Team Chad and Dad's 2008 Ride to Cure Diabetes Training Log
Thank you to the following annual supporters of the Ride to Cure Diabetes
The Kingston Teachers' Federation
TriValley Lions Club
of Parksville NY
Entry Date: October 16, 2008 (Thursday)
IT's RIDE WEEKEND... !!
...Today we leave for Death Valley Ride - the ride is Saturday!
...Last night my brother-in-law called (returning our call to wish his wife a happy birthday -
70 going on 30)... when he found out we were just shy of our goal... he pledged to split the difference with me...
SO WE ARE AT GOAL !!!!!
...THANKS to all who supported... trip report will be posted next week.
Donate on behalf of Team Chad & Dad offline via
this link)
...so let me bring you up to speed on what has happened in the past month since my last post (sorry
for the delay).
After Team and Chad completed the Woodstock Century (see prev post below)... the weekends got kind of hectic and cut into our
long training rides...somewhat...
On one weekend - a Saturday - we had the Car Show for a Cause. This benefited JDRF.
On that same weekend - Sunday - we had the Kingston Walk to Cure Diabetes. Chad road the 50 mile Ride for Cancer Care
that morning (50 miles) then came to the Walk to help there. I was the committee co-chair... so I did not ride - but
got plenty of exercise that weekend with fundraising chores
The next weekend - I went to the Newburgh area Walk to Cure Diabetes to serve as a volunteer and Chad went mountain biking.
On another weekend - Chad competed in a cross country mountain bike race...
(pics on right) no podium this time - just lots of mud, two flats
a few crashes and a good time. Fortunately his Continuous Glucose Monitor Sensor/Transmitter did not get lost... even though
it came out during a crash... and was caught by a "safety net" he devised for just such
events.
Drove to Long Island on weekday morning to drop off our bikes for transport to Death Valley - then to Poughkeepsie for
work... then back home... long day... miss my bike already
Chad reminded me that my old Bianchi was in the garage... dusted off the cobwebs - pumped up the tires and put it
on my windtrainer... tah-dah!
Checked Weather.com --- forecast at this time for ride day is 100 degrees ! Yahoo... beats frost warnings in NY State.
...and with our most recent donations that includes $500 from Kingston Cyclery... we are
now almost to our $8,000 goal for his year... and have broken the $50,000 total for all of our rides combined. THANK YOU
to all who have supported our efforts.
Donate on behalf of Team Chad & Dad offline via
this link)
This will be a long over due - but short post. Chad and I completed the Woodstock Century
yesterday (Sunday September 7th). It was a good training ride with LOTS of hills; around the Ashokan reservoir, up Route 28 to
Phonecia, up and over Hunter Mountain - through the village of Hunter then up
Route 296 and over another mountain into
Windham (Yeah this is SKI COUNTRY - so we got a workout) - then down Route 23 - where I hit 44 MPH... Chad says
that's cause I'm so heavy... gravity and such at work... then to Palenville and back roads to Zena.
I am Toast!
Donate on behalf of Team Chad & Dad offline via
this link)
OK - so now the reason for two flats on the rear tire in
two days are easily explained. Take a look at the picture to the
right. Those two lines radiating from the one spoke are CRACKS in the rim.
Hmm - upon further examination I discovered at least a half dozen other
splits in the rim. This is not good. So I took my bike to the shop - not just
any shop ! - but THE shop... aka Kingston Cyclery... TailWind sponsors of
Team Chad and Dad.
Kingston Cyclery gave the bike a once over - new cables - an adjustment here or there
- new bottle cages (bottles kept falling out of the old ones) - NEW RIMS - front and rear - new tires and tubes... and we are good to go.
And GO we did... on Saturday Dad did an 81 mile ride. Felt GREAT! Just taking it easy - but the
average speed was about 15.2 mph. Top Speed was 39.5 mph. Total saddle time in the neighborhood of 5 hours and 20 minutes. Gu-consumed = LOTS.
Donate on behalf of Team Chad & Dad offline via
this link)
Well - I can't really complain. Chad and I took a 35 or so mile ride - yup up and over 209 and out Hurley Mountain Road.
After that first out and back loop - Chad departed to go mountain biking... and I continued riding... this time doing a slightly shorter loop.
When I got back home - I filled up the bottles and went out again... just a few miles shy of 70 and ready to go for 75 miles total.
Ah - but that would have been too easy. I decided to head out a different direction... to get some more rolling
hills in... and just as I crested one of those hills - I heard that sound again... PSSST... GRRRR. So at 68 miles into my ride, I changed
my tire and headed home... total for the day - just over 70 miles. I felt GREAT... This made the next day (Sunday) even nicer
as I slept on the couch trying to watch the olympics - and listening to the rain outside... a good day for sleeping...
