Of Two Rides

Yesterday was about the difference between two rides that I took. One off road, and one on. The off road ride happened in the morning out at Camp Ingawanis. They just had a race out there Sunday, and I had heard that the trails were in great shape. So, I took out the Sawyer with the Gates Carbon Drive Center Track on it to give it another trail test.

Got a Carbon Fiber Kickstand!

The trails were really great, well........except where some big ol' tree crashed down through the canopy and blocked the trail! Right at the furthest west point as you go in, at the turn to the right, where you go down hill for a bit, there it was. It looked very odd. As far as I can tell, the tree, which was very tall and had no real lower branches to speak of, looked to have just rotted in half, with the top portion crashing down through the shorter trees, and breaking some of these off.

The blockage is immense. Not sure how that'll get dealt with, because it would be a massive job with a chainsaw as it stands now. At any rate, you have to bushwhack your way around it now. No two ways about it.

Besides this check, it was smooth sailing. Spiders are making their presence known by stringing webs across the trail again. It is that time of the year when you will get that. It wasn't very bad yesterday, but I bet it will be in the coming weeks. First guy through will get the honors each day!

It was coolish, lower humidity, and bright and clear for this ride. I got done what I needed to get done, and left for home. Legs felt great for the first time since the Guitar Ted Death Ride Invitational. Powered up the climbs really well on the single speed. Oh! Yeah, and about that Center Track: Good stuff, performance-wise. Very nice. I'll have more to say on this soon.....

This Side Up?

The next ride was a fun, cargo bike ride. I had to box up the Airborne Goblin and send it to the bike shop so it could be picked up for shipping.

I love doing this sort of thing by bicycle. It is so much more relaxing and fun than driving my truck. There is only the issue of the "donor bike" I used to affix the Xtracycle Free Radical to.

It is an old 80's era Schwinn, and really isn't a bad bike to hitch this long tail to, but with the size of the loads I can get to carry on it, I am experiencing a lot of flexy, flapping around. Steel tubes that were never designed for this sort of loading, ya know?  I am pretty serious about committing to doing more of this sort of riding and hauling in the future, so my mind was running across the options today.

I could easily get a Surly Big Dummy or a Trek Transport. The frame for the Big Dummy would easily take the Xtracycle stuff I already have. The Trek comes with some cool features like fenders, swapable dropouts for a possible internal geared hub switch, and the side racks fold up. Plus it has a nice front rack too. Decisions...

Another idea was to look at a Surly trailer, keep the Schwinn as is for errands, groceries, and what not, and do the "heavy lifting" with the trailer, which would fit about any 29"er I have around here.

Well, at any rate, the ol' Goblin boxed up was heavy! I was swaying and wagging up hill most of the way, and then back home empty it was just peachy. Then I mowed the lawn, and that zapped the last bit of energy I had in me. By this time it was hot, and of course, that played into the feelings of wanting to sleep at 4pm quite a bit!

Ahh! All in a good day's work.....

Make It In The U.S.A.

So, where is this bicycle made? I hear this question a lot in the bicycle shop I work at. Oh, it doesn't happen to get asked as often as it did 9 years ago, when I started my current job, but it still gets asked often. Obviously, the answer is kind of a downer in a town that still "makes" tractor parts and some agricultural tractors in a factory across town.

Made In Iowa, U.S.A.

I came from a small manufacturing town. I watched as labor unions and management fought each other while the rank and file workers, like my father, stood by and watched them piss it all away. Now they don't make anything in that town of as much significance as they did then. Jobs in other cities met similar fates, or were shipped overseas. It seems like everything is "Made In China" anymore.

Depressing.................

But, it isn't really that way, of course. Things are still made here in the U.S.A., and not everyone is in a "service job". As far as bicycles go, little pockets of U.S. based manufacture are still bubbling up. Out east in Boston, down in the southwest in Arizona, and of course, Portland, Oregon. It isn't huge. It isn't a big, huge deal in terms of "workforce numbers".....yet, but if things start to change in the right way, (and I think it is very likely that they will), you just might see a "big" bicycle factory pop up somewhere on these shores again.

