Warm, muggy and drizzling.

Well I was hesitant getting started this morning with severe lightning warnings, I can handle rain, sleet, and snow, but getting zapped by a few million volts of lightning riding a bicycle across a ridge just doesn't sound like a good day to me. But after pacing around the house for awhile I headed out late around 11:00. It started drizzling with in an hour. Was to muggy and warm to wear rain gear so I just got wet. I rode about 28 miles on dirt trails and felt bonked. Ate a couple of granola bars and drank a pop and a jug of water. I was up on a hill top and could see that it looked like storms all around me. It was warm and humid. I was thinking I wished I had some way to check the weather radar to help make good travel decisions. The air was still and felt eerie, I decided to turn around. I made up extra mileage to get 65 miles in closer to home.





On the way back I really started dragging, majorly bonking, terribly. Couldn't seem to get much going on the pedals. I saw two bikes behind me in my rear view mirror headed my way, at a faster pace. So that helped me put the pedal down. So I rode for the next 10 miles with seeing them behind me on every straight away. They went off trail at the town of Sageville, and went on the Highway, I stayed on the back trails back to town and saw them again at the stop lights, I pulled up next to them, a young ( 30ish to me) fit looking couple. I told them I was really slacking and saw them coming up behind me, and that helped me get on it. We went our separate ways, knowing we had a common bond.

Hope to have a renewed energy tomorrow, and get back on it. Looks like the weather and thunder storms are going to play the same mind games with me again.

Is this how these things look right before they charge? Looks like it to me.

Made a bucket of chili, So for now I think I'll have a few brews, eat some chili, and contemplate the universe and other things.

Ride far, ride safe.

Dave

Oh here is how I adjusted my shoes, that were too small.

Hmmmmphhhhhh!!!!!

Time to giddie up and go in spite of what the radar shows below. The guys and gals on the Tour Divide are not sitting on couch lamenting about the weather.

We will, we will rock ya

Done something yesterday I haven't done in some time. Had a date with some cast iron weights. Did some weight lifting. Was fun.


But today back to reality, hot out and tired from work but hopped on the "skinny girl" bicycle and headed out on the pavement. Legs did their job.





I realized now that my my company who I work for is going to use my bike mileage for United Way pledges I will have to track all my miles. I purposely only kept track of dirt centuries so I would just relax and ride pavement with no consciousness of miles and enjoy. Usually after work pavement rides are 20 to 30 miles with rolling hills and weaving in and out of traffic. Fun stuff.





Rode along the Mississippi River tonight, river traffic was busy, makes for a scenic ride.





















Went down to Riverfest, "AlmostQueen" was banging out some Queen rockers. I was down in the mosh pit with my honey, rocking to the tunes. 57 years old and just loving the music. Should I stop that? I don't think so.

OK, my hope is this weekend to ride a lot of hot dusty gravel roads, push myself to my limits, drink 30 lbs of fluids and ride 150 miles. Does it get any better than that?

Dave

Trail riding

Rode the gravel roads for 62 miles. The weather was nice, fought some wind on the way out and rode with the wind on the way back.
Saw a turkey bobbling up and down running away from me down the trail, So I wanted to play around with it and picked up my pace, which made the turkey run faster, soon we were both going 20 mph, and that just made the turkey run faster. Did it forget it knew how to fly? We were both flying down the trail now, me chasing the turkey. Then it finally took flight, like an awkward flying beast and disappeared.

I saw this cut trail in the picture below, so I wanted to see where it went so down the trail I went. Hoping I wouldn't get shot at for trespassing. It ended up at a pond, and some fellow cutting trail on a lawn tractor, I waved, he waved and back I went.



















I thought this weeping willow deserved to have it's picture taken.
























This grated bridge made the bike feel like a vibrator. I wanted to ride another 38 miles and make is a 100 miler but didn't have 38 miles of time.

Hoping to hit the road bike the next couple of days, ,pavement sounds fun and fast, we'll see how it goes. To ride tomorrow I will have to hustle, my brother and sisters are coming over to my house at 6:30 p.m. and talk about mama and some problems. Seems often in times of family hardship and someone suffering can bring the other family members together.
























