It was about ten degrees warmer today than yesterday. My riding buddy Bruce and I were ready to go out at about 2 PM this afternoon, but work kept us busy until around 4:30. The wind had picked up a little since earlier in the day, but it was a warm breeze tonight. I went out in shorts and long sleeves this evening.
We had considered a number of other rides, but the Goodhue Lake Loop is just such a nice ride, I decided to do it again tonight. I wasn't sure I had the legs to do it two days in a row, but I thought it would be a good challenge. The adrenalin from the warm sunny day saw me through.
The warm weather is supposed to last through the weekend, so I am going to try and get a long ride in. Ingrid returns from Japan tomorrow night. I am anxious to hear all the details of her trip. Erik has a nature fair that he is taking some of the Tanglewood Nature Center animals to. It almost sounds like they are going to go on rides and eat cotton candy... Cindy has been working in the garden and will take advantage of the warm weather to do some more, I'm sure. It should be a very pleasant weekend.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Another Installment of Endorphin-Soaked Bike Rides
Hearing about the weather in SLC, I wanted to be sure to get out in today's somewhat balmier weather in NY. It was 62 degrees F when I started, but riding up through the canyons in the area, with the sun going down, it quickly cooled to 55. I went alone tonight, since most people went at lunchtime or had other commitments. It was 33 miles, with a 1086 ft vertical. The major climb is a long slow ascent through a winding bucolic canyon. It felt like there was a headwind the whole time. It took me 1:55 minutes; not too bad for early in the season for me. I like to ride in this area, because there is not a lot of traffic. I think 5 cars passed me the whole time I was out.
I have begun to notice that I am much more inclined to post on my blog when I have ridden. I wonder if there is a correlation between the endorphins and posting...
Monday, April 13, 2009
Climbing Made the Cold Bearable, Barely
Tonight after work I went out for another ride, this time with my friend Robert, who has been on previous blogs. It was a little chillier this evening. The thermometer on my car was saying the outside temperature was between 52 and 54 degrees F at about 5:45 PM, when we were getting started. I looked at the thermometer on my bike about 1/2-way through the ride and it said 47 degrees. It was the most difficult on the descents. It is a nice hilly route, so the climbing helped me warm up. But, 47 degrees is a little too cold. Later this week it is supposed to be in the 60's, so I will head out again then.
My cyclometer isn't working yet this season, so I don't have any numbers. I think I may have some corrosion from over the winter. I will try to clean up the contacts and see if that fixes it.
My cyclometer isn't working yet this season, so I don't have any numbers. I think I may have some corrosion from over the winter. I will try to clean up the contacts and see if that fixes it.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Another Beatiful Day, Another Awesome Ride II
Yes, another beautiful day and another awesome ride. There were four of us this time and the temperature was in the mid 60's. We added another extension, so that we could savor the great weather even more. I had emerged from work with long sleeves, a jacket, and tights on my legs, but it was so warm that I removed my tights and jacket and really enjoyed the warmth of the sun. Mid-ride we were in the shadows of a crest, but the enthusiasm of the beginning of the season kept me warm enough.
A few of us intersperse sprint points throughout the ride: whenever we come to a town line or city limits sign, there will be a sprint to see who can reach it first. Tonight I took the first sprint, coming from behind and passing the other rider before the sign. On the return, the same person I passed leaped out again. I tried to catch his slipstream, but just didn't have the strength to reel him in. However, on the final climb up to work, I led the way up the hill, feeling strong enough to get out of the saddle for a good portion of the climb. (Nothing like what Bill has on store for himself, but a little strenuous nonetheless).
After the ride I went for pizza and beer with the other sprinter. For me two slices - anchovies on one and fresh tomatoes on the other, and a Sierra Nevada Porter to wash it down. Nice way to end another awesome ride. Tomorrow is supposed to be rainy and mid 50's. I won't be looking for an awesome ride then...
A few of us intersperse sprint points throughout the ride: whenever we come to a town line or city limits sign, there will be a sprint to see who can reach it first. Tonight I took the first sprint, coming from behind and passing the other rider before the sign. On the return, the same person I passed leaped out again. I tried to catch his slipstream, but just didn't have the strength to reel him in. However, on the final climb up to work, I led the way up the hill, feeling strong enough to get out of the saddle for a good portion of the climb. (Nothing like what Bill has on store for himself, but a little strenuous nonetheless).
After the ride I went for pizza and beer with the other sprinter. For me two slices - anchovies on one and fresh tomatoes on the other, and a Sierra Nevada Porter to wash it down. Nice way to end another awesome ride. Tomorrow is supposed to be rainy and mid 50's. I won't be looking for an awesome ride then...
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Another Beatiful Day, Another Awesome Ride
Another beautiful day; another awesome bike ride. It was in the high 50's here today. My friend Eric and I went out after work and did the same flat ride (with a small extension of climbing) that we did last Friday. I managed to negotiate the railroad tracks without incident this time.
Eric and I have been riding, running, and swimming together for almost ten years. There was a short hiatus when he spent two years in Taiwan. Eric was one of the people responsible for getting me into triathlons.
When I first arrived at Corning, I was looking for a group to run with. I started running with the group including Eric and others. They were also triathlon training, so they were swimming and biking as well. They said, "Hey Karl, you should come swimming with us." or " Hey Karl, you should come biking with us. I have a bike you can borrow." Growing up near the ocean, I cannot remember not being able to swim, so I thought, "Sure, I am a strong swimmer. I'll be there." I was unpleasantly surprised to learn that swimming laps in a pool is much different from negotiating waves in the ocean.
It was early Spring that first year I was training with the group, when they were planning to go up to Albany for a sprint triathlon. I wasn't ready to commit to competing, because I lacked confidence. However, one by one, each of the training partners backed out, due to injuries, other commitments, ..., until Eric was the only one left. He was lamenting to me about having to go up to Albany all by himself or back out. I decided that I would go and compete in the masters class (usually, more competitive than the open class, but what the heck; It was in Albany, nobody would know me there!).
It was a great trip; the bike leg of that trip is really what got me hooked on biking. I had been training on a older heavy steel bike (compliments of Eric), but for the race a friend had loaned me a real road bike. I came out of the water and started the bike leg, which began with a small climb out of the lake's basin, when it felt like the bike was shooting out from under me. It was a tremendous feeling. Later in the race, when I was cooking along, I saw a group of riders up ahead of me passing each other in something that looked like drafting (not allowed in triathlons). I blew by them and none of them could stay in contact. Another thing that made me want to get a bike like that. A few months later, while visiting Bill and Carolyn, I visited Mike's shop, at the time thinking I would just get advice on what to look for in buying a bike, when I ended up shipping a beautiful aluminum Specialized Allez back home. I have been loving it (the bike and biking itself) ever since.
Eric and I have been riding, running, and swimming together for almost ten years. There was a short hiatus when he spent two years in Taiwan. Eric was one of the people responsible for getting me into triathlons.
When I first arrived at Corning, I was looking for a group to run with. I started running with the group including Eric and others. They were also triathlon training, so they were swimming and biking as well. They said, "Hey Karl, you should come swimming with us." or " Hey Karl, you should come biking with us. I have a bike you can borrow." Growing up near the ocean, I cannot remember not being able to swim, so I thought, "Sure, I am a strong swimmer. I'll be there." I was unpleasantly surprised to learn that swimming laps in a pool is much different from negotiating waves in the ocean.
It was early Spring that first year I was training with the group, when they were planning to go up to Albany for a sprint triathlon. I wasn't ready to commit to competing, because I lacked confidence. However, one by one, each of the training partners backed out, due to injuries, other commitments, ..., until Eric was the only one left. He was lamenting to me about having to go up to Albany all by himself or back out. I decided that I would go and compete in the masters class (usually, more competitive than the open class, but what the heck; It was in Albany, nobody would know me there!).
It was a great trip; the bike leg of that trip is really what got me hooked on biking. I had been training on a older heavy steel bike (compliments of Eric), but for the race a friend had loaned me a real road bike. I came out of the water and started the bike leg, which began with a small climb out of the lake's basin, when it felt like the bike was shooting out from under me. It was a tremendous feeling. Later in the race, when I was cooking along, I saw a group of riders up ahead of me passing each other in something that looked like drafting (not allowed in triathlons). I blew by them and none of them could stay in contact. Another thing that made me want to get a bike like that. A few months later, while visiting Bill and Carolyn, I visited Mike's shop, at the time thinking I would just get advice on what to look for in buying a bike, when I ended up shipping a beautiful aluminum Specialized Allez back home. I have been loving it (the bike and biking itself) ever since.
Friday, March 27, 2009
First Ride: Blood on the Tracks
It was 61 degrees F today. My friend Eric and I went out near the end of the day on one of our training rides from work. It is a flat ~16 mile ride that we usually take out and back. It is on a back road with not too much traffic. It has rained a few times this Spring, so most of the roads are clear, except for the shoulders. It rained yesterday, but the heavy fog we got this morning is a sure indication that it will be a clear sunny day.
This was our first time riding outside this year. It felt great to be cruising down the road with my good friend. We were catching up on things and chatting away when we came to a railroad crossing. The road rises up to the rail bed, then drops back down on the other side. The tracks are at an angle, so it is always prudent to be careful crossing over them. I was under the impression, with the warm sunny day, that it wasn't going to be a problem, but there was a thin film of mud on the train tracks that caused my front wheel to slide out along the steel rail. It happened so quickly that I didn't really have a chance to tighten up or prepare for the impact, so I just kind fell on my hip, rolled over my shoulder, then flipped over and slid about 15 feet or so. I think I was going about 15-18 MPH, full of enthusiasm for being out riding. I cracked my helmet and tore a small hole in my jacket, and, other than a couple of road rashes, was otherwise unscathed. After a few minutes, to make sure everything was okay, we got back on our bikes and finished the rest of the ride.
I didn't feel anything until the end of the ride when the salt from a little sweat made the raspberries on my hip and shoulder sting a little. I should have paid a little more attention to the tracks; I did on the return. It could have been worse, I suppose. I am not phased by it, and can't wait to get out riding again. I'll go shopping for a new helmet tomorrow.
This was our first time riding outside this year. It felt great to be cruising down the road with my good friend. We were catching up on things and chatting away when we came to a railroad crossing. The road rises up to the rail bed, then drops back down on the other side. The tracks are at an angle, so it is always prudent to be careful crossing over them. I was under the impression, with the warm sunny day, that it wasn't going to be a problem, but there was a thin film of mud on the train tracks that caused my front wheel to slide out along the steel rail. It happened so quickly that I didn't really have a chance to tighten up or prepare for the impact, so I just kind fell on my hip, rolled over my shoulder, then flipped over and slid about 15 feet or so. I think I was going about 15-18 MPH, full of enthusiasm for being out riding. I cracked my helmet and tore a small hole in my jacket, and, other than a couple of road rashes, was otherwise unscathed. After a few minutes, to make sure everything was okay, we got back on our bikes and finished the rest of the ride.
I didn't feel anything until the end of the ride when the salt from a little sweat made the raspberries on my hip and shoulder sting a little. I should have paid a little more attention to the tracks; I did on the return. It could have been worse, I suppose. I am not phased by it, and can't wait to get out riding again. I'll go shopping for a new helmet tomorrow.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Coming from the Chapel of Love
It has been quite a while since I last posted. I have been enjoying everyone's posts, so I thought I should muster up something for everyone. Recently, my Uncle Mark sent me some old pictures and I am posting one that I cannot remember seeing previously. It is my mother and father emerging from their wedding chapel with the bridesmaid Kathy (my mother's best friend) and best-man, my Uncle Robert (he is obscured a little, so it is hard to tell it's him, but I know it is).
It was September 1959 in New Jersey. They both look happy.
Like my father, my best man was my younger brother. Cindy's "person of honor" was her father. I just finished looking through a pile of photographs from our wedding; Cindy and I are not what one thinks of as photogenic. However, here is a photo from the ring portion of the ceremony. It was December 1989 in New York. We are both smiling at the trouble I was having sliding the ring onto her finger.
Interestingly, we were married about 30 years after my parents. This year will be our 20th anniversary! Time flies when you are having fun.
It was September 1959 in New Jersey. They both look happy.
Like my father, my best man was my younger brother. Cindy's "person of honor" was her father. I just finished looking through a pile of photographs from our wedding; Cindy and I are not what one thinks of as photogenic. However, here is a photo from the ring portion of the ceremony. It was December 1989 in New York. We are both smiling at the trouble I was having sliding the ring onto her finger.
Interestingly, we were married about 30 years after my parents. This year will be our 20th anniversary! Time flies when you are having fun.
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