Mariposa Randonneuring Bicycle is sweet!

My lust for the perfect rando bike has been quenched at last. The list of requirements included: soul, steel, lugs, beausage, fit, feel, function.

Check out her front end.....

More later, off to work, Adobe InDesign awaits.

PBP yields hard points for OR Randonneurs

I have a bicycling friend from the UK who often referred to "hard points". Steve alluded to sleeping in ditches, riding in the mountains while underdressed etc. These circumstances yielded hard points for the riders which only enhanced the experience. I don't know the scoring system or who's keeping track but I know that each and every one of the hardy souls who attempted PBP in 2007 has earned many "hard points". My OR randonneur rider friends Eric, John and David are hereby awarded 1000 hard points each for weathering the storm which was PBP while keeping their cheerful rando spirit intact. well done.....

Time to get back on the Blog, and the bike

I've been watching the progress of some of my friends as they make their way across France this week. PBP 2007 was the goal that launched me into the sport of randonneuring last fall. I'm 50 this year, my friend Dave Kamp is 60, PBP sounded like a good way to celebrate these milestones. I'm home tracking Dave, Eric Ahlvin, John Kramer to name a few as they reach each controle on their way to Brest and back to Paris. I had mixed emotions about missign PBP this year but I think Dave Rowe said it well on his blog entry at http://readytoride.biz/?p=248

Now it seems that it's probably time to get back on the bike as well. I've been resting my body after the Glacier ride, I may stick with the short rides for a bit, 200k is a nice distance.

OR Randonneurs Glacier 1000K ride report short version

I had a chance to see 4 Northwest states this past weekend, it was a chance I did not pass up.

there are a more photos from the OR Randonneurs Glacier 1000K here:

http://picasaweb.google.com/ORpasshunter/ORRandonneursGlacier1000K

Here's the box score, for full play by play action you'll have to wait a couple days.
Oregon: beautiful, cool, green, wet, home
Washington: gorge ous, calm, hot, wide, hill, hill, hill, hill, hill hell.......
Idaho: 54 mile rails to trail, moose, duck, moose, gnat, cold moose drool.....
Montana: 2 good passes for the log, 90 degrees plus, buffalo burgers, ice, big lake, endless rollers around lake, beautiful destination, glacier melt bath to cool quads.....

I continue to be amazed at the courage and determination of the wide variety of riders who attempt these big rides and I am honored to be in their company. It's not the fastest or best equipped riders who amaze me the most, it is those riders who somehow continue when the deck seems to be stacked against them. You may question the sanity of this sport but you can't challenge the fact that each of these riders who start an event have the courage to begin a journey with no certainty of a happy ending, sounds a little like life.....

Thai Nguyen cruisin' on day 2

Thanks to all the Oregon Randonneurs who supported the ride, thanks to all the riders I had a chance to share the road with, I learned a little BC dialect, met some fine folks, saw some fine parts of the great old USA on this fourth of July vacation.

Thai and Jon chillin' out at the conoco oasis

John Kramer at the top of Thomson Pass

Glacier 1000K ride around the corner

Ok then,gonna head out in 10 days for a 3 day cruise to Whitefish Montana from Troutdale Oregon.
How does one train in the last 10 days preceding such an adventure?
today, hang with the hammerheads on the club ride after work, 40ish
tomorrow, rest and watch the beaver baseball team on tv
Thursday, ride with the club again, brisk 30-40, stop sign sprints.
Friday, rest and take in a soccer tourney
Saturday, ?
Sunday, ?

I'm thinking more rest and make sure the bike is ready....

later

Let's try videos on this blog

Here is a test drive of using Youtube embedded code to share videos hosted on youtube. The famous "bicycle repairman" clip from Monte Python seems like a worhty tedt subject.

