Comment on The Shoot Out

Sunday, I gave you some information about a ride called "The Shoot Out". Click here to read it.

As part of the cycling community, it is easy to get caught up in protecting our rights. We have a right to riding peacefully and without harassment from motorists and police. This isn't occurring in Pima County. In fact, the right to ride through the local reservation might be taken away.

Cyclists, like motorists, have laws to follow. We are to follow all the basic traffic laws and some additional laws that pertain only to bicycles, like riding as far to the right as practicable, and riding no more than two abreast. Taking the lane is only to be done when moving at the speed of traffic, or the speed limit. I personally think these are reasonable. These laws are necessary to create harmony among motorists and cyclists. If everyone follows their own rule, we have a problem.


Motorists can't share the road if we don't share as well. Sharing is not one-sided.

In the VeloNews article, it is brought to our attention that riders are riding more than two abreast, even through the reservation where the law is single file. Complaints have been made about indecent exposure when cyclists relieve themselves in not very discreet places (not just number one, but number two as well). They offend others and impede traffic.

On the flip side, these cyclists have been harassed by drivers and police. Accidents were caused by police, one case being when the cop swerved his vehicle into the lane of the cyclists (oncoming) causing the front cyclists to brake hard resulting in the middle of the peloton to go down. Bad injuries were incurred. The cop showed no remorse, and reprimand from the police department is unlikely. Motorist's behavior is encouraged by the police with a pat on the back.

I was disappointed in the VeloNews article in the respect that, although the offenses of the cyclists were outlined, the police and motorists seemed to be more to blame. I agree that what they are doing is very dangerous and quite unacceptable, and the job of the police is to, well, police. They are to be the mediators between the offenders and the victims. What I don't like is how my viewpoint never really came up.

I believe that both parties are wrong. We know that the motorists and police simply have to quit harassing the cyclists. It's not just an irritating game, it's a potential death sentence for the cyclists. None of this is important enough to incur a death.

What many cyclists fail to do when they are facing a situation such as the Pima County conflict is look at what they can do to change the behavior toward them. Many residents don't like the cyclists, police included. There have been many complaints about the cyclists, complaints for behavior that I believe is completely unacceptable (read the VeloNews article for a nice survey of the offenses). These cyclists continue to break several laws and have no regard for other traffic on the road, yet they want respect. They want people to like them.

If we, as cyclists, want others to respect our right to share the road, we have to be willing to respectfully share as well. This is something of great importance to consider as we head into National Bike Month.

With Freedom Comes Uncertainty

It's truly amazing how we often wish for the freedom to do whatever we want. For most of you reading this blog, that would be riding your bike.

It looks as if my financial aid is nonexistent for the summer semester at Tech. This is going to force me to withdraw from summer classes because don't I really have $4,000 just floating around somewhere. I wish I did. That would rock. I'd go back to Fruita! (I don't claim to be a responsible spender!)

With my almost newfound freedom, one question keeps resurfacing: what am I gonna do? I will continue to take call and work random shifts at the hospital, but my hours are so sparse that it doesn't really seem like a commitment. With summer comes vacations, though. Even filling in for others' vacation time, I am still going to have a lot of free time. So what do I do with it?

Allow me to state the obvious. I will ride my bikes. All three of them. I will continue to road ride, and work on my cyclocross skills and anaerobic fitness, and I will do LOTS of mountain biking. I will also do a lot of trail work. I love trail day. This should be a fun summer.

Knowing how time-consuming my bike habit is, I know that I don't have a lot of free time. That's why work got in the way. ;-) However, on the eve of my two final exams, I'm not only worrying about how I'll do on those, but I'm worrying about how my summer will turn out.

I'm sure I'll have a plan by next week.

Stabbing at Local VA Clinic

No one gave their opinion on yesterday's post, so I will present my opinion Wednesday. That gives all four of my readers the great opportunity to voice their opinion about the Shootout. Just kidding. I have more than four readers. ;-)

I haven't ridden since I last rode. I can't remember when that was. Looking at my log, it was Thursday when I had to ride to the VA Clinic for a fasting blood draw. That was fun.

I rode six miles with only water in my stomach so someone could stab my arm. It wasn't very fun. She missed the vein on the right arm, and left a nice, knobby hematoma on the left. Translation: she went through the vein. In all fairness, I'm getting to be a pretty difficult draw as I age. That's a scary thought considering I'm only 31. At this rate, they'll need to put a PICC line in when I'm 51 to have any kind of access to my veins. ;-)

The blood actually tracked up my arm, so there is a "tail" to my bruise. It's kind of cool, but I prefer the kind of bruises that result from colliding with chainrings and rocks. They want me to come back for another draw so they can test for iron because my hemoglobin count was low. That's ok. I can already tell them I haven't been eating enough iron. I think I'll put off the next great opportunity to get stabbed until I heal from this last trauma.


In recent years, I tend to bruise after blood draws. This one hurt.

Some of you are probably thinking I'm a bit morbid with my terminology, but that really is how "we" in the medical profession refer this blessed event. In brief, you are a "draw" and they "stab" you to get the vein. Fun stuff!

I didn't want to return home without something in my stomach, so I packed a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and bagged some strawberries. I took along two bottles of Heed as well. I ate the strawberries when I walked out of the clinic and ate the sandwich while riding home. I really like the concept of eating real food on the bike (as opposed to gels and bars). I got the idea from a Lance Armstrong book I bought.

