Has anyone seen spring!!!!!
One warm day followed by multiple winter type days. Yuck!
Made even more disheartening , NO bike Fla this year.
Monday, March 24, 2014
Monday, January 7, 2013
New Year, New adventures !!!
Time sure does fly. Fast forward 2 1/2 years ... its now 2013, been a while since I placed a few thoughts here. So much is new. While this will still be mostly about cycling, from time to time the issues of the world may very well be decided here.
New epicenter of life is now Frederick Md. A move I made on September 29th 2012. A bold decision, yet a wise one. The terrain here is a bit more severe compared to WNY. Grades tend to start at 9% and quickly settle in around 14% or more. ....Uhg....That alone should improve my skills. One thing which will certainly help, I already have 45 miles logged this year.its still the first week of the year. Winter is far less than the snow country I hailed from. Temps are mid 30's to high 40's right now. Little by little I'm exploring new routes. Have yet to determine an new "Red Route 1", yet one is forming. Some nice climbing nearby , a few civil war battlefields within a century ride of here.
This will be a great year.
New epicenter of life is now Frederick Md. A move I made on September 29th 2012. A bold decision, yet a wise one. The terrain here is a bit more severe compared to WNY. Grades tend to start at 9% and quickly settle in around 14% or more. ....Uhg....That alone should improve my skills. One thing which will certainly help, I already have 45 miles logged this year.its still the first week of the year. Winter is far less than the snow country I hailed from. Temps are mid 30's to high 40's right now. Little by little I'm exploring new routes. Have yet to determine an new "Red Route 1", yet one is forming. Some nice climbing nearby , a few civil war battlefields within a century ride of here.
This will be a great year.
Friday, June 4, 2010
2010
It's been a while, mostly due to life happening. So now is as good as time as any.
A slow start this year in cycling. Started off with a week long Bike Florida. Met up with Carl and Karen. Florida is a welcomed escape from the long winters grip. Basking in sunshine, with the largest concern being what sun screen to use.
This year we rode our bikes around the Speedway at Daytona this year. Rode along the ocean for miles and Miles. After that I spent a week in The Carolina's and Virgina. Rode around Lake Norman, then off to Cary for a couple days riding there. Went to Virgina for business then finished my two weeks with a grueling ride call Assault on Carolina's. I sure was not in great shape for this ride. A tough 2000 ft climb over 6 mile.
Once back weather and business slowed down my riding. I did make it back to TOSRV in May. A 223 mile jaunt in two days. Winds were a steady headwind both days. Saturday was 113 miles with a stead wind of 25mph, gust up to 40. Sunday was mild by comparison. only 15mph with gusts to 30mph......a real breeze.
This weekend is Tour de cure in Niagara Fall. Suppose to be windy again. Hmmmm, this must be the year of the wind.....
A slow start this year in cycling. Started off with a week long Bike Florida. Met up with Carl and Karen. Florida is a welcomed escape from the long winters grip. Basking in sunshine, with the largest concern being what sun screen to use.
This year we rode our bikes around the Speedway at Daytona this year. Rode along the ocean for miles and Miles. After that I spent a week in The Carolina's and Virgina. Rode around Lake Norman, then off to Cary for a couple days riding there. Went to Virgina for business then finished my two weeks with a grueling ride call Assault on Carolina's. I sure was not in great shape for this ride. A tough 2000 ft climb over 6 mile.
Once back weather and business slowed down my riding. I did make it back to TOSRV in May. A 223 mile jaunt in two days. Winds were a steady headwind both days. Saturday was 113 miles with a stead wind of 25mph, gust up to 40. Sunday was mild by comparison. only 15mph with gusts to 30mph......a real breeze.
This weekend is Tour de cure in Niagara Fall. Suppose to be windy again. Hmmmm, this must be the year of the wind.....
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Game On
Cycling season has finally arrived.
Yippppie
The grip from winter has slackened, and spring is in the air. Now after a long lethargic winter, comes the battle of getting back into shape. Seems I didn't try to hard to keep things together....
Oh well, makes for a longer, harder road to climb. With my annual Florida trip on the horizon, I think everything will fall into place.
That 6 mile climb coming up in Attack on the Carolina's is looking mighty formidable about now.
Yippppie
The grip from winter has slackened, and spring is in the air. Now after a long lethargic winter, comes the battle of getting back into shape. Seems I didn't try to hard to keep things together....
