Riding Through the Woods

Today's ride took a rather different turn than I expected. I started out doing the two new [to me] trails near my house and followed the connecting trail to Churning Rapids. I had a great time as I flew down Great Oaks Trail and my climbing was showing improvements. I reached the trailhead and saw two guys getting ready for their ride. It turned out to be one of my co-workers, Kirk K., and his friend, Bob. They invited me to ride with them and had me lead the way.

We started out with two loops near the trailhead. They are short and offer a wonderful warm-up allowing the rider to relax as he or she travels quickly down the hillside and around corners. This is followed by a climb. We did both loops and headed up to find the new trail that was built this last week. There must have been one hell of a trail crew out there because Kirk told me that they finished about a mile so far. It was a great mile! We took an existing trail I was not familiar with to the beginning of the new trail. I saw spectacular views and met interesting challenges. I wished I had my camera.

We climbed up to Pow Pow and rode the banked, hilly turns through the trees. Pow Pow is a very fun trail and is a great way to end the ride. When we reached the end, I parted ways with my riding buddies and proceeded the way from which I originally came to head home.

Rails-to-Trails

I joined in on the local bike shop ride tonight. It was great fun and quite challenging. I chose to go with the moderately-fast group, which turned out to be the fast group. Yes, they had to wait for me every now and again. I pretty much rode by myself, but managed to make a strong showing on certain sections of trails, especially the ones that didn't go up.

I drove to the ride tonight. One reason for driving was that my bike was at the bike shop for its "30-day tune-up." It was a new bike last fall when I bought it and winter kind of took away the breaking-in opportunity, so my 30-day tune-up was done seven months later. Such is life in the UP.

I fully intend to work up to riding the snowmobile trails to the group rides and still having energy to ride and come back home. I tried riding to Michigan Tech already, and didn't have a whole heck of a lot of energy, but I still managed to get a decent mountain bike ride in. Swedetown is further away, and will require a little more work.

While we have snowmobile trails for commuting around here, other places have rails-to-trails. These are excellent prospects for getting around and even doing a beginner mountain bike ride. They are handy and safe and waiting to be used.

Visit the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy web site to learn more about the organization, find trails near you, and learn how you can simply help.

Plan a Cycling Vacation

Vacation time is fast-approaching and people are trying to figure out where they should go and what they should do. This really shouldn't be that difficult to figure out. If you live in Michigan, for example, it would be pretty easy to pop your bikes in or on the vehicle and travel to a cycling destination for fun in the sun on a bike. Michigan is full of wonderful places that are best seen on two ATP-driven wheels. The Keweenaw is one of them. ;-)

National Bike Month tip of the day: plan a vacation around cycling.

Cycling Progressive Dinner

A League of American Bicyclists publication gave the splendid idea of doing a progressive dinner by bike. If my cycling friends didn't enjoy beer with food so much, this might be a great idea for us.

With a little help from your friends, a progressive dinner might be just the thing to add a little spice to your cycling life. Wow. That looks really good. I'm suddenly feeling hungry.

What is a progressive dinner, you ask? A progressive dinner is one in which each meal course is held in a different location. For example, the churches at Michigan Tech held a campus ministry progressive dinner. Appetizers began at my church, we moved on to the next church for the main course, and had dessert at yet another church. It was absolutely wonderful and kept the evening interesting.

It would be great fun to find some cycling buddies who lived in fairly close proximity of each other and hold a progressive dinner where everyone would bike to the different locations. How fun!

Review of Monthly Goal

As we enter our last week of National Bike Month, I hope you have found the inspiration to stand up for cyclists' rights in a diplomatic manner and, least of all, ride your bike. I hope you have found new ways, partly inspired by this blog, to enhance your cycling experience or think about it in a new light.

Earlier this month, I mentioned setting goals. My goal was to reach 400 miles. I'm a tad bit away from that at 228 miles. That means I need to do a lot of road riding this week. ;-)

We were supposed to have thunderstorms today. However, the sun came out and it was a beautiful 60 degree F day. It's trying really hard. Summer is really trying to appear. We are supposed to have showers tomorrow. If it follows suit, we will have yet another sunny day. If that is the case, I will set out for a 50-mile ride. Three 50-mile rides this week should set me on track for 400 miles. I really have to cram the mileage in. I also have to take a couple days off because I have a race on Sunday. Ah, Sunday. Sunday begins a new mileage goal. I will probably set it at 400 miles, again.

A 400-mile goal is kind of hard to reach when mountain biking season arrives. When the trails are great, you want to do nothing but mountain bike. Three hours of mountain biking can produce much less mileage than road biking. Considering my average speed on a mountain bike is 8 to 10 mph, and my road biking average is anywhere from 15 to 20 mph depending on terrain, the difference can be huge. I just have to remember that the road bike does exist.

I really don't think I'll reach 400 miles. That is quite a lofty goal for someone of my ability, but I will surely try.

Invite a Friend for a Ride

Summer really doesn't seem to be trying all that hard to arrive in the Keweenaw. It hit just under 60 degrees and I threw on my short sleeve jersey and shorts for a ride into work to do an ultrasound. I returned home two hours later to trade in my cross bike for a mountain bike and I hit some nearby trails. It peaked at 60 degrees, so the short sleeve jersey was a good idea. Well, that's what I'm telling myself. It's a good thing I had the trees to break the wind for me, because I could feel some pretty cool gusts on the road. The weather people lied, as usual – the wind far exceeded the forecasted 6 mph.

Even though the weather is less than desirable for this time of year, it is still National Bike Month, and it is the perfect time of year to get a friend out on the road or trail with you. Invite a non-cycling friend and plan to do an easy, social ride in an effort to get them hooked. Remember when you first fell in love? Your friends deserve that, too.