So, I hope this post has been useful by teaching you how you, too, can successfully ride your bike to your next fasting blood draw.

The Shoot Out

The Shoot Out is a weekly group ride of professional and advanced amateur riders that starts at the University of Arizona. Great idea, eh? One would think.

Now consider this: there seems to be quite an anti-cyclist attitude by the local police. In fact, an accident was even caused by the actions of a police officer: crossing the double yellow line in an attempt to stop the peloton for breaking a traffic law.

Now, for those of us who ride the road for training or commuting purposes, who are concerned about the safety of cyclists, and who support laws that are designed to protect our well-being, we might become a little irate at seeing this news regarding the police-cyclist interactions in Pima County.

Ride Strong has provided us with a video on their blog and some comments from local cyclists. Their video can be viewed below.



But wait! There's more! OH, there is so much more that I am going to let you read about it at VeloNews: Legally Speaking with Bob Mionske - Shootout at the UA Corral.

Now that you have seen the video and read the VeloNews article, what do you think? Who is wrong in this situation? What needs to be done? Please share.

I will let you know what I think in tomorrow's post.

Brrr

It snowed today. We didn't get a lot, just a dusting. It is currently 30 degrees F - a big difference from the 60 degree weather we had a couple days ago.

I didn't ride yesterday or today, so I am getting dangerously close to laziness. If I don't ride tomorrow, I will have motivational issues. The problem is the weather.

I have posted a ride on the Red Jacket forum for tomorrow at 1:00 pm. The temperature is expected to be 35 degrees, and the wind about 18 mph. I could handle 35, but 18 mph along with it? Uh, no. I am canceling the ride.

In fact, the next three days are cold with snow expected. I most likely am not going to ride. I'll probably throw on my winter clothes and take the dogs for a walk. I don't have class until Wednesday, which is expected to be nice with a high in the 40s and partly cloudy. I can do that. I will ride to my exams that day.

Summer really is just around the corner. The calendar tells me so. I just have to keep telling myself that.

Michigan Bicycle Laws

Sometimes, bicycle laws are a gray area. Even when there are clear laws on the books protecting the rights of cyclists, law enforcement may shift any blame to the cyclist. In many cases, law enforcement is more than happy to protect cyclists' rights, but motorists feel cyclists have no rights, and most of the time, motorists don't even know that there are laws giving us rights.

That may be a bit of a confusing paragraph, so let me sum it up. If you ride on the road, know your rights. Click on the League of American Bicyclists link to the right to help you find information for your state. Michigan law is summed up below.


In general, cyclists should follow the same laws as motorists.

State of Michigan: What Every Driver Should Know
Bicycles and Mopeds pp 105-106, pp 107-108 of the .pdf

Much of the advice about motorcyclists also applies to bicycle and moped riders. Bicycle and moped riders are allowed to ride in a traffic lane, but must stay as far to the right as practical, obey traffic signals, not ride more than two abreast in a single lane, and must ride in the same direction as other traffic. Bicyclists entering a roundabout are encouraged to ride in the center of the lane, traveling at or near the speed of circulating traffic. Motorists who encounter bicyclists in a roundabout are urged to use caution, be courteous, and share the road.

A bicycle or moped ridden after dark must have a front headlight and rear reflector. But these may be hard to see. A person riding a bicycle on a sidewalk meant for pedestrians must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and sound a horn or bell before overtaking and passing a pedestrian.

Watch the side of the road for slow-moving bicycles and mopeds without reflectors. Be ready to dim the headlights. While it is safer not to, you may drive beside a bicycle or moped in the same lane. Leave plenty of room. A rider may turn sharply to avoid something in the road or a door being opened from a parked vehicle.

The Michigan Vehicle Code does not require vehicles such as go-peds and electric scooters to be registered. Some municipalities have outlawed the use of go-peds and electric scooters on roads and sidewalks.

Although the law only requires moped riders under age 19 to wear approved, properly fastened safety helmets, all moped and bicycle riders should wear them as well as reflective clothing.

State of Michigan: What Every Driver Should Know

MDOT: Mackinac Bridge

How can my bicycle group get across the Mackinac Bridge?

Answer:
Bicyclists are not allowed to cross the Mackinac Bridge on their own. The Mackinac Bridge Authority will transport your group across the bridge in Mackinac Bridge Authority vehicles. The fee is $2.00 per bicycle.

If you are traveling northbound, there is a phone at the south end of the bridge. Instructions for using the phone are posted in the phone box.

If you are southbound, please go to our service window in the administration building and ask for assistance. The administration building is located on the north end of the Mackinac Bridge on the east side of the toll plaza.

The service is provided on an as needed basis. If you need additional information please call us at 906-643-7600.

MDOT Frequently Asked Questions: Mackinaw Bridge


The Mackinac Bridge Authority will transport your group across the bridge in Mackinac Bridge Authority vehicles for $2.00 per bicycle.

League of Michigan Bicyclists

YIELD THE RIGHT OF WAY
Section 257.612.1(a)
Vehicular traffic, including vehicles turning right or left, shall yield the right-of-way to other vehicles and to pedestrians and bicyclists lawfully within the intersection or an adjacent crosswalk at the time the signal is exhibited.

