Where's Roadie and what's he up to? Keep up to date with the happenings of Roadie during his journey during the Summer Tour by reading his Summer Tour Blog. And if you see him, tell him to wash those bib shorts.
August 26th, 2007
This weekend’s ride was in the town of Fletcher, North Carolina, which is 12 or so miles south of Asheville. The ride was the second I’ve attended in North Carolina, which is the only state I’m hitting two weekends in a row, other than Indiana. And I’m not sure if during the planning stage we purposely had two weekends in North Carolina or not, but after being here it’s evident that it was a good decision. People in this area are nuts about biking. These aren’t the kind of cyclists that ride during the summer on sunny days, while cycling is “in season.” In fact, I’m not convinced locals even understand the phrase “biking season.” There isn’t such a thing as as an off season in North Carolina. Sure it gets cold, but that’s when you dress yourself in warmer clothes and hit the trails. That’s the other thing; I’ve met few cyclists who are purely road or purely mountain bikers. They are mountain bikers when they feel like riding the trails and road bikers when riding on the road sounds more appealing. To me, that kind of mindset illustrates how much cyclists around here like to be on their bikes – not because it’s a fitness activity and they “should” do, but because they would rather spend time on their bikes than do something else. There’s a difference. And the locals DO know how lucky they are to live in a place that has great terrain for both mountain and road biking.
The ride: Yeah, it was a ride. There were about 800 riders who braved the 9,000 feet of climbing that would experience during the 100 mile ride. I couldn’t see much of the area from where I was sitting under a tent selling our apparel, so I can’t really speak about the road conditions, the grade of the climbs, or if there were spectacular views; I’m sure there were. Things I know for sure: it was hot, it sunny until the early-afternoon, there were a lot of cyclists in the area, and that a storm passed through around 1:30 pm. And a storm it was. I can gauge the fierceness of storm by the leakage experienced through the corner of the sunroof in the bus. The sunroof doesn’t leak if it only rains; it really has to be coming down in sheets to spring a leak. By the time I got back to my friends house where I was staying I had a soaked shoulder.
So onto Greenville, SC I go. Greenville is only about an hour south of Asheville, and where the US Pro Championships will be held this weekend. Time trial on Saturday and road race on Sunday. Who am I pulling for? David Zabriskie of course.
Friendly,
-Roadie
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August 20th, 2007
I was spotted! It's no longer a secret what this person that goes by the name "Roadie" looks like, talks like, and even smells like. I was minding my own business, talking to a guy who I had crossed the finish line with, when all of a sudden I hear someone say, "Hey, are you Roadie?" Indeed I was! Shocked more than anything that someone would pull me out of a crowd, I was pleased as punch to meet one our customers face-to-face. And so we talked for a bit, and I found out that he's subscribers to our Deal of the Day daily email. He and the two guys he was riding with all shop at our site (pictured below) and thought it was equally as cool that they spotted me, as me being recognized.
The Blue Ride Brutal: First off, I was lucky enough to be able to participate in the ride. It was a perfect morning; not to hot and not too cool. The sun was coming up over the Blue Ride Mountains, illuminating range after range of mountains and brightly displyaing their blue color. Honestly, with the combination of the route itself and the surrounding, it was probably my favorite ride of all time. Seriously. It was 77 miles of up, down and them more up and down, along country roads with several miles on the Blue Ride Parkway. From a cyclists point of the view, the Blue Ride Parkway is as close as you're going to get to finding the perfect ride. Why? The speed limit on the Parkway is 45 mph, traffic is almost non-existent, the road is in impeccable shape due to it being part of the America's Byways, the constant elevation change keeps things interesting, and the scenery is magazine worthy. Anyone that rides on the Parkway on a normal basis is absolutely spoiled.
So back to the ride itself; It was a recreational ride as all the others have been, but this one was actually timed for those interested in "racing it." We were all given sensors that strapped around our ankles to record our time, which made us feel way more official then we actually were. But anyway, in addition to the timing sensors making us feel cool, the ride was fully supported for both those wanting to get off their bikes at the SAG stops and those who wanted to stay on their bikes and waste as little time as possible; snagging food or another bottle of water. So there were designated feed zones where volunteers would be on the side of the road with musette bags and/or bottles of water. It was great riding through the feed zone; grabbing a bag, getting rid of empty bottles and replacing them with full ones, replenishing back pockets with bananas and energy bars, and then picking the pace back up to where it was before the feed zone.
I was planning to ride at a moderate pace, taking time to snap a few pictures and whatnot, but after I was encouraged to, "Let's get that group up there" by another rider (pictured ahead of me in the picture above), I knew my plans had changed. After 77 miles and 3 hours and 42 minutes of riding, my legs were shot and I had gotten worked over a by the Blue Ride Mountains. I couldn't have been happier.
