Ride Reports November/December 2006

Illinois Great Rivers Ride
September 10-16, 2006 by Ann & Fred Abeles

This September we returned from the Illinois Great Rivers Ride, the best biking/tenting tour we have ever been on. The IGRR cost $450 per person which included 7 nights camping, baggage transfer, 7 dinners, 6 breakfasts, evening festivities, sag support, rest stops with snacks, motor coach to or back to starting point, cue sheets, a tee shirt and some other unbelievable amenities. For the non camping bikers, shuttles were available to take riders to local hotels. The web site is: http://www.illinoisgreatriversride.com.

You will note that this ride was scheduled after most schools have started for the year. This is because it is an adult ride which featured a well stocked open bar with hors d'oeuvres each day at about 5 PM. In addition to the excellent cue sheets, the route was marked with large, regulation DOT road signs with the Illinois Great Rivers Ride logo. In some cases, local and state police closed off traffic at points which they felt were potentially dangerous for cyclists. The one we got the biggest kick out of was a four lane divided highway. We were led up the on ramp with its "no non motorized vehicles sign" and given the fast lane to pedal on. Police were on hand to let us get off the four lane highway and back onto a normal two lane highway. It was like a look into the future. When gas gets to be $40 a gallon, the interstates will be the world's largest bike paths. Just when you thought the staff couldn't do more for you, you discovered that the porta potties had aromatic votive candles in them so you would not be offended by the smell and could see what you were doing at night. I can't think of another camping/ bike ride with this level of decadent luxury.


Early morning in Nauvoo, IL (photo courtesy of Ann & Fred)

This year's 400 mile ride started at Rockford continued on to Sterling, Rock Island, Big River State Forest, Nauvoo, Quincy, Heartland Lodge and ended at Alton. We covered about 60 miles a day over predominantly level terrain. We were told that this year there were about 220 riders and they could handle up to 300 riders. Evening festivities included: an old time band, Native American Indian dancing, folk singers, beer halls with ompah bands, carnivals, fire works and dancing under the stars with 60's style music. This was the second year the ride followed essentially the same route so next year’s ride may highlight another part of the state. Most of this year’s route followed quiet rural roads which ran along the Rock, Mississippi and Illinois Rivers and through typical Illinois farm land. On our last day there was a ferry option for 23 miles down the Illinois River from Hamburg to Grafton. To my amazement, the ferry was followed by a chase boat whose job, I suppose, was to pick up bikers that fell off of the ferry.

If you plan to do only one organized group camping ride in the near future, then the Illinois Great Rivers Ride should be on that list.

Thurmont Breakfast Ride
September 30, 2006 by Brian King

On a cloudy morning with only a slight chance of rain in the forecast, eight riders left from Lewistown to ride to Thurmont for – what else? – breakfast. Brian King distributed cue sheets for two different rides, a 15-miler and a 29-miler. Despite the low clouds we reached Thurmont on dry roads. As we departed to head back to our cars, we split into the two rides. John and eight-year-old Emily (chocolate chip pancakes) Gorham, who were looking might fine on their tandem, along with Brian took the shorter distance back after looking up at the clouds, which were looking more ominous. The more foolish riders, Ray and Jenny Gable, George Ruszat, Chuck Wilson and Bill Smith and decided to chance the weather. Which means that they rode the last 19 miles of the ride in a light rain. Nonetheless, we remained warm and comfortable.

Wednesday Night Lights and Pizza
by Bill Smith

We’ve had fairly good weather for our October rides; we’ve even been able to ride in shorts and short sleeves a couple of times! Since it’s been warm, we’ve done longer rides and skipped a few pizzas. But, as the Winter approaches, we’ll cut the miles down and increase the calories.

Riders this month include Mike Procario, Bernie Sellers, John Gantnier, Henrik Olsen, John Gorham, Chris Borkman, Bill Preston and Bill Smith.

So, What Did You Do This Summer ?

Biking on a Tandem
by Emily Gorham (8 years old)

My dad and I bike a lot together. We are trying to ride ALL of Frederck County. I ride the back of the tandume. A tandume is a two seat bike. The most miles I ever rode so far is twenty-six miles. We have tons of fun. Biking is my hobbie.

My top three favorite things about biking is:

3. Feeling the wind egainst me.
2. Being with my dad.
1. Riding with my dad AND the group.

My dad is in a bike club. I go with him sometimes. We have lots of fun. I love biking.