Did I mention that I (Dad) am riding in honor of Amanda? Of course I'm doing the ride for my kids too! But
sometimes when you see little ones like this - it makes you want to do even more. Please
help me - and help Team Chad and Dad - raise the money needed to find a cure for diabetes. Let's give
Amanda even more reasons to smile!
Donate on behalf of Team Chad & Dad offline via
this link)
I'll get back to the details of our training again (yup - I've been negligent in updating this
site lately - back to that in a moment.
So why Damn it ! and other deleted expletives!?
Well - besides efforts relative to the Ride to Cure Diabetes, I also involved in the planning of our Walk to Cure Diabetes
in the Kingston Area. As part of that effort - I had to make a call today to someone to discuss services that one of
their contacts would be donating... and during the conversation found out that her 10 year old daughter had just
been diagnosed as having Juvenile Diabetes about three weeks ago. That would have been bad news anyway - but it's in the
context of one of her other children already having been diagnosed about three years ago... and her husband also has diabetes.
This gave me immediate flashbacks to Chad and Melissa (my kidz) being diagnosed - and the dozens of other families
I have come to know across the U.S. - who have faced the same situation. Multiply that pain by the countless others who have been
diagnosed... often at early ages - and what they have to face.
I am always amazed by the strength and determination of these kids and their parents. They work at taking care
of "their" disease. They learn all they can. They work hard to raise money for research to help find a cure
and to improve the technology available for managing diabetes. Their efforts have paid off as evidenced by
recent improvements and availability of insulin pumps and continuous blood glucose monitors. But these
advances - as great as they are (especially to us old timers who raised their kids wringing out diapers to
test urine for sugar) - it's not enough. We want - we need - a cure for this $#%@! disease. We need to get to a point
where we don't have to hear the hurt in a mother's voice or see the concern in a father's eyes as they relate
how their young child was diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes.
We need a cure for diabetes!
So - back to training... This is why we ride - We Ride for Cure for Diabetes... and like most things
it ain't always easy. Case in point... after many years of training for and doing the Ride to Cure Diabetes and never having
gotten flat (unlike Jim Haass one of our team mates who gets a flat every two miles) I finally had my quota.
A week or so ago - on a Wednesday night ride... about 25 miles into the ride and cruising at a decent
speed... pssst! --- Oh Yeah - let me digress... that was the night I was going to hook up with the group that
rides from Bike Brothers -- expected to meet them at top of 209 hill (see previous posts on 209). When I got there - they were
no where to be seen.... so figuring I had missed them I continued on my way to Hurley Mountan Road. No sooner had I reached
the flats of Hurley Mountain Road... when a train of bikers caught up to me... It was them... and I hopped on the back end (which is
a good place for me... I stayed with them for another 6 or 7 miles - never dropping below 20 mph and usually hitting about 24 mph...
until my legs yelled - HELLO !!!!!!!!!! Remember US !! We're gonna be 62 years old in a few weeks... Time to SLOW DOWN... so I yelled
see you later to the back of the back... made a U-Turn... Sucked down some GU... Popped some Endoralytes and started the return trip
at a more leisurely pace... [change scenery here... back to Psst!] So there goes the front tire.
So after getting out the owners manual (just kidding) figuring out how that
stupid little pump works - and replacing the tube... I got home just as it was getting dark.
Now comes Saturday - the goal is a 70 mile ride. The sky is looking pretty gloomy - hot humid and rain is likely.
I started my ride - the first of three intended loops otou to Hurely Mtn Road and back (which of course includes
209 Hill... do you see a pattern here... it's one of my favorite training rides)... just as I started to cruise on
the flats. PSST! (Oh I hate that sound)... This time it's the back tire.... Arrgghh!
Well - I'm figuring it's time to replace that tire anyhow (yeah - new one's are on order for the ride -
but
I want something I know is safe for training...) so I called home... wife to the rescue... dropped off at Bike Shop... Got
new tube AND NEW TIRE... and just as I leave - a slight sprinkle... Hmmm - change of plans.. I decided to do laps on the
two mile loop that's not far from my house.
So -- when you are riding in the rain - and you hear thunder - you should head for cover... which I did...
but the thunder stopped... so I kept going... but the rain and spray from front tire wash hitting my face and going
under my wraparound glasses... making my eyes burn -- so I stopped (hard to do on wet pavement - with wet rims when you can't see that well)... Wiped my eyes off with bandana - rinse repeat -- did that several times and gave up on glasses... So there I am stopped at
the side of the road... standing by a big puddle.... cars hitting water in puddle and splashing me (I think the actually sped up to make a bigger
splash...) -- and then I heard a big clap of thunder... hmmm - this time I REALLY headed for home... Dried off - and set the
bike up on the wind trainer in the garage... eventually it stopped raining and I moved out into the driveway... The score for the
day: 1 Flat... 2 burning eyeballs... itchy feet / aggravated athletes feet from riding in wet shoes... about 25 hard miles
in the rain... 1 hour on wind trainer in garage... about 2 and one half hours more on wind trainer in the driveway... then a nice
warm shower and a nap on the couch with my dog Zoey. Ah - ain't training great! It sure beats shoveling snow or mowing the lawn!