Yours,
-Roadie
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August 16th, 2007
The Wednesday social ride put on by the Shenandoah Valley Bike Club (www.svbikeclub.org) in Harrisonburg, Virginia lived up to it’s name. It was on Wednesday night and it was social; probably the most social ride I’ve ever ridden. I suppose there were 20-25 people that showed up at the Harrisonburg High School for the 5:15pm start. It was a mix of men and women, riding carbon bikes, steel bikes, tri bikes, and fixed gears. Throughout the whole ride people were chatting it up about anything from the upcoming century that the club is hosting to the current real estate market in Harrisonburg. It was like we were hanging out at a coffee shop but instead of sitting on couches and drinking coffee, we were riding bikes and drinking water; the conversation would have been the same. Every 6 to 8 miles the group leader would pull off to the side of the road and make sure everyone was still with the group, and then we would continue on our way again. I guess one time we stopped a bit longer to stretch or legs and talk to others that we weren’t riding next to. Anyway, we rode for 25 or so miles through the hills of the Shenandoah Valley, riding on non-trafficked country roads and overlooking the valley; something I could definitely get used to. The air was so hot and humid that it was almost hazy looking into the distance, but don’t let me talk down the views from the higher elevations; it was fantastic. So the ride finished back at the school where it started, we chatted a bit longer, and then I was on my way. We chatted a lot, rode some, and regrouped a few times; the essence of a social ride.
Below are a few pictures from the ride:
As you were,
-Roadie
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August 12th, 2007
I would love to say that every ride I’ve attended has been great and right on point, but I just can’t. Why? Well, you see, this weekend’s “Eat a Peach” event forced me into not giving another rave review. It’s not my fault they didn’t put on an A-worthy event. I’ll just give a quick run-down of the annoyances that I found: 1) At the first SAG stop I was greeted with PB&J sandwiches on soft white bread – that’s it. Come on, we’re cyclists; we eat healthy grainy breads, not the cheapest loaf in the grocery store. 2) Their SAG support, or lack there of was non-existent. I saw one vehicle the entire 68 miles. 1?! I’m sure glad nobody to my knowledge had an emergency, because they wouldn’t have been there to help. It’s kind of ironic seeming how this was a ride put on by a hospital. 3) The routes where marked on the roads with neon spray painted arrows; great. The problem was that all of them were in the middle of the intersections, so it was easy to miss a turn if you realized that a left turn was in order rather than continuing straight ahead. Man, that got on my nerves. 4) The food at the end was tasty enough, but I never really knew what they were offering. Everything was covered up to keep the sun off of it, which at the same time was shielding it from cyclists seeing and eating it. I had a piece of pizza, and then realized that they also had subs, which after looking through the covered food items, were right next to the pizza. I suppose the volunteers could have been trying to give out the food, but that didn’t happen either. 5) I never really knew, other than filling out a registration form, that the ride was even going on. It was like there were a lot of cyclists that had gotten together and decided to ride the same route on the same day. Yes, I know these are the basics to a cycling event, but there was no start line, no finish line, and not much in between. I arrived back to the bus after I had finished and was just sort of, “Welp, that was fun. Next event.” Okay, that was more than a quick run-down. I just really needed to get that off my chest.
There were some good things about the event too. Like, I got to ride! That’s right, for the first time I wasn’t just a spectator, I actually got to participate with all the other riders. And I must say it was a perfect day to ride. The sky was blue as could be without a single cloud, and finally after almost a week of straight humidity, there was next to none. There was even a slight breeze. Who knew?! In addition to the weather, the route was full of ups and down and more ups and then some more ups after that. Several times throughout the ride there were huge open overlooks over the valleys below, peaking at hundreds of acres of farm land. I couldn’t believe the enormousness of the farms in general; the mass amounts of land and the size of the barns. Holy barns! Coming from the Midwest I’m accustomed to seeing barns, but not that size. They were 4x the size of any barn I had seen before. Anyway, I got off on a tangent; back to the ride. My computer wasn’t working properly, which was a huge kick in the pants so I wasn’t able to keep track of how I was doing up the hills. Luckily, my legs were telling me that I was working way too hard for the slow speed I was going. And I think at the end of the ride they were telling me to get off my bike and take a bit of a break. I had no problem listening. But anyway, the Eastern States with their plethora of hills have been fantastic. I know I said Connecticut was great, but Maryland was full of gut busters too. Next weekend I’ll be in the Blue Ride Mountains in West Jefferson, North Carolina. I can’t wait.
Did I mention that I was on the Today Show for a few seconds? Ahh, you must have missed it.
Until next time,
-Roadie
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August 7th, 2007
Connecticut is a great place to ride, period. I had no idea there would be so many great (some may have another word) climbs and crazy fast descents. I suppose the hilly landscape might only be for this part of the state, but at any rate, I’ve had a great time riding the Connecticut hills.
