Trans Iowa is just around the corner.

Went for a good spin last night. Left the house around 10 pm and rode for 2 hours. I went and did Aldrich hill 5 times and then headed back to Sycamore. The legs are feeling good and the hills are becoming easier. I have managed to do all the training this year and so far, knock on wood, I have stayed healthy. The wife has fed me lots of vegetarian foods, lots of green smoothies. I have stayed away from beer for 4 months, have had ice cream a couple times and have eliminated junk food from my diet.
I will also be attending T.I. 30 lbs lighter than last year. To be exact I was almost 260 lbs last year and now weighing in at 230. Still 3 weeks to go so I will drop so more baggage until then .
I am working on bike issues, postion and I truly regret that my 20 year old Selle San Marco Rolls broke a rail. I bought the same exact saddle but have not succeeded in breaking it in. Luckily I have another old one I will use for the race.
I will be racing on Schwalbe Extreme tires in a 37-622 format. They are folding, grippy, flashy and pricey. They are worth the money and they will work just fine.
Lights will be offered by Dinotte lighting. Made in U.S.A. One headlamp on bars one on helmet, all powered by powerex rechargeables.
One small red blinker. Maybe something sexy from Knog.
Waterbottles will be Zefal magnums which hold 32oz. Almost like the fashionable Nalgene bottles, pre BPA.
Gearing will by 45x34x11x34. Low gears, spinning, spinning .
Hydration will be Carbo-rocket, perpetuem for food, and heed, for a change.
April 1st I will be kicking it into hight gear and then tapering the week before.

Wednesday Night ride
8:30 p.m.
Great Western Trail head
corner of old state rd and airport rd.
Come by if you like.


best to all,

thanks for reading my boring posts

Ari

Had a busy Sunday ahead of me and I tossed around the idea of riding all day on Saturday in my head. I just could not come up with a good idea. Hellmut was nursing a cold, I needed a hard ride in, my wife had tons of school projects to do on Sunday, my daughter needed quality time with dad. So at 10:30pm on Saturday night I figured out that that best thing would be to get ready and ride through the night into Sunday morning. I hurried and got dressed and loaded everything up on the bike. I looked at the wind, it was coming out of the N.E. and that is the general direction I took. I ended up in St. Charles and then headed north to do a loop of the Al Capones route. I then headed back south to St.Charles and took rte 64 home. Got pulled over by a cop around 3:30 am "just to check me out", continued, albeit a bit annoyed, arrived home with 6 hours of riding time. Went straight to bed after a glass of water and a cheese sandwich. Got up at 10 am and continued on with my day like nothing had happened. Got tired around 4:30 a.m., had a headache that I cured with sport beans and nathan electrolyte drink. Wished for a doubleshot can of starbucks and a couple advils at that time. Listened to music, slept on the bike, saw tons of coyotes, got chased in the woods by a lost chihuahua. Got freaked out a couple times. 3 men having breakfast at the parkway at 5:08 a.m. sunday morning. Ellesons's bakery open by 5:13 a.m.
Arrived home, a bit tired, sore neck, frozen feet, frozen face.

best,
Ari

Some secrets leaked

German Made Coils tuned for gravel riding

Upright riding position to keep an eye out for the competition

Dual wheel with Mercedes Benz made transmission

Flatbed for Food, endless watersupply and carrying exhausted team mates

Hellmut knowing he now has an edge.

Hellmut has been nursing a cold and I have been taking forced days off the bike. We are ready and those long, cold rides in the middle of the winter are over with.

Best,
Ari

Route we took to Water Fall Glen, Darien, IL.

Slender Fungus Cycling Association

So we had gotten hounded by Giggles for not doing any real long rides and decided that this Sunday was the day to do it. Hellmut was struggling with a beginning cold that was brought over from Florida as a cheap present from his parents. He balanced on the scale of riding and not riding and as secretary of the Slender Fungus took the right decision to get out and fight those nasty little germs. We left at 4:oo a.m. as required by our Northern friends and found ourselves cruising east bound in darkness, 23 degree weather and a steady snowfall. The snowplows were out again spreading more destructive salt.
Hellmut was silent in the dark as he fought off demons that were telling him to turn around and go home. He fought them hard and once the light came out he started to find a new courage. I felt bad for him and kept wanting him to not get any sicker. We made it to Downers Grove and took a welcome break at the bucks where my sister in law works. We then decided to head south and target Waterfall Glen for some offroad and some good hills.
We rolled south on Cass ave and got into the Forest. Road the muddy section then rolled around the wonderful forest. Went up the Airplane Field then started our long journey home. Had a magnificent tailwind from the N.E.
Our last 20 miles comprised the GWT. Started to feel the ride after the 100 mile mark. Good ride, good experience. No mechanicals, no flats, and Hellmut was happy to have decided to come out instead of laying in bed.

Hours riding: 9 hrs 30 minutes
distance: 120 miles

best,

ari

Make it nice.

Creepin'

Happy St. Patrick's day to all y'Irish

Creepin' over the I-90 overpass.

Creepin' in the Belvedere Walmart with the amazing Fargo

The everpresent facemask to protect against sudden asthma attacks

Had a hardy conversation over the phone with the Giggles. It was really cool to talk to someone "live". Got fired up and got on the bike around 9:30 pm. Temps were around 45 and it seemed like a decent night. I started with the plan to ride out to Genoa but then I got on Genoa rd and started to feel good. I creeped all the way out to Belvedere when I noticed I was empty on food. I had a Tums and 2 advils and then had to return home. I bonked all the way back and just kept riding harder and harder since the temps were dropping. I had the road to myself and the Fargo with the narrower tires and Chris King wheels felt like it was on drugs. What a super-machine. I will definetely consider riding this machine since it offers a very upright position, has a triple and I can carry enough water for a camel. I got in 50 miles in the dark and I was pumped about it. Arrived home and wrestled the fridge and I won. Slept like a rock and today I can't wait for the famous Wednesday night ride.

Wednesday night Ride @ 8:30 p.m
Meeting at Great Western Trail
(GWT)
corner of oldstate rd and airport rd.
Bring bike, food, lights, extra clothing since
temps will drop for sure. Bring money, extra tubes, pump and tools. Irish Whiskey to celebrate St. Patricks Day!

See you there!!!

best,


ari