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...

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.

Blustery Day in Wisconsin

Trees today, October 8

Same Trees September 21

It's a windy day in Wisconsin, too windy to ride bike. It's hard to photograph the wind, but the bare trees tell the story of what's happening in Wisconsin today. The large cottonwood tree in back is bare, the maple trees are half stripped of their leaves, but the evergreens and lilacs hold on. Autumn has arrived!

Maybe tonight, if the wind dies down, I'll go for a ride... that would be fun! If I do, I'll add to this blog posting. If not, I'll work indoors and workout in the exercise room downstairs.

Secrete Lake...

A hidden lake...

 

  Wednesday October 3rd, the third day of my vacation. I rode to a hidden lake. Beautiful! My daughter knew about it, I'd never heard of it.

We rode out of Rock Springs, through the train museum at North Freedom and then to the lake. The leaves were brilliant, the lake was like glass, the afternoon was perfect for a fall bike ride.

After the ride we went to the library in Reedsburg to hear a guy talk about monsters, aliens, and all things creepy! After all, it is October in Wisconsin. We've just enjoyed a 'Blue Moon'. Halloween is coming soon and then winter... I'm looking forward to a time of warm evenings spent next to a wood fire... and a good book.

My daughter and I passing through a train museum. 

Vacation

Panorama photo taken near Ironton, Wisconsin.

I began my October vacation with a few days of beautiful weather, and some 20 and 30 mile rides in the autumn sun. I down-loaded a Panorama App for my cell phone, very cool!

Although the last couple of days have been wonderful, the weather doesn't look so nice for the October  Fest ride coming up on Saturday. Temperature between 26 and 50 degrees, northwest winds at 9 mph, 30% chance of rain!

Yesterday I passed 1,400 miles for the year. Woo hoo!

Falling like Rain

Leaves begin to fall

Leaves falling from trees.

A few days ago as I rode down a country road, the air around me was alive with falling leaves; falling like rain, but fluttering like little birds with each breath of autumn breeze through the trees. I almost passed by without a photo but the moment was so magical that I turned back. I never did catch the air as filled with falling leaves as when I first encountered the moment, but I did manage to photograph some.

At another point along the way, I passed a beautifully fenced pasture with the fall leaves changing in the woods along the edge of the pasture.

Today is Saturday, one week before the big ride next weekend. I can't wait. I hope the weather is as awesome next weekend as it is today, that would make a perfect day for the Tyranena October Fest ride. Although I've skipped riding Tuesday and today of this week, I have added 105 miles making my yearly total 1,350 miles. I'm getting closer to my goal of 2,000 miles for the year. I think I can... I think I can!

Preparing for Cold Weather Ride

Hat, helmet, mirror, windbreaker, and a red face as I come in from a 22 mile ride with temps in the 40's!

It's 2:00AM on Wednesday, September 26, 2012. I just got back from a 22 mile ride; the temperature was 41 degrees. I was very comfortable and wish I could have riden more!

I'm testing out new clothing I bought Monday as I look forward to the Tyranena October Fest bike ride October 6th. This will be my first group ride. The Tyranena bike-ride is limited to 1750 riders and when I registered it was 80% filled! I have the choice of a 20, 50, or 70 mile route. Since I just road 22 miles tonight, after work, for the heck of it...  it doesn't make sense to commit to a day's event for anything less than at least 50 miles, or, unless the wind is against me, 70. The big thing for me now is planning and preparing what to wear.

Clothing

Up until now, I've been wearing regular stuff. No spandex. No biking cloths, just regular duds.  But, as I thought about an October ride, I decided I needed to invest in cold weather, biking specific, clothing. 

Normal temperatures for October range from 40's to 60's. I bought Underarmour Compression Base-layer tights and tops, and outer Nike wind breaker jacket and pants. If the weather is anywhere near normal, I should be dressed adequately.

I'm experimenting with what regular cloths to wear in-between these two crucial layers. I think I know what bring... One thing worthy of note about the windbreaker pants is that I bought what I have used at a second hand store for $3. The other jacket and pants were $50 to $80 at Dicks sporting goods in Madison. I saved some big bucks on the windbreaker pants, but the zippers on the legs are coming undone, so I need to do some sewing there.

I was glad to go out tonight and ride in the 40 degree weather in preparation for the Tyranena ride. The moon was bright and trafic in the country was extremely light. I think I could have riden for hours...

I think I've made good choices, and I am ready to ride regardless of the weather on the 6th.

Fall Showers

Corn fields have become brown, leaves are turning to fall colors and falling from trees, and the days have become windier. Bike rides are beautiful but sometimes excruciatingly hard. The last couple days have found me riding through some very light showers at times. The weather predictions are for snow any day now!

When I left at 9:00 am this morning, the temperature was still in the forties. Twenty six miles later, I rode into a brisk 50-some-degree wind. My inner cloths were soaked in sweat, my face felt wind-burned, and my legs, back and butt were crying out in pain. The wind-breaker jacket and Nike pants did a pretty good job of keeping my body warm... but my face. My head! Soaked in sweat and exposed to the wind; I was miserable! It was one of the first rides where I kept thinking of calling to be picked up. Instead, I kept thinking about the finish and finally it arrived.

My back has been teetering on a breakdown, and the last 10 miles I was afraid it might happen. My knees hurt and I was cold as I wobbled into the house. Slowly, I got undressed, drew a hot bath in the garden tub, and enjoyed my reward for a strenuous morning ride. I turned on the whirlpool and sunk into the luxury of the hot swirling bubbles...

Amazing things have begun to happen with my diabetes. My blood glucose was at 117 this morning when I awoke and 103 after the ride. I did the morning ride without breakfast, which is something that I need to stop doing. I did take my morning drink of 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder, 1 teaspoon (heaping) Ceylon Cinnamon, and 1 heaping tablespoon of orange flavored Metamucil.

My total miles since spring is 1231 miles. I'm wondering if I'll make it to 1,500 miles much less the 2,000 miles that I had hoped for.

Last night I got the packet from a friend to join her team riding next year in an MS fund-raiser. I'm looking forward to not only a strong finish riding for fun this year but maybe a new challenge in 2013... If anyone reads this and you are from the Western Sauk County/Eastern Richland/Southern Juneau county area, and up for some challenging fun on a bike... please contact me! Also, I've meet some friends that would bike, if they had a bike... I gave away my Raleigh on Friday.

Fall in Wisconsin

Fall is in the air in Wisconsin and biking has become a little harder because of the windy days and cooler temperatures. A light frost on Tuesday or Wednesday took out the leaves on the squash, that's how quickly fall is arriving. I can't afford expensive biking clothing for the changing season, so I've visited neighborhood thrift stores and found some clothing that works for me, for now. My favorite is a Nike sport pant with cotton lining. It's light, wind resistant, loose, yet not too lose around the pedals. Sadly, it has a few seams starting to come undone. $3 dollars was all it cost. I hope it will do for this season.

On Wednesday, I left for a ride in a light rain with temperatures down in the fifty's. By the time I returned home, the rain had stopped, but the wind throughout the ride gave me quite a workout, even though I only covered 10 miles. My average mph dropped to eight-something!

The biking exercise, spaghetti squash meals, and a new drink I've been taking before meals is resulting in some amazing low blood sugar readings and even a few sugar crashes! That's very good news. My drink that I take in the morning consists of 1 tablespoon Orange flavored Metamucil, 1 teaspoon of Ceylon Cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon Turmeric powder. In the afternoons I usually substitute Crystal Light for the Metamucil for my evening meal. It seems like I'm loosing more weight as the glucose readings continue to improve.

A Thousand Miles

I achieved two milestones on the 22 of August. First, I passed a thousand miles of biking for the summer, and secondly, I rode over 60 miles in a day, 64 miles to be exact. My rides are seldom planned, so when I left on Wednesday, I had no plan of where to ride to. My blood sugar was high from the previous day's splurge on a family trip, so the one thing I did want to do was take a long ride and maybe travel the 32 miles I needed to complete one-thousand miles. As it turned out, I road twice the miles I needed to meet that milestone!

Carr Valley Cheese Factory

I started out by riding to Lime Ridge and then I peddled north on highway G passing the Carr Valley Cheese factory. I think Carr Valley makes the best cheese and the best cheese curds. My wife works there and that may skew my judgement slightly. She was on vacation this week, so I didn't stop. 

After passing the cheese factory, I rode past Easter's Bakery. This is another Amish enterprise that's open during the summer. The little building is another Amish telephone booth, I think. 

The weather on Wednesday was perfect for riding bicycle: blue sky, sunshine, but not too hot. I did wake up on Thursday with a slight sunburn, so maybe there was a little too much sun?

Amish Bakery. Sign. And phone booth

Me and my shadow...we ride solo!

Looking back on the Village of Cazenovia as I peddled up Cunningham hill. 

Be the time I rode past Easter's Bakery, I was beginning to develop a plan, a destination. Valton. I took a back road to Cazenovia and after riding through the park, I planned to head north toward the little village of Valton. I've ridden to Valton once this summer, but on Wednesday, I chose a different route. I like traveling roads that are less-traveled and many times this summer I've ridden roads that I've never traveled before though they are so close to where I live.

Amish along the highway. 

Neat store....

The back roads to Valton were beautiful, filled with hills and valleys and interesting farms. After arriving in Valton.... and since I had the day off... I decided I would continue riding north to the Village of Hillsboro. Someone had told me about a store there that sold spices in bulk, and I wanted to purchase some Turmeric. The name of the store was Whitaker's Farm Fresh Market. It turned out to be a fine health food store with bulk spices, grains, and Amish canned produce. I bought a large tub of Turmeric (.27 lbs for $2.88) but I also found Braggs Apple Cider by the gallon. The price was a full dollar cheaper than what I had been paying for it but I decided that a gallon of cider would be too heavy for the ride. I returned on Thursday and purchased the cider.

Hops... what makes beer as we know it

A difficult to find bike path

I had a burger and a couple of beers at a motel/bar called Beezer, and then I rode the bike trails from Hillsboro to Union Center, Wonewoc, LaValle, and finally Reedsburg. Along the way, I found wild Hops growing in several areas. I raise hops for homebrewing beer, so I'm familiar with when they are ready to harvest. The trail hops weren't ready for harvest yet, but in a week or two they may be? I'll be sure to return to the trails with a bag so I can collect enough for a batch of 'Bike Trail' beer!

A swamp filled with some kind of purple flowered plant.

 I passed swamps filled with beautiful purple flowers and stopped for Culver's Ice Cream In Reedsburg. The sun was setting by the time I approached Loganville and it was dark when I arrived home.

Wednesday's ride was the longest I've ridden so far. I wasn't particularly spent, although I was pleasantly tired. This spring when I started riding, I never imagined that I would go this far and I don't know how far I'll still travel before winter ends my riding adventures. I didn't ride today, but spent time instead in my little exercise room here at the house. I'm afraid I'll be banished to that when the cold arrives, so I'm experimenting now.

In all my rides, I ride solo. I've only seen one other person riding the roads and two or three people riding the trails. So much beauty... so few taking the opportunity to enjoy....

Sunday Ride

19 August 2012 - My blood sugar has been running high in the mornings lately, so I knew I had to go for a longer ride today. It was past 9:30 A.M. by the time I feed the ducks, guineas, and chickens and got dressed for the ride. The temperature was in the high sixties, so I wore light shorts and my stretchy runners shirt.

Lime Ridge is a mile and a half away and from there I turned south on highway G. I pulled over a few times along the way to 'Wards Corners' to photograph more Amish businesses. The Amish don't want to be photographed but I don't see how it could hurt to photograph their homes and businesses, so I did.

This place has piles of lumber.

We bought a double seated glider with center table from this place for Sandy's Birthday earlier this spring.

"Wards Corner's' used to be a country store, gas station, garage, and living quarters but now appears abandoned as a business or home, and not well kept.

I rode past Wards Corners and turned east at the Sandusky Church. It's about 7 miles to the Sandusky Church. I like that route as traffic is usually light if any.  After I pass the church, I head south to White Mound Lake.

I'm supposed to have some kind of pass to enter White Mound Lake Park at a cost of $20 a year or $4 a day but I haven't bought that yet. The Park is part of the Sauk County parks system and I've been a tax-paying resident of the county all my life. I feel that I've already done my part to foot the bill for White Mound park, why am I being charged a ridiculous fee for a park I've already bought and paid for? Upkeep? Sure, but collect that from non-county residents, let the people that have bought and paid for the park use it, or at least pass through the park on the road that I'm sure is still maintained with our tax dollars.

Anyway, White Mound Park is 12 miles into my morning ride and I have to use the restrooms.  I venture into the boat landing area and use the outdoor toilets that reek like most outdoor toilets do.  I'm thinking in my head what to do if the park 'Ranger'... ranger Smith or whoever, catches me. I don't have my wallet, identification, nor any money. I figure I'd lie and say my name was Chris L---. That's a guy I work with, love to pester, and always threaten to use his name if I ever do anything that I might have to answer for!

All went well and I left the park unmolested by ranger Smith.

As I peddled my way toward Hillpoint, I noticed time was slipping by quickly, and I needed to hurry to get home and ready for work. I chose the shortest route from Hillpoint to my home even though it involved some challenging hills. Along the way, I passed a dirt-bike track that is not Amish but a local business all the same. It's about 3 miles from my house and I barely hear the dirt bikes on the weekend but would hate to have something like this closer and have to listen to racing bikes every weekend during the summer.

The morning ride took about 2 hours and ended at 21 miles. My total for the year is 947 miles. I should pass 1,000 miles before next weekend, what then?

When I started, I didn't have a goal in mind other than to ride a little four-mile ride and lower my blood sugar. Now I want to see every obscure side-road and take-in all the sights, sounds, and smells that summer in Wisconsin has to offer and I'm really noticing all of those.

I'll dedicate some future postings especially to the smells and the sounds of the country. Till then, have a safe journey...

Amish Country

Western Sauk County, where I live and do most of my bike riding, has seen a tremendous increase in Amish residents in the last couple of decades. Three or four decades ago, there were no Amish in our area but they came and their communities continue to grow and expand.

They have established many businesses out in the country: greenhouses, bakeries, vegetable stands, carpentry and cabinet shops, selling eggs, doing metal work, masonry, building sheds, and more. As I rode a 12 mile route this morning, these are a few of the Amish businesses that I encountered.

Sign in front of the barn below.

The main office...

 At a spot close to the above horseshoeing and horse drawn wagon business and close to at least three other Amish farms, there was an "Amish telephone booth". At least that's what I think it is. The Amish want to keep their families and their lives separate from the outside world even while living and working in 'our' world. Therefore, telephones are not allowed in these Amish homes,  nor even in their businesses yet somewhere close, but separated, you will often find a small building with a telephone in it.

Amish Phone Booth

There was clearly telephone wires connected to this building, and as I passed, I could see papers and notes on the wall inside. Amish businesses, with items for sale or services offered, will often have a phone number listed where you can leave a message and they'll get back to you... when they get around to stopping by the little Amish phone booth!

Sign pointing to an Amish Bakery

I'm leery of some of the Amish businesses. This sign pointing to the Windy Ridge Bakery proclaiming that it's open on Saturday apparently means that it is only open on Saturday during the summer! I stopped by last winter on a Saturday, walked in (to the basement part of the Amish house), only to find that I was standing in someone's house! The bakery was apparently closed for the winter, but they had neglected to change or cover their signs. Embarrassing!

These are only a few of the many Amish enterprises that are within 5 or 6 miles of where I live and where I rode my bike this morning. Here are a couple more photos from my morning bike ride...

Looking down from a hilltop through a valley

I love the pretty blue flowers/weeds along the road.

Three Culvert Road

I took a ride down a memory road this evening. It's a real road (roads) that holds a bunch of memories for me.

At the end of our driveway, and up the side road that I used to just know as 'up around the bend', there were three culverts until the floods began coming and washed them away. One year, I don't know which one, the three culverts were washed out and replaced with a cement bridge. Today, the road still bears the name but I don't suppose those under forty or so would remember why it got its name.