Oh well, makes for a longer, harder road to climb. With my annual Florida trip on the horizon, I think everything will fall into place.
That 6 mile climb coming up in Attack on the Carolina's is looking mighty formidable about now.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
FANY '09 The start of a exciting week ahead
Why is it just before an out of town trip, everyone needs something done beforehand that just can't wait. Well that was the week before FANY for me. People came out of the woodwork this week....Murphy's law I guess...... It's great to be busy...
Right up to until I got home around 2:30pm on Saturday ( 30 minutes after tentative departure time) I was putting together offers and counteroffers. When I did finally arrive home not a single thing was packed.
Having packed for numerous other week long cycling adventures, I was packed and everything in the car in less than 1 hour. Robyn and Riley where there to shuttle me to Niagara Falls. We arrived a little before 5pm, and somehow beat the buses from Saratoga in. My favorite spot. atop the knoll. was still available, so I hoofed everything up and set up the first nights camp, with great help from Riley.
It is always comical to watch the buses arrive and everyone try to stake out their domain. It goes from sparsely populated to what looks like an invasion of ants at a picnic. What makes this grand entrance enjoyable is to renew old acquaintances from past years,The likes of Poughkeepsie (Steve) with his son, riders I had seen at GFLBT, and meet new riders for this year. Just behind me were two jolly campers wrestling with a brand new out-of-the-box tent on their very first week long cycling adventure. Little did they know what was in store fore them, So I offered a little guidance. After a few good laughs and a couple of quick pointers these two ladies had erected Home Sweet Home. I won't even bring up the fact that these two conniving women bribed me with oatmeal raisin cookies !!!!! Imagine that, bribe me with cookies!!!! To think that by Monday night to Janet and Diane,
would be able to assemble this tent in less than 2 minutes . Little did any of us realize at the time, this would be the start of one hilarious adventure .... exactly what FANY is all about.
Another happy camper (FANY newbie) camping along side Diana & Janet is Amy. She has been on a shorter cycling trip earlier in the year and had her camp all set. In conversations Amy mentioned some knee discomfort which sounded like a poor bike fit. The last thing one wants is 500 miles in pain. After observing her bike fit I made a few adjustments that seemed to work well for her. We had decided to visit the falls in the morning, then head out to Brockport. This way we could stretch a 90 mile ride into century on the first day.
Sunday morning arrives, dry and tailwinds in the forecast...... a grand departure from last years watery ride. There are 6 of us that went to the Falls, Bob, Karl, Janet, Diana Amy and myself.
I don't think any of the girls have seen the Falls before, so it was impressive to them. The American Falls did not have the misting problem that has beset the Canadian Falls the past few years. After a photo op, it was off to a little dinner Tom Gange turned me on to last year for Breakfast in Lewiston NY. Nothing like a huge fating carb loading breakfast of Pancakes smoothed in syrup to start off the ride.
Now I've always been terrible at remembering names, tho I hardly ever forget a face or details about someone. Why would this day be any different. Some how many of us achieve nicknames, not by choice , yet by a funny happenstance. I couldn't remember Diana's name to save my life, so she tried to come up with a little word association for me....
She said it's Diana...like the Princess Diana ..... Well that made it real easy for me...she is now and forever will be known as "Princess".
Well let me tell you Janet and Princess are both good strong riders. They both compete in Triathlons. My hats off to them. Me.... I swim like a brick, and do not run at all, yet these two relish the challenge. I have volunteered to assist them by being there cheering squad. It's dark and dirty, but some has to spectate these events...so I will accept that dastardly deed!
What a difference a year makes. With nice gentle tailwinds, we meandered along the first 30 miles with no effort at all. With 6 people of various riding levels we were able to find a pace that seemed comfortable for all.
Everyone was able to chat and learn about each other. This was also the beginning of some great light hearten ribbing. No one was excluded, and everyone was involved.
One of this years FANY goals was to ride at a more relaxed pace, sight see more, mingle with other riders. Last year with all the rain, the objective was to ride hard each day so I get to camp ASAP, and brace for the elements. With Sunny skies...lets enjoy. As we leave the Falls, its a pleasant ride along the river. To our right are large homes and mansions, to our left is Canada(eh)for tomorrows ride.
We stopped in Olcott, NY, were you could see Toronto across the lake .There also is a unique boardwalk of little shoppe's, and a park with amusement rides. After we left Olcott, Bob and Amy were slowing a bit, with Princess and Janet still feeling frisky, they move on with Karl in tow.
