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Archive for June, 2011

Skimming into silver sage country

Posted in Friends made on the road on June 9, 2011| 4 Comments »

Leoti, Kansas to Eads, Colorado

Friendly horn taps: 2

Miles: 81

Total so far: 2,523

I’ve ridden bicycles in areas that people hate to drive.  I’ve ridden bicycles through large tracks of land that I hate to drive.  The experience on a bicycle is so surprisingly interesting on roads and in areas where it’s kind to say it’s bone-numbing boring to drive a car, but it is.  Kansas is like that.

Crossing into state #9. Sallie and I are both natives of Colorado - but that was a long time ago, right?

We said our goodbyes to Kansas today.   As we approached the state line, I informed Sallie and Julie when we were about a mile and a half out, so they could have some time to reflect on our ride through Kansas.  Cyclists tend to be unkind in some of their impressions.  Motorists are even worse than unkind.  Bored motorists should ride a bike, because we enjoyed our tour through the Sunflower State.

What is that on those fence posts? They go back as far as I can see...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cowboy boots!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Julie will be going her own way (not a surprise!)

Tomorrow we are also saying our goodbyes to Julie.  She’s been with us for some 18 days and an amazing 1,049 miles.  Julie’s route will depart from ours as she heads directly west to San Fransisco on what is known as the Western Express.  We will turn north and head for ski country and other latitudes.  Julie’s mother has arranged to escort her travels west via car and this will speed her to her destination much faster.  Like any young woman, she has plans and things to do later on in the summer.

Julie has proven herself to be a determined young lady.  So much so that she will not be swayed from her destination and task until it is complete.  Good for her.  She is a very capable rider and the remaining miles will tremble at her pace.  I’ve not mentioned it, but she did her first century ride (100 miles) in the mountains of eastern Kentucky – while riding with a full load of gear.

Julie is that rare combination of youthful exuberance and determined spirit that just goes about business effortlessly knocking out hurdles and other obstacles that deter more “seasoned” folks into not even attempting what she’s done.  Good for her.

Last supper? From left, yours truly, Sallie, Julie, and newly arrived, Marica Thiery, Julie'smother.

 

Julie can be followed at http://spokenwordsfromtheroad.tumblr.com/.

You go girl.  We are pulling for you.

 

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Tomorrow’s ride is dedicated to Robert Lyle Weyer

Jessica Bentley submitted this request, and I am making an exception here for her.  I will print two images from her.  One a photograph, and one a written poem.  I think you will see why…

My father, Robert Lyle Weyer, was killed by a drunk driver September 16, 1979 in Kenton, Ohio at the age of 24. I am told he was funny, a hard worker, and a great friend. I have to be told these things and rely on others to know my father because I can’t remember him. This is the only image I have of the two of us together.

 

Robert Lyle Weyer

Dad

 We will stand beneath the whippoorwill and reminisce.

I will clutch you tightly sinking my face within your shirt, deep, as I breathe in that which I could not remember.

 We will dance beneath the purple hues of heaven; our first father and daughter dance;

swaying gingerly, step slide step, step slide step.

 What should we say; there is nothing to say; I love You does not suffice;

as the ache that was held within me has lifted- I am speechless.

 I breathe and you breathe- there is no breath. We gaze within this vastness.

Together we will take in the awe.

 See the stars! The same stars I had spent all my wishes upon. Wishes that you would be here before me-

Wishes well spent! Wishes well spent!

 

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Stroking out some miles

Posted in Friends made on the road, Living the life on June 8, 2011| 1 Comment »

Bazine, KS to Leoti, KS

Rude horn honks: 1

Friendly horn taps: 1

Miles: 93

Total so far: 2,442

Navigating Kansas - it's not difficult. The horizontal red line on the map section is our route, going right to left. No turns for a couple of days. Just go.

We confidently arose at 4:30 this morning, despite strong southerly winds.  The forecast had good things to promise, so we were game for the day.  Elaine fixed us each a fortifying portion of hot ten grain cereal, we packed up our gear and said our goodbyes to Elaine and Dan and thanked them for their kind hospitality at the Biker’s Oasis.

As promised, the winds died and we started out of Bazine.  The winds eventually re-kindled themselves, this time from the north, but then to our highest expectation they turned northeast, and we pushed out some significant mileage with a quartering tail wind.  Most of the journals I’ve read from riders going through Kansas have complaints about the winds, but there always seems to be a day when they can kick out some miles — today was our day.  93 miles down the road, we stopped at Leoti, Kansas for the night.

