I can't believe I suggested this.....Jan had to work at the office so I said maybe we could ride somewhere at 5:00 when he got finished. It looked pretty windy out to me so I was thinking we would change our minds, but when he got home he said let's go to Monmouth. Hmmmm... cook supper and eat healthy....or no cooking and eat a yummy fast food burger! Noc choice..I went to get my bike out! We do have a salad with our sandwich - does that help make it healthy? and we ride 3o miles for it.
The weather turned out to be great - cooled off to the low 80's, wind at our back, sunshine, blue sky. We made it in an hour and 15 minutes. For me that's a record. I was a little worried (maybe a lot worried) about coming home into the wind. But God had control of that. The wind practically dropped to nothing by 7:30 when we started home. I did go a bit slower, because I was tired, but we made it home before it was totally dark - tired but feeling good!
I'm gone for the next week and a half so no bike riding. Wonder what that will do to my wonderful, in-shape, body....nothing because those adjectives just don't fit me no matter how much I ride! Oh well...it's fun!
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Monday, July 14, 2008
Warren County has deer, too!
Last week we went to Chicago and saw our first deer. Seems crazy to go to the city to see wild-life. Well, Jan came home from riding to the farm and said he saw Bambi AND his mom cross the road in front of him. They didn't know quite what to think of a bicycle. They would have run from a car, but they stopped and stared for awhile as he got nearer and nearer!
Then last night we were out again and this time we passed the horses and buggies of the Amish! They piled 7 people into on of those buggies. Yuck! Hot!!! We met, waved, and flew on down the road. I think I like the bike better than a packed carriage!
It was a beautiful evening! Blue sky, not much wind, low hanging sun, bit of a moon already in the sky! God made a beautiful world. We just don't take the time to enjoy it much!
Then last night we were out again and this time we passed the horses and buggies of the Amish! They piled 7 people into on of those buggies. Yuck! Hot!!! We met, waved, and flew on down the road. I think I like the bike better than a packed carriage!
It was a beautiful evening! Blue sky, not much wind, low hanging sun, bit of a moon already in the sky! God made a beautiful world. We just don't take the time to enjoy it much!
Friday, July 11, 2008
Fox River Trail in the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago
This week we strapped the bikes on the car and went to the Chicago area to ride with my brother-in-law. I told him I could ride 30 miles in one day. So far, so good. But when we got there and I told him that I needed ice-cream and food in the middle of that 30 miles he had to begin planning all over again. A 30 mile ride through the forest preserve wasn't going to do that for me. The first evening we did go to the forest preserve, where we saw our first deer (drive to the city from the country to see the wild-life?!!!) but let me back up a minute. We made ourf irst rest stop at a second hand store! Then we rode around what I call my college! Actually it is Harper Community College, but I went there once for a bell choir workshop many years ago, so...it is MY college! Then...in the forest preserve near by we saw the deer! That ride was about 15 miles, including some very city miles on busy streets....did not like that! But it was a fun first day.
At supper that evening we decided on a plan for the next day...to go on the Fox River Trail from East Dundee to Geneva. There was a Dairy Queen at the beginning, which would also be the end, and a restaurant in Geneva right on the bike path. Sounded like a plan. Jan knows how I ride and we tried to explain to Mike that I don't go as fast as he does. He rides 50 miles at a time in just a few (maybe 3) hours. I go 9-10 miles an hour with the lunch break and a couple more pit stops! He said he was prepared.
We left home at 9:00 and got to the trail about 9:30. East Dundee is working at being a tourist area. Old buildings, antiques, farmer's market. The trail was great, blacktop, shady, along the river. Again, we see a deer, but by the time I get my camera out, on, focused and adjusted, of course it was gone. Hopefully I will get some pictures posted so I am not going to tell you all we saw. But as we began, Mike said, "Oh you might want to get prepared for a long hill before too long." What did that mean? So I was keeping an eye out. Directly across a wooden bridge, I saw it. I started up, but this was the first time I have given up. It was just too long and there was no running start! I walked, Jan felt sorry for me and walked and Mike waited at the top of the hill for us. We got to Geneva about 11:30. Two hours to go 17 miles...not bad for me. But that meant we were only half way!