Please donate to Team Chad and Dad - we gotta cure this disease for that little girl who was diagnosed
about three weeks ago... for all the other kids --- and let's face it... before some old guy on a bike kills himself training for the Ride to Cure
Diabetes.
Could this be a problem - My front tire seems to be leaking air.
Riding in the rain is fun... Not!
Entry Date: July 24, 2008 (Thursday)
Well - been kind of busy to post lately - sorry about that.
Let's see - Chad has had some bad spills - not on his road bike - but on his mountain bike - back to him in a moment.
My training has been a little less severe than Chad's down hill mountain biking. If you want to
call 50 miles in 98 degree humid weather not severe. I have also managed to get beyond the fear of climbing
Hallihan Hill (very steep hill near my house - about point six miles long.) A while back I was happy to be
able to get up it once as part of a loop... then a few days later twice... well now I am completing rides of the same loop
that require 4 climbs up that hill... PHEW!!!
So - back to Chad. AS you must realize by now. Chad is very into Mountain Bike Racing. The weekend before last
he was in Windham - where he had two days of crashes in a row. The first crash day sent him to the ER in the evening
to confirm (or not) that he had a broken finger and broken toe. Turns out neither was broken - but his toe nail was
pretty much ripped off. (Arrrggghhh!) The next day he was practicing for downhill race... took a bad spill (video on the right) and
took a chest / rib cage shot. A few days later he qualified for the U.S. Slalom championships at Mt. Snow in Vermont (he took
2nd place last year)... and with all these injuries still managed to get on the podium for a 4th place finish.
Interesting side note to the podium picture (to the right). The guy in third place (Keith) and Chad had to
race against each other in final battle for 3rd or 4th place. Keith was also the rider that was following
Chad when he crashed during practice - and had the helmet cam that captured
Chad's bad spill.
This is Chad (above) - Riding in the Ride to Cure Diabetes (2002?). Click on his picture to donate online.
This is Dad (below) - Click on his picture to donate online.
How can that be! ? ! My last post was June 23rd? Sorry about that - seems like time goes by so fast. Let me bring
you up to date.
First of all - I've lost track of most of my rides since the 23rd. I know I got in two 50 milers and
some "speed" work that included climbing 209 (see the graphic from the 23rd of June). I also went out with
the Wed Nite Bike Brothers Ride - and was left in the dust after a few miles as usual... but I am happy to report that on Saturday July 5th I was
able to complete a 60 mile ride: avg speed something like 16.6 mph.
Now you have to realize that Saturday started with overcast skies - and wet pavement.
I really wasn't thrilled at the thought of going for a ride and getting caught in a thunderstorm. So I decided
to just do a "few laps" of a half mile or so loop in my "development". The road was dry and I would be
close to home if the sky opened up. Hmmm - I was able to complete 20 miles - with my neighbor's thinking I had
really lost it... as I zipped by time after time after time... changing direction at the 10 mile mark.
So - after 20 miles - I went home - refilled my bottles and now it was time to go out for a short
ride (so I told my wife...) - after all - it still looked like rain. Well wouldn't you know it. THE SUN CAME OUT and
I did another 30 miles or so... so i came home - refilled my bottles again and headed to enjoy a ride in what had become
a fiarly sunny - hot - humid - sticky day -- to complete a grand total
of 60 miles. It felt GREAT!.
Also in the good news department... I got on the scale Sunday Morning and was now down to 187 lbs. Keep
in mind that I started training at OVER 200 lbs. So the training is burning off the excess poundage... and
making it easier for me to ride and take on hills.
Also in the good news department... donations are now arriving almost daily. You can help Team Chad and Dad
in their quest to raise $$$ for diabetes research through the Ride to Cure Diabetes by donating online or my mailing a donation. And
that brings us to our graphic for the day - Linked to Online Donation page and snail mail form page. Please click on one and donate
to help find a cure for diabetes.
This is Chad (above) - Riding in the Ride to Cure Diabetes (2002?). Click on his picture to donate online.
This is Dad (below) - Click on his picture to donate online.
