Gravel Sunday

Taking a break on Gillis Rd.
Cool looking creek
Deep Blue, white gravel and some green
Dork on Bike

Fag on Bike
Solo riding
Dry gravel

Fresh gravel, ready for winter


Gillis rd.

Had a great ride on Sunday. Took the cross bike out and did Rich Rd. then Gillis and went over I39 then head west, then north then came back on Baseline which is also gravel. The wind was pretty fierce since the ground is bare after the harvest. Some rolling hills on Gillis made me strain. I had 2L of water and a powerbar and ended up with 60 and change. I got home really tired and vowed to change out the racing saddle on my cross bike for something more comfy, maybe a Rolls. If I had some riding buddies around here I would like to attempt a night ride on the gravel. I think it would be a lot of fun.

keep riding,

Ari

The Real Bermuda Triangle

Exhausted and taking a break at Bermuda Triangle
The Bermuda Triangle at Night

Now that I have been having a wee bit more time I can finally write this post. The aforementioned spot is located in Fermi Lab in Batavia. As you enter the lab complex from the east and travel west you pass the guard station, go to the second stop and make a right. No matter what time of the year it is you will be encountered with weird winds that make your bike stop.

When heading east towards work this spot always tires me. It is a slight uphill, lots of wind and the old tree is a reminder that it has been sitting there and getting beat up for at least 20 years.

In 1987 I discovered Fermi by accident as I was fresh arrived from Germany. I remember that tree being dead back then and for some reason I have always had this fantasy of setting the fucker on fire. Getting arrested and imprisoned as an enemy combatant has restrained my hands from doing it.

My new addition to mental states has been riding the Bermuda Triangle at night. Last time I went through it was raining and gusting winds were blowing out of the N-NW. As soon as I turned the corner a howling welcome stopped my bike and spooked the hell out of me. I put my head down, lowered the gearing in a sign of respect and pedalled through. I was glad to no be able to see my speedometer. The pale blue light from the niterider were the only signs of relief.

As soon as I left the area the winds became more manageable and I sighed in relief. On to the Fox River trial which is paved and covered with wet leaves. I had no idea where the trail began and where it ended. The wooden bridges where slippery as snot with my narrow road tires. I felt my chain and drivetrain wear, thin out with all the grit grinding away at it. I feel bad for the Heron. In a strange way this Bird bike has been living in the water lately, perhaps it's where it belongs.

I hope next time you go by the bermuda triangle it beats you up.

Ari

Driving is totally gay

So after having the shittiest ride of a long time on Monday I finally get the nissan going and drive to work today. Monday was raining as soon as I left the shop and it was a soaker. Rain gear for cycling just plain don't work. I had some handmade wool socks and and some big ass gloves from Bill and was able to sort of keep them extremities warm. Traffic was a nightmare because drivers can;t see when it rains. Maybe they shouldn't drive since they can't see??? Made it to Fermi before 8pm and was stopped by police again to be told they had just changed the rule to 6pm from mid october to mid January. Fuck you I thought as I handed my new Drivers licence over. Next commutes will be even harder since I will detour thru the Prairie path.
I arrived very cold and freaked out since I felt so alone out on the trail. I had some food and drank the gritty water from my ghetto bottles.
Arriving home was a treat and all I wanted was booze and food. I had nightmares about the darkness and about the bermuda triangle in Fermi.
Today I picked up the car and drove to work. I arrived dry, warm and rested. I felt fat and out of shape with just one car commute under my belt. Shit, how I am going to cope with this shit I thought. Tonight I arrived home early and found everyone awake and the house still in action. It was weird. I had dinner and had about 6 hours of riding energy in me still. I am doing laundry and cleaning the garage to burn it off. I also went to Farm and Fleet and bought replacement bulbs for the
Nissan.
I hate cars and still think that driving is totally gay but riding 400 miles a week for ever is not possible. I am still wondering how I am going to cope. There must be a way out......................................
Get out and ride.
Ari

Sunday Off

Took Sunday off and went shopping and then went over To Giggles for a homewarming party. It was good to be off my bike and off my feet. Last night at the restaurant we were hopping like mad rabbits. I had burning feet when I got home and said enough is enough. I replaced my drowned mp3 player with a new one which should help on the 40 mile section of the limestrone trail. Tomorrow back to work and see what is up with a lot of stuff. Current brands that I pushed for at the shop and that we have acquired.

