What a crappy picture, but it does show the sign!

Where has the summer gone?

It was a terrible spring in Wisconsin and summer hasn't been much better, weather wise I'm referring to.  After some great rides in January, February, and even into March; things slowed up for the next few months. By the end of April, I had around 450 miles  for 2013, but now in the first week of August, I'm only at 950 miles but I've been getting in some better rides lately...

I have found a new phone app that I started using, it's called Map My Ride. I've only been using it for a couple of days. I lost yesterdays workout log but it seems like a pretty good work-out tool. My name there is MelvinS16 if you want to check out how I'm doing. www.mapmyride.com Oh, the site does have some aggravating ads to try to induce you to pay for a membership.

As you ride, the app keeps track of your where-a-bouts on the map and voice announces your progress every mile if you want. I think it'll allow other friends to see where you are at, which might be a good thing if I don't show up home sometime and my wife is wondering where to come and start looking in the ditches for me! The app also allows you to record rides of plan future rides on the map. It shows where you've been, your speed and time. It does draw a little phone battery life so I'm learning to start with a charged phone.

This summer I've ridden to many of the old towns and places I visited last year and a few new ones. I rode to Spring Green and back one evening and got lost on some back rodes that took me half-way to Sauk City on another day.

I'd like to enroll in the Tyranena October Fest Ride in Lake Mills for the second year, but I'm not sure if I should due to cost. I'll decide soon or it'll fill up and I won't get in...

Happy trails...

Winter Finally Over?

This spring's 'winter' of 2013, might finally be over? Here in Wisconsin, I hope so! I took the Bar Mitts off my bike before I went out riding earlier this evening. As one young lad expressed, winter is hanging from the cliff by one finger... and I hope someone stomps on it! Yes, today we enjoyed an afternoon thunderstorm which greened the grass up even more than it was. The frogs are singing in the swamps, and the robins have endured more than their allotted three snow falls after returning from warmer places. We hope that the terrible Walker-winter of 2013 that has griped our state has finally come to an end.

Biking has been challenging on the cold, windy, treacherous roads in the spring winter of 2013 but I will have riden 500 miles in the first four months anyway.

White Mound Lake Ride

More Rain

Goggles, balaclava, hat

Today is Sunday, March 10th, the day after the time changed. Spring should have been here by now. Last year, spring, or dare I say summer, was here in March! Last year, this week began in the 60's and ended in the 80's. Today, I woke up and the temperature was 40 but then dropped into the 30's by the time I left for my bike ride. I didn't leave with the goggles and face mask on. When I left, there was no rain and I rode with the wind as I turned south at Lime Ridge. 

Treacherous ice along the North side of a hill

I decided to ride down to the lake today. White Mound Lake is about 11 miles south. I can ride there and back in 22 miles, or more when I choose longer routes. Today, I chose one of the longer routes through Sandusky down to Croal Hollow Road before heading east to the boat landing on the north side of White Mound Lake. Along the way, I came across this ice covered section of road that ran on the north side of hill. It was glare ice and wet. I found gravel when possible regardless of which side of the road I was on, but for much of the way I just road gingerly across the ice. Only one car came by while I was on this stretch so the most danger came from me dumping the bike, but I was able to avoid that.

White Mound Lake is melting

Finally, I arrived at White Mound. There was only one person out on the ice fishing that I could see and one pick-up truck sitting in the parking lot with someone sitting in it. I imagined that the person in the truck was the wife of the idiot out on the lake! Ha!

Old concrete bridge covered with moss

As I left the boat landing area, it began to rain. I already expected to have to ride into a fairly strong northeast headwind on my way home, and now I would be facing cold rain as well. I was about 5 miles from finishing the 24 mile ride when I had to put on the balaclava and goggles. After that, I no longer had my glasses-mirror to see behind me, and I really didn't care much as I was on some secluded back roads. Behind the goggles and beneath the other head-gear I wore, I retreated into my own cozy world as I put one foot down and then the other. I was surprised that the lens of the goggles didn't fog up at all the way my glasses had done. The rain beaded up and blew away so I could see pretty good.

I got home, striped, and threw everything into the washer. What wasn't wet from the inside from sweat was wet from the outside from rain. All told, my wet clothing weighed about 15 pounds! oh! for spring to come. Better days and better rides...

When I finished, I completed a 24 mile ride. It was raining and the temperature was in the 30's. My blood sugar had dropped to 114 or so, still too high! This is my forth day of getting in good bike rides but not getting the sugar readings that I want. Maybe tomorrow?

I

Winter hangs on...

(and it's getting really tiresome!)

Corn shocks in an Amish neighbor's field

It's the 10th of March, 2013, and Wisconsin seems to be stuck in a February weather warp! Bike riding ranges between unpleasant and imposible. Take today's ride as an example...