So I'm gonna watch the rest of the CMT awards and chill,
bye y'all
Dave

Charities.

So I get an E-mail from Craig, my boss's boss. He was asking if I would be interested in doing a fund drive for United Way where people at work make pledge$ to give certain amount$ based on my cycling mileage.
I thought, I wouldn't be opposed to such, but I would just do the "easy part" and get to ride 100s and 100s of miles if someone wanted to do the soliciting of funding from others for the rides, I say go for it. I will still ride as much as I can and if it helps others help others, that is a double blessing for having fun.

I should get my DVD copy of the Great Divide this week. Just an awesome ride. How would you like to ride 27 days or so over dirt, gravel, and trail roads across the Rockies from Canada to Mexico totally self supported. I would if I could.

Tomorrow I have a vacation day. Bicycling on gravel roads with the cross bike is the main order for the day. I was thinking of doing a 100 miler but not sure if I have the time, minimum acceptable mileage is 100K. I am so looking forward to riding, I have been unable to get on the bike the last two days, and the weather forecast is looking perfect.

Pictures and ride report tomorrow.
Thanks for visiting.
Dave

A day in paradise Gravel Metric Century #28

Played hard, rode my tail off. I wanted to fry my legs so I made them push the effort for 65 miles of trail. Tomorrow is my turn for meals at ma-pa's so probably won't get on a bike, and wanted to make it a needed rest day. :-) The same guy that passed me yesterday, passed me again today. So again I followed him at a faster pace then I was maintaining, he turned around at the same spot as yesterday, so we waved and on I went.

I think parts of us age differently then other parts. Well I mean the body sooner or later gets old, and parts just don't work like we'd like. But then there are parts of our thoughts that don't age and stay young, the part that loves to play, have fun, act like a child and just enjoy the moment. I think that is the part of me that just wants to keep bicycling.

Was a beautiful green day out there. I was running into swarms of bugs, I was a slow learner but I finally learned to keep my mouth shut after I forgot a few times, and avoid the free lunch.



























Here is the view from the chair my mom sits in. She is chair bound for the most part, this gives her good memories with all the pictures of everyone. That coffee table in front is one I made ma and pa in High School shop class in 1970.





















Last but not least I want to thank my pit crew. Here is little Kayla, she is chief of my neighborhood pit crew. After every ride she and the crew break the bike down, replace needed parts, overhaul, and lube. With out them I would not be able to take 2nd place like I do when I have a "secret race" with another unsuspecting rider. Thank you Crew.

Just kidding Natasha (the mother) :-)


























Don't forget to take time and play. Lee Iococca said he retired many and not one had said at that time that they wished they had worked more often.

That's all I know for now,
Dave

Rain, mud, and Cone head Aliens.

WoW, just a great day on the bike. I knew I was headed for rain, so I figured let it rain. Was warm and humid, then the rain broke lose. I got sopped to the bone, I could not have gotten any wetter if I had jumped in the swimming pool.

I was working the pedals about 80% thinking I needed a good work out, and then it happened. I got passed by another bicyclist out in the middle of nothing. So I had to up my heart rate to 95% and hung on his tail trying to see how long I could hold this pace. I've seen him out here before always going in the opposite direction, even in the winter, I knew he was a seasoned veteran I was going about 20 mph in the mud and he was slowly slipping away from me. I found myself thinking I wish I was lighter, faster, younger and in better shape, but realized wishing isn't going to change a thing. After 10 miles of this pace he started slowing down, I thought huh!!!! I win, then he stopped. So I pulled up next to him and he said this is my turn around point, have a good ride and off he went. I had a good work out today, I needed that.





Putting on a rain cap and rain jacket, it seems no matter what type of rain jacket I buy, it doesn't take long to soak through.

Raining cats and dogs and birds and bees here.

Mud all over my bike, drive train, me etcetera, no wonder my drive train started making this clicking sound. I really got to get down to some serious maintenance on my horses soon.

Now what I am about to share please keep a secret. OK? Remember me mentioning Aliens out here? Well today, I stepped off the road to take care of some "personal business" if you know what I mean. When I went back to get on my bike, I caught him. Yes one of those cone head Aliens was messing with my bike, and fortunately I was able to get this picture before he fled into the woods.

