Night Riding

Nite Rider Minewt

Planet Bike Superflash (my favorite) and the Blackburn Mars

Saturday was a double with the Bike Shop and the restaurant. Sunday was one of those we can't decide what to do days and we finally decided to stay local. We rode with the trail a bike and had a chilled 20 mile day.

Today I commuted to work on the Surly Steamroller and then came home, ate, and hit the road. I am growing fond of my Genoa loop. This time I did some extra riding in Heron Creek. The valleys were cold and damp and the top of the hills were warm. A slight wind and very mindful drivers. Must be all the lights I use. Double flashers in the back. Nite Rider, cateye flasher and Princeton Tec Eos in front.

Total for today

40 miles

fixed gear

best,

Ari

Fixed Century on a Perfect Day

Taking a break at mile 80. Had to take right sock off because of hot foot spot

Custom Aegean Blue steamroller, Michelin Cyclocross Sprint tires

Dead wild turkey off Genoa Rd. Just outside of town. That really bums me.

Sprint sign to Poplar Grove. Uncontested

Foggy Start in the morning

I sent Giugi off to school, ate breakfast, lube the chain and the Cha-mois and was out the door by 8:48 a.m. It started off kinda foggy and some nice armwarmers keep the chill off. I could see the sun trying to break through and I knew it was going to be a good one. I road up Brickville and made a left on Grove and then took Pleasant Hill rd. straight shot style all the way to Genoa Rd. I then took Genoa rd all the way to Belvedere kept going straight north, made a left on Lawrenceville rd and a right on Poplar Grove rd. I took that all the way north pass Poplar Grove and I really wish you were there. What a great ride it was. Once I got north of Poplar Grove it started to becoming more rolling hill terrain. There were no cars, the pavement was smooth and there was a little shoulder for security.
I did test riding with a Blackburn mirror and it was truly useful. I could keep an eye for cars and I think once they see the mirror they give you more room. I really liked using it for straight shot riding. I ate my banana, drank my Heed and then made a uturn to go home. I had a side wind going north and a side wind going home. I baked in the sun all day.
After coming home, I quickly showered and went shopping for shoes for Giugi, went grocery shopping and went out for Burgers, Fries and Soda. That hit the spot.
Gearing was a bit low for the road but I have the remedied already. I rode a 44x18 and then switched to 44x16. I swapped out the cross tires for road and put a road stem on the "Greek Warrior".

Totals for the day

101 miles
6 hours 15 minutes
1 bottle of Heed
50 oz of camelbak
Power bar Gel Burst
1 Gu
1 apple
2 one liter bottles of cold Dasani Water

Need Hills??

Sounds like something we need around here.

to bed now,,,,

Ari

More night riding

Grain Elevator and Moon at night. Genoa, IL.

Wide eyed from reading Dr. Kissinger's Biography

Rte 23 Straight Shot to Genoa, IL.

Started to have some time to start fitting the new machines. Changed stems, seatpost and saddle on the Monster Steamroller and Did 45 miles on it today. The bike rides just fantastic. I changed the stock steamroller fork for a Bontrager Satellite Carbon. I am pretty sure it will not break since it has an aluminum steerer and it was intended for heavy riding. If I raced this bike offroad I would be putting the stock Surly fork on it. Tires are old stock Michelin Green Sprints in what they call a 700x30c but I measured them up to be more like 700x34. They are light, roll like the dickens and of course are no longer made. Once they wear out I am going to treat myself to some deliciouse Challenge Griffos.

I was a bit achy today from yesterdays long haul, but the commute and the night ride helped loosen things out. I do have to loosen my hip abductors and some muscle on the rear part of the machine and according to our resident Body Fixer I need to find some La Crosse Balls and roll on them . Sounds like a fun idea! Everybody go buy balls and losen up them twisted muscles!!!

Well, now I must tend to my book and drink more water. Night rides will be routine from now until the spring. The Genoa ride can be around 30 miles, Great western ride can be 40 or more. Those, I believe are the safest routes.

I am enamored with my Princeton Tec EOS mounted on my helmet and running on Flash Mode. I can still read street signs and cars coming to intersections stop. I am also running a Night Rider Minewt X2 and that light rocks. I also brought in some nifty reflective tape made by Jandd that is really thing and highly reflective. Come in to the shop and become visible.

Best,

Ari

Labor day solo riding

Fighting a headwind for over 40 miles

101.97 for the day. I was really happy with these numbers

Mt. Morris, IL.

Mt. Morris, IL.

Mt. Morris, IL.

There was no planning of any sort for this weekend and I ended hacking it solo once again. I was in a foul mood all day Sunday and did not ride. I got a lot of stuff done in the house and also started reading a lengthy biography on Henry Kissinger. Book was recommended by Charlie Farrow.