My friend, Erin, did a cycle of training for her degree here in my town. Fortunately, her clinical instructor is a riding friend of mine. It didn't take long to get Erin excited about mountain biking. She was hitting up the Tech Trails and Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids with us quite frequently. She also happily took part in the post-ride meals and beverage, read: beer.


I stole this picture form Erin's blog. Left to right: Mike, Cynthia, Di, Kevin, Arlyn, and Sandy. Erin is behind the camera. We are all contained within the Keweenaw Brewing Company. I personally believe that is what Heaven will be like.

I am proud to say that we have done well with Erin's training. She accepted a job in Washington and moved there a couple months ago. Erin's new adventure is our great loss. We miss her dearly, but we are proud to say that the Keweenaw has forever left its impression on her. She continues to mountain bike in Washington.

League of American Bicyclists

A common topic kept coming up during our rides this week: cyclists know the law better than cops. This, of course, is a general statement, but it is unfortunately true in many cases. The rider who kept bringing this into discussion was stopped by a Michigan state cop while riding two abreast with a friend. They were told that they should be riding single file. He later took a copy of the law into the state police post and had the issue corrected. This is not an uncommon occurrence.

Fortunately, there are advocacy groups at work influencing the law in relation to cycling and sharing the road with motorists and working towards educating the public. Take action and support your advocacy groups by becoming a member and getting actively involved. The League of American Bicyclists is a good place to start.

Copper Harbor Dream

Some people have wet dreams. ;-) People in the Keweenaw have Copper Harbor dreams. Tonight, for many mountain bikers, the Copper Harbor dream was realized.

Over 15 riders met at the Mariner to begin an 11 mile ride (felt like a lot more) through the Copper Harbor wilderness. Rock 'n Roll, Dancing Bear, Ma Maki Connector, and Garden Brook comprised the bulk of the ride. There was lots of climbing and lots of descending - all technical to varying degrees.

My body hurts. I feel I rode better than anytime last year, but riding with a group of riders who are all faster than I made it difficult to realize this. My body hurts. Did I mention that already?

Even when the climbs were grueling, I was smiling and thankful to God that I was out there riding my bike. Life just doesn't get any better.

After changing in the Mariner parking lot, we congregated at the Mariner for a lively dinner and post-ride beverage (KBC Amber). It felt absolutely wonderful to be with the whole gang riding, eating, drinking, and being merry.

Ah, Copper Harbor. It is a mountain biking mecca that is not well-known, but it is Heaven on earth for those who have dared to meet the challenge.

Ride of Silence

The following is quoted from the Ride of Silence web site.

Join cyclists worldwide in a silent slow-paced ride (max. 12 mph/20 kph) in honor of those who have been injured or killed while cycling on public roadways.

WHY DOES THIS SITE EXIST?

* To HONOR those who have been injured or killed
* To RAISE AWARENESS that we are here
* To ask that we all SHARE THE ROAD

THE RIDE OF SILENCE? WILL NOT BE QUIET

On May 21, 2008, at 7:00 PM, the Ride of Silence? will begin in North America and roll across the globe. Cyclists will take to the roads in a silent procession to honor cyclists who have been killed or injured while cycling on public roadways. Although cyclists have a legal right to share the road with motorists, the motoring public often isn't aware of these rights, and sometimes not aware of the cyclists themselves.

In 2003, Chris Phelan organized the first Ride Of Silence in Dallas after endurance cyclist Larry Schwartz was hit by the mirror of a passing bus and was killed.

The Ride Of Silence is a free ride that asks its cyclists to ride no faster than 12 mph and remain silent during the ride. There is no brochure, no sponsors, no registration fees and no t-shirt. The ride, which is held during Bike Safety month, aims to raise the awareness of motorists, police and city officials that cyclists have a legal right to the public roadways. The ride is also a chance to show respect for those who have been killed or injured.

- http://www.rideofsilence.org

To find a ride near you, click here!

Improve Your Riding With a Good Book

I like books. Whenever I start a new hobby, I buy books. Bicycling wasn't any different.

When I started mountain biking, it was pretty obvious I had a lot to learn regarding technique. I didn't know how to climb steep hills or maneuver through rock gardens, and the only advice I was given was "ride more." Well, that advice really doesn't work. The following are the books in my collection.



Mountain Bike Magazine's Complete Guide To Mountain Biking Skills was the first cycling book I bought. It was a fun and easy read. I would read a chapter, visualize what I was reading, and then go try it on the trail, with few exceptions. I've attempted a wheelie, but that ended in disaster and I haven't tried since.

I highly recommend this book for beginner mountain bikers and for those that don't got skills. For the men who would like to encourage their girlfriends or wives to ride, this an excellent book to give as a gift. It will take a lot of stress out of learning how to ride because the very important unspoken information is in the book. It really will make climbing and technical riding easier.

I like to think of Bicycling Magazine's Complete Book of Road Cycling Skills as the roadie companion to Mountain Biking Skills. It is set up the same way and has short, easy reading articles. What is great about this book is that it doesn't only have articles pertaining to fit, skills, and racing, but it includes men and women only chapters containing many of those embarrassing to ask questions.

This book is geared toward roadies, but it contains lots of great information for all riders. It serves as a great compliment to the Complete Guide to Mountain Biking Skills.

My riding partner lent me Ned Overend's Mountain Bike Like a Champion. I'm still reading this book. I recommend this book for someone who has been riding for a few months. It is a great read after the Complete Guide to Mountain Biking Skills as it just seems to be written on a more experienced level. Not surprising, and quite enjoyable.

Ned goes more in depth about basic and advanced skills and gives information about racing and training as well. What I found quite enjoyable about this book are Ned's anecdotes and his admissions that he isn't particularly good at everything, at least not in his mind. It's refreshing to learn from such a great rider that it's ok not to be able to master everything. Just do what you can.

