21miles

This is the coldest weather that I have ever ridden in. It was approximately 23 degrees and overcast. There was also a very light snow throughout the day that was just tapering off at the beginning of the ride. The snow didn't seem to pose any problem at all. It was just enough of a dusting to cover the ground, but not enough to get packed down.

I stayed reasonably warm. I actually should have taken off one shirt under my jacket. My legs felt fine, but my toes were cold again. I was wearing three pairs of socks, shoes, and shoe covers. My feet were fine; it was just the toes that were cold. I wonder if I have too many layers on and my feet can't breath. Maybe it is also affecting circulation. My hands were just fine although at different times my thumbs got cold.

My bicycle seems to get stiff in the cold. There is a lot more resistance somewhere and I don't think it is just the extra weight of the clothes I'm wearing. I noticed I was riding in lower gears and it feels like everything has been greased with molasses. I'm not sure if this will get worse as it gets colder and I'm not sure what to do about it.

24miles

Today's ride was not warm but it was dark. I didn't leave until 4:30 and I had to have my lights on from the very beginning. The temperature was somewhere around the freezing point and not surprisingly, it got colder as it got dark. I'm not sure of the exact temperature, but my water bottle was starting to ice over by the time I got back.

I received my new evap jacket from Foxwear. It worked great. It was actually a little too warm. I rode almost the entire way with it unzipped and my arms were too hot. I think that with this jacket and the other layers that I can put on I will be able to ride in much colder weather.

Unfortunately, my toes got really cold. They were numb by the time I got back. Two pairs of socks and shoe covers were not enough. I am going to have to find a way to remedy this because I hope to ride in much colder weather. My hands were ok, but they were on the edge of getting cold.

I am hooked on biking in the winter though. It is an amazing feeling to take on the cold and the dark. I am committed to doing what it takes to ride no matter what the weather.

20miles

I rode down the Greenway past Lake Calhoun. I haven't ridden in a while and I have been tired the last two days and I could feel it. I'm sure that a week of consistent riding will bring me back pretty quickly.

I think this is going to be the last day that I can ride without shoe covers. I thought about stopping to put them on when I turned around, but I decided to tough it out. My toes were pretty cold when I got back.

Yesterday

32.5miles

I rode up the Gateway Trail all the way to highway 12. It is a beautiful trail and I wish I would have rode up there when the leaves were turning. It must have been gorgeous.

This was the first time that I fully utilized the lights on my bike. I have mounted a Mini Maglite LED on my handlebars using an old inner tube. I discovered this little trick at this sight while doing some web research. The mounting worked great and was easily adjustable. The best part is that it cost me nothing and if it wears out I can make another for free.

I also tested out my Foxwear shoe covers for the first time. They are really nothing more than large socks that I wear over my shoes. I was suppose to cut holes in the bottoms for my cleats, but I found that my eggbeater pedals would clip right through the fabric so I'll just let them make their own holes. The shoe covers add a lot of warmth, mostly because they block most of the wind. I look forward to using them more when it gets really cold.

13miles

I was tired today. My legs didn't have any snap, any zip in them. I think maybe it was from not stretching after Frisbee on Tuesday and also because I was up late last night.

I also didn't leave until 4pm which meant that it got dark quick. I need to get some lights and I have a plan that involves a Mini Maglite and a used inner tube. We'll see how that goes.

10miles

Brian, Hannah, and I rode to Bethlehem Baptist Church to hear John Piper preach. We were fortunate that he was there this morning and we didn't have to watch him on the big screen. He gave a good sermon and there was good music. After church we tried to go to Hell's kitchen for lunch, but there was a 45 minute wait so we went home instead.

It was almost cold on the way down, but the sun was warm on the way bock.

Yesterday and today might be the first times that I have ridden my bike any great distance and not sweat a lot. It helps riding with other people who will keep me from trying to break land speed records.

Yesterday

15miles

Hannah, Brian, and I rode our bikes to the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Our Exercises in Biblical Theology class was meeting there to look at 'public art.' One of our professors is a docent there so she gave us a small tour. There is a lot of art there and we only saw a very small part of it. It was a great day for biking though.

23miles

I went on a good ride with Scott T. We went up Fairview, then down Victoria, up Wheelock a ways and then back, and then around Lake Como and home. It was a good day and a great ride.

25.5miles

I got back from church earlier than usual so I took advantage of the nice weather to go ride. I rode the north half of the Grand Rounds, coming back across on the Greenway.
When I left it was sunny, but then of course it became cloudy. Also, my route took me in a complete circle, but yet somehow the wind was in my face the entire way. Wind can be like that.
Nevertheless, it was a good day for a good ride.

