Hard way around the lake

Got in a great ride tuesday with my cousin Jeff. Didn't bring my bike up but Joel hasn't been riding much so I borrowed his bike and put on about 30 miles. Hard to say exactly what the numbers were on the ride because the computer on Joel's bike was all in german and in kilometers per hour. Headed out north on M-22 with the intention of riding Sutter Rd. hill and Warren Rd. Unfortunately the way to Warren was closed so we were forced to figure out an alternate route. Ended up taking Deadstream rd to Marshall hill which proved equally as challenging as Warren. From there we made our way back down into Beulah and out by way of Benzie Blvd. On a tri-bike it was probably the most difficult it has ever been. The only other exciting thing in the ride was the ride back on south shore. it is a three mile stretch into the wind. I decided as soon as we hit the road that I was going to leave it all on the pavement. Hammered down and quickly lost Jeff who was already struggling because of the intense hills. Since my computer wasn't working properly I decided to time myself. 3 miles in just over 6 minutes. About half way through the stretch I noticed a shadow creeping up behind me. Thought to myself that Jeff found a second wind and caught my wheel so I put the hammer down and continued to pull. By the end of the sprint I finally had a chance to look back only find a new rider trailing me. He thanked me for the pull and continued on his way. It was altogether a great ride and I can't wait for the next one. afterall...I'm only going to the top of the hill.

Whoops

Damn, it has been a while since I've updated this thing. Lets see... bonked out on the tour de benzie at mile eighty due to hip problems, struggled through July riding very little but running more. Yesterday started the first day of my new goal: ride or run every single day. Got 22 miles on the Musketawa trail and finally felt good on two wheels. Took a while to break my legs in but when I did I felt like I could fly. Tried out riding with an iPod and now I don't know why I haven't tried it before. Need to invest in a more secure pair of headphones but otherwise it was amazing. Yesterday was the hottest day of the year thus far so I waited as long as I could to get out and ended up on the trail at about 8pm. Struggled to maintain a steady pace through the first 12 or 13 miles but on the return trip I exceeded speeds of 23mph consistently. Today is supposed to be another scorcher so I'll hold off running for as long as possible. When the spirits are low, when the day appears dark, when work becomes monotonous, when hope hardly seems worth having, just mount a bicycle and go out for a spin down the road, without thought on anything but the ride you are taking - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. I'm only goin to the top of the hill...

Father's Day Weekend

Got out last weekend for a couple of really nice ride totaling about 50 miles. The first was with Chea on our old friend the Musketawa trail. Went out past Ravenna making for an even 30 miles. Nice pace of about 17.5mph with all of the road crossings. It was the first time either of us had ridden the trail this year and on the new Allez's. Second ride happened on Father's day in frankfort. Woke up early sunday morning and drove up to Frankfort to get in a morning ride with Dad and Jim. Tried to get Joel to ride with us but he was feeling tired and lazy and opted out. Being that it was father's day we didn't give him too much grief. The ride we did took us out M-22 to Grace road and down around Upper Herring lake. We decided to take the south side of Straton hill back into town and wow is that a big hill. Kept a slow up steady pace up the mile long climb and suffered for it. That constant pain in my legs let me know that I was keeping a good pace but it didn't stop hurting until I was on the decent cruising at a wicked 45mph. It was a great ride and it sure was nice to get out on those frankfort roads. Numbers for the ride were 16.6mph average over 22miles. !623 miles to the top of the hill.

Sunday ride

Dad came up yesterday to ride some Grand Rapids roads. Took him out on a great new loop that follows the grand around parts of kent and ottawa counties. We hit the road at about 1:30 - the hottest part of the day. Not much wind but there was a nice cool breeze that kept things from overheating. Got out to a fast start as the first leg of the loop is a very slow downslope to the Grand River. After crossing Lake Michigan Dr. the route is quite the opposite. Almost entirely uphill but at a very minor grade. The first time I rode this loop I must have been going much slower because I didn't remember it hurting so much. Kept pushing in spite of the numbness in my feet and butt and entered into an awesome burn in my quads and hams. After while the pain went away and all I felt was numb. We finished out the ride with one final climb up Maynard st. We both struggled up that hill and took it easy the remainder of the ride. By the numbers we had 27 miles in 1hour 40 minutes. Average speed was a lousy 16.7 but those considering the workout I got from the ride I am reasonably happy with my performance. Still...I'm only going to the top of the hill. (1673)

Bad legs

Jim came up earlier this week to hang out in G.R. and do a little bit of riding on tuesday. I had hoped to get out and do a big ride and really put down some miles but I was in terrible form and I am really disappointed in my performance. Only managed 18 miles and did it at a worthless pace. I've been afraid to get back on the saddle because that ride just hurt so badly. So instead I've been running which has gotten easier and easier. Still just doing a mile and a half at a time but my speed and endurance are improving. Tomorrow I'm going to get back on the bike so hopefully my legs are ready for it even though I'm only going to the top of the hill. (1700)

3 Great Rides

Got in three great rides this past week and weekend. First one was in Frankfort. Jim, Jeff and I made it around Crystal Lake at a decent pace in spite of the wind and the allergies. Couldn't find my cycle computer so the exact stats will remain a mystery but my guess is that they weren't very good. Did manage to climb the south side of Warren Road but my throat and lungs were so full of mold and dust that I could hardly breathe when we hit the top. Second ride happened Memorial Day with Dad in K'zoo. Got out on a great ride that I haven't been on since I first started riding. Rode west instead of east and found some great hills. All in all we did about 24 miles with a 17mph average. Not great but not bad considering the hills we climbed. Third and final ride happened earlier today. Great day for a ride but man was it hot. Rode the standard comstock ride consisting of some great rolling hills and some awesome graded flats that make you work for every increase in speed. Stats for the ride were 17.5 miles at a 17.5mph pace. Maxed out at 40.8mph going down 28th St. hill which was a rush. That is the first time I've felt scared to be going fast on a bike. I guess I'll be going to the top of the hill. (1718 to the top of the hill)

Following the Grand

Got out for a ride on this beautiful friday afternoon on a brand new route in Grand Rapids. Sunny and warm with an average temp. of 70 and a wind out of the west at 14mph. Started out at the ridge and headed down the trail to O'Brien and then headed WEST instead of east on O'Brien. Crossed the foreboding Wilson ave. and headed into uncharted territory. Followed Fennessy Rd. west which eventually became Luce St. Great rolling flats that didn't seem to end. Luce became Linden and started to turn north eventually running into Lake Michigan Drive. Pushed really hard from Wilson to Lk. Michigan Dr. and really felt good. Kept well over an 18mph average. Once across the big road I continued down Linden Dr. until I got to Leonard. Headed back east on Leonard and encountered some nice rolling hills that took me out of the river valley. Headed back south when I hit 8th St and continued down Kenowa until it ended at Wilson ave. From there it was smooth sailing home on old familiar roads. Butterworth to Maynard and back home. (see it here)
All together it was almost exactly 26 miles in 1hr 31min. Average was 17.0mph and there must have been a computer glitch because it clocked my max at 72mph. I was very glad to have some fresh batteries in the computer because that would have been a very long ride without it. Funny how much I've come to rely on that little piece of technology. 1784 to the top of the hill.