Credit Card Touring Fundamentals

packing list:
bike
helmet
shoes
clothes on back
rain gear to ward off bad weather
credit card
bananas
tshirt, shorts and flip flops for off the bike comfort while bike clothes dry

plan:
ride, eat, drink, sleep, repeat

Back to civilization

survived the blues and re-entered the daily work routine once again today, already plotting a 300k trip up Quartzville creek, photos and ride report to come

Elkhorn Mountain summit beckons

made it to LaGrande today, best beer and food in a smoke free atmosphere is Benchwarmers!

headed up the hill in the morning

stay tuned

Going to ride the Blues

in the final stages of preparation:
fenders or no fenders?
big carradice or pendle?
Marmot windshirt or Showers Pass rain jacket?
decisions, decisions......

stay tuned

Elkhorn Mountain Summit Beckons

CCT9: Credit Card tour 9 is coming up next week. With luck and some sun we'll get a chance to climb Elkhorn Mountain Summit, the second highest paved road in Oregon. Guess which road is higher.....



"Climbing Elkhorn Summit
From Granite, the Byway turns north onto Forest Road 73. Look for rock "walls" made by early Chinese gold miners along Granite Creek, as they set aside larger boulders in their search for gold. The Elkhorn Byway soon meets up with the Blue Mountain Scenic Byway at the North Fork John Day Campground. The "Wild and Scenic" John Day River is recognized for outstanding fisheries, water quality, scenery, recreation, wildlife, and historical values, and is a popular destination for outdoor people. The Byway turns east and climbs its apex at Elkhorn Mountain Summit (7,392 ft.). The jagged peaks in view here form the backdrop for the Anthony Lakes Recreation Area." from http://www.tripcheck.com/Pages/SBelkhornDr.asp

Once in a Blue Mooon

Had a chance to climb Dimple Hill tonight in order to watch the sunset followed by the full moon rise. Excellent evening ride, no cougars. Eric, Danny, Jud and I cruised the gravel and observed a huge orange moon rising over the cascades. Summer is here, if but for a few days.....
PS: the new shoes were worth every penny....

Hot Foot malady in long distance cycling

Hot Foot can be a pain during the long brevets, I took the next step towards comfortable feet today. I hope.
Here's my shotgun approach:

1. New Sidi Dominator 5 Mega one size larger than my old Sidis.


2. New blue specialized insoles with the wedgie inserts. I used red in the past.


3. New Frog cleats mounted 1 mm further aft.
   

Took a short test ride to check for cleat alignment, I set them up so I can't rub the crank arms when rotated heel in.
Still feel a bit funny, tomorrow I'll take a 30 mile flat ride to get used to them.

I'm trying to dial it in before CCT9 in a week. I'm going to chase a small pack of SLBs around eastern Oregon for 4 days next weekend.
In addition, I don't need any hot foot during the upcoming Glacier 1000k at the end of June. see the oregon randonneurs link here: http://www.orrandonneurs.org/sftest/2007_Glacier_Info.html

Quartzville Road Back Country Byway

Well, what is the next scenic bike ride in store for the oregon pass hunter? How about a ride up the 50 mile Quartzville Road Back Country Byway...

planning begins with some web research...

Quartzville Road Back Country Byway - This Type 1, 50 mile byway meanders along the emerald depths of Green Peter Reservoir and the clear, cool waters of Quartzville Creek National Wild and Scenic River. Discover a corridor of old-growth and maturing forest, accented by rock outcroppings, huckleberry patches, wildflowers, and vivid fall colors. For more information, contact the Salem District Office.

http://www.blm.gov/or/resources/recreation/byways.php

from an old news article:

ONLY THE SOUND of a cool, light breeze accompanied the magnificent view of Mount Jefferson glistening in the morning sun just a few miles to the east as cyclists on last year's Oregon Bicycle Ride paused to soak in the grand views from the Quartzville Back Country Byway.
The wonderfully scenic Quartzville Road - also known as FS (for Forest Service) 11 - winds its way west through 50 miles of remote territory between Marion Forks and Sweet Home.
Starting at Oregon Highway 22 south of Marion Forks, the Quartzville Road angles ...

Memorial Day on Mary's Peak, Oregon Coast Range

Well, I made it up Mary's Peak. Not too bad of a climb if you are not in a big hurry. I heard one entire Dave Mathews concert during my climb. Beautiful day for it, warm enough to climb in short sleeves, cold enough to pull on all the extra clothes for the quick trip back down the 9 mile descent. There is a WWII memorial at the top which I had never noticed before.