Recently a "U.S. Manufacturing Council Listening Session" happened out in Oregon where Francisco Sanchez, the Under Secretary of Commerce For International Trade, led a session which included large, medium, and small U.S. manufacturers who voiced their concerns about how U.S. manufacturing is being held back, and how it could be grown. The small manufacturing concerns were represented by Chris De Stefano of Chris King Precision Components. (See a report about the meeting here)

The day before, a tour was held at the King manufacturing facility which hosted several government officials attached to the Commerce Department. They were shown how a small manufacturer can thrive in a business dominated by foreign competition, and how such a business can be run cleanly and with respect for the environment and the people employed there.

Hope.....

 Image by Dylan VanWeelden

Why Does It Matter? Well, it probably doesn't to a lot of folks. I mean, you ride your bicycle, you are happy, right? (That's a lot of "you" right there though, ya know?) How about this kind of "you" instead? So, what if you could buy a bicycle you wanted at a fair price that was made in the U.S.A.? Why wouldn't you? It would be something that employed another U.S. citizen, maybe benefited a U.S. family, and the money that family brought in from your purchase, (and others), would be spent in this economy. Maybe.....

Sound good? It sure does to me.

Basically, the bikes made overseas are probably pretty dang good. (In fact, I know that they are.) The parts that are on them, well....they are awesome. It isn't that folks there are being worked in bad conditions or not, or that they use "child labor", or not. This isn't about that. This is about doing things here for us, so that we can benefit the U.S.  It's about doing things that we can feel good about, instead of, well........not so good. 

Ya know, it would be pretty rad if I could answer that question I brought up at the outset of this post by saying, "Well Sir, it is made right here, in the U.S.A." 

Yeah......that would be pretty cool.

Make It In The U.S.A.

So, where is this bicycle made? I hear this question a lot in the bicycle shop I work at. Oh, it doesn't happen to get asked as often as it did 9 years ago, when I started my current job, but it still gets asked often. Obviously, the answer is kind of a downer in a town that still "makes" tractor parts and some agricultural tractors in a factory across town.

Made In Iowa, U.S.A.

I came from a small manufacturing town. I watched as labor unions and management fought each other while the rank and file workers, like my father, stood by and watched them piss it all away. Now they don't make anything in that town of as much significance as they did then. Jobs in other cities met similar fates, or were shipped overseas. It seems like everything is "Made In China" anymore.

Depressing.................

But, it isn't really that way, of course. Things are still made here in the U.S.A., and not everyone is in a "service job". As far as bicycles go, little pockets of U.S. based manufacture are still bubbling up. Out east in Boston, down in the southwest in Arizona, and of course, Portland, Oregon. It isn't huge. It isn't a big, huge deal in terms of "workforce numbers".....yet, but if things start to change in the right way, (and I think it is very likely that they will), you just might see a "big" bicycle factory pop up somewhere on these shores again.

Recently a "U.S. Manufacturing Council Listening Session" happened out in Oregon where Francisco Sanchez, the Under Secretary of Commerce For International Trade, led a session which included large, medium, and small U.S. manufacturers who voiced their concerns about how U.S. manufacturing is being held back, and how it could be grown. The small manufacturing concerns were represented by Chris De Stefano of Chris King Precision Components. (See a report about the meeting here)

The day before, a tour was held at the King manufacturing facility which hosted several government officials attached to the Commerce Department. They were shown how a small manufacturer can thrive in a business dominated by foreign competition, and how such a business can be run cleanly and with respect for the environment and the people employed there.

Hope.....

 Image by Dylan VanWeelden

Why Does It Matter? Well, it probably doesn't to a lot of folks. I mean, you ride your bicycle, you are happy, right? (That's a lot of "you" right there though, ya know?) How about this kind of "you" instead? So, what if you could buy a bicycle you wanted at a fair price that was made in the U.S.A.? Why wouldn't you? It would be something that employed another U.S. citizen, maybe benefited a U.S. family, and the money that family brought in from your purchase, (and others), would be spent in this economy. Maybe.....

Sound good? It sure does to me.

Basically, the bikes made overseas are probably pretty dang good. (In fact, I know that they are.) The parts that are on them, well....they are awesome. It isn't that folks there are being worked in bad conditions or not, or that they use "child labor", or not. This isn't about that. This is about doing things here for us, so that we can benefit the U.S.  It's about doing things that we can feel good about, instead of, well........not so good. 

