Archive for February, 2008
Friday, February 22nd, 2008
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When I saw them I thought "how picture-perfect", a young family with a dog, a baby, big smiles, and each other out for a healthy walk. They were/are USM graduates and frequent the trace a lot. We had a pleasant conversation and I learned that the dog is part of their family but the hitch hiker is borrowed from, I believe, her sister.
Based upon where I met them on the trace they probably started their walk at Jackson Station, 4 miles from USM and well past some industrial and construction views plus two often-busy intersections. Jackson Station is a popular jumping-on point with convenient parking and bathroom facilities.
I’ve read that old men revert to being a kid as they age. I wonder if when I am too old to ride and if I sit in a stroller at Jackson Station will people push me on their walk? Might be worth a try; might need a sign, "Feel free to borrow the old man for your walk, but please make sure he doesn’t drop his pacifier". |
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Friday, February 15th, 2008
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Although it is difficult not to smile during a ride there seemed to be a little something extra here. This happy couple integrated bike riding into their life a long time ago. He has been riding about 25 years; and she, probably as long. They were leaving Jackson Station as I passed and we had a pleasant exchange but they were quickly out of sight, riding one behind the other. I caught up and passed after they pulled over for a conversation with an oncoming rider, so I beat them to Sumrall.
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They rolled in while I was drinking my Boost for Diabetics. That’s where the photo was taken. This was my turnaround point but they were going further for a 50 mile ride. I loved seeing them pull out together. It was so, so sweet. I look forward to Jeanne getting her distance legs. I would like to have her on most if not all my rides. I asked several questions including permission to post them on this blog. I asked how often they rode and he and she replied together: 2 or 3 times a week in the winter and 3 to 6 times a week in the summer. A normal ride for them is about 50 miles.
They (he at least?) sometimes rides in a pace line. I was curious about those speed, explaining that I would like to eventually ride with others and wondered what my speed would need to be. He indicated that 21 mph was common but everyone drafts the lead rider and the effort for the followers feels more like 15 mph; somewhere near a 30% difference. I expressed my surprise as I had no idea there was that much of an advantage. As I understand pace lines the lead rider peels off and joins the end of the line after a bit of time; maybe when tired. Actually I don’t remember seeing recumbents in a pace line. I think there is not as much of an advantage if the lead bike is recumbent and is aerodynamic, especially if it uses a fairing, body sock, or tail sock.
I also discovered that they both rode in last year’s Birthday Challenge on the LLT. I think I remember seeing them but there were a lot of people there. I definitely look forward to running into them (but not literally) on future rides.
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Monday, February 11th, 2008
I like this advice. It comes from Pamela Blalock along with other advice about riding your first century, i.e. 100 miles or 100 kilometers if a metric century. Pamela’s article got my interest because it writes about century rides which I also mentioned in a recent post and it gives advise on what to take during a ride which I also did in another post. A rider’s “first century” appears to be the second common milestone for new riders. The first? You probably guessed, to ride your age on your birthday of course. People sometimes ride their age in kilometers but I rode mine in miles during an organized “Birthday Challenge” on the Long Leaf Trace. 65 miles. The event is usually held in November of each year from the other end. My birthday is actually in October, but never mind, my family usually celebrates on alternative dates anyway.
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Friday, February 8th, 2008
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| Someone replaced the torn and frayed flag on the trace since my ride Tuesday (Oh, by the way, I rode Tuesday, and again today). I like seeing the flag, like riding under it. After 20 years in the Air Force it’s a good thing I don’t automatically salute; falling over on my bike; while clipped in. I wonder if I would hold the salute until I slid past.
The flag is at the 10 mile mark, but it’s not 10 miles from anywhere, not from anywhere on the trace, not unless the 20 mile mark counts. In other words there is not a zero mark, not a 1 mile mark, not a 2 mile mark; OK, it starts at 3.6 miles, but 3.6 miles from where? I don’t know. I would guess that these markers correspond to the original milestones for the tracks and that the Hattiesburg end is 3.6 miles from the train station down town. Just a guess, but the distance is about right.