The restaurant turned out to be a sandwich stand at the corner of a very busy high way, but we were tired, thirsty and hungry so we stopped anyway. it was really very pleasant as long as you ignored the traffic about 12 feet away! After we ate we realized we could have taken our lunch about 200 yards further and eaten by the river away from all that....oh well. Here we had tables, chairs and a bathroom! An hour later we were ready to hit the trail home.
This time we would be going into the wind. I was a little worried about my stamina. It didn't turn out quite as bad as I thought it might be because the trees kept the brunt of the wind from hitting us. So actually the trip home was just about the same...2 hours. And that hill - it was all down hill!!! And there wasn't an up! I hit my fastest speed - 26. Could have gone faster, but I was scared so I kept braking. Mike passed me at about 30 miles an hour. Then we hit this wooden bbbbbbbbbridge! We stopped several places to take some pictures and rest our butts. That was a lot longer than Mike had ever been on a bike! He was tired and sore! So was I, but I was expecting it.
At the end was the DQ. Jan wanted to put the bikes on the car first - but I vetoed. I wanted ice cream. Strawberry blizzard! Oh it was good and restful. Then we could put the bikes on the car. (which is still an unpleasant scene because we just can't seem to remember how we put them on the last time.)
So, am I losing weight? Well, not very quickly, but yes, I have lost 4 pounds this summer and I feel like I am in better shape. I do not even take my asthma medicine very regularly. I do when I am going to ride and when I am going to be around animals. I doubt my doctor would approve, but since he has moved 60 miles away, how is he going to know until I tell him. We are planning some more rides...maybe Springfield. I am at 256 miles logged so far! More next time!
At supper that evening we decided on a plan for the next day...to go on the Fox River Trail from East Dundee to Geneva. There was a Dairy Queen at the beginning, which would also be the end, and a restaurant in Geneva right on the bike path. Sounded like a plan. Jan knows how I ride and we tried to explain to Mike that I don't go as fast as he does. He rides 50 miles at a time in just a few (maybe 3) hours. I go 9-10 miles an hour with the lunch break and a couple more pit stops! He said he was prepared.
We left home at 9:00 and got to the trail about 9:30. East Dundee is working at being a tourist area. Old buildings, antiques, farmer's market. The trail was great, blacktop, shady, along the river. Again, we see a deer, but by the time I get my camera out, on, focused and adjusted, of course it was gone. Hopefully I will get some pictures posted so I am not going to tell you all we saw. But as we began, Mike said, "Oh you might want to get prepared for a long hill before too long." What did that mean? So I was keeping an eye out. Directly across a wooden bridge, I saw it. I started up, but this was the first time I have given up. It was just too long and there was no running start! I walked, Jan felt sorry for me and walked and Mike waited at the top of the hill for us. We got to Geneva about 11:30. Two hours to go 17 miles...not bad for me. But that meant we were only half way!
The restaurant turned out to be a sandwich stand at the corner of a very busy high way, but we were tired, thirsty and hungry so we stopped anyway. it was really very pleasant as long as you ignored the traffic about 12 feet away! After we ate we realized we could have taken our lunch about 200 yards further and eaten by the river away from all that....oh well. Here we had tables, chairs and a bathroom! An hour later we were ready to hit the trail home.
This time we would be going into the wind. I was a little worried about my stamina. It didn't turn out quite as bad as I thought it might be because the trees kept the brunt of the wind from hitting us. So actually the trip home was just about the same...2 hours. And that hill - it was all down hill!!! And there wasn't an up! I hit my fastest speed - 26. Could have gone faster, but I was scared so I kept braking. Mike passed me at about 30 miles an hour. Then we hit this wooden bbbbbbbbbridge! We stopped several places to take some pictures and rest our butts. That was a lot longer than Mike had ever been on a bike! He was tired and sore! So was I, but I was expecting it.