2006 - A Cycling Year in Review
by Randy Buxbaum

Alas, I have no great story to tell. No grand wine country tours in Northern France. No ambitious double century rides. No treks across, Iowa, Kansas, etc. But then, the year's not over yet, is it? I will ride more miles than past years, and I participated (to say I competed would be an over-statement) in 3 races in 2006. I have gained a few more cycling friends, and two new bikes (a road and a mountain bike) so it's not a bad year at all.

Here are the numbers. You tell me if there is another story, like what the heck happened in June, or why would anyone want to ride more in January than September?

      Rides     Dist    Avg Speed
Jan     8      259.6     15.74
Feb     7      167.3     14.62
Mar    11     333.2     15.52
Apr    18     486.4     15.52
May   14     453.0     16.35
Jun     8      307.6     17.18
Jul     13     333.0     15.03
Aug   15     483.0     15.27
Sep     7     241.8     16.01
Oct    10     253.6     15.16
Tot   111    3318.7     15.65

Utter Destruction
by Glenn Angus

As many of you with whom I have spoken have come to agree, this has to be the windiest riding season on record. At least, it has, for me. I have never had such intense head winds to confront in all my years of cycling. Day after day, after day, after day -- the wind was relentless. It just kept on blowin' and blowin'. The one ride wind which brought me to my knees, and, in retrospect, and eventually caused my demise as a cyclist [the ride on which I truly "hit the wall"], was the 2006 Bay-to-Bay Century, which was on Father's Day, back in June.

My friend, Mark Rothstein, and I, did our 6th annual B2B together this year. The day's ride began in Betterton, MD, with a stout breeze from the North, which, when we got to mile 42, at the Woodland Beach Wildlife Management Area, on the Delaware Bay, changed to the NE, and suggested the possibility of a rarity -- a tailwind for the 65 mile crossing back across the Delmarva Peninsula. Well, that was a short-lived wind. For, as soon as we donned our helmets and gloves for the next segment, a 23-mile toot over to Millington, MD, the wind switched to due West, and strong!

We struggled along at a pace of around 9-13 mph, as the wind pummeled us at every turn. We just dug in, and rode in lower gears, not wishing to force our way too much. The temperature was not all that hot, but it was brightly sunny. We departed Millington at mile 62, and headed out into the onslaught towards our next rest stop, in Chestertown, at mile 76. At that point, we were exhausted, and the time was getting late. Cyclist after cyclist, even the strongest 'bullet-heads', threw in the towel at this point, as we, along with the previous 10, and next 15 cyclists, sagged in. The options were [1] to continue on to the next rest stop, in Tolchester Beach, at mile 83, and finish the 106 mile course, or [2] to turn north at Chestertown and ride the remaining 11.4 miles back to Betterton. We were so exhausted, and totally spent, and it was already 4:15 PM, the time we normally would have finished the full 106 miles. So, we joined so many other strong cyclists, and sagged in, content with our 75.8 miles for the day.

When I got back to Betterton, I looked at myself in the mirror, and I was shocked to see that I had severe windburn marks in my forehead in the shape of the vents on my helmet. The sun was to my back for most of the ride, so it could not have been sunburn.

This was the single most tiring and exhausting ride I had ever ridden, and the wind simply destroyed me as a cyclist for the rest of this season. For, beginning on that date, my daily average dropped a full 2 mph, and I was not able to maintain any kind of power while riding into the wind, and I could forget about going up hills. I was simply spent -- destroyed. I came to a newly renewed respect for the Eastern Shore wind, known over there as "The Delmarva Mountains".

Fear the mountains of the Eastern Shore!

What I Did on My Summer Vacation
by Bill Smith

I rode my bike—a lot. In fact, I kinda rode a wee bit too much. I trained like a possessed madman all Winter so I’d be ready for the Michigan 24-Hour Challenge. Once that was over (my results were a little disappointing due to issues not related to training) it seemed a shame to waste all of that fitness, so I kept on riding—like Forrest Gump on a bike.

I over-trained, perhaps similar to Glenn’s experiences. I rode early mornings on weekends, worked 45-50 hour weeks at work and skimped on sleep. My tank was on "E". By the time late July came around, I was out of gas.

After about six weeks of easing off, my strength pretty much returned. I have been riding a bike for 40 of my 48 years, seriously for the last 20, and I still make dumb mistakes such as riding too many miles with not enough rest.

My favorite ride this year? Too many to mention. But these stand out: The super-early morning rides, lunch rides with John Munns, Wednesday Night Lights and Pizza, Steve Walter's Fifty on Fifty, the Bagel Rides and the Labor Day Metric Century Checkout. The year will end with (God willing) about 5,000 miles, most of them a heck of a lot of fun.