Against the Wind

I think that "Against the Wind" should be every cyclist's theme song, because there's not a ride out there when a cyclist won't tell you about, or complain about, the headwinds. It's a given. I had a couple of rides this week that have had notable headwinds, but that's not what this post is really about. Those rides sparked a memory.

Years ago, late-August of 1992 to be exact, I took a ride with Dave Pickett that will live forever in my memory. The entire ride was 300 miles over three days, with the middle day as a rest day. I could write a book on that ride, on preparation, and on how to survive when 100 miles becomes 150, but today I want to focus on just a few miles of the ride that were the most disappointing cycling miles I think I've ever experienced.

On the return day, we had ridden up many miles on US 89. I had continued on with the knowledge that we would be descending Spanish Fork canyon into Utah valley. I survived the rolling hills and even the climb to the top of the canyon firm in the hope of miles on end of quick, painless descent. What could be better? What could spark a cyclist on to greater effort than free miles? For hours on end I looked forward to this incredible downhill. It was to be what the Boy Scouts expected from a downhill ride. It was my salvation on what I had otherwise come to see as a massive death march. (Okay, the stop we were going to make at BYU to see our friends who had already started school was another highlight, but that's an entirely different story about two guys wandering around that no-shorts-allowed campus in Lycra.)

Well, we approached the backside of Spanish Fork canyon through Thistle, and climbed to the high point. I had been off the back the entire climb, since Pickett could always out-climb me. (Pickett being always the first to the top, I being the first to the bottom, and Rod Asher being the first to involuntarily leave his bike -- fall.) Now as I approached Pickett waiting for me at the top I was ready. I didn't even need to stop for breath, I was ready. Now was my time. I started down the canyon, and was blasted with a headwind so strong that my air resistance overcame the pull of gravity. I HAD TO PEDAL! NO!!

"Maybe if I pedal now the wind will die as I get lower. Yeah, that's it," was essentially the thought that got me through the first mile. Then after the second mile I thought that it at least couldn't get worse. And I now had to keep pedaling since I was the one who was to get to the bottom first. I knew that Pickett would be close behind and that if he caught me I'd never hear the end of it. Oh, the humanity! I had to work on the one section where I was to have been able to catch my breath and watch the world blur past me with incredible speed.

To shorten the rest of the misery, it turned out that I had to pedal the entire length of the canyon just to keep my pace equal to what we'd done earlier in the ride. As I mentioned earlier, this was one of the great disappointments of my cycling -- and entire -- life.

After escaping the canyon, we made another great cycling decision by stopping at a greasy-spoon-diner for a late lunch, but as I said that's one of many other stories for the book of decisions not to make on an epic bike ride.

We Are Family

I met Nicole and Beth at the entrance to our neighborhood on my commute home. It was fun to have my little girl help me walk my bike along the sidewalk. She grabbed the fork, the frame, and the handlebars at different times to help her Dad. It was the sweetest thing. I'm glad that she kept her fingers out of the spokes.

A little later that evening I got my whole family out for a ride around the neighborhood! It was fun riding through the Ward and being able to stop and talk with neighbors, rather than just hurrying on from place to place without any contact. Nicole had to deliver some papers around the neighborhood, so rather than drive -- like we can afford that at $4 per gallon -- we hooked up the Chariot and went visiting. Nicole was amazed how much easier 5 km was on a bike than on foot. (Well, to be honest it was more like 4.5 km, but I counted the Boy Scouts 22 miles as a 25 miler, so I'll count this as 5 km.)

We had the chance to stop and talk with several neighbors along the way. With the visits we ended up around a two hour trip, but it was fun. We did have a little challenge on the ride. As we started heading back from the far point of the ride, I heard a click from Nicole's bike that sounded suspiciously like a thorn embedded in a tire. I looked as her tires turned, but didn't see anything, so I didn't mention it to her. After our final visit stop, about four houses away from home, she saw that her tire was low. Turns out that she heard the click as well, but thought it was just something that made her sound cool. I don't know how often I've preached the gospel that a properly adjusted bike should run silently when being pedaled, but for some reason people think that ticks, clicks, and rubbing sounds are normal. THEY AREN'T!

Anyway, we all had a great time, by the end. Beth took the longest to enjoy the ride, but once she finally fell asleep, even she was able to enjoy it. She also really enjoyed the stops when she could get out and play with other kids. I'm not sure why Beth resists the trailer. It may be that the helmet forces her head forward. I'm trying to figure it out so that she can enjoy her rides more.

