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.

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.

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…

So what is it that’s so killer about this ride? Outside of the significant distance of 106 miles there are 6 good size climbs of around 500 feet in vertical climb. Three of the climbs come at 70 miles and beyond. On top of that the last 10-15 miles are a no-fun picnic of rollers and at least one additional slog that leaves you wondering why it doesn’t make the list. Here is the route and elevation profile:

I got everything ready the night before. I had my bike tuned up and made ready to ride. I mostly riding a Bianchi Brava I picked up off of the aforementioned LBC list for a nice price. I added some Celeste tires and other necessities and it is riding good. Here’s a pic:

The weather was looking to be clear and reasonable windless but cold. The departure temperature was to be 32 rising to 52. I set all of the appropriate gear out and set off to bed. Sleep did not come easily of well. I was wracked with nervousness. I got up early with my wife and made breakfast and coffee. I ate a good size egg breakfast and then packed 2 Clif bars, gatorade, and water. I did not want to end up having ride problems due to not eating or drinking enough.

There were plenty of people in the lot when I arrived and I would say there must have been close to 30 people who showed up to ride. The RC gave some introduction to the ride and directions on the cue sheet and we set off. He asked if this was the first time for anyone riding this route and I and several raised our hands. Then someone made a joke about it being their first century and then they laughed. I didn’t say anything and just started to ride.

I kitted up and sat out Monday afternoon relishing the weather and the just rebuilt back wheel smoothness courtesy of OYLC when “disaster” struck. I heard a loud pop and lost all chain tension as it went skittering off the chain ring and cogs. I pulled over and started working on the rethreading the chain. I noticed the rear derailleur pulley set was very floppy and had no spring. That seemed a bit off but I wasn’t for sure…worry began to set in. Just then a friend from work who lives in the area stopped and and asked if I needed help. My choices were – go to Clarksville Schwinn or go back to work and drive home to deal with it later. Seeking the least friction at home I decided just to pack it in for the day…plus I wasn’t really for sure it was broken yet.

I sent a pleading after hours email to OYLC begging for immediate attention in the AM so I could ride at lunch because I was really starting to yearn for a ride. They graciously replied so I set out first thing to have it looked at. Drew confirmed a broken spring but didn’t really have anything to fix it. In a textbook example of serving your loyal customers he made some calls and directed me to another shop that had some vintage Suntour parts and could make the fix on the comparative cheap. I shot over to see Skiles at The Black Spring Bike Shop & Coffee House. I ran into another bike acquaintance and chatted for a bit while my bike was repaired for a very reasonable price. I needed it after just rebuilding the back wheel and working on a limited budget.

A few hours later it was finally lunchtime and time to get out on the bike. Weather was warm but otherwise perfect. My friend from the office who is on the mend from shoulder surgery joined me and we decided to head out for “Buck’s Ride” into the Floyd’s Knobs and the formidable Moser Knob Road. I wanted to repeat my time trial and compare the times. I started out with a good run up to the main hill. As I began the assent I notice the bike felt springy…not think too much I charged onward and upward. Finally I looked down and back and saw the source of the bounce…flat tire. Blech. I jumped off and felt the tire, it wasn’t completely flat. I pumped it back up thinking maybe I just lost some pressure in transit. As I was closing the presta valve the locking mechanism just flat broke off. The tire seemed to be holding air so I took off, yeah right. I walked the rest of the way up and found a shady spot to make the tube change.

I recently put a Conti 27 x 1.25 (32mm) Ultra Gator Skin on the back wheel. Besides being a great riding tire it was a dream to change on the side of the road. It pryed off easy enough and the bead reset without much wrestling and pushing. It didn’t take long at all to get back on the road. Pumping that high volume with a frame pump was an experience but hey…whatcha gonna do.

The rest went down without much incident. I am ready to get back to event free riding for a couple of days. The rest of the week proved just that. I had a nice ride with Tim again on Thursday and a solo fast ride on Friday. 22 miles at 18.5 pace. Rain set in around 16 miles and I can’t say I really even minded it.

Louisville was given an unlikely respite in late August this year. The temperature plunged to low and mid 70s, humidity disappeared, and a cool breeze filled the air. Perfect opportunity to really build some miles. I had to sit off to the side both weekend days past. The schedules my wife and work are great for not having to pay for daycare…less great to squeeze any amount of time in for oneself. So as I did things like cut the grass I thought longingly of hitting the road for 50-60 miles. The nice exception was a visit by good friend Tex to theoretically watch the conclusion of the Tour of Ireland on TV. We saw some of the race as we fought to pay attention over the general melee unfolding in my basement. At least we got to drink some beers…

Monday at lunch I set out for one of the harder rides I have in my arsenal. Six to seven good, reasonably well trafficked roads lead up to the Spickert Knob climb. It has a pretty long ramp up before it hits you with the steep grade for about a half mile. If you fail to take into account the lead-in you are duly screwed on the main climb. From there I thread my way across the top ridge line overlooking all of Louisville and the Indiana boroughs. This leads to some fine riding across the back of the Knobs with low traffic and mostly flat roads. However, after I crossed Paoli Pike it brings you through Old Hill Road. This is a stretch of rollers that will make you wonder why you put this at the tail end of the ride. That was good for 23 and I hit the showers.

Since the weather was so nice I left my car at work and scooted home. I keep an extra shirt etc. at work for such occasions. The PM/AM flip is an interesting way to knock out a commute. Sure I left my car on the street all night but who really cares. I have honed my route home down to its shortest length at 12.85. I made decent time and proceeded directly to dinner making upon arrival. I found out the next morning that there was a colossal wreck on my driving route home that would have caused me much havoc and lateness. Score one for bicycle commuting…I had no idea.

This morning I set out at about 5:07 and meandered toward work. It was cool and damp as I set out and fortunately I remembered to bring a towel to mop the seat and bars prior to departure. I tried to take a picture of downtown Louisville from across the river but I needed a tripod so I abandoned it. There is a stretch of road from Clarksville to New Albany that goes along the river from the Lewis and Clark landing site to Emery crossing. It has the weirdest feeling I ever encounter on a bike. It is pitch black and almost feels swampy. In fact it reminds my of the spooky swamp parts of “Wild Things” and “Adaptation”. I was glad to clear it, roll down that fresh blacktop on Spring Street and hit the office with a cool hour under my belt. It is kinda wild to have ridden 14 miles, showered, shaved, and be at your desk at 6:30 am.

Although this constant riding and showering was tiring me a set an ambitious route for lunch today. I headed North along Budd Road heading towards the casino more or less. It is a mostly blissful, scenic, low traffic deal with one huge exception – 1.5 ugly miles of Indiana 111. There is a lot of haul-assing, and bike-clipping going on. So much that today I said screw it and just rode in the ample but bumpy shoulder. I saw an amazingly hot girl fetching her mail on Gap Hollow Road in the vicinity of the surely interesting “Gap Hollow Coon Hunting Club”. She looked like she belonged in a magazine shoot, she shot me a smirk – likely a reaction to my ridiculously tight get-up…and so it goes. I also got stung by a bee at high speed for the second time in about a month. That makes for a moderate freak out on the bike, its like it was flying around with its stinger out.

So that did it – 22 more miles in the book, one more shower.

I have been looking for time to write this entry for a couple of days. I took advantage of a trip right before lunch time to our sister plant to extend my mileage a bit. Once again I pieced together a few pieces of the route I plotted to get to Rich-O’s on Grant Line Road to get to a spot I previously had difficulty reaching. Back in the Summer I had climbed Moser Knob Road and found a beautiful stretch of road behind the Knobs. The problem with the route is that you have to go out Green Valley Road through a nasty stretch of over-trafficked road that I do not care for.

