Howie's Great Cross Country Adventure

8/7 Headed out to the PMC.

Howie — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 18:51:32 +0000

Since the CCC I have riding about 110 miles just to keep my legs loose. Last night I cleaned and lubed both the Madone, and the Y-Foil. During the ride yesterday I felt a little discomfort in my left knee while riding the Y-Foil. The setup on it must be a little off, so I’m going to ride the Madone, and loss the aw factor of riding the Y-Foil during the PMC.

for those reading my Blog that do not know what the PMC is. It is a 2-day 192 mile ride to raise money for Dana Farber Caner Institute and the Jimmy Fund. There will be over 5000 riders and we will raise over 28 million dollars for the cause. Last year 99% of the money raise be the riders went to the charities.

My PMC letter: http://howie-pmc.home.comcast.net/

My PMC Page: http://www.pmc.org/mypmc/profiles.asp?Section=story&eGiftID=HD0013

PMC home page: http://www.pmc.org

This morning to get ready for the ride I had an hour long massage. I’m in the best shape I been in since I started riding the PMC. I’m down 30 pounds since January. I have ridding 6,000 miles so far this year. This should be a real fun weekend.

Howie:

Gnome Shots

Howie — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 18:24:10 +0000

7/26: The Eastern States Tour and Summary

Howie — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 01:02:06 +0000

With hitting the Atlantic we also finish the final segment this segment was titled the “The Eastern States Tour”. It took us from Pennsylvania thru New York, Vermont, and finished in New Hampshire. This was 632 miles with 25,000 feet of climbing.

Hitting the Atlantic also means that we have our final totals, I was temped to take a left and keep going to Newfoundland. We have crossed 13 states and 3,836 miles with 121,500 feet of climbing. Do to bonus miles I road over 4,000 miles, this brings my total for the year to 6,000.

During the ride I went thru 6 gloves, 5 tubes, 3 tires, 1 wheel. As a group during the ride there where 3 new bikes, 3 wheels, lots of tires and spokes, and over 300 tubes. Of the 26 rider that where going cost to cost 24 made it, and of the 25, 16 of us did it with any time in a van. There where 3 crashes that required trips to the hospital, and a bunch of minor crashes.

Howie:

7/24 Day 52: Manchester NH to the Atlantic (Rye NH)

Howie — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 02:08:26 +0000

We had a late load time; I loaded my stuff in Lynne’s car so I would not need to deal with it at the hotel. The route had us on back roads, while we wound our way to the finish. There was a different attitude on today’s ride. We needed to cover 50 miles in 5 hours. Most of the riders where in no rush and where wasting time on the way to the meeting point. The where plenty of stops in cafes, and people lingered at the one rest stop.

I rode most of the way with Pete and Dr. Dave, but the groups of other riders seemed to be in bigger groups then normal and when we past or got passed be another group. There was a lot of talking. About 11:40 riders started to get to the school that we where regrouping at for the final drive to the beach. Every one was in by 12. We hung around and at took a final group photo.

We had a police escort for the 4 miles from the school to the beach. The older rider lead us behind the police car.

When we hit the parking lot was full a balloons and people waiting for us. As we enter the parking lot we where greeted with cheers for those waiting. There was Hugs and Kisses for love ones that had been away for up to 52 days. My wife, Mom, Dad and 3 co-workers where waiting for me. Lynne put a Loral or my head.

Most of us took of our shoes and took our bikes down to the water to dip our front wheels.

After a swim in the Atlantic (it was cold). A few of the 16 riders that road every fantastic inch posed for the EFI picture.

We where about 3 miles away from the Maine state line a few riders took a ride up to the line for the photo opp. I have already ridden to Maine and my family was waiting for me.

I Made it!!!

Next step the PMC. I plan on taking the next 3 days off the bike, then riding this weekend with the club. Will be interesting to see how I ride after a few days to recover.

Howie:

7/23 Day 51: Brattleboro to Manchester NH

Howie — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 02:04:09 +0000

The route to day had us mainly on back roads. The weather did not look bad wand we started just over cast sky’s, but it was chilly I should have grabbed a jacket. Rumors have it that we did not go the most direct or flat way. The joke was that they wanted for us to have as may hill on the east cost as we did on the west cost.

With in a mile of the hotel we crossed the Connecticut River which is also the state line between Vermont and New Hampshire. Peter and I took each other picture at the State line. If you notice I have been where the club jersey each time we crossed a State line.

As always when we cross a river we had to climb out of the river valley, we climbed for about 12 miles then lost most of the gain on the next down hill. Then we got to a climb that was marked on the sheet at 10% grade it had turned out to be 12% then we small decent and on the pavement was written “Party is over” with a smiley face with it tong out. This hill was also mark 10% but it was much more I saw my Garmin hit 27% grade.

After the climbs Pete and I need food so we stopped in the next town for a sandwich. The support van also stopped there and I got my jacket from it, because the weather was getting bad. It was a good thing, within 5 miles I put it on because it was sprinkling. After then next hill it started to rain. It was a messy ride to then end. We wasted some good down hills because we could not let the bikes roll free, because of the wet roads. The was a lot of down hills in to the hotel.

After dinner the staff did a recap of the tour, and gave out hummers awards. I then gave back the Gnome that was on top of a cake. All the riders where give a chance to say something to the group about what the tour has meant to them.