More photos here, http://picasaweb.google.com/jonbeilby/MarySPeakMemorialDay2007

The road has one lane closed off due to an immense landslide

Pass Hunter plans to woo Mary

Some call her Chintimini, some call her Timanwa, but she's Mary to me.

Tomorrow will be the first summit attempt, I'll take the Tsakanikas with compact double and 8sp rear end. 34X32 will have to do.

here's an excerpt from the Suislaw Forest link:

"Mary's Peak, at 4,097 feet, is the highest point in Oregon’s Coast Range and the most prominent peak viewed westward from Corvallis. On a clear day one can see both the Pacific Ocean to the west and many of the Cascade peaks to the east across the Willamette Valley. There are also several areas of historical, botanical and geological interest."

http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/siuslaw/recreation/tripplanning/maryspeak/index.shtml

here's the unavoidable wikipedia link, many good links on this page
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marys_Peak

here are some of the other peaks in the Coast range, I'm not sure how many of them are ridable.
http://www.peakbagger.com/range.aspx?rid=1222

here's a link to the peaks of Oregon
http://www.peaklist.org/USlists/ORP2000.html

Old Mackenzie Pass Rocks

We rode it today, it is simply awesome, you must ride it soon, it should be bicycle only until June 15 when it closes for construction.
Start at the ranger station on 126, up and over to sisters for lunch, get the turkey, pepper jelly on whole wheat with a bottle of Cascade Ale at the Depot Cafe and you'll be ready for the return trip. It's about 80 miles roundtrip, 80 miles of bicycle nirvana.

there are many photos here, http://picasaweb.google.com/jonbeilby/MackenziePass

here's a link to an article on Bike Bend http://bikebend.wordpress.com/2007/05/12/classic-ride-old-mckenzie-pass-before-cars-are-allowed/

OR Randonneurs 400k Covered Bridges Brevet

come ride some of the finest roads in the northwest with some of the best bike people you'll ever meet.

some photos here http://picasaweb.google.com/jonbeilby/Orrandonneurs400kCoveredBridgesMay2007?pli=1

Covered Bridges 400k Ride Report
5/21/2007
Eric Ahlvin's ride report is posted here http://randonneuring.blogspot.com/2007/05/covered-bridges-400k-ride-report.html

OR Randonneurs Dart to Centralia

big trains, little trains, bikes and no automobiles

more photos here

http://picasaweb.google.com/jonbeilby/OrRandoDart2007

Eric Ahlvin's ride report is here
http://randonneuring.blogspot.com/

OR Randonneurs 200k Birkie Brevet

this was my first brevet of the year, a bit wet, a bit too fast, but a Grand start of the season

too many photos here http://picasaweb.google.com/jonbeilby/OrRandoBirkie200k2007

Eric Ahlvin's ride report is here
http://randonneuring.blogspot.com/

Alsea Falls Scenic Byway

Crested the Col du Alsea for the first time this year. Rode with the MVBC boys down past Marys Peak to Alsea over Alsea Falls through Alpine and Harrisburg and home to Corvallis via Peoria Road. Nice weather, great route. Most of the snow along the road was gone now, still got a chill going over the hump on 34.

Stopped at John Boys in Alsea for supplies. Can't get enough pickled eggs and corn dogs.

There's something about Mary.....

I lied. I rode south towards Marys Peak instead of into the forest as I promised earlier. Bagged my first pass. Summit of Coast range on hwy 20 near Marys Peak turnoff. This summit is at the end of a 4 mile climb on a twisty highway filled with steehead fisherman on their way to the Alsea River.

I decided to head up Marys Peak until the road ran out. In the summer this is a great 9 mile 3000 ft climb. The signage promises 5.5 miles of open road, I went for it. 3 miles later the road turned into a double track, I turned back.





A great day out. Sanity returns.

March Madness

It is March 4, 2007. I'm going mad. Been off the bike for 2 weeks with the nasty Oregon cold virus which has swept my little berg of Corvallis.

Going to get out and ride my bike over Dimple Hill in the Mac forest. This will be the first of many passes we'll hunt together this spring. Stay tuned.