Pegoretti

Pinarello

Gunnar

Waterford

Surly

Salsa

Colnago

and Bianchi is back also

At some point in my life I think this will pay off. For the time being I will continue to economize, not create debt and ride my bike DUI style.

Get out and ride

Ari

Man them ribs were good!!!!!

Thanks Giggles and Cheri!!!!!!

Commuting till the Bone

This week was a tough one. I got the Oldsmobile fixed for the girlies to use and this week hopefully I will have the Nissan so I can take a break from Commuting with the bike. I rode 85 miles on Monday, Tuesday and today Wednesday. Today was the whopper. I have not been getting enough rest or food and going to work today I completely bonked. I took care of eating a lot at work and drinking 15 gallons of water. I took some vitamin packages, ate fruit, a meatball sandwich and some beef fried rice.
The wind has been wreaking havoc in my head and at some points I thought I was going crazy. Today I left work in the rain and it only got worse the darker it got. The wind was blowing like hurrican style but I kept thinking about Pantani and all my other heroes and just kept riding.
I bitched and bitche as I rode until I went by a large house that had the curtains open. Inside the living room sat a man in his wheelchair, by himself , watching T.V.
I got the shivers when I saw that and thought how lucky I was to be riding in the dark, in the rain on my bike.
Once I hit the Great western water trail I found that the whole thing was flooded and the limestone was like Peanut butter. Twenty more miles of that and I arrived home, hosed myself and the bike down and appreciated the warmth of my place.
Riding like that is very raw and at some point I think you start to lose it.
I taking the day off tomorrow,
Ari

Just a note on Riding

Dealing with cars has become one of my worst fears and frustrations. Today Sunday I spent all day trying to get our old olds running again. Thanks to pal Chris the monster is roaming the tar ribbons again. Thanks dude. I am still trying to figure out how I will situate myself to the point where my family will not need the services of the automobile. I have become very apathetic to driving and because of it this fall I will not have a cross season. I cannot justify driving for 2-3 hours with the car to reach some destination and then race for 30 minutes. If I can ride to the race I will do it otherwise I cancel. I think racing in America is very difficult and costly since the distances are so great.
I am committed to commuting and riding out of the garage when possible. I hope to continue the commuting for as long as I can since it has given me a lot of time to think and figure out some stuff. The quote given below is from Ex-Pro Allan Peiper.

"You're confronted with your demons. You release pressure and emotions by riding, but releasing them isn't the same as dealing with them. Once you stop riding you don't have the release any more, and then you have the black hole. It's especially hard for creative personalities: you ride, and you think you're someone, then you stop and you're nobody. All of a sudden you're standing in front of the mirror , looking at yourself and having to deal with the person you are in a new world."


Ditch the car as often as possible and ride the bike.


Ari

Friday Grinder

Today was one of those days that I just want to forget. I had a really long day yesterday and woke up today with the thought of riding 52 miles into work. Car driving was not an option because there was no working car available. I bundled up for the brisk 33 degree morning and set out to make it to work. My mind was too blurry to remember water or food so I rode until I bonked like crazy. I stopped at the grocery store and bought some food and then ate a huge apple while riding the rest of the way. It took me a long time to recover and the ride home was a lot better. Food, water, fruit, beer and some cakes were the ticket. I bundled up again at 6 pm and headed out to the vast cornfields of where I live. Riding at night is dangerous only because of asshole drivers. Remove all cars from roads at night and there is no reason not to ride. Being in Fermi at night is safe, riding the fox river trail at night is safe, riding the GREAt western at night is safe. Riding on Warrenville road at night is a fuckin' nighmare on two wheels. I truly despise cars with all my heart. I hate having to drive my car and I hope one day to rid myself of the 4 wheeled beast and live riding, working and shopping with my bike. Until that happens I will continue to hate cars and the assholes that drive them. And no, when you buy that Rolls saddle you cannot return it. You cannot return that 105 front derailleur after using it either.

Sunday 90 miles

Monday 85 miles

Tuesday 85 miles

Wednesday 85 miles

thursday OFF

Friday 85 miles

Total 430 miles

Sunrise on Old State rd. Sycamore, IL

Fabyan Parkway bridge over Fox River
The Campana factory which I alway fantasize as being the Campagnolo factory where I can find Vittorio, Giusseppe, Pietro, Danilo and Company fabricating awesome Campy bling.
Maybe it is a secret Campagnolo factory?????

Keep riding till your butt hurts you a lot, then kick it up a gear and hurt more.

Advice from Dave Smith.

Ari