bikejournal.com journal

8/1/2012
(Wed)

101.14

31.53

06:52:49

14.70

Road: Hills

Easy Racers Gold Rush Replica
LWB Bent

'BentRider Recumbent Club

Comments: Forrest Gump Century Ride. I arranged to meet Phil at his house this morning and took off around 6:30am. I got there and we took off east planning to ride out to Millersport for breakfast then out east and south for some hill training. We stopped at Olde Canal Restaurant and I had some eggs and pancakes and Phil got eggs and sausage. We then headed out Geiger to Cattail and worked our way over to Elder enjoying the nice views and good roads. Then over to Carroll Eastern and then Marquette. Phil asked if we could stop at Subway in Carroll so we rolled out on a newly paved Election House Rd and eventually down Plum into Carroll. We cooled off with a drink and chatted for a while before heading back on Pleasantville. There Phil said we could get me a few more miles by heading back east to Bader before returning on Basil Western. We did and I said goodbye to Phil at Stoudertown with him commenting that once again he saw no deer. We had figured that I now had enough miles in to get a metric century and that was my intention until I approached Long coming up Diley. Suddenly I was gripped with the notion of doing a full century by heading over to the trail and running about 20 miles out then 20 back. I fought myself at the light and found myself turning west on long hearing the voice in my head saying, "What are you doing?" I guess I decided that I'd come this far I might as well keep on going. And I did. On to the trail and feeling pretty good at 65 miles I continued along at a nice pace. As I approached Confluence Park through the woods I spotted a large doe right in front of me on the trail. She looked at me then strolled across to the woods and stopped to watch me go by. Poor Phil, missed another deer sighting. When I got to the park I called Marilyn and Phil to tell them what I was doing. Then on I went calculating how far I'd have to go to make my 100 miles. I figured I needed about 80 before turning around and that brought me to Main St. in Bexley. It was about 1 pm and I thought it would be a good idea to stop for lunch and a break at COSI. There I was able to use my COSI card to score a free lunch and a free cookie which seemed adequate reward for my long ride. Then back on the trail as I reeled in the miles back to Pickerington. I stopped at Glacier Knoll and drank more water as well as dumping plenty on my head. Then back out Long to the Diley trail and home at last feeling very satisfied with my impromptu century.

Today's route may be found here:

http://goo.gl/maps/ASEMv

Weather Conditions: Lower 70s to start warming to near 90 at finish with partly cloudy skies and moderate humidity.

8/6/2012
(Mon)

60.63

36.00

04:39:57

12.99

Road: Hills

Rans Screamer
Rd Bent Tandem

'BentRider Recumbent Club

Comments: Sunrise Shadow on the Corn Ride. We decided to reprise our ill-fated trip to the Paulsen's house from last week. Our Screamer has now been repaired from the chain jump to the inside of the wheel. All derailer side spokes have been replaced and Brett trued the wheel and adjusted the shifting. On Doty we noticed our shadow moving playfully on the corn as the sun came up. We arrived uneventfully and headed east with Phil and Janet on their tandem. We stopped to see the amazing alpacas just before Heimberger as their guard dogs started barking. Then off to Stemen and over to Millersport for breakfast outside on the patio at Olde Canal Restaurant. Then out Geiger and Cattail and eventually Elder on a similar route to my 100 miler with Phil last Wednesday. We turned on Pleasantville Rd and into the gas station in town for a break. Then back west as Phil finally spotted deer on Leonard just past 158. We saw a fawn there just crossing the road in front of us and then into the corn. We rode out Basil Western and said goodbye to the Paulsens on Stoudertown and we continued on to Meijer where Mar wanted to buy socks. Then we added a couple more miles by heading out Busey around Pickerington Ponds and over to Long before heading back to 256. Mar requested an iced coffee break so we rode over to Tim Horton's and sat in the soft chairs, watched the Olympics and sipped our beverages. Then back on the bike for the ride home where we spotted the "Taco Del Mar" car and Toruk inside waving at us madly. We waved back and headed home finishing up around the neighborhood to round out the mileage on this gorgeous day.

