Part 1 of "This Was The Ride That Was"

On this last day of 2010 thoughts drift back through time . . . back to Great Rides of 2010. It was a stellar year in my cycling career - attempts at racing, my first bike-tour, "epic" commuting. But one of my favorite rides of 2010 was not so grand as these, just a little jaunt up HWY 101 in OR!!!! To hike up MT. NEAHKANIE!!!! On SINGLESPEED CRUISERS WITH COASTER BRAKES!!!!!!!

THE BIKES

I like renting bikes when I travel, that way I can ride bikes I wouldn't normally get the chance to try out. I keep hoping for something other than a singlespeed cruiser and while sometimes I can find a "sweet whip" (as the kids on the corner say), usually it's a version of the Torker you see on the left. They're not terrible, just more painful than I would prefer.

THE GOAL

Mount Neahkanie is near Manzanita, OR, which is about three hours from Portland. The famous Highway 101 goes over and through it. A gravel road just off the highway leads to the trailhead, the trail leads to the summit. The gf and I decided to throw ourselves at the mountain and see what happened.

THE RIDE

Highway 101 is a two-lane road that runs all along the Pacific Coast. Lots of cyclists ride it. More cars drive it. The stretch we were on did not have a shoulder or bike lane. It did have a steep steep steep incline and lots of traffic, including logging trucks. I have a predictable response when passed too closely by large motor vehicles - AAAAHHHHHH!!!!! - I got to use that alot riding on 101.

Eventually my had-to-weigh-70lbs Torker and I made it to the gravel turn-off. The gf and I walked toward the trailhead, but it was farther than we thought and kept going uphill. The bikes were abandoned (well, parked on the side of the road) and

Finally, the trail! Hooray! The trail! The trail! The trail . . . keeps going up . . .and up . . . and up . . . .

We persevered and eventually made it to the top.

On our way back down the trail we kept thinking about the traffic on 101 and the coaster brakes on our Torkers ("aaaauuuggghhh!"). The gf is bolder than me and before we could get back to the bikes she arranged a ride down the hill with a guy who had a pickup. He was very nice, but had to give us the obligatory business about not wearing helmets "Hey man, we're on vacation" (okay okay, it is a lame excuse).

He was very kind and dropped us off at the pie-and-coffee shop on the edge of town.

Unfortunately, rather mediocre pie and coffee ended our very awesome bike

The next day I opted for the flats.

Biking in Louisville's Winter

Approximately 1 inch of snow ended many students' and teachers' dreams of Monday at school. This gave me a chance to pick up my new glasses (HD!! it's like I have bionic eyes). The temperature was a brisk 20F and the clothes were layered . . . and layered . . . and then layered. While the details of my little journey are mundane (unless you enjoy reading books like Cod or Salt), the issue of Winter Cycling looms large. We have rather mild winters compared to our brethren above the Mason-Dixon Line, but it can still get wicked cold.

If you want to ride your bike in Minneapolis, New York City, Chicago, Boston, or Pierre you settle in for months of frigid snowiness. You can be assured that the multiple layers and specialized clothes will be a mainstay of your cycling wardrobe. In Louisville, though, you might be riding in 40F sun on Tuesday, 50F rain on Wednesday, and 20F snow on the following Monday. One must become adept at understanding the differences between being cold in the 30s versus the 20s. In January we will have 1-3 days of temps in the 60s and 70s, so don't put away those short-sleeves yet! You never step into the same weather twice.

Today's short trip will be a study in Winter Cycling. I will not address training rides, mountain biking, or cyclocross; just going down to the eye shop for some new glasses.

Let's talk about clothes.

Unless you are a sheep rancher or operate a dude ranch, my clothing choices aren't very fashionable. But my clothier is the owner/operator of Dude, Really ranch. Thus the key pieces of my ensemble are: boots (no exposed ankles and extra shin/calf warmth), convertible wool mittens with cotton stretchy gloves underneath, and my bright blue buff-like thing (it covers neck, face, ears and the back of my head). Long johns under the jeans, a waffle-ish thermal shirt, and sunglasses (blocks wind, reduces snowy glare) complete the look. I have a water/wind proof helmet cover, too.

Like someone on a motorcycle, you want to be a little cold when you start out. Soon you'll generate body heat and warm up. If this doesn't happen within 10 minutes go home - you're underdressed.

Perhaps you would like to look more fashionable when you venture out for a wintry romp on your Magna? If so, I highly recommend: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8i7vcboSje0

Louisville rarely has much accumulation of snow. I know, it does happen, but let's be honest here - slush is our wintry treasure. [btw, I can't figure out why this is bolded and underlined]

Fenders are a good idea when biking in slush. I have fenders on my Jamis, but today I pulled the Niner out of my quiver (for climbing dangerous, icy clumps of snow, like what you see in the lower right corner.

On my way to Bionic Eyes I thought, "Hey, this isn't so bad! Cold is so relative. Sure, the house is warmer, but this is just fine. Tra la la, fa la la, tra fa la."

What a lovely day! And once again I scored an excellent parking spot.

I get my new glasses, check out the fine print on a legal document 5 blocks away, and head home. Tra la la . . . .

Turning North onto 3rd Street I remember something, a very important something - headwinds.

AUGGHH! Wind whips through my buff-y, through my two/three/four layers, and, most critically, through the leather toes of my boots and swirls around my own delicate-like-a-tea-rose-toes. Gugugugugu. A lovely tailwind had escorted me away from home, but a vicious headwind is fighting to keep me from going back.

I briefly entertain the idea of going to the Moving Sale (ha! would a car driver have noticed this sign?! and been able to quickly turn and head towards it! ha!)

Walking makes my toes scream obscenities to my brain. I decide to go home instead.

I was so focused on avoiding dangerous slush and keeping warm I almost hit another cyclist. Silly me, not expecting to see a bike COMING RIGHT AT ME GOING THE WRONG WAY ON A LEGAL THOROUGHFARE.

(Remember, ride with traffic, not against traffic. Not only is it safer, it's the freaking law (which I do have an ambivalent with, though that's another post). It's as dangerous as the time I was so busy looking out for broken glass I accidentally headed up the on-ramp for the Watterson (who would've thought Hale Avenue would suddenly become one-way?!).

Once home I frantically administered first aid to my w/ailing toes. Whew, everything was going to be okay.

Lessons learned:

1) I know how to keep my hands, neck, torso, and head reasonably warm when it's 20F

2)Not even my new sheepskin liners will keep my toes warm when it's 20F. Maybe those charcoal feet warmers would work?

3)Headwinds blow

When cycling in cold weather I build in rewards for myself. At Theatre Square (they really do used the Brit "re" spelling) I got a coffee drink, fresh ground decaf for home, and a bottle of Basil Hayden bourbon. If I had brought my leotard I could have done Bikram yoga, too.

If you really want to get warm, head half a block north of Broadway on 4th Street. Seriously toasty.