Tomorrow is the last day we have a late start because it is a short day. The plan is to hit Wallis Sands Beach (http://www.nhstateparks.com/wallis.html) in New Hampshire at 12:30. We will all coming in together with the full crew with a Police escort. When we hit the beach there will be a group photo and the ceremonial dipping of the wheel in the Atlantic. I will have my wife and parents as well as co-worked at the beach waiting for me.

I will keep the blog going till at least the PMC and may a little after that. There may not be enters every day but you will not need to stop cold turkey.

Howie:

7/22 Day 50: Troy NY to Brattleboro, VT

Howie — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 00:28:17 +0000

We had an other fabulous day weather wise. The Route had us going out of town on and finding are way on to route 7. We started the first climb almost a soon as we got out of the hotel. Route 7 turned in to route 9 on the Vermont line, we took that almost to the next hotel. Route 7 and 9 cross the Green Mountain range so we had a lot of climbing.

I rode with Dr Dave and Pete, because of the climbing we would attack them at our own pace then regroup. After the first rest stop we crossed from New York to Vermont.

The first town we rain in to in Vermont is Bennington. My plain was when I hit the center of town was to take a small detour to go visit my brother’s and his wife grave at the cemetery in town. Dr. Dave and Pete joined me for the side trip.

We then rejoined the route and started the second big climb of the day. This clime was 8 miles with 1700 feet of climb. We then dropped to 900 feet to the second rest stop. After the rest stop we had to climb back up 700 feet. At the top of this climb you could see 100 mile (that what the signs said).

Then we had a big down hill we dropped 2000 feet in 15 miles. At the bottom of the decent we stopped for lunch at the Vermont Country Deli for lunch. The gourmet sandwiches where huge. We eat them on the grass next to the deli, I called my day who recommended the deli and he offered to buy us desert but no one had room for it.

Howie:

7/21 Day 49: Little Falls to Troy, NY

Howie — Sat, 21 Jul 2007 23:58:20 +0000

7/21 Day 49: Little Falls to Troy, NY

The weather has change in our favor; we woke to clear blue sky’s (my jacket got left in my luggage). The route had us containing on route 5, along the barge canal, at this point it is the Mohawk River. I road with Dr Dave all day, our plan was to take it easy so that we will have fresher legs for the climbing that we will encounter over the next two days.

At the second rest stop Christen was eyeing a new bike.

We stopped at a few of the locks on the Erie Canal. The last 30 miles of the ride had us on bike paths along the canal, at one point there was one of the old locks for the old Erie Canal there was no water.

I have ridden a lot of the route we rode today as part of the Erie Canal tour. It was cool following the arrows from that tour. There were a few hills today but nothing too hard. We did stick to our plan so I should be ready for the climbs tomorrow including the on up Hog Back Mountain.

Howie:

7/20 Day 48: Liverpool to Little Falls, NY

Howie — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 20:47:30 +0000

The route today started out with us following the Old Erie Canal. These are road that I have ridden before I saw marking for that tour as we went. The route then had us go over a ridge that brought us from the old canal to the Erie Canal also know as the Barge Canal. The current canal in places uses rivers. The weather contains to be against us. I started out late because I just did not have my act together. I stated out alone and passed a few slower riders, I was passing a group of them when it to rain, so I stopped with them and put on my jacket, and road on.

When I hit the first rest stop I did not need a break the road to this point was relatively flat. Dave and Pete where almost ready to leave, so I field my bottle and put some food in my jacket, and left with them. We rode together till it started to rain heavily Dave wanted to find cover and I slowed down with him, Pete continued on, I told Dave that I wanted to keep going. We stopped so Dave could put some stuff in my pockets to stay dry (his jacket was more of a windbreaker). We then rode to the second rest stop where we found peter. It was 11:00 and I did not want to eat lunch yet, Dave did stop at subway, and Pete and I road on.

A few miles down the road it started to sprinkle again so I put the jacket back on. Going thou Herkimer we found an old style dinner, and had lunch there. The place had just opened and they where still working out the kinks. They had redone the place and it looks good. The owner was from Mass and we talked for a while. At some point while we were eating a train went thou and the owner’s wife spun a wheel with numbers on it on the wall. It came up on number 8, she then counted and I was in seat number 8. Being in the right place at the right time got me my sandwich for free. From there it was an easy 7 mile ride to the hotel in Little Falls. Another town that I have ridden thou in the past.

When I hit the hotel I did wash, for the last time :-)
Howie:

7/19 Day 47: Canandaigua to Liverpool, NY

Howie — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 02:28:32 +0000

The route to day had us continuing on 20/5 till the first rest stop then taking some back roads and getting back on 5, then winding our way to the hotel. When we left the weather was bleak, it was like riding thru the clouds. 20 run’s along the top of Canandaigua, Seneca, and Cayuga Lakes. It was to fog to gat any pitchers of the lakes. I have ridden a bike tour called the Bonton Roulet which is in this same area for the past five years. I remember lots of the roads and saw old as well are new arrows for the tour. I was my bike wanted to follow the arrows.

I started out with Dr Dave, but he realized that he for got his phone and went back of it. I ended up riding with Gene and Jane for a while. On the way to the rest stop about 20 miles in to the ride it started to rain. I stopped at Seneca Falls to talk some pictures. Seneca Falls is known for the birth place of the woman’s rights. http://www.nps.gov/wori/ .

At the rest stop it had stopped raining enough to take off my rain jacket. After the rest stop we passed another great waterfall. At this point I started to ride with Ohio Greg.

We stopped at a place for lunch called Frogger’s. After lunch we crossed the midway point of the Erie Canal. I have been here before on a tour I have done twice where I have gone form Buffalo to Albany alone the canal with my boys.

I stopped at the store to get a replacement rubber frog, (Lynne to cooking this one) that I had gotten here the last time thru. When I got back on the bike it started raining real hard. I put the jacket back on and road thou it, and road to the hotel.

Howie:

7/18 Day 46: Hamburg to Canandaigua, NY

Howie — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 01:59:44 +0000

The route today had us taking some back road to avoid the busy section of route 20. then taking route 20 to the hotel. The weather was still not in our favor. It was a gray foggy morning and it felt like it may rain and any moment. I took my heavy rain jacket. There was an option to go about 6 miles out of the way to the Bike Museum. And about half the riders took that it.

I had put the new tire on the bike the night before and when I pump it up the tub popped I did not have time to deal with it at the time and thought I must have just pinched the tube will changing it. After loading my stuff in the trailer, I pumped up the tire and saw a large bulge on the side of it. There was a ½ tare in the side wall. Gerard tried to boot it ( put a patch on the in side of the tire), but the hole was to bad. We changed out the tire with a new tire and I hit the road, but I was the last one out of the hotel.

About 6 miles in to the ride I missed a turn on the sheet that was on the fold. About 2 miles down the road when I could not find the turn I was looking for. I ask someone walking there dog how to get back on route. They gave me direction and 5 miles later I was back at the turn I missed. I would have been better off just riding back the way I had come. The bright side of the goof was that I now had the 7 miles I need to turn the 94 mile rider in to a century. The Down size is that I now had no hope of catching up to other riders that ride at my speed.

I did find Gene and Jane at a coffee shop. I stop in for a coffee with them. And then rode with them for a while. Till they went off route to see a friend. I was then hit a place for lunch just as other riders where leaving. When I was leaving some of the guys that went to the museum showed up. So I was still alone, for the rest of the day.

Riding alone let me ride my own pace and stop when I wanted to. I did see some cool things on the way.

Howie:

7/17 Day 45: Erie PA to Hamburg, NY.

Howie — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 03:05:07 +0000

We awoke to a heavily over cast day that was threatening to dump all it moister at any time. The Route had as continuing along the Lake Erie on route 5. We got to see more of the lake. At times we where riding with grape vines on both sides of us, like when we where riding thou the corn and soy fields. The sky’s did open up but not we did get drizzled on for about 3 miles, before we got the New York state line, I think this was Pennsylvania getting back at us for only spending one night. Here I am at the NY line.

I was riding with Pete, Dr Dave and Paul one of the new guys. Pete ran over a piece of glass and I was riding too close to him to avoid it. When I ran over it, it got kicked up and hit me in the shin. Luckily I did not cut me and I Did not flat. The one and only rest stop was at a park over looking a marina on Lake Erie.

After the rest stop we started looking for winery’s and a place for lunch. We never found a winery on route but saw signs for them but did not know how far off route they where. We did find a place to eat in silver creak, the food was ok but it took them a long time to make it, and it was only subs. I had a letter of Mountain Dew most if while I was waiting. I notice that my front tire had too big slits along the bead of the tire and one across it. I know I would have to change it out when I got to the hotel. Well when I got back on the bike the sugar and caffeine hit, and I ended up riding a way form Dr. Dave and Paul. By the time I made it to the hotel the tire was missing a 12 inch section of the outer casing, but I did not flat do to the type of tire I’m using.

After I hit the hotel then was a bunch of guys talking about bike over to the Bicycle Museum (http://www.pedalinghistory.com/) that was an option for the next day. It is off route and we still had time to see it today. Someone said lets get a cab and spilt it. So most of us showered, while we were waiting for the cab (van). The Museum was grate. There could use about 3 times the space they had. Here is just a small sampling of some of the stuff they had.

When we got back I had dinner with my sister-in-law Sandy and her long time boy friend. We went almost back to the museum. To a place that one of her co-workers recommended. The food was good. There did have a strange soap that they are famous for “buffalo chicken” it was a cream of chicken soup with buffalo sauce added. It was nice seeing Sandy again.

Howie:

7/16 Day 44: Rest day in Erie PA.

Howie — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 01:07:53 +0000

With this rest day we have finished the “The Country Mileage Tour” section of the tour. This is the 5^th section of the Cross Country Challenge. This section we rode 470 miles in 5 days crossing 3 states and climbing 11,000 feet. This brings our totals up to 3250 miles crossing 10 states and climbing 96,000 feet. We have 630 miles 3 states and 23,000 feet of climbing to do in 8 days. We are in the home stretch now.

I did not do much other then resting on my day off. I started out by going to Starbucks and doing wash. Then writing the day before BLOG. For dining I went to a brewery with Greg, Mike, and Bobby (the made Frenchman). I was disappointed with the beer. I got a sample that had 6 small beers. They where all muddy in color and tasted similar. The food was on the bland side.

Howie:

7/15 Day 43: Youngstown OH to Erie PA.

Howie — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 17:01:15 +0000

-Route-

The route today had us on back roads for the most part. The route was flat with a few minor rollers. We where headed north with the wind in our faces till the second rest stop. After the rest stop we turned east and rode just out of site Lake Erie but along side of it. The weather head scattered showers. I lucked out with it some of the roads where wet but I never got rained on.