Today's route may be found here:

http://goo.gl/maps/axJhE

Weather Conditions: Mostly clear skies and low 60s to start. Partly cloudy with temps rising into the upper 70s with light winds and low humidity.

8/8/2012
(Wed)

51.52

25.50

03:56:44

13.06

Road: Flat

Rans Screamer
Rd Bent Tandem

'BentRider Recumbent Club

Comments: Big Ol' Snapping Turtle Ride. We took off about 7 am to meet Phil at Glacier Knoll. He was already getting his Lightning ready to ride as we arrived. Then off we went down the trail. About a mile before Shannon Rd we saw something large right in the middle of the trail up ahead which we first thought was a dead raccoon. As we got closer we saw it was a large snapping turtle just sunning right in the middle of the trail. There was a girl on a bike on the other side who very cautiously approached trying to figure out what this was. We took a couple of pictures then off we went. We rolled on into Bexley for breakfast at Bruggers then through the neighborhoods north of Main St. and over to Wolfe Park. There we hopped back on the trail dodging numerous cross country runners probably from St Charles across the street. Then back up the trail where we saw a large group of 10-15 women on bikes coming at us. Then we warily passed a group of pre-schoolers out walking over the bridge by Livingston Ave. Then on down the trail with a stop at Confluence Park where a young man stopped to ask me about Saturday's Pelotonia ride. He will be riding for the first time and his team is Grange. We ran into Chuck and ended up riding back to Glacier Knoll with him. We came up on a young buck on the trail which caused Phil to give a "yahoo!" Back at Glacier Knoll we said goodbye to Phil and Chuck then headed for home.

Today's route may be found right here:

http://goo.gl/maps/e8UA9

Weather Conditions: Low 70s to start with sunny skies and low humidity. Temps rising into the low 80s at finish with mostly sunny skies and light winds out of the SSW.

8/11/2012
(Sat)