Section 257.612.1(d)
The vehicular traffic shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and bicyclists lawfully within an adjacent crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully using the intersection.

MANDATORY SIDE PATH
Section 257.660.3
Where a usable and designated path for bicycles is provided adjacent to a highway or street, a person operating an electric personal assistive mobility device may, by local ordinance, be required to use that path.

EXCEPTIONS TO FAR RIGHT
Section 257.660a
A person operating a bicycle upon a highway or street at less than the existing speed of traffic shall ride as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway except as follows:

(a) When overtaking and passing another bicycle or any other vehicle proceeding in the same direction.

(b) When preparing to turn left.

(c) When conditions make the right-hand edge of the roadway unsafe or reasonably unusable by bicycles, including, but not limited to, surface hazards, an uneven roadway surface, drain openings, debris, parked or moving vehicles or bicycles, pedestrians, animals, or other obstacles, or if the lane is too narrow to permit a vehicle to safely overtake and pass a bicycle.

(d) When operating a bicycle in a lane in which the traffic is turning right but the individual intends to go straight through the intersection.

(e) When operating a bicycle upon a 1-way highway or street that has 2 or more marked traffic lanes, in which case the individual may ride as near the left-hand curb or edge of that roadway as practicable.

2-ABREAST RIDING
Sec. 257.660b.
Two or more individuals operating bicycles upon a highway or street shall not ride more than 2 abreast except upon a path or portion of the highway or street set aside for the use of bicycles.

PARKING A BICYCLE ON A SIDEWALK
Sec. 257.660d.
(1) An individual may park a bicycle on a sidewalk except as prohibited by an official traffic control device.

(2) An individual shall not park a bicycle on a sidewalk in such a manner that the bicycle impedes the lawful movement of pedestrians or other traffic.

Entire Law
LMB Bike Advocacy Center

Weather-Induced Rest Days

Rest day. That special day in between workouts that allows your body to repair itself and prepare for another hard workout.

Magazines often provide workout programs that tell you which days to ride and which to rest. It's a no-brainer. These rest days are necessary to prevent overtraining. Another guideline I really like is resting heart rate. No, it is not your heart rate while sitting in front of the television watch the most recent episode of Grey's Anatomy. It is your heart rate before you get out of bed in the morning. Recently, mine has been between 55 and 60 beats per minute. If I wake up to a heart rate that is significantly higher, 75 or 80 bpm for example, that means one of two things: I am either severely hungover and my body is dying for water, or I am overtraining and a rest day is necessary.

Unfortunately, programs and heart rates don't necessarily take into consideration the springtime Michigan cyclist. In this case, a day that isn't cold, rainy, or snowy is a day to ride. It is a day that cannot be lost to laziness. Seize the day! Ride your bike! With the unpredictable and ever-changing weather in springtime Michigan, overtraining is hard to accomplish.

Now, shut off your computer and go ride your bike. It's a beautiful day out!

Secret Weapon Training Method

It is no secret that road riding is quite beneficial to competitive mountain bikers. It promotes endurance at a steady pace and allows the rider to work on techniques such as more efficient pedaling.

I chose to trade in my Nissan Pathfinder for a Kona Jake the Snake. Jake and I spend a lot of time together. We roll to school and work and we're even starting to shop and attend meetings together. Currently, our shopping is limited to a new stem and a rear view mirror for Jake. Jake will be sporting the new goods, but I'll be able to ride with more comfort and with a visual on traffic approaching from behind. Jake and I will be safe together.

In just a couple weeks of riding, I've noticed something else. I'm losing weight, I'm getting stronger, and my commute time is getting shorter and shorter by the ride. My commute involves a lot of climbing with a few sprints sprinkled here and there.

My commuting experience has proven to be quite an effective tool for increasing speed and power. I can't wait to find out how this translates to the trail.

Cast Iron Dream

A couple of men have argued with me that added iron is quite unhealthy for my diet. "Iron is something we don't need an excess of." That's fine and dandy, but as a menstruating female who has felt the effects of anemia, iron is Heaven on Earth. It is no wonder that my carnivorous side overwhelmingly takes control of me after a ride. This is evident towards the end of a ride as I discuss thick, juicy burgers with my riding partner, Pat. One day, as I rolled into Calumet, I said, "I smell BEEF!" That was it. Onward to the Michigan House for a burger.

Maybe it is of no surprise that the rather untalented chef in me prefers my only cast iron skillet. I bought it for making Steak au Poivre, as seen on Good Eats with Alton Brown. I was particularly surprised to find that the best fried eggs I had ever made were out of that skillet! Oh, yes. It was better and easier than the ever-so-carcinogenic Teflon I have used all my life. What is even better about cast iron is I no longer hear the "use a plastic spatula" comment verbalized by my mother for oh, so many years (yes, mom's voice sticks in your head even when you live eight and a half hours away).


Cast iron is ideal for cooking all types of food. I bought my cast iron skillet for making Steak au Poivre (pictured), but found that fried eggs out of this skillet are just as easy and equally delightful.

As a female cyclist, cast iron is not only a great tool for producing splendid post-workout meals, but it provides me with that oh-so-necessary iron that promotes adequate transport of iron throughout my body. While I absolutely love beef, it is not something I eat very much of. In fact, I've answered the "are you a vegetarian" question many times because my diet consists mostly of fruits, vegetables, and faux meat (I love Morningstar Farms soy Chik products).


Cast iron cookware adds to the iron content of food. Steak au Poivre with scalloped potatoes, corn, and an oh, so yummy biscuit.

I succumb to the temptation of beef rather easily and I can say with quite a bit of certainty that I am most certainly *not* a vegetarian. However, with beef tenderloin prices beyond what I can afford on an average day, faux chicken is usually my choice. That means I usually sacrifice the benefits of dietary iron . . . unless, of course, I cook with my cast iron skillet.

The Feminine Face of Cycling

I live in a cyclist-dense community. Two small communities connected by a bridge over a canal contain one university cycling club/racing team, two community cycling clubs, and an adult cycling team. Allow me to briefly plug these groups:

* Copper Country Cycling Club (C4) - Michigan Tech's cycling club and racing team
* Keweenaw Cycling Club - Still in the beginning stages, the KCC is a new cycling club that is also starting a kid's competitive cycling team.
* Red Jacket - BlueSky Health Racing Team - A group of close-knit riders who fell in love with the camaraderie brought about by the impromptu Red Jacket cyclocross team.
* Trekkers - Started as a group of adults getting together for adult fun time. It evolved into what is now a large community cycling club with Monday night rides and potlucks.

These two small cities have more cycling clubs than many large cities. What makes them special is that they are not just cycling clubs, they are communities. The people in these clubs spend a lot of time together because the lifestyle of cycling is what brings them together. What makes all of this even more special are the familiar faces you find around any random corner and the conversations waiting to be had by bumping into one of these people.

I ran into three of my fellow cyclists within five minutes of each other at Michigan Tech today. What was even more unusual is that the four of us are all women. I couldn't help but smile as I walked through campus thinking about the good fortune I had just experienced. The masculine face cycling originally presented itself to me as was transforming into a symbol of feminine strength and means.

Today's occurrence may not be of much significance to you, but it is of great importance to me. I greatly admire the female cyclists in my community because they are my role models. Men have Lance. I have Bobbie, Heather, Kathy, Lori, and Melanie, to name a few. These are women who have allowed cycling to play a significant hand in their lives while juggling what life throws their way: school, work, relationships, travel. Most of them can identify with me. To see three of them doing what I do: going to school, some commuting by bike, is a great motivation.

No Drop Di

I was dropped. Today's ride was a no-drop team ride that I assembled via our team forum and email list. We had a great turnout and a ride that proved to be a little more challenging than I bargained for.

I led for a bit because everyone assumed I should because I'm the one who got everyone together. However, being the second slowest person in the group and having a fairly respectable headwind sucked some of my energy. Also, we met Thursday's goal of 15 mph. That was with some stops and indecisiveness sprinkled in here and there, so the pace was actually quite good. Drafting was my saving grace by allowing me to actually keep up with everyone.


The Red Jacket - BlueSky Health Racing Team had a great turnout for today's team ride. I find road riding with a group much more exciting than a solitary fight against the wind.

Toward the end of the ride, I told them that I was going to do a little recovery spin and I dropped back. They kept going at the 17 mph pace that was too much for me to handle after more than two hours. I came to a crossroads and had a strong inclination toward the road they most likely turned on, but they never left a rider back to direct me, so I reluctantly went straight. I was right. They turned.

I did my extra little part and turned to head where they would come out by taking the other road. I saw them crossing the intersection as I rode near and I cut through the Family Video parking lot to intercept them. "Hey!" I yelled sternly.

"Oh, there you are!" one of them replied.

"You guys dropped me!" I said, smiling back at the smiling droppers.

"We waited for you a bit, but you never came."

"Well, I was tired and needed to slow down for a bit. By the time I got to the crossroads, I couldn't see you guys, so I went straight since you didn't leave a cyclist behind to direct me."

We chatted and merrily ended our ride. I hope that next time they take count of their riders before jetting around the next corner. I know where to find them if they drop me again.

Distractions Must Go

It's not that I don't want to bike, it's that I keep putting it off.

I planned to eat breakfast yesterday and go for a ride two hours afterward. I postponed the ride for another hour or hour and a half. Why? Because I was too busy "Interneting" and watching TV. Ok. It's time to re-assess the situation and make the appropriate "rules."

My friend, Sandee, makes rules she follows to help her with goals. For example, one of her money saving rules is "no spending money on unnecessary things for the first six months of the year" - no clothes, no DVDs, no nothing. I've found that rules help me as well.

There are a couple of distractions in my life that need to be addressed, so I'm going to abide by the following rules this summer:

1. Internet surfing only in the evening after the bike has been taken for a ride. The dogs should probably be walked, too.

2. I am allowed to watch two hours of TV in the afternoon after I have ridden my bike. (Sensing a theme here?)

3. TV is to be shut off when my designated shows are not on. This is to promote my "no new shows" rule of last year. I've done a great job not taking up new shows on Primetime, probably because I don't get cable or antenna. However, I've taken up old favorites such as Simon and Simon and Miami Vice because I wouldn't shut the TV off. I didn't even used to like Miami Vice. Fortunately, it doesn't take long to get through reruns of reruns. I'd be glued to The Tudors if I had Cinemax. I love that show.

