Thirty Days Of Biking

From time to time I've seen folks using the #30daysofbiking hash tag. And since "thirty days hath September," I figured I'd try to keep track of what I did with my bicycle for the whole month. I don't ride every day, but maybe it would work out?*

It's important to recognize that on most days bicycles are used as transportation in our household to avoid at least some trips in the car. But on those car days, we often still do something with bikes recreationally.  Here's the recap.

Day 1. Snapdeck surfing lessons at the park.

Day 2. Biked the kids to a friend's backyard BBQ. 

Day 3. My first cyclocross race. Our kids raced, too, of course.

Day 4. To the park for one last playdate before school starts.

Then to the elementary school to drop off supplies and meet the teacher.

Spotted this supercool three passenger setup.

Day 5. Biked with our oldest to the first day of school, 

then found this awesome sidewalk philosophy art while biking to the shops.

Day 6. Borrowed a neighbor's bucket bike (and their preschooler) for a day at the zoo.

Day 7. Our typical Friday ride downtown to Frost Park for some chalk drawing.

Day 8. After a long day of home improvement, I needed a ride 

to a local brewery for refreshments.

Day 9. Up early for a 15 mile ride around Point Defiance Park.

Day 10. First day of pre-K. The whole family biked to school! 

Day 11. Biked to school. Evening cyclocross practice for me and the girls at a local park. 

It was just far enough that riding there and back would have been too much for the kids 

(or too much for me to haul on the Xtracycle,) so we loaded up the bikes and drove.
It happens.

Day 12. We need more coffee! And new tools from the lumber yard. 

This marks the first fall day where a passenger blanket was needed. Brrrr!

Day 13. This may have been the day I rode to Veggies and Pint Defiance. Or maybe it was the day I biked the kids to a playdate. I know I rode everyday, but it's all sort of a blur when you're just trying to get from A to B.

Day 14. Decided to return my cross bike to dropbar mode. This required a trip to 2nd Cycle to borrow tools and get supplies. I love this place.

Day 15. Ran errands on my revised cross bike to test it out. 

Caught up with a bicycle tour of community gardens on my way home.

Day 16. More cyclocross racing and shenanigans with 

Tacoma Cyclocross at Fort Steilacoom Park.

Day 17. After biking the kids to school, Mrs. TBR and I biked to lunch at Peterson Brothers, where we ran into our pal Ben Davis. He's opening a new hangout at 11th and MLK called Broken Spoke (canned beers, wine, espresso, custom bikes and racks, made in Tacoma everything). Potentially the most RAD spot in town. Stay tuned.

Day 18. Biked to school. Then an enjoyable evening ride along Ruston on my SS with a friend before cross practice. Highlight: tackling a few of Tacoma's steepest cobbled hills.

 Day 19. Biked to school. In the evening, we adjusted the kid bikes for growth and had to upgrade Super T to her big sister's 16er. They grow up fast!

Day 20. More biking to school. More practicing afterwards on big-kid bikes. Though it may appear repetitive, this simply does not get boring.

Day 21. Toured the Park(ing) Day spots downtown with Super T.

Day 22. Errands. 4 bags of ice and bbq supplies? Xtracycled.

Day 23. Carpooled north for the race at Lake Sammammish. There was nearly as much running with the bike as there was riding on the bike. Phew.

Day 24. Coming down with a cold. Did the school run and a few short errands.

Day 25. Sick. Rode with the kids to school and was glad I didn't have to 

carry them on the Xtracycle. Exhausted. 

Day 26. Feeling better. Biked Kid #1 and her bike to a playdate in the morning.

Then biked both kids to a playdate after school. 

Day 27. Just the school run.

Day 28. Picked up the girls from school and biked to a birthday party playdate.

Day 29. Cargo Trike deliveries by day, 

Harvest Moon ride on the Tacoma Narrows Bridge by night.

Day 30. Just a quick ride to the grocery store before the dinner guests arrive.