101.59

35.47

07:00:49

14.48

Road: Hills

Easy Racers Gold Rush Replica
LWB Bent

'BentRider Recumbent Club

Comments: Pelotonia 2012. We got downtown around 5:30am and parked on 3rd St. so I could get the bike out of the van. I put it up on the kickstand and went into the van for the pump. Just as I turned back to the bike the wind came up and blew it over on the derailer side. I hopped on the bike and started to pedal only to hear the gears missing and pedals over rotating. Not a good start. I knew that all the bike shops were set up around Columbus Commons and just a block away was the Bikesource van. I rolled the bike in and told them what happened. They initially looked like I had brought in a flying saucer for repair when they saw my bike. I asked if it would help to take the tailsock off and they said yes. Then the mechanic took a look and said the derailer hanger was bent in and was hitting the spokes in the low gears. Within a few minutes the had bent the hanger back out and I was on my way. They were very nice, did and outstanding job and saved my Pelotonia ride. I rolled on over to the Commons and ate a bagel and banana and got some coffee. I saw Chris and Logan and Jay Sycks. We were all issued letters to tell us when to enter the starting chute. Chris and Logan were A and I was B so we decided to meet up in Pickerington. The start was slow and a bit frustrating as I couldn't get to the chute when they called the Bs due to the crowds of later letters blocking the exits. But I eventually worked my way on to Rich St. and took off about the same time as last year. I spotted Marilyn on the roof of the adjoining parking garage where she was able to shoot video of my start. We were off and down High St. with crowds lining the street. Bells, clapping and cheering all along the way made it fun to ride through town. I had worn my biking jacket since it was a cool morning and it felt comfy as the wind picked up with my speed. The biking crowd on the road was huge and friendly. I rode for a bit with a lady on a Sun recumbent and spotted a couple of trikes as well. The route was the same as last year leaving Columbus as we worked our way south and then east eventually to Groveport Rd. Around here is where I heard John Schlitt yell my name. We and his father-in-law rode together into Picktown. This year we turned on Bixby and on past 3 Creeks Park. The first rest stop was at Cruiser Park but it was so jammed with riders that I just kept on going. We headed along our usual riding route on Ebright then worked our way over to Pickerington Ponds and then on Wright to head into Pickerington. Hiren called me to ask me to call him when I hit Cruiser Park so he could head out and meet me in Picktown. Sure enough he and his dad were right on Center St. just past the railroad tracks to take my picture and say hi. I shed my jacket and asked him to take it then rolled on to the high school for my first break. I found Chris and Logan and we took off together heading north and finding police blocking each intersection to the anger and dismay of many drivers. At US 40 and Mink I could see cars in both directions far down the road and lots of honking. Then down Refugee and up Summit where I heard someone yelling "Gary". It was Frank Owusu jumping up and down and waving. He snapped my picture as I rolled along. Then up to 161 and over to New Albany for lunch. After lunch we headed out towards Granville and over to Alexandria turning on Racoon Valley Rd and the first real hills of the ride. As we rode north of Granville we found some hills but nothing overwhelming. We got to the split at Bennington Chapel where I continued but Chris and Logan decided to take the Reynolds Hill route for a more exciting climbing experience. I rolled on into Homer where I saw Andrea Cambern on her 100 route. After a few more P&B sandwiches I continued on for the finish. The last 15 miles really had the toughest hills and they continued on almost to the end. I never had to walk a hill and used granny gear only twice. At mile 96 it started to shower but it was warm enough then to feel good. Shortly after the road turned downhill for a wonderful mile or two all the way into Gambier. The last mile was on the Kokosing trail and a rousing finish a Kenyon College where I slapped five with the announcer as I crossed the finish line. Chris and Logan appeared 30 minutes later telling me that Logan had made the tough climb all the way but Chris had to walk the hill regretting his decision to leave me on the other route. Another great Pelotonia ride with lots of folks admiring my bike and wishing they were on it.

Today's route may be found here:

http://goo.gl/maps/Bq2tE

Weather Conditions: Cool upper 50s to start warming into the lower 70s at the finish. Cloudy skies all day with lovely tail winds from the SW at 10-15 mph.

8/12/2012
(Sun)

50.23

25.00

04:02:17

12.44

Road: Flat

Rans Screamer
Rd Bent Tandem

'BentRider Recumbent Club

Comments: Because 100 miles yesterday just wasn't enough Ride. A beautiful day beckoned and felt fine after yesterday's Pelotonia Ride so we took off around 8:30am and headed for the trail. The roads were still a bit wet from last night's rain but were drying out quickly in the morning sun. We hopped on the trail and we soon came upon Tom Frazier who ask me about yesterday and was kind enough to make a donation. Then on over to Ebright to reprise yesterday's route only backwards. I told Mar that the bridge over US 33 was the biggest hill in the first half of the ride and Center St and Milnor was the steepest section. We rode on into the park where they were cleaning up after a running race had just finished. There Chuck Frazier pulled up and said hi. We rode out together down to the cut-off for the JCC where we broke off and Chuck continued down to Livingston Ave. A quick loop through Bexley then back on the trail and back to Glacier Knoll where I chatted with an Englishman on his bike who asked if this was the end of the trail. We talked about the trail going north and how nice a place it is to ride. Then onto Bowman and Long then Diley and a turn into the Drug Mart shopping center for lunch at New York Pizzaria. This was our first time there and we really like the pizza. Then back home to rest.

Today's route may be found here:

http://goo.gl/maps/Bq2tE

Weather Conditions: Lower 60s and clear skies to start. Warming into the lower 70s with increasing clouds and light winds out of the SW.