So - tonight was going to be my BIG HILL CLIMB NIGHT. Halfway up THE HILL (Hallihan Hill) I decided
that I wasn't ready for that steep of a climb [I have a fear of not being able to dismount on steep grades
without falling over or rolling backward until I fall -- in the event of cramps - charlie-horses or my pacemaker shutting down). So
I opted for a reasonable set of hills... also known as the 209 Hills. Yes that same 209 I have made reference to
in other posts about training for the Ride to Cure Diabetes [again another cheap attempt at making sure
GOOGLE keeps my page on the first list of sites when searching for Ride to Cure Diabetes - there - did it again.)
So anyway - I climbed 209 - taking the advice of our JDRF Training Times (a periodic newsletter on
fundraising and training for R2Cure participants). I climbed the hill using my middle ring only (never going to my granny gear).
This will help huild strength for climbing Jubilee Pass (should I opt to go to the top again - plans are to NOT do that again - this
will shorten the DV ride to 100 miles instead of 105 miles... getting on in my years ya know).
So - I figured it might be nice if I gave you a profile of what 209 hill looks like. Therefore, the
picture of the day is - 209 hill. The online route maker says its a 5 percent grade... where Jubilee Pass comes in at
about 10 percent. A lecture on what the heck that means - will be provided in a future post.
Entry Date: June 21, 2008 (Saturday)
We'll - for many reasons - I never got a chance to ride all of this past week... and was
hoping to join Jim, Nancy and Chad for a group ride Saturday a.m. --- But that didn't happen.
Instead - I wound up with plumbing problems (no not me personally... new fixtures in shower problems)
which was one of those home owner scenarios from hell. You know - nothing is ever easy and never goes as planned. Fortunately
my brother-in-law Joe came to my rescue (like he actually has tools and knows what he's doing) and all was well with the shower
by about mid-morning (remember this project started on Friday around 1 pm). No leaks - and water comes out only when and where it is supposed to.
Meanwhile - Chad was playing with the set up of his new downhill mountain bike (pics to follow), Jim
took an early morning ride down his way (I just got an email from him saying he did 61 miles) and Nancy had a schedule conflict.
Maybe next week we will get together.
So that left me on my own, Hmmm - temperatures were in the mid to upper 80's - the humidity was
like a rain forest and I was good to go!
I left home around one-ish in the afternoon... and rode up and over route 209 (which by now most of my
readers will recognize as the state highway with a nice steady climb for just over a mile... and then a nice one mile downhill on the
other side - ditto for the return)... from there up Route 28 for about a mile (glad to get off of that death trap... tourists
have just gotten off the NY State Thruway and are heading to the mountains... not watching out for bikes)... over Hurley Mountain Rd
(which has a surface similar to the road we will be riding on in the Ride to Cure Diabetes in Death Valley)... then out through Stone Ridge
to the Campus of the Ulster County Community College - aka SUNY Ulster - aka Harvard on the Hudson... as we called it when I
attended there back in the 60's... that's another story...)
Once at the campus - I rode about 7 or 8 miles on campus -- taking advantage of the half mile or so loop that
is the main route (uh - the only route) through the campus. Most of the time I was running between 18 - 21 mph (waiting for the campus
police to stop me for speeding -- the posted limit was 15 MPH.)
I left the campus knowing that I had done enough miles - so that the return trip would take me over 40 miles total. But
during that trip -- I was really feeling good - so I added some side trips to the normal route back - including an emergency stop
at one of the local bike shops - screaming MUST HAVE GU (since I had run out) as I entered the shop... I GOT GU and continued riding - heading for home
Got home - and hit 50 miles on the nose for the total trip. Average speed was 15.9 mph and TOP SPEED was 40 mph...
Uh yeah that was downhill... as soon as I got home I took advantage of our recently repaired shower... where water comes out of the shower
head... then loaded up on some tasty pasta with garlic and other "stuff"... that my wife had ready for me... ahhhhhh - life is good.
Picture of the day - All the flavors of GU... I live on Vanilla Bean while riding. For info on GU products
go to guenergy.com
Entry Date: June 16, 2008 (Monday)
I'll be back to give you a complete update on the weekend ride - but time is short and I am on my
way to work... so posted this real quick...
Chad had an endo appointment in Albany on Monday... so he decided to use
the trip as a training ride. He rode from his apartment (just outside of Kingston NY) to
Albany Medical Center. Rained 98 percent of the way - and the sun came out as we entered the parking lot
I served as SAG wagon - with tubes - spare tires on spare rims (off my bike) etc... and then
was able to drive home with bike in car after appointment.
He covered the almost 50 miles in just about 2 and one half hours. Video on YOUTUBE and to the right.
Entry Date: June 11, 2008 (Wednesday)
Today is Friday - but I'm posting about my Wednesday Night Ride... As I recall
the heat wave had broken... I would guess it was pushing upper 80's at the start of the ride - and no wind to speak of.
