Senior Games in Madison--and More

The weekend passed with some significant physical activity, beginning with a 10K time trial on my bike, part of the Madison city Senior Games for us over-50 crowd.  The wind was howling that evening from the south, which meant we got to ride with the wind as we headed out, whisking along like the breeze until the turn, when we turned south into the gale.  Then it was like one of the mountainous climbs on the Tour de France, a constant pushing against a steady gravitational wind. The last uphill push to the finish was enough to bring you to tears.  But it's that kind of thing that makes you feel alive.

Then Saturday the wife and I went for a little canoe ride out at Lake Herman, about our fourth or fifth as we prepare for a canoeing adventure in northern Minnesota.

Finally then it was back to the Senior Games for the 1500 meters up at Trojan Field, where I managed to run a 5:49 time, which translates (sort of) to a 6:16 mile.  Not bad, but I couldn't help thinking that a little practice could peel some time off that.

Sunday we spent some time at the wife's folks' place, enjoying some social time with family and folks from Sioux Falls and beyond.  Not a bad weekend at all.

What I Learned on My Ride to Rutland

I got on my Trek road bike this morning and put in some miles in the cloudy hours, although today was such a good day, pleasant weather, that a ride any time of the day would have been pleasant.  No wind, no killer heat, no killer humidity.  I didn't learn much, but I'll count these things.

• It's much nicer to ride when there are no dogs to knock you into the road.
• A little sprinkle on the back end of a long ride can be a good thing.
• You can't see much of the Carper corn empire from the road.
• The row of junker cars up by the Rutland turn (including the old Cadillac hearse) is still awaiting rescue. 
• Getting to the Rutland turn off County Hwy 20 is satisfying enough  without going into Rutland.
• Filling the water bottle with ice cubes and then topping off with water is a good idea.  
• It's good to have a nice road bike.
• Keeping a 20mph pace is not easy.  
• The downhill run to our house in the last quarter mile is a nice way to end a ride.  

Bicycle Madness

I enjoy riding my bicycle, whether it's to get to work or shopping, or whether I'm out for a ride to get some air and exercise.  I'm pretty content these days to keep both wheels on the road, not leaping over curbs, gaps in the sidewalk, or my friend Mark Huebner when we were in middle school.  Then a bike was a serious matter, an extension of ourselves, and often our sole means of transportation that we could control without parental intervention.

So, these guys that soar in the air and do flips galore, releasing the bike and flying through the air, they just don't quite make sense to me, but you've got to admire their grit.

48-Hour Gut Check

Just learned about a phenomenal opportunity to submit myself to a couple days of torture--riding across South Dakota on Lonesome Highway 212, through some of the most isolated parts of the US of A.  On a bicycle!  Just think, I'd pass through Belle Fourche, Fruitdale, Nisland, Newell, Mud Butte, Faith, Red Elm, Dupree, Lantry, Eagle Butte, Parade, Ridgeview, LaPlant, the Missouri River Bridge, Forest City, Gettysburg, Seneca, Faulkton, Redfield, Frankfort, Doland, Clark, Henry, Watertown, Krantzburg, and Dawson.  All those miles (412 of them) and only go past one Wal-Mart, in Watertown.

The fun starts August 12, high noon, unless you're doing the "Hell and Back" version (824 miles), going both ways, which starts August 10.  If you've traveled this road, you know what a zen-like state you'll be in when you arrive in Minnesota.

It's the Gut Check 212.  Check your gut!  Starts here and ends here.  The record is 20 hours and 48 minutes, ridden by Bruce Martens in 2010.  Way to go, Bruce!  Just short of 20 miles per hour.  Yikes.

Here Comes the Trekkie

Here's my new Trek 1.1 road bike, just after the first ride of about 18 miles. It's a sweet machine, only 22 pounds (much less than the 31 of my previous machine, durable as it has been). I'm very fond of it so far. I need to learn a little more about its shifting characteristics to keep things smooth, but the rest is very fine. Aluminum frame, carbon fork, and very road-friendly.

I got the bike at Scheels in Sioux Falls, which I did not expect to do. I checked the local bike shops, but their prices were higher and some of the phone conversations were unpleasant. Too bad. Some were very good. Anyway, the Scheels folks treated me right from start to finish (or at least until now). Thanks, Travis and Matt!

I'm looking forward to seeing how this changes my biking!

1st Ever Bike Race, Senior Style

After hemming and hawing all day about whether I was going to take my bike and ride in the Heart of the Lakes Senior Games, I guess I hawed. I took the old Schwinn World (circa 1970's) and zipped through the 10K in 18:49, clocking a 20.1 mph average, not too shabby, worth the $1.00 entry fee and the sweat on this fine summer evening. It was a small field, only me and two others on the 10K, with each of us winning our age groups. Sweet!