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Ride report: my 10th New Year's day century
I've been trying to do a New years day century here in the Milwaukee
area every year beginning with the millenium in 2000. So far, my only failure was in 2008, when I had a mechanical breakdown after 49 miles - a piece of flange broke off the back wheel. This year's ride was very cold but not bitter cold. The high and low of 7 and 21F were each 8 degrees below the seasonal averages of 15 and 29.Because of the cold, I opted to get and stay near Lake Michigan, which is often a little warmer in the winter, and to head south through Milwaukee to Racine, which provides a slight "urban heat island effect." Nevertheless it was plenty cold. An added reason to take that route is that on yesterday's ride, I encountered quite a bit of drifting snow on the road as I tried to head northwest out of Germantown. That is not an issue in the cities. The downside of that route selection is that it left me with a tailwind "outbound", and a headwind on the return trip. Usually I prefer the opposite. I wore a t-shirt, 2 sweatshirts, and a lined corderoy shirt, covered by a reflector vest. I started out with a balaclava under my helmet, but abandoned that at mid-day. I also started out with choppers and liners on my hands but switched to a lighter mitten later in the day. On my feet were cotton socks covered by 2 pair of woolen socks and leather boots with a light "thinsulate" insulation. Nothing froze. I started out at 6:00 a.m. With a 7:23 sunrise, that meant the first part of the trip was in the dark, though a bright full moon and snow ameliorated that. I used a flashing tail light but no headlight. I rode 24 miles, then stopped for 8:00 Mass at Old St. Mary's Church in downtown Milwaukee. From there. I rode 27 mile to and through downtown Racine, turning around at the DeKoven Center at about 11:00, and heading north on the same route before stopping at a fast food to eat at 11:40, with 57 miles for the day. I learned that Racine, like Milwaukee has a "polar bear" club that takes a plunge into Lake Michigan on New Year's day. A local resaurant offers free chili to those who particpate. From there I rode back to and through downtown Milwaukee, making my final stop in Whitefish Bay at 3:00, with 87 miles for the day. The headwind was a definite burden. then I rode the last 14 miles home, arriving at 4:40 (sundown 4:28), with the temperature back down to 13F. |
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#2
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Ride report: my 10th New Year's day century
Ron Wallenfang wrote:
I've been trying to do a New years day century here in the Milwaukee area every year beginning with the millenium in 2000. So far, my only failure was in 2008, when I had a mechanical breakdown after 49 miles - a piece of flange broke off the back wheel. This year's ride was very cold but not bitter cold. The high and low of 7 and 21F were each 8 degrees below the seasonal averages of 15 and 29.Because of the cold, I opted to get and stay near Lake Michigan, which is often a little warmer in the winter, and to head south through Milwaukee to Racine, which provides a slight "urban heat island effect." Nevertheless it was plenty cold. An added reason to take that route is that on yesterday's ride, I encountered quite a bit of drifting snow on the road as I tried to head northwest out of Germantown. That is not an issue in the cities. The downside of that route selection is that it left me with a tailwind "outbound", and a headwind on the return trip. Usually I prefer the opposite. I wore a t-shirt, 2 sweatshirts, and a lined corderoy shirt, covered by a reflector vest. I started out with a balaclava under my helmet, but abandoned that at mid-day. I also started out with choppers and liners on my hands but switched to a lighter mitten later in the day. On my feet were cotton socks covered by 2 pair of woolen socks and leather boots with a light "thinsulate" insulation. Nothing froze. I started out at 6:00 a.m. With a 7:23 sunrise, that meant the first part of the trip was in the dark, though a bright full moon and snow ameliorated that. I used a flashing tail light but no headlight. I rode 24 miles, then stopped for 8:00 Mass at Old St. Mary's Church in downtown Milwaukee. From there. I rode 27 mile to and through downtown Racine, turning around at the DeKoven Center at about 11:00, and heading north on the same route before stopping at a fast food to eat at 11:40, with 57 miles for the day. I learned that Racine, like Milwaukee has a "polar bear" club that takes a plunge into Lake Michigan on New Year's day. A local resaurant offers free chili to those who particpate. From there I rode back to and through downtown Milwaukee, making my final stop