There has been some talk about extending the LLT down town to the station. That would make the total length 44.6 miles or 89.2 miles for the round trip. It would be nice if it were somehow extended to 50 miles and then you could get a century with a round trip. A century would be good, would attract a lot more riders and a lot more riding events. |
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Tuesday, February 5th, 2008
| There may be a better way! |
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Well, finally, a ride. Went Saturday for 32 leisurely-paced miles, keeping my heat rate below 85% of max. It was a nice day and a nice ride. I came upon two young ladies (pictured below) with a most interesting solution for water transport. They said yes to a photo and that they purchased the belts at SockerLocker. Neat, as in "I like it". One has storage instead of a third bottle; don’t know which I would op for. |
| The first picture is of a nomadic Tuareg woman moving camp in Niger and demonstrates the harshness of her life and not her recreation. Click on the image to visit Galen R Frysinger’s site and more pictures of the Tuareg lifestyle. |
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Galen is a retired scientist who uses his retirement traveling to interesting places. Great, not for what he is doing but for being able to do what he wants to do. As I approach retirement this summer I am particularly aware of possible retirement activities. I have already volunteered to teach web related topics to seniors but not sure that represents a retirement activity since I now teach web related topics, just not to seniors. However, I do know that my retirement will involve cycling, yard work, and whatever doll stuff Jeanne makes me do, uh, I mean allows me to participate in.
What’s in your retirement? |
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Friday, February 1st, 2008
As of today I am 118 miles behind the straight-line projection of 2500 miles for the year. I want my mommy.
Tomorrow’s temperature should be in the 60’s. In a few minutes I will start collecting my riding gear. Let’s see:
Things to take (well, to consider)
- Helmet
- Headband (Hot weather)
- Gloves (Padded for protection; no fingers)
- Gloves (A warm pair just in case)
- Knee brace (In case they get sore)
- Watch
- Loose weave shirt for good aeration
- Short pants without back pockets (The seams dig in after an hour or two)
- * Slipover warm fleece or wind breaker
- * Slipover warm exercise pants
- Socks that go up to the knees
- Clip-in shoes
- Bike Light
- ** Garmin GPS
- Heart monitor (Wireless sensor for Garmin)
- ** Mobile air pump
- ** One water bottle with Gatorade-water mixture, 50-50
- ** One bottle with just Gatorade to replenish the above
- * Flat repair kit.
- * Extra flat- patches
- * All-purpose bike tool
- * Spare tube
- * Spare tire
- * Chain repair tool
- * Chain repair link
- * Peanut butter crackers and/or peanut butter sandwich
- * Nuts and/or pretzels (carbs and salt)
- * Fruit
- Moist wipes
- Sun screen lotion
- Dog repellent (Maybe)
- Wind fairing (Actually I leave it mounted)
- Cell phone (The number everyone knows)
- IPhone (I sometimes listen to podcasts or access the internet for information)
- IPhone external battery (Maybe, for really long ride)
- Toilet paper (if you think the rest stations may be out of it, or closed)
- Camera
- Cash
- Credit card
- Driver’s license
- House keys
There! … You didn’t think it was like when you were a kid and would run out of the house, let the screen door slam behind you, jump on your bike and head off to you-knew-not-where to be back in you-knew-not-when; did you?
But, wait. Seems like I’m missing something. Oh, yea. a bike.
Which shall it be, BikeE, Rocket, or Stratus XP? … Duh, the Stratus of course. And, one more thing:
- ** A really big smile
* Stored in the back-of-seat bag until needed.
** Mounted.
Things to do
- Charge electronics
- Load bike storage (Store food just before the ride)
- Check bike
- Pump tires (At 100 psi they will leak - I put in about 90 psi)
- Check weather (again)
- Eat breakfast (or lunch) with carbs and protein, don’t stuff
At ride time
- Mount mountables on bike
- Check checklist
- Drink a big glass of water
- Go to the bathroom
- Kiss wife really good (Jeanne says “Setting the homing beacon”)
- Take bike outside (Not simple for the really long Stratus XP)
- Turn on the Garmin and start the timer in auto mode (only runs when the bike is moving)
- Turn on cellphone
- Apply sunscreen (While the Garmin finds satelites)
- Get on bike (Don’t clip in until out of traffic)
- Ride, ride, ride
But you should make your own list, kiss your own wife.
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