So since it was Wednesday night - and I had the option to telecommute on Wednesday - I
was able to eat a light early supper, gather my biking stuff, check my tires and take the 4 mile ride over to
Bike Brothers in Lake Katrine; one of our local bike shops. As you may recall from previous posts - there is a group ride
every Wednesday night starting at 6pm.... and these guys HAUL.
That 4 mile ride gives me a chance to warm up - loosen up - and arrive ready to roll. On this night
we took a spin through the City of Kingston eventually reaching the Rondout Creek area and followed the shoreline (along
Abeel Street) to Eddyville. From Eddyville - we hopped onto what's called Creek Locks Road heading to Rosendale. This road
traces the route of the old D and H canal (which in previous centuries was the major route for transporting Penn. Coal to the
Hudson River and beyond.)
In previous rides - I stayed with these guys for 4 or 5 miles before they would drop me. On this night I lasted
about 9 miles before they slowly pulled away - and then "poof" they were gone. I felt good that I hung with them as long as I did - given that
most of them are about 15-20 years (or more) younger than me.
The ride was beautiful - and now that I have discovered the route (which I have driven before - but never paid that much attention
to the scenery - I will repeat the route again in the near future. So anyway - from Rosendale - I rode up past what's called
Iron Mountain ( a secure repository of stuff - deep in underground lime quarries/mines) - then through Stone Ridge - where Chad
picked me up (after cell phone call) so that I could get home in time for an online webinar training discussion. Total distance for the ride
was 25 miles.
Pictures of the day - that's right - more than one. The top photo Looking towards Eddyville - imagine boats and barges
carrying coal to the Hudson down this creek, many years ago... The bottom photo shows the Binnewater Lake, taken from
Binnewater Road -- which is not near the creek but part of the route that I rode. Uh - yes this was taken in the Fall... not on Wednesday night.
You can view many more beautiful and historic pictures at http://www.townofrosendale.com/ourtowninpictures.cfm
Entry Date: June 8, 2008 (Sunday)
PHEW - Feels more like July... we are in our 3rd day of 90 plus temps. But I'm still out there
training.
Yesterday I tried to get a ride in after doing those "other" house hold duties that
get in the way of training - like mowing the lawn (found the dog who was lost in the TALL grass) and cleaning the pool and otherwise
getting the yard set for summer fun and visitors. THEN I went for a ride; well sort of. I decided to play it
safe because the thunder clouds were gathering. So I decided to stick to my 3 mile or so loop so I would be close
to home if a storm cranked up... which it did - when I was about half way around the loop. So I hurried
home and found that my block was bone dry... with storms at either end of the street. So I rode back and forth
for 5 or 6 laps waiting to see what was going to happen with the rain - waving to my wife and sister-in-law as they
sat on the deck by our pool... finally it appeared to be safe to go out again... Very strange conditions... there is a
1/4 mile stretch of the three mile loop where it is raining... the rest of the loop is dry... so I went from DRY HOT SUN and
HEAT BAKING OFF THE PAVEMENT... to a rain forest enviroment... and a cooling refreshing spray from the rear tire cooling off
my back end... Did about 18 miles and called it quits.
Today I did a ride with temps starting in the 80's... and rising into mid to upper 90's with lots of humidity which
made it necessary to dodge thunderstorms again... total saddle time according to my speedometer/computer was 2 hours and 45 minutes... with total
distance of just over 38 miles. When I got home (wish I had a picture) I thought I was breaking out in some kind of freak rash or that
my skin was damaged by the sun. I was covered with hundreds of little black splotches. Then I said - aha - it's dirt or road tar from cars that
passed me when it was raining... but after rubbing one of the spots... I realized it had wings... so sticking to the sweat and sun screen was
hundreds of little tiny bugs... often called "no-see-ums" - 'cause you can't see them... ahh I love this weather. Topped off the ride with
a few laps in the pool -- hissing sound as my hot body ( no not Hot in that way - Hot Temperature wise) hit the water... then walked the
dog about 2 miles...subsequently fell asleep on the couch... That's what weekends are made for
Picture of the day - is what my bike looked like (conceptually) after
riding in this HOT HOT HOT weather... Please help - my bike and body can't take much more... click on the links to
donate to Team Chad and Dad online - thanks!!!!
Entry Date: May 14, 2008 (Wednesday)
Well - it's been a while since my last post - Sorry about that - but thanks for coming
back to see how our training is going -- and to see if we are ready to bicycle 105 miles through Death Valley for the
Ride to Cure Diabetes.