Kansas today

Not only were the winds favorable for riding due to their direction, because of the northern influence, cooler temperatures prevailed, so we were free of the 100 degree heat for the day.  All of this combined with a day off thee bikes yesterday, and the great hospitality from Elaine and her husband Dan, made for another terrific chapter in the ride we are truly grateful for.

Speaking of gratitude:  We’ve encountered another individual on this ride who has been leap-frogging us some and so we’ve seen him intermittently for the last 10 days or so.  This gentleman is from another country that I will choose not to identify because he is, by all measures, a seriously negative fellow and I think it unfair to paint his countrymen in that light.  In our very brief encounters with him, we’ve heard him complain about the snakes, the lack of a good steak, poor lodging choices in towns of less than 1,000 people, the performance of his own very expensive bike, and how much he paid for it, the wind (of course), the roads, the trucks, the lack of amenities provided in the city parks (where we are permitted to camp for free)…the list goes on.  In short, this poor fellow is having a miserable time.

The first time we saw him he rode by us as we were stopped to stretch without so much as a “hello” (it is customary on the Trans-Am for riders to stop and exchange greetings and riding information every time one encounters another). I believe that is the heart of the matter with this gentleman.  If we were to forfeit the pleasure of greeting others on this trip, we would miss 90 percent or more of the beauty we have found.  Yes, this is a gorgeous country, but the people are the rarity that makes all this work for us.

On the other hand, we have found great pleasure in meeting others, have tried our best to be open to what others have to say about things, and have purposely sought out the beauty in places where it may be often overlooked.  That is not to say we are perfect by any means – journeys like this take people to their (sometimes) ragged edges – however we’ve found great beauty and benefit and that is what touring is all about.

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Tomorrow’s ride is dedicated to Justin Daniel Fujibayashi

Justin Fujibayashi

On December 4, 2008, Justin Fujibayashi of Valley Falls, Kansas was killed in a motor vehicle collision involving a drunk driver.  Justin was a husband and father of two children.  He will always be missed by his family and friends and everyone who knew him as a smart, thoughtful, funny man.


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Blown out

Posted in Friends made on the road, Just for fun on June 7, 2011| 3 Comments »

Bazine, KS

Day off – no riding

The view from inside the mesh

This is the view I had from my tent this morning upon getting up…no stars, but bright sun.  Yes, I slept in.  We arose at 4:30 this morning, but the wind turned very bad overnight and it was blowing in excess of 40miles per hour well before sunrise.  There was no chance of a productive ride today and a better forecast for tomorrow.  I slept in.

Elaine of Elaine's Bicycle Oasis B&B in Bazine, KS

What to do in Bazine, Kansas?  First of all, understand we are staying at Elaine’s Bicycle Oasis Bed and Breakfast.  That means there is a local contact to help with local sights and things to do, and one nice enough to loan us a car to do a little touring (sans bikes).

Barbed Wire Capital of the World!

Once I complete

Sallie examines a ball 'O barbed wire

d chain maintenance on the bicycles, we went to Effie’s Restaurant in Rush Center for her famous hamburgers, and then went up the road to LaCrosse to the Rush County Barbed Wire Museum.

Samples from all over the world

In all seriousness, barbed wire was an extremely important advancement in the great plains, preventing large cattle drives from entering croplands.

Rock Post Museum

 

Then we went to the Post Rock museum.  Folks in this part of Kansas did not have access to timber for fence posts, so they used the local sandstone for posts.   These post don’t rot, and are still in use all over the area.

Rock post on a fence line corner

OK Philip - this one's for you. Elaine's is a very serious place. Cyclists behave!

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Since today was an unexpected day off the bikes, our dedication from yesterday will continue for tomorrow.

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Ride Across Kansas!

Posted in Uncategorized on June 6, 2011| 2 Comments »

Larned, KS to Bazine, KS

Friendly horn taps: 1

Friendly cyclists wishing us well: Several hundred

Miles: 54

Total so far: 2,349

Meeting riders from the RAK at Rush Center, Kansas

We encountered the RAK today, otherwise known as the ride across Kansas.  They have something like a thousand riders, and have been conducting the ride for over thirty years.  Their ride is always west-to-east, and the route varies each year.  We intersected their route quite by mistake at  Rush Center, Kansas.

It was fun visiting with the riders.  They were quite interested in our travels and uniformly, they all wished us well.  As we left Rush Center, we rode west while the remaining riders went east on the same road.