Our next stop is Golden State Park, where a lighthouse was built back in the 1830's. Also called 30 mile point (for it's distance from the mouth of the Niagara). This is about 1/2 way for the day.
The State gives tours here, so we took one. You can rent this by the night or week if your looking for a quaint B&B.
Now it is time to turn south and start what will be the 6 1/2 days of climbing...YIPPIEEEEE....
As we make our turn there are 2 young ladies offering up some Lemonade. They have been doing this for a few years now. Sure won't find a nicer sag stop for the day. We start to pass through some quaint little towns , like Lyndonville and Medina. 
This area offers many cobblestone houses. These are built with the small fist sized stones that grow so plentiful here in the fields. Medina is a canal town. Sits along the banks of the Erie Canal. Lunch is at a neat pizza shoppe right on the main four corners. These are huge slices and we are famished.
As we ride parallel to the canal for the rest of the day. Passing through a couple of more canal towns, Albion and Holley. In Albion I stop for a natural, and let Bob and Amy go ahead Figuring that I can stretch it out to chase them down. Well I come flying through the four corners of Albion, and do not see them off to my right( they made one of many bonus turns we all will make in the next 7 days). I keep going about 3 miles then realize they must have stopped, otherwise I would have caught them by now. Being less than 15 miles from the end, I decide to keep hammering to Brockport. Sure did feel good to stretch it out. Arriving in Brockport I still need 5 miles to complete a century, so I circle around the college, and parts of the village before ending at the Exempts,
A fireman's club that will be our home for the night. Real tough digs here, there is an American Legion next door that invites us in for some much need recovery drink(HOPS). With camp set up and a full belly from dinner and the legion, it is time to nod out and rest up for tomorrows ride.
First Days Ride
From: Niagara Falls To Brockport
Miles: 100.49
Ascent: 1932 Ft
Right up to until I got home around 2:30pm on Saturday ( 30 minutes after tentative departure time) I was putting together offers and counteroffers. When I did finally arrive home not a single thing was packed.
Having packed for numerous other week long cycling adventures, I was packed and everything in the car in less than 1 hour. Robyn and Riley where there to shuttle me to Niagara Falls. We arrived a little before 5pm, and somehow beat the buses from Saratoga in. My favorite spot. atop the knoll. was still available, so I hoofed everything up and set up the first nights camp, with great help from Riley.It is always comical to watch the buses arrive and everyone try to stake out their domain. It goes from sparsely populated to what looks like an invasion of ants at a picnic. What makes this grand entrance enjoyable is to renew old acquaintances from past years,The likes of Poughkeepsie (Steve) with his son, riders I had seen at GFLBT, and meet new riders for this year. Just behind me were two jolly campers wrestling with a brand new out-of-the-box tent on their very first week long cycling adventure. Little did they know what was in store fore them, So I offered a little guidance. After a few good laughs and a couple of quick pointers these two ladies had erected Home Sweet Home. I won't even bring up the fact that these two conniving women bribed me with oatmeal raisin cookies !!!!! Imagine that, bribe me with cookies!!!! To think that by Monday night to Janet and Diane,
would be able to assemble this tent in less than 2 minutes . Little did any of us realize at the time, this would be the start of one hilarious adventure .... exactly what FANY is all about.Another happy camper (FANY newbie) camping along side Diana & Janet is Amy. She has been on a shorter cycling trip earlier in the year and had her camp all set. In conversations Amy mentioned some knee discomfort which sounded like a poor bike fit. The last thing one wants is 500 miles in pain. After observing her bike fit I made a few adjustments that seemed to work well for her. We had decided to visit the falls in the morning, then head out to Brockport. This way we could stretch a 90 mile ride into century on the first day.
Sunday morning arrives, dry and tailwinds in the forecast...... a grand departure from last years watery ride. There are 6 of us that went to the Falls, Bob, Karl, Janet, Diana Amy and myself.
I don't think any of the girls have seen the Falls before, so it was impressive to them. The American Falls did not have the misting problem that has beset the Canadian Falls the past few years. After a photo op, it was off to a little dinner Tom Gange turned me on to last year for Breakfast in Lewiston NY. Nothing like a huge fating carb loading breakfast of Pancakes smoothed in syrup to start off the ride.Now I've always been terrible at remembering names, tho I hardly ever forget a face or details about someone. Why would this day be any different. Some how many of us achieve nicknames, not by choice , yet by a funny happenstance. I couldn't remember Diana's name to save my life, so she tried to come up with a little word association for me....
