Goals

150 miles so far in March. Hopefully another 25-50 before the end of march (aka wednesday). Shooting for 3000-3500 by the end of the season. :)

First Ride of the Season...for Liam

This past Sunday I did my first ride of the 2010 bike season. I went riding in St. Augusta with Ann and my mother, Jeanne. We first met at the St. Joe trail head, having heard a rumor that the trails were clear. However, this proved to be false and the trails weren't ride-able, unless we switched to snow tires. So, disappointed, but still hopeful we ventured forth to St. Augusta, where wide shoulders and relatively little traffic awaited us. We got on our bikes and rode, sailing down roads, over great hills, and through great valleys. We battled many great dangers, such as sand-swept sides, careless chickens, and a crushed peanut shell. However, though these many dangers we prevailed and our trusty bikes carried us back to the shelter of our cars, which were parked, probably illegally, in a lot off the road. This ride was a great first ride and I hope starting the season this early will yield more miles cumulated and more stories told while sipping cappuccino at the Local Blend. So, here's to the first ride of the NFBC season and may there be many more to come!

Are NFBC bikers real Minnesoootans? You betcha!

I hear that Ann went biking early this year. I don't mean April. . . or March. I heard she went biking in. . . wait for it. . . FEBRUARY. Okay, Ann, we get the point--it is clear to us all that you are hoping to get the "Most MINNESOTAN Biker of the Year" award. I hope you get it, Ann, but you never can be sure. Perhaps I will go for a ride across one of the polar ice-caps, or maybe Andrew will get the idea that eating a tub of lutefisk while riding his bike to an ice-fishing hole somewhere in 'da boonies will snag him the award. I don't know what will happen in the future, but for now I want to say "congrats" to Ann for being the most minnesotan biker i know. Way to show those snowmobilers how us NFBC bikers do things, Ann!

Biking in the Texas Hill Country

I went to San Antonio on Feb. 7 for a conference. The hotel was right downtown, with the Alamo directly across the street. The weather during the conference was very nice in the 50's and 60's, needing just a light jacket in the evening. Unfortunately, it was a skills conference, which meant that there wasn't even the option of considering whether to miss a session during the day.

The conference ended at 1:00 on Wednesday. The Texans in attendance were all leaving early because of the ice pellets which were being predicted. The temperature was in the high 30s or low 40s. I went to pick up my bike. The bike shop guy was surprised I showed up and asked if I had heard about the weather.

I drove north of San Antonio up I35 toward Austin until I saw signs for "recreational area" and found my way on to the Texas Hill Country Trail, which actually had signs saying "watch for bikers." I found a hotel, but it was about 5 p.m. by the time I checked in, so didn't get to bike with the ice pellets.

The next day, Thursday, it was in the 30s when I got up and drizzling. I decided to wait to see if it would clear up. At about 1:00 it was pouring rain, though it had warmed up to the low 40s with a wind chill of 30. I decided I didn't need to revisit the Ironman in Texas.

Friday, I went out to get my bike ready at 9, and my hands were getting numb so I took the bike inside and got it set up. I hit the road at about 9:45. The people at the check-out desk thought I was nuts, but they thought that already as soon as they heard I live in Minnesota. Fortunately, I had brought some cooler weather clothes. I headed west which was into the wind. There were some nice hills and long inclines. After about 2 hours I reached a café, and needed to get my feet warm. So I stopped for lunch. Cafes in rural areas are apparently the same everywhere, as I listened to people talk about how it was too wet to get into the fields, the price of hogs, and the challenge of shipping hogs to California.

Heading back was much easier with the wind at my back, so I made good time, and took a detour to add some more miles. I noted that cattle in Texas must not be used to bikers as they actually looked at me as I passed by. There were cactus along the way, and the buzzards that did not look up as cars passed by all flew up from what ever carcass they were eating when my bike passed. Normally, not a big deal, but 25 of these large birds flying up at once is a bit disconcerting. I stopped to take a picture of a cactus, (not to catch my breath--which I could see) and within minutes a sheriff's car had pulled to a stop across the highway. I got back on the bike, and he turned around and left.

