Saturday, December 31, 2011

New Year's Eve Day Ride Recap - Too Cold For Cons?

We had a sunny day for the last ride of 2011. The temperature was around 30 degrees when we began the ride at 8:00 am and warmed up during the course of morning and turned into a really nice day. Our group consisted of Dale, Felix, Paul, Elliot and his friend Andrew, and me. The snow drought allowed Felix to get in his 16th ride during December and hit his goal of 7,200 outdoor miles.

We assumed it was too cold for Cons, who only made one appearance this year on a day when the temperature dropped below 30 degrees. Of course some might think that is a sign of sanity, but anyone who made as many rides as Cons did to work in the city leaving well before sunrise must have at least one screw loose.

We went up to Bluffington's via the Skokie Valley Bikeway. With Martin in Taiwan, I had thought that today's ride might be at a moderate pace. However, having Elliot join the ride fully compensated for not having Martin along. Our trip north was at an energetic pace with a very quick sprint as we approached 176.

The adventure of the ride came right before the tunnel heading north on the Bikeway. There was a nasty patch of black ice in the midst of the left hand turn. Elliot, Felix, and I all skidded on it and just barely stayed up. Beware of this spot.

It turned out to be a good ride to finish off 2011. Here's hoping for a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2012 to all and lots of great bike rides.

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Rides For The New Year Weekend

Felix will lead rides on Friday, Saturday, and Monday.

1/2/12 Update - Monday ride cancelled. Slippery roads and 5 degree wind chill.

We'll join Cliff Hoffman's ride on Sunday - 10:00 am

1/1/12 Update - New Year's Day Ride Cancelled. Nasty day even for the Polar Bears.

On Friday we will meet at 9:00 AM at Panera Bread in Wilmette and head to Lake Bluff.
On Saturday we will meet at Panera Bread in Wilmette at 8:00 AM and go to Lake Bluff one more time.
On Monday we will meet at 9:00 AM at Panera Bread in Wilmette

The Friday, Saturday, and Monday rides will be at our standard pace

The New Year's Day ride will be at a 14 mph pace on the trip down to Chicago and at our standard pace on the way home. Details below. This ride was a lot of fun last year. Highly recommended.

On New Years Day we will meet at Panera’s in Wilmette at 10:00 am and being a holiday you will be able to park along the tracks free of charge. We’ll try and work our way to the Lakeshore path and down to North Ave. beach where we will witness the Polar Bears taking their plunge into Lake Michigan. We will then proceed to Tiparos Thai Restaurant for lunch and talk about how much saner we are because we just ride our bikes in winter. If you are going to participate in the Polar Bear plunge please remember to bring your own suit and towel as the City of Chicago prohibits nude bathing in public and the club does not furnish towels for this ride

Monday, December 19, 2011

Rides for the Christmas Weekend

Rides are planned for Saturday 12/24 and Monday 12/26. Meeting at Panera Bread in Wilmette at 8:00 am. We'll probably go 40-45 miles on both rides. If you are close to a mileage goal for the year, come out and join us.

Friday, December 16, 2011

Got 7 Minutes to Waste? The Difference Between Cycling and Bike Riding

Cycling Explained should provide a chuckle. There are aspects of this parody that we can all identify with.

Cycling Explained
http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/12674956/cycling-explained

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Is the Upstroke in Cycling Overrated?

Felix came across an interesting article that attempts to debunk the idea that pedaling in smooth circles is optimum for cycling. Given that I am a self admitted "masher", my positive bias toward the author's conclusion is probably a bit suspect.

Bike Fitting: The Myth of the Upstroke

While there are 100's of articles that emphasize the importance of smooth circles, here is another article that minimizes the value of the upstroke.


The Pedaling Technique of Elite Endurance Cyclists: Changes With increasing Workload at Constant Cadence

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Snow Drought Rides for the Weekend of 12/17-18

Let's get out this weekend and take advantage of the snow drought providing unusually good weather for mid-December bike riding. Our group has about 600 miles under our belts already this month, and we should be able to hit our 1,000 mile December goal this weekend. For reference, last December, our group only got in about 3 rides all month, and the entire membership of the EBC only logged 1,000 club miles.

On Saturday we're going to leave from Panera Bread in Wilmette at 2:30pm and ride up to Fort Sheridan. Based on the how soon everyone needs to get home, we may or may not make a stop at Starbucks.

On Sunday we will meet at the regular 8:00 am time and probably head up the Skokie Valley Bikeway to Panera in Lake Bluff.

Saturday, December 10, 2011

12/10/11 Ride Recap - 6 Riders x 40 Miles on an 18 degree Morning

It was definitely a bit chilly when we started out. Felix's suggestion that we push the ride back to 10:00 am was popular with the group. In addition to Felix, the group included Gary, John, Martin, Paul, and me. We took the Skokie Valley Bikeway up to 176 and then headed over to Bluffington's for a mid ride stop. With the temperature warming up to the mid 20's under sunny skies, the return trip home turned into a surprisingly comfortable afternoon ride.

The most interesting discovery of the ride was learning how well the food service disposable poly gloves that John had purchased worked as glove liners. John used Gary and me as his test subjects. We learned that the poly gloves kept our hand almost as warm as latex and were much easier to slip gloves over.

What a difference a year makes. Felix noted that last year he only got in 3 rides during December due to all the snow. Today was his third December ride already this month and Sunday will be he fourth with three week still to go.

Friday, December 9, 2011

Weekend Rides - December 10 and 11

Saturday ride is being moved back to 10:00 am to give the sun a chance to warm things up a bit.

Sunday ride will start at 8:00 am. Both rides are meeting at Panera Bread in Wilmette. Tentative plan is to ride to Bluffington's on Saturday and Panera Bread in Lake Bluff on Sunday.

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Cancelled Ride - 12/3/11 Ride to Bluffingtons Canceled

Roads are dangerously slick. Light rain expected to fall all morning.