After the first rest stop we had an issue with a truck. I found out some of this after words. The truck honked at one of the riders behind me. Then when he passed then next rider he honked then pulled right in front of him. When he was passing me he mover to the right and forced me on the road and on the grass. The Grass was wet and the bike slipped out from under me and I end out falling one grass. The two riders behind me help me get back to gather. I check the bike and my self and there was not damage.

The area we where riding thou had a few Amish farms. There where also a few covered bridges, and more strange barns.

The second rest stop was at White Turkey Drive-In. This was an old fashion root beer Stand. I had a turkey sandwich and a root beer. I did not get a root float like a lot of the other riders, but they did look good.

After the rest stop it was a short ride to the Penn state line and from the ride with the wind at or back it was a nice ride to Erie.

We had this guy welcome us in to Erie.

When I hit the hotel I had 97.5 miles so I road down to the lake to get me up to 100 miles.

Howie:

7/14 Day 42: Wooster to Youngstown OH.

Howie — Sat, 14 Jul 2007 21:59:48 +0000

The route was a lot of rollers but there where the kind that you could just power up. The wind was also at are backs for most of the day. I rode with Dr Dave, Pete, and Ohio Greg. Ohio, joined the tour yesterday, and will be riding with us till Syracuse.

The day was uneventful till the just before the second rest stop. I was about 3 miles out of it and had emptied both of my water bottles. Michele passed me in the van and I singled that I need her to stop. I filled one of my bottles. And she went off to set up the rest stop. The guys where out of site but it was not a big deal, because I would catch them at the rest stop. As I was coming up to where the turn on to the road with the rest stop, I saw the van coming back up the road and I thought I saw here pointing to the left. When I hit the intersection I saw why there was a sign saying the bridge was closed (I found out later that you could cross it and that there was a detour before the turn). I went right then left to stay on the road I was one. I took that till it hit a major road. I took that to the left. At the next intersection I asked for directions. They told me to take the left and the first right and take that to the bike path. Well I hit the bike path a few miles earlier then the route. I took it was a nice path, and was back on route. But I had missed the rest stop total.

When I took the turn off the path, I saw another road close sign. This time I road thou it. From that point one I was fighting a strong head wind in to the hotel. As it turns out even though I was off route for over 7 miles, I did not get in any bonus miles

Howie:

7/13 Day 41: Marysville to Wooster, OH

Howie — Sat, 14 Jul 2007 02:36:16 +0000

The route today had us on quite back road. Some of the road where so quite that, we did not have any cars passed us in ether direction for what felt an hour. The first part of the route was a gradual climb that was not noticeable. Then just before the second rest stop we started to get in to rollers some of which where 150 feet high. Using the down hills and careering as much speed as possible in to the up hills made it so you could roll up some of them where others where a to big to do it. Some of the climbs got quite step on one of them I saw 17%, and a few other must have been around 14%. With the hard climbs at the end of the day when your legs where tiered made the day a tough one. We did 4500 feet of climbing in 105 miles. It was hard for the crew to support us today because the group got spread out over a long distance. With today’s mileage we are over 3000 miles for the tour.

More retaliation for the Gnome, Gerard had hidden a sound box out of a stuffed monkey, under my saddle. It would have gone off when I hit a bump, but when I was checking the bike before I was about to ride I found it. The gnome picture that was posted last night was of a Gnome Cream Pie, some one must have gotten an Idea from what Gerard did to me.

After the second rest stop I was riding with Pete and we came to a bridge that was out, we saw a detour and did not take it we tried to get around the bridge that was out by walking the bike over a railroad bridge. When we got to the other side and still could not find the road we were looking for we as someone where it was, they said that is was on the other side of the river. So we walk back across some I beams. Pete found the side that marked the road. We then walked thru the contrition equipment and got back on route.

Bike and Tupperware windmill.

I know now how the Amish power their buggies.

This is the last big hill, I thought Ohio was flat.

Howie:

7/12 Day 40: Richmond, IN to Marysville, OH

Howie — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 02:27:45 +0000

Last night after I had posted my BLOG entry, at dinner Gerard again retaliated for my involvement for gnome napping the gnome. During dinner he did the equivalent of hitting me with a wipe cream pie (there was no crust), But he did get me with a bowl of wipe cream.

We started out the day by back tracking about a 10^th of a mile till the first right and got off the highway and on to back roads. 2 ½ miles in to the ride we hit the Ohio state border.

After the picture I rode with Dr Dave and Peter. We where going along to the first rest stop 34 miles in and 7 miles before the stop I needed to stop to water some corn stocks. I told them to ride on slow, and I would catch up. I started to ride fast and was close to the edge of the road when my rear tire blew. The bike go loss and I went off the road, and fell on a soft grassy patch in front of a house. I changed the tire and road to the rest stop.

Out of the rest stop I rode with Christian one of the support crew. We rode to a town just before the second rest stop. Going in to town we saw a round barn. At this point we where 67 miles in to the ride. We decided to get some food. From where the other bikes were there where two options. I saw Gene and Jane’s bikes at a place off to the left I said that they have found some neat place to eat, so lest go where they went. It was a Café and bakery. As it turned out the place had only open with in the last week, and the guy running the place was the mayor. They had

penini , and a lot of fried stuff in done in one of those air fryers. I went with the penini’s. The food was good but took a long time. Christian’s food came out after Gene, Jane and I had finished. She said to go with out here. I rode the rest of the day with Gene, and Jane.

