10% luck, 20% skill, 15% concentrated power of will, 5% pleasure, 50% pain…a 100% reason to remember the name
From PBOT, The Portland Bureau of Transportation:
The Portland area has lots of great places to ride. These maps help you to find the roads most suitable for your riding style & preferences.
Average daily traffic volume is shown, as well as roads with shoulders, type of road surface (paved or not), campgrounds, and major climbs. If you have comments or corrections for any of the maps, please let us know as we strive to provide the best, most accurate information for cyclists.
Via: Motorcycle Insurance
One of those single web pages that are indispensable. The Shimano Tech Tips page for a lot of their gear. Everything from Brake Burn In, to Adjustments, Lubes, Replacements, Chains, and on and on. Give it a look if you ride Shimano, even if you don’t.
Last year on Aug 1st I was just riding back into Oregon. Today I finished the first climbs of the West Hills Challenge Series of Five Hill Climbs where I currently reside at 32 of 35 and the last male on this hill. Of the Strava riders doing the hill I am 52 of 60. I have no idea if I will do any of the climbs again, although I will get a PR from Strava if I do.
On a day with no legs, I finally remembered how to climb properly and while my time wasn’t anywhere for the leaders, it was a smooth ascent and the first I have had this summer.
On the way up the view was spectacular. Where Logie Trail is a pretty ride, this ride had views of the rivers, Mt. Hood, Mt Rainier, Mt. St. Helens, Mt Adams. FOUR moutains viewed at once from one spot. What a great way to spend a tiring day in the saddle.
I am not the rider I was a year ago. At that point I had 3200 miles into my summer and over 140,000 feet of climbing. This year I have 4% of the miles and .3% of the climbing and it shows on paper. But for all of that, I did get out and have a good time learning new things and things I used to know as well.
Wow, still not the Red Lantern, 53rd out of 59. I eased by Sarah so that was fun. No, she has no idea who I am or that I am climbing the hills around about her time.
The really fun part of today was that this was an absolutely beautiful hill to climb. Vistas, houses, trees, fun switchbacks, it had it all.
Technical details, well, I ate a little at the top, a bit late. My legs came back half way home, these jaunts are getting me out there and I will have a day off this weekend to recuperate and then it is off to Climb #5 the last one.
I am 60 out of 62, according to the Strava logs, riders who have recorded this climb this year. In the competition I am 38th of 39 and Sarah has recorded a time faster than I did. Sure Sarah is faster than I am, and undoubtedly sweeter and nicer, and I have no idea who Sarah is, but I was just faster than her in an earlier climb and as she is with Green Submarine Racing I held out hope I wasn’t hopeless.
And then there was the chicken. I am not the Red Lantern, escaping that distinction by one place, although I am not embarrassed if I end up there. I am competing and that is enough, and who knows what might happen. I believe the chicken was befriended by Sarah earlier and chased me as a result of my closing on Sarah’s time OR it chased me because I was turning the cranks over so slowly it thought it could catch me. I flat outran the chicken and so leave this ride with my dignity intact.
Today I learned to use my Strava Android App correctly. I recorded my whole ride for this first time and allowed Strava to cut out the competition part automatically. I am really liking how this app works although I think for the love I am giving it I should get a 10 second time bonus.
I spotted Velomobiles this afternoon on N Williams where I was looking for Robots Love Cupcakes, a post ride treat. You can read about Velomobiles at BikePortland.org. On the way home I spotted one last one struggling on the rather unfriendly grind up 32nd to Fremont.
I am heading off tomorrow to see them at the Salmon Street Fountain tomorrow at 10:30.
Given the speed they travel next time I go for a 4000 mile jaunt I may have to consider building one. Anyone want to help?