Saturday, July 22, 2006

Heat Wave

A heat wave hit northwestern Washington this weekend. I recorede 94 yesterday. Glad I rode in the morning. But, without air conditioning in the house, it was a very warm night. Got up this morning and watched the Tour d'France. Floyd Landis is now in position to win, after taking the Yellow Jersey today. But, I decided to hold off riding today because of the heat and humidity. It is sooo humid. Should be cooler tomorrow, so I'll be off for another ride. Art

Thursday, July 20, 2006

Saddle Time

I have absolutely no idea how difficult this ride down the Oregon coast will be. Vicky Spring and Tom Kirkendall's book, Bicycling the Pacific Coast, rates the entire Oregon route as Moderate. Which I'm assuming means 'tough' for me.

I'm trying to increase my saddle time and mileage. I'm more interested in being fairly sure I can bike 5 or 6 hours a day more than the mileage. I'm sure if I can bike 6 hours that I'll be able to cover 60 miles. That's only ten miles an hour and my average now is in the 13 to 14 range.

So, I did a club ride last night that was about 25 miles... This was the shorter and slower group. Followed by a potluck. The day before I managed 29 miles. Off today. But, I'll ride the next three days in a row.

Monday, July 17, 2006

My Weight

Yes, my weight is bound to be an issue for me on my planned bike adventure down the Oregon coast in September. I weight in right at 200 pounds now. I'd like to lose at least 20 pounds before the trip. With that kind of weight loss, it might make uphill rides a bit easier. I've already lost 50 pounds since I started seriously biking a year ago.

I have just recently re-started my South Beach Diet. I went on this a year ago because the doctor had warned me of marginally high blood pressure and marginally high cholesterol levels. The diet has worked in bringing down both to an acceptable level. Neither is what they were when I was younger (I'm 62 now), but pretty good. I think it's keeping me off drugs, but I wonder how long.

My real problem is that some days I just don't feel like getting on my bike. Today's one of those days. The weather isn't bad today; it's just that I don't feel like biking. And, I've got work I can do.

Thursday, July 13, 2006

Trip Planning

I've decided to start a blog about my planned bicycling adventure on the Oregon Coast, set for September of 2006.

While mulling over a longer bike ride, I considered biking the entire West coast from Anacortes, Wash., where I live to San Diego. Then I considered biking just to Santa Ynez Valley in central Santa Barbara County. As I got more serious, I realized this would mean closing my business for as long as two months, too long for my clients to hang out without a Webmaster.

My trip now is less than two months away and I'm planning on biking from Astoria to Brookings Oregon, a distance somewhat under 400 miles. My plan is to follow the Adventure Cycling route map for this area, which generally follows US Highway 101. But, their route diverts off the highway for several reasons, which appear to include less congestion (read that car and truck traffic) and better scenery.

I've been an avid cyclist for several years now and it's been a dream to bike across country. When that appeared to be too much, I compromised on a trip down the West coast, a route I dearly love. But, as I get closer to actually leaving, it's clear that I just can't be gone as long as that trip would take.

Right now, I expect to do the trip in about 8 days.