Let me try to summarize the past 2 weeks or so in a paragraph or two. It got cold again - then Hot... missed some training time
to volunteer/run errands for our JDRF Gala (first weekend in May) - then had to do some yard work (Grrr) which included removing some dead
branches from a tree that hangs over our pool -- trick was to keep the branches from falling in the pool - then cut off the smaller branches get them out to the
street for the town to pick up... by way of the side of the house - throw branches over fence trying not to get near the poison ivy.. too late
got it on my legs ('nother grrr) - managed to get a ride in about 8 or so days ago - 20 mile hike averaged about 16.3 mph - then some wind trainer
workouts - Chad does them in the driveway every so often too - oh yeah last night I got in a quick half hour ride before it got dark - averaged
about 17 mph... oh forgot to tell you that I hurt my back moving branches (more grrrs) had to lay off riding for a few days - went to chiropractor
to get adjusted,,, and tonight I did a 20 mile spin on the route I described in other posts - up and over 209 and out Hurley Mountain road... and oh yeah
I guess that's about it... PHEW... with apologies to all my former teachers... as you can see - I wouldn't know proper sentence structure
if I fell over it...
So what picture should I post to the right today. How about Amanda. Take one
look at this little girl - and you'll fall in love. At the same time - you'll wind up hating diabetes when you realize
that this sweet little girl has diabetes. We need to cure this disease - soon - not just for my kids (who ain't kids no more)
but for Amanda.
I carry her picture with me in my back pocket when I train - and I'll be taking her picture with me on
our 2008 Ride to Cure Diabetes to remind me that we can't give up. We need to help find a cure for Amanda - so she can keep that
smile.
Entry Date: April 26, 2008 (Saturday)
Well - today I went with my Wife and kids to the Desmond Hotel in Albany to attend a Diabetes Health
Fair hosted by the Goodman Diabetes Center (aka Albany Medical Center). It was a fairly interesting event, with a research
update by Dr. James Desemone (my son's former Endo - now turned researcher). So I didn't get home until about 3:30 in the
afternoon. Just enough time to take a nap. Then at about 4:15 - I made some coffee and jumped into my riding duds.
It was still around 70 or upper 60's whilst napping - but by the time I got on the road
it had dropped down into the lower 60's... and I faced a Head Wind on my way "out" doing my 209 and Hurley Mountain Road route
that I have done past few rides. So I figured GREAT - I'll have a tail wind coming back... No such luck... Just like riding
in Death Valley for the Ride to Cure Diabetes (cheap insert of that text again so google will find me) just as I
got to my turn around point - this time about 11 miles out - the wind changed direction and I wound up with a head wind all
the way back home.
Statistics for the day - 22 miles - and despite a head wind both ways from a cold front that
caused the end of ride temperatures to drop into the 50's - with wind chill I would guess in the 40's - my top speed 34.5 and avg speed 15.8 mph. I expected that the return trip
going back up 209 Hill wound be tougher than it was - but maybe I'm getting back into shape. Let's see what happens the next time
I go riding with Chad and he leaves me in the dust...
Today's picture comes from a clock and mug that we were selling on CafePress for a while. Chad
had shirts printed with the same graphic for one of the Death Valley Rides - the pic on the front and
a biker on the back with the phrase "Let's Cure This Crap". That about sums it up... please donate so we can help research
cure diabetes.
Donate on behalf of Team Chad & Dad offline via
this link)
Well - as I continue my initial bicycle training in preparation for the
JDRF Death Valley Ride to Cure Diabetes... notice how I mentioned those key words in this excuse for a sentence
to help bump my pages position in google search - Dad (that's me) went up and over route 209 hill again (no 30 wheelers this time) up Route 28 a bit and then
over the Hurley Mountain Road. Turned around at 10 miles out - and put in a nice 20 mile ride. Top speed was 38.5
downhill on Route 209... average for the whole ride was 15.3 mph. Looks like I'm getting my sea legs back.
Then I took Zoe for a walk. Thought you might want to see Zoe (or Zoey - my wife and I disagree
on proper spelling).
Entry Date: April 23, 2008 (Wednesday)
STILL EVEN BETTER WEATHER!. Dad went out for ride after supper. This time he rode
up and over 209 Hill (local riders know that climb - 4 lane divided highway with just over a one mile
steady fairly steep climb then a nice down hill on the otherside... and the opportunity to climb in again coming the otherway).
I'm use to having 18 wheelers come hauling by me at at about 60 MPH on this route. Tonight - I heard a 30 wheeler coming up on me.
I doing a nice easy 12 or so mph [ UH - OK - here's a correction,,, a few days later
I double checked my pace at this same point and I really only do about 10 mph at this point... no wonder I couldn't catch them ] - expecting to be down to about 10 mph at the top. Then it came whizzing by me at about
18 to 20 mph. The Wednesday Night Ride from Bike Brothers (local shop in Lake Katrine). As they went by I heard... Charlie, hey , hi,
zup, evening and so on... I dug in and tried to get my momentum back... but they soon disappeared over the crest of the hill and
by the time I go back up to speed - they were long gone. Well guys - maybe I'll meet you at the start of the ride one of these nights
(knowing full well that they will drop me with in 5 miles... these guys hammer).