The little pool of wate where the three culverts used to
empt

Tonight, as I set out for an evening ride, I turned up Three Culvert Road instead of biking up the county road to Lime Ridge as I normally do.

The first thing I came to was the bridge and the little pool of water where we used to spend so much time swimming. They wrecked the 'swimming hole' when they replaced the three culverts with a bridge. It's shallow now and the sewer treatment run-off from Lime Ridge makes alge grow and no one swims in the pond anymore.

I ride my bike silently over the bridge and the memories of three culverts that were the center of the summer for a bunch of kids 50 years ago.

Along Three Culvert Road, half-way between County S
and East Harris Road.

As I ride 'up around the bin' I remember a time when the road was gravel, before it was black-toped. I remember a day I drove an old truck, 1950, 51? Studebaker pickup truck up this road with a wild bull in the back rocking the truck and two neighborhood friends beside me practically rolling with laughter as we drove the bull back to the farm up the road from where it had escaped.

A sadder day happened off to the ditch on the right where my friend August pulled loose from her leash and was killed along this road. Up ahead on the left is a grove of pine trees. This is where a house once stood where my mother and her family lived for time. I remember seeing the foundation of the house, and a barn in the little valley to the left. This is only a half a mile from the farm where my dad grew up and where I live today.

This is along East Harris Road looking west toward the
Harris School. The play ground is completely covered
in trees.

As the sun set, Three Culvert Road had ended and I turned onto East Harris Road. I approached another grove of trees that hold a forest full of memories. On the left, hidden among the trees in the photo on the right, is Harris School. That was the school that I attended until 7th grade and where my mother, father, aunts & uncles, and grandfather went to school. I believe that even my daughters went to Harris School for a while as it became a kindergarten school before finally closing.

When I left from home tonight, I didn't know how much I would be able to ride. I fell off a building the day before and my left ankle was hurting pretty bad, but as I got on the bike and began to ride, it didn't hurt so much. I hadn't gone to the doctor because I never seem to get really hurt. As I passed Harris School, I thought about Billy Kruger, the farmer that lived next to the school and how we used to get him to stop his tractor and talk to us. I remembered how Billy had shoveled the road by-hand, all the half-mile out to highway G durring a bad snowstorm when we were kids!

When I got to Lime Ridge, my ankle didn't hurt much, so I didn't turn home, but headed out for the remainder of a 12-mile ride. It was nearly dark when I finished. Sandy had slipt off to bed and I went over 900 miles for the year! 910 to be exact...

"It's Gonna Happen"

"It's gonna happen..."

Ready to ride... except for helmet

That's what I said months ago when the subject of riding my bike to work came up, It's gonna happen! Before this year is over, I'm going to ride my bike to work! I had to pick the right day with the right temperature, the right wind direction, and the right moon! Monday, August 6, 2012 wasn't a 'perfect' day but it was a good one.

Small pond in LaValle, a village along the way to work.

One of the many problem with me biking to work is that it is a heck of a long ride! I work in another county, 28 miles away from where I live. Biking to work and back involved a 57 mile ride because I jaunted across town to pick up a sub sandwich before I went to my job. Another problem is that I work second shift. Riding to work mid-morning was not all that out-of-the-ordinary but when I finished my shift, I began my ride home at 10:00pm at night! Dark. The waining moon wouldn't crest the horizon for ten-minutes after my return ride began and it was in fact hidden under clouds for the first hour of my ride home on Monday night.

Crossing into Juneau County. The road had
safe shoulders but dangerous curves.

I rode the back streets and highways out of Mauston, Wisconsin as I began my treck home, but even there, I had more than a few cars and trucks pass me in the night. I use a flashing red light on the back of my helmet and a powerful LED light on the front of my bike and another LED strapped to my forehead to flip on or off as needed. 

I picked a good day as far as the wind was concerned. I enjoyed a slight tail wind while riding both to and from work. The temperature was great during the day, probably in the 70's and 80's, but it was slightly cool and damp on the way home.

Somewhere near the halfway point between home and Mauston is a county park along the highway. This was a great place to stop and stretch my legs for a bit and also use the restroom. 