Cars

I realized yesterday that I live in a car world. It was sad. While writing this I remember a recent Frazz comic strip that pointed this out to me. I also realize that despite my efforts to create a bike culture around myself, that there is a car culture completely surrounding me here in the suburbs of Salt Lake.

I was looking forward to a good week with multiple cycle commutes. Yesterday was to have been the first of those. However, I was wrangled (along with my truck) into hauling mattresses in the evening, so I couldn't exactly ride my bike. Then today I need to have the car seat that's attached to my truck to take my daughter to her grandparents, ergo no bike commute today either. Maybe tomorrow. I've thought about using the bike trailer, and borrowing Grandma's car, but I don't feel safe bringing Beth home in the dark through the road construction that puts me in the middle of the lane of traffic. Even with a blinker on the back

I also realized while writing this that the car culture impacts my bike commute. The shortest commute route is along Redwood Road. I have a full right to use that road on a bike. However, that right won't keep me alive against cars who think that bikes should be relegated to sidewalks. That seven-lane, shoulder-less monstrosity is probably less bike friendly than most interstate freeway. So, I ride the extra two to three miles to detour around that road. Advantage cars. And, yes, today's post title is also a song title.

Lamb to the Slaughter

"We go down, because down is the only way out." (a-ha, from the Memorial Beach album) After a ride with the Boy Scouts today, this song seems appropriate. The boys took a 25 (+/-) mile -- approx 40 km -- bike ride down a canyon on a Rail Trail. However, because of the point-to-point nature of the ride, I had to go down with them more than half way, then return up the canyon to get the cars with another leader.

On the downhill leg, as we were going just about fast enough to coast down the 2% grades, we were able to see rock squirrels, potguts, other rodents, several birds, and even a deer bounding down the trail in front of us. The boys were feeling challenged to even move their bikes downhill on the trail. One even seemed to think that "downhill" meant he wouldn't have to pedal at all for 25 miles.

Anyway, rather than bring the boys back uphill from Wanship to Park City, some 200+ meters vertically over just under 19 km, we sent them with a third leader down another 100 meters in the remaining distance to Coalville. That was apparently challenge enough for them, because we were able to return to the trailhead, then drive to meet the boys, arriving at Echo Reservoir at the same time as the boys did.

The return trip -- uphill -- was a good workout accounting for 2/3 of the 1100 calories I burned on the ride. With gradients of 1-3%, the ride was not impossible, but did provide some challenge.

In Wanship and Coalville both, I saw numerous club and group rides passing in clusters or meeting at the finish. There were some other groups of bikers on the trail as well.

If you need a good family ride, the Park City Rail Trail is a good option, particularly if you have the option to have a shuttle return you from Coalville to Park City, as the scouts did today. One thing I particularly like about this ride is that for part of the ride we were actually between the two directions of I-80 following a stream. Ever since I was a young teenager seeing a train track go between that section of freeway, I had wanted to be there myself. So, today was the culmination of a childhood desire, or maybe even a dream.

RIver of Dreams

"In the middle of the night, I go walkin' in my sleep…" This song by Billy Joel seems to fit the last few days on a few different levels: sleepless nights, and riding by the river.

The past few days I've been fighting a nasty cold. It's not been quite bad enough to keep me home, but it's been enough to keep me going just a little slower at everything from thinking, to my reflexes, to my riding. The first thing I notice about myself when I get sick is that my temperature regulation goes. When the weather warms up and I try to do a full effort ride, that means that I'm sweating a lot more. So the past few days I've been doing slower rides, keeping my heart rate down to the mid-150s and lower. It takes a little longer, but at least I'm not so hammered by the end of a commute that I can barely ride straight, and I still have the clarity to respond to things happening around me.

This same cold has kept me up the past few nights. Two nights ago I had to take another cold pill in the middle of the night. After that I still couldn't sleep, so I read a few chapters in Blazing Saddles, the history of Le Tour de France. After a couple of chapters I could breathe again, so it was off to bed.