Total miles for the day - about 16 - had to get home to walk the dog... totally exercise for the
day (cummulative bike and walk the dog time - about 2 hours). Got home just as the bugs were coming out...
Today's photo selection comes from
http://www.jdrf.org. This is Tim St.Clair,
the National Ride Coach for the JDRF Ride to Cure Diabetes. Tim was a guest on WKNY's Monday Night Sport Talk (WKNY is
local am station - 1490 on your radio smile). Charlie (Dad of Chad and Dad) interviewed him.
This is Tim St. Clair - National Coach for the JDRF Ride to Cure Diabetes
He was recently interviewed by Charlie Lawrence on WKNY 1490 AM Kingston NY (Broadcast Live April 21st 2008)
You can listen to segments of that interview by selecting from the links below:
[time=5:02 for Real Player]
Discussion/Comparison of various routes (Asheville, Sonoma, Whitefish and Death Valley)
[time=5:02 for Windows Media Player]
Discussion/Comparison of various routes (Asheville, Sonoma, Whitefish and Death Valley)
EVEN BETTER WEATHER!. Today Chad and Dad got to take a training ride together. This
is what Saturday's are made for. The first real taste of hot weather in the Hudson Valley got our
minds to thinking about riding 100 miles or so through Death Valley with triple digit temperatures.
So once again we took our Glasco Turnpike route that I've been riding past few nights
and added a few miles to it... crossing over Route 212 and heading up into the steeper hills just outside of Woodstock
(actually between Woodstock and Saugerties). We wound up on the West Saugerties Road until it seemed right to turn
around and head for home. (Translation - I was getting worried about my legs giving out.)
When we got back - I googled a map of the area and we discovered that we were close to connecting
with part of the route of the 2007 Woodstock Century... so on our next trip up that way - we know where to head for some
more nice riding.
Total miles for the day - about 20. Not a lot - but some quality training and quality time as
Team Chad and Dad.
Today's photo selection comes from http://deathvalleyride.blogspot.com. This shot
really captures what a good portion of the Ride to Cure Diabetes looks like. Notice the spacing between riders - it can get lonely out there.
This seems like a good point to ask you to support us - please make a donation- Click on Chad or Charlie's name above to
donate online... or click on the offline link to print out a donation form and mail it to JDRF. Thanks.
Entry Date: April 18, 2008 (Friday)
FANTASTIC WEATHER!. Today the temps were in the upper 70's (maybe even close to 80). I was able
to get a ride in before supper - while the sun was still HOT. It was GREAT.
I kind of like the Glasco Turnpike route that I did yesterday and back on the 8th with Chad. SO
I rode the same route. This time I averaged 15.3 mph. (Remember - this is ROLLING terrain... in any one mile you may be hitting
close to 30 - then back to about 8 or 9 mph - then cruising between 18-23 mph.)
Today's YouTube selection (on the right) is pretty long (over 7 mins)
- but if you want to cheat - use the slider when viewing it to about 45
seconds into the video... at about :48 secs you can see me for about 2 seconds. I'm the guy
climbing up the sand and rocks to get to the Jubilee Pass sign so I can get my photo taken.
Entry Date: April 17, 2008 (Thursday)
OK. So there's been in break in training. My last ride was on April 8th. Well you see
I wasn't able to ride last weekend. Saturday was devoted to yard work - so I got a workout of sorts.
The workout consisted of:
Rake front lawn. This exercises arms and builds muscle strength
needed for those long rides - hill climbs and stability.
Rake back lawn. This exercises arms and builds muscle strength
needed for those long rides - hill climbs and stability. It also allowed
me to exercise and stretch my neck as I twisted my head left and right
watching to see what direction my dog was going to attack me from as
she attempted to steal my rake. Well - it looks like a stick!
Rake - shovel - move wet and decayed leaves from the "other" side of the
fence left over from the fall. Well actually left voer from the past two falls. You see
last year instead of doing yard work all I did was bike. Hmmm - sounds like a plan!
Bend and stretch and reach for the debris. That's stuff that the neighborhood
kids have tossed in the stream behind my house. Oh yeah - and remove stones (about 400 pounds each) which
were supposed to be in the "rock garden".
Clean up "the hill" on the side of the house. This provided a work out for the legs
as I went up and down the hill moving junk - sticks - leaves - sticks and other stuff.
30 some years ago, it seemed like a good idea to have such a big yard. But now that the "kids"
are all grown up and out of the house... I'm questioning that concept.