Summit Park shelter... clean bathroom with running water!

As outdoor facilities go, the restrooms at Summit Park were awesome! Very clean and they had running water, hand soap, and paper towels. A very well maintained park. 

On my trip home, I stopped at a little bar near the park called the Little Summit instead of at the park. That too was a special place. I enjoyed a beverage and a free piece of cake from the friendly proprietor of the Little Summit. I was so impressed with the hospitality that I'll be returning this Friday, by car, for the Friday night Fish dinner. There is supposed to be an awesome view from the Little Summit's dinning room. I'm looking forward to that.

A stone fire place in the park

So, I can say... "it happened"!  I rode my bike to work and back, all 57 miles of it in a day!

The following days, after the Monday ride, I was naturally a little sore. But still, I was able to ride 10 miles on Tuesday, and 12 miles both Wednesday and Thursday.  My total distance for the summer is 894 miles.

Looking Back

A Summer of Biking in Wisconsin.

It's been a wonderful summer of biking in Wisconsin. I visited many area towns and villages, traveled numerous never-before-visited backroads. I broke a bike pedal, blew a tire speeding 30 mph down hill and got chased by a black bear...  I lie! Actually, it wasn't a bear that chased me but a dog. She's chased me more than once. Her name is Cocoa and she doesn't bite... according to the owner... who was standing there on the road with me... trying to control her pet... as Cocoa nipped my right leg!

The 'ride' of 2012 began three months ago in May. I didn't have a plan, just an urge (and a medical need that I will explain later) to get on my bike and exercise.  The first ride I took was from my home to the village of Lime Ridge, then around by my old grade school, and back home again. It was about a four-mile journey. When I finished, my legs were as wobbly as if they were made of rubber. I repeated that ride almost daily for the next few weeks and by the end of May I had traveled about 90 miles.  I timed myself to see if I could complete the Lime Ridge ride in under 20 minutes but I'm not sure that I ever did.

In June, the rides became longer. First it was a five-mile circuit, then eight miles to vote in Hillpoint in the June elections, then ten-miles. By July, I was visited area villages and now in the first week of August, I ride sometimes 30 to 50 miles in a day. 

My Bikes

I've riden over 800 miles since I began on May 11th, and I'm on my third or forth bicycle. They have all been used garage-sale or second hand bikes. The one I'm using now is a Specialized Crossroads that I picked up at a St. Vincent De Paul Store for $120.

The Specialized is the most expensive Bicycle I've owned. The Raleigh cost $35 and the first two I rode were purchased many years ago for $5 or $10 each. I like the Specialized Crossroads because it shifts the best of any of my bikes and the brakes are the best also.

Health

I have diabetes. A few years ago, when I first found out about my diabetes, I had to take insulin for a while, but in a year or a little longer I quit as I was able to control my blood glucose with medication and diet. In April of this year I stopped taking medication and have relied on diet, exercise, and some special teas to lower my blood glucose. The long bike rides are an important way to immediately lower blood sugar levels, but important for the long term, they are reducing my belly fat. I don't really know what I weigh because my scale tells lies but where it used to say I weighed 185 to 190 now it says I weigh 170 to 180. I'm sure my doctor's scale will add 15 to 20 lbs, but still, I must be dropping some weight.

Towns and Villages

Almost all of my rides begin and end here at home. The only exceptions were two times I drove to the 400 trail, and once, when I blew a tire, I had to call my wife to come pick me up. Here are the places I've biked to so far, all in the Sauk, Juneau, Richland County area of Wisconsin: Lime Ridge, Hillpoint, Loganville, White Mound county park, Sandusky, Bear Valley, Bunker Hill, German Town, Cazenovia, La Valle, Reedsburg, Hemlock Park, Lake Redstone, Dutch Hollow Lake, and Valton. The most I've riden in a day was 54 miles. 

I'm limited more in time for riding bike than I am in strength or endurance. I work full-time. In addition, I and my best buddy Puff, tend a large garden, keep a few sheep, 7 chickens, 8 ducks, 33 guinea chicks and I have a hobby greenhouse. The days are busy.