Quack quack.

RIDE (OR ROW) RIGHT

I’m almost glad I’m not riding this year!

I’m almost glad I’m not riding this year, yeah almost!!!

…..

Well we wish you were riding!! Get with it MR.

RIDE RIGHT

ST, I’m working on it!!!

Happy Memorial Day, brethren and sistern Ragbrai’ers!

The winter that wouldn’t quit, in my neck of the woods, finally quit in early April. The snow has melted and most of the cinders are gone. Now, if it would just stop raining excessively and return to normal! At least the cinders are washed away.

I racked up about 1350 miles on my trainer this off-season, but nothing beats roadwork. At least my sit bones and legs are in shape.

Mrs Woo and I are currently visiting three Daughters Woo and families. I put my Trek on the car rack and headed off. Last week, I biked around the triad area of NC near High Point and Greensboro. There were enough low rollers to serve as a decent test. Yesterday, I rode the “back roads” of Palm Beach County FL, to the utter shock of Daughter Woo. She said that I could have been killed by any one of a number of incompetent/reckless/semi-blind drivers that cause high insurance rates. I lived to tell the tale! This coming week, we’ll be cycling in SC/Charlotte NC area. Thanks to NCDOT’s bicycling map, I’ll be able to avoid the “hazardous” areas, to the great relief of another Daughter Woo. Finally, it looks like my planned GAP/C&O Canal Trail ride will wrap around the July 4th holiday. I should have close to 2,000 miles by the time Ragbrai starts.

I still feel bad, though, about missing Ragbrai this year. Rest assured that I’ll see you along the I-O-Way next year.

I screwed up my courage and added up my miles over the weekend. I’m not doing as badly as I feared. I’ve got about 600 for the year so far which is only about 200 behind where I normally am at this point. Even so those 200 “missing miles” are road miles on my long distance, RAGBRAI bike. The bulk of my miles have been short hops three times a day on my folding bike as I commute to work. I try to make them count but road miles are better. They will have to do this year….

Here’s a training opportunity for those of you who live in NE Illinois or nearby:

Swedish Days Ride

The ride is held in conjunction with Swedish Days in Geneva, IL. It will be held this coming Sunday, June 23. Early registration is open until Friday, I believe, and day of registration is allowed. I’ve never done this ride before, my team has always done the Udder Century in McHenry County but that ride, alas, is no more. This looks to be a nice substitute and while it appears to lack RAGBRAI’s hills the two longer routes do pass through towns so you get a bit of RAGBRAI flavor. Most likely the towns will ignore us but stores and restaurants should be open and since I have never done it before I don’t know if the towns make any note of the event or not. Various loops are available to make your day up to a double metric, officially, more if you dare I suppose. A double metric is just a bit more than this years RAGBRAI “century”, so maybe good training for that.

My team intends to go. One of us will only do 50 miles so he can get back in time to hear the recital on his church’s new organ that afternoon. The other two and possibly son will do whatever strikes us I suppose. If you see us in our Old Rocketeers jerseys give us a shout as you streak past us!!

1505 now, but what i need is a weekend with 2 decent days. Would be nice to put 2 longer days together. But, Rained last Friday morning, Saturday night. Monday night, today. And the wind, sustained around 25 mph some days, gusts over 60.Still shooting for 2000 before RAGBRAI.

1782 right now, will break 1800 once I leave work. Should be over 2000 by the time RAGBRAI roles around. That being said, none of it is specific training for RAGBRAI. I just like to ride my bicycles! Happy trails!

1440 Before today’s ride after work which should be 23 miles. It is on track with previous years so, as far as training goes, I should be OK. It is turning 60 that has me worried a bit. All of a sudden some new pains in new places are showing up.

Wife and I only have maybe 600 between both of us…We have been busy on weekends or it rains just had a grandbaby so that’s out of the way we have 2 more due September 13 and 21st…we are in cedar Rapids this week helping with the new born baby weighed almost 10 lbs and 20 some inches long

Crossed the 1,000 mile mark this morning, running about 400 miles behind last year.

1935 miles so far. Hard to find many “hills” in Mpls proper – but am seeking them out now.

Not sure I will be prepared to do the gravel loop and the nearly 4000 ft of elevation on day 1.

[quote quote=1305862]1935 miles so far. Hard to find many “hills” in Mpls proper – but am seeking them out now.

Not sure I will be prepared to do the gravel loop and the nearly 4000 ft of elevation on day 1.[/quote]

Yeah, can’t remember doing many there. Alien Abduction area? From the river up to campus and from the trail up to the fort. But mostly flat from what I remember. But we were craft brewery hopping and went to a show at the Cedar.

On a down note, the endless wind and rain have put a damper (sorry about that!) on the outdoor riding. I’m still over 1450 miles so far, with a GAP/C&O Canal ride planned in the next two weeks.

On a positive note, Mrs Woo baked a strawberry rhubarb pie yesterday. Naturally I had my slices with Blue Bunny ice cream on top. ?. