Superior Bike Fest: 35-Mile Road Race

My first real road race. We had an easy roll-out led by a beautiful, red Corvette. After a couple miles, the Corvette took off and the real race began. The riders immediately separated and I stuck with the lead peleton only for a couple minutes. We were headed up a long, very gradual hill and I was losing speed. Before I knew it, I was leading the second peleton and they invited me to drop to the back to take a break. We headed for the hill in front of Marquette Mountain and split apart. I led the downhill and the long, steep climb began. Riders began passing me and we all spread out to the point where I thought this was it: we were riding alone.

Mid-climb, I began feeling better and my cadence picked up. I shifted into a harder gear - twice - and caught up with the gal in front of me – Sarah. I passed her and noticed my new friend, Janet, up ahead. I said to Sarah, "Work with me to catch up to Janet."

"Ok," she said in reply. We quickly moved up and I yelled for Janet to pick up her pace and jump on the back of our newly forming peleton. We proceeded forward and picked up another gal. The four of us worked together for quite some while and we picked up riders and dropped riders throughout the race. Janet primarily led the climbs as she was better suited for this; I led the downhills. I could get really low to make myself more aerodynamically friendly and I was able to really pick up speed. We found ourselves speeding up quite a bit even though we would be coasting. We hit 38.5 mph in front of Marquette Mountain on the return trip.

As we headed to the finish line, I knew I had to plan my breakaway. The time came when we were nearing the end and I took off. I didn't know it, yet, but Sarah was hot on my trail, er, road. We were heading for a strong wind and I selfishly asked her if she wanted to lead the way a bit. She said, "sure," and helped me regain my energy for a final sprint. I don't think she knew what she was doing, but I sure appreciated it. We rounded the corner bringing the finish line within view and I took off. I was the first of my peleton to finish and it wasn't a moment too soon.

My legs had been hinting for the last several miles that they were ready to strike. They had it. My adductor muscles (upper inner thigh) were tightening immensely and immediately halted my ride so I couldn't do a roll down on the bike. I stopped, in great pain, and managed to finagle myself off the bike. I didn't really walk – I couldn't. I merely shifted my hips to get my legs to move in such a fashion that would produce a forward motion. I used the bike kind of like a walker, although it was more of a burden at this point.

I attempted to stretch these muscles, but found that any stance, other than feet together, called upon the necessity of these muscles for stabilization. Simply put, I was screwed. I took about thirty minutes simply moving. While I chatted with my team mate, Pat, I marched in place. This seemed to help a bit. I wasn't able to stretch until later. Sure, I could've lain on the ground, but then there was the issue of getting back up. It wasn't happening.

I showered, stretched, and headed to a party with the Chocolay ACE Hardware team for some beer, brats, and bugs.

Superior Bike Fest: Twilight Criterium

I was nervous. It was my first crit, and my first road race. I worked a twelve-hour shift, Thursday, so I had no time for preparations that day. Friday morning, I packed up my bikes and my dogs. Unfortunately, it took much longer than I expected and I didn't arrive to Marquette until 4:00 p.m. I had very little time to get my packet, get ready, and start my race.

I started strongly. I hopped out in front, as racing articles said to do, and I lead the pack for the first lap. I took corners at top speed, leaning my bike into it while maintaining stability and grace that I only possess on the bike. The end of the lap met some difficulty as we hit a hill. I slowed and the rest of the pack went by. Unfortunately, most of them were just as fast as I on the rest of the course, but they were good climbers, so they dusted me.

The second lap brought a lot of pain as my chest burned from my deep, intense breathing. I was racing. My climbing got slower and it took longer for me to get up to speed on the straightaway at the top of the hill. By the third or fourth climb, I had to slow down for a bit and regain some of my breath. When I caught my second wind, I began climbing more strongly and the pain eased up only a bit.

I finished in tenth place that night. I was last. However, I noticed my riding skills were superior to some of the other girls as they braked like crazy into the turns and coasted down the hills instead of picking up speed by pedaling. I will continue to work on my climbing and I will come back to next year's crit with a vengeance.

A Di Day

We live in such a society where it is beyond the understanding of many that God simply wants us to slow down. In such a society where multi-tasking, economy, efficiency, and so on are paramount to our role as citizens, we have no idea how to not do anything. Even when we are completely wasteful of our time, producing absolutely nothing besides excess fat, we consume our minds with stimuli from video games, televisions, phones, and iPods. How many people actually take the time to notice how a sunbeam on an ordinary brick wall can bring a smile to their face and allow their heart a little leap of joy?

If you haven't already noticed, I have had a very special day. I decided to make it a "Di day." Sure, I've done this in the past, but none have been quite as successful as today. Even while climbing the last, brutal hill homeward, I found myself smiling as an audible giggle slipped out. Cycling does this to me.

I set out at 2:20, with a backpack containing a pair of sandals, a long-sleeved shirt, if needed, a cycling rain jacket for the predicted scattered showers that never occurred, a phone, money, camera, and hairbrush that was never used, but already in the bag.

Like many of my fellow citizens, I am quite focused on the end and hardly ever notice the means. Today, I chose to somewhat blindly head to Houghton in search of something to do. I really didn't know what. I took my time riding to Hancock. It was very windy all day and I wasn't in the mood to fight it, so I lollygagged a little on my ride. The direction of the wind allowed me to coast through Hancock while braking because the traffic was going slower than my bike. I actually considered passing the cars, but chose to hold my course. I rode around Houghton for a while and meandered over to Michigan Tech and up Sharon Avenue in search of a twist ice cream cone at Dairy Queen. For the first time, ever, I patiently sat in front of the DQ, slowly circling my tongue around the ice cream as I ate it slowly, taking the time to taste it. I felt calm as I enjoyed the view of the sun shining against the strip mall on the green hill across the street.




Michigan Tech and Houghton from the Hancock side of the canal.

Life is short. Eat dessert first. That's exactly what I did. I repeated my roundabout course as I rode back to Michigan Tech only to reverse direction and head back to downtown Houghton. I locked up my bike across the street from The Library and headed in for a long dining experience. I special-ordered a small basil and tomato pizza and drank a few cups of coffee as I slipped into a trance produced my leisurely eighteen mile ride. I said my goodbyes to The Library staff and slipped back onto my bike and headed for the Portage Lift Bridge to journey homeward.



Views of Mont Ripley and Hancock from the Houghton side of the canal.

As I crossed the ridge, a black car with a bike rack, heading for Hancock, honked and the driver waved to me causing me to smile. I have no idea who was in that car. All I saw was a hand. However, they left me full of pride and joy. How fortunate I am to live in such a community. Every time I commute, someone recognizes my bright, green Jake the Snake and they honk or yell my name. Having lived in communities where people were less than eager to greet one-another, or welcome a new member into the community, I absolutely recognize the grace God has given me by placing me in such a warm community where so many people have a strong bond with one-another simply because of a simplistic invention called the bicycle.


Portage Lift Bridge and Hancock.



Quincy mine.

I happily rolled home, and even enjoyed my long climb up White Street and US-41 – the dreaded Quincy Hill – without failing to notice how the sun shone above the cities creating a beautiful, lush appearance around the deep blue Portage Canal as waves thrashed about in the wind.

The newly-formed leaves on the trees created a spectacular view as I rolled closer to home. I felt strong, accomplished, happy. I continued to smile. My heart did flips.


The road home.


This is what I came home to.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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."

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.

2008 Goals

The sky is blue, the pines are green, the snow is still here. To those inexperienced with life in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, one might think it is still winter. Look closer, and one will see that it is over 40 degrees Fahrenheit and the snow is sliding off the roof.


A good sign of the spring thaw, icicles forming as the snow melts off of the roof.

Many of us have already started riding. All we need is a cleared off road and sunny sky to motivate us. With spring in the air, many of us are thinking about the dreaded “T” word - training. Ok, this early in the year, most of us are enthusiastic about the “T” word, and we’re very much looking forward to it.

This is the time of the year when we map out our goals and decide how we are going to meet them. I had already verbalized my goals for 2008 by the end of last year’s cyclocross season. I started out with the bigger goals, then I moved onto the little goals that will help me get there.

My Cycling Goals For 2008

• Podium finishes for all my races in my age group; first place age group finishes for the Keweenaw Chain Drive, Great Deer Chase, and Fat Tire Festival
• Lose fifteen pounds
• Become a stronger climber
• Use the bicycle as my primary mode of transportation
• Include cross-training to balance it all out

Race Finishes

I had podium finishes for all of my races last year except for Ore to Shore, when I took seventh. It is difficult to improve when your goals are the same as your results from the previous year, so instead of stating “I want a podium finish for all of my races,” I raised the bar to achieve first place in all the races I previously placed in. Realistically, I may not achieve the second part of this goal this year, so it’s a great goal to carry over to next year. I am certainly off to a good start.

Lose Weight

Last year, my goal was to lose twenty pounds, and I did it! I gained five back after about a week, and I gained ten more while on antibiotics this winter. I’ve lost the antibiotic weight already, so I’m still down fifteen pounds. In a nutshell, I am at my 2007 cycling weight.

My goal for 2008 is to lose an additional fifteen pounds. My goal was originally twenty pounds, but I feel fifteen is a much more realistic weight loss goal. I currently weigh 170 pounds, and my body loves this weight. Fifteen pounds would bring me down to 155, a weight I haven’t been for over ten years.

Losing this excess weight will do a lot for my cycling. This has been my greatest motivator. I’ve found that putting in at least eight hours a week on the bike helps me to easily achieve weight loss.

Become a Stronger Climber

Most places are fairly flat with some hills thrown in. The Keweenaw is the opposite: many hills with a few flats here and there. It is difficult to find a flat section of road to train on. For this reason, most of the cyclists in my area are very good. Even the mediocre cyclists are good by other people’s standards. We get a hill workout every time we ride. How we use those hills is what separates us.

This year, I plan to tackle the most difficult hills with enthusiasm and gratitude.

Commute

With rising gas prices and my goals of become a better, stronger rider, it makes perfectly good sense to ride my bike to work (6 miles) and school (11 miles). School will automatically give me four twenty-two mile road rides per week. With careful planning, I may lengthen that commute a couple times a week.


Even though there is still snow on the ground, the weather is warmer and some have already begun riding to work and school.

Balance My Training Regimen

Cycling alone can help you achieve a muscle imbalance thus setting you up for injury. This winter, I began incorporating a regular yoga routine along with weight training into my week. The yoga promotes muscle balance by maintaining flexibility while minimizing the possibility of pain and injury. I began an upper body weight training program to strengthen the muscles that tighten the most while cycling. I figure that a stronger upper body would minimize the muscle-tightening that is throwing my body out of alignment, because the added strength would minimize the stress (this is my own theory). It also makes climbing easier.

That’s a lot!

It may seem like I have a lot of goals for 2008. However, I really only have one pinnacle goal, while the remaining goals serve as the plan for achieving that goal. It is much easier to achieve the bigger goal in little steps. The best part? I’m making positive lifestyle changes that will benefit me not only physically, but financially as well.

Dressing for Cold Weather Rides

Cyclists like me are anticipating the warmer weather and are already hopping on our bikes for what we like to call training and commuting, but the truth is, we want to play. The minor challenge presented to us is this little thing called the weather. It continues to snow throughout most of my state. One day, the top layer of snow melts in the sunlight on a breezy 40 degree (Fahrenheit) day. The next, there is a wind chill of 9 degrees and there is a fresh four-inch layer of snow covering the ground.

I read a guideline in a forum that I feel is a good rule of thumb: don’t ride if it feels like it is below ten degrees. Personally, I don’t feel like riding if it is that cold. Pay attention to wind chill as that will greatly affect how it will feel outside. It can be 15 degrees but can feel like five with a wind. For the days that are suitable for riding, it is important to find the right clothes. After you’ve done that, your ride will feel just fine. You may even break a sweat.

Luckily for me, I live in an area where Nordic skiing is the norm. I didn’t have to buy additional clothing for winter riding. All I had to do was look at my ski stash.

Everyone has a different idea of what works. I’m willing to bet it’s because we own different things. Therefore, I will share with you what works for me. Since I live in a little peninsula surrounded by Lake Superior, you may find that my opinion is worth noting.

Method Behind the Madness

The first rule of thumb for winter riding is layering. The layers should be slightly loose to allow heat from your body to settle between the layers creating warm air pockets. These pockets are what will keep you warm. Add another layer, create another pocket. If it’s too warm, get rid of a pocket by removing a layer.

The second rule of thumb is the type of material used. Cotton will soak up sweat causing your clothes to become wet creating the perfect environment for hypothermia. Breathable clothing has become quite popular over the last ten years. I’m sure you’ve heard of COOLMAX®, Nike Dri-FIT, Columbia Omni-Dry®, and Patagonia Capilene just to name a few. These fabrics are all designed to wick moisture away from the skin to the surface of the garment to promote evaporation of sweat. This keeps you dry. All of these companies produce quality clothing. It is up to you to find the brand that fits you best. Just make sure the label says breathable.

Check out the plethora of sports equipment web sites out there and you’ll find that these fabrics are used to produce garments that are intended for use as different layers, for example: base layer and shell.

Keep in mind that you get what you pay for. Unless you are buying clearance, which I highly recommend, you’ll find that breathable clothing is usually quite expensive. Now consider this: I’ve been using most of my winter cycling wardrobe for over four years, for different sports, and quite religiously in the winter. With the exception of the reflection material slowly peeling off of my ski tights, everything is holding up well. All the stitching is top notch and there are no holes. The best part is that most of these garments are stretchable for maximum comfort and they will fit you well through quite a weight range . . . just in case you’re planning to lose weight.

The last thing to note about breathable fabrics, and the most important, is care. Breathable fabrics should be washed in cool water without fabric softener and should be hung to dry. Keep in mind that these are polyester fabrics. Plastic can melt in the dryer. Melting clogs the pores of the fabric rendering it useless in the breathable category. Fabric softener also clogs the pores of these fabrics rendering them useless, however, this can remedied simply by rewashing the fabric.

The Layers

Unless you’re a man who needs little support, this first part pertains only to women. The layers are only as good as the base layer. For women, that base layer begins with the sport bra. There is an abundance of sport bras out there waiting for you to buy them. However, not all sports bras are created equal. Aside from finding the one that fits you best, make absolutely sure it is made of a breathable fabric. The other layers can’t wick if the sweat stops at your bra. Underwear could be an issue, but we’re all cyclists. We don’t wear underwear. If you don’t wear a cycling short with a chamois, then you may want to consider buying breathable undies as well.


Clockwise from top: 1 – Nike Dri-FIT cycling jersey; 2 – Columbia Titanium base layer; 3 – Pearl Izumi ski jacket; 4 – Columbia Titanium wind jacket; 5 – Pearl Izumi ski pants; 6 – Nike cycling shorts.

I like to start out with a base layer. I currently use the Columbia Titanium layer shown in the picture above (2), or a blue Patagonia Capilene base layer that I like equally as much. Throwing a cycling jersey (1) over it allows use of the rear pockets while helping to keep the torso warmer. I wear these two layers on most spring rides in temperatures ranging from the upper 40s to the upper 50s. In the 50s and low 60s, I may use a light wind jacket (not pictured) for really breezy days. If it is in the lower 40s and below, I will throw on my Pearl Izumi ski jacket (3) or my Columbia Titanium wind jacket (4) depending on the type of weather. If it’s cold enough, I’ll wear both. It’s better to have too many layers because you can always take them off and throw them in your tool bag or CamelBak.

The legs are much easier to work with. In colder weather, it is very important to keep the knees covered. I wear ski pants (5) over a traditional cycling short (6) through the 50s and in the 60s if there is a cold wind.


This outfit is perfect for mild spring and fall weather that is above 50 degrees. The cycling shorts and ski pants are worn in the wintertime as well.

Accessories are equally as important as all the layers you wear on your body. Without the accessories, your ride could become miserable because your toes are numb or sand from the road is blown up into your eyes.


1 - Trek Interval WSD Sport helmet; 2 – Mountain Hardwear Gore Windstopper Dome; 3 - Kona gloves; 4 – Dakine inserts (came with Dakine Women’s Camino gloves); 5 – Swix Women’s Cross Gloves; 6 – Columbia neck gator; 7 – Optic Nerve sunglasses; 8 – Nike mountain biking shoes; 9 – Planet Bike wool socks; 10 – Wigwam Ingenius ski socks.

In Trek’s helmet owner’s manual, it specifically states that hats should not be worn under the helmet to ensure proper fit. In reality, if you don’t wear a hat during part of the year, your ears will fall off. I use either a headband or a snug-fitting cap like my Mountain Hardwear hat (shown above, 2). You will need to readjust your helmet when fitting it over a hat or headband. Make sure it has a snug fit. I know people who have gone down on the ice and hit their heads. If you experience a fall like this, it will be one of the hardest falls you will encounter as a cyclist, and you will be grateful you were wearing a helmet after the pain the rest of your body experiences. Don’t be afraid to readjust your helmet midway through the ride.

Gloves are an area of debate on some mountain biking forums. I usually wear my ski gloves (5) and they do a great job keeping my hands warm while riding. Recently, I couldn’t find them and chose to wear my Dakine inserts under my mountain biking gloves (4 and 3 respectively). Due to layering, I can see how the second choice can be warmer than the first, but the difference is negligible. If you’re looking for a single pair of gloves for winter riding, Swix makes a perfectly adequate cross country ski glove. I’ve laughingly heard others say, “yeah, but bikers travel faster than skiers.” That may be so, but cross country skiers are also found on the trails in below zero weather wearing those very same gloves.

Riding is not fun when your face is freezing. For skiing and for biking, the odds are good that you will find me wearing my neck gator (6). Sometimes I keep it around my neck, sometimes covering my face, and many times I move it back and forth. It has made what could have been the most unbearable ride into a perfectly enjoyable ride.

One of my bike shop guys says, “Glasses are the second most important piece of safety equipment.” I agree. As a mountain biker, I wear glasses to keep bugs, dirt, and tree branches out of my eyes. Having mud or sand flung up into my eyes and sticking to my contacts isn’t exactly my idea of a good time. I always bring my glasses with me (7). I prefer the clear lenses, but the amber lenses are ideal for sunny days. They’ve offered protection from the wind and the sand on my road rides.

I don’t have the fortune of owning winter specific cycling shoes or neoprene booties to put over them. I wear my regular cycling shoes with packaging tape (8) over the vents to help keep the wind away from my toes. I always wear two pairs of socks for that layering effect – cycling socks or something similar (9) over ski socks (10).

When you step back and look at all the gear you need to keep comfortable during a winter ride, it seems like a lot of stuff. It is. However, all this stuff will make your ride much more comfortable and enjoyable so you, too, can join the rest of us nutcases out there on those cold, slushy roads.