I worked in the morning and watched the weather hoping for an afternoon ride after work. Rain was supposed to start around 5pm but on my drive home from work at 2:00 pm, the rain had already began. Undaunted, I dressed in normal 30 to 40 degree undergarments, but drug out my Sterns rain suit and slipt into my rubber barn boots. 

I was on the highway by 3:30 pm and chose a 12 mile route from my place to Lime Ridge, then out highway K where I turned onto Meyer Road. The southeast crosswind on Meyer Road was blowing my pant leg into the chain and sprocket, so I stopped to wrap a bungie cord around my right ankle. A truck stopped and asked me if I was alright... I guess I was as alright as any sane person riding bicycle on a thirty degree windy day in Wisconsin during a driving rain! 

I was doing O.K. until about 7 miles into the ride. I realized I had forgotten my cell phone, forgotten an energy bar, and I was going into a sugar crash! 

I couldn't call for help or I might have, but now I could only struggle through until I arrived home. I rode as easily as I could but still felt the familiar effects of low blood sugar. My world shrinks and when it's over it's like I've been somewhere else. 

I watch the water spraying off my front tire, curving into a four inch arch before it's blown horizontal to the highway in the crosswind. I stop thinking of anything except the next push on the peddle... the line on the edge of the highway... I breathe... in, out, in, out... At the last hill, I stop and get off and walk. My legs feel like they're made of concrete. Numb. Heavy. The rain that has been pelting my face like little ice bombs begin to let up a little and I feel myself coming back around as I enter the last mile of my journey.

Friday's ride on Frank Road

The driveway is too treturous, and I'm too tired to peddle up it, so I dismount and walk up to the house. I'm shaky. Blood sugar is in the 80's by now... but I've returned! 

Sandy makes me a bowl of tomato soup and Puff comes sits on my lap as I cuddle into dry clothes on the couch. 

A 12 mile ride today... 9 miles yesterday because I had to cut my ride short. Sandy picked me up so we could get into Reedsburg and sign our income taxes... 22 miles on Thursday for a total of 252 miles for the year. 

The winter miles are hard miles. I can't wait until spring and summer arrive! I can't wait to jump on my bike with a pair of shorts on, and nothing else, and ride...

Grote Hill and other back roads around Reedsburg

Hill overlooking Loganville, Wi.

 I worked through the weekend, even working double shifts, so I had off today - Monday the 25th of February.

When I awoke at noon, I was surprised at how warm it was outside: in the 40's! Maybe even near 50degrees? I decided I'd have to take a bike ride this afternoon.

Another view of the Loganville valley.

A Buff Orpington chick

 Even though I made the decision to ride, I needed to feed the chickens and ducks that are living in the greenhouse for the winter. In the greenhouse, the temperature has been anywhere from the 80's up to 105 degrees under this warm February sun! The chicks and ducks are happy and I love being in the tropical greenhouse while it's still winter across Wisconsin!

I have Buff Orpington chickens; three breeds of ducks: Kaki Campbell, Fawn Runner, and Pekin; and 19 guineas!

Duckie

I get more eggs than I can give away to friends and family, and I find the birds comical to watch, tend, and care for. Anyway, it all takes time and that's the reason that I got such a late start on my afternoon bike ride.

I started out with an ordinary ride to Lime Ridge and then out County K.

I was in a feisty mood, so I turned down Old K where I knew I'd likely cross paths with a Black Lab named "Cocoa" who thinks she owns the road and thinks I should not be in her territory.

Not today Cocoa!

 I was mildly disappointed when I passed Cocoa's house without a chalenge!

The Baraboo river south of Reedsburg

As I turned down Mill Pond Road, I realized that I was low on energy. In my hurry to get on the road and get my blood glucose number down, I had neglected to eat anything.  Now I could feel the effects of low sugar as I peddled on.

I set my sites on stopping at the Corner Pub in Reedsburg for a cheeseburger and a glass of their local brew. It was deliciousness!

Church used to be the highest thing in town... before the cell tower!

I left the pub and and peddled past the egg company, and the foundry, then I turned south onto Dewey avenue until I came to the intersection of Ski Hill Road.  I debated whether I should turn left for a longer ride, or right, and begin to head for home. I opted for the latter since the sun was already dipping below the horizon and I was 10 to 15 miles away from home at that point.

I followed Ski Hill Road to Grote Hill Road and made my way to Loganville through a back way that included Open View and Sunrise Roads. Even with the longer days of approaching spring, it was twilight by the time I arrived in Loganville, and completely dark as I finally found my way home.

I was soaked through with sweat and my pant legs were spattered with road salt and sand but I felt good as I added another 30 miles to my yearly total... 209.

Night Rides in Winter

I just got in from an 18 mile night ride. It was 32 degrees... a beautiful night for riding! The roads were fairly clear of ice and snow except in a few places where it got a little treacherous.

The Bar Mitts are awesome! Hands slide in and out easily and they really keep my fingers warm throughout the ride. They cover the handlebars, shifters, brake levers, and headlight remote power switch.