Ya know, it would be pretty rad if I could answer that question I brought up at the outset of this post by saying, "Well Sir, it is made right here, in the U.S.A." 

Yeah......that would be pretty cool.

Guitar Ted Death Ride Invitational 2011: Ride Report Pt II

This is Part II on the Guitar Ted Death Ride Invitational for 2011. Part 1 was posted on Monday, August 1st....

As we continued on from the devastation in Clutier, Iowa, we hit upon some gently rolling countryside. This was during a period of quite pleasant temperatures, and lowish humidity levels. It seemed odd, and several riders remarked at how pleasant it was. This, of course, wouldn't last, but more on that in a bit.

Rolling Pleasantly Along (Yes- That's a Mukluk Back There!)

Of course, what would a ride be without a flat tire. So it was that Tim, "The Cookie Man", had called up that he had flatted. We decided to pull up the road to a place where there was some shade, and then Tim went to work on his Raleigh RX 1. Meanwhile, bemused locals passed us by twice- once each way- to make sure they would get the story right when they made their remarks over afternoon lite beerz.

An example of what we saw too much of in Central Tama County

Hanging Out While "The Cookie Man" Fixed His Tire

Tim got his rig all up to snuff, and then we were off again. We passed the outskirts of Elberon, then we hit a stretch of flatter river bottom road. It was here that we came across Matt on the Surly. Matt had indicated to me on late Friday that he was planning on riding out of Ames over to meet us. He had said he would start riding the course backward until he met us starting at Toledo. Well, it was here, on the roads just south of Elberon, where we finally met up.

After this, we hit up on a long, snaking climb that would lead us to the "ridge road" that was to take us toward Toledo. For the most part, it stayed higher up, and missed all the valleys. This allowed for some spectacular views.

Adam using his device. Tweeting I assume?

An Old Bridge Leading To Elberon

I kind of followed Matt on the Surly's lead here. He turned around, and caught on the pack of riders, and then pretty much blew by all of us, taking Doug with him. I didn't deter them, as I wanted to "up the pace" a bit to get some time back. I just felt we needed to get to Toledo before noon, and time was running short to get that done.

Hey! Matt On The All City Going The Wrong Way.

Views Of The Iowan Landscape  Were Plentiful

Well, it may have been a bit too much for the group. I felt a little bad after we stopped at the top of a big climb, the first in some miles, when I found out Adam and another Matt were missing. Stephen, who had toiled up slowly near the end of the group, called in for a ride right then and there.

We waited for Adam and Matt to show up for quite a while, but finally I had to tell Stephen to relay a message if he saw them that we were heading on to Toledo. We would barely make it by noon.

Another Convenience Store, Another Line Of Bicycles!

We got our grub on in Toledo and by this time it was evident that the heat was ratcheting up a few notches. Still, I was in good spirits and excited to see if we would find the zebra I saw on Wednesday when I was down that way for recon. It was getting around to that time when we were zipping up bags, stowing bottles, and strapping on helmets when I looked up and saw Matt's green All City sitting there. Whoa! Where did he come from?

I spoke to Matt, and he explained that he had peeled off to see how Adam was doing. They were together and had come down for the ride from Michigan. Well, Adam wasn't doing so hot. Cramps, dehydration, and fatigue were getting the best of him. He called in for a ride. Matt said he had come across Stephen waiting for his ride up the road, and that he had gotten the message that we were in Toledo.

So, we were down to 10 riders. We waited for Adam to scarf down a personal pizza and a drink, and we were off. This route out of town lead us to the shoulder of Highway 63 for a mile and a half. Well, there was some debris on that shoulder and it got Mike's Mukluk tire flat. I and a couple others were out front and missed this, so we had climbed up to the point where the zebra had been spotted, and then pulled up to wait. Well, there wasn't one zebra.........there were five! 

Curious Zebras Observing Strange Two Wheeled Travelers

 Well, while we were waiting for the flat tire to be repaired on Mike's Mukluk, it was obvious that the temperature was soaring well into the upper 90's and the humidity level wasn't crazy, but it was up there as well. I was starting to feel it in a negative way, and we had some big, mean climbs coming up, including the zig-zag B Road I reconned just the previous Wednesday. By the time I got through that section, I was very nearly the last rider in to the cover of some shade, where I plopped myself down near a flower bed. It was pretty bad from that point for me.