Well, also related to this cold, I decided to take the Jordan River Parkway Trail home the other night. It's been a while since I've ridden that. I found that it is actually longer than several other of my commute options, and I tend to limit my own speed along it. Well, I was also limited by my ability that day as well. It was fun, though, to ride by the river, see so many other cyclists, joggers, and people out strolling. I saw a squirrel -- or was it a chipmunk? -- several birds, including quail. Kind of a fun ride, even if it took me half again as long as my usual commute, 45 minutes up from 30 typically.

Born to Be Wild

Okay, motorbikes are incredibly loud. I'm talking deafening to ride past. I mean you'd think that a diesel or tricked out Civic with a race non-muffler would be loud. But neither of those can compare with a pair of motorbikes passing you. I've noticed this on several rides recently. I'll be riding along quietly focusing on my heart rate, my cadence, or how to create world peace, only to be interrupted by this air-splitting roar that increases to the volume of a small airplane as it passes me. Now, I know that part of the fun of riding a Harley (or other cruiser) is hearing the rumble of the engine, but can't they get them to rumble without rattling out the windows of homes as they pass? Just my thoughts.

Oh, and there've been a lot more motorbikes just like there've been a lot more bicycles this year. Must be something about petrol prices.

Hot, Hot, Hot

Wow! We jumped from highs around 60° F to above 90° F over the weekend. (Sorry about not using metric, but the temperature is the one thing that I've not been able to learn to convert easily and the weather reports in Utah all use Fahrenheit.) That means that the cold weather gear can go away until autumn. Welcome to summer!

Last night I caught traffic just right so as to be able to keep up with cars for about 6 km of my commute. I had a nice tailwind, and the cars were taking a couple of lights to get through the intersections, so I leap-frogged a number of autos at each light. It was FUN! Then I turned off that street and couldn't keep tabs on that traffic any longer.

Then I took on an 11% grade on Winchester. Yup, the new GPS bike computer will also tell the grade of the road I'm riding. As I approached the hill I saw another cyclist, and thought we may meet up at the light at the top of the hill. So, I kept pedaling. As I shifted through the gears I felt fairly strong climbing the hill, then noticed as I approached the other rider that he had dismounted and was walking his bike up the hill. I really couldn't believe that I was still going up as well as I was. Now, when I reached the red light I was panting like a dong on a summer's afternoon. I was really glad the light was red so I could stop and get my heart and lungs under control.

Then this morning I rode without any extra warming clothes. Summer is fun. Even if I do sweat a lot more.

Soft Rains of April

"The soft rains of April are over." And it's about time. It seems like Utah's been stuck in March and April for three months. This included a morning ride in single digits (Celcius) and almost continuous rain. However, the week ended with a rapid approach toward June. I've also learned that once a chain starts to squeak regularly, no amount of lube -- it seems -- is going to save you long term. I think it's time for a new chain for the cervélo.

I think it was Tuesday when I first intended to post this, since I rode in a light drizzle in temperatures just over freezing. It's a good thing that I have the leg and arm warmers so that I could enjoy the ride. Yes, I mean it. With the long finger gloves, a wind vest, and the arm and leg warmers I actually almost overheated during the ride. And I wasn't even wearing the skull cap. It was actually quite fun to ride in the cold like that. Too often I avoid riding when it's cold because I think that I'm going to just freeze myself, but as long as I'm prepared it's actually okay. And prepared doesn't mean unlimited layers either. It's largely a matter of getting accustomed to what layers and wind resistance works at specific temperatures and rain levels and then wearing that. I recently read a Yehuda Moon comic strip about riding in the rain, and found myself siding more with Yehuda than with Joe. See where you fall.

I have recently discovered that I really need to get some core training to accompany the lower body and cardio exercise that cycling provides. You may laugh, but I'm starting to use the AbSlide. Yep, as seen on TV a few years ago. I have the core body strength of a ten-year-old video gamer. WEAK!

I also got in some waterskiing today and that helped me to realize that upper body strength is a good thing. My legs worked great the whole time I was skiing, but my arms gave out on a couple of cuts. I was left in the water, watching the boat pull away from me while I floated there contemplating how I was going to get my arms stronger so I could hold on longer. Again I came up with the AbSlide for lack of a better solution.

Overall, a good week to ride. But then I'm starting to think that any week is a good week to ride, particularly now that my daily commute can save almost $4 each day compared to driving the truck to work. That goes a long way toward more saving, new bike parts, or my wife's shopping habit.