Lots of good hills, some deer, and about 40 miles. There was one dead armadillo along the side of the road. All in all it made me wish I had one more day to bike again. As I drove my route to track the miles, I passed the only other biker I saw the entire trip. The day I left it got up to the 60s.

It was a nice location to ride, I highly recommend the Texas Hill Country, though would do it in March rather than February.

Fat Cyclist

If you havn't heard this story before you should watch a bit a this video. It is about how the blogger who write the fatcyclist blog wrote a letter to the manager of Team Radioshack and it ended up with him raising over $130,000 for charity and a chance to ride with the team during a training camp. It is a great video and an inspiring story. Just copy this URL into your browser's address bar.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLy0tAe8mTg

Meeting with NFBC is almost as great as biking with NFBC

The New Friends Bike Club (NFBC) held its winter meeting at what has now been renamed "the Party House," (to the great shock and amazement of its owner.) After sampling a wide variety of blue cheese selections, washed down with a beverage of choice served in a wine glass, the members sat down to a meal of lasagna. Dinner was followed by team building exercises which involved a melting elephant and a martini hat.

With the preliminaries aside, the meeting itself commenced. NFBC President Liam Cofell-Dwyer guided the members from agenda item, to agenda item, ensuring that much was accomplished. The NFBC will be taking part in a community education session at Revolution Bikes which will provide training on changing a tire, cleaning a bike, and other basic bike maintenance. An ambitious schedule of spring and summer biking was also established. NFBC will be scheduling a regular ride for Wednesdays and Saturdays until school is out, at which time an additional ride will be added. There will be a banquet and awards ceremony at the end of the season, so riders are urged to keep an eye out for efforts which will merit recognition at the banquet.

NFBC has also opened itself up to international membership, with strong hopes of securing members from Germany and Paraguay. Plans are in the works for a European Tour including Austria, Germany and France in 2011. International tour members will be welcomed into the homes of US members and tours will be planned for them.

The good company, good cheer, and great leadership provided by President Cofell-Dwyer ensured that this was a successful meeting.

Dreams about the NFBC European Tour

I have been dreaming up a wonderful three week long tour around Europe that will be accomplished with several modes of transportation, including biking and trains. As has been discussed previously within the NFBC (New Friends Bike Club), we would all enjoy taking a trip to Germany to bike for a while. well, i was thinking that this dream European Tour could start off with a stop in Austria, then a train ride up to Bremen in northern Germany, where we would do a five day bike tour. after enjoying N. Germany we would all hop on a train to Paris, France, where we really wouldn't bike, but I'm not going to Europe without spending at least a day in Paris! we would continue on train to the French Pyrenees. These mountains are renowned for some great rides and have been biked many times throughout the Tour de France. i have read about some great houses in the mountains that have been modified into really nice hotels. from one of these hotels we could do numerous different day trips of varying difficulty. if we are in the mood for some really challenging rides we could tackle some of the famous Tour de France peaks.

Tour Destinations:

Austria: 2-4 Days
Melk
Salzburg
Vienna
Germany: 5-6 Days
Munich ?
Bremen and surrounding area
France: 5-6 Days
Paris
Pyrenees Mountains



A trip of such magnificence would most likely take place in the summer after i graduate from St. John's Prep. This would allow the participants ample time to save up enough money for ticket, housing, transportation, and food costs...as well as a brand new carbon fiber bike to propel us up the mountains. This would be the summer of 2011.

Spring Fever

After buying a biking magazine about health and fitness i am really ready to get back out on the trail and ride for miles and miles into the sun and with the wind. i am really inspired to get in as many miles as possible this season. hopefully 3000 or more. i want to bike some centuries and maybe even ride in a tour or race. i want to take a trip and ride new terrain. new territory. a new world. i want to don a bike jersey and get out on my jamis ventura bike and ride. the problem being we have snow...a lot of it. and the trails are buried deep. true, there is such a thing as a turbo-the stationary bike thing that you can set your bike in and bike without moving. but who wants to do that?! wheres the fun? true, i should mount that bike on the turbo if i want to get in shape so when the real bike season comes i can start out strong, but why cant the magic sun fairy come and sprinkle some of that magic, inspiring warmth all over the trails? i want to ride with the sun, the wind (although it is troublesome), the world, and my team mates. is that too much to ask? please, summer! Wipe this spring fever away!

