veloblog: bicycling in Greensboro, NC and the surrounding area

142.3

Mileage-wise I'm behind my 2007 pace. This week is the first in which I've topped 100 miles since the very first week of the year. Total for this week: 142.3.

Jack's Creek

Our group's usual follow up to the Burnsville Metric is the Jack's Creek (PDF) loop. So we loaded up after breakfast this morning and headed over to the starting point, Blossman Gas on Hwy 19E. John L went fishing instead, so Susan, John P, Stuart, Jim and I rolled out at 9 AM.

Today's forecast called for an 80% chance of rain, but there was nothing but sunshine when we started. We cruised over the first couple of climbs, descended into the valley, and spent the next hour-plus cruising along the Toe and Cane Rivers. For the most part the roads are relatively flat and smooth. Other than a stop to change a flat (mine) we settled into a steady rhythm.

The sky got progressively cloudier and about 10 miles out a few drops fell. Nearby, John was getting slammed by a storm, and the non-cycling spouses were hiding out at the NuWray Inn. But, a few drops were all we got. We kept rolling up out of the valley, and down 19E to the parking lot.

Burnsville Metric

The Burnsville Metric is one of my favorite organized rides, so despite some ugly weather forecasts several of us headed over to Burnsville, NC Friday night to take part. Like last year some of stayed at the NuWray Inn, which is at the start and finish line.

The group watched the Friday night cruisers on the town square, settled in for sleep, then awoke to have a good, large breakfast. No shuttle to the start -- we just rolled out the front door and waited for the crowd to roll.

The start was at 9 AM sharp. The route starts down a long, narrow road that connects with 19E. There are plenty of squirrelly riders so I played it conservative and waited until the highway before I started to move up through the crowds. After connecting with John P, John L, and Susan we joined up with a large pack and started rolling.

The first 20 miles passed at a 21.5 average and would have been faster if the group had been more coordinated. For some reason the pack slowed every time someone pulled off the front and next rider pulled through. The one time I came to the front I pulled through, held a steady 24 over some rollers and realized that I had opened a gap of about 100 feet. Not wanting to ride solo, I eased up and waited for the pack to close the gap.

The second 20 miles would have been about as fast if it hadn't been for a mishap at the 32 mile mark. Our group made a sharp right, started to climb a short, steep hill, then I found myself on the ground. Up front, three geniuses decided to stop at the top of the hill, and rather than getting out of the way, they blocked the road. Several riders squeezed by, but others got on the brakes. John L hit Stuart's wheel, and the gap I'd let open in front of me (figuring the pace would slow a bit on the rise) suddenly disappeared. I hit John's downed bike, endo'd, and landed on John. The rider behind me followed suit and came to a rest partially on top of me.

No one was hurt beyond a few scrapes. My rear wheel was warped so I adjusted my brake to get some clearance, then rolled on, albeit at a slower pace. That was okay; we were about into the hills anyway. I settled in, rode a comfortable pace up the longer climbs, and finished at a 17+ average for the 59 miles.

Next, how we completely lucked out, missed a rainstorm, and enjoyed 37 fantastic miles.

Roaming Ride

The Roaming Ride continues. Tonight we rode out of Oka T. Hester Park.

The route:

L Vandalia
R Wiley-Davis
X Groometown -> Grandover Pkwy
L Vickery Chapel
R Kivett
L Riverdale
R Hwy 62
L Coltrane Mill
L Burnetts Chapel
R Drake
R Kivett
L Harris > Drummond > S Holden
L Bishop
R Groometown
R Wiley Davis
L Vandalia
R OTHP

26.6 miles. Plenty of hills. Perfect weather. Great ride.

Weekend Recap

Saturday: 16 of us got a 9 AM start and headed toward Gibsonville and Brown Summit. The wind and hills killed me. Killed me. We finished with 40 miles at a little more than a 16 mph average. Afterwards I jumped on the tandem with the Velowife and did the 14 mile Up2Speed ride. Besides nearly getting nailed by an idiot in a black pickup with handicap tags, it was a good ride.

Sunday: My back hurts. So I puttered, mowed the lawn, and generally avoided riding.


Technorati Tags: cycling, greensboro, tandem, training ride

Paris-Roubaix

Old school wheels. Double-wrapped handlebars. Fat tubulars. And loads of suffering. This Sunday, Paris-Roubaix is on.

Here's my favorite P-R finish ever. From the 1990 edition:

JDRF Death Valley Ride

You might have recently noticed the appearance of a link to my JDRF Ride Page in the left column of this blog. About that: Many folks who I ride with aren't aware that I've had diabetes for almost 32 years. I'm relatively lucky, compared to many with the disease. My health is very good, and diabetes doesn't prevent me from doing much at all. Of course, others with diabetes aren't as fortunate.

During the past few years I've been involved with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation as a board member for the Piedmont Triad Chapter, and as a volunteer in a variety of ways. In terms of providing financial support for diabetes research, the JDRF is second to none. About 85 cents out of every dollar raised by the organization is directed to research.

Last summer a friend told me about his work with the JDRF fundraising rides. He coaches the West Michigan ride team, devotes an enormous amount of time to it, and convinced me that I should give it a go. So I am.

In October I'll be riding the JDRF Death Valley Ride. I'm planning to do the century ride, 105 miles from Furnace Creek Ranch to Jubilee Pass and back. Leading up to the ride I'll raise $4,000 for diabetes research – research designed to lead to a cure.

Anyway, that's the reason for the link. Feel free to follow it, and if you're inclined, donate. It's for a good cause.

Trek to Greg: "See ya"

Don't tell me you couldn't see this coming. Trek announced that it has filed suit to sever its relationship with Greg LeMond. Read a recent court filing by LeMond's attorneys and glance through Trek's presentation to employees to sample what eight years of simmering animosity tastes like. My first thought after reading John Burke's presentation was that he must be a graduate of the Mike "respond to this threat as we see fit" Sinyard school of communications.

I doubt this will end well for any parties (including LA, who gets major ink in LeMond's filing), a point made by Gary Boulanger in his commentary on the split.


Technorati Tags: trek, greg lemond, lance armstrong, lawsuit

An extra dose of suffering

Devolder schools the peloton on the Mur de Grammont.

L'ascension du mur de grammont 2008
Uploaded by lomgchamp

The best kind of cycling insanity

Steep, cobbled, crowd-lined insanity. More from the Tour of Flanders.