Just kidding, that was just a hoax, and real as it seems, it was just me. I figured I better come clean, I can see my daughter rolling her eyes and her thinking I better call the boys and talk about committing dad.

:-)

All said and done did me another metric very dirty century, did my parentsitting and now chill'n.

Hope you had some time to play today.

Dave

Be back later

Up and at em. Had my mamawatch yesterday we both fell asleep in our chairs. Waiting on lab work for my dad to determine the ferociousness of his bladder cancer that was removed yesterday.

One thing I did while sitting with mom was read my camera's manual, I learned a lot just never took the time to dig into what it can do. Maybe I will get a good picture today of some alien space craft or something.

I am headed out country style to get some miles in before my parentsitting duties today. Looks like thunder storms are going to be after me. Oh well it is part of bicycling sometimes and enduring. I need a ride more then I need staying dry. I was so zapped yesterday, thinking the antibiotics are kick'n my arse for the jaw infection. This all stems from a motorcycle whack I took in 1969 or 70 can't even remember for sure. But this will take care of any problem bone and my jaw will grow back good bone, so this will do it once and for all . Last January, right before the Triple D winter bike race was when this happened prior, and really sunk my energy levels, the whole ride was like a death march. I guess it didn't make it any easier that the race started out below zero F. and you had to push your bike 75% of the way through deep snow. OH well that is 4 season biking in Iowa.

Today is my grandson, Cole's birthday, happpppy birthday young man. Love you.


I shall return with pictures and me.
Dave

Life is good

Oh Jeeepers Creeeepers. Was scheduled to have a tooth post put in yesterday at the dentist's office. Well things didn't go as well as hoped for. An x-ray indicated an infection in the lower jaw unbeknown to me by any symptoms. So had to have that area opened up and infection removed. OUCH!! Now I am on a two different high powered antibiotics. To add insult to injury, I am under direct orders, no beer, no alcohol period. Seems that taking Metronidazole and mixing alcohol produces toxins. OK I am done whining about me.

On a better note had my yearly physical today, and everything is fit as a fiddle. My doc said "see you in year"

Tomorrow my dad has cancer surgery, and I will sit with mama. Poor mama I am planning on getting my guitar out after several years of no play and trying to pick up where I left off.
I will bring mama ear plugs. :-)

This Saturday and Sunday I have the afternoon watch with mom. You see she is pretty much chair bound, dad was the major care giver, supplemented with the four of us in town siblings. Now dad having surgery makes it our duty, us siblings to fill the needs.

So that leaves the mornings open this weekend for bicycling riding. My plans are to get out and pound gravel in the mornings, need to start early and shoot for a century each day.

I have this blogger map, that marks recent hits from other readers to this blogs. Each point represents one or more visiter. You should see a marker in your area if you visited here with in the last couple of weeks. Neat how we bloggers learn, and gain from one another. I sure do from you. Birds of a feather flock'n together. :-)

























Oh and here is a map over in the land of England. Mr KungFooSausage stops by and visits. Check out his blog it's all about "a man, and bike, and a life" Oh if you do visit here and never post something please do, that way I can read your blog too.

















Thank you for visiting.
Dave

Batting averages.

The whole fam damily Starting on top left to right
Mark, Albert, yours truly
Amy, papa, mama, and Dawn

Getting chores done 1000

Shopping 1000

Restring guitar 1000

Bicycling 0

Yeap, my legs were empty anyways. I knew it was coming, I didn't expect to get on the bike yesterday, but the energy felt right and hill climbing produced the challenges. So with all the heat and all the riding my legs just ran out of gas.

Now here lies the biking problem for the next two days. Tomorrow I am getting one of those post put in my lower jaw a minor procedure but I am off work and sorta of like a sick day, and can not be out riding a bicycling even if I did feel good enough. Would not be right. That holds true for Thursday also.

Friday doesn't matter regarding bicycling, dad is having bladder cancer removed, I'll stay at home with mom until whenever. So we will just sit and talk and such, and see what the needs are.

Take care,

and thanks for stopping

Dave