At the end was the DQ. Jan wanted to put the bikes on the car first - but I vetoed. I wanted ice cream. Strawberry blizzard! Oh it was good and restful. Then we could put the bikes on the car. (which is still an unpleasant scene because we just can't seem to remember how we put them on the last time.)
So, am I losing weight? Well, not very quickly, but yes, I have lost 4 pounds this summer and I feel like I am in better shape. I do not even take my asthma medicine very regularly. I do when I am going to ride and when I am going to be around animals. I doubt my doctor would approve, but since he has moved 60 miles away, how is he going to know until I tell him. We are planning some more rides...maybe Springfield. I am at 256 miles logged so far! More next time!
Saturday, July 5, 2008
First big trip (for us)!
We made it....to Monmouth and back. It was a 30 mile round trip - longer than I have been going at any one time. In fact, one way is 15 miles which is still longer than I have tried yet this summer.
The day looked perfect. the computer said 5 mile an hour wind and temps no higher than 70. So we took off on the back roads to Monmouth. Because we take the back roads instead of the 4-lane, it is about two miles further (because you have to get to the backroads - DUH! The first 2 miles wer great. Then we headed north. I swear the wind increased proportionately to the distance we traveled. It just kept blowing harder and harder. I usually ride in the highest 3-4 gears. ON this trip I just kept shifting down. By the time we got to Monmouth I was in the low middle and on hills once I even pushed into the low gears. So...we went from going an easy 12 miles an hour down to about 6-7 miles an hour (and even slower on the hills!) It took us almost two hours!
As long as I remembered that I was there for fun and to enjoy the day, I was OK. I just rode slow and didn't worry what Jan thought or how it bothered him to go slow. It's a time when we can talk about a lot of stuff - anything - and we do. But when I began to worry about keeping up with him, or him slowing down to keep up with me, I began to not enjoy the day. We also looked forward to the return trip when the wind would blow us home!
Hardee's was great, as usual. I used my Titan card which is the same as drink and fries free! And I did talk myself into a salad instead of the fries! When we left Hardee's we decided to go visit Susan and Greg even though we didn't smell very good. Hadn't seen them in awhile so it was good to just chat about kids and grandkids! As soon as we left we both decided we should have used their bathroom, so we just HAD to stop at DQ for a bathroom stop and of course we needed icecream since we were there! Then we were off to home.
Guess what...the wind had almost died down to nothing, so no help there. Actually there was still a little. Going down one hill I got to 25 miles an hour...a record, I think! And we got home in a little over an hour. WHEW! was I tired. But it felt good. Don't know if I have enough muscle strength to go out again today. Maybe later....we'll see!
The day looked perfect. the computer said 5 mile an hour wind and temps no higher than 70. So we took off on the back roads to Monmouth. Because we take the back roads instead of the 4-lane, it is about two miles further (because you have to get to the backroads - DUH! The first 2 miles wer great. Then we headed north. I swear the wind increased proportionately to the distance we traveled. It just kept blowing harder and harder. I usually ride in the highest 3-4 gears. ON this trip I just kept shifting down. By the time we got to Monmouth I was in the low middle and on hills once I even pushed into the low gears. So...we went from going an easy 12 miles an hour down to about 6-7 miles an hour (and even slower on the hills!) It took us almost two hours!
As long as I remembered that I was there for fun and to enjoy the day, I was OK. I just rode slow and didn't worry what Jan thought or how it bothered him to go slow. It's a time when we can talk about a lot of stuff - anything - and we do. But when I began to worry about keeping up with him, or him slowing down to keep up with me, I began to not enjoy the day. We also looked forward to the return trip when the wind would blow us home!
Hardee's was great, as usual. I used my Titan card which is the same as drink and fries free! And I did talk myself into a salad instead of the fries! When we left Hardee's we decided to go visit Susan and Greg even though we didn't smell very good. Hadn't seen them in awhile so it was good to just chat about kids and grandkids! As soon as we left we both decided we should have used their bathroom, so we just HAD to stop at DQ for a bathroom stop and of course we needed icecream since we were there! Then we were off to home.
Guess what...the wind had almost died down to nothing, so no help there. Actually there was still a little. Going down one hill I got to 25 miles an hour...a record, I think! And we got home in a little over an hour. WHEW! was I tired. But it felt good. Don't know if I have enough muscle strength to go out again today. Maybe later....we'll see!
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Whew!!! We made it home!
Two nights ago, remember, we rode to the country and rode on a gravel road. We even rode about 5 miles further than that till we finally reached home.
Well, last night we pulled the bikes out of the shed and Jan's tire was flatter than a pancake. Nothing, nada, we couldn't even blow it up. When he took it apart we found a huge hole in the tube. I can't believe we made it home the night before. He kind of showed me how to change the tube. I have a feeling the hardest part is getting the rubber tire off first (unless it is getting the whole tire off the bike to begin work)
Today he went shopping for a new tube and a new tire so we can make the trip to Monmouth this weekend. It's supposed to be wonderful...not too hot, not too windy. We should make it. I'll let you know!
Well, last night we pulled the bikes out of the shed and Jan's tire was flatter than a pancake. Nothing, nada, we couldn't even blow it up. When he took it apart we found a huge hole in the tube. I can't believe we made it home the night before. He kind of showed me how to change the tube. I have a feeling the hardest part is getting the rubber tire off first (unless it is getting the whole tire off the bike to begin work)
Today he went shopping for a new tube and a new tire so we can make the trip to Monmouth this weekend. It's supposed to be wonderful...not too hot, not too windy. We should make it. I'll let you know!
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Gravel, skunks and the 4 lane
We went another 12 miles last night. This weather is just awesome for the end of June, beginning of July. Today we are expecting storms so probably no bike ride after supper.
When we left the drive way, Jan says where do I want to go. I said I didnt' care but not East, so which direction does he begin to turn...east of course! We corrected that and headed south then west into what little wind there was (mayb 5 mile an hour). There was very little traffic so we decided to try the parking lane of the 4 lane highway. What wonderful riding! Smooth, no traffic, wind at our backs and down hill! Too bad there always has to be an uphill.
When we turned off we ran into gravel after 2 miles - either turn around or three choices of gravel. Jan said we can do this, just stay in the tack. Well, of course the track disappeared and we were on a very rocky gravel road. Quiet, no hourse, no traffic, no dogs...but our first major spotting of wildlife...a skunk. I about paniced, rode to the other side of the rode, holding my breath. It seems the skunk was doing the same thing. He quickly headed off the road and into the corn as fast as his little legs would carry him....no time to spray....just hide from those humans. I am gladd that was his thinking!
When we finally found blacktop we headed out on it and reached the 4 lane again. It worked wo well the first time, we though we'd try it again. Well...the one was all up hill and I kept slowing down. However, I did not stop and I had no trouble breathing, just kept losing speed. When we turned off to head home I knew we had one big hill in the last mile. And it didn't take long to get there. I made 24 miles an hour going down, but I barely made it up. I realized I could do long slow ascents better than fast climbs. I was tired, out of breath, wanted to be home, but we found a turn off at the edge of town so I could get my breath by riding a different direction before tackling the hill again.
Home by 8:50 for a brief cooldown on the front porch. Jan would rather cool down in front of the TV watching the White Sox. When I cam in they were tied with Cleveland. It took extra innings, but Ramirez came through and some other new guy I don't remember to get something going to win the game. Another fun evening - biking and baseball. Seriously, I enjoy them both. Next week, Chicago. We'll see where that ends up!