A Biker's Thoughts on a Winter Solstice Night

It is the night of the Winter Solstice, the date of the least amount of sun. For years, I have felt depressed as Fall deepened into Winter, as the days got shorter. When the cold and dark arrive, even leaving the house becomes difficult.

A couple weeks ago, a co-worker cornered me in a weak moment and told me he had an extra ticket to a winter concert, by Ring of Kerry, an Irish singing group. During this time of year, when my lack of sociability is at its height, I uncharacteristically agreed to go. The company and the singing were good, and during the intermission we found ourselves talking with a woman who had lived in San Diego for 50 years. It was about 5 degrees outside, with a below zero windchill, so I commented that she must really miss Sad Diego this time of year. She responded, "Oh, you get sick of the sun too."

And during this darkest of seasons, I found reason to celebrate. I have never been sick of the sun. I had never understood that was the gift I receive each year from life here in Minnesota, from a life with extreme cold and long hours of darkness. I am never sick of the sun.

In the spring, the lengthening days meant that only a few brief stops were needed to kick the snow off the bike trail. This summer, each beautiful day was a cause for a bike ride or an afternoon sitting outside in lawn chairs with friends and family. In the fall, each waning hour of sun was one more hour of riding. And as the season came to a close, my new friends and I biked in the cold, because we knew we would soon be relegated to telling tales of rides past or dreams for rides in seasons to come.

I wonder what it would be like to bike in a place with no seasons. At the end of a hard day at work would I say to myself, "Why don't I just ride tomorrow?" Would I see a cool 50 degree evening as too cool to ride, because the sun will be out tomorrow? I always thought I'd bike more miles in a place with so much sun, but now I wonder what would I chase if not the diminishing hours of daylight.

So this Winter Solstice night, as I light a candle to fight against the dark, I celebrate this gift of the Yule. I am not sick of the Sun.

The intersection of passions on the Lake Wobegon Trail

Beginning in late October and certainly in November, it became clear that that for at least a brief period of time, two athletes who rarely meet were sharing the same trail. As temperatures dropped, the number of bikers on the trail also dropped. And by mid-November, the only bikers on the trail were avid cyclists, mostly members of the New Friends Bike Club. They all wore helmets, knew how to dress to stay warm without impeding cycling, and had a look of desperation in their eyes. Each of us knew that our season was ending, that any ride might be the last until Spring.

But at the same time, there appeared a new athlete on the trail, one rarely seen in earlier months--the cross country skier on roller skis. Often in groups, but always with a look of joy and optimism, these skiers could not wait for the snow. They knew their time was coming, and they couldn't wait.

So for that brief period of time those who love biking so much that they brave below freezing temperatures to eke out another mile, and those who love cross country skiing so much that they can't wait for the snow, met on the trail.

Why we bike together.

"It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle." (Ernest Hemmingway)

I've been missing the chance to get out bike. It is getting harder and harder to find a free afternoon that is not too cold, or windy. And I miss my friends from the New Friends Bike Club. Hopefully we will be able to get out next Saturday, but it is a little early to schedule this. As I was thinking about biking, I found the quote by Hemmingway.

A bicycle is a good compromise between walking and driving. I walk a lot, but don't find the same joy that I do with biking. It's a little too slow. But driving is too fast. Biking is just right. I get to see the country up close, and have the connection to it that is provided by the labor of getting up the hills and across the miles, And when that biking is done with a friend, it adds to the pleasure. (And yes Andrew, I do know that there are some places we just have to hike, because a bike won't get there.)

There is nothing like biking up a steep hill or a long distance with a friend. And I recently found out why.