When we hit the rest stop we where told that the bridge was out and that Andy was working on a detour. We headed out on the detour which added 5 miles to the route. We hit he hotel with 110 miles. Normal I would have been real upset if I rode a long ride and got and extra 5 miles, but do to the tail winds and my current conditioning it was not an issue. Some riders got ended up with up to 18 extra miles, no one was real upset about the bounce miles.

This is the whole business district of Woodstock, Ohio. The municipal building, convince store and Bar.

Do to the flat I decided it was time to change out my rear tire with a new one the Gerry had sent to me. I first clean the bike and oiled the chain. Then when I was pulling off the old tire from the rim, I notice 3 cracks in the rim around the nipples, they where all on the drive side. I called Gerry up and he contacted Trek, he used his connection to with in trek to get in contact with someone that could do something about it. Trek is warranting out the wheel and will have a new one waiting for me at the next hotel. Gerard and Gerry say I should be able to get a few more days out of the wheel.

Howie:

7/11 Day 39: Indianapolis to Richmond, IN

Howie — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 21:37:05 +0000

The Route today had us riding out of Indianapolis on route 40 and staying on it for the day. 40 was a four lanes (2 in each direction) for the whole way. The first 10 miles was quite congested and loaded with strip mails and stores, kind of like Route 9 back home. The Cars for the most part where leaving us alone and giving us plenty of space.

I rode with Rick and David to the first and only rest stop. We started off with a slight tail wind that at time was coming more form our sides, but still for behind. The wind was also getting stronger as the day went one. We where climbing for most of the way to the rest stop, but only slightly, we only climbed 1500 feet for the 73 miles. we rode the first 10 miles at about 15 till we left the city limits then Rick pushed it up, and was doing most of the work pulling us, in a pace line, but we where all taking turn Rich was just taking longer ones. They dropped me on a hill just before the first rest stop. When I rolled in to the stop, my average was 19 MPH.

After the rest stop rich went out on his own. David, Pete and I rode together but not at the same pace. We stop for a snack in a small town about 10 miles for Richmond. After that the route had 2 options, you could stay on 40 or take some back roads. I stayed on 40 which was back in to the strip mails. After getting to the hotel we went to for Ice Cream and shakes.

Howie:

7/10 Day 38: Rest Day - Indianapolis, IN

Howie — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 22:33:19 +0000

The rest day marks the end of another segment of the Cross Country Challenge. This was the Heartland Tour. We rode 620 miles thou states with 15,000 feet of climb. This brings our totals up to 9 states, 2700 miles and 85,000 feet of climb. We have are in our fourth time zone.

Wayne had some contacts at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and had arranged an rare optometry for us to be able to ride are bikes around the track. So 10 of us took the rode out to the track and meet 3 other who got driven out there. We sign a waver and where lead to the track entrance. The track was not as wide as I thought it would be. The next time you see them 3 car wide on the track there is not much room to spare. Also I thought that the track would be banked more then it was.

-more pix to come-

Wayne also had a new crew meeting him at the Monument at the center of Indianapolis and they want some shots with other cyclist, so Pete, Erin, Greg, and I meet them at the Monument and did a bunch of laps around it. After the loops we where all interviewed. Wayne is doing the ride to raise money for a fund that was setup for a friend of him that was killed on 9/11. They are hoping to get national coverage.

Howie:

7/09 Day 37: Crawfordsville to Indianapolis, IN

Howie — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 21:13:42 +0000

The day start by is taking a short ride to breakfast I was riding with Rick and Tom. We where about a 1½ miles past town as ask if there where going to stop to eat they said they had already eaten at the hotel so I went back to town to eat. When I got out I notice something white on my rear chain stay. It was a heavy zip tie, and it was setup to hit the spokes so it would make noise. Tim had a razor blade witch I used to cut it off with. I quickly check of other tampering, but did not see any thing. I suspect Gerard for retaliation for the Gnome.

After the first rest stop where was an opportunity to stop at the Roark cycle Factory http://www.roarkcycles.com/ Roark bikes are customer titanium frames. The Roark is real an aircraft part manufacture that has a side line of building bikes because the owner is a cyclist. The bike area was just a small area of large machine shop. We got to meet the whole bike team. Every bike they build is totally custom, and they actually like the customer to come to the shop for fitting and tour. (Do not worry Lynne I did not order one )

From the bike factory we rode to the Indianapolis motor speedway. From where we where able to get you could not see much. We did see for a spit second 2 cars on the track. The Lead car was a pro driver being followed by someone that had paid $500 to do 4 laps at 90 MPH so 10 miles at $50 per mile. (again Lynne I did not do this). More about the Speed way tomorrow in tomorrow’s entry.

From the speedway we rode to the Major Taylor Velodrome http://www.indygov.org/eGov/City/DPR/Parks/SportsComplexes/Major+Taylor+Velodrome.htm (A velodrome is a banked race track for bicycles). Major Taylor was a Black cyclist how lived over 100 years ago, He was a world champion, and for a time not allowed to race in the US even thou he was an American. Read more about him at http://www.majortaylor.com/ . We where allowed to ride on the velodrome. I did about 10 laps on the track I found it easy to ride on the banking, but after riding almost 50 miles to get there I did not have much legs left, I could only get up to around 25 MPH. Riding on the track was a blast. You can watch me go around by clicking on this link. http://www.wendellwelch.com/brassbed/howie/day36/P7090012.AVI . Tom the staff memner that left in Pueblo, meet us at the track, and road with us to the hotel with his wife on thier tandem.

