October Riding

Slow start this season due to my son's illness/treatment in the spring

I was able to ride fairly consistently in August and September but no longer rides ( over 40 miles) were possible. Sometimes you just have to do what you can do.

STP 2010 Marathon photos

I finally broke down and bought a couple of the Marathon Photos of my 2010 STP effort

STP 2010!

Me and Mason at the starting line ( UW parking lot) 4:45am

I left at the end of the first group

Cold and crazy ride down lake washington blvd. My biggest problem was staying warm. I did not really warm up until I reached Castle Rock many many miles later.

Moving along at a good clip!

I made it to Centralia (100 miles) in a scorching 5 hours and 15 minutes, that proved to be a big mistake later on...

Powering through Yelm, after Centralia my knees "froze up" and I almost had to abandon the ride. I took some excedrin and limped down the road. Then I had a flat tire, fortunately by the time I had fixed the tire my knees felt good enough to continue. The Last 85 miles were like a meditation on the true nature of pain and suffering. My speed dropped from 21-22mph down to 18, then 17, 16 15, and even 14 at the lowest point near Vader. I had a good stretch from mile 140 to 175 where I was able to join a fast pace line going 20-21mph. Nearing portland I was crawling down the road at 15-18mph average. The route change getting into portland was not fun, I felt like They ran us on a tour of downtown just to get to the finish...

Approaching the finish in downtown Portland!

I made it! 6:35 pm

At the finish with Mason!

I did it all for this?

Mason approves....It's all good

!5 miles microsoft hill

A rather windy day in the sammamish valley kept my average speed down. Tried out the mini fairing. There was not any perceptible speed boost. I think I will go without.

52 miles to Issaquah Highlands and Back

Long hot ride. Not really long enough with the STP one week away, but hey I got in the miles I could. A big gulp at 7-11 was the ticket to boosting the last 30 miles. I fought a a headwind for many miles and discovered a new bike trail leading from issaquah up up up to the highlands plateau area.

New set of schwalbe kojack tires seemed to work well. A bit cushier than the stelvios. New chain installed...some gear skipping again...I think I've got a sticky link some where...

Tail Fairing construction has progressed but not fast enough

I used a bondo product which works but was not ideal. I need to get some regular epoxy for boat layup. Anyway I may just do a painted cardboard "mini fairing" for the STP instead. The foam will eventually be pretty cool though...

22.1 mph average

I was able to cover the 5 miles to redmond at 22.1mph average speed.  Slight tailwind and I did not have to stop for any trail traffic. Lungs felt clear. Warm weather agrees with me.

15 miles, Top speed 30 mph!

Wind aided, I jumped from 24 to 30 mph today...Interval training helped with that.

15 miles plus hill climbing

Worked on intervals and hill climbing. It was work.

34 miles Centennial trail

Early morning ride. Ugh. Cold, congested and sluggish...very slow going out, a bit better coming back...

This unseasonably cold weather is bumming me out

15 miles

Just getting out there mid week