*Hey, it happened! #30DaysOfBiking

Fresh Start

I've published my annual cycling goal list here for the last few years.  I need to set cycling goals for myself because I don't always take enough time to do enough cycling even though I know it's a cornerstone of my life and improves my physical and mental health.  So I keep a spreadsheet and track my progress.  It works for me.

Here's how 2011 turned out:

• Rode 2,137 miles, exceeding the 2,011 mile goal.
• Raised $2,000 for Courage Classic, missing my $3K goal.
• Remodeled guest room on schedule, subsequently had more time to ride.
• Spent less time on the internet? Maybe. I deleted my FB account in December to clean the slate for 2012.

So, not a bad year, but I had some hiccoughs.  My injury on Day 3 of the Courage Classic kept me from riding my first cyclocross season.  But after some physical therapy and a fitting at Tacoma Bike, I'm ready to properly ride into the New Year.

Out with the old...

In with the new.

Here are my 2012 goals:

1. Ride 2,012 miles.
2. Run 100 miles.
3. Race cross with Team Tacoma Cyclocross.
4. Volunteer at 2nd Cycle.

Good Luck with your 2012 goals and Happy New Year from TBR!

CC'11 - Day 2

[This year's Courage Classic was so awesome, it's gonna take three posts to tell you all about it!  Part 2 of 3. - Matt]

I didn't sleep very well on Saturday night because my giant 3-man tent catches ALL of the wind that rips through the Suncadia Lodge field.  I woke broke camp quickly, anxious to ride into Cle Elum for breakfast and coffee.

When we arrived at the Sunset Cafe, many bikes were piled outside, including this Sekai single speed! I didn't find the owner, but noticed that the gearing was slightly taller than mine, and the build was likely much lighter.

I also spotted this trail-a-bike rig, which left me wondering how long it's going to be before my oldest daughter will be willing and ready to ride her first Courage Classic.  She's only 6 and riding her own bike to school, but she also helped me raise $25 in loose change for Courage Classic that she personally donated.  I'm thinking she'll be chomping at the bit to ride with me by 2014!

Terry and Jaarvis and I rolled out of Cle Elum with the sun rising and a cool morning breeze blowing. Blissful...

The course tracks through flat countryside, passing fields of horses and crops, old barns and homesteads.  As you turn onto WA-970, the grade quickly steepens.  My breakfast had kicked in and I charged up the hill, knowing that the guys would catch me on the descent to the WA-97 interchange.  The Day 2 climb up Blewitt Pass over WA-97 is my favorite part of the ride and I planned to show it.

We regrouped at the North Tacoma Rotary Rest Stop, which was rather cool in the shade.  They make the best coffee of any rest stop on the tour and I had my fair share!  We left as a pack of 8 or 9 riders, just like last year.

Rick, Terry, Nate, Rich

The shoulder is wide enough to ride two abreast most of the way.  We struggled to form a paceline and find a good rhythm, with many of us taking turns at the front but no one really finding that perfect pace.

Charging Blewitt!

At some point Nate and I pushed off the front.  We stayed together until the last mile or so, when Nate finally backed off.

I won! I didn't ever tell them we were racing, but, you know, I was still first.  I think I did the climb in 40 or 41 minutes, compared to 47 or 48 minutes last year on my road bike.  I was sucking some serious wind at the top, but feeling like I owned that mountain.

Champions.

Most of the core TNR Crew at the summit

After a bowl of delicious tomato bisque and a big sandwich, we rolled down Blewitt Pass.  This was a part of the weekend I had been dreading.  The headwind coming up the pass creates a challenging descent that requires you to pedal most of the way down in order to keep any real speed.  Most folks with road bikes can keep a solid 25mph pace (or faster) and paceline their way to the bottom.  The headwind compensated for the grade and I found myself coasting at a speed just higher than I could pedal.  Whenever I approached a wide turn-out on the shoulder, I would look back for bikes.  If anyone was visible behind me, I'd just pull over and let them safely pass.  I did this three or four times.  The descent felt like an eternity.