When I joined the Red Jacket – BlueSky Health Racing Team, I decided it was time to get a training book. I didn't get the one that everyone recommended, because it just didn't speak to me at the time. After about an hour sitting on the bookstore floor and thumbing through some cycling books, I purchased The Lance Armstrong Performance Program after much thought.

This book has a lot of great training information including riding programs and goal-specific workouts to include in your training. It is full of Lance experiences and tactics and is quite inspirational. If your training program is lacking something, this may be just the book you need for a little inspiration and a lot of great ideas.

National Bike Month tip of the day: buy a bicycling book for inspiration and skill improvement.

Spring Road Rides Beneficial at Cable

The following is a write-up I did for the Red Jacket - BlueSky Health Racing Team web site.


The Red Jackets traveled to Cable, WI this weekend for the Cable Area Off-Road Classic. Two hundred thirty-nine riders, 216 men, attempted the 23-mile race and 120 riders attempted the 18-mile race. Although 14 racers did not finish, all of the Red Jackets had successful races free of any mechanical difficulties.

Pat Szubielak, 50, and James Bialas, 31, accepted the 23-mile challenge making strong 6th and 25th place finishes in their respective age groups. About fifty percent of the course consisted of sweet singletrack requiring cyclocross-style maneuvers over freshly fallen trees from the previous night's rainstorm.

"After a crazy fast start I finally settled into a manageable pace," Pat commented. "I felt I did great in the singletrack – not getting passed – but when we hit the open road sections, that's where the roadies took over and gained ground. I also enjoyed coming up on team mates and offering encouragement." Pat and James were going to race together but were separated by a gaggle of enthusiastic racers entering the first bit of singletrack. When asked for a comment, James said, "Hi, Mom!"

It was the second race of the year for the 18-mile Red Jacket men. Brett Hamlin, 38, felt his performance well-exceeded that of Iola and found himself back in his racing groove finishing 9th in his age group. Chris Lehto, 40, finished 8th in his age group just four minutes ahead of Brett. Terry Kinzel's 9th place finish received an exciting Red Jacket greeting as he rolled across the finish line smiling as always.

Tammi Lehto (left) and Diane Ursu (right) received 3rd and 2nd, respectively, in their age categories.

It was the Red Jacket women, however, who made a podium presence for the 18-mile race. Tammi Lehto, 41, finished a well-earned 3rd in her age category while Diane Ursu barely rolled into 2nd place with the 3rd and 4th place finishers crossing the finish line within 45 seconds of Diane. "I was following the guys in front of me and we went straight at a T-intersection when we were supposed to turn right," Diane said. "The woman behind me kept questioning the direction and we went back. I lost a couple of minutes there. I also began riding about 6-8 mph over the last mile and a half, which was railroad grade. My legs were dead and we were riding into a strong headwind. I knew I had to make up for the previous course blooper, so I really had to muster up some strength to more than double my speed in order to jump on the draft of one of the 25-milers into the finish. Looking at the finish times, it was a wise decision."

The Cable Area Off-Road Classic was a well-run race designed to bring the riders in together. The 23-milers started 20 minutes before the 18-milers and the two races converged for a group finish. "I thought the long course was very challenging and would recommend trying this race," remarked Pat. "About 50 percent of it was singletrack." It makes for the perfect spring race because the great majority of the race is ridden on gravel roads, which is beneficial for those riders restricted to road riding through the spring.

Inspired by the Red Jacket – BlueSky Health van presentation of the Lance Armstrong Tour de France performances, the Red Jackets are preparing for their upcoming races in Rhinelander, Wisconsin for the RASTA Rally Mountain Bike Race on May 25 and the Hanson Hills Challenge in Grayling, Michigan on June 1. Check the calendar for upcoming events.

Join Your Local Advocacy Group

There is something about cycling that invokes passion within oneself. One lives and breathes cycling and it becomes so ingrained in one's lifestyle that this not-so-common understanding opens one's eyes to the necessity of advocating the safety of cyclists. One's cause may be as simple as wearing a bicycle helmet to something as large scale as creating new laws protecting commuters. Doing this as a group can have much more impact and can combine individual experiences for the progression of the group.

When I first started mountain biking, I hopped online and searched high and low for mountain biking sites to begin my riding education. There wasn't much available, but I quickly found the great luxury of the Michigan Mountain Biking Association forum. I used the trail resource of the web site to find trails downstate when I visited, and I was in awe of the quality, fun factor, and excellent trail markings provided by the MMBA trail volunteers. In fact, it was my first ride at Holdridge Lakes in Holly, MI one wet October that wowed me into joining the MMBA the following January. I've been a member for 16 months and it has been a wonderful experience.

I have met many members of the MMBA and ridden with people all over the state. I have people to ride with almost anywhere I go – all I have to do is post up to the forum. Yesterday, I mentioned that I would like to get a clearance law passed in Michigan (see yesterday's post). I did not know if someone was already working on it or if it was currently being passed. I posted in the forum and someone told me who to contact for information.

Advocacy organizations often put on races to raise money for trails, host clinics for women, children, or any rider looking to improve their skills, and family events to get all involved. The Ride of Silence is a national ride with local organizers which has the purpose of raising awareness of cyclists on the road and riding in honor of those who have been killed in auto-bicycle collisions.

National Bike Month tip of the day: join your local advocacy group.

Cycling Advocacy: Exercise the Power of the Word

What is National Bike Month without a little advocacy? Today is a great day to pick a cycling topic that needs the attention of your local government, or even the state or federal government, and write your representative(s).

I first heard about a clearance law when I was reading a blog by an American girl who was living in France. I thought it was a spectacular idea and wondered why a law like that didn't exist here. After more searching, I found that many states have already incorporated the 3-foot pass law: a passing vehicle must allow three feet of clearance between the vehicle and the bicycle.