The best thing is the new headlight. It's a Niteye B30. I bought it from Overstock.com for $160.99 and tonight was the first time I got to use it. It is very bright. It has four levels of brightness: 100, 350, 600, and 1,000 lumens! I liked the 100 power level while I was cruising slowly and enjoying the moonlit evening and checking out the stars, but the 350 was best for slow country pedaling. I didn't like the 600 setting because that was just the middle spot light so when I needed bright lighting, like cruising down hills at 25-30pmh, I chose the 1,000 setting. This gives a great view of the ditches to watch for night critters that might jump out in my path and it gave a great view of the road ahead as I had to be on the constant lookout for ice or snow pack. That seems to happen especially on hills that are on north slops or shaded by trees.

One thing I didn't like about the headlight is the remote power switch and how it cycles through the brightness settings. Since I like to ride at the 350 lumen level, the only way of cycling through the levels is to click up to 600, up to 1,000, and then down to 100. When meeting cars, it's probably not necessary to dim the lights anyway, but if I wanted to, it makes it apear like I'm clicking on my brights! I wish the lights would at least cycle from bright to dim if not in either direction, that would be an improvement.

The roads and weather have been terrible, so this is my first ride in the month of February. 110 miles in January plus tonight, bring me to 128 miles for my imaginary journey from New York to San Francisco!

Physically, the ride was easy. I've kept in shape throughout the winter by working-out when possible after work. They have a gym with "cardio" room that I'm free to use, and I have my own stack weight machine, exercise mat, and several pieces of exercise equipment. I try to do an hour on the elliptical machine and a half hour on a pedal machine on nights when I'm at work, and something here at home on the days I don't work. It must have worked because I noticed durring the ride how effortlessly I climbed the hills and how well I felt at the end.

Tomorrow, there's more snow on the way, so the bike will be sitting waiting and I'll be longing for spring to finally arrive here in Wisconsin.

I haven't riden much lately, but I went out on a beautiful bike ride this afternoon. It was a relatively balmy day for January in Wisconsin: thick fog in the morning, in the forties by noon with occasional light rain, slipping back into fog at dusk... a promise of a winter storm by tomorrow! It might be my last chance to put some miles on in January, so I rode 24 miles to White Mound State Park. That brings my total to 110 miles so far in 2013. I have a goal for this year but perhaps I should give an update of 2012.

I didn't blog anymore after October but I rode through November and into early December. My total miles for 2012 was about 1,700. I had hoped to achieve 2,000 miles! A friend of mine suggested that in 2013 I should try to do the equivalent of New York to San Francisco... 2,905.5 miles! I think that would be possible, since I didn't start riding until May last year and then only 4 miles a day in the beginning. This year I'm hoping to commute (28 miles one way) to work occasionally instead of just once like I did in 20112, and I've already got a good start in January.... so San Francisco, here I come. Sort of!

I bought some additional riding gear as the weather turned colder. I got a pair of neoprene shoe covers, wool socks, a balaclava to cover my face, and a pair of Bar Mitts for the bike handlebars. It seems that as the temperature drops each 10 degree or so, it requires a different dressing for the ride. Todays ride lasted about 2 1/2 hours and due to the wet road spray and light rain, I was just beginning to get cold toward the end.

Back to today's ride, even though it was in the forties when I left around 1:00pm, I encountered back roads that were still snow and ice covered. These were usually along a north hillside or in east/west valleys.

One of the things I noticed as I rode is that I can see much deeper into the woods than in the summer when the leaves hide so many secretes. Pieces of old junk farm machines, old cars, hidden cabins, buildings, and campers are all unveiled in the naked landscape.

The creeks where high with the January snow melt and the January thunder storm we endured durring the night. This morning as I went about feeding the animals, I couldn't see flooded valley as Narrows Creek became a roaring river, but I could hear it through the fog.









As I finished my ride this afternoon, the creek had subsided but great chucks of ice remained jammed against the bridge and were left lying out in fields adjacent to the creek that had barely slipt back into her banks.




I arrived home soaked from the inside from my own body sweat, and from the outside by the rain and wet highways.  The photo is blurry, sorry.  It was supposed to be a shot of my dirty pant legs and the dirty bike before I washed it and brought it in the basement to dry. My wife tried but missed! Ha!

She did capture the Bar Mitts, they are awesome! They are like a pair of mittens that attach to the handlebars of the bike. You operate the shifters and brakes inside the Bar Mitts. I rode the entire day without gloves as my hands remained warm inside. On colder days, I wear a pair of light gloves inside the Bar Mitts. They're easy to slip hands in and out as I ride even with gloves on. I love them. The balaclava seemed to keep my glasses from steaming up more than when I wasn't wearing it. Lastly, I ditched the helmet for the winter. The one I have doesn't fit well with the additional hats I wear.