Once at the bottom and refreshed with a few sno-cones, we headed for Leavenworth.  I had packed an apple in my back pocket and it seemed like a good time to eat it, riding through the apple and pear orchards.

Some of us stopped at a road-side lemonade stand where this girl had smartly setup shop with an assortment of ice-cold drinks.  That was the best $1 of pink lemonade I've ever tasted! She said her mom made it, so she couldn't reveal the recipe.

Once I reached town, there was some confusion about where I was staying.  This was the first time that I wouldn't be camping for the night; instead sharing a condo with a friend.  I didn't know where the condo was and couldn't reach him on his cell, so there was a bit of back and forth around town until I figured it all out.  Since check-in wasn't until 4, the Worldmark Leavenworth staff let me get my bag, gave me a towel and access to the pool shower, then stored my stuff so I could rejoin my friends.  I was really impressed with the hospitality and the facilities.

Gordon and I are the only two original HBC riders that have ridden all four years that our team has participated! (No, we didn't plan the matching jersey photo shoot.)

I met Terry down at the Icicle River to soak my knees in the frigid water for a while before we headed to dinner. Afterwards, we all went to the beer garden.

Our Tuesday Night Rides always ended with beers at the Harmon Tap Room, so our team felt right at home!  

I had a solid 8 hours of sleep that night; another Courage Classic first for me. That condo was worth it!

CC'11 - Day 1

[This year's Courage Classic was so awesome, it's gonna take three posts to tell you all about it!  Part 1 of 3. - Matt]

I had spent Friday night getting all of my gear prepped and packed.  UPS handles our overnight bags, so it wasn't a big deal that I was bringing an enormous 3-man tent just for myself.  And even though the on-road SAG support is unparalleled and Old Town Bicycle has mechanics stationed at every stop, I was bringing a lot of tools and gear with me on the bike.

Terry and I had decided to forgo the shuttle at the top of Snoqualmie Pass and instead ride around the section of I-90 that was closed to bicycles.  This seemed easy enough via the John Wayne Trail, but since we would be deviating from the course and on our own, I was planning for the worst.  Two tubes, do-it-all multitool, spare bit of chain, etc.  A small handlebar bag and a saddle bag were quite full. I was ready for anything.

Blaine and his family were in town for a wedding, so he volunteered to drive me up to the start line at oh-dark-thirty.  We stopped for coffee on the way (breve latte!) but only after I'd had some pre-ride breakfast:

           Matt's Most Awesome Oatmeal

           -Cook a handfull of unsalted oats in the microwave 

             with just enough water to cover. 3min maybe.

           -Stir in 1tsp natural peanut butter and 1tsp Nutella.

           -Add a splash of half-n-half.

I was fed and caffeinated and ready to hit the road.  Really ready, in fact, because this was the first year that the Courage Classic hosted a pre-ride packet pick-up. Prior to the event, I visited the Child Abuse Intervention Department at Mary Bridge Children's hospital where I not only picked up my ride packet, but also received a personal tour of the facility by one of the staff.  It was humbling to see the examination room first-hand.  Very humbling.  The children who have the strength to tell their story and to confront the abuse they've endured; they are the courage in Courage Classic.

We arrived at Snoqualmie around 7am and I was on the road quickly by 7:15.  I figured that I'd be riding pretty slowly on the flat sections, so I wanted to get an early start.  It was overcast and a little misty, my favorite riding conditions.  I took my time and rode solo at a comfortable pace, maybe 12-14 mph.  Remember, I had geared the bike pretty low, 36x18, so I'd be able to do the climbs.

I was heading up the on-ramp to I-90 at 8am, and that first blast of 70mph traffic was a little disorienting after rolling through sleepy North Bend.  The clouds hung low on the mountains and the air was damp.  I had been passed by a number of riders on road bikes, but as the road steepened I passed many of them as I found myself getting out of the saddle and sprinting a bit to stay on top of the gear.  It was the first time I'd let my breathing dictate my speed and it felt great to be riding hard.