She said it's Diana...like the Princess Diana ..... Well that made it real easy for me...she is now and forever will be known as "Princess".Well let me tell you Janet and Princess are both good strong riders. They both compete in Triathlons. My hats off to them. Me.... I swim like a brick, and do not run at all, yet these two relish the challenge. I have volunteered to assist them by being there cheering squad. It's dark and dirty, but some has to spectate these events...so I will accept that dastardly deed!
What a difference a year makes. With nice gentle tailwinds, we meandered along the first 30 miles with no effort at all. With 6 people of various riding levels we were able to find a pace that seemed comfortable for all.
Everyone was able to chat and learn about each other. This was also the beginning of some great light hearten ribbing. No one was excluded, and everyone was involved.One of this years FANY goals was to ride at a more relaxed pace, sight see more, mingle with other riders. Last year with all the rain, the objective was to ride hard each day so I get to camp ASAP, and brace for the elements. With Sunny skies...lets enjoy. As we leave the Falls, its a pleasant ride along the river. To our right are large homes and mansions, to our left is Canada(eh)for tomorrows ride.
We stopped in Olcott, NY, were you could see Toronto across the lake .There also is a unique boardwalk of little shoppe's, and a park with amusement rides. After we left Olcott, Bob and Amy were slowing a bit, with Princess and Janet still feeling frisky, they move on with Karl in tow.Our next stop is Golden State Park, where a lighthouse was built back in the 1830's. Also called 30 mile point (for it's distance from the mouth of the Niagara). This is about 1/2 way for the day.
The State gives tours here, so we took one. You can rent this by the night or week if your looking for a quaint B&B.Now it is time to turn south and start what will be the 6 1/2 days of climbing...YIPPIEEEEE....
As we make our turn there are 2 young ladies offering up some Lemonade. They have been doing this for a few years now. Sure won't find a nicer sag stop for the day. We start to pass through some quaint little towns , like Lyndonville and Medina. 
This area offers many cobblestone houses. These are built with the small fist sized stones that grow so plentiful here in the fields. Medina is a canal town. Sits along the banks of the Erie Canal. Lunch is at a neat pizza shoppe right on the main four corners. These are huge slices and we are famished.As we ride parallel to the canal for the rest of the day. Passing through a couple of more canal towns, Albion and Holley. In Albion I stop for a natural, and let Bob and Amy go ahead Figuring that I can stretch it out to chase them down. Well I come flying through the four corners of Albion, and do not see them off to my right( they made one of many bonus turns we all will make in the next 7 days). I keep going about 3 miles then realize they must have stopped, otherwise I would have caught them by now. Being less than 15 miles from the end, I decide to keep hammering to Brockport. Sure did feel good to stretch it out. Arriving in Brockport I still need 5 miles to complete a century, so I circle around the college, and parts of the village before ending at the Exempts,
A fireman's club that will be our home for the night. Real tough digs here, there is an American Legion next door that invites us in for some much need recovery drink(HOPS). With camp set up and a full belly from dinner and the legion, it is time to nod out and rest up for tomorrows ride.First Days Ride
From: Niagara Falls To Brockport
Miles: 100.49
Ascent: 1932 Ft
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Last minute rush
Of course as the time draws near for the start of the FANY ride, all heck has broke loose.....
Trying to tie up loose ends in the biz world will take me right up to scheduled departure time.
Look for more when I return....... in 7 days
On a bitter sweet note, Friday was dedicated to Francis Dixon...Our dear charming aunt Fran. Who passed away earlier this week. Mom and I went to Toronto Friday, to represent her "Yankee Thanksgiving". Yes we truly are thankful for all the joy she brought us. We did meet many from her fabulous family, and friends that I had not meet previously.
Trying to tie up loose ends in the biz world will take me right up to scheduled departure time.
Look for more when I return....... in 7 days
On a bitter sweet note, Friday was dedicated to Francis Dixon...Our dear charming aunt Fran. Who passed away earlier this week. Mom and I went to Toronto Friday, to represent her "Yankee Thanksgiving". Yes we truly are thankful for all the joy she brought us. We did meet many from her fabulous family, and friends that I had not meet previously.
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