My state currently does not have the 3-foot pass law, and I have started an email/letter writing campaign this week to find out if this is currently in the works and to demonstrate my support for it.

My first email was sent to the League of Michigan Bicyclists:

Hello –

It was recommended to me to contact you regarding the 3-foot pass law – requiring three feet of clearance when a vehicle passes a bicycle – that many states have incorporated. I have read quite a bit about this and I would like to know if someone is currently working on this in Michigan. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

Diane U.

LMB reply:

We have discussed the 3' foot law with legislators. The current law says that motorists must give safe distance when passing. Our legal experts and the legislators believe that putting the measurement of 3' in the law would then end up with lawyers arguing whether they were 3'2" or 2'10" away when they passed.

Obviously if a motorist strikes a bicyclist, they did not give a safe passing distance. Our legislators are more comfortable with a law that provides penalties for hitting a bicyclist, a vulnerable user law similar to the construction worker law.

States that have the law have not seen the gain they had hoped from it. One state, Arizona, has the 3' law, but in the same state you must give motorcyclists 5'. My experience in riding in states that have the law is that there is not difference on how motorist treat you. The real problem is that we need to educate motorist that they need to share the roadways with other legal users. Passing any law without education is useless.

In this case we have a law that says motorist must give us safe passing distance. What we need is education campaigns. Think about this, the federal government runs motorcycle safety campaigns, seat belt safety campaigns and my favorite, deer safety campaigns just to name a few. They run a campaign each year to protect 50 million deer, but they do nothing to protect 35.6 million tax paying citizens.

At this point we are focusing our efforts on the vulnerable user law and working on ways to educate motorist on sharing the roadways.

I would encourage you to join LMB (www.lmb.org) and become part of the voice that is working to improve bicycling in Michigan.

I replied suggesting, in short, that the state require that drivers show the same courtesy to cyclists that is required of motorists when passing a police car that has someone pulled over.

I also acknowledged that education is necessary; however, there are many drivers who will do the absolute minimum that is required of them. I also mentioned that it is legal for a motorist to share a lane with a bike, which I'm fine with in certain situations, but it's not necessary in most. Now that I have gotten more information regarding the idea of interest, my next step to contact my local representatives.

National Bike Month tip of the day: write an advocacy letter to your representative about a cycling cause that concerns you.

The New American Revolution?

Today is Bike-to-Work Day. It marks the end of the Bike-to-Work Week, but that doesn't mean you should quit riding for transportation.

This week's blogging was all about bicycle commuting and some of its benefits. Of course, the benefit of gas savings is in the forefront of everyone's mind and that is why bicycle sales and restorations are spiking. A couple days ago, someone commented on seeing a story about this on the news. I did a little surfing and found the story.

Hop On A Bike To Save Gas

With gas just shy of $4 a gallon, the alternative-transportation wheels are spinning for people in mid-Michigan.

"They've been coming in, buying new bikes, bringing in their old bikes and getting them repaired," says Dirk Bus, manager of Eric's Fitness and Cycling in Lansing.

Bus says new bicycle sales are up 20 percent from the same time last year, and bike accessory sales are through the roof.

"What I've really noticed is the extra numbers of racks and baskets people are buying-- [sales] have probably quadrupled," Bus says. "[They use them] to get groceries at the corner store, get a gallon of milk..."

People like Jessica Yorko, who works for the Mid-Michigan Environmental Action Council.

She uses her bike to "take my kid to school, I'm driving to work, I'm using it to go to the store to pick up a few things."

The environmentalist says biking saves her hundreds of dollars a month in gas. Now, she says, her peers are trading their cars for bikes- and enjoying the health benefits, too.

"For me, it's the difference between eating cheesecake," she jokes.

But if the demand for this two-wheeled transportation keeps up, people could find themselves standing in a waiting line before they're riding their very own bikes.

"The manufacturers haven't anticipated this," Bus says of the demand. He says already certain bikes are becoming scarce, and picky shoppers might have to wait four to six weeks for their bikes.

But with gas prices showing no sign of slowing down, the bike-riding trend might still be full speed ahead.

May 13, 2008 - WILX 10, Lansing, MI

After seeing this story, I felt happiness for the local bike shops. They are experiencing increased sales and providing increased service. I think about all the couch potatoes strapped to their bucket seats sitting in traffic and then I think of how some of them are converting to active cyclists using a great alternative for getting to work. For the first time, I'm seeing the silver lining to the increasing gas prices.

Could this be the new American Revolution? One could only hope. Well, one could also ride his/her bike to work.

Unfortunately, hardship breeds progress, and there usually isn't much interest in change by the majority until hardship is felt by them. Perhaps these increased fuel costs will spur the horse around the track and strongly encourage some more environmentally friendly alternatives.

From Prozac to Road: Cycling for Happiness

It is amazing how a vigorous ride to school sucked all the stress out of my body. I would sit in my 9 a.m. class with a runner's high and not a care in the world. I also felt an incredible sense of accomplishment and self-confidence. This is a far cry from what I used to experience in my daily life.

Ten years ago, I was an overly-stressed, directionless student searching for accomplishment. I was the only Russian major at Michigan State University and I joined an intramural floor hockey team, the MSU Running Club, the MSU Equestrian Team, and I worked 30, sometimes 40 hours per week.

The business of my life was coupled with huge insecurities, shyness and fear of people I didn't really know, and a strong dislike for myself. I lost all motivation to show up for class and work. I reluctantly went to work, I skipped class, but I did manage to get to my equestrian team carpool the mornings of competition. One morning, as I was heading to East Lansing down I-69 at 5:30 am, I found myself bawling, literally bawling the whole 40-minute drive. It was about that time that I spent an incredible amount of time in bed and miraculously lost 20 pounds. Anyone who knows me knows that 20 pounds doesn't just melt off of this body.