I reached the first rest stop around 8:20, just an hour after I'd started.

I've never been out front like this!

I stretched and ate, drank a little coffee.  I chatted with a Rotarian volunteer about the compostable cups they were using and the efforts the Courage Classic has taken over last few years to "green up" the ride.  The Green Team is onsite at all stops to help sort your trash into compostable, recyclable, and garbage bins.  It's something that I'm used to doing at home and I'm excited to see it being done on a big ride.  Tacoma's last landfill is scheduled to close next year and all of my household garbage will be trucked to a suburb about 15 miles away.  I don't really want to burden that community with my waste (nor pay the economic and environmental price to have it hauled there), but I digress.  The volunteers were also very excited about these new racks which replaced their old homemade PVC models.

I packed up my fleece and headed back on course.  It wasn't long before I snagged my first bungee.  The interstate is littered with them, but most are broken or missing a hook.  I've salvaged a few each year.  This year I brought home three.

I taped a little mantra onto the stem: Slow, Stretch, H2O, Smile!  I figured if I did those four things then I'd probably have a fun weekend.

The clouds continued to lift as I gained elevation.  There still were few riders on the road and I hadn't seen any of my teammates yet when I exited I-90 for the main summit climb.

When I reached Denny Creek Campground, I decided to pull over and flip my wheel around to the lower fixed gear.  This is when I realized that my 15mm wrench/tire lever tool was not on board, which meant two things: 1) I couldn't flip the wheel to the lower gear, and 2) I couldn't remove the wheel to change a flat.  I could still patch a tube with the wheel in-place, but I figured the better plan would be to just not get a flat.  I'm easy.

Denny Creek is a steep, switchback road that climbs quickly up the mountainside.  As you look up you can see riders zigzagging on levels above.

You can also look back down and see how far up you've climbed.  It's a lung-buster, but I always find myself smiling and laughing on this section.  The funny bit is that near the top of all these switchbacks is a team of Rotarians blasting Jimmy Buffet's Cheeseburger in Paradise through a giant PA system.  The song echos down the valley on permanent repeat.  Hilarious.

I reached the summit at 10am, just as the clouds began to part.

Phew!

I had an early lunch of spaghetti and fruit, and waited for my teammates to arrive.  I was ready to leave when Terry reached the summit, and since I didn't feel like waiting and didn't have my wrench, we decided to take the shuttle.  It took about 1 hour from the time I got in line to load my bike to when I was back on my bike heading out of the Price Creek rest area.

Near the end of the descent to Lake Easton, just after the fast section, I realized that my rear tire was slowly losing air.  When it got too low, I pulled over and pumped it back up with my hand-pump, then road away as fast as I could.  I was only a few miles from the mechanical tent at this point, so I repeated this strategy of pump and ride about 5 more times before finally walking the last bit.  Jason from Old Town Bicycle changed the flat for me, in spite of my efforts to do it myself, and also loaned me a 15mm wrench from his personal toolbox to use on the rest of the ride.  I love that guy.

Many of our Tuesday Night Ride crew rolled out from Lake Easton together.

Rick and Chris

Jeff

Rich and Nathan

As we rolled back onto I-90, the geared riders took off and I was left mostly on my own to enjoy the warm, dry breeze of Eastern Washington.  It was blowing hard enough at my back that I was probably coasting along at 17-18mph with out pedaling much.  It was glorious.  As I finished up the course at the Suncadia finish line, I still felt like riding.  A few of us rode a few miles further up the road to Rosalyn, a sleepy town where Northern Exposure was filmed.  (I can't believe that we thought this was Alaska.)  I stopped at the local hardware store and bought a 15mm wrench.

Rosalyn's main drag

Back at Suncadia, I setup my tent and had a few Red Hook beers from the beer garden before hitting the chow line.  It was great to spend the evening hanging out with friends.

My road bike! Loaned to Jaarvis this year.

HBC Bike Pile

At left, Bud, Rotarian and 18yr CC rider 

Chow line.

Rick's plate. Mine looked similar.