8/13/2012
(Mon)

57.51

34.48

04:02:06

14.25

Road: Hills

Easy Racers Gold Rush Replica
LWB Bent

'BentRider Recumbent Club

Comments: Hawks and Hills Ride. I rode out to Phil's at about 7am and we headed to Millersport for breakfast. We spotted a red tailed hawk on a fence taking off right next to us and later a cooper's hawk. We seemed to come upon another red tailed every 10 miles or so jumping off a wire above and flying with us then off into a field. We rode south out of Millersport and headed past Carroll Eastern to explore a new route back west. We found Beatty which pretty much just runs up and down hills through cornfields and ends at 188. There we turned south and rode through some traffic to the Columbus Southern Power offices on Coonpath. Then west to Old Millersport and a long downhill before turning west again. We rolled just south of Baltimore and worked our way over to Basil Western for our typical finish. I forgot to turn on MyTracks today so here is the link to Phil's which is most of this rides info:

http://goo.gl/maps/c9vU5

Weather Conditions: Cool low 60s to start with cloudy skies and light winds. Warming to near 80 later with clearing skies and winds out of the SSE at 10 mph.

8/16/2012
(Thu)

56.14

24.00

04:19:19

12.99

Road: Hills

Rans Screamer
Rd Bent Tandem

'BentRider Recumbent Club

Comments: A Deer at the Confluence Ride. We took off at about 6:45am to meet Phil at Glacier Knoll. He was readying his Lightning as we arrived. We hopped on the trail and headed to Three Creeks. As we approached Confluence Park Phil spotted a doe near the woods. We stopped for a restroom break and I grabbed my phone to take a shot. I stealthily walked as close as I could to her and took a shot. Then I stepped forward again and she looked up and snorted/bleeted loudly as steam shot out her snout in the cool morning air. Then she quickly darted into the woods. I looked back at Phil and he saw and heard all this, too. We laughed at what we'd seen then got back on the bikes and rolled on to Bexley and COSI for breakfast. All three of us sat outside and enjoyed our food. Then we rode out on College which was still closed to traffic but newly paved. We got to Livingston and then back on the trail at the JCC. As we got to Abby Trails I was thinking of adding a little mileage and asked Mar if she wanted to ride to the end of the additional trail at Refugee. She said she was doing fine and was going to ask if we could continue on into Reynoldsburg. So we said goodbye to Phil and rode off to the new section of trail and over to the Blacklick Park. Then through Slate Ridge and Palmer and back. A really nice ride today with great weather.

The route we rode may be found here:

http://goo.gl/maps/7g9eY

Weather Conditions: Clear and cool with temps in the low 60s to start. Warming into the upper 70s as finish with light winds and low humidity.

8/18/2012
(Sat)

20.10

25.36

01:30:22

13.35

Road: Flat

Easy Racers Gold Rush Replica
LWB Bent

'BentRider Recumbent Club

Comments: Commute to CVS. Animals large and small seen this morning. Hummingbird flying across Mink St., chipmunk on a post along Refugee, and a pair of deer peering out of the woods in Quarry Park in Reynoldsburg. On the way home and elderly lady runs the red light at Mink and US 40 as I turn right onto Mink. She is right beside me and nearly hits a car turning left going east on Main. Nice weather and fun ride home.

Weather Conditions: Cool upper 50s going in and upper 70s coming home with partly cloudy skies and light winds.

8/19/2012
(Sun)

20.27

25.88

01:25:25

14.24

Road: Flat

Easy Racers Gold Rush Replica
LWB Bent

'BentRider Recumbent Club

Comments: Commute to CVS. Sunday commute pretty uneventful. Did meet Mr Pickering at work who owns the Pickering farm on Mink and whose family were the founders of Pickerington. He is working on a museum in Pataskala on Main St. of SW Licking county.

Weather Conditions: Cool morning around 60 and mid 70s on way home with storms to the north but partly cloudy on my route. Light winds.

