Monday, June 28, 2010

Evening Miles

I have not really put in the miles this year and I kind of miss evening rides. Last night I took off down the only trail that is above water with no plan at all. As I was riding I thought about beers in Adel then as I got to adel I thought keep going to Redfield so I got a 6 pack in Redfield and ended up riding all the way back to Adel before having a couple in the little shelter right outside town. It was a nice night even with the mosquitoes and heat got in 62 miles on a work night is not too bad. Now I'm getting ready for a campout on my "weekend" tomorrow and Wednesday.

Friday, June 25, 2010

Gravel trail



Flat trail out of Lincoln

Location : Address not available

Nebraska Highway

the highways here have 12' shoulders on them. Its different turning on an on ramp with your bike.

Roca Nebraska



Small town outside of Lincoln we rolled through on a 60 miler.  The town boast the only rolling hills in the area.  The knife kicked me to thwe hurt locker

Location : 2200 St Mary's Ave, Lincoln, NE 68502,

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Century #4 Heat.

Yesterday I did a bike trail century on the cross bike. It was very hot and I always underestimate how much the heat cost you in energy. However I did a good job of hydrating most of the day. I should have skipped the 2 beers I had in Panora but a good day overall.

Monday, June 21, 2010

My day of Trans-Wisconsin




Started out the day before with a drive up and an overnight camp out in a city park.

Had Breakfast the morning of the event at Gangsters the gangster breakfast was eggs, bacon, sausage, hashbrowns, and toast. This turned out to be a bad decision had stomach cramps the first hour or so of riding. I always have to remind myself that no matter how fast I may ride I do have trouble keeping up with more experienced riders. The roads were mostly paved until after Cassville. We stopped in Cassville for lunch and to wait out the heavy parts of the rain. I didn't get many Pictures on the ride due to the fact that is rained most of the day after Cassville. We hit the gravel at 46 miles in and the gravel roads in Wisconsin are not like Iowa. One lane wide and through valleys of beautiful scenery and rain forest conditions. The rain was pouring and steam came out of the streams that crossed over top the road instead of under it. It really felt like some wide single track. We hit a couple (like 10 or so) long steep (6-9% grade) climbs that found me in my 32x34 gear combo and doing 4 mph. There were also some descents that found me at 40mph. Everything was going okay until around 75 miles I missed a turn took an extra very steep climb and by the time I got turned around I was an hour (or more) behind Steve and Dennis. Granted I couldn't keep up with them anyway but I had to decide what to do at this point I got a signal on my phone and decided to head for Eastman in hopes of a campsite and dinner. I found dinner but no campsite so I re-evaluated my plans since I had been having chills for over an hour at this point and it was 90 degrees outside and I had goose bumps and my knee was hurting pretty bad. I decided at this point I couldn't continue another day (94 miles) So I headed for Prairie Du Chien (12 miles south). I found a motel about 7 miles out of town where I crashed for the night (117 miles). I realized at that point I was coming down with something also, but I was glad to have shelter for the night.



Illinois Border


The Start






Spoke Change





About 94 miles in when I decided I was done

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Day 2



Stayed in a small motel last night and i feel a little worse than last night the 7 mile ride back to Praire du chin (or something like that) was hard even downhill all the way on pavement my legs are shot and lungs are full of crud and my head is still swimming.  Im glad I pulled out yesterday because today would have been murder.  Now im hanging out at the town festival for a couple hours waiting for me bail out ride.

Location : 1801-1999 E Wells St, Prairie du Chien, WI 53821,

Friday, June 18, 2010

Trans-Wisconsin = Fail



All the details to come later,  another day another failure..

Location : Upper Bridgeport Rd, Prairie du Chien, WI 53821,
And for my next failure Trans-Wisconsin.

First night camp



Not the best night is a tent didnt get more than 5 hours of sleep the storms went all night  My tent did hold out and i stayed dry.

Location : Millville, IA,

Cassville


42 miles in some good views and wonderful climbs now eating in a small cafe.  Ouch is all im saying.  PS  bad tire choice!

Location : Millville, IA,

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Pre-Race

I always get that pre race nerves thing but this year it is a lot better. The last race at summerset I didn't feel it at all I just went for it. Tonight I'm thinking about tomorrow possibly the biggest adventure I've ever gone on. Then I get home from work and Bob is still awake and worried about Daddy being gone for a week and I realize that I'm still on my Biggest adventure being Dad to 3 kids. However back to this weeks cycling adventure... I'm packed ready and ready to go! Screw this state I'm out of here! So look here on the blog for a daily update from TWMTB and I'll try for a daily update so today :
scale of 1-10
Legs 10
Core 10
Overall 10
0 down 620 to go

Last post from Iowa.

Message for daddy . :)

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Monday, June 14, 2010

2 days till Tran-Wisconsin


I will be updating my blog daily from the "road" unless there is no phone service or I fall in a hole somewhere.  Since both of those things usually happen to me in any given week check out all the rolling fun.  0 down 620 to go :)

Location : 415 SW 60th St, Des Moines, IA 50312,

Night Shift.




The Pre-Hyvee tri ride took a different course this year after hanging out at Star-Bar till about midnight the 4 of us that didn't drive headed out to West des moines to meet everyone else for an All-night ride. Last year it was a gravel grinder but with impending Thunder-storms we decided that a black label/tunnel ride was in order. The ride had 4 tunnel stops and a breakfast stop a Mcdonalds. Mcdonalds refused to serve us because we were on bikes but we ask drive up customers to buy our food for us. I guess mcdonalds is too good for bikes thats okay though their food is bad for you. We hit the hill on grand around 5:30 am and waited for the start. At that point I couldn't even stomach a beer and was feeling a little tired but I hung out until about 7:30 then with the rain just starting and me falling a sleep sitting on the shoulder I decided to ride home. I have to say that was the coolest party ride I've been on (except Ragbrai) and I did manage to not drink too much.

Friday, June 11, 2010

Austyn's first race


Tomorrow is Austyns first race!  She is doing the Hy-vee tri tomorrow and I am even a little nervous for her.  I am a proud dad she could only have one adult help her in the transition area and she wanted me :)  good luck Austyn.

Location : 700-798 Locust St, West Des Moines, IA 50265,

Monday, June 7, 2010

Ride with Daddy :)

Took the kids for a park tour tonight.

Waited out the rain under the bridge
Drainage is the coolest thing
Still Racing

Rainbow after the rain

More racing


Can we take the gravel road?
Cross mount
This way Abbie
Get out of the way Patrick!

Junk food from Caseys at the park