Rides & Trail Work

Back on the trail Tuesday. I decided to fore go the Tuesday Evening Ride from the bike shop. Instead I rode dirt at Manawa. The trails are dry (except for 1 ditch), hard, and fast.

It felt that I was riding closely to the same as my hardtail. Good lines, increasing speed, etc. When I got the bike to the shop for Wednesday Morning Ride, I realized that the rear shock was locked! Now wonder it was riding like my 4300.

Wednesday dawned clear, crisp, and cool. A good morning for our ride. Riders: Randy, Greg, Zach and me. We did our normal ride from the shop to Lake Manawa, rode the trails there and headed back to the shop. I could feel the difference now - riding with the rear shock in v. locked. Still getting is used to the new bike - but riding better each time I am out.

Just ended the ride when my friend Chuck called - he wanted to come over for help picking out a bike. Took him to Xtreme Wheels, where he ended purchasing a Navigator 30.

From there - Trail work. I met Steve (Manawa Trail Leader) and Martin to clear the 3 dead falls and hopefully make repairs to the big tree crossing. Andrew (another rider from XW stopped by when working on the log crossing - helped with us.

When I got home I was tired - not mentioning sore legs. See how I feel today - if I am going to ride later.

Back in the saddle

Eight days without a ride - ouch. Now 2 rides within 24 hours. I am exhausted.

Over the last week, the weather was just not with me. Lots of rain and wind. Last weekend the weather was good, I had gotten busy with other stuff.

Yesterday was NOT turning into a good day. After breakfast, I had car problems. The ignition switch is locked up - has happened 2 time before, 2 years apart. Means had to have the car towed. Stopped by at Xtreme Wheels. It was that day I needed to decide to order a new trail bike. Well, they had already ordered one - Trek Fuel EX7. Hope the bike is the ride for me.

I needed the Tuesday Evening Ride - any bike ride. Dennis rode with me. Headed out towards Manawa. Not sure why I was not riding well. Heart rate was high during the ride - and I was not riding that fast. Maybe I ate to much in the day, perhaps it was the 8 days off the bike. Rode the hybrid. Still was a good ride - how can you complain when it is 73 deg, sunny, very light wind, and you are on your bicycle!

Today was the first Wednesday Morning Ride (mountain/trail bikes). Now, I had problems sleeping - probably from the ride last night. But I wanted to get out to ride since the morning dawned clear and calm. Little cool but forecast for warm day. Wonders of wonders even Zach made it - isn't great to ride in the early morning?.

Blaine, Randy, Zach and I headed out from the bike shop. We rode the paved trail to the Lake Manawa mountain bike trail. Started on the West side, moved over to the East side. I was riding pretty good - heart rate was much lower than last evening. Layers started coming off as the temperature climbed.

Zach headed back, Randy, Blaine and I rode the West side again, then rode to the shop. Great morning ride. (Thanks for starting the ride, Randy).

If you want to join us for the weekly ride - show up at Xtreme Wheels ready to ride at 7am.

Tuesday Ride - First of the Season

This afternoon was the first of the Xtreme Wheels Tuesday Ride. Now, I had ridden a couple times on Tuesday this year - but the weather was not warm enough for most riders. The temperature at ride departure was in the 60s.

Dennis and I rode over to and around Lake Manawa. Rode the FX - have to ride it once in a while. We rode at the fastest pace so far this year - just over 12 mph.

I rode yesterday afternoon, too. Just a short (12 mile) ride. Was a little cool - about 40. I was checking my log yesterday. On March 10, 07, I had 90 miles. Yesterday showed over 190 miles this year. Today I topped the 200 miles mark.

No photos for today's entry :(

Smokin' Ride

I was the only one on the "slower" ride on our Tuesday Evening Ride. When I started off, I found I could/wanted/needed a ride that pushes me. Around ISD I was smokin' (for me and on my mountain bike) at 18-20 mph.

Made my personal best time for shop and around Manawa. Pushed most of the ride - heart rate at 130-150. A real workout. Felt great after the day off yesterday.

4000 miles

Some time over the last week, I surpassed the 4000 mile mark since I started riding 25 months ago. The old Trek made 400 miles - now at a new home, the Trek 7200 FX at over 1600, and over 2000 (in less than 16 months) the Trek 4300. While totaling miles, now over 1100 miles so far this year.

Made the Tuesday Evening Ride from Xtreme Wheels. Just 2 of us recreational riders. The 13+ mph pace was what I needed after pushing it on the Sunday Morning ride and my first ride at Tranquility Park.

The weather forecast has been threatening rain and needed to get in some dirt time. Went to Manawa for some mountain bike riding. I was surprised by the broken branches, dead falls, and debris over the trail. I will send a note to the Lake Manawa Trail Leader - see how I can help to clear the trail (need a chain saw - I don't have an operating gas powered saw).



This morning, I heard from Dennis that Indian Creek Trail is bisected by road work on 92. Need to check what that will do to our Sunday Ride. Reroute or move to the Wabash Trace.