Coming thou town we past another state capital.At dinner I talk to Gerard and got him to admit to putting the zip tie on my bike.

Howie:

7/08 Day 36: Champaign, IL to Crawfordsville, IN

Howie — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 00:44:33 +0000

The route was along quintet back road. It being Sunday morning there was almost not traffic when we set out. I rode the whole day with Dr Dave, David and Rick. Dave was on a mission today to get in early. He did not get into till after 6 because he road to a bike shop with a few other. We eat at the hotel vs. the restaurant to save time. We did not run in to any more of the sticky tar, because we where out early. We rode thru more Corn and Soy fields.

We got to the first rest stop before the rest stop before the van. We got water from the store and pushed on. To the Indiana state line. Dr Dave and I was out front and nothing was said we where both positioning our self’s to be the first across the line. Well I was aiming for the sign, but Dave saw the real state line marker before the big one. So he got the state line. Crossing the line we lost an hour so we are now on east cost time.

After the Stateline we rode to the second rest stop. I was in a small town and it was around lunch time. We left the bike at the rest stop and went to a small restaurant. It was a little funny that we where in our bright bike jersey and spandex, and all the locals where in the Sunday church close. We had a good lunch it was real cheap I had a pulled-pork sandwich, chips and a soda for five dollars. The people of the next town had a sense of hummer the sign entering the town show this and the side of the ice shop.

From there It was an easy ride in to the hotel.

Howie:

7/07 Day 35: Springfield to Champaign, IL

Howie — Sun, 08 Jul 2007 02:55:50 +0000

-route-

The route today had lots of turns, We where on some more major roads , as well as quilt back roads. The day was real flat, no climbs to speak of. We continued the tour of Corn and Soy fields. There was nothing much to talk pictures of.

I road with Pete and Dave, we where doing good staying on route spite all the turns, till just before the first rest stop, The turn was a half mile sooner then the sheet said it was. Dave and Pete were a little ahead of me, and Gene and Jane where just a little behind me they yelled out that we missed the turn, and I yelled to Dave and Pete but they where out of ear shot. So I sprinted up to them they said it could not have been the turn, and keep going till they saw a person walking a dog. We ask where the road was and they said behind us, we road back, we had and extra 2 ½ miles, with was not a big deal because in needed 3 extra miles for the century.

The second Rest Stop was scheduled to be at a cemetery. When we pulled in to it, we did not see the Van, only someone finishing up after a funeral, they had not seen the van Dave called and was told that it was up the road a mile, they had moved it do to the funeral.

We planed to get lunch in a town 10 miles up from rest stop. We stopped at the first fast food place we saw, it was a Hardee’s the service was very slow, unorganized and almost rude. It must have taken us 30 minutes to get in and out of the place.

We started to take roads that paralleled the I-72 the road turned loss gravel then to chip stone. Do to the heat the tar had come to the surface of the stone. And the day was hot enough to make it soft. As we where riding over it we were hearing the popping and crackling of the tar. We went a way on it, and then got in to loss stone. That is where the trouble really started. The stones where sticking to our tires. Dave had more trouble with the tar then Pete or I. Pete just road the next section with rocks flying, Dave had to carry his bike part of it and road in the grass becuase he had so much tar on his tires, I road on the grass for most of this sections. The road became a little better after that. As one point we stopped and Dave rub as much tar off as he could. At this point I had run out of water Dave gave me what was left in one of his bottles. We stopped at the first store we ran in to I had another Slushy, and road to the hotel; Dave went to a bike shop with some other riders.

With the extra miles from getting lost and form the cue sheets being off. I got my 100 miles in. so for the first I have ridden 3 days with consecutives centuries. Tomorrow we only have 85 miles so unless I get real lost of do a lot of extra miles my run of centuries is over. How ever we do cross another state line tomorrow with then final time zone change.

Howie:

7/06 Day 34: Quincy to Springfield IL.

Howie — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 02:08:13 +0000

Today’s route had us riding on some more traveled road. I started out the day with Dr Dave. We had more of the rollers till the first rest stop. The first rest stop was hidden behind a church on a good down hill. I missed it and had to ride back a little. After that it flattened out with a few climbs. After the Rest stop we slowed down when we saw Pete coming up from behind us. The three of us rode in a pace line for most of the way. We crossed the Illinois River and rode thou lots of Corn and Soy fields. When we where on the flats we where pushing a good pace between 18 and 20 mph.

When we where getting close to the hotel around 100 miles we rode thou Springfield IL. Springfield is the capitol of Illinois. We passed right next to the capital. At this part it started to sprinkle. Then rain a little harder. We rode on in the rail. We were almost at the hotel when we saw in front of us a wall of rain. We quickly pulled in to a Hardee’s, we all had milk shake while waiting for the rain to stop. When we got back on the bikes, the Hotel was less then 100 yards up the road, we could not see the sign in the rain.

I heard a rumor that the Gnome has been recaptured by the riders, but I do not have it.

Howie:

7/05 Day 33: Kirksville, MO to Quincy, IL

Howie — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 03:20:20 +0000

The started out the days ride by getting back on the back roads. We are sill in the hilly part of Missouri, but they where not as bad as yesterday. They where rolling but rolling down. We where able to roll over a few of the hills. A few of the hills where pushing 16% grad.

Gerard the mechanic has a stuff Gnome. Well 4 days ago I kidnapped, and have been posting ransom notices on the notice board. You can check out the pictures here http://picasaweb.google.com/gnomenaper/GnomePictures . Well today as I was setting up to take a picture of the Gnome before the second rest stop. Guess how pulls around the corner in the van, well he come to a stop quickly and comes running out of the van with a water gun and nails me with it. The water was on the hot side. I gave up the gnome we out a fight.