I was pretty much in survival mode for the next 25 miles. Fortunately, after the B Road, things flattened out for about 8 miles and I could put in a lower, steady effort. Ken was supportive to me at this time, falling back a couple of times to ask how I was doing. I was just way too hot.

A Blazing Hot Day On The Bike (Image by Scott Ronken)

The route then turned and entered the "Wolf Creek Walls" section I put in Trans Iowa V7's course this year. Brutal! In the midst of this section, I came up on the riders waiting for me again under a grove of trees, where I again just threw myself on the ground and rested as fast and hard as I could. At about this time, a discussion arose amongst the riders as to where a certain county park was I had mentioned that we could get water at. Matt on the Surly pointed out that we were not scheduled to go by this, as I had thought previously. (I had forgotten I changed up that part of the route) So, I called a vote. All in favor? The vote was unanimous! (Not surprisingly!) We would stop for water, and it was well received news. Many were getting low on supply.

Unfortunately, Matt on the All City was up the road. Waaaay up the road! No one had seen him for a bit. Uh oh! Guess he was doing the route as planned. Hopefully he didn't wait around for us, or end up without water!

Unusual blasts of cooler air were being felt from time to time now in the southerly cross winds by the riders. It was odd, but strangely refreshing when these would hit you. Hitting a patch of road shadowed by a cloud was worth what seemed like 10 degrees less heat. I don't know, but maybe I was overly sensitive to these things in my state of condition at that time. However; others remarked later they had felt it too.

The Refreshing Oasis At T.F. Clark Co. Park

Everyone Checking Their Dratted Devices!

This all came to a much appreciated end when we reached T.F. Clark County Park on Wolf Creek. There we found a sharp draught of water to cool our bones and innards. It was fantastic! It fairly revived me to the point where I could make my tired old legs go roundy-round for the last 8 miles of the route. What could happen in 8 miles anyway?

We came upon a sign at the crossing of two gravel roads that said "Bridge Out Ahead" . We all stopped, and some dazed and confused minds tried to debate on what was to be done. As ride leader, I was just chuckling to myself, and thinking we should go and see what we would see, but I felt it wasn't going to go that way. Some riders were leaning towards hitting the pavement two miles to our east, and then going northwards two and a half miles to the camp. I didn't like the sounds of that, and apparently, Jeremy didn't either. He grew frustrated with the indecision, and announced he was going on. I saw everyone clip in to follow him, and smiled. I like the way that guy thinks! In the end, it turned out to be no big deal.

The Bridge That Was "Out", But Wasn't.

We did scare out these wading cattle from under the bridge though!

So it was that we labored up the final hills towards Hickory Hills access road, and cruised in for the finish. Riders recorded anywhere from 99 plus to just over 100 miles on their respective GPS units, so I figured it at 100 miles. Matt on the All City even finished the route, (as it was planned), and got right at 100 miles as well. How'd he fare? Just fine. He said an elderly farm couple took him in and set him up with some much needed water.

Several riders took their leave immediately, but Scott, Ken, Matt on the Surly, and Courtney and I sat around, had a beer, and chatted. Tim distributed his homemade cookies he did just for the event, and we all pronounced them quite edible. Then we each wandered off to get cleaned up, and most went on their respective ways home.

Matt on the Surly and I went out to "The Door", Iowa, and got some pizza. Then he crashed in his hammock, and I in my tent. The next day, Matt got up early to peddle home, and I broke camp the way I set it up. All on my own.

It was a really great GTDRI this year. I don't know if I've ever had this many riders before, or a course that combined all the traits of Iowa gravel so well into one big dusty mess. As always, I thank each and everyone that came out for a little bit, or all of this ride. I am humbled beyond belief that you come, and even more that you had fun doing this goofy gravel gig.

Until next time...................

Guitar Ted Death Ride Invitational 2011: Ride Report Pt II

This is Part II on the Guitar Ted Death Ride Invitational for 2011. Part 1 was posted on Monday, August 1st....