Mothers Talk

"When the wind blows, when the mothers talk… we can work it out." This song by Tears for Fears describes last evening perfectly. I started out with a strong headwind for my commute, then ended up on the periphery of a discussion between to mothers about blogging.

First the commute, since the joy of biking is supposed to be the focus of this weblog. The temperature was ideal for biking and the sun was shining in a cloudless sky. I was in short sleeves, and loving the feeling. The only downside was the strong headwind blowing from the south. But, I could be forgiven for loving the ride anyway, even if I was running about 5 km/h slower than usual as I fought the wind. I took one of my usual routes home since I had to leave work late, wanted to minimize the time on the bike so I could see Nicole and Beth, and didn't want to have to fight any more headwind than necessary.

Then later in the evening my family went for a walk. If we can't do much biking together at this time, at least we can walk together. We had made it a good 1/4 km when we ran into a good friend, and stopped to talk. Nicole and her somehow got on the topic of blogs and how so many blogs paint a rosy picture of the world. Then these two women, whom I consider to each be good mothers, said that reading these blogs that skip over problems can, at times, make them feel inadequate. I hope that nobody feels inadequate reading my blog. I mean, I'm just an old, overweight biker who's trying to keep from getting obese by commuting by bike.

Anyway I'm about to head out into a beautiful morning that's supposed to degrade into a rainy day later. I hope I survive. Who knows, that south wind may still be blowing and I'll feel like I've gotten fast with the wind assist behind me. One can always hope.

River Deep, Mountain High

The Jordan River was running really deep today with the runoff from the mountains, Utah Lake, and recent storms filling it to capacity. I'd say it feels like spring, but the cold temperatures have had me wondering if it's March or June. Hopefully we'll eventually move our way toward summer. At least the recent rains, while complicating riding, have meant I've not had to water my lawn as much, and the reservoirs should fill up this summer.

A couple of days ago, Kyle asked me about how I rode in the rain. That particular day I had managed to avoid the rains and wet roads with the timing of my rides. However the following day I put covers on my shoes, arm and leg warmers on me, and wrapped myself in a rain vest to get to work across the wet streets (and that was supposed to be the day the rains cleared). Keeping the wet away from your core, and keeping the winds at bay is really the great secret to riding on wet roads, and in lighter rain storms. Fortunately I don't have to deal with real torrential, tropical downpours in Utah. There's no way to stay dry in those. You just hope that you don't get too much water into bearings during your ride so your bike's ready to ride the next day.

I saw Tal this week as we crossed Redwood Road in opposite directions, he in the crosswalk, me flowing with traffic. I think I caught him off guard, even though I didn't mean to. He's published a book about some of his experiences: Feast After the Spirit. Check it out on Amazon. I also saw another neighbor in her SUV this morning. I'm pretty sure she didn't realize who I was, being all pimped out in cycling apparel, and it took me a minute to recognize her at the light. But at least I was friendly.

This morning wrapped up the first full week of commuting that I've done in a long time. I was on the bike at least one direction to or from work every day this week. I'm sometimes surprised at how well I can do at home sharing a single car. Granted there are times when having a second auto is extremely convenient, but I'm finding life to be approachable without it much of the time.

Paradise City

"Take me down to Paradise City, where the lights are green and the traffic is pretty; oh, won't you please take me home?" Okay, so maybe those aren't the words, but they should be! Last night and this morning: commutes with nary a stop!

Last night, on a slightly lengthened commute I rolled up to almost every light as it turned green. Yep, over 16 km and I only dismounted at one minor intersection where I just missed on the yellow. Other than that it was smooth sailing and a good 169 meters climbing with an average speed of just under 28 km/h. It felt good to just ride.

This morning was a shorter route, but an average speed of over 31 km/h. I did have to stop at three short lights, but got the rest green! 

This was also the first morning of the season that I've ridden without leg or arm warmers. Yep, just bibs and a short-sleeve jersey. It felt great! I'm looking forward to more of this nice weather -- after a possible storm tomorrow.  I have a goal of 30 rides this month, and the warmer weather will really be helpful in getting there. I'm counting each leg of my commute as one ride, and any weekend rides I may get are bonuses. Two down and 28 to go!

Quick clothing note: I'm hooked on bibs. I read in a bike mag some time ago that once you try bibs, you'll never go back to shorts. I can see why. Bibs stay put with no tugging during the ride, they don't bind at your waist, and you never have to worry about your jersey and your shorts separating.