4. No new shows. Even the old ones.

5. This next one will be very hard. MMBA only once a day before bed. This is my biggest distraction. The lesson I learned today is, never surf the MMBA forum while everyone else is at work. New posts keep popping up and, before you know it, you've spent four hours online and you've skipped class.

Less Internet and television. Those are my goals. :-)

Spring Training is Here

I woke up this morning with one thing in mind: long ride. I wanted to do a moderate ride for about three hours. I had three goals in mind:
1. Average about 15 mph
2. Maintain an efficient pedal stroke
3. Ride for three hours

I ate a healthy breakfast:
* Malt-O-Meal
* Yogurt with raspberries, vanilla, and chocolate chips
* Grapefruit
* 2 slices of toast
* Water

It took me longer than expected to get my lazy butt out the door, so I had a salad:
* Leaf lettuce
* Tomato
* Croutons
* Homemade French dressing

I made a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, cut it in two, wrapped the halves, filled two water bottles with Heed and left.

I didn't meet the first goal. I took it fairly easy starting out. I maintained a speed of about 17 to 18 mph for the first hour. After the first hour, I unwrapped one half of the peanut butter and jelly sandwich and washed it down with some Heed. I continued out of town and headed in the direction of the next town four miles away, according to the sign.

I geared down and began climbing. I knew it couldn't be far before I reached the top of the hill. I continued to climb. I concentrated on my pedaling and was afforded the luxury of being able to shift up twice and increase my speed. The hill wasn't ending, though. I finally reached the next town and realized I was still climbing. Four miles of climbing. Fortunately, I still felt good.

I decided to make the descent northward. Oh, yes. A descent. It was a long descent. I rode through two more towns, drank some Heed, and turned around to face my next climb. By the time I got to Calumet, I took out the other half of my sandwich and washed it down with some more Heed. Most of it was downhill from there. I proceeded to ride, but the sun hid and the wind picked up. It was cold. I rode into the wind until I reached the bottom of the hill. What I fail to tell myself every time is that this homestretch is also all uphill.

I did meet the second goal. I maintained a proper pedal stroke and it became second nature after climbing a couple of hills. The reason why I chose to pay attention to this is because I have a tendency to point my toes down when I get tired. I think the proper stroke was one of the reasons why my climbing was so good today. So, even though I didn't meet my mph goal, I had a very good ride.

After three hours and thirteen minutes, succeeding with my third goal, I reached home with 41.6 miles under my belt. My mileage averaged about 13 mph, which is actually quite respectable considering how many Keweenaw hills I chose to ride.

I walked in the house, had a tall glass of Ovaltine, did part of my yoga routine, and took a shower. I felt a little weak in the shower. I rushed through it so I could eat dinner. For my post-ride meal, the following was on the menu:
* Spaghetti with olive oil and spices mixed with a MorningStar Farms Chik Patty cut up
* Caesar salad with tomatoes
* Water
* Glass of Breckenridge Avalanche

Cyclists do long rides because they recognize the importance of endurance training. Riding slow and long can make you faster when combined with other training techniques. Another reason why I like long rides is that they help me meet my weight loss goal.

Looking at the details of this post, you will see that I've taken in a lot of calories. My breakfast alone equaled half the calories I should take in on a sedentary day. A long ride requires a lot of calories, though! According to Bicycling.com, I burned 2,023 calories - over 800 calories more than I should on a sedentary day*.

Ideally, I would have ridden my bike two hours after breakfast. My lallygagging made it necessary to consume another quick meal before I headed out the door. Normally, I wouldn't choose a salad for a pre-ride meal, either.

I am not sure what I'll do tomorrow. I have to work after class, so I am planning to drive to work, then bike to school and back. This way, I can drive home at night when I get out of work. If it's raining, I won't ride because it's too cold right now. However, I do feel a light ride like the one I have planned will do me a lot of good after this endurance ride.

* I base my caloric need on the Weight Watchers Points program. According to Weight Watchers, about 23 POINTS is what I should shoot for to lose weight. Each point is equal to about 50 calories (23 POINTS x 50 calories = 1,150 calories per day), and adjustments are made for fiber and fat content. More fiber = more food. Exercise also allows you to eat more food. So, no, I'm not starving . . . and yes, Weight Watchers works great. I lost 25 pounds on the program and kept it off using the program as a guideline.

Breakthrough Riding on a Regular Commute

Today was another commuting day, but something was different. It was the first time I've ridden my bike since my race on Sunday. I switched out my cross tires for my road tires and found myself running ten minutes late. I was already planning to not show up for my 9 a.m. class. Then I proved something to myself that I already knew: my road tires were faster. Oh, yes. I was faster. Suddenly I felt really good and decided to see how fast I could get to Hancock.

There was a method to the madness. It wasn't an all out sprint uphill for six miles, no. I can't do that. However, I chose to do a series of sprints on my way there. I pushed the biggest gears I could while maintaining 70 to 90 rpm. I did this several times and finally made it to Hancock, and running on schedule! I was able to exceed the speed limit down the hill and hopped on US-41 heading for the Portage Lift Bridge. With the road tires, the sidewalks were no longer safe since they were covered in sand and some soft snow. I chose to ride the right lane and maintained a speed of about 17 mph. The drivers were pretty respectful and shared the road with me. It felt good.

The best part is that I made it to class on time and sat through a lecture on a runner's high.

On the return trip, I climbed the hill to the north of town. Now, it was mostly downhill. I managed to do some sprints holding steadily at 34 mph. Mind you, this is not something I can do without the help of gravity, so the speed isn't what was so special about this. The moment of glory is when I realized that I could spin fast enough to keep up with my drivetrain. My pedaling at this speed was productive, and I wasn't bobbing on my saddle like I did last year when I couldn't pedal fast enough to keep up with the speed. My legs are faster and stronger. What a great feeling!

Keweenaw Awe

I am very fortunate to live in an area that never ceases to amaze me in a truly wonderful way. In a place where very few can hack it, true beauty is found in the serenity of the Keweenaw Peninsula.

My teammate, Pat, and I returned to Calumet yesterday morning from our race. I hopped in my Pathfinder and took the back roads home as usual. There was a clear sky and the sun was in a spot that made the sky and the lake appear dark blue. The colors were rich and I couldn't but help feel my heart leap as I took in the view.

The following is a pictorial of what I saw.


This road is low in traffic and offers challenging hills and breathtaking views that can make the most mundane ride incredible.


The Keweenaw differs from the Eastern Upper Peninsula that is so well known to Michigan's southern citizens. Instead of roads lined with pine trees, birches and maples highlight the landscape.


Lake Superior offers a panoramic view unique to the Keweenaw.


Many deer can be found down by the lake this time of year. This one decided to walk away from my vehicle.


This deer dismissed me almost as quickly as it noticed me. She decided to meander in the direction of her friend.


This gal gave chase as she ran down the road with me slowly following her. She eventually ran into a clearing on the side of the road and looked behind as if to say, "Ha ha, you can't drive your Pathfinder here."

Red Jackets Ride Strong at Pontiac Lake

The following is the news tidbit I wrote for the Red Jacket-BlueSky Health Cycling Team web site.


Pat Szubielak took first place in the Sport Men 50+ category and 19th overall. Left to right: Niel Scharphorn – Cross Country Cycle, Pat Szubielak – Red Jacket–BlueSky Health, Glenn Willyard, and Roger Pelkey.

The Red Jacket – BlueSky Health Cycling Team swept the Pontiac Lake Time Trial this weekend in Waterford, Michigan. Pat Szubielak took first for the Sport Men 50+ category and Diane Ursu took first for the Sport Women 25-39 category. There was a good turnout despite the snow with 170 racers. The one-lap race had 114 competitors who made a clean finish after the Expert and Elite racers cleared the water from the course with a grueling two-lap race.


Diane (right) took first for the Sport Women 25-39 category and third for Women's Sport Division, and 97th overall. Jennifer Fischer (left) racing for Tree Fort Bikes took second in the Sport Women 25-39 category.

The race started off at a tropical 30° F with light snow and progressed to a breezy, sunny 38° F. Overcoming heat exhaustion, our polar Yooper citizens pulled out all the stops to show the world the Red Jackets are a new force to be reckoned with.

Pontiac Lake is an intermediate course located in Michigan’s beautiful Oakland County. The course is packed full of varying terrain with respectable, longer climbs and fast, challenging descents along with varying technical terrain including soil, sand, and clay, log piles, and drops combined with rock gardens and root systems. It is understandably one of Lower Michigan’s most popular trails.


Diane Ursu taking off from the start line on Sunday.

The Red Jackets would like to thank Robert Linden and his Tailwinds crew for their hospitality and a race well done.

Inaugaral Mountain Bike Ride Of 2008

The third great Keweenaw blizzard of the year began yesterday. The whole state of Michigan had fallen victim to rather unhappy weather. It didn’t change our plans, though. My friend, Pat, and I drove through the blizzard, then the winter storm, then the rain. We completed our trip this morning and did a 10 a.m. ride at Pontiac Lake Recreation Area. PLRA is, in my opinion, the best trail in lower Michigan. No, I haven’t ridden them all, but I’ve ridden some of the best.

I was willing to forego our ride, today, but Pat insisted that we were going to ride since we just drove 550 miles to get here. We met up with two of his friends and ended up having a great ride. Halfway through the ride, I was smiling and laughing and thinking, “Wow! What a great trail for the first mountain bike ride of the year!"

With all the snow in the Keweenaw, mountain biking is a slightly distant thought, but there’s a race tomorrow at Pontiac Lake. This is why we fought the blizzard to be here.


This is US-41 just south of Calumet during the blizzard. Look carefully. There is a plow truck in front of the pickup truck.


This is US-41 between Chassell and Baraga.


There is something strangely beautiful about the Keweenaw Bay at its worst.


The Keweenaw Bay. The white-capped waves look small. In reality, they were at least three feet high.


We were expecting to get pretty muddy at PLRA. We wanted before and after pictures.


This is what the guys looked like after the ride.


They felt like they were in a lineup because I made them turn for another picture.

I Would Travel Through a Blizzard to Get to You

I had to laugh at the forecast for Hancock:



It is rare to see a full day with a 100% chance of precipitation. I find it quite humorous.

I will be traveling through a blizzard with blowing snow creating conditions of decreased visibility due to whiteout conditions . . . just to get to a mountain bike race.

How is that for dedication!

My Pipe Dream

The fact is I know better. When living in the Upper Peninsula, expecting not to see any snow in early April is a pipe dream. Just as the wheel tracks in my driveway were opening up to muddy potholes, the heavy, wet snow began falling from the sky. Driving down my driving, I noticed how beautiful the view was. Two inches have fallen already. The bright side is that I no longer have to scrutinize the ground for dog poop as I walk out to my garage. Two little dachshunds are poo machines that contribute excessive fertilization of the non-existent lawn surrounding the entryway to my house. Not only does the snow make this natural fertilizer highly visible, it covers the existing fertilizer that I diligently sidestep.


A great benefit of snow is the high visibility of the dog poo one wishes to avoid stepping in.

Spring fever? Check. Sick of snow? Check. Need exercise? Check, check, check, exclamation point! It’s not that I don’t enjoy the snow and no longer want to ski. It’s that I’m tired of throwing on layers of clothing and driving to the nearest ski trail for fun. I’d much rather leave my front door with minimal preparation to get my exercise. It’s time for a compromise. I am going to weight train instead.

I have been weight training at Michigan Tech since January and showing wonderful results in strength gains. I haven’t been going lately because I’ve been riding, or at least trying to ride in between snow and rainfalls. I also believe it is time to go on a maintenance program since riding season has officially begun, even though there is snow on the ground. Snow or no snow, it is here. Heck, my first race is this coming Sunday.

Protein-Packed Quinoa

I have a box of quinoa that has been sitting in my cupboard for three years. I bought it because I read that it was good for you. I never opened it . . . until the other day. I was in the mood for chicken noodle soup. The only problem I have with chicken noodle soup is that it is so watery without enough substance to it. Of course, you have to add water to condensed soup, so my solution was not to cut back on the water, but add something to it. I thought the quinoa would be a great choice, and I was right! What I didn’t know was how beneficial the quinoa could be to me as a cyclist.

Quinoa is a pseudocereal – it is much like cereal grains except it isn’t a grass – from South America. It is of great value to cyclists because it is high in protein (about 5 grams per serving) and is a rich source in amino acids – it contains all the essential amino acids. This makes it a great post-ride food that can be readily available - cooked quinoa stores quite well in the refrigerator. It is also a gem for those trying to lose weight, especially while maintaining muscle mass.

The million dollar question for most of us is, “What do you do with it?” It is not something that is found in most American kitchens and some of us lack the creativity necessary to create delicious quinoa dishes because we don’t know how to tap into our inner chef. It’s a good thing we have the Internet!


Adding quinoa to soup is a great way to make a filling and complete meal.

My creativity stopped at chicken noodle soup. Adding quinoa made it an excellent, filling, post-ride meal. It doesn’t stop there:
• Treat it like rice. Make a pilaf.
• Have it for breakfast with fruit, honey, and almonds.
• Use it as breakfast porridge.
• Make soup with it.

To learn more about quinoa and find great recipes, use the following links:
Wikipedia: Quinoa
NPR: Kitchen Window – Quinoa: A Sacred, Super Crop
Epicurious: Quinoa Search Results

Another Year Older

Yesterday was my thirty-first birthday. I had the pleasure of sharing it with another cyclist who was celebrating his twenty-first birthday. Our mutual friends arranged for all of us to have dinner and beverage down in Marquette. It was a great evening followed by a morning of the obvious consequences of birthday embellishments.

The part I appreciated the most was the opportunity to spend a fun evening with people I have come to know over the last two years because of cycling. Our paths cross frequently in the bike shop, on the trails either riding or building, and in the local brewery.

I think this was my best birthday yet!

Bikes, Burgers, and Brew

Today was our first Red Jacket team ride. Four of us showed up and did a loop between Calumet and McClain State Park. It was a breezy, partly cloudy day – the sun didn’t come out until after the ride. I started the ride out a little nervous because I was riding with three guys who have a lot more experience than I, and who are in better shape. Fortunately, we managed to keep a medium pace (15-18 mph) most of the time.


A small chat during a group ride allows slower riders to rest while creating a sense of camaraderie.

I drafted my friend, Pat, for the beginning of the ride, then rode alongside him for a bit chatting about Fruita, Colorado, commuting, and the upcoming race at Pontiac Lake (Pontiac, Michigan).

We hit the lakeshore and rode to Calumet Waterworks Road to ride the two mile climb. By this point, I was tired. It took a lot of effort to hit 10 mph, so I fell behind the other riders. I dropped it into my uncle gear and began the long, slow climb to the top. Pat turned around to ride the hill with me and we chatted more about the race at Pontiac Lake. After the climb, the conversation turned to food. That is usually a sign that the ride is coming to an end.

Our post ride meal was spent at the Michigan House Café and BrewPub. I was very happy to get my nut brown ale and my big, juicy cheeseburger. What a spectacular commencement to a spring road ride!

Give Me Wings, Or Give Me Wheels!

When I was a kid, I used to have a dream that ended with me flying through the air like Superman. It didn’t matter that I was only flying two feet above the ground. Oddly enough, it was in the direction of my favorite park.


A little bird was caught in my porch the other day. He watched me go out through the door, and later tried it himself.

I recalled that dream today as I was riding home from school. A little brown and white bird made quite a bit of noise as it left the snow bank flying across my path and soon with me for a short bit. Seeing the bird and the road in front of me recreated that dream for me, except I wasn’t Superman, nor was I a bird. I was riding my cyclocross bike.

I felt a strong sense of gratitude as these signs of spring greeted me, even the sun was out, and I realized that bikes are God’s way of giving us wings.

Cycling Forums

The Internet is a pretty addicting little tool. Many of us have spent hours, if not days, surfing the web with endless information at our fingertips. I spent one whole night last week surfing through the backwards chronology of the English monarchy on Wikipedia.

If you are reading this blog, it is probably a safe assumption that you spend some of your bandwidth surfing through various cycling forums as well. I am quite guilty of this, especially this winter. Four complete weeks of bed rest dispersed throughout the winter is encouragement enough to click over to my favorite forum and dream of getting outside to ride my bike. I think this has been the cause of my spring fever, which I rarely get because I usually get to enjoy my winters skiing and snowshoeing in good health.

I spend a lot of my Internet time surfing through four cycling forums. The forum I spend the most time with is the Michigan Mountain Biking Association. This is a fun, passionate group of people who never fail to entertain. Even most serious topics get “sent to the Basement” when someone inevitably makes a sick comment sending the conversation into a downward spiral. This group proves amazing, though, as this forum also serves as a major network for riders who want to find others to ride with at various Michigan trails. One of our members moved to Colorado and even guides many the Michigan riders who head out west to be awed.



Team Estrogen is an online store for women cyclists looking for a large selection of fun cycling clothes and accessories to meet their needs. This store is unique in that it also hosts an online forum for women that has become quite the community. There is an incredible contrast between the female-dominated Team Estrogen and the male-dominated MMBA, both offering different kinds of information with the latter providing more humor and politics.



The Red Jacket – BlueSky Health Cycling Team forum is a new forum that deserves my time mostly because I am the forum administrator and a member of the cycling team. The goal of this forum is to provide a common source for local area riders to communicate and facilitate rides and transportation for races and trips. It is also our goal to provide health and training information as topics of discussion. All are welcome to contribute.



Mountain Bike Review is a precious resource to mountain bikers all over the world. It provides user product reviews, photos, and other resources along with an extensive forum. I only use the forum when I am homebound due its complexities. It is a very large forum with a lot of subforums and countless threads. Due to its size, it can be a bit overwhelming, but a lot of information can be found in its depths.

Small Towns Ahead of the Rest

It’s interesting to hear people say things like, “No one will notice, it’s a small town,” or “No one will figure it out, it’s a small town.” What they don’t realize is this isn’t your typical small town.

In Michigan, the twin cities on either side of the Portage Canal are referred to as Houghton/Hancock. Even in combination, the two cities are not the largest “city” in the Upper Peninsula. It’s a small place, but that’s the allure.

What is truly unique about this “small town” are the people who live here. Consider this, Houghton/Hancock
• have two universities: Michigan Technological University in Houghton, and Finlandia University in Hancock
• one hospital – Portage Hospital
• four bike shops

Four bike shops!? Yes. We are world class. We have four bike shops. We have Cross Country Sports (Trek), Downwind Sports (Giant), Hancock Bike Shop (Specialized), and the not-even-opened-yet The Bike Shop (Jamis, Marin). One might attribute this to being a “tourist town,” but that is inaccurate. True, we are tourist towns in the tourist peninsula, but Houghton and Hancock are two towns tailored to their unique demographic. We aren’t the typical small town. The residents consist of a high percentage of healthcare workers and university PhDs in comparison to other small towns. Combine these professionals with the high percentage of college students, and you find a severe demand for bike shops.

The number of bike shops is a good representation of how strong the cycling community is here. However, there is further evidence in the cycling clubs that have popped up over the years.

The Trekkers stemmed from a group of people who got together to play golf. This group has greatly evolved to a group that gets together to ride and dine together.

The Copper Country Cycling Club (C4) is the Michigan Tech cycling club that participates in intercollegiate racing and hosts the annual Copper Country Color Tour.

The Red Jacket Cycling Team is a new race team that arose from an impromptu cyclocross team from last fall.

The Keweenaw Cycling Club is in development.

As you can see, Houghton and Hancock are not your typical small towns. When it comes to cycling, one could say they are on the cutting edge.

Vicious Cycle

When you’re sitting on the couch reading bike forums and blogs as you sniffle and cough and look out the window at the beautiful, deep blue sky above the trees that sparkle as the sun beats down on them, you get a little antsy. Actually, you get horribly impatient and envious of your friends who you know are outside riding their bikes. You want to be one of those crazy people enjoying the day on your bike in what feels like a tropical 40 degree F day after a long, cold winter.


Spring in the Keweenaw can be a vicious cycle of hope followed by disappointment. Just when the snow is almost melted and the weather hits the 50s, snow dumps on you that night.

Of all the illnesses I’ve had the displeasure of building up immunities to, there is one I cannot lick: spring fever. I’ve got it bad, and it only gets worse as nature teases me with these gloriously perfect days while I’m sick, and then sends a truckload of snow my way when I’m well.

It’s almost as if nature is saying, “April fools, Di! April fools.”