15miles

My feet were getting pretty cold. I need to do something about that. (The rest of me was great though.)

10miles

It was windy (of course). My clothing seems to be keeping me warm, all except my feet. I need to get some better socks and perhaps some shoe covers. It gets dark early now, so I may need to get myself a good headlight.

27miles

It was my first medium-long ride since this summer. It felt good to be able to give that kind of exertion and get the cobwebs out of the system. I rode up Stinson and then rode on the Grand Rounds west and south to the Greenway and then came back on the Greenway.
When I left it was 51 and sunny. Halfway through it got dark and started to rain. I didn't have a raincoat and I was only wearing shorts and I was a little worried that I might get cold. Then the sun came back out and the ride ended in good weather. I should always take extra clothes with just in case.

13miles

The weather has turned back to cold and grey. I had a nice ride nonetheless. My new tights are amazing. I am surprised at how much wind they block. The next thing I need to deal with is keeping my feet warm.
I rode up Stinson to Silver Lake, which is scenic but there were a lot of stop lights.

20miles

The wind was all up in my grill, but it was a beautiful ride nonetheless. The sun has finally come back to Minnesota and the leaves are falling and blowing around, making for a very scenic ride along the Mississippi River. I rode down and looked at Fort Snelling across the river and then rode back (with the wind at my back).

2miles...running

There will be more biking coming soon. There is just a little winter adjustment that has to be made first.

Yesterday

21miles

I made it down to the Midtown Greenway, which is a great trail. It is like the interstate for bicycles. There were a lot of people out riding. Some were commuters, some recreational riders, and some sport riders who were racing past me. There was one man on a fixed gear with his skinny jeans and U-lock stuffed in his belt. He passed me at an incredible speed. I tried to catch up to him, but he was way stronger and faster than I.

10miles


A nice Sunday afternoon ride with Nicholas, through the fairgrounds and down to the stadium.

Today

15miles

I was surprised on Thursday just how out of shape I was. I haven't ridden for at least a month, but my legs were rubber and I didn't feel good at all.
Today I was surprised at how much better I felt. I rode down to the river and down past the Ford plant. Then I rode back on the West side, came over on Franklin and came back.
I'm not sure if I can get back to riding 100miles a week because I won't have time and it will soon be very cold, but I'm going to try.

Thursday Sept 10th

15miles

20miles

Santa Anna river trail

17miles

Bastenchurry to Malvern and back on Associated

105miles

20miles

Into La Habra heights and along East Road.

Tuesday

17miles

Bastenchurry and the hills

10.5miles
Bastenchurry and the hills

51miles
To the beach and back. I have had some kind of head cold/congestion for the last two days. I haven't thought much of it and this morning I thought it was passed but it must not have been. About half way back I started to feel really fatigued and my neck was very sore. By the time I got home I felt terrible. I have never felt that bad after a bike ride. I laid down for most of the afternoon, but I still don't feel that good even now. Maybe I was sicker than I thought.

32miles

20miles

20miles

78miles

You're not hard core unless you live hard core. I had only planned to ride to the beach and back but for some reason I was motivated to go up and ride back on the San Gabriel trail. I had never been on that trail before, so I took one wrong turn and didn't realize it for awhile, but I got back on track.
I was pretty much all wiped out when I got home so I ate a few Reeses Pieces and a glass of milk, forced myself to stretch, and then all I could do was lay down on the floor and sleep. I didn't even take off my sweaty clothes. I just slept for about 45 minutes. It was great.
My goal is to ride 100 and now I think that it is very possible.

20miles

Santa Anna River Trail

Wednesday

20miles

Santa Anna River Trail

Monday

20miles

Santa Anna River Trail

20miles

Santa Anna Trail. I got myself a new seat. It was relatively cheap and it already feels better than the one I had before. This new one is identical to the one that I had on my Schwinn. I guess if it worked, why change it.

40miles
Almost to the beach and back.

30miles
Santa Anna

17miles
Down Rose to Bastenchurry. Down bastenchurry all the way to the west end. Back to Associated and up.

55miles

I rode down to Newport Beach. I should hang out down there more often. There weren't a lot of people at the beach today though because it is overcast. It was a great ride though.

18miles

11miles

I had a flat several weeks ago. I patched the tube and put it on the front. It still leaked. I patched it again. It seemed to hold. I ride 5miles from home. It goes flat. I change it out for a new one. I throw the old one away.