The Ride Across Kansas is a seven day supported ride.  Supported means they transport the gear for the riders in trucks to the next evening’s stop, and the riders can travel unimpeded through the day.  The ride organizers arrange for rst stops every 10 or fifteen miles, with refreshments, fruit and snacks for the riders. I understand the overnight towns where the ride stops host a variety of meals and entertainment options for the riders, and they are quite famous for rolling out the red carpet and hosting their evening stop in a big way. There is a woman in my cycling club in Dallas that rides in the Kansas ride every year and truly enjoys the experience.

Sallie and I have been on several supported rides around the country to include, rides in Florida, Georgia, Wyoming, and the “big one”, Iowa’s RAGBRAI, a ride that numbers in excess of 10,000 participants.

One of the riders today engaged me in a conversation and then promptly made a donation to MADD on the spot.  Thank you Kansas!

Otter Creek, south of Rush Center, KS

 

 

Sallie and an early morning wheat field

Julie on a rare north-bound stretch with a tailwind

 

An old barn holding onto residence in a wheat field

 

The now obligatory Kansas today photo

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Tomorrrow’s ride is dedicated to Jason James Grandon

Jason James Grandon

Jason’s hometown is Paola, Kansas.  Jason was killed in a drunk driving collision at the age of 20 years, on May 19, 2002.  Jason’s father says Jason was his only son and his best friend.  He describes Jason as the son every father dreamed of having.


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All that bike stuff

Posted in Our equipment on June 5, 2011| 2 Comments »

Sterling, KS to Larned, KS

Miles: 55

Total so far: 2,295

Sunset last night near Sterling, KS

We are riding touring bikes.  These are different than the average “road bike” one sees at bike shops these days.  It would be rare for a bike shop to stock touring bikes as they are not the lightweight steeds the market craves these days. Featherweight carbon fiber in racing configurations will not hold up to what we are doing.  Carbon fiber can hold a heavy rider, but when touring panniers are placed on a lightweight bike, odd things take place because of the significant change in centers of gravity, and the geometry of the bike.

Sunrise near Sterling, KS this morning - we were already on the road

These bikes are steel through and through.  They have to hold up to heavy loads placed in odd configurations, and treated roughly.  I am riding a Co-Motion Americano Co-Pilot.

Co-Motion Americano

A bike specially configured for touring from the same steel tubing and components used in Co-Motion tandems (a tandem is a single bike built for two riders).  This bike has couplers that allow the frame to be taken apart.  The bike breaks down and fits in an airline compatible suitcase.

Sallie is riding the venerable Trek 520.  This is a model of touring bike that has been around for 30 years or so.

Trek 520

Hers is only about five years old, and reflects improvements in design and components consistent with modern bikes.

Although these have  all the appearance of a “road bike”, the gearing and associated components along with the brakes are actually from the mountain bike world, allowing very low gearing for pulling steep hills with heavy loads.  Both of these bikes have “old school” bar-end shifters that allow room for handle bar bags that will not interfere with shifting cables.  We are running 700×32 Schwalbe Marathon Plus tires.  These are a touring favorite and are pretty bomb-proof.

Our bikes have front and rear cargo racks from Tubus, and our panniers (bags) and handle bar bags are manufactured by Ortlieb.  We weighed my bike the other day on a digital scale used for deer at 78 pounds fully loaded (without the rider, of course).

Maintenance-wise, we’ve done pretty well so far.  I had to replace a freak broken spoke on my front wheel at about 600 miles into the ride (for you mechanically inclined out there, I say it was a freak thing because it not only broke on the front wheel, but it broke inside the nipple at the threading.  My wheels have 40 spokes each so they do not often break).  I’ve had to true Sallie’s rear wheel once, and lube some clicking pedals.  So far that’s it.  Cyclists NEVER like to mention the “F”-word while still riding lest they jinx themselves, but to date, we’ve not had any flat tires to repair.  The credit for that goes to Schwalbe for making such a tough touring tire.

Kansas today

 

 

Early morning shadow play

Arriving in Larned, KS; Agenda: Have lunch and go to the pool.

100 degrees? Great pool! (Trans Am cyclists are invited in for free)

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Tomorrow’s ride is dedicated to Jason Curtis Barnett

Jason Curtis Barnett

Jason Barnett was killed by a drunk driver on May 14, 1997.  Jason was from Elkhart, Kansas.  An impaired driver failed to secure his trailer.  It became detached and went into the oncoming lane causing a head-on collision.


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