April 02, 2007
Bicycling goal for 2007
I haven't said much about my mileage goal in 2007. Last year I fell short of the 4000 miles I had projected. This year, the weather has made it difficult to get many miles.
I rode yesterday with a few friends and got rained on. In mid-40s weather. Not pleasant. But we got some miles in, anyways.
I have a particular motivation for riding this year: my older daughter was diagnosed with MS last year. She is in treatment and is doing pretty well, but I have a special reason to ride the Central PA MS ride this year. Here is my web page:http://www.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR?px=3221273&pg=personal&fr_id=3480. As you see, I'm seeking to raise $2000 for this ride. I've primed the pump with $200 myself.
So, what is my mileage goal this year? Same as last year: 4000 miles. I hope the weather starts cooperating; I'm a couple of hundred miles behind last year at this time.
Posted by aquacura.com at 06:23 PM | Comments (0)
January 01, 2006
First ride of the new year
I've set 4000 miles as my riding goal for this year, and I got started with a 56-mile ride. My total last year -- 3282 miles -- exceeded my 3000-mile goal.
Posted by aquacura.com at 09:01 PM | Comments (0)
October 08, 2005
Make that four centuries
Tammy had other plans. As last week progressed, I watched the weather forecast as it first called out the potential effects of Stan. Stan went south to wreak havoc in Mexico and Guatemala. So for a day or so, it looked like we would see the sun on Saturday.
But it was not to be.
By about Thursday, the forecasts were all settling in on rain through the weekend, and even into next week. I rode in rain on the Seagull in 2003, showers overtaking us in the afternoon, so I continued to think we might get this ride in.
Friday brought steady rain, punctuated by downpours, in central PA. Salisbury was getting spritzed, but the forecast called for steady rain on Saturday. By late Friday afternoon, the rain had started in Salisbury. So I modified my plan to camp out near the university and set my alarm at home for 3 am.
I woke up at 3 to hear -- probably imagine -- that the rain was not as heavy as it had been through the night. As I passed Lancaster and headed south toward Delaware the rainfall intensity increased, and a few miles north of Newark I decided that the trip would be futile. I was having trouble seeing the lines on the road, and I still had about two hours to get to Salisbury. I stopped at a Dunkin Donut and killed some time until the sky started to lighten, and then headed home.
It looks like the storm might be about over here, and I might get out to ride tomorrow. I still might get a fifth century in this year. Either repeat one that I have done already or freelance.
We have had a good string of long rides this year, the weather being pretty cooperative on weekends. The Seagull has also been pretty free of bad weather over the years. 2003 was the only on of about 7 that has seen rain (although I believe 2002, which I missed, was rainy).
Posted by aquacura.com at 01:05 PM | Comments (0)
October 04, 2005
Five Centuries
We'll lighten things up a little, then we'll get back to depleting petroleum supplies.
With the main part of bicycling season nearing an end (we'll bike through the winter, on the roads when we can and in the woods when the roads are too cold, but snow stops us), I count five US centuries and a couple of metrics tossed in. A good biking season.
In July we did 100 miles on the first day of the Gettysburg MS ride.
On Labor Day, the Hanover Century.
A couple of weeks later, Harrisburg's Three Creeks Century, with no hurricane this year.
This past Sunday, the Gap Gallop from Allentown to the Delaware Water Gap and back.
And this Saturday, the venerable Seagull Century. The first century for me, back in about 1995 +/-.
And three metrics: the PA State Police, the second day of the MS, and the Civil War Century (I avoided the fourth mountain climb)
Posted by aquacura.com at 09:15 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 26, 2005
Central PA MS 150
I rode in my fifth MS 150 over the July 16 - 17 weekend. We did the century loop on Saturday and the 75-mile loop on Sunday. Both rides departed from Gettysburg College. I rode with Team Giant (the grocery store, not the bicycle maker) which appeared to have maybe 20 or 30 riders.
Both days started cool and overcast, and humid. The sun came out each day at about noon, and with the humidity already in the air, it felt as if someone had turned on the oven.
We drank gallons of water -- the ride was well-organized and rider support was superb. In fact, the stops might have been a little too close together (but we felt we had to stop to stock up on liquid).
We were glad to be finished on both days, and glad to have ridden for a good cause.
Posted by aquacura.com at 01:39 PM | Comments (1)