Before I knew it, my relationship with the MSU Equestrian Team was mutually terminated, I dropped out of the Running Club, floor hockey ended, and I quit going to classes. I just couldn't handle . . . anything.

When I was 19 and living in California as a Private in the Army studying Russian, I simply wanted to die. That thought came to a climax at the implosion of my Spartan life and I didn't only have thoughts and hopes of suicide, but I was actually trying to figure out how I was going to do it and I was searching for the strength to complete it.

I had reached a point in my life that was filled with nothing but complete emptiness and loss of hope. I had emotional outbursts and fits and simply lost any control I might have had. I ended up in the emergency room twice because I had no idea where else to go and I felt nothing but the incredible turmoil going on inside my mind. That turmoil had spread beyond my mind throughout my body culminating in physical pain.

The emergency room nurses directed me to a psychologist who I met with a couple times and ended up absolutely hating. I skipped my last appointment with him (I think I had three) and left it at that. Shortly thereafter, I read an article that listed all of the symptoms a woman might feel from premenstrual syndrome. Wondering if this was what I was truly suffering, I cut out the symptoms and took them to my family doctor. I told her that I was experiencing all of these. They weren't things like "cramps," but things like excessive crying, stress, unusual weight loss, etc. We cycled through Paxil, which only made my suicidal tendencies stronger, and then began a several-year relationship with Prozac.

Life was still difficult, but Prozac took away my suicidal thoughts after one or two months and put me in a mindset that allowed me to eventually go back to school to obtain my Associate Degree graduating with a 3.8 GPA, and achieve independence. I spent many years going on and off Prozac. I remember the feeling of euphoria I would sometimes get while on it. The last time I used it, I lived in Appleton, WI in 2005. I took it for several months under the advisement of my doctor.

In January 2006, I moved to Hancock, MI for a new job. The lead ultrasound tech taught me how to cross country skate ski and I did it religiously through the end of April. When the snow was no longer there, I decided to take up trail running and train for my third marathon. The goal was to run Detroit in the fall. In May, I met someone who would change my life in such a profound way. She invited me to go mountain biking at Michigan Tech. I met her one Saturday morning in late May to go for my first, real, mountain bike ride.

For the next two weeks, I alternated riding with running and continued to get exercise four days a week, like I did during ski season. I started exploring more of the Tech Trails and enjoyed mountain biking so much that, by the third week, running had suddenly disappeared from my life altogether. The rest of the story begins with second post of my blog.


Bicycling maintains my emotional well-being these days. It also causes random giggles on the trail and even on the road.

I have been Prozac-free since 2005. I quit my job last year, not because I couldn't handle it, but because I detested certain aspects of it and felt a need for change. I wanted to make a difference that I couldn't make in my present position. I decided to become a doctor.

If I hadn't begun cycling, I probably wouldn't be embarking on this newest journey in my life. Truth be told, I never thought I was smart enough to be a doctor. Now, I realize that it is something I really do have the capability of becoming. Many of my riding friends are either PhDs or MDs, one is both. My cycling friends who aren't of these credentials are highly accomplished folks in other careers. All are inspiring, intelligent, community-minded people.

Cycling has changed me physically, in the sense that I am healthier, stronger, more confident, happier, and emotionally stable. It has also changed my social life as this sport is the glue that holds my social network together. I am inspired by cycling and cyclists on a daily basis.

As I continue to use my bike, not only as a recreational toy, but as transportation, I take delight that my Prozac-induced euphoria has been replaced by a cycling-induced runner's high that is much better than what any drug can provide. Most of all, I found my sanity in cycling.

Exercise Is a Benefit of Commuting

One of the first things I noticed when I began commuting by bike is the lack of guilt I would often feel when I chose not to ride after work. This is probably because I got my ride in on my way to and from work. Go figure.

My work place is only about six miles away, and school is eleven. Even though it takes longer to get to school and work, I am actually saving time because I am getting my exercise when I would usually be sitting in the car driving. My biggest fear in giving up my vehicle was the big hill I have to climb.


Di riding to Copper Harbor, a trip that will hopefully be made many times this year.

There is an elevation change of several hundred feet on my way home from school. During the first couple weeks, I had to take a roundabout way up the hill that resulted in four miles of continuous climbing. In just one month of bicycle commuting, I noticed considerable changes in my speed and climbing ability. Suddenly, I found myself tackling hills I thought I would have to walk up. Now, I look at all these hills with the confidence that I can, and will, ride them.

It is simply amazing the fitness gains I made just from riding my bike for transportation. I consider commuting just one more little perk to my cycling life.

Stick It to the Oil Companies

Surfing through the MMBA forum, I found myself admiring those who regularly made their commute by bike in the Greater Detroit Area. It's not like anyone got online and said, "I commuted, today." My knowledge of these commuters came from their stories of bike-car collisions.

When money got tight for my student-self this spring, I realized that bicycle commuting was going to be my savior. I could no longer afford several $60 fill-ups per month for my Pathfinder. Actually, I really could never afford that. This year, I chose to do something about it.

I grabbed my backpack and removed the unnecessary books that I normally carried to class and replaced them with clothes, shoes, and snacks, hopped on the bike, and used that as my main mode of transportation. Suddenly, I found myself buying only one tank of gas for the month. It is simply amazing how cycling can cause such a savings in your life.

I recently put a little over a half tank of gas in my Pathfinder in case I get called into work for an emergency. My goal is to make this half tank last until June 11 – one month. One-half tank of gas for one month. How many people can honestly say that is all they use? With a bike, it is entirely possible.

Let's do the math. Say I fill up with $60 once a week. That isn't all that unusual for the average American. Now, if we cut that back to one-half tank of gas per month, that would be a total of $30 instead of $120 per month. In my case, the oil companies are actually losing money by raising the gas prices so high. Now, imagine what would happen if everyone did what I did. The oil companies wouldn't fare well at all. That would be a huge financial loss on their part.

