my self kind of strung out and alone and I finished the race alone. I made pretty good time and finished somewhere toward the top third of the 50 racers.

On Friday I made a visit to one of my favorite LBS’s and looking for pre-race information. They suggested I add the 4/5 race as well and just get in there for extra experience and fitness building. Sounded good to me and I did so. I didn’t really think through that it would only be a 10 minute cool down between but so it goes. I sucked down a clif bar and got back in the mix. I started in the back of a full 75 rider field. I never made contact with the front group this time but I wasn’t really expecting to do so anyhow. I did once again manage to stay toward the front third of this 8 lap race. Around the third lap I paired up with a guy who I surmised was named Ronnie from the periodic cheering he got. It took some time and him observing that I was grabbing his wheel on the downhills after I was pulling the hills but we started working together some and finished the race together. The bell lap came around and it felt like Ronnie and I were marking each other. As we came to the uphill finish we both came out of the saddle and then all of the sudden the sprint was on! I thought I went a tad early but clamped down and took it by a wheel. That was really exciting for sure. We gave each other congrats and he reached out to shake my hand. I must give props again to Ben W. as well as Tim C. of the Twin Spires team. They cheered/heckled me every lap of that race. It makes a big difference to hear that as you come around.

Also my boss/friend Billy came out and cheered me on through the first race. He also brought his camera and sent me some picks. Here I am trying to dig deep after the third lap and have been gapped:

All in all I am very pleased at my first day of racing. I went into it looking for the experience and hoped to finish in the upper third which I did. It confirmed what I mostly knew already – endurance-good, climbing-pretty good, speed-needs work.

I am going to start working the logistic angles right away and see if I can make the race next Saturday in Lexington.

The weathermen have been predicting rain and thunderstorms for days to no avail. Each day the sun peeks out and gets it done. Today was looking like it would finally be the day. I swung by the LBS and picked up some Qoleum embrocation in the “Hot” style to give it a shot. I mean I didn’t shave my legs for nothin’…right? I am intending to use it tomorrow for my first bike race and the weather is looking to be pretty “Belgie”. I slathered it on, put on my favorite wooly jersey jersey and hit road.

About halfway into the ride the rain started. I pulled over and put my phone in a bag and kept after it. I really don’t mind riding in the rain. It leads me to a decided feeling of some sort of warped accomplishment. Like – “look at me, I’m so tough” (say this out loud in a high-pitched, mocking voice – that’s what my wife will do to me).

I put “mud guards” (here’s why I no longer refer to them as fenders) on this bike a month or two ago and they have served me well as the snow melted off the roads and led to consistent spraying. This was the first opportunity I have had to really ride in the rain. Wow. Much better. I got wet of course, but no telltale spray up the back, no soaking wet chamois in 2 minutes, just generally better. Not to mention the bike was much cleaner when I finished.

I didn’t really notice the embro on the ride although I must say my legs were not cold…at all. Compared to my hands (which is not really fair) they were significantly warmer. I got my first indication of what was to come when I stopped at a light about 5 minutes from the end of the ride. Seemed like my legs were heating up a tad. After I returned and started wiping off the bike the real burn came on big time. Funny almost, but I hit the shower armed with dish soap to try and cut it off – to no avail. Slowly and surely after about an hour it fizzled out. Good to know for tomorrow.

Here is the post ride return: Wet but with significantly improved attitude

As I mentioned tomorrow will be my first bike race. I feel good about my training so far. I have received lots of good advice and I am ready for it…I hope.

I have amassed 5000 miles since I started riding a year and a half ago and 4000 this year alone. I have always tried to ride smartly and follow the cardinal rules of being seen and acting predictably. I was dressed in a bright yellow jacket and traveling properly in the road.

Wednesdays are my travel day. Nearly every Wednesday for the last four years I have spent in Chicago. I let myself be talked out of this week because of the weather. The immortal words of Dante from “Clerks” rang through my head more than once – “I’m not even supposed to be here!”