Looking at the map I saw I could head out Klerner Lane, cross Grant Line Road at IUS, and then bypass the bad traffic on Green Valley. That part worked well but now I was left with the real challenge – Moser Knob Road – 9.2% Grade – Duc notes “Consistently Steep”. When I rode it in the summer I stopped and got off the bike three times. On Thursday I was able to get all the way up with no stops. It felt great. When I set I did not have a true plan in mind just a general direction I wanted to travel and a few ideas/options about how to do it. After the hill conquest I set onto Campion Road which I was so impressed with the time before. Here is a photo before I set out:

I told many people after the first ride how stunning Campion Road was and how pleased I was to have ended up upon it. A creek runs along the reasonably deserted, curving, and just beautiful stretch.
I was to soon be disappointed…the wind was so oppressive as I traveled across the road that I could barely keep the bike at 12 mph. While this ride was not about speed per se I had an idea that I might run long so I didn’t want to dawdle. The wind was to be a persistent guest in my run across these knobs.

Time was slipping away from me as I approached St. Mary’s road and couldn’t honestly recall where I was exactly. I knew I was still pursuing the proper direction but I thought I should have come upon Spickert Knob Road by now. I followed instinct and was rewarded in a few more minutes when I came out where expected. I crossed Paoli Pike onto Old Hill Road and met another big hill that I neglected to think of when mentally planning. The hill is chased with two rolling miles of up and down that left me tired but happy.

I turned back toward N’Albany on Old Vincennes Road and was met with a blast of wind that nearly stopped me in my tracks but even worse made feel wobbly and as if I was about to be blown over. I switched back under I-265 and then it was a downhill assault into town. I choose the most direct route I could think of as I was now reaching the tolerable time limits of lunch time randoneuring.

What a great day on the bike! It was my greatest lunch time ride of all. Chock full of the best stuff – big climbs, screaming descents, cold but nice weather, sunshine, and a little bit of being lost in the country. Hard to replicate, hard to repeat – all very much worth it

They are going to show the full video after the latest On Your Left Based Ride through the ‘ville:

Two things stick out on this poster to me – “We don’t give a shit how cold it is” and even better – “If you love riding a bike, any bike, then we want to hang out with you”. That is one of the best things I have heard in some time. Tim and I are planning to head on down. Obviously everyone is welcome so head on down with us.

On a similar note – if some one is itching to buy me a new t-shirt here is a good option available here:

Oh…I love t-shirts…how about this one….

Christmas was good to me in the realm of cycling gear. My Father spearheaded an effort to purchase a nice wool top and bottom base layer. The top is a quarter-zip Sugoi, and the bottom Smart Wool. Although the weather has given a slight break it is not expected to last. I also was fortunate to receive another hundred that I dropped almost immediately at the LBS On Your Left Cycles. I picked up a frame pump, a new helmet, and a cable lock. If I picked up that Brass Bell I would be rolling pretty sweet.

Christmas Day looked like a great day weather-wise to get out but the logistics of the day did not allow it. Friday looked promising and then the rain came. By Saturday I was chomping at the bit as the temp rose to around 70. Granted it was pretty windy and the sky looked periodically ominous, but – 70? In late December? Unfortunately my lovely wife was working all day and I have three children to attend to. So I made a phone call to my Mom fishing for her schedule with no luck, it sounded like she staying in the county for the day. Then I thought about calling my father in law. He is a bit of an unlikely bike commuter and rides a single speed Schwinn back and forth to work complete with a shirt and tie. I told him I was calling to try and convince him to come over and watch my crew while I got out for an hour or so. His schedule was pretty jammed but I could tell he wanted to help. Sure enough he came by shortly after the twins went down for nap and off I went into the warm day. I had all of this swanky new wool gear but this day called for shorts! That and a long sleeve t-shirt was perfect. I set out for Cherokee park to run a route I had used before. It basically goes into the park, around the loop 1.5 times and then out Cochran Hill to Lexington Ave. Then down to this great two mile paved path call the Beargrass Trail. Then through some classic neighborhoods – Irish Hill, Phoenix Hill, Germantown, and Audubon to make it back to my “upper Highlands” home. Cherokee had apparently been had been quite wet from the rains of the previous day. Tim snapped some pictures of the flooding. Here is one for reference:

There was debris and mud over a good portion of the trail. By the time I got home I was pretty muddy and I looked like I had been on a cyclocross race. I ran out of the house so fast that I forgot my water bottle. Oh well, it was just an hour…

I met up with Tim for a nice Sunday ride. The weather cooled down a little so I trotted out the wool top and covered it with a long sleeve t shirt. I started a little cool but it worked out just right. We made a lazy meander through Bon Air, Seneca Park, St Matthews and then out to Indian Hills towards the river. We were going to just repeat this backwards to get home but went to downtown instead. We fished our way throught to Germantown and Audubon to return home. That area has become a repeating theme for me as it appears to be the best and safest route back to my house. It was a nice day for a ride and the company excellent as always. Then it was back home and back to work (for a little).

I have been in and out of the office over the last few weeks both traveling and vacationing and Monday was my first legit chance for a lunch ride in awhile. It was a bright and sunny day but fairly cold at around 45 or so. It was also quite windy which I couldn’t feel at first but would make itself known soon enough. I took a quick call right before I left and managed to leave my gloves on my desk. My hands didn’t get too cold and it actually felt very visceral to be able to grab the brake hoods and feel the connection to the bike and the road. I took my Utica Pike route which can be altered to 15, 16 or 18 miles. I wanted some flexibility in case I was really feeling the ride. Traffic was light because lots of people must have been on vacation. I knew that the wind was helping me on the way out but it gave it to me on the way back. The first third of the ride after the turnaround was directly into a 3-club wind. It was very tiring and I was glad to clear it.

So, this finished off a three-day spurt when I had not done so in the month of December. It felt really good to be back on the bike and back on track to finish the month with some miles in the book. Then I only had a half day of work left and I was off for the year.

I come to you tonight from the Midway International Airport. Ingesting Heinekens and trying to play a little blog catch up. Personnel changes at the office have left me at least temporarily swamped. Throw in an all day training out of town that came to pass relatively on a whim and it is in the weeds for me.

I did manage to ride three days last week and it felt as if winter had come for sure. I added one major upgrade – a balaclava hat from a friend at work, and one minor change – a bootleg North Face jacket I picked up in Shanghai two February’s ago. I am sure its official…

Monday was a rain-out and a friends birthday as well so it was a no-go.

Tuesday was nice in that at least the sun was shining. I bundled up and headed towards Jeffersonville and the Howard Steamboat museum. I started a little cold and I wasn’t for sure if I had dressed correctly. About three miles in the cold had subsided and it felt pretty good. As I turned away from the river and down Utica pike toward JeffBoat I really felt like I was cranking it. I looked down and confirmed about 22 MPH in the flats. Whew, it felt great! When I turned around at the 8 mile point and began the return I finally figured it out – wind. Going back the same flat return I was bogging down to about 13-14 MPH. It was a little disappointing….but riding in such proximity to the river it is to be expected I’m sure.

Thursday after a trip to Chicago I left work a little uncertain about route but thought it best to head up toward Silver Hills. I intended to lazily head back down to the river front but had a late change of mind and set out for the Highwater Road/Budd lane column but in reverse direction from normal. Tim and I joked about the last section being a white knuckle ride coming back down and going up it was a beast. It brought me to my knees….well at least to my feet to walk my panting self up the last portion of the short, very steep climb. I encountered the dog that gave me chase a few days prior and he was up for it again…this time I was ready and stomped it right past him. It surprised me that by the time I was done I was under the mileage I expected but it was a solid 15 miles.

Friday found me with minimal motivation but I still got out for an easy 12. I had quite a bit on my mind and the break was good. It was 45 minutes well spent. This week looks like it may not have many chances to ride. It will probably be time to break out the rollers and give that a shot. My Dad hooked me up with a super blinky red light to attach to my seat bag. It will nice to be more visible.