After getting attacked I went to a sub shop and got a sub before going to the rest stop. The rest stop was also where we where to get the ferry across the Mississippi. I just missed it so had to wait about 20 minutes for it to go and come back.

There was not a entering Illinois sign when the ferry landed. We then road along the Mississippi river thou a giant corn field. The road was flat and we had a good tail wind. I also pick up a hitchhiker for about 3 miles.

Just before we where turning away from the river, I saw the back of a big sign at the end of a bridge. I took the gamble and road down to it. It was the entering Illinois sign. There was a store near it, and I got some one to take the Illinois picture.

When I hit the hotel I had 98 miles so after get some water and talking Gene in to going with me, we did the extra 2 miles. So I the first part of what will be 3 days in a row with over 100 miles.

Howie:

7/04 Day 32: Chillicothe to Kirksville, MO

Howie — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 00:54:58 +0000

The morning started by some of the riders bringing down their bikes or them selves decorated of the forth, the crew was running a contest for the best decorated bike. I did not want to bother with doing up my bike, and even If I did I would not have won some of the bike where pretty good. Breakfast was at McD’s because the hotel did not have much to offer. Here is Wayne chilling out with a friend after he ate.

The route had us staying off the major roads. So much so that till we got close to the destination there was only one store, over the 83 miles. The train was more of the rolling hills. I where going down some of them at 35 and up at 6. Some I able to roll up some and other peddle heard to make it over.

About 3 miles before the first rest stop it started to sprinkle, and got was getting heavier. There were a few rumbles from thunder. We kicked up the pace and made a run for it. We hung out at the store while the rain storm blew thro. Here is a few of the group waiting.

After the rain let up we headed out. The roads dried quickly then the heat started to build. Here is a shot showing some of the hill off to the side of the route. If this was on of my club rides I would have called it something like “The hundred hills ride”

Howie:

7/03 Day 31: St. Josephs to Chillicothe, MO.

Howie — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 02:23:17 +0000

The route was again on those 100 foot rollers on quit back roads. It too a little to get used to the routes in Missouri, the use letters or double letters so something like “H” or “HH”. The weather is finally changed, the wind do day was a South wind, we where headed east for the most part, but it was not strong enough to give us much problems. Also there we were still having over cast skies but only a 10% change of rain.

As I was taking the bike out of the hotel I noticed that the rear tire was lower then it should have been after the day off. I just pumped it up and figured I could ride on it. I was feeling real good after the day off, and I was pushing the pace probable faster then I should have been. I then hung around the rest stop a little too long. When I felt the rest stop my thigh where real tight, so I tried to stretch then out, and rode in a low gear till they loosened up. It was starting to get hot when I saw a gas station with a bunch of other riders at it including one of the vans; I stopped and refilled the tire which was getting soft, thinking I could get to the next rest stop on it. I went in the store and got a slushy. I did not finish it and put the rest in my water bottle. I started out and did not like the feel of the rear tire so I went back and changed the tube. I did not find any think in the tire and could not find the hole in the tube so I took the tube with me. When I got to hotel and I checked the tube and found the hole.

We stopped the vans for water, and where told that there were two places for lunch. One before and one after the rest stop we opted for the one after because the first one was packed, it was probable the better place because that is where all the locals where going. Including the Amish with there wagons. We did a quick stop at the rest stop and went on for lunch. The restaurant was good but not great there most of the waitresses where dress in Amish dresses and where very cute looking. The town had been transformed to a tourist area.

You never know what you will find on the side of the road

After lunch the route became less hilly, and we where making good time till Greg stop to take a picture of some horses. When the horses came to the fence, Greg started feeding them peanut butter crackers. The liked them but it was funning watching them trying to get the peanut butter of the roof of their mouths. I could see that this was going to go on for a while and I wanted to get off the bike, so I went on by my self.

The hotel was right next to a DQ so after checking and putting my stuff in the room, I went over and got a milk shake. Mike and Greg got to the hotel an hour after I did, They stopped for coffee.

Howie:

7/02 Day 30: Rest day in St. Josephs

Howie — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 03:08:32 +0000

With this rest day we finished the tried the third segment of the challenge. This was a tough segment; we had 3, 100 mile plus days, covering 700+ miles, with 10,000 feet of climb. We Started in Colorado , spent most of the time in Kansas, and finished in Missouri. This brings the totals up to 6 States, 2158 miles, and 70,000 miles of climb. over the next few weeks we start to do lost of long miles days. As we start to cross states in 3 days.

I took it real easy today. Slept till 8:30, did yesterdays blog, Setup a Google group for the riders. Went on a bike shop run, the shop was barely a bike shop, Wal-Mart has more stuff the only difference was it had parts, and this was the only shop in town. I also folded the wash I did yesterday and repack all my gear. We will see tomorrow how much the day of has helped my legs and sore butt. The weather forecast look a little better for tomorrow.
Howie:

7/01 Day 29: Topeka, KS to St. Joseph MO.

Howie — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 21:00:01 +0000

What can I say we are still dealing with the storm system to the south of us. For the most part we had a cross wind, but we did have sections of head winds. As we started out of town thro the streets of we had the Capital building on our right.