When we left the drive way, Jan says where do I want to go. I said I didnt' care but not East, so which direction does he begin to turn...east of course! We corrected that and headed south then west into what little wind there was (mayb 5 mile an hour). There was very little traffic so we decided to try the parking lane of the 4 lane highway. What wonderful riding! Smooth, no traffic, wind at our backs and down hill! Too bad there always has to be an uphill.
When we turned off we ran into gravel after 2 miles - either turn around or three choices of gravel. Jan said we can do this, just stay in the tack. Well, of course the track disappeared and we were on a very rocky gravel road. Quiet, no hourse, no traffic, no dogs...but our first major spotting of wildlife...a skunk. I about paniced, rode to the other side of the rode, holding my breath. It seems the skunk was doing the same thing. He quickly headed off the road and into the corn as fast as his little legs would carry him....no time to spray....just hide from those humans. I am gladd that was his thinking!
When we finally found blacktop we headed out on it and reached the 4 lane again. It worked wo well the first time, we though we'd try it again. Well...the one was all up hill and I kept slowing down. However, I did not stop and I had no trouble breathing, just kept losing speed. When we turned off to head home I knew we had one big hill in the last mile. And it didn't take long to get there. I made 24 miles an hour going down, but I barely made it up. I realized I could do long slow ascents better than fast climbs. I was tired, out of breath, wanted to be home, but we found a turn off at the edge of town so I could get my breath by riding a different direction before tackling the hill again.
Home by 8:50 for a brief cooldown on the front porch. Jan would rather cool down in front of the TV watching the White Sox. When I cam in they were tied with Cleveland. It took extra innings, but Ramirez came through and some other new guy I don't remember to get something going to win the game. Another fun evening - biking and baseball. Seriously, I enjoy them both. Next week, Chicago. We'll see where that ends up!
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Back in the Saddle
Winter doesn't do much for bike riding in Illinois! But we're back. So far I have 143 miles just around town. It is exactly 3 miles if we ride all the way around the outside rodes of Roseville! Then there are a couple of directions we go to get to the country where the scenery of corn and beans is great!
Last year I worked at losing 12 pounds. My brother said that didn't make sense because I dieted, rode bikes, and then ate whenever we went on a bike trip. And he's right. But I don't like to think of it that way. The diet is to lose weight. The bike trip is to have fun and eating somewhere special is part of that fun! Oh well. I don't think that's the right attitude according to all the diet articles I have read. I need to change my eating habits all the time. But so far, I just don't want to. So I am back to dieting (I gained all that 12 pounds back) and riding bikes.
We are planning a 28 mile round trip to Monmouth. Once we get there we eat at Hardee's - a burger and a salad (no fries!) and then turn around and come home. As long as the wind isn't too strong I think I can do this. I was tired after 13 miles last night, but a burger from Hardee's would have rejuvenated me! Next week we are driving to Chicago to bike with my brother-in-law. I told him I could do 30 miles. I can't wait to see what he has picked out (and where we will eat and rest!) He rided 50 miles at a time most days. Wonder if he can go as slow as I want to go! I'll let you know.
Last year I worked at losing 12 pounds. My brother said that didn't make sense because I dieted, rode bikes, and then ate whenever we went on a bike trip. And he's right. But I don't like to think of it that way. The diet is to lose weight. The bike trip is to have fun and eating somewhere special is part of that fun! Oh well. I don't think that's the right attitude according to all the diet articles I have read. I need to change my eating habits all the time. But so far, I just don't want to. So I am back to dieting (I gained all that 12 pounds back) and riding bikes.
We are planning a 28 mile round trip to Monmouth. Once we get there we eat at Hardee's - a burger and a salad (no fries!) and then turn around and come home. As long as the wind isn't too strong I think I can do this. I was tired after 13 miles last night, but a burger from Hardee's would have rejuvenated me! Next week we are driving to Chicago to bike with my brother-in-law. I told him I could do 30 miles. I can't wait to see what he has picked out (and where we will eat and rest!) He rided 50 miles at a time most days. Wonder if he can go as slow as I want to go! I'll let you know.
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