Saturday Tow Path to Grand Rapids Breakfast Ride

"9 snow ninjas showed up for yesterday's mild temperature (34 degree average while we rode) Tow Path ride.  Friday night's light snow and brisk wind made for treacherous conditions as we had to deal with deep drifts several times.  The drifts resulted in 7 unintentional snow angels in the deep soft snow and more than a few chuckles.  The Tow Path was rideable only as far as the boat launch.  We then rode into Waterville for an enjoyable breakfast at Koral... " -Rick Metcalf

I suck!  I have no power and got dropped at every hill.

That said, Hubert and Dirk were kind enough to ride with me.  While the Tow Path was challenging, I had a good time.  We encountered lots of ice under the snow in route to River Road which itself was clear.  Most of the Tow Path was covered in light snow and many areas as deep as 3 or more inches deep.  I quickly realized that I was better off breaking trail than following someone else's track.  But alas I too fell to the risk of this winter madness resulting in my first "snow angle."  Rode with Jimmie, Chris, Hubert, Rick, Matt, Dirk, Todd, and one other.  We ended the ride pushing Matt and his truck out of the deep snow where he had parked on the side of Jerome Rd where he met up with us for the ride.

Weather Conditions: 0901 hours. Cold, overcast and some partial cloudiness with strong winds from 9.2 to 17.3 mph mostly from the west. Wet road spray.
Min: 30 Max: 32 ºF

MXS: 23.9 mph.

Saturday Breakfast (Lunch) Ride

This Saturday was to be the ride to Tony Packo's for lunch via the recently opened trail across the old 280 bridge (Craig Bridge).  If it snowed Friday night, the plan was to do a MTB ride instead.  However, while it had only snowed a skiff, the general consensus was to ride within Monclova.

Matt was in need of warm toes so I gave him a spare set of chemical toe warmers.  Hubert was ever present as was Rick.  Chris was there too along with Jimmie and I.  And  so the six of us set off for our winter adventure westward down the Wabash Cannonball - North Fork.  While it was moderately cold and quite cloudy there was little wind and I found myself able to "run with the pack."  For that I was grateful! The plan was to ride a similar route as two weeks ago but to capture 25 miles or greater without the need to run circles in the Monclova School parking lot.  I am impressed with how well Rick and Hubert know the various roads and possible routes to reach a 25 mile ride.

We then went south into Oak Openings and proceeded with the real fun where we hit a trail deep with soft snow.  Past petal and fast shifts into granny gears ensued but to no avail.  We all scrambled but failed to stay seated and had to dismount.  Rick, however, made it to the end of the soft snow only to get shanghaied by his petal and a pile of hard snow left from a snow plow weeks earlier causing him to "snow angel."  The rest of us walked out until we got to the firmer ground.

The remainder of the ride proved mostly uneventful; lots of fun zipping around on the loose but less than deep snow.  At a couple of points we crossed pasts with Cathy walking Duke and Sugar.  As we blew past she remarked on our nerd-like appearance.    We continued out of the park to east bound Obee Road and then south to N. Texas into town for a toe warmer at Cycle Works.   Then west on the South Fork to Yawber Rd to Archbold Whitehouse Rd to Jeffers Rd back into the park.  The path to the route out of the park was missed by all except myself due to me drafting the others and being able to turn in time and thus I led the way out.  The last major turn to the last section required a hard left threw some soft snow.  I was ahead so I could turn with some ease but the rest of the guys had more difficulty due to a tighter pact.  Later, Jimmie said he would send pics of his road-rash having taken a spill at that way point.

The route back to Monclova via the North Fork was as usual; a faster pace.  Matt and I led most of the way until the rest of the guys pushed ahead where I was dropped (per usual) just after Weckerly Rd within 2 miles of the end of the ride.

It was a fun ride and while a little faster and wetter thanks to warmer temperatures causing road spray, I was warmer and am already looking towards the next one. 

MXS: 17.5 mph.

Weather Conditions: 0911 hours. Cold and Overcast. Mostly westerly winds light around 3.5 mph starting out increasing steadily to around 13.8 mph.

Min: 27 Avg: 28 Max: 30 ºF

Hubert's TAB Saturday Morning Fat-tire Ride

Yah...so this is the 2nd ride of the new year; a tad warm than the last. Dropped the Hound off at Doggie-Day-Care prior to the meet; Chris, Jimmie, Rick, et al. Hubert offered his extra helmet; I had left mine in the garage. Go figured.


We started off and I realized I had not adjusted the helmet so I pulled over to do so. Then attempted to catch up and WAM; a brutal wind out of the west. Worse was the gusts.  I could not catch up and the guys after a while notice how far back I had fallen and waited for me. We continued on and the second clearing to the south pummeled me further. Hubert took pity and suggested I stay in a pocket that they would make to shelter me from the wind. Ayup; weak ass! The wind had once again kicked my butt. (See Hubert's Birthday Ride: 73 miles for 73 years last October 24th.)


We pressed on and rode to the shelter in Oak Openings off the North Fork and Route 64. There, I adjusted the MTB seat post up an inch; I had not made further adjustments since I had gotten the Cervélo and it made a world of difference.


Next, Hubert lead us back about a mile to begin the off trail section (as it were)of the morning into Oak Openings. This was going to be "way cool". I had not ridden any bike in the snow and with a MTB it was "no fear", baby! The pace was snappy and winding and got really interesting on the assents loosing rear wheel traction using too low a gear or on the descents while slipping and sliding while turning or breaking. Thoroughly enjoyed the experience while staying mostly warm and am looking forward to more of the same. Truth-to-tell, the park trail ride was just too short.


The remainder of the ride back to Monclova School was a quick pace and even with the wind behind us found the warmth in my feet fleeting to the point of no return.  Hubert took us an additional short distance to Jerome Rd to reach the desired 25 miles and I was glad it was over. Again, the wind and frozen toes.


MXS: 16.7 mph.



Weather Conditions: 0900 Cold and overcast. The wind out of the WSW was bruital; 21.9 mph falling to 17.3 mph by the end of the ride.
Min: 28 Max: 30 ºF

Red Bull Rampage 2008 Highlights

Red Bull Rampage - Onboard with Alex Pro - GoPro

GoPro is in the desert at this year's Red Bull Rampage and so are all our riders! Today's edit is with Alex Prochazka (#2 qualifier) as he talks about his line and then gets down and sends it for us.

Enjoy the video.
Alex Prochazka



Source: http://www.pinkbike.com/video/102556/

What's Next, full film. by Aaron LaRocque

Source: http://www.pinkbike.com/video/102556/

See also: http://larock.pinkbike.com/

Toledo Hospital to University Park to King Road: 20:57 Miles

Road from Toledo Hospital through Ottawa Park and connected to the University/Park Trail to King Rd in Sylvania. Then followed King north for a spell to accum 10 miles. Averaged 11.8 mph. 100.5 calF. Attemped to achieve a heart rate in the mid to high 150s throughout the ride. This was easier to achieve given a tail wind and slight descent.

Weather Conditions: Warm, cloudy and short moments of sun; no rain. Light head wind and incline. 1230 hours
Avg: 75 ºF

See Goggle map: University/Park Trail

Ottawa Park Trail: 5.84 Miles

Short recovery ride. Felt better; could have continued for longer ride. Bought IRONMAN gloves which helped reduce numbness. Will see whether they work on a longer ride. calF:25.9.

Weather Conditions: Warm. 1800 hours.
Avg: 74 ºF

 http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Unknown+road&daddr=Upton+Avenue,+Toledo,+OH+to:Unknown+road+to:Unknown+road&hl=en&geocode=FQrXewIdqmoE-w%3BFQnWewIdK4kE-yn3KUswpoA7iDGznttka_d_Pw%3BFVS7ewId6D8E-w%3BFQfXewId8GkE-w&mra=dme&mrsp=3&sz=16&dirflg=b&sll=41.669017,-83.598425&sspn=0.006908,0.020707&ie=UTF8&lci=bike&ll=41.669033,-83.598404&spn=0.013785,0.041413&z=15

Ottawa Park Trail: 12.59 Miles

Ruff ride: some pot holes, broken pavement. Moderate to difficult climbs. Wanted to at least meet the previous ride distance of 8.4 so I made 3 laps around the park. Push through the pain (as it were) and reward my effort with a bonus lap to complete 12.6 miles. Moderate climbs were managable but the difficult climb while short was a lung and knee buster. Managed not to stall here but 3 mph on a 30 degree slope (my guess) is a nut buster. Need to strengthen legs, i.e., intervals; sprints might have made the slope easier to climb.  calF: 45.6


Weather Conditions: Warm and somewhat humid. 1700 hours.



See google map:http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Unknown+road&daddr=Upton+Avenue,+Toledo,+OH+to:Unknown+road+to:41.670395,-83.596816&hl=en&geocode=FQrXewIdqmoE-w%3BFQnWewIdK4kE-yn3KUswpoA7iDGznttka_d_Pw%3BFVS7ewId6D8E-w%3B&mra=dme&mrcr=2&mrsp=3&sz=16&dirflg=b&sll=41.669017,-83.598425&sspn=0.006908,0.020707&ie=UTF8&ll=41.669033,-83.598404&spn=0.013817,0.041413&z=15&lci=bike

3.20 Mile Recovery Ride to S Berkley Southern Rd.: Wabash Cannonball-South Fork

Felt pretty good Sunday evening but as the night wore on my legs started tighten up and my rear felt pretty sore. When I got home from shift I forced myself out to try and stretch out my legs. Also wanted to further condition the gluts et al. I took it real easy with only the above in mind. Didn't even take the comp with me. Tried a few standing sprints as Jimmie suggested but could only mannage about a fourth of the distance between the utility poles. The pins are just too weak right now. Will follow Jimmie's othe suggestion to sprint in the saddle, e.g., a mile or so faster.

The humidity made breathing more difficult and my neck was tight.
Weather Conditions: Cool and humid, overcast. 0745 hours

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=6622+Merritt+St,+Whitehouse,+OH+43571&daddr=S+Berkley+Southern+Rd%2FOH-295+S&geocode=FUmLeQIdRzMB-ymNWLMph248iDHEwH9jnLXdWQ%3BFURheQIdbeYA-w&gl=us&hl=en&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=15&dirflg=b&sll=41.506553,-83.823366&sspn=0.013852,0.041413&ie=UTF8&t=p&lci=bike&ll=41.515422,-83.818946&spn=0.01385,0.041413&z=15

First Real Ride 8.40 miles: Wabash Cannonball-South Fork

See google maps link of ride:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=6622+Merritt+St,+Whitehouse,+OH+43571&daddr=Neapolis,+Ohio&geocode=FUmLeQIdRzMB-ymNWLMph248iDHEwH9jnLXdWQ%3B&gl=us&hl=en&mra=ls&dirflg=b&sll=41.44723,-83.992538&sspn=0.013864,0.041413&ie=UTF8&t=p&z=14&lci=bike

Wanted to ride out about 4 miles, body permitting. Felt good at S Berkley Souther crossing, Berridge where we had looked at the Wayne REO at its corner, then past Yawberg and Jeffers. Felt good at Manore but decided not to push it so I turned around at Main St, Neapolis also known as Providence-Neapolis-Swanton Rd or Co Rd 109 (that 109 Lucas; not Fulton) - a little confusing.

Saw no one but on the return. Good ride time; little traffic.

Weather Conditions: Dry cool partly sunny. Avg. temp about 64 ºF.

Finished with a short walk and run with the hound to cool down and stretch out; about 1.9 miles.




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