Entries from December 2006 ↓

I hate [tag]running[/tag] with a [tag]passion[/tag], I have hated it for a long time. So I have decided I will [tag]compete[/tag] in a few road [tag]races[/tag] this year. I figure it will give me the focus and reason to get out and run some.

The next local road race is the [tag]Mercedes[/tag] [tag]Marathon[/tag] on Feb. 10th. I will be running in the [tag]5k[/tag] portion. That equals about 3.1 miles.
That gives me all January to get into running shape. Right now I am looking for people to run with every few days to help me get into shape, and maybe run with me on [tag]race[/tag] day.

Even though I haven’t had a [tag]motorcycle [/tag]in way to long, I still have my last [tag]helmet[/tag]. and at the request of a friend I took a picture of it, while doign so I took the time to find where I had lost all of my other helmet [tag]pictures [/tag]and a few of my motocycle pics.

So now for a bit of randomness
My first helmet was all black and got split in half on my first wreck in Florida. So I purchased a new one in [tag]St. Augustine[/tag]. It fell off a shelf and the front half broke off. So I decided at that point I should buy quality helmets.

First was the blue [tag]Fulhmer[/tag]
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then the white icon
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can you tell i like dragons
then this one
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at which point I fell in love [tag]Suomy[/tag]’s and that is pretty much all I will wear
Unfortunately Sherrif Joe and company still have that one
and the current one
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Now I just need a new bike!

Oh and a bunch more pics in my gallery now to

Happy [tag]Holidays[/tag] and what not everyone.

Making sure my holiday stared off with a bang my [tag]Ibook[/tag] died again. luckily it is still under [tag]warranty[/tag]from the last time this happened so the repair will be free of charge. But since I have to mail it in this time it will be a bit before I get it back. Fortunately one of my friends gave me a spare computer they had lying around to get me through this dark and lonely time.

Of course as I am walking in the door with my new computer my house mate points out he has about 4 computers tucked into one of the closets that aren’t being used. So today was spent writing a term paper for a friend while intermintantly pirating parts off the other computers in the house and getting my box up and running [tag]Linux[/tag]. Somehow I had managed to forget just how much of a pain the intial config can be for a fresh install can be.

I have been putting off adding an entry to my [tag]website[/tag] lately because aside from recovering from my recent trip, life has been blissfully dull lately. I have been spending my idle time trying to plan my next adventure, but I am really starting to wonder if there is a point to a life where all I do is roam from one thrill to the next. I have had a few pleasant offers to settle down, but I don’t realistically see myself taking any of them. I think I thrive on the excitement.

Someone did manage to trick me into speaking to my [tag]mom[/tag] for the third time since she kicked me out last [tag]New Year’s[/tag]. That was interesting but I don’t feel like any real good came from it. I also managed to get tapped to help host a [tag]New[/tag] Year’s party for the first time ever in my life. I originally planned on spending the night with the same guys I spent it with last year, just because I have never managed to spend New Year’s in the same place twice in a row. Plus this is the first year in a very long time without some sort of personal disaster happening during the holidays. I guess this is to make up for the chaos of last year. Of course it is a little early to be certain, but it does seem like this year will end on a uncommonly high note.

I recently came into a [tag]Ipod[/tag] even though I said I never ever would own one. But someone gave me their old 20 gig unit since they replaced it with a newer model. Now I just need a firewire cable, then that will mean no more low capacity cell phone [tag]mp3[/tag] player.

I also added a few of my older pics to the Stupid Hurts Gallery

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I know I have been slacking off, but I think I earned an off day or two.

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Mileage for the day: 72 miles
Average speed: 12 mph
Max Speed: 28 mph
Grand Total!! 610 miles

Brundidge-[tag]Prattville[/tag]

I was pretty sore most of the day yesterday. I have realized that slow days make the fast days possible, and that I can’t go balls out every single day.

Luckily for a big chunk of the day I had a generous [tag]tailwind[/tag] from the south. At one point I was beating along at just a hair over 30 miles an hour. I saw a [tag]cop[/tag] sitting over the the grass to my left, and I assumed he would ignore me since I was on a bicycle. Then I see him raise his [tag]radar[/tag] gun and shoot me. I know he shot me because as I blitzed past him I saw him staring at the display on the radar gun clearly baffled. I could not help but smile to myself about that one for the rest of the day.

Somewhere after 50 miles I couldn’t get back onto my pace. I figured since I wasn’t going to get into a comfortable groove I may as well see how far I can go before I have to quit. I didn’t really think that one through very well. Because at this point I had eaten most of my snacks and was nearly out of water from fending off several dogs earlier in the day.

Realizing this after the 70 mile mark I decided to push ahead anyway. And thing were going great until my headlight started to get dim and I could see less and less of the road. Then I noticed all of the lights were getting dim, and I was having problems keeping my bike on the road. After a few more miles I realized what was happening. I was going blind. This had happened before once at a [tag]track[/tag] meet, so I knew what I had to do. Find food and water quickly, luckily for me I passed a well placed all night [tag]MacDonald’s[/tag] and was was able to rest and resupply. I would have hated to be taken out by a rookie mistake like that.

The Day In Numbers
Miles: 84
Average Speed: 11.8
Max: 33.7
Total Mileage: 538.1

Cypress Fl.-Brundidge, Al.

This morning got off to an awesome start. All the previous days injuries seemed to be gone and I fell into my pace fairly easily. My phone has been dead for a bit so that meant no music, but I was feeling so good it didn’t really matter.

During the first ten miles of my day I was pedaling along thinking to myself, “I have got this far with out a flat tire, amazing.” Unfortunately I must have said it out loud. Somewhere around the 25 five mile mark my rear tire went flat. Less than a mile from the Alabama state line. I didn’t even have time to get my back wheel off my bike and start swapping tubes out. Before someone had stopped to offer me a ride up to the [tag]Dothan[/tag] [tag]Wal-mart[/tag] so I wouldn’t have to waste my spare tube. Made as much sense as any. Well I crossed the state line in the back of a car, not exactly what I had in mind, but it was still early in the day.

I made it to the Wal-mart and outside was a squad of guys in a roped off area assembling bikes for the [tag]Christmas[/tag] rush. I talked to them about the area while I swapped my tube out. I think my skills impressed them, because they offered me a job traveling with them doing bike builds. I declined because I have other things in mind right now.

From there I rode the 231 north for a while. But that presented two major issues.. The first is there are long stretches of the [tag]231[/tag] that don’t have a shoulder, and after someone in a van actually cut over and physically pushed me off the road I decided to walk till the shoulder restarted. I ended up walking ten miles before I got a semi-ridable shoulder.

Surprisingly the shoulder on the 231 is textured with ripples that are about an inch deep. Riding over these on a road bike is not at all unlike riding a washing machine with two cinder blocks and an angry Doberman inside of it

20 miles of constant jarring vibration and I wanted to die. But then I saw this shimmer up ahead.
there was a 20 foot tall chrome [tag]chicken[/tag] staring at me from the darkness. That was all I needed, I couldn’t be defeated by a simple road.

My bag felt more like a [tag]superhero[/tag] cape, and the light rain that had been following me for the past few miles suddenly didn’t mater. The road was mine to do with as I pleased. It felt awesome. I ended up pounded out a few more miles before the rain got to heavy for me to feel comfortable with my computer.

The tale of the tape
Miles for the day: 72.9
Average Speed: 12.5
Top 30.5
Total: 454.1

[tag]Tallahassee[/tag]-[tag]Cypress[/tag]

I almost didn’t write about today. I really don’t want to think about it again. The combination of little sleep the previous night and high mileage combined with my first real day of hill climbing. Made for a morning that was less than stellar. In less than five miles every muscle was screaming for me to quit. My knees trembled and I wondered if I really was going to be able to continue.
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Somewhere during the course of the day one of my [tag]chain[/tag] [tag]ring[/tag] bolts broke. So eventually I have to find a bicycle shop and pick up a new set. If for no other reason than to get rid of the groaning from my bike every time I turn the pedals.

Chattohoochie Florida was my favorite place of the day city limits starts with a 600 some odd foot climb over the course of a half miles straight up a hill, where you get maybe a mile of flat ground and town before you go down another hill straight down for about 3/4 of a mile before running into [tag]Victory[/tag] bridge

Victory Bridge marked a great personal victory for me. It is closer to the actual halfway point of my trip and it also is the point where you cross into the [tag]Central[/tag] time zone. I can’t help but be excited about the fact I will be back in [tag]Alabama[/tag] before the end of the day tomorrow.

I stopped somewhere east of Cypress, I wouldnt bother looking for Cypress on a map, the city limit signs straddle one intersection and that’s it.

This was probably my least eventful day so far. Most of the day was spent with my head down convincing myself to push for one more mile. Every ten miles felt like a war. And when I finally turned over the 60th mile I felt like I could go no further. I think I was sleep before I unrolled my sleeping bag all the way.

Statistics
Miles for the day: 62.11
Average Speed: 12.6
Top Speed 34.6
Total; 381.1

Mayo-Talahassee

“I can’t find the road,” was my first thought of the day as I stuck my head out of my tent and looked around. last night I had snuck onto a Tree farm to find a place to pitch my tent. After a little wandering around I did eventually find the road, and once again my adventure was under way.
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The first place I stopped had a display case full of fried chicken prepped. As i was stepping to the counter to get a few pieces, the clerk chose that exact moment to practice her Jedi skills on a large number of huge flies. I quickly changed my mind and just got a soda. That proved to be a huge mistake. I wasn’t going to pass a store for another 20 some odd miles.

When I did finally reach a gas station somewhere outside of Eridu. (don’t worry it isn’t on my map either) I stepped up to the counter with a can of beefaroni. Where I asked the clerk “is there a food place nearby?” His response was less than encouraging, “Well Tallahassee is only 30 miles away.” hmmmmm I guess I will need two cans then,

This was the first stretch of my trip where there was literally nothing for long stretches at a time. This road seemed desolate compared to some of the other roads i had traveled previously. State road 27 was an alternate route proposed by the person who helped me with my map at Sun City Cycles. Most A.C.A riders go up through Monticello which adds about 5-6 mlles to the trip into Tallahassee. She told me she couldn’t remember why everyone went through Monticello, and that I should be fine running straight in on 27. Looking at my map I guessed it was just for the sake of a supply stop due to the lack of places between Mayo And Monticello.

Regrettably I was wrong. The reason the ACA says avoid 27 is that there are no shoulders on the road from Jefferson county until you get into Tallahassee city limits. I actually found myself off my bike an walking in the dirt for several miles to avoid getting hit.

Even with that bit of excitement I did eventually make it into Tallahassee, Once in town I quickly called a Warmshowers.org member in an effort to line up a place to stay. I was given directions to All Saint’s Cafe near the FSU campus. this place was awesome. it was elbow to asshole crowded inside. With bikes hanging from the front and a full bike rack and on the side. My host for the evening was Danny. He rides a awesome looking fixed gear bike, and was full of great information about the city, he promised tomorrow will start off with a tour of the town before I leave
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After a shower I felt like am entirely new person. I can’t wait to see what tomorrow holds.

Reading back over this it sounds like the journey has been really easy. All in all it really has been, Riding long distances isn’t as much of a physical stretch as I thought it would be. The first few miles of the day seem to be against your body as you warm up and work out the previous days kinks. But once you are warm and stretched the rest of the battle is almost entirely mental. Maintaining the focus needed to keep riding, and to will to make it over the next hill and the one after that, and the hill after that has been tricky at time. Luckily for me encouraging words and mental crutches have just been a cell phone call away.
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While riding in Jefferson county my right knee went and I didn’t get off to take care of it right away like I should have. I kept going and told myself “this hill is mine it will not win.” In the end that hill was mine, along with the few dozen others that came after it. Now I am walking with a severe limp in my right leg, It doesn’t really want to support weight right now. Since I refused to stop to tend to it earlier odds are I will pay for it later, But right now I doesn’t matter I am still extremely happy. And most importantly I beat the hills.

The tale of the tape
Miles today: 85.77
Average speed:14.4
Top Speed: 31.3
Total Mileage: 318

in my haste I have been forgetting to add map info to my post, that has been fixed now.

check out the map page