8/21/2012
(Tue)

33.46

25.10

02:07:33

15.74

Road: Flat

Easy Racers Gold Rush Replica
LWB Bent

'BentRider Recumbent Club

Comments: Almost Got Wet Ride. An early lunch with David Tefft made for an shortened and early ride on the trail. I pushed hard due to both time restraints and the obvious black clouds coming in from the SW. I made it to Herons Pond and looped around as the sky continued to darken. Racing back I could see the curtains of rain behind me. As I returned to my neighborhood the phone rang. It was Mar saying that it was pouring in Columbus and was I getting wet. Not a chance! I pulled into the garage and the rain ensued 5 minutes later.

Here's the route:

http://goo.gl/maps/UGvNA

Weather Conditions: Cool 60s with clear skies to start quickly becoming cloudy with rain chasing me home.

8/23/2012
(Thu)

55.97

31.50

04:08:06

13.54

Road: Hills

Rans Screamer
Rd Bent Tandem

'BentRider Recumbent Club

Comments: House Demolition Ride. We both slept in so a later 9 am start saw us heading towards Pataskala. We headed out Blacks wondering if the construction we saw on our last ride here at Watkins Rd was complete. The "Road Closed" signs gave us our answer. We walked the bike through the torn up roadbed and then saw the house on the southwest corner was being demolished. We stopped to watch along with a number of neighbors and vehicles passing by on Watkins. After a couple of photos of the scene we took off and rolled east into Hebron and then over to Millersport. We were excited to stop in at Subway for lunch since we hadn't been there much this summer. We pulled up and saw Noelle and Wes inside waving madly at us. We were saddened to learn that their house was broken into while they were on vacation last week. Chris was glad to see us and we enjoyed our subs. Then out Basil Western and up Diley back home.

Today's route is found right here:

http://goo.gl/maps/PD7Yo

Weather Conditions: Warm but not humid with temp starting in the low 60s then rising into the low 80s with mostly clear skies and light winds.

8/27/2012
(Mon)

50.69

33.00

04:22:27

11.59

Road: Hills

Rans Screamer
Rd Bent Tandem

'BentRider Recumbent Club

Comments: Traverse City to Sutton's Bay. We're here in Traverse City, Michigan with the Paulsens to explore the area on our tandems. Starting from our hotel (Knights Inn), we took of around 8 am and jumped on the TART trail. Nicely paved, this runs right through town along the beautiful bay then heads up the Leelanau peninsula to Sutton's Bay. Mostly forested and gently climbing and decending, this rail trail is an amazing way to ride the area. We came upon a flock of wild turkeys which only slowly trotted off as we watched them. Many hawks flickers and a few mystery birds were seen. We got to SB and stopped at the visitor center to get some advice. We had discovered a flyer yesterday advertising Tandem Ciders a business run by a couple who created hard ciders and ride a tandem. We rode mostly uphill about 3 miles to find the old barn with a tandem bike mounted high over the entrance. They we met Dan and his infant daughter. He poured us glass after glass of his different creations and we ended up buying a bottle. Then we screamed back downhill to SB for a delicious but very slowly served lunch at Martha's. Then back on the trail to TC where we stopped at a bike shop Brick Wheels. Then over Bardon's for ice cream before riding back to the hotel.

Weather Conditions: Gorgeous day with clear skies and temps in the low 60s warming into the low 70s. Winds out of the NW at 10-15 mph.

8/28/2012
(Tue)

53.45

38.00

04:22:11

12.23

Road: Hills

Rans Screamer
Rd Bent Tandem

'BentRider Recumbent Club

Comments: Mission Peninsula Ride. Out the door and on our way just after 8am we head north on Peninsula Dr.which runs up the west coast of MP. Smooth road, beautiful views of Western Traverse Bay, and amazing homes. We wind our way north to Mission State Park where find the historic lighthouse on the point. I pay the $5 fee and get to climb the stairs to the top. Here I find a great view of the bays and peninsulas. I meet an older gentleman who tells me he swam here as a boy 60 years ago when the water level was much higher. Then on to the town of Mission where we find the original Mission building and the old General store where we sampled their aged cheddar cheese and ordered lunch. We met other bikers who claim this route is on Bicycle Magazine's list of top ten rides in the nation. We also met a guy driving a home built wooden truck based on a Chevy S10. Then back on the road to ride the Eastern side which provided many more gorgeous vistas. We got back to TC and we left the Paulsens to continue riding the TART trail and complete our tour to the east. Here we ride by the airport and find the rest of the planet models ending with Pluto at the end of the trail. We return back and stop at Dairy Queen before riding back to the hotel.