The Ride: First off, the ride was insanely well organized. I’m not talking about the registration lines being labeled with neon poster board that reads, “Registration.” I’m talking about the little things; SAG drivers being equipped with everything a cyclist might need amidst mechanical difficulties, SAG stops loaded with good things to eat – and plenty of volunteers to keep things moving, the layout and usage of the park for the start/finish, and the extras of everything to ensure that nobody would be left needing something.
The ride itself was a benefit ride for the Center for Cancer Care Fund, Inc., which is an organization created to assist and support cancer patients living in, or receiving care, in northwest Connecticut – so all the money stays local. And what better way to support a worthy cause than riding your bike...? There were 4 different lengths of rides to choose from; 12 miles, 30 miles, 50 miles, and 75 miles. And believe me; with the hills that I’ve come across out here not a one of the four routes is a slouch ride. The early estimate of riders at the event was 1200-1500, which is incredible since it’s only the fourth annual. The scene at the start, and finish, was what I like to see at these kinds of events; a nice open park area with music playing, hundreds of bikers standing around chatting about the ride, people seeing old riding buddies they haven’t seen in a while, and just a general excitement for riding bike. Everyone was in good spirits.
My job, or should I say privilege, as a volunteer was to drive Greta along the route as a support vehicle for the riders. As a first time SAG driver I was a bit nervous that I wouldn’t be able to help whoever it was along the road that needed something. Well, I guess I wouldn’t have had to worry about such things; the most help I lent all day was letting someone borrow my floor pump instead of using their frame pump to inflate a tire after a flat. The greatest thing about driving along the route with hundreds of friendly cyclist is their kindness toward Greta. For some unknown reason, people feel sort of a comfort around her that makes them smile, laugh, wave, or throw the peace sign – and she loves it. I don’t know if it’s a natural reaction to see such a beautiful vehicle humming down the road, or what, but I know that she appreciates the attention.
Kindly,
-Roadie
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August 2nd, 2007
When I turned into the school where the weekly ride takes place I couldn’t believe the number of people there. It was like there was a cycling event going on rather than a weekly ride that happens every Wednesday night during the summer months. There were several different groups going out at basically the same time based on the different ability levels of the riders so that anyone who wanted to ride could. The ride is put on by Suburban Cyclists Unlimited ( www.suburbancyclists.org), which is, as described on their website as, “a group of active recreational cyclist who tour the roads and trails of Montgomery and Bucks Counties in southeastern Pennsylvania.” I would also add that they’re very well organized; never had I seen a group signing in before the ride and then checking the whereabouts of everyone throughout the ride
The ride that I was a part of consisted of 25 or so cyclist who, organized by ability level, could average 18-19 mph. The group was super friendly and more than welcoming to a newbie who knew nothing about how their ride operated. During the flats we would chat on and off, and then crank it through the rollers as the guys in the front quickened the pace. It was a good mix of serious riding and not-so-serious riding, which allowed us to enjoy the summer evening. The miles go quickly when you’re riding in a group, and before I knew it we had ridden 42 miles of ups and downs through the country roads of southeastern Pennsylvania. We had managed to sweat through every article of clothing, and like the ability level of the group predicted; we average 18.2 mph for the ride.
Truly yours,
-Roadie
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July 30th, 2007
The longest single week of driving from one event to another is over. The drive from Plano, IL to Marietta, PA was something like 15 hours. I don’t know the exact time because I resort to counting miles instead of looking at the clock, which is easier on the brain since the miles driven per hour is much less than is anticipated when you’re traveling in a “normal” vehicle. The 15 or so hours went quickly since for the first time, and only time, during the trip I had a traveling companion who happens to be a road warrior and happens to love getting behind the wheel of a VW bus. So anyway, I spent the night in Lancaster and then took off for Marietta in the morning.
Dream Ride Lancaster: As I mentioned, I woke up Saturday morning in Lancaster and drove the 16 or so miles west to the town of Marietta. Did I mention I had to wake up at 4:15 am? Well, I did. Waking up that early got me to Marietta by 5am with a cup of coffee in my hand and an hour to set up before people started rushing in for the 6am registration. The problem was that it was so foggy and soupy out that riding bike in that kind of dense coverage increases the danger level of riding in the morning by 10 fold. This basically translates to a decreased number of riders attending the event by a significant and noticeable amount. Luckily, the success of our trip isn’t being measured by quantity, but rather quality. I think that’s the way my boss framed it. At any rate, a lot of nice folks that braved the humidity and dense fog stopped by our tent to pick up complimentary Indie Bike stickers, talk about the Summer Tour, graze our selection of cycling apparel, and talk about cycling – all things that I f ully support and enjoy. After hours of sitting in the humidity I packed up the bus and headed out toward my next destination. This coming weekend is in Torrington, CT.