in Whitefish Bay at 3:00, with 87 miles for the day. The headwind was a definite burden. then I rode the last 14 miles home, arriving at 4:40 (sundown 4:28), with the temperature back down to 13F. Excellent. Thanks. I suggested a NYD century for us in chilly LoSoCA (60's! Brrr!), but one guy is nursing a tweaked knee and another pleaded out-of-shapeness, so we settled on an easy "City Loop" because the allegedly unfit dude knows/likes the route. We meet at the crack of 10:30...and of course he doesn't show up. But "Billy", a young hotdog and his girlfriend (?) Erin, a young strong triathlete, do. (Along with my usual ride partner, he of recent knee issues. Luckily it was feeling OK today.) So what was to be a gentle cruise turned into somewhat of a hammerfest. Hair under 50 miles; home by 1:30. I did remember to check odometers this AM. 5,053 miles plus pathetic mountain bike output, so roughly 5300 '09 miles. Bill "hi-fat meal followed by nap" S. |
#3
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Ride report: my 10th New Year's day century
Ron Wallenfang wrote:
I've been trying to do a New years day century here in the Milwaukee area every year beginning with the millenium in 2000. So far, my only failure was in 2008, when I had a mechanical breakdown after 49 miles - a piece of flange broke off the back wheel. This year's ride was very cold but not bitter cold. The high and low of 7 and 21F were each 8 degrees below the seasonal averages of 15 and 29.Because of the cold, I opted to get and stay near Lake Michigan, which is often a little warmer in the winter, and to head south through Milwaukee to Racine, which provides a slight "urban heat island effect." Nevertheless it was plenty cold. An added reason to take that route is that on yesterday's ride, I encountered quite a bit of drifting snow on the road as I tried to head northwest out of Germantown. That is not an issue in the cities. The downside of that route selection is that it left me with a tailwind "outbound", and a headwind on the return trip. Usually I prefer the opposite. I wore a t-shirt, 2 sweatshirts, and a lined corderoy shirt, covered by a reflector vest. I started out with a balaclava under my helmet, but abandoned that at mid-day. I also started out with choppers and liners on my hands but switched to a lighter mitten later in the day. On my feet were cotton socks covered by 2 pair of woolen socks and leather boots with a light "thinsulate" insulation. Nothing froze. I started out at 6:00 a.m. With a 7:23 sunrise, that meant the first part of the trip was in the dark, though a bright full moon and snow ameliorated that. I used a flashing tail light but no headlight. I rode 24 miles, then stopped for 8:00 Mass at Old St. Mary's Church in downtown Milwaukee. From there. I rode 27 mile to and through downtown Racine, turning around at the DeKoven Center at about 11:00, and heading north on the same route before stopping at a fast food to eat at 11:40, with 57 miles for the day. I learned that Racine, like Milwaukee has a "polar bear" club that takes a plunge into Lake Michigan on New Year's day. A local resaurant offers free chili to those who particpate. From there I rode back to and through downtown Milwaukee, making my final stop in Whitefish Bay at 3:00, with 87 miles for the day. The headwind was a definite burden. then I rode the last 14 miles home, arriving at 4:40 (sundown 4:28), with the temperature back down to 13F. You da MAN, Ron. You give me hope for me. Bill |
#4
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Ride report: my 10th New Year's day century
"Ron Wallenfang" wrote in message
... I've been trying to do a New years day century here in the Milwaukee area every year beginning with the millenium in 2000. So far, my only failure was in 2008, when I had a mechanical breakdown after 49 miles - a piece of flange broke off the back wheel. Do you get any media coverage? I have to believe you could end up on network news, certainly local. You could be an inspiration for a whole lot of couch potatoes! Or perhaps your accomplishments are so out-of-line with what some consider reasonable that you'd just be written off as a nut. Not to me though. People think I'm a nut because I "brave" whatever Northern California can throw at me on a few "epic" rides each winter (I have a regular ride on Tuesday & Thursday mornings that absolutely positively nothing stops). Gee whiz, we'll get a couple days in the upper-20s, maybe a few cases of high winds & heavy rains, with the only thing making it particularly interesting is a 3000ft elevation gain & loss. We're complete wimps compared to you! Keep it up. Like Ryan Bingham says in "Up In The Air"- Moving is living. --Mike Jacoubowsky Chain Reaction Bicycles www.ChainReaction.com Redwood City & Los Altos, CA USA "Ron