Shower and collapse on the couch
But TONIGHT - I was able to get out for a ride. Did the same ride as last time - up Glasco Turnpike
while meandering along some side roads for about 14 or 15 miles. Rolling terrain with one long grade. Managed to
average 15 mph. I'll take that!
The YouTube video to the right - shows what it's like going DOWN Jubilee Pass on a bicycle.
Entry Date: April 8, 2008 (Tuesday)
Ahhhh - Spring has finally sprung.
I got home from work (after about a 45 minute commute) scoffed down some Sloppy Joes. Kissed my wife goodbye. Gave the
dog a pat on the head and promised to walk her when I got back - and took off for a hard ride on rolling terrain going past
Opus 40
up to route 212 (almost to Woodstock) and turned around for a negative split return. Total saddle time about 1 hour averaging about 14.5 MPH
It felt great to cruise along. Only contact with life forms was a HUGE poodle that started to trot along side of me
going up hill around a bend. Then she calmly sat and looked at me with sad eyes... that said come on back and play. But I didn't. (Oh yeah and
one DEAD life form... a snake converted to road kill - sign of things to come.
So I finished the ride - showered - walked the dog for about a mile - came back - heated up the left over Sloppy Joes and now
I'm ready to fall asleep watching TV.
Oh yeah - here's a YOUTUBE video that another rider posted that shows what it's like
to climb up Jubilee Pass (that's the turn around point for the full 105 mile ride). The video shows
the point where riders have already completed at least 45 miles and now face a steady uphill for about 7.5 miles.
Entry Date: April 5, 2008
Well ok - it's been about two weeks since we've been out for a ride. It's not that we don't have any dedication... it's just that
Chad and I - Heck the WHOLE FAM DAMILY came down with the FLU. Argghh !.
But Chad and I climbed on our trusty steeds - as the say in the cowboy movies - today. We took
a ride on back roads... rolling with hills. Nothing eventful... just a chance to clear our our lungs (mucus on the road and skinny bike
tires are a dangerous combination) and take turns drafting... pretty decent pace for about 15 miles.
Oh yeah - posted this training video on YOUTUBE.COM.
Entry Date: March 22, 2008 - has been a busy day...
Team Chad & Dad have officially started training. Oh sure - Chad has been mountain biking all winter in the snow and mud - he even
ran across a Bear or two (That was BEAR - NOT BEER) while riding in the woods. And Charlie - well he put on about 15 or more pounds
since the 2007 Death Valley Ride. Not much activity... he attempted using the treadmill. Gave up after a week. Then he put the
windtrainer in one of the spare bedrooms (empty nest syndrome at the Lawrence's) - and rode off and on for a week or two... but slipped
on some black ice while walking the dog late one night... smack the back of the head pretty hard on the pavement... which knocked
any common sense he may have had... out of his head and he signed up for the 2008 Ride...
So today - Saturday March 22nd... after consuming another 4 pounds of hot cross buns... Charlie jumped up and suited up
when Chad came over and said... LET'S RIDE!!!
Now the sun may have been shining... but it was only around 40 degrees with lots of wind. We rode some back roads
dodging potholes and being very careful about the sand-salt-gravel on the turns. Chad had some decent gloves - but Charlie was riding
with fingerless riding gloves... About 30 minutes into the ride the old hands were getting chilled and stiff... So Charlie started
flexing fingers and stretching his left hand off to the left and then right hand off to the right... Chad was drafting at the time
and would look left - then right... thinking Charlie was pointing out road hazards or something of interest... Finally he road along side
and said WHAT THE BLEEP ARE YOU POINTING AT !!
A good first ride to get the dust out of the veins... about 13 miles... and a little frost bite. Check out the pics below
Here's Chad (left) and Dad (right) back from their first 2008 Training Ride...
Jim Haass wasn't on the training ride - but since his bike spent the winter in the Lawrence's garage - they decided to air it out
to get it ready for Jim's first ride... Yes that's SNOW!!!! Gotta love NY State.
LetsCureDiabetes.com
is NOT a non-profit organization.
This site is maintained by Charlie Lawrence on a volunteer basis
as part of his efforts to raise funds that support the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
To donate, volunteer or to learn more about The
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation locate a
JDRF Chapter near you!
Warning Signs / Symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes (these may occur suddenly)
Extreme thirst
Frequent urination
Sudden vision changes
Sugar in urine
Fruity, sweet, or wine-like odor on breath
Increased appetite
Sudden weight loss
Drowsiness, lethargy
Heavy, labored breathing
Stupor, unconsciousness
If your child exhibits one or more of these symptoms, call a doctor immediately.
- it makes you want to do even more. Please
help me - and help Team Chad and Dad - raise the money needed to find a cure for diabetes. Let's give
Amanda even more reasons to smile!
