Homage to Captain Jeff

A nostalgic look at the 7-11 Team cycling training video.

Fall Equinox...

and darkness spreads.

- product review -

I had a motorist track me down on Glasgow Road last year to acknowledge that my "light caught his eye." He stated that on many occasion he has overlooked cyclist performing the Lockridge Loop. They had become part of the backdrop during his commute, but that red tail-light is "auspicious."




Rider recommended is the Super Flash. With the two AA batteries this 1/2 watt, flashing red, light is visible up to one mile. By comparison a superior product. Check it out at your LBS.



It's that time of year and for a small investment in a quality rear tail light, this can be viewed as part of ones pro-active, health-care package.

Bicycle Repairman

Look there!

Is it a stockbroker?
Is it a quantity surveyor?
Is it a church warden?

Noooo! It's Bicycle Repairman!!

Matkin Bridge

Watching the sun set as we rode in on Salina Rd at the end of a thirty-mile fast ride, I acknowledged that today was the Fall Equinox. The earth tilts and darkness settles in faster each day. This marks the beginning of the Second Bike season. We adapt with lights on road bikes. Taking to the country roads, or Fairfield loop trail with our mountain bikes. There are other alternatives: spin class with Meghan Dowd.

Connecting the trail over Hwy 1, Matkin bridge will be ready by the end of the year.

Tour of Missouri - Stage 7

Last weekend we were in Kansas City for stage 7 of the Tour of Missouri. On Saturday, Steve Boss interviewed Chef Duffy, who cooks and does management work for the Astana team, and on Sunday after the stage he interviewed Tim Duggan, a rider for the Garmin Slipstream team. The interviews are for his Great Taste show on KRUU. The discussions revolved around food, relating to what the riders eat during the course of a stage race. The show will air this Wednesday (9/23) at 7:00 PM on KRUU.

On Sunday we saw stage 7 of the race. We all had a great time; lots of action, lots of great people to talk to, and lots of interesting displays. The riders did 7 laps around Kansas City, so we got to see them flash by each time. We were in the vicinity of the start/finish line the entire time.

Two of the highlights for me, other than seeing a pro peloton in action, were feeling the rush of air as the peloton went by a few feet from me (at one point I heard the announcer say that they were averaging 35 mph), and having a 30 year old triathlete utter his surprise when I told him how old I am; he said that he thought I was in my early 40s!

I took lots of pictures; you can see them here: http://picasaweb.google.com/hmharvey1738/TourOfMissouriStage7#

Hugh

Biking on to Memphis

Crossing over the Des Moines River between the twin cities of Douds and Leando, the lead rider had pointed up as the rest of us turned our eyes skyward to view two beautiful, magnificent bald eagles intersect our path from above. My heart soared with them as we biked onward to Memphis, Missouri for a fun social, century ride.


Earlier, the ride had started by passing the middle school in Fairfield, where a stage was being set up for a concert with The Nadas and The Beach Boys.
The weather could not have been more perfect, a cool Fall type of day. We had started with sixteen riders dressed in their colors, riding artful bikes: Litespeeds, Quattro Assi's, Orbea Orca, Eddy Merckx, Serotta, Gary Fisher, Le Mond and Trek.


At one point, past the Missouri border, an Amish community had gathered for Sunday services. Twenty-three horse drawn carriages in a field, lined in neat rows with orange triangles placards on the back. Biking back from Memphis we passed the farm again with men gathered in groups. Children lined up as if to pose for a picture, with other children playing some sort of game. I wondered what they think of us lycra'd, strangely colored cyclists. Perhaps, that we could as easily get in good shape by working out in the fields?

At various times during the ride, we biked as a group and individually. Whether alone in thought or conversing with different riders, the journey had many different levels to experience. Alone with my thoughts, I had remembered when I first met members of the Feist Bike Group. Performing at their level seemed to be beyond my ability. Since joining the group I have biked fast centuries (100 mile) rides, gone 200 miles without sleep, and ascended the tallest paved road in North America (Mt. Evans).

In retrospect, the take away is that it is a mind game for what one can, or cannot achieve. As effortless for the flight of an eagle, physical obstacles can be overcome.

The most powerful stories are the ones that we tell to ourselves.

Tom O'

Photos by Alan M.

Race Across the Sky

Viewing an email sent from Jeffrey L., the challenge had been issued, "you guys been doing Centuries...anybody care to join me? Next year?"

"It would be a "story" for our journals."

JAL

He is refering to The Leadville 100, the Race Across the Sky. One hundred miles of mountain bike trek at an elevation over ten thousand feet, begining and ending in Leadville, Colorado.



"The purest level of passion."

Anyone??

Fairfield, Iowa - 2nd best place to bike?

Featuring the diversity of our group, as reported by our local Danish bike ambassador to Fairfield regarding health, food and exercise;

"You should know that most Danes do NOT EVER use their cars if we can bike the distance, hence we grow up biking at least 15-30 miles/day from the time we begin school. No self respecting Dane would EVER give his/her kid a ride to school. From the time we turn 7, we're just handed our rain gear and off we pedal in the sun, the rain and the snow. We're Vikings, after all."

Copenhagen Cycle Chic

"By the way, the current Danish Prime Minister is a keen competitive biker who aims to bike at least 50 km/day (with his body guards, naturally). It creates quite the stir among foreign heads of state when the Danish contingent arrive in cities like Brussels for a NATO meeting and then take off on their fancy racing bikes after the meetings.

Copenhagen's Best City for Cyclists goal - BBC link

No wonder the Danes are such happy people with all the biking we do....

Oh, and I should add that the daily biking is not the only thing that keep the Danes so happy. With all the biking we do, as well as the yummy chocolate and pastries we consume on a daily basis, you will rarely see a fat Dane as we're always out there burning calories on our bikes."

Bike On,

Kristina aka "The Dane"

Thanks to Greg and Kristina for their contributions to this post.

Feist 200

For the last 18 years our fearless leader has orchestrated a bike odyssey of a double century ride on a dedicated route from Fairfield, to turn around near Bushnell, Illinois and return to Fairfield. Supportive riders join in at Denmark for The Middle One Hundred miles, to escort the core group through Ft. Madison, Dallas City, La Harpe and Good Hope. The ride begins at 3:00am and sometimes does not end until midnight that day. Truly, not a ride for everyone.

Rather a spiritual journey possibly only comparable to a ritualistic native American peyote ceremony.

Reported this year;

"Despite a demoralizing headwind, a t-storm, incessant showers, a torrential downpour in Dallas City, a near capitulation right then and there, flat tires, slow leaks and the usual will-sucking power of the double century itself, the sole proprietor of Feist Bikes and myself finished in the midnight hour w/ flair, style, panache and a bellyful of Clif Blocks.

None of this would have been possible for Jeff and I without the steely resolve of Gordon Shackleford and his superb stoker, Jenny Ravey, who pulled us back into the game and took the heart out of the middle century. Thanks to the 'terrible two on the Trek T2000 tandem."

Mark A. Smith

"p.s. Jeff claimed this was the best ride ever, but he always says that. Hyperbole aside, the man looked strong, felt strong, smelled strong...great job, Jeff!"

Performance

With the aerodynamic build of a hockey player, I'm a bike geek, yo!

It's all about Performance!!



Tom

video noted by Tim

Bicycle Timelapse

The Road Guide

I completed the first part of my national book tour this morning, and
can report overwhelming success! The Road Guide is now available at
these locations:

Revelations
AJ's Bike Shop
The Meredith Hirsch Salon (61 Broadway, Suite 204--upstairs)

Looks like everyone is selling it for the same price as 21st Century,
$14. So buy a copy for yourself, a back-up copy (you can never be
sure what might happen), stocking stuffer copies, birthday gift
copies, bathroom copies (those are a must-have), etc. Remember, I'm
making a ton of $ off this, so help support my now-defunct 403b
retirement plan. It's a really good cause.

I may or may not ride this weekend. I'll likely be in Chicago
prepping for the Oprah show, which kicks off the national tour that
starts next week. You'd think I'd be excited, but all this national
attention and success is going to kill my training program. So will
it be worth it? Only time will tell. Right now, the cramping in my
hand from signing autographs is killing me, so I have to wonder. I'll
keep y'all posted.

Pasta lumbago!

Greg
July 28, 2009

RAGBRAI 09'

Several of us are planning to ride with RAGBRAI next Friday and Saturday.
Here is the proposed schedule.




Friday, July 24. Depart from BP Amoco at 8:00 AM and ride to Packwood where
we will meet up with RAGBRAI. Then we go with RAGBRAI to Mt. Pleasant. We'll
hang out for a bit in MP and then cycle back to Fairfield. Total distance is
approximately 90 miles.










Saturday, July 25. Depart from BP Amoco at 7:30 AM via car and drive to Mt.
Pleasant. From there, we'll cycle to Burlington and then back to Mt. Pleasant. Total distance is approximately 90 - 100 miles.


photographs by Carolyn Waksman

Six Hour Centuries

So guys,

The weather today was perfect for a fast century ride. Sunny, mid 70ties with a cool breeze all day. Jim, Sol, Jeff, Joe Dowd & Tom got everyone organized and working together. We hit some heavenly smooth roads, and the thought popped into my head "we're biking in heaven".

Pedaling along at a fast clip, working together for mile after speedy mile, Jim called out that we were hitting 19.9 MPH. Bless his constant inspirational talks. With all the bikers hunched over their handlebars, concentration etched on everyone's face, Jeff admired the newly adjusted height of Sol's handlebars, when suddenly, Sol's voice rung out: "Hey, Chaz. How do I look on my bike? Does my ass look good?". I gagged on my water laughing so hard that I almost drove into the ditch.

Joe Dowd spend the either ride either pulling an echelon setting a lovely, fast pace, or, rushing half a mile ahead of the first riders and doing serpentines, playing like a kid on his bike, or driving along my side, singing. Now, Coach Jim mentioned that if he heard chatting, we were going too slow. The rest of the group was busy breathing in and out, getting oxygen into our cramping extremities, never mind having the energy to chat. We were peddling at 19MPH and here was Joe, singing.....

Yes, Jim, we need a bit more discipline staying tight in the echelons both up and down the hills for the duration of the entire century ride, but each time we ride, hopefully we get a bit better....

All in all, I'd say we did pretty darn good pulling off a century ride in 5:18 hrs. Thank you for pushing me to do this. The ride today was fantastic!

The Dane

Mega Century ride - Iowa City (133 miles)

Gentlemen on Bikes,

Just an official 'thank you' for the fab bike trip yesterday.

After setting off for Iowa City in the glorious morning hours and waiting in the shade with Mr. Spitz, while Feist bike repair attended to Joe's flat, the day unfolded marvelously well.

Going into Brighton, Gary took off for the gas station, and a few minutes later, a select few of us were almost treated to the "Full Spitz" by the restroom....(Note to self: Consider managing gig composed of biker dudes, along the lines of "Thunder From Down Under". Motto (Jerry's suggestion) "We do it on the Road". Quick bucks for new, fancy bikes. Any investors out there? Sol, Alan....???)

On the way to Washington, Sol and the gang showed their true colors and blazed off into the beautiful morning, keeping a brutal & fast pace, while Jeff performed turtle rescue of a leather back which scurried away as fast as his fat little legs could carry him once released near the river's edge.

I was under the misapprehension that we were keeping a good pace, but once Jerry and Chaz joined the group in Washington, they took charge and set a proper fast pace. Tom departed Fairfield ages later than the rest of us, biking the back roads and joined up in Washington, yet looking like he'd never broken into a sweat. Next time, perhaps we'll just tell Tom when we expect to do lunch in Iowa City so he can join us there in half the time it takes novices like myself to bike 60+ miles.

In Riverside, sadly we missed the annual Star Trek festival. Imagine biking into town, fully dressed in Star Trek outfits. Who'll be our own Captain Kirk? Ran into Greg Titus who lead us on a fast sprint along the crummy roads into Iowa City. Thankfully, expert mountain biker Alan Marks was on hand to offer advice, specifically, how to handle road bikes on the obstacle course excuse for a road we traversed. Just for fun, Joe and Jim took off, again.

After a brilliant lunch at the Bread Garden, the group departed Iowa City along the splendidly fast and scenic roads towards Riverside. It was looking like a lovely, easy ride home to Fairfield, however, when we turned west on W22, what seemed like gale force winds hit us straight in the face. (And I want you all to know that as we were battered by winds going up towards Iowa City in the morning, Alan turned to me and said "looks like we'll have a tail wind coming home". Later, as I was frantically trying to staying upright on my bike in the nasty wind gusts, I considered mentioning that as a profession, heavy duty investments is the way to go for Mr. Marks. If Alan joined the Weather Channel, I for one, would complain.)

Arrived back in Riverside with gritty teeth and eyes from the fierce winds and enjoyed yet another lovely sit down in the shade before heading back to Washington. Going out of Riverside, I made the mistake, again, of trying to hitch onto the wheels of Joe, Jerry and Chaz. Thankfully, Joe took pity on me, circled back a bit and brought up Tom and Jim, who quickly set a nice (but brutal) pace going into the head-on gale winds. With Joe now in the lead, trying to catch Jerry and Chaz in the far distance, Tom, Jim and I did intervals, hitting 21-22.5 mph. (Note to self: After doing 90 miles on a bike, do NOT get fooled into thinking I can get away with 22.5 mph sprints going into brutal head winds).

Loud cheers and congrats to Sol, Jeff, Jim, Joe & Tom who did the entire round trip (did I leave anyone out? ). And thank you to everyone for making me laugh and keeping me entertained the entire day. You guys are the best!

Kristina

It is a mistake to try to look too far ahead. The chain of destiny can only be grasped one link at a time.
-Sir Winston Churchill

TOMROV 09'

Tour of the Mississippi River Valley -
No faint heart in this group. Rally at 0600, the first eighty miles will be flat and simple along the Mississippi River. After a twenty mile warm up we will look for swift moving pace-lines: join in for close action. Double pace-line, no room for echelons, our wheels will be one off the next in close quarters - no hesitation lest we all go down. Totally in the moment, awareness levels high, for the value of future rides our bikes are worth more undamaged. Regroup at Hanover, we will attack in the bluffs along Blackjack Ridge. Like banshees, we will descend down the side of Chestnut Mountain at 40 mph+, cognizant that this is where Vern Willy sheared his front fork in ‘96, went down and became a paraplegic. To this day he still rides TOMROV, albeit hand-cranking a specially built bike.

Next is Galena, then comes The Wall and it is every man for himself to make it up and over to Scales Mound. On to Dubuque, 110 miles for the day, rest up and do it again the next day homeward bound.

Far from Fairfield, our bikes and our comrades are our home .

Let it go!