As we continued on from the devastation in Clutier, Iowa, we hit upon some gently rolling countryside. This was during a period of quite pleasant temperatures, and lowish humidity levels. It seemed odd, and several riders remarked at how pleasant it was. This, of course, wouldn't last, but more on that in a bit.

Rolling Pleasantly Along (Yes- That's a Mukluk Back There!)

Of course, what would a ride be without a flat tire. So it was that Tim, "The Cookie Man", had called up that he had flatted. We decided to pull up the road to a place where there was some shade, and then Tim went to work on his Raleigh RX 1. Meanwhile, bemused locals passed us by twice- once each way- to make sure they would get the story right when they made their remarks over afternoon lite beerz.

An example of what we saw too much of in Central Tama County

Hanging Out While "The Cookie Man" Fixed His Tire

Tim got his rig all up to snuff, and then we were off again. We passed the outskirts of Elberon, then we hit a stretch of flatter river bottom road. It was here that we came across Matt on the Surly. Matt had indicated to me on late Friday that he was planning on riding out of Ames over to meet us. He had said he would start riding the course backward until he met us starting at Toledo. Well, it was here, on the roads just south of Elberon, where we finally met up.

After this, we hit up on a long, snaking climb that would lead us to the "ridge road" that was to take us toward Toledo. For the most part, it stayed higher up, and missed all the valleys. This allowed for some spectacular views.

Adam using his device. Tweeting I assume?

An Old Bridge Leading To Elberon

I kind of followed Matt on the Surly's lead here. He turned around, and caught on the pack of riders, and then pretty much blew by all of us, taking Doug with him. I didn't deter them, as I wanted to "up the pace" a bit to get some time back. I just felt we needed to get to Toledo before noon, and time was running short to get that done.

Hey! Matt On The All City Going The Wrong Way.

Views Of The Iowan Landscape  Were Plentiful

Well, it may have been a bit too much for the group. I felt a little bad after we stopped at the top of a big climb, the first in some miles, when I found out Adam and another Matt were missing. Stephen, who had toiled up slowly near the end of the group, called in for a ride right then and there.

We waited for Adam and Matt to show up for quite a while, but finally I had to tell Stephen to relay a message if he saw them that we were heading on to Toledo. We would barely make it by noon.

Another Convenience Store, Another Line Of Bicycles!

We got our grub on in Toledo and by this time it was evident that the heat was ratcheting up a few notches. Still, I was in good spirits and excited to see if we would find the zebra I saw on Wednesday when I was down that way for recon. It was getting around to that time when we were zipping up bags, stowing bottles, and strapping on helmets when I looked up and saw Matt's green All City sitting there. Whoa! Where did he come from?

I spoke to Matt, and he explained that he had peeled off to see how Adam was doing. They were together and had come down for the ride from Michigan. Well, Adam wasn't doing so hot. Cramps, dehydration, and fatigue were getting the best of him. He called in for a ride. Matt said he had come across Stephen waiting for his ride up the road, and that he had gotten the message that we were in Toledo.

So, we were down to 10 riders. We waited for Adam to scarf down a personal pizza and a drink, and we were off. This route out of town lead us to the shoulder of Highway 63 for a mile and a half. Well, there was some debris on that shoulder and it got Mike's Mukluk tire flat. I and a couple others were out front and missed this, so we had climbed up to the point where the zebra had been spotted, and then pulled up to wait. Well, there wasn't one zebra.........there were five! 

Curious Zebras Observing Strange Two Wheeled Travelers

 Well, while we were waiting for the flat tire to be repaired on Mike's Mukluk, it was obvious that the temperature was soaring well into the upper 90's and the humidity level wasn't crazy, but it was up there as well. I was starting to feel it in a negative way, and we had some big, mean climbs coming up, including the zig-zag B Road I reconned just the previous Wednesday. By the time I got through that section, I was very nearly the last rider in to the cover of some shade, where I plopped myself down near a flower bed. It was pretty bad from that point for me.

I was pretty much in survival mode for the next 25 miles. Fortunately, after the B Road, things flattened out for about 8 miles and I could put in a lower, steady effort. Ken was supportive to me at this time, falling back a couple of times to ask how I was doing. I was just way too hot.

A Blazing Hot Day On The Bike (Image by Scott Ronken)

The route then turned and entered the "Wolf Creek Walls" section I put in Trans Iowa V7's course this year. Brutal! In the midst of this section, I came up on the riders waiting for me again under a grove of trees, where I again just threw myself on the ground and rested as fast and hard as I could. At about this time, a discussion arose amongst the riders as to where a certain county park was I had mentioned that we could get water at. Matt on the Surly pointed out that we were not scheduled to go by this, as I had thought previously. (I had forgotten I changed up that part of the route) So, I called a vote. All in favor? The vote was unanimous! (Not surprisingly!) We would stop for water, and it was well received news. Many were getting low on supply.

Unfortunately, Matt on the All City was up the road. Waaaay up the road! No one had seen him for a bit. Uh oh! Guess he was doing the route as planned. Hopefully he didn't wait around for us, or end up without water!

Unusual blasts of cooler air were being felt from time to time now in the southerly cross winds by the riders. It was odd, but strangely refreshing when these would hit you. Hitting a patch of road shadowed by a cloud was worth what seemed like 10 degrees less heat. I don't know, but maybe I was overly sensitive to these things in my state of condition at that time. However; others remarked later they had felt it too.

The Refreshing Oasis At T.F. Clark Co. Park

Everyone Checking Their Dratted Devices!

This all came to a much appreciated end when we reached T.F. Clark County Park on Wolf Creek. There we found a sharp draught of water to cool our bones and innards. It was fantastic! It fairly revived me to the point where I could make my tired old legs go roundy-round for the last 8 miles of the route. What could happen in 8 miles anyway?

We came upon a sign at the crossing of two gravel roads that said "Bridge Out Ahead" . We all stopped, and some dazed and confused minds tried to debate on what was to be done. As ride leader, I was just chuckling to myself, and thinking we should go and see what we would see, but I felt it wasn't going to go that way. Some riders were leaning towards hitting the pavement two miles to our east, and then going northwards two and a half miles to the camp. I didn't like the sounds of that, and apparently, Jeremy didn't either. He grew frustrated with the indecision, and announced he was going on. I saw everyone clip in to follow him, and smiled. I like the way that guy thinks! In the end, it turned out to be no big deal.

The Bridge That Was "Out", But Wasn't.

We did scare out these wading cattle from under the bridge though!

So it was that we labored up the final hills towards Hickory Hills access road, and cruised in for the finish. Riders recorded anywhere from 99 plus to just over 100 miles on their respective GPS units, so I figured it at 100 miles. Matt on the All City even finished the route, (as it was planned), and got right at 100 miles as well. How'd he fare? Just fine. He said an elderly farm couple took him in and set him up with some much needed water.

Several riders took their leave immediately, but Scott, Ken, Matt on the Surly, and Courtney and I sat around, had a beer, and chatted. Tim distributed his homemade cookies he did just for the event, and we all pronounced them quite edible. Then we each wandered off to get cleaned up, and most went on their respective ways home.

Matt on the Surly and I went out to "The Door", Iowa, and got some pizza. Then he crashed in his hammock, and I in my tent. The next day, Matt got up early to peddle home, and I broke camp the way I set it up. All on my own.

It was a really great GTDRI this year. I don't know if I've ever had this many riders before, or a course that combined all the traits of Iowa gravel so well into one big dusty mess. As always, I thank each and everyone that came out for a little bit, or all of this ride. I am humbled beyond belief that you come, and even more that you had fun doing this goofy gravel gig.

Until next time...................

Guitar Ted Death Ride Invitational 2011: Ride Report Pt 1

Well, as the post yesterday indicated, the Guitar Ted Death Ride Invitational was a success for 2011. It was a brutal ride, as it should be, but good times were had by all in attendance, it seems.

The event started out with me setting up the tent in Hickory Hills on Friday evening. Wasn't long before Courtney showed up and we ended up chatting for several hours until the sun had set and we both were feeling it was about time to "head for the shed" as the old Iowa farmers would say. Just about then, I noticed a bright LED light coming our way, and then Scott and Ken emerged from behind the blazing generator light on Ken's Curt Goodrich bike to greet us.

It wasn't long before we were all bedded down for the night in anticipation of our 6am start time. The night was pretty uneventful, and by 5am, I had already gotten up and was getting prepared for the day's ride, Courtney, Ken, and Scott soon followed suit. We rolled down to the start and found a few other riders awaiting us. By the time we were all assembled, there were 12 of us, including Robert who rode down from Waterloo to join us for the first leg of the ride. He would then have to ride back home to attend to some other obligations, but it was great having him along for the start.

(Reminder: Click on any photo to enlarge it)

Looking out from Hickory Hills at the onset of the GTDRI

A Range Of Emotions On The Rider's Faces At The Start

We got off to a decent start into a foggy, humid, coolish morning. The morning is a great time to be on a bike, and especially on a weekend. Not many people are out and about just after 6am, and watching the sunrise on our easterly depart was fantastic. Everyone immediately settled into a comfortable, if not slightly rapid pace. I figured we were all either a bit excited, nervous, or a combination of both, as we crunched the gravel underneath our tires.

It wasn't too long into the ride before we hit on our first little adventure. The county deemed a wooden bridge, a span of about 50 feet, unsafe for vehicular travel, and so had set up a road closed sign at the head of our second B Maintenance road. The first B Road was so good, smooth, and fast, I was hoping we'd not have to miss the respite from the chunky gravel, and I think the others were of the same mind, so on we went by, against the will of the sign and the authority behind it. (It wouldn't be the last time this happened on this day!)

Riding along and watching the sun rise.

Our "Scout" Sent Up The Road To Check On The Closure.

Turns out that the bridge was passable only if we scooted around the barriers set up on either end of the bridge. Don't make a false move! With only about a foot around the end of the barrier, a misstep could land you 20 feet down into the small creek! Fortunately, all bicycles and humans were unharmed in the passage.

Bridge crossing in the sunlit mist.

After this early bit of adventuring, we had a short jaunt into our first town, Traer. I like Traer as a stopping point, or a beginning point for rides. It has a decent convenience store, and sits in a centralized area for good gravel loops. We  descended upon the convenience store like a pack of ravenous wolves. I don't think the manager had quite seen the likes of this before. We cleaned out the hot breakfast sandwich display, much to the amazed chagrin of the young woman in the kitchen. Then we sat down outside, munched down our food, and re-filled water bottles, much to the seeming horror and slight disgust of the locals coming into and out of the place. Ha! It is always like this wherever I go with a group of gravel bandits.

Local Woman Enters Unscathed! (Nothing To Fear, Ma'am!)

After a nice stop here we took off for the southerly leg of the route, and Robert took his leave of us here to head back towards Waterloo. Down to 11 riders! It wasn't but a mile out of town when a call went up to halt. Adam, who had come in from Michigan, had lost his keys at the convenience store. Well, I decided we could wait until he had a chance to ride back and look for them. In the meantime, I told the gathered about the recent events in Tama County involving high winds, damaged farms, and broken trees. Doug provided some back ground here as well. I figured it would help pass the time away. After probably a half an hour, a dejected Adam came back keyless, and we soldiered on.

Stories Told- Waiting On Adam

Once we were back onward, the air had finally cleared. No more mist, no more fog. It had been so wet and drippy early on that when I hit a jarring pothole, or some other sharp hit, the dew collecting on me would be shaken loose in a wet, cool shower that ended up all over me. I told the guys we might be wishing for these conditions later in the day, but for now, clear skies and comfortable temperatures with little wind was a welcomed thing by all of us.

This signaled the start of another part of the day, which was pleasant. Probably the most chatty, laid back part of the ride. We took in some of the damaged countryside, and the earlier stories set in with those that were unfamiliar previous to the ride. It is still a heart wrenching scene in Clutier, and on many farmsteads in Tama County. Still, there were several highlights, like the steeply descending B Maintenance road north of Clutier, and lots of cool scenery from high atop some of the tallest hills in Tama County.

Next: Part II of the Guitar Ted Death Ride Invitational Report

Guitar Ted Death Ride Invitational 2011: Ride Report Pt 1

Well, as the post yesterday indicated, the Guitar Ted Death Ride Invitational was a success for 2011. It was a brutal ride, as it should be, but good times were had by all in attendance, it seems.

The event started out with me setting up the tent in Hickory Hills on Friday evening. Wasn't long before Courtney showed up and we ended up chatting for several hours until the sun had set and we both were feeling it was about time to "head for the shed" as the old Iowa farmers would say. Just about then, I noticed a bright LED light coming our way, and then Scott and Ken emerged from behind the blazing generator light on Ken's Curt Goodrich bike to greet us.

It wasn't long before we were all bedded down for the night in anticipation of our 6am start time. The night was pretty uneventful, and by 5am, I had already gotten up and was getting prepared for the day's ride, Courtney, Ken, and Scott soon followed suit. We rolled down to the start and found a few other riders awaiting us. By the time we were all assembled, there were 12 of us, including Robert who rode down from Waterloo to join us for the first leg of the ride. He would then have to ride back home to attend to some other obligations, but it was great having him along for the start.

(Reminder: Click on any photo to enlarge it)

Looking out from Hickory Hills at the onset of the GTDRI

A Range Of Emotions On The Rider's Faces At The Start

We got off to a decent start into a foggy, humid, coolish morning. The morning is a great time to be on a bike, and especially on a weekend. Not many people are out and about just after 6am, and watching the sunrise on our easterly depart was fantastic. Everyone immediately settled into a comfortable, if not slightly rapid pace. I figured we were all either a bit excited, nervous, or a combination of both, as we crunched the gravel underneath our tires.

It wasn't too long into the ride before we hit on our first little adventure. The county deemed a wooden bridge, a span of about 50 feet, unsafe for vehicular travel, and so had set up a road closed sign at the head of our second B Maintenance road. The first B Road was so good, smooth, and fast, I was hoping we'd not have to miss the respite from the chunky gravel, and I think the others were of the same mind, so on we went by, against the will of the sign and the authority behind it. (It wouldn't be the last time this happened on this day!)

Riding along and watching the sun rise.

Our "Scout" Sent Up The Road To Check On The Closure.

Turns out that the bridge was passable only if we scooted around the barriers set up on either end of the bridge. Don't make a false move! With only about a foot around the end of the barrier, a misstep could land you 20 feet down into the small creek! Fortunately, all bicycles and humans were unharmed in the passage.

Bridge crossing in the sunlit mist.

After this early bit of adventuring, we had a short jaunt into our first town, Traer. I like Traer as a stopping point, or a beginning point for rides. It has a decent convenience store, and sits in a centralized area for good gravel loops. We  descended upon the convenience store like a pack of ravenous wolves. I don't think the manager had quite seen the likes of this before. We cleaned out the hot breakfast sandwich display, much to the amazed chagrin of the young woman in the kitchen. Then we sat down outside, munched down our food, and re-filled water bottles, much to the seeming horror and slight disgust of the locals coming into and out of the place. Ha! It is always like this wherever I go with a group of gravel bandits.

Local Woman Enters Unscathed! (Nothing To Fear, Ma'am!)

After a nice stop here we took off for the southerly leg of the route, and Robert took his leave of us here to head back towards Waterloo. Down to 11 riders! It wasn't but a mile out of town when a call went up to halt. Adam, who had come in from Michigan, had lost his keys at the convenience store. Well, I decided we could wait until he had a chance to ride back and look for them. In the meantime, I told the gathered about the recent events in Tama County involving high winds, damaged farms, and broken trees. Doug provided some back ground here as well. I figured it would help pass the time away. After probably a half an hour, a dejected Adam came back keyless, and we soldiered on.

Stories Told- Waiting On Adam

Once we were back onward, the air had finally cleared. No more mist, no more fog. It had been so wet and drippy early on that when I hit a jarring pothole, or some other sharp hit, the dew collecting on me would be shaken loose in a wet, cool shower that ended up all over me. I told the guys we might be wishing for these conditions later in the day, but for now, clear skies and comfortable temperatures with little wind was a welcomed thing by all of us.

This signaled the start of another part of the day, which was pleasant. Probably the most chatty, laid back part of the ride. We took in some of the damaged countryside, and the earlier stories set in with those that were unfamiliar previous to the ride. It is still a heart wrenching scene in Clutier, and on many farmsteads in Tama County. Still, there were several highlights, like the steeply descending B Maintenance road north of Clutier, and lots of cool scenery from high atop some of the tallest hills in Tama County.

Next: Part II of the Guitar Ted Death Ride Invitational Report