Break Time (back at the salt mines

on the way home from the first day back.

Tires

like a flat at 10:30 isn't bad enough when your inflator explodes in your face its worse. Thankfully I had 2 of them

Ragbrai 2009

I can't remember everything from ragbrai (beverage issue) but here it goes.  I got dropped off in Greenfield on tuesday morning and headed out at about 7:15 for Orient.  I have never seen so many people on bikes at one time.  There wasn't a lot in Orient so I rode on to Macksburg this was a good spot for the first beer of the day (9:30 am)  After eating a sandwich and watching the pan throwing (seriously) contest I rode off and hit Peru next.  I did get sucked into a double pace line on the way into town (25mph on 38x15 not so good)  I got 3 beers in the beer garden and had a hamburger (and for 5 dollars it should have been crab meat)  I was thinking I should get moving before too many beers or I wouldn't make the next 60 miles.  I saw Nick and Brian on my way out of town but they were headed to the beer garden.  The next couple of towns St Charles and St Marys I only had 1 beer in each.  I saw Heather Davis in St Marys and got the invite to the Bad Monkey party.  I met up with Mike Dunker in Martensdale and we rode down the trail to cummings tap I wish I could have stayed longer for the party but I needed to make good time if I was going to finish the day.  I rode out of cumming (without my helmet) with Eve Shonts and Patty to head for the party in indianola it was a good party.  Set up camp at one of  Eve's friend houses in indianola had "some" beers and burgers at there house and this set up for the crazy morning the next day.

Second day I got start very late (10 ish) then found the tire that was falling apart (thankfully next to the repair stand) I decided a new helmet was a good idea and got a cheap touring tire (all they had) and a crummy helmet (same).  Stop a Farm Boys for burritos and stayed there for quite a while.  When we got to Milo it was time for beer (noon)  so we hung out with a couple of "teams" on the lawn next to Caseys.  We rode on to Lacona and stop there until the state patrol closed down the beer sales.  (I stopped drinking after Milo some cash shortage)  Stopped on the road to watch the swimming in the dirty pond.  Got into Chariton around 6pm and had the best meal I had on ragbrai the lasagna dinner was excellent!  Set up camp in an empty lot behind an abandoned building and got a 18 pack for the four of us.  Bad night with the thunderstorm rolling through around 4:30 am.

Day 3 was uneventful I rode straight home through Indianola and the summer set trail to Carlile/Avon then back to downtown.  I did get home before noon though.  Good times.  Next year a few things:  Gears (fixie was fun but not for more than a couple of days), More than a trunk bag for self contained, More cash, BYOB, better planning.

Not Ragbrai yet

Pictures from Friday

Cool gravel bridge outside cumming

Pictures while riding

Deer.

Century 9 (My First Gravel Century)

Friday I successfully completed my first gravel century.  I set out early so I could meet my dad at Bait shop at 5.  So I rode out on my Bianchi Cross bike.  I choose the southern roads and hills since the wind was bad friday (good choice).  I used a 38x17 fixed gear ratio this was a lot better than the last time on the cross at 38x15.  I was able to make it over every hill without walking and the downhills spinout at 21 mph or so.  I still was able to average 13 mph for the day though.  So I need to learn some better routes.  I rode the booneville route then past badger creek state park and ended up in Bevington continued south (there is a cool hill just south of Bevington turns and then false summit and is worse than grand ave)  After this my route went all over the place and I finally found Martensdale (next time a compass is in order) rode to cummings tap and had a beer (by a beer I mean a pitcher).  Then to finish out the 30 some mile I had left I did some loops around cummings (found a good 5 mile loop) then headed for downtown.  

Never..

I will never say this again but I ordered too much beer. I will still finish it but ouch..

Gravel time.

Altoona.

I finished the race in the lead group.  11th out of 19 (I think) and I could almost breathe at the end (not very well)  I kept the pace down and only took the lead in one lap the second from the last.  Averaged 180 heart rate and maxed out at 198 a lot better than Green days.  I did learn a few thing from this race too.  Good times.  

Vacation.

I started my vacation today.  Not riding today so I can do the Altoona crit tonight going for finishing ahead of someone.  Of course the goal is always to finish ahead of second place,  aim for the moon..  12 laps at 1.2 miles per lap (ouch) so if I'm still breathing after that my next post will be from my cell phone on how great the race was.  Tomorrow I'll be setting out for a gravel century before the ragrai party 100 miles of fixie gravel goodness.  

Single Speed Race

Took the kids out for a ride last night to holiday park.  My oldest (Austyn 6) who is very competitive turns the ride into a race with the youngest (Abbie 4).  They are going down the bike trail as fast as 16" single speed go (10 mph) and their poor little brother (Patrick 3) is trying his hardest to keep up with them on his 12" bike that spins out at 5 mph.  I never realized how much kids watch you but I saw him stand on the bike to pick up speed and lean forward and put his chest on the handle bars while he is going down a hill.  They also for some reason know to ride single file down the bike trail (except when racing)

Bike trails are Dangerous

of all things I skidded out on a paint stripe at around 20mph. ouch!

leg medicine.

Wrong turn?

I must have made a wrong turn on the way home. This isn't my house. oh well. ;)

Farmers market Train

this looks like more fun than it is

can I play in the fire?

okay I'll just poke it.

Tunnel ride

one down several to go

Monday night World Championship

Went out for the usual monday ride but we mixed it up a little bit using the TNWC route.  This is an all highway route out morning star drive to slater and back through polk city.  It was nice to get off the Dangerous bike trails and onto roads.  Held up a good pace averaged about 18 mph for the night.  Then some good food and beers a rock bottom Anna surprised me at rock bottom and had a couple of  beers with us.

Goose Island Imperial IPA

good but not 7.50 good

this little piggy...

Bad monkey

Rain Weenies..

you missed a good show