The wife has enough of my head up my butt and I got booted out the house. She suggested I go ride all the way out to Mt. Morris and that is what I did. I did a Straight Shot ride out on rte 64 and was experimenting with a Blackburn mirror that Billabong gave me. I would ride on the road and as soon as a car approached I would hit the gravel and let them pass.

It took me a while to get used to not looking back over my shoulder and after a while I got used to it. Actually it was kinda cool keeping an eye on those cars. I made it to Mt. Morris in record time since I had a significant tail wind pushing me out that way. It would have been a perfect ride to make it all the way out to the Miss. river. I wish I could have convinced somebody to drive out there and bring me back home. Maybe some other time.

I battled a headwind for about 45 miles the way back home. It was really cooking me and I felt my legs starting to burn.

I rode the 85 miles in 5 hours and 10 minutes which I thought was good timing. I then arrived home, showered and went to pick up Giugi with the Burley from the inlaws. Then I came home and took the Burley and went shopping. I wanted to have a 100 mile day and it did pan out for me.

I saw no other cyclist today but saw a ton of Harley and motorcycle riders, campers, campers with Cadillac Escalades in tow, Pickup trucks hauling 4 wheelers, Boats in tow, Monster bus size mobile homes, Dirt bikes, any freaking thing that is gas powered was out there. No bicycles.

Long live Petroleum.

Rode the 85 miles with 2 bottles of Hammer Nutrition Heed, 1 bottle of perpeteum , 50 oz of water and two cheddar filled crackers. Now I am re-hydrating with some Magic Hat Lucky Cat IPA. Man, it good!

Ari

Day off riding

As close as I have been to a Hawk, awesome.

Me riding in daylight. Short sleeve jersey, and shorts!

Had the day off in the morning and was able to get out for a solid 60 miles. Rode the Gunnar Crosshairs with the Schwalbe Marathon Racer tires. A very comfortable ride on those tires and they seem to wear like steel. Ira Ryan rode the same type of tire to win the Trans Iowa. He had his in narrower width and pumped to the max.
I headed out on Brickville rd and went over the new bridge on Grove. I then took Pleasant Hill road to Genoa rd and rode all the way out to Belvedere. I stopped at the 'Bucks and got an Americano because the bright light was messing with my night vision. Rode back into Genoa and did the trail were the Coyotes were wanting to eat me for dinner. Found another loop in some development area with a severe climb. Went back to Sycamore and climbed up the hill on Aldrich rd. then went home. My legs were burny and I felt good. Spent the rest of the day with Giugi. Went shopping then we stopped at Niko's Lodge for Burgers, and a beer (for me).
I am thinking that the season is starting up. I would like to organize a night ride on the Great Western Trail with a Stop in St.Charles for fuel up.
My incredible Rick Hunter Cycles custom Stem came in today and I am seeing that Salsa La Cruz getting built little by little. I am not decided on drive train, rims and tires. So far I have decided on
Stem Rick Hunter
fork Rick Hunter
seatpost Thomson
Saddle San Marco Rolls
Brakes Avid BB-7
Handlebars Nitto Noodle 46 wide
Shifters Dura Ace 9 spd Bar end Shifters
Brake levers Dura Ace Aero Levers (old school)
Headset Chris King in Pink
Hubset Chris King in Pink
BB Chris KIng in Pink
Skewers Salsa Cycles
Pedals Shimano something
Rims Either Mavic A719 or Dt Swiss TK 7.1

I am still figuring out cranks, rear der, front der, tires.

best,

Ari

Little Beady Eyes

Start time last night

Control center on the Fuji Professional

September 1st, 2009 first day with Balaclava

The Fuji taking a rest in Genoa, IL.

So I was out last night again and left the house around 10:00 pm. Definetely falling into my routine again. Dressed really warm and still got very cold. Switched to the Patagonia capilene with a jersey and Gore windstopper jacket, leg warmers, gloves, surly wool socks and I finally gave in and wore my craft balaclava. Being in town was kinda warm but as soon as I got out in the fields I felt the change of temperature and the dew that was coming down like rain. I rode the old Fuji and I realized what a fantastic ride that bike is. Built around the early 70's it still offers a comfortable, predictable cruise.

I rode around Genoa, since it is so quiet there. I eventually found this new trail and was tempted to follow it. After fighting the demons I decided to take it. It was paved so I said it should be fine with the road tires. I went over a bridge and startled a Blue Heron that was busy fishing with the moonlight. I went through a forest, took a bend and came out on this huge prairie. I turn my head to the left and amongst the brush, in the fog I iluminated a half dozen coyotes. They stared at me and I stared at them. I wasn't sure if to continue since there were a bunch of them .

I u-turned and started heading home. The hills on Rte 23 felt good. I arrived home tired, with burning legs and I was glad with the nights ride.

Total for the day 52 miles

average 16mph

Max 26mph

Ari