Monday

7miles

18miles

I road in Chino Hills again. This time I went up onto the North Ridge Road. I met two other guys, Mike and Rick. They let me tag along but they had full suspension mountain bikes so they could down hill much faster than I could. I would catch them going uphill though. They were friendly and showed me some trails and then I came home. It was a great ride.




Carbon Canyon to four corners 5.8m (appr)
North Ridge road to four corners 7m (appr)

18miles
I put some 40mm tires on the bike and rode some trails in Chino Hills. It was great. I was a little wary at first because it was pretty bumpy and there was a lot of loose dirt/sand. I got used to it though and found some smoother trails. It was very peaceful. There were quite a few hikers and bikers but there were mostly friendly and most of the time I was alone and away from any traffic or houses or anything. I think I'll go back tomorrow.
I did have some mechanical trouble though. The rear wheel kept slipping forward. I am going to have to really tighten the skewer down. And the front derailer slipped down, apparently from all the bumps. I didn't notice it until I was out of the park and on the road. I went to shift back onto the large chain ring and there were bad noises. I fixed it, but I am afraid it may happen again. I'll have to look into a more permanent fix.



From apartment to the beginning of the trail at Carbon Canyon Park (Going into Chino Hills) 3.1miles


From the beginning of the trail in Carbon Canyon Park to the white gas pipes. 5.3miles

25miles

I rode down to the Santa Anna on the old standard route.

7miles

3miles

16miles

I rode Rose Drive, Bastenchury to Euclid, back to Associated and then up and home. The hills are good and my cardiovascular fitness is improving.

18miles

I rode up and down Bastenchury again. And again the hills kicked my butt. I think I'll keep riding those hills until my legs get used to it.

19miles

I rode down Kramer and then came back and went west on Bastenchury all the way to Euclid. There are some good hills on that stretch and it showed me that I am not in as good of shape as I think I am. Then I came back and sat for a while in Mountain View park before I came home. It was a good ride and it convinced me that I should ride Bastenchury more.

19miles

I hit a big pothole today and had a pinch-flat. It was the first time that had happened to me. I should have checked the air in my tires before I left. Luckily, there was a patch of grass right where it went flat so I had a place to lay the bike down and change the tube. The rear rim is quite a bit out of true now though.

Yesterday

7miles

6.5miles

19miles

I rode to Biola. I found a way to get there going mostly down Lambert and avoiding Imperial Hwy.

7miles

36miles

I was going to ride down to Newport and hang out at the beach today, but I slept in and went to the grocery store instead. I still went on a pretty good ride and I realized that it was a good thing that I did not go to Newport because I don't think my legs would have gotten me home again.

45miles
I rode to the beach, hung out and watched some surfers, then came home. I was hoping to have sun on the return trip but it stayed grey. My neck is sore from the long ride.

27miles

23miles
It has been windy lately but it has been a good challenge.

45miles

I came home from the high school retreat exhausted, but since I had an extra hour of daylight and the weather was so good, I decided to try and ride to the beach anyway. I made it there, but only had enough time to touch the sand and fill the water bottles before I had to head back.
I had a conversation with another cyclist who was passing me. It was nice. I am very exhausted now, but I feel good about having the motivation to get something done.

33miles
I wanted to wake up early this morning and ride all the way to the beach but I didn't get to sleep until late so I slept in. It was still a good long ride.



Wednesday
2miles running

21miles

10miles

I put on the cyclocross tires and rode into the Chino Hills regional park for the first time. The trail was pretty rough with a lot of wash outs, rocks, and sand. The 30mm cyclocross tires worked ok, but not well, even when I let some air out of them.
There was a man looking at a snake and I stopped to talk to him. He was friendly and knew a lot about the park. I look forward to exploring it more.

Yesterday 28miles

Today 12miles

23miles

20miles
I rode North this time. One of my water bottle cages has broken. I don't think I can fix it unless I find a way to weld aluminum.

Yesterday 16miles

Today 17miles

Sunday January 18th 28miles

Thursday January 15th 20miles

Tuesday January 13th 12miles

18miles

Still windy, but not as bad. It has warmed up a bit and was near 80. My entire body felt more nimble, maybe from the heat. It is also very dry.



Friday 1/9/09

20miles

It was super windy. The cross wind was almost blowing me into traffic.

12miles
It was late. I have some kinda headcold/sinus infection/throat thing. I hope to put in more miles this weekend.

Yesterday
2miles. Running. How about that?

11miles

I rode down Associated, Bastenchury and around a little. I didn't have a lot of time and it didn't seem like I got a lot accomplished.

24 miles

Same route. I couldn't catch the rabbit.

23miles

Same route. I'm a man of habit.