Do you want to stick it to the oil companies? Commute by bike, and get your friends to do so as well.


Unfortunately, my one day of work this week started at 7 am this morning. I had my backpack filled but I just couldn't get ready fast enough to allow time to ride the bike in. So, I spent my Bike-to-Work Week (day) driving my SUV in. I decided to make good use of the driving and pick up some groceries I wouldn't be able to carry by bike due to weight. I'm looking forward to riding my bike tomorrow. I won't be working anymore this week, but I will surely play.

Bike-to-Work Week

Today begins Bike-to-Work Week. Make a point of readying your clothes and cycling gear the night before and head to the office or school on your bike.

The Internet is full of information regarding bicycle commuting and cleanliness at work. Since the days are cooler in my area, I don't break much of a sweat on my ride. I shower before I head out and tie my hair back. When I get to work, I change into my work clothes, wet my hair if it needs help, and let it air dry before I do a final brushing. It's probably simpler than that for the guys.

My commuter isn't really a commuter. It's a cyclocross bike that I really do use for cyclocross and road riding as well. I carry a backpack when I commute. I put clean clothes, regular shoes, lunch, and whatever else I may need in it.

As a person who usually runs late, I have learned that packing my bag and laying out my clothes the night before helps me quite a bit. The less I have to do in the morning, the easier it is for me to get going and be on time. I am actually thinking about making a checklist so I don't have to deal with that nagging feeling I've forgotten something.

I have only one day of work this week. I will have to get up at 5 AM. on Tuesday morning and slowly come to life and breakfast so I can ride my bike to work. One day of work...and I will celebrate Bike-to-Work Week by doing just that - biking to work.

Lunch 'n Ride

I was invited to go on a road ride with some friends out to a nearby city for coffee. Unfortunately, I could not go because I was [fortunately employed] to take ultrasound call for the hospital. I expressed an interest to go for future ride 'n coffees. In fact, I have brought up lunch 'n rides with my teammates. I'd like to get a group of people together to ride to a restaurant, eat, and ride home.

National Bike Month is simply an excuse to take the initiative to throw together group outings such as the lunch 'n ride. This is something we should be doing all riding season. It is a great way to promote camaraderie among riders and the social aspect of cycling. Even if you go by yourself, plan a lunch 'n ride this week.

So, sometime this week, I am going to throw on my new skort and head to a local restaurant for a treat...on my bike.

Try Something New

I'm having a lot of fun with National Bike Month. Not only am I packing on the mileage and packing in the hours, but I'm using this month to reset my bicycle clock and get me back into the swing of things.

Last fall, I tried something new. I joined an impromptu cyclocross team call "The Red Jackets." I was very nervous about trying the unexpected. The thought of mounting and dismounting throughout a race and actually having to learn the proper technique for doing so plucked away at my confidence. After a fun cyclocross season, I realized that I learned skills and techniques that could translate into my mountain biking to make for faster races. I will continue to practice cyclocross throughout the summer to enhance my mountain biking skills and to prepare for the new cross season.

National Bike Month idea of the day: try something new today, like cyclocross.

The Bike Wash, Baby!

It's only May 9 and I've already washed all of my bikes. I washed my Trek Fuel EX 8 once this year, but it's time for another washing after our latest and greatest road trip to the WORS race in Iola. My Trek Fuel EX 7 has been washed probably three times. It's my mud and snow bike. I've ridden it several times in February, March, and April. I rode it at the Pontiac Lake race last month. I washed it before the race, after the pre-ride, and after the race. The cross bike was washed once this year. I washed it last week with the garden hose and some brushes. The drivetrain still needs a little TLC.

Everyone has a different idea of how a bike should be washed, but the following video is a good representation of a good bike wash. So, spend some time with your bike this weekend. It's amazing how much you'll appreciate it after doing so. Then, you may just want to ride.

Serious Bike Love

Springtime is here. Yes, I totally know you needed me to state the obvious. If your bike is like mine, it is sloppily shifting and sluggishly braking. The cables are grimy and loose from cyclocross season and spring road riding. It needs some serious love, much like my body after riding to Copper Harbor (43.5 miles of hilly ouch).

I rode to Copper Harbor yesterday and met my parents there for dinner and the car ride home. My body was d-e-a-d. It wasn't just any 43-mile ride, which is still quite an effort for me, but it was a hard-effort 43-mile ride because I was trying to get there before my parents did. They left Houghton an hour after I left my house, so I expected them to pass me on the road.


Di riding down Covered Road. Don't let the snow fool you - it was 50-55 degrees F and super sunny. It felt soooooooo good.

They caught up with me on Covered Road (US-41) about five miles south of Copper Harbor. I had my own SAG wagon in the form of a white Cadillac with a personal photographer following me into town. I just got new brake pads and the bike stops like a dream, which is a good thing considering the giant descent into the Harbor. I peaked at about 37 mph. Yes, brakes are good.

I met Mom and Dad in town and we did a little jaunt around town and Ft Wilkins State Park all while getting pictures. This ride concluded 50 miles for me. I do believe this is the farthest I've ever ridden.


Di beginning her descent into Copper Harbor by the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge.

National Bike Month isn't just a great time to do long road rides and advocate bicycle safety and awareness, but it is the perfect time of year to get your set of wheels ready for a season of heavy duty rolling. My Kona Jake the Snake is heading in for a tune-up pretty shortly and will shift and brake like the performance animal - er, bike - it is come the next Copper Harbor ride.

Motivation in New Clothes

The day comes when you just can't find the motivation to get out the door. I experience this a lot. Maybe it's a girl-thang, but I find that one thing in particular is a great motivator. NEW CLOTHES! Oh, yes. What girl can resist taking a roll around the neighborhood when she is sporting a new jersey or new shorts?

My National Bike Month motivational tip for the day? Buy some new clothes.

Second Most Important Piece of Safety Equipment

"They're the second most important piece of safety equipment." This is what one of my bike guys likes to say about sunglasses. Although, if you're like me, riding through the dark forest, your sunglasses aren't so sunny. They are lightweight glasses with interchangeable lenses. Mountain biking days call for clear lenses, road days for amber.

I like clear lenses for mountain biking because I ride in the Keweenaw forests where the trails are well protected by the sun. I like to see everything in true color rather than through tinted lenses. I use amber lenses when I hit the road. My baby blues are sensitive to light, yet I like a brighter view, so amber works perfectly. I have smoke-colored lenses that I don't use much, but they're there if I need them.

I've had stones and sand thrown at me by passing automobile tires and leading mountain bike tires. Rain has smacked against my face as have tree branches. My glasses protect my eyes from all of this. This is why glasses are the second most important piece of safety equipment.

If you can't figure out what the first most important piece of safety equipment is, click here.

Join a Local Bike Club

Many cities or regions are fortunate enough to have a cycling club. While some cyclists are elites and need to ride with fast groups, there are many organizations that cater to riders of all levels. My area is a great example of the different kinds of clubs that can exist:

C4 – University cycling club

Keweenaw Cycling Club – new community club open to families and creating a kids' race team.

Red Jacket – BlueSky Health Cycling Team – adult race team with riders of all levels.

Trekkers – Community cycling club geared toward adults that meets once a week and sends out about three groups of riders: beginner, intermediate, advanced. All gather together for a potluck afterwards.

Bike shops often host weekly rides through the summer as well.

While there will be some discouraging rides for new riders, they are usually quite welcome. Many clubs host no drop rides where the faster riders ride to a certain point and wait for the slower riders, allow them to rest, then move on. Many faster riders have no problem with no drop rides. I like them because it gives me an excuse to stop and drink since I'm not particularly fond of refueling while riding.

Joining club will also give you the opportunity to make social connections with people who share the love of cycling with you. It sets you up for becoming a healthier, happier, and better rider. Spending time with your local cyclists presents many educational opportunities that will help you become a more competent cyclist.

National Bike Month is a great time to get involved with your local cycling club and get rolling!

My First WORS Race - Iola, WI

I was nervous. For some reason, WORS had a bad reputation with me. I've heard/read things about them and everyone *knew* that it was cutthroat, physical racing.

Wrong.

Everyone on the course was very friendly at all levels. My team left quite satisfied with the competition. Everyone said please and thank you, some were chatty and encouraging. The course was hard - lots of steep climbs. In fact, before each wave, the announcer told everyone to communicate and "ride kind[ly]." It seemed more like a Yooper cyclocross course in that it was anaerobic for the most part. It was a real test of strategy to catch your breath.


My teammate, Chris, riding expert.

All of the sport women started together. The first lap was frustrating. I never had a chance to pre-ride the course, so I had no idea what to expect. Everyone expected this "one hill" to force most of us off our bikes and walk, because that's what a lot of the riders did. I kept asking, "Well, what about Copper Harbor? If I can ride those hills before Dancing Bear, is this particular hill going to stop me?" "Yes," seemed to be the answer. There was doubt in me completing that climb.

I can now tell you that, yes, if you can climb the hills preceding Dancing Bear, you can clear the Iola course. It hurts, and it's one heck of a challenge, but you can do it. One thing that makes the Iola hill of death much easier is the nice, packed dirt. Copper Harbor is loose and requires a bit more finagling to succeed.

I was still forced to walk part of many of the hills on the first lap because my fellow competitors kept falling in front of me. I realized I was riding too hard to keep up with these gals because my breathing was hard, and we weren't even three miles in, yet. I realized that many of them were breathing just as hard and decided to ease up and let them move on ahead. I lost view of most of them.

My shifting was awful the first lap. I kept shifting down too much before my climbs and I couldn't effectively use my momentum combined with pedaling to clear the hills more easily (the climbs weren't very gradual, more steep and long enough to be respectable).

The second lap went much better. Toward the middle of the second lap, I started passing many of the gals who smoked me on the first lap. They didn't ease up like I did. They were getting tired. They were still walking up the hills while I was riding (much faster to ride, even if it just 4 mph - twice as fast as my walk). The shifting was getting much better and I had room/clearance to maximize the downhills and swoop up the hills.

The third lap was painful but my technique was great. My shifting was dialed in and I was clearing the climbs, even though my legs were shaking on the second lap when I had to dismount to get around some people on a short, rooty climb. I didn't get to clear that climb at all because I didn't have a choice of lines because someone was alway off their bike on that climb.

I spent about one-third of the third lap trying to catch up with the girl in front of me. We were pretty evenly matched while I was chasing her. It was that rooty climb where I passed because she dropped her computer. Another girl started catching up with me, one who gave me difficulties earlier in the race. We were approaching the tight, twisty, technical singletrack. She wanted to pass, I moved over so she could, but I shifted up and hammered so she couldn't. I wasn't going to let her pass me just before the section where I was going to dominate. As a sport rider, technical and downhill seems to be where I prevail. I love technical and I'm not for braking on downhills. I love to go fast.


My teammate, Mark, on a nice long hill just before a tricky, steep, long, climb. I think this is the section where I got my max speed of 29.1 mph.

Through this little pine section just before the finish line, I noticed one of my teammates up ahead followed by Dr Bruce. Feeling I was being chased down by two other women, I yelled, "GO HOUGHTON! PEDAL! PEDAL! PEDAL! FASTER!!!" Brett and Bruce hammered and the three of us sailed across the finish line together. It was sweet. I love ending races with my friends.

Iola was aerobically challenging. Anyone who raced sport (15 miles) deserves respect because just one lap there is painful.

One of my teammates and I both grabbed second in our categories. The girl who got third in my category was 20 minutes behind me, so the two I was racing weren't even an issue as far as medals go. However, I'm very competitive, so I couldn't let them beat me.

My lungs HURT after that race. We sounded like a bunch of unfiltered chain smokers on the car ride home. It was a great race.

Proof that mountain biking season is right around corner can be found on the weekend as riders gather together to clear the trails of debris and make repairs. Those of us who don't yet have access to dry trails find joy in these trail work sessions partly because it brings us closer to what we love: being on the trail. There is something to be said for caring for the trail one rides regularly.

My first trail day was June 2 of last year. It was my first experience swinging a pulaski and seeing what is involved in bridge construction. I loved it! I returned several times throughout the summer as a trail volunteer and was impressed by what I had gained. I gained a greater appreciation of the trail and work that goes into it. I gained increased upper body strength and self confidence. I gained a desire for good, hard physical labor.


Construction of the long bridge on the Garden Brook trail in Copper Harbor on National Trails Day, June 2, 2007. Di is on the left.

Trail day was beneficial in bringing about the sense of camaraderie I felt with my fellow trail workers. I ate lunch with them while sitting on the trail and drank beer with them afterwards. I rode with them and celebrated with them. Trail work added a whole new dimension to my mountain biking. In fact, it changed my addiction to mountain biking to a healthy, social lifestyle. I found that trail work added to the quality of my life and changed how I viewed myself.

Trail crews are organizing trail days all over the country this time of year. Look for volunteer opportunities and mark it down on your planner to be a part of one of these trail crews. Make a commitment to show up to at least one trail day this month.

Use Protection, Wear a Helmet

It's interesting how cycling helmets have so much opposition. Excuses for not wearing them are plentiful:

They don't look cool.

They don't feel right.

If I fall, the helmet will cause neck injury by rotataing my head on impact (this was part of an Australian study against laws necessitating the use of a helmet).

Helmets among cyclists are a great necessity. If you don't wear a helmet around one of us, you don't look cool, and you do look funny, and chances are we won't want to ride with you. Look cool. Wear a helmet.

Give it a week and you will wear a helmet for the rest of your life. I feel naked without my helmet and even a little scared. As a mountain biker, I've had quite a few accidents that were nothing because I wore a helmet. Hitting my head on that rock didn't take me out of commission. Click here for a great story on how my helmet either saved my life, or at least the quality of it. Since I was wearing a helmet, we'll never really know. The answer to this question should never be known.

I have never injured my neck in a fall. Sure, neck injury is possible, but if you consider how many cyclists hit their heads each year without inducing neck injury, you'll see the odds are on the helmet-wearer's side.

Here are a few tips for wearing your helmet:

Helmets come in different sizes. Choose one that fits well and has an adjustment to make it tighter or looser.

Adjust the chin strap so it is snug.

When properly adjusted, your helmet should sit squarely on your head and should not move when you shake your head from side to side or front to back.

Wear it. It may save your noggin.

Ride long enough, and a situation will arise where a helmet will save your noggin and allow you to ride another day.

Easy Steps to Properly Fit a Bicycle Helmet
Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute

Set a Mileage Goal

Someone from one of the mountain biking forums I frequent gave me the idea of making a mileage goal each month. I have been tracking my mileage for a couple years. Adding a goal gives it more purpose.

Last month, I set my goal at 400 miles. For whatever reason, I only reached 250 miles, 84 miles more than last April. In comparison, it's not too shabby! Last May, I did 193 miles. All of that was mountain biking. This year, I'll be commuting as well. I'll set a goal of 400 miles for May. We'll see how that goes.

Tracking your miles can be a very useful tool. As you have already seen, I was able to determine this month's goal by looking at what I did last year and considering what I am already doing this year. I also use my log for predicting race times. I can compare the race course to one of the trails I have already ridden and determine how long it might take to complete the race. It's nice to head into a race with an idea of how well you may do.

Since this is National Bike Month and everyone is motivated by the onset of spring to get out there and ride, this is the perfect time for you to set some goals. Pick the number of miles you'd like to reach by the end of the month, keep a log, and ride.

National Bike Month

Today marks the beginning of National Bike Month promoted by the League of American Bicyclists. They have provided 50 ways to celebrate safe and enjoyable cycling throughout the month.

May is a great time to celebrate National Bike Month as many cyclists come out of the woodwork to commute, train, and ride the trails. As more cyclists hit the roads, the number of auto-bicycle accidents increase. While most cyclists are aware of bicycle laws regarding road use, many drivers are oblivious to the rights of cyclists and unaware of life-saving etiquette. On the flip-side, there are many riders who could benefit from education regarding commuting and helmet safety.

National Bike Month is an opportunity to promote bicycle safety and awareness for cyclists and non-cyclists alike.

May 12-16 is Bike-to-Work Week culminating on Bike-to-Work Day on May 16. Many Keweenaw cyclists, whether it be students or work professionals, commute by bike. In many parts of the world, the bicycle has maintained its status as a mode of transportation. Cyclists have recognized the benefits of commuting. These benefits include regular exercise, savings from gasoline costs, and limiting greenhouse emissions. Bicycle commuting cannot only save a life by helping to prevent cardiovascular and other related diseases, but it can save the world one cyclist at a time.

The Ride of Silence takes place on May 21. Click here to find a location near you.

National Strategies for Advancing Bicycle Safety¹

Motorists Will Share the Road

Bicyclists Will Ride Safely

Bicyclists Will Wear Helmets

The Legal System Will Support Safe Bicycling

Roads and Paths Will Safely Accommodate Bicycling

¹National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Federal Highway Administration, National Strategies for Advancing Bicycle Safety. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2001.