Look for a mid-week blog about the group ride I’m getting myself into…
Your friend,
-Roadie
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July 23rd, 2007
I can admit it – I got terribly lost, pulled over by a cop, and went to Wal-Mart at 2am all because of the Melon Metric XXI. Well, I guess it wasn’t the fault of the ride itself but rather the fact that it was my next stop for the Summer Tour and I had to drive there. To make a semi-long story short, I confused the number 290 with 294 (roads coming out of Chicago) and was welcomed into Indiana by the welcome sign at the state line when I was supposed to be heading west of the city. I then went through a light that was a few seconds passed the yellow stage, right in front of a cop – of course because I was mad at myself for getting lost. And then as drove the correct direction I remember I wouldn’t be able to take a lunch break while manning the tent at the ride, so I needed supplies for making breakfast and lunch and Wal-Mart was my only option.
So anyway, the Melon Metric XXI: The day started out perfect; there were no clouds in the sky and the humidity that usually haunts the Midwest seemed non-existent. I set up our tent with an array of cycling apparel and Indie Bike Merchandise for all of those interested, or for those who forgot to pack their cycling shorts or gloves (both and more actually happened). The ride itself consisted of several different length routes, all beginning and ending at Plano High School to accommodate for all levels of cyclists; and there were all levels of cyclist there. It wasn’t surprising to see a cyclist with their club kit on riding a custom made Seven nabbing a few energy bars next to the guy who was talking loudly enough for everyone to hear about his clearance-priced bike he picked up at the pawn a couple of days ago. Some would scuff at the pawn shop biker-guy, but I thought it was great to see an organized ride attract so many different levels of cyclists; over 550 in all. Needless to say the bus got its fair share of attention. It’s sort of like a time machine when people see it; making lost memories come back to life. “My brother had one of those in the early 70s named Sherry. Man, I haven’t thought about that thing in a long time.” or “My parents had one of those when I was growing up and our family of 5 somehow slept comfortably” were a couple of the stories.
Kudos to the Naperville Bicycling Club for putting on such a well-organized ride that seemed to have everyone smiling and enjoying their promised watermelon at the finish line. The only thing I can think of to change would be to have someone take my place in the tent so I could do the ride myself.
Always,
-Roadie
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July 19th, 2007
This week in Indianapolis has been humid, muggy, and dreary. Luckily the rain has been hitting in the morning and the roads have been dry by late afternoon. The rides I’ve ridden with this week have been part of CIBA (Central Indian Bicycling Association), which happens to be one of the biggest cycling organizations in the US. They have different training and group rides that leave from different parts of the Indianapolis area everyday for all ability levels. The ride that I went with on Tuesday meets every Tuesday and Thursday through November 1st and does a 21 mile loop at, according to their website (www.cibaride.org) at an average speed of 21 mph, which was a little bit off since my computer was reading 23.8 mph after we ended the sprint. At any rate, the ride was well organized and had a friendly tone even though the speed was fairly intense. Tonight I’m going to meet up with the same group and see how it goes.
Sincerely,
-Roadie
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July 17th, 2007
The Summer Tour has begun! We made our first appearance of the season at the start of the RAIN ride at 6:30am Saturday morning. The sun was starting to rise and the near 1200 riders were backed up hundreds of yards from the official starting line (see pictures below). 7 o’clock came around and the riders took off on the 160 mile journey, and I took off in the bus for the 1st SAG stop.
By the 1st SAG the temperature was just below 70º and by the second it was in the mid-80s; much cooler than last year when the bank thermometers were reading over 100. Oh, and did I mention that once-in-a-lifetime tailwind the riders had at their backs?! The word on the street was that it was gusting at 30 mph directly east. Man, I wish I would have been riding… So the ride continued to the lunch stop, the one SAG after lunch, and then the finish at Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana. When I arrived at Earlham with the bus I found a spot where I could park the bus and set up a mini display, selling Indie Bike t-shirts and water bottles. We sold a few here and there, but then packed up before all the riders finished so I could continue my act as a support vehicle along with another RV (note to self: we should have opted for the RV rather than the VW bus) for a group of crazies that wanted to get in a double century. Wanting to ride 200 miles in 1 day begs to question the sanity of the riders who think it’s a good idea to be in your saddle for that amount of time, and I’m not even sure the guys who did complete it were thrilled about the 15 more miles they had when I stopped to fill up their water bottles at the 185 mark. FYI: All of them that wanted to accomplish the double century mark did make it.
All in the all the 1st stop of the Indie Bike Summer Tour was viewed as a success. The next stop in the tour is this weekend in Naperville, Illinois at the Melon Metric XXI, presented by the Naperville Bicycle Club.
Yours truly,
-Roadie
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