Sunday Training Ride

Hellmut loving the midwest Winds!

Giugi eating dinner with my headlamp

Hellmut's new T.V. that we rescued from the Ditch

Aldrich Rd, looking mighty fine and sexy.

Mutantcyclocrossmachines defrosting in the sun

My commute home on Friday.

Fireworks coming off Hellmut's head. Wednesday Night Mutant Riding

Did a loop around the Sycamore area then headed north on rte 23 through Genoa then took Genoa Rd all the way out to Belvedere Starbucks for some tasty coffee and a pastry. Winds were really tough out of the west and our faces got burned good. We rode over 3 and 1/2 hours and covered 50 miles. I got home with blood dripping on my computer. We rescued a pitched T.V., saw Brian, (in his Car) and had a kick ass tailwind all the way home. Riding the Studded tires pays dividends.

Best,

Ari

Wednesday Night Ride

Riding on Reed road in Virgil

The absolute worst ride so far this year. Temps in the low teens with winds of 30mph with gusts above that. The trail had a dusting of snow over glare ice that gave enough traction with extreme care. We fought hard to make it back home. My lungs froze and it instigated some Asthma. Winter is not over yet. Thats for sure. We rode a total of 30 miles had tea, some soup and saltine crackers. Luckily we had no mechanicals. Hellmut and Gumby were there and it was great to have a small group. The winds are supposed to continue for a few more days. Just keeping it going.

best,

Ari

monday night riding

Larson Park Trail is completely under water

Night riding at its best

Lloyd road heading towards 23

The winter Monster with extra supplies

I thought about the night ride all day as to how I was going to dress. As the day progressed so did the wind and the drop of the temps. It was blowing snow and the winds were gusting to 40mph. 2 hrs of riding and I was done. Here is a list of winter clothing to tackle these conditions:

Surly Socks

Hydroskins Neoprene socks

Think wool sockguy socks

Long wool socks with toe cut for keeping calves warm

craft wool long johns

craft storm tights

craft wind front turtleneck

secret moisture control device

Louis Garneau Winddry jacket

Outdoor research windstopper facemask

8 dollar wool gloves from farm and fleet

Lake winter boots

Giordana Gamex jacket for vapor barrier between Garneau jacket and undershirt

Oakley Oil drum glasses

This kept me completely warm and away from the way subzero winds. I also used my Pogies on the handlebars

Sunday riding

My bike of choice today. My trusty bianchi with the Marathon Racers 700x35

This is a bike that has never let me down. Sachs New Success rear hub laced to CXP33 rim.

Front is Coda Sealed bearing to Mavic Open Pro. Frogleg brakes, Stronglight headset, Itm stem with Mavic Bars. Campagnolo Record OR cranks with Salsa Rings on Shimano Sealed BB. Salsa Post with Selle Italia Super Turbo. Sram chain and Dura Ace 7 speed barend shifters. Campy Record brake levers. Spd pedals and Cateye Wireless computer, my favorite of all time. This Bianchi is one of the last made in the Reparto Corse in Italy it is lugged and fabricated using Deda Zero Uno tubing. The ride is magical, Pantani would agree.

I made it home at around 11 pm after having left the house around 930 in the morning. I was just plain tired and was messing around with a bad stomach ache. I had eaten too much healthy food as in Lentils with carrots, organic tortillas, Potatoes, pasta with sundried tomatoes. My stomach was a mess and I awoke around 3 am Sunday morning feeling very uncomfortable. I was wondering whether Hellmut was going to show up. I thought there would be no way where I would round myself up and mount a bicycle. I was hiding in the downstairs bathroom when I heard the clacking of the cleats in the garage. Game was on. We sipped some Moka espresso and watched a bit of the cross video on the computer. It was raining, the snow was melting, and the temps were around 38 degrees and dropping. We headed out and within yards of the house I lost control of my Bianchi and I did a full dunk of my left foot in the freezing water.
I continued on and we headed east on 64 just wanting to ride our bikes. We made it into St. Charles and I spotted a Laudromat. We pulled in and threw our wet clothes in a dryer and stayed a while to get some blood flowing. We later made it to Caribou for coffee and bags for my feet which were turning purple. The ride home was very difficult as the winded shifted from S.E. to S.W. We struggled the whole way back home. I went straight and Hellmut turned right on 23 and we just said a quick "see ya".
I was very relieved to get home and unwrap and unfreeze my feet. I was later happy to have Hellmut show up and in the end we pounded over 50 miles on a very crappy January day.
Viva Slender Fungus!

Wednesday Night Ride

The incredible Ice. I still can't over how hard it was to ride it.

Slender Fungus Association Meeting Place.

The Yellow Schwinn rides again!

Three silly riders lined up at the Trailhead of the GWT to do battle with millions and millions of gallons of frozen water. Washboard surfaces and various ruts offered gratis by neighboring slednecks made the night even more interesting. We bounced and fought the terrible headwind coming off the Grand Lake Michigan. After a very long time we made it to Rte IL. 47 where we took our deserved break. We enjoyed some Irish Whiskey, Chamomille Tea laced with Honey, and various energy foods. We rolled back into town with a very strong tailwind. The trail became even more icey as the wind froze that last rain that had fallen. One of our crew members had a hard time staying upright and he had not consumed any of the Whiskey!

3 hours + on tuesday and 3 hours + on wednesday = almost 7 hours.

Today I am sore with pains in very strange places. I rode into work and got a ride home with Hellmut. I wore my helmet in his car since the roads were icey. I will commit crazy act to try new pedals since I don't think the shimano Spuds are doing it for me anymore. I feel like I need something that operates better and has more float. I feel like the Spuds are messing with my right knee but it could also be my 38lbs, studded tired mountain bike.

Tuesday Night riding

By now we are getting used to it

The frosting

I.C. Trail rd. One big sheet of ice

STudded tires rule!

Perhaps the most humid and cold night ever. We rode the GWT and were just covered in frost. The trail was actually rideable since it had iced over and it was sledneck free. We rode out to rte 47 and back and got in 3 hours of solid riding. Felt good to get home and defrost. Tonight we will be having the WEDNESDAY NIGHT RIDE AT 830 PM AT THE GREAT WESTERN TRAILHEAD CORNERS OF OLD STATE RD AND AIRPORT RD. Bring studded tires, food, hot tea and warm clothing.

Ari

Sunday Riding

Hellmut and his new Gunnar Crosshairs

The ice covered Great Western Trail

Graffitti

Graffitti

Old State Rd. heading eastbound

January's freezing fog

We started a bit afte 730 this morning amidst temps in the high teens and the most annoying freezing fog ever. We stayed on bigger roads since visibility was better but we really felt unsafe from the cars. I think at points visibility was below a quarter mile. Our bikes instantly turned to frosty beer mugs and our glasses were useless. We rode out east for clearer roads but the increase in traffic made us decide to play it safe and end the stupidity. We parked our bikes and butts at the Luau Coffee shop in Wasco and had coffee and relaxed. On the way back we rode the super-compacted Great Western Trail. We were both on cross bikes, Hellmut with knobbies and moi in full slick mode. I dropped my air pressure to 25 lbs and kept it as straight as possible. The exercise level was good and got in a solid 3 hour ride with almost 40 miles covered. Ride tomorrow again. No DBD ride today.

Best,

Ari