Today's route may be found here:

Weather Conditions: 60 Degrees to start warming into the middle 70s. Clear skies and winds out of the NNW at 10-15 mph.

8/29/2012
(Wed)

34.74

30.50

03:02:48

11.40

Road: Hills

Rans Screamer
Rd Bent Tandem

'BentRider Recumbent Club

Comments: Ride the Little Traverse Wheelway. We left Traverse City about 8am and drove along the coast to Petoskey, Michigan.There we found the Little Traverse Wheelway rail trail along the bay. We stopped and parked at East Park where we unloaded the tandems and headed onto the trail. We loved the grand views of the bay as we biked along. Outside of town we encountered many high curb cuts which became tiresome after a while. We rolled along side the county airport then up the other side of the bay where the trail ends. Then back the way we came taking time to appreciate the Victorian homes along US 31 in town. One dilapidated house was called the Tilton Inn. Then back past the park and up the other side of the bay. Here we came upon some rollers and a couple of steeper hills. We turned around short of Charlesvoix and came back to eat lunch at a deli along the trail. Then back to the vans to start our drive through the Upper Peninsula and eventually Madison.

Today's route may be found here:

Weather Conditions: Chilly start mid 50s then warming into the 70s with clear skies and light winds.

8/30/2012
(Thu)

24.54

28.50

02:17:53

10.68

Road: Hills

Rans Screamer
Rd Bent Tandem

'BentRider Recumbent Club

Comments: Hostel Shoppe Ride. We drove from Escanaba, Michigan to Steven's Point, Wisconsin this morning for our periodic pilgrimage to our favorite bike shop in the world. I brought two tires I bought 18 months ago via mail order which were the wrong size (My error). They never batted an eye and credited me the full amount which I used to buy the correct tires. We then headed to the hotel to check in and prepare to ride the bikes. Phil quickly noticed there was a problem with his tire as it had a bulge in it. We rode the 3 miles to the shop and they found the tire had delaminated. Phil bought a new tire from them and had it mounted. Meanwhile we both test road a Volae Club and found it to be a cool bike but not what we are looking for. Then we rode to the Green Circle trail and did a loop around town. The trail is beautiful but is crushed granite and soft in spots making for slow and sometimes treacherous going. We rolled back over to near the bike shop to find a place for dinner and decided on Denny's. After a somewhat mediocre meal we rode back to our hotel as the sun set.

Our route today may be found here:

https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=203443861421795560349.0004c884d620d91d436a5&msa=0&ll=44.569926,-89.536858&spn=0.038644,0.20565

Weather Conditions: Very warm near 90 with clear skies and low humidity. Gusty winds out of the SW at 15-20 mph.

8/31/2012
(Fri)

14.25

34.50

01:14:35

11.46

Road: Hills

Rans Screamer
Rd Bent Tandem

'BentRider Recumbent Club

Comments: MTR 2012 Ice Cream Ride. Here in Middleton, Wisconsin for the Midwest Tandem Rally we register and greet our friends the Johnsons and Veerkamps. Then off to ride with the Paulsens. Route is flat to start then becomes very hilly with long steep climbs. We're glad we've been riding and training for this. Beautiful rural scenery and smells. An exhilarating downhill brings us back to town where we stop for gelato and a tour of the Mustard Museum. Then back up the final hill to the hotel.

Today's route should be right here:

http://goo.gl/maps/63CPa

Weather Conditions: Partly cloudy and very hot with temps in the 90s.