"Researchers studied 34 students at the University of Virginia, taking them to the base of a steep hill and fitting them with a weighted backpack. They were then asked to estimate the steepness of the hill. Some participants stood next to friends during the exercise, while others were alone. The students who stood with friends gave lower estimates of the steepness of the hill. And the longer the friends had known each other, the less steep the hill appeared." (Tara Parker-Pope"What Are Friends For? A Longer Life" in the NY Times (April 20, 2009))

So New Friends Bike Club Members, when I'm at the foot of a steep hill, I want you by my side.

How I biked 3061 miles (so far) in one year.

I started in March. Here in Minnesota, biking outside in March is a challenge. But my friend Mike had talked me into signing up for the Minnesota Ironman on April 26. (This is a 30, 66 or 100 mile ride. It's called the Ironman because of how hard it is to get training miles in due to winter, weather, or days that are still short.) So after a winter in which I gained 20 pounds, I had to get out early to get back in shape.

In March I biked 102 miles. Total miles for the year: 102

In April, training began in earnest. I'd never biked with Mike before, and he had invited other friends to do the Ironman with us. I did not want to embarrass myself, or hold the other riders back. On April 26, the temperature was approximately 40, the wind was blowing at 30 mph, it was raining. I was riding with someone I had not met before, and could not catch my breath on the up hills, and he kept talking. So I focused on asking him questions, so that I did not have to talk and could focus on breathing (and thinking of more questions.) At the first rest stop he said, "Those hills didn't seem to bother you, you were talking biking up them." (My strategy had worked.) But then it really started to rain, the wind was no longer at our backs, it felt like sleet as the rain hit my face. By mile 40, I could not feel my fingers when I tried to shift gears and could not tell if my feet were on the pedals because they too were numb. I said to myself, "This is not safe." At the second rest stop, some people were wrapped in blankets, shivering from hypothermia. At that point I abandoned the ride. My friend Mike made it to Mile 66. Another friend made it to mile 100 and emailed, "It's a fine line between macho and stupid." We later learned it was rated one of the 3 worst Minnesota Ironman rides.

In April I biked 346 miles. Total miles for the year: 448

With the Ironman out of the way, I began to lose my focus. I had signed up for an organized ride in SD in August, but that seemed a long ways away. I had a training conference out of town during the month, and my daughter came home for a visit. Each of these events provided an excuse to avoid riding.

In May I biked 266.6 miles. Total miles for the year: 714.6

June was worse than May. I had lost momentum. My Dad had surgery. Two reunions (a family and a school) and both took up valuable weekend riding hours. I just could not force myself out to ride. Looking back I think of the long days, and how I wasted those hours.

In June I biked 80.5 miles. Total miles for the year: 795.1

On July 3, I biked 21 miles after more than a week of not riding at all. And that day marked a turning point. The Tour of Saints (a 50 mile organized ride) was scheduled for the 12th, and I knew I had to get moving. I had invited my friend Mike to ride, and knew I was not in shape to keep up. I was correct. Mike had to wait for me on hills, though he didn't complain, I knew he was doing so. The weather was beautiful, but the ride was hard. From July 3 forward, I missed only 4 days of riding in the month.

In July I biked 542 miles. Total miles for the year: 1337.1

As I got in shape, biking became a joy again. It was not exercise, and I just wanted to get out and bike further every day. My organized ride in the Black Hills was mid-August, and though I was in better shape, I was scared to death of the inclines. It is a big difference between the rolling hills of Central Minnesota and biking up to Mount Rushmore. And then, about a week before my trip, I rode again with Mike. And this time he told me twice, "You are really strong." I cannot describe how good that made me feel, and how it increased my confidence for the upcoming ride. And that ride was wonderful. I biked up to Mount Rushmore and then biked on up another mountain, and looked back down on Mount Rushmore. I did not walk, I biked up and sailed down every mile. Then, when I got back, I biked 100 miles in one day. In August, I missed 7 days of riding, mostly travel days.

In August, I biked 676 miles. Total miles for the year: 2013.1

September began with another hundred mile ride, a week after the first. I rode two 50 mile organized rides. The weather was beautiful and I was loving to ride. The days were getting shorter, but the days were beautiful, and I was still able to get in miles after work. By the end of the month, my total miles for the year equaled 2623.5. All of a sudden 3,000 miles was in sight. I had my goal for the year.

In September, I rode 610.4 miles. Total miles for the year: 2623.5

While September was beautiful, October was cold and rainy. The days were getting short, and either I had to take afternoons off from work, or hope for a less wet weekend day to fit in a ride. In total, I could only ride 13 days. But the last of those days, was with my nephew Liam, who had become a cheerleader and motivator in my quest for 3,000. He asked me every time he saw me, how close I was. He understood what an accomplishment it was for me to reach 3000 and he had already begun the calculations to figure out if I could do 4000 next year.

In October I rode 330.2 miles. Total miles for the year: 2953.7.

I rode 25 miles on November 1, and then on November 6, again riding with Liam, I rode 22 miles. As we reached the end of our ride, he yelled to others on the trail. "She just completed 3000 miles for the season!"

In November to date, 107.1 miles. Total miles for the year: 3061.3

Reflecting back, thanks are due to my friend Mike for motivating me at the start, and getting me back on track in the middle of the summer. Thanks also to my nephew Liam who kept me going at the end and made achieving the 3,000 a true celebration.

Liam is right, there is room for additional miles next summer. #1 Keep the weight off this winter. I lost the 20 pounds I had gained, plus another 5. I will have a faster start next spring if I'm not carrying that weight again. #2 Keep short term goals in sight to keep motivated--and don't waste the long day months of June, July and August. #3 Ride with Mike and Liam.

"Clear!"

"Clear!!" was heard many times throughout our bike ride yesterday and it drew chuckles from everyone. The sign of a successful bike club is when the first inside joke has to do with a road crossing. I guess it is the little things that count. However, it did make me think. . . what do we mean by 'clear'? Hopefully we all realize that it means that no cars are approaching, but I think it also makes a good metaphor for the message of the New Friends Bike Club. "Clear!!" is all about helping out and caring for the other members of the team and making sure everyone is safe. Every time we yell out our new inside joke and chuckle we are reaffirming what this club is all about: helping out the Friends and caring for everyone. As our first inside joke, "Clear!!!" is a great metaphor that shows why we bike as a team in the first place.


P.S.- 3,000 miles, Ann! Congratulations and way to go!

Equipment--Helmets

"What do you call a cyclist who doesn't wear a helmet?"
"An organ donor."


When you are bicycling, always always always wear a helmet. A friend of mine was bicycling in Colorado this summer. He crashed going about 25 miles per hour. He came to with people standing around him. His helmet was cracked, both the outside and the inside foam padding. Although he did get a small bruise to his brain, he survived the crash only because he was wearing his helmet.

Helmets differ in price based on how light, well ventilated, and cool-looking the helmet is. The price of the helmet will take into consideration each of these factors. I haven't been able to find any information about whether a more expensive helmet is any safer than a less expensive helmet. But if you don't wear a helmet because it is too heavy or too warm, it may be worth it to pay a little more for a helmet you will wear.

My friend was wearing a helmet made by specialized. http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCExperience.jsp?eid=4952&menuItemId=9301

You can get bike helmets at bicycle shops like Revolution Bike in St. Cloud, or at most outdoor activity stores like REI. Bike shops may have some helmets and other gear on sale now, at the end of the biking season.

Some websites that have bicycling equipment and gear, which often have good sales are

www.nashbar.com
www.performancebike.com
www.pricepoint.com

Blog Posts and Facebook

Well, clearly Ann has the right idea of what to post on this blog! I think that good blog posts can be about nearly anything bike related. Stories about bike excursions, equipment reviews, ideas for goals, new inspirations...all are great! (i hope that Ann will post a review of her clipless pedals and shoes!) Hopefully we can all find something helpful to contribute on a regular basis that will encourage and inspire the whole team. Also, don't forget to follow our facebook group, in which we will plan trips and organize our weekly excursions and goals. Finally, don't forget that this club is welcoming to anyone with a passion to bike and an urge to share their passion with their fellow bikers, so if you know anybody who wants to bike and join a group feel free to invite them to come along on a ride!