I had skipped riding on Tuesday due to rain and not being able to get my rollers adjusted properly to use them in time. This left me weary and frustrated and I was determined to ride Wednesday. The temps were fine and I was suitably dressed but the wind was oppressive – 15-20 mph and swirling. I decided to use my reasonably short Edwardsville route which goes out IN 62 – Corydon Pike. As I made my way over to 62 I thought about turning back as I could feel the wind trying to push me over in a way I have never experienced. I kept going knowing that once I got to the Edwardsville climb the wind would be more or less negated. I started out the rather flat opening section in to a serious headwind trying like hell and getting about 13-14 mph. I saw a fast moving small pickup truck coming in hot on my right side. He was coming down a hill on a side street looking to turn left at a STOP SIGN. He failed to stop and turned right in front of me. I saw what was happening and started to bail out to the right, I didn’t make it and slammed into the front quarter panel of the truck. I was already leaning away from the truck and so I went straight down and away from the vehicle. I hit my forehead in my eyebrow and my right shin probably on the downtube. I was able to jump right up with adrenaline and the driver got right out to help me. It should be said that he began apologizing immediately, asking if I was OK and clearly angry with himself for his carelessness. He said right up front that he should have seen me and he couldn’t believe he didn’t. There was no anti-cyclist screed and any attempt to blame me for not being on a sidewalk or something. I told him I understood and accepted his offer to sit on the tailgate while we waited for the cops.

At this point the jitters started to set in. As most of us do I have no shortage of things to live for. Not only was my front wheel smashed but so to was any illusion I might have that I was not vulnerable. In fact as I sat there that is what I thought of the most – being out on a bike really leaves you exposed. I thought a lot about having to tell my wife, my mom, and my dad. I imagined impassioned plea’s to quit riding on the road, do something safer. Then reality kicked into my head – I can not stop riding on the road. I love it. I have never loved another activity as much. When I watched the Hincapie movie and they asked him how he wanted to be remembered I knew what he would say before he said it. It went: 1. – a great father, 2. – an excellent husband, and 3. – a pretty good cyclist. I am paraphrasing his words but that is the gist of it and how I feel about myself as well.

In the end he gave me a ride back to work. The bike has been fixed, the helmet will be replaced, the insurance company is giving me some extra money for no apparent reason (OK, I know why they are) which will go toward some fantastic wool clothing, and I am back to riding. The man who hit me even went so far as to call and check on me later that day…a nice touch I think.

I have always tried to keep a healthy fear in my mind of the dangers of road riding. This has of course added to that fear. It is not hard to see that a few seconds could have made a huge difference either way. I feel very lucky to have come out of this relatively unscathed. I doubt but hope someone will read this that thinks that cyclists are a menace and always at fault and maybe change their mind some…

Meanwhile, keep your eyes peeled while driving around in your car or on your bike.

I set out for lunch today not feeling so hot. I rode hard yesterday for lunch coming in at an 18.5 average then commuted home and back this morning. I had the right clothes on but I was cold. And route-weary…I tried to piece something together before I left to no avail. I thought I’d run the “Marty route” and be done with it. It’s 21 miles, rather flat with some good speed areas and rollers. 4 miles into my mopey riding I thought…buck up! I was just today counting up my miles for the year to figure I had pulled past 3500 with two months to go. There is only one way to build the miles…ride ‘em.

With that I decided to change course at St Joe Road and go left instead of right. I knew there was a hill there and I was right. It led to Dug Knob which carries a 9% average over 0.65 miles and includes an 18% switchback zone. I find it always hardest to climb a hill the first time because you just don’t know what’s coming. This one kept giving and giving. I chased it with a beautiful run across Skyline leading to a drop down Moser Knob and back to work.

A great posting popped in on the Rapha blog today titled “Killing Me Softly” about a Continental ride in Nashville.

I really like this paragraph:

Assuming your bike fits, position is less about the ergonomic fit, but the rider’s fit or engagement in the world around them. The way pedaling and effort lead consciously, or unconsciously, to meditation. Without the noise of lists, missed calls, an ever growing inbox and responsibility—under self imposed but manageable duress, up the side of a mountain, legs firing, breath labored but in control, eyes focused ahead and around all at once, sense and perception heightened—things begin to sharpen. Life in these moments are simple, pure and clear; where you fit for that moment or those few hours becomes lucid.

It says so many things I think while riding alone through back country roads.

I’ve been thinking about bike racing a lot these last few days. I am going to give it a go in the spring and have very nerdily acquired this classic tome:

“Bicycle Road Racing – Complete Program for Training and Competition” by Edward Borysewicz

Here is a picture taken last week post ride when the conditions were Belgian at best, wet and full of road-grime:

Ride safe, ride lots…