Wallenfang" wrote in message ... I've been trying to do a New years day century here in the Milwaukee area every year beginning with the millenium in 2000. So far, my only failure was in 2008, when I had a mechanical breakdown after 49 miles - a piece of flange broke off the back wheel. This year's ride was very cold but not bitter cold. The high and low of 7 and 21F were each 8 degrees below the seasonal averages of 15 and 29.Because of the cold, I opted to get and stay near Lake Michigan, which is often a little warmer in the winter, and to head south through Milwaukee to Racine, which provides a slight "urban heat island effect." Nevertheless it was plenty cold. An added reason to take that route is that on yesterday's ride, I encountered quite a bit of drifting snow on the road as I tried to head northwest out of Germantown. That is not an issue in the cities. The downside of that route selection is that it left me with a tailwind "outbound", and a headwind on the return trip. Usually I prefer the opposite. I wore a t-shirt, 2 sweatshirts, and a lined corderoy shirt, covered by a reflector vest. I started out with a balaclava under my helmet, but abandoned that at mid-day. I also started out with choppers and liners on my hands but switched to a lighter mitten later in the day. On my feet were cotton socks covered by 2 pair of woolen socks and leather boots with a light "thinsulate" insulation. Nothing froze. I started out at 6:00 a.m. With a 7:23 sunrise, that meant the first part of the trip was in the dark, though a bright full moon and snow ameliorated that. I used a flashing tail light but no headlight. I rode 24 miles, then stopped for 8:00 Mass at Old St. Mary's Church in downtown Milwaukee. From there. I rode 27 mile to and through downtown Racine, turning around at the DeKoven Center at about 11:00, and heading north on the same route before stopping at a fast food to eat at 11:40, with 57 miles for the day. I learned that Racine, like Milwaukee has a "polar bear" club that takes a plunge into Lake Michigan on New Year's day. A local resaurant offers free chili to those who particpate. From there I rode back to and through downtown Milwaukee, making my final stop in Whitefish Bay at 3:00, with 87 miles for the day. The headwind was a definite burden. then I rode the last 14 miles home, arriving at 4:40 (sundown 4:28), with the temperature back down to 13F. |
#6
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Ride report: my 10th New Year's day century
"Ron Wallenfang" wrote in message ... [...] Thanks for your nice comments. I was blessed with a very flattering article in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel on Memorial Day 2006. I believe it's still available at JSonline. Here is the text. It also included a couple pictures, a map of my typical commuting route, and a schedule of my then 13 long trips and was picked up by a few other newspapers here and there (The trip reports (now 16 of them) are all posted on the CrazyGuyonaBike site - http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/roboron JS ONLINE: HEALTH & SCIENCE: E-MAIL | PRINT THIS STORY Faithful rider 50 miles a day and attorney is still rolling By LEE BERGQUIST Posted: May 28, 2006 Perhaps it's not surprising that a lawyer who rides his bicycle to work every day can find splendor in a snowstorm. Ronald Wallenfang, 62, is an indefatigable bicycle rider. [...] I have to laugh at all this blarney. You are now 62. Think you will be doing any of this at 72. I can assure you that you will not. Like me, you will turn into a couch potato. I now use my bicycle for only the most utilitarian type of trips. Hey, welcome to old age and death! Most of what we do in life is a function of our age. However, if you do not act your age, you will come to even greater grief than old age. Mr. Wallenfang should wise up. There is more to life than pushing your heart rate. Regards, Ed Dolan the Great - Minnesota aka Saint Edward the Great - Order of the Perpetual Sorrows - Minnesota |
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Ride report: my 10th New Year's day century
Edward Dolan wrote:
Faithful rider 50 miles a day and attorney is still rolling By LEE BERGQUIST Posted: May 28, 2006 Perhaps it's not surprising that a lawyer who rides his bicycle to work every day can find splendor in a snowstorm. *Ronald Wallenfang, 62, is an indefatigable bicycle rider. [...] I have to laugh at all this blarney. You are now 62. Think you will be doing any of this at 72. I can assure you that you will not. Like me, you will turn into a couch potato. I now use my bicycle for only the most utilitarian type of trips. Hey, welcome to old age and death! Ah, he was 62 in 2006. That makes him almost 68 now, pretty close to 72. Art Harris |
#8
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Ride report: my 10th New Year's day century
"Art Harris" wrote in message ... Edward Dolan wrote: Faithful rider 50 miles a day and attorney is still rolling By LEE BERGQUIST Posted: May 28, 2006 Perhaps it's not surprising that a lawyer who rides his bicycle to work every day can find splendor in a snowstorm. Ronald Wallenfang, 62, is an indefatigable bicycle rider. [...] I have to laugh at all this blarney. You are now 62. Think you will be doing any of this at 72. I can assure you that you will not. Like me, you will turn into a couch potato. I now use my bicycle for only the most utilitarian type of trips. Hey, welcome to old age and death! Ah, he was 62 in 2006. That makes him almost 68 now, pretty close to 72. Yes, I noticed that right after I sent my post. The decade of your 70's (which is where I am at now) is the decade of the great dying off. What happens is that you slow down and are tired most of the time. It is the body shutting down and all the huffing and puffing will not delay it by much. I thought I could keep going forever as long as I rode my bicycle like I did in my 50's and 60's, but alas, that is an illusion. Out biology as humans determines what we are capable of at any age. Anyone who makes it into their 80's is some kind of miracle. Regards, Ed Dolan the Great - Minnesota aka Saint Edward the Great - Order of the Perpetual Sorrows - Minnesota |
#9
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Ride report: my 10th New Year's day century
"Edward Dolan" wrote in message ... "Ron Wallenfang" wrote in message ... [...] Thanks for your nice comments. I was blessed with a very flattering article in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel on Memorial Day 2006. I believe it's still available at JSonline. Here is the text. It also included a couple pictures, a map of my typical commuting route, and a schedule of my then 13 long trips and was picked up by a few other newspapers here and there (The trip reports (now 16 of them) are all posted on the CrazyGuyonaBike site - http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/roboron JS ONLINE: HEALTH & SCIENCE: E-MAIL | PRINT THIS STORY Faithful rider 50 miles a day and attorney is still rolling By LEE BERGQUIST Posted: May 28, 2006 Perhaps it's not surprising that a lawyer who rides his bicycle to work every day can find splendor in a snowstorm. Ronald Wallenfang, 62, is an indefatigable bicycle rider. [...] I have to laugh at all this blarney. You are now 62. Think you will be doing any of this at 72. I can assure you that you will not. Like me, you will turn into a couch potato. I now use my bicycle for only the most utilitarian type of trips. Hey, welcome to old age and death! Most of what we do in life is a function of our age. However, if you do not act your age, you will come to even greater grief than old age. Mr. Wallenfang should wise up. There is more to life than pushing your heart rate. Party Pooper ! jb |
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Ride report: my 10th New Year's day century
Edward Dolan wrote, On 1/7/2010 2:02 PM:
"Ron Wallenfang" wrote in message ... [...] Thanks for your nice comments. I was blessed with a very flattering article in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel on Memorial Day 2006. I believe it's still available at JSonline. Here is the text. It also included a couple pictures, a map of my typical commuting route, and a schedule of my then 13 long trips and was picked up by a few other newspapers here and there (The trip reports (now 16 of them) are all posted on the CrazyGuyonaBike site - http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/roboron JS ONLINE: HEALTH & SCIENCE: E-MAIL | PRINT THIS STORY Faithful rider 50 miles a day and attorney is still rolling By LEE BERGQUIST Posted: May 28, 2006 Perhaps it's not surprising that a lawyer who rides his bicycle to work every day can find splendor in a snowstorm. Ronald Wallenfang, 62, is an indefatigable bicycle rider. [...] I have to laugh at all this blarney. You are now 62. Think you will be doing any of this at 72. I can assure you that you will not. Like me, you will turn into a couch potato. I now use my bicycle for only the most utilitarian type of trips. Hey, welcome to old age and death! Most of what we do in life is a function of our age. However, if you do not act your age, you will come to even greater grief than old age. Mr. Wallenfang should wise up. There is more to life than pushing your heart rate. Regards, Ed Dolan the Great - Minnesota aka Saint Edward the Great - Order of the Perpetual Sorrows - Minnesota Cheer up Ed! At least you can look forward to dying bitter and alone... -- Paul D Oosterhout I work for SAIC (but I don't speak for SAIC) |
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