We then found our selves on a highway section of route 4 of a few miles. Just before we where to take an exit off of the highway to stay of 4, there was a group stopped in the road so I stopped to see what was happening. Tim had a loss spoke, I did what I could to true up the wheel but every time I brought part of it in to true, another part popped out. Andy called for the SAG, where the put a temp wheel on it, and Tim was on his way again. We took the exit and route 4 turned back in to a quiet back road. We took that till the first rest stop on more of those 100 foot rollers. After the stop, I just did not seam to have emerge, I keep going till Andy pulled me over and said that there where riders at the KFC and to go over the next bridge in a group, because the cars where giving some of the riders a hard time. So I stop for lunch and head for the bridge for with Bill and Erin. The Bridge at one point must have had a steal surface but it had been filled with cement. It was hard to ride on and so we wound not try to pass us we read three a breast. At the midway point there was a sign “Leaving Kansas, come again” we did not see the “Welcome to Missouri” Sing for about a mile.

Shortly after the Missouri sign we came upon a dive call “the Broken spoke” we stop to take pictures then I had a small mental brake down. My sister-in-lay who was an artist had made me a picture of “biker bar” called “The Broken Spoke”. This brought back memories of her and my brothers who where killed in a car crash a few years ago.

After pulling my self back together, I contained on to the second rest stop. We had to climb out of the river delta and up more of the rollers. The second SAG stop was on the top of a hill, in town square, was not much of a town.

After the rest stop we road the ridge for a while then dropped down in to ST. Joseph, we hit the town on the opposite side of from the hotel. We had a long stretch thou a park that had the best windy down hill that I have ridden in a while, was almost worth riding back up it so that I could do it again. After the park we had about 3 miles on a busy city road saw the first Dunkin Donuts, since the trip started, I should have stopped for a Ice coffee.

Howie:

6/30 Day 28: Abilenem to Topeka, KS

Howie — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 02:59:25 +0000

We are still dealing with the same weather, gray sky’s threatening to rain. We had a 108 mile day. This is the third century of the week. We had to fight the wind till the second rest stop. This made the ride a lot longer then it should have been. We rode on quite back roads on route 4 for the day. The terrain was rolling but the hills where to big to just get up a good head of steam and roll up the next hill, and the road was on the windy side.

We rode thou several small towns with lots of boarded up stores.

Their was someone razing elk next to there house,

It started to drizzle going in to the second rest stop. I had dropped my rain jacket in the van at the first rest stop so I was getting wet but not too bad. When I hit the stop I grabbed my jacket but not any food. I got lunch in a small café in the town with the rest stop. I wanted grill cheese and soup but they did not have any soup. After the rests stop it started to rain heavy for a while. We also game by some one the was using bikes as park of sculptures.

At the hundred mark about the time where I had had it. I was looking at the following set of hills.

Howie:

6/29 Day 27: McPherson to Abilene, KS

Howie — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 02:40:40 +0000

For the first day in a long while we had a cue sheet that we really needed to follow and we where on back counter roads. We are still dealing with the low that is causing flooding in Colorado, Texas and Kansas. The sky’s where threatening all day, with temps in the 70s. I opted of the hot breakfast at the restaurant, with meant that I was not with riders I normal ride with . I was feeling real good and was pushing the pace harder then I have been. Coming in to Canton KS, you could see that the town had there act together the had labeled their water towers Hot and Cold.

After leaving that town and riding for a while I saw a large group of riders stop and the road. I was thinking that someone must of crashed then I realized that they where at the half way point of the tour.

Since we left had ridden 1900 miles, climbed 63760 feet, my wheels have gone over 60,000 revolutions and I have pushed the crank around 618,000 times. I have used 2 tubes and 1 tire, I have had my rear rim trued twice. I have worn out 4 gloves. I have no clue how much Gatorade, water of junk food I have had. I have lost around 12 pounds. At the rest stop the crew was being cute and there where donuts and fruit all cut in half, to mark the half way point.

After the rest stop it started to drizzle, not heavy enough to put the jacket on, but hard enough to make it hard to see thru my glasses. I missed a turn, the riders that where behind me tried yelling at me so I would stop. I did not hear them and keep going for 3 miles before I realized that I was off course. As a Lady in a van and she had no clue where the road was. I called the SAG Van to let them know and started riding back over the route I had taken. I saw a guy working his field near the road I ask him and He said that it was another half mile back. There mist turn gave me 6 bounce miles. This is the tracker he was in.

I took a small detour about 2 miles before the end of the days ride to the Eisenhower Center. I did not go in any of the buildings, but took the following shots.

Howie:

6/28 Day 26: Great Bend to McPherson KS

Howie — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 20:36:04 +0000

Today was day 26 of 52 so we passed the half way point; we have ridden 1886 miles, ridden in 5 states. We have lost one rider do to injury. The riders and bikes are showing the wear and tare of the miles. We have had two days where we have gotten wet. We have ridden in a lot of head wind. Tomorrow we cross the half way point on miles.

The route today was real difficult we took a right out of the hotel back on route 56, Stopped of a snack in a rest area and left in to the next hotel. The day was gray and over cast, with temps in the 70’s while we where riding, we did not seen any thing interesting on the route, just a few wheat fields grain elevators, Oil and Natural gas wells.

I rode in a pace line with Dr Dave, California Tom, and Rick for the fist 35 miles and finished with Dave. Dave and I stop for lunch at a Sonics on the way in to town. We both think that it was the worst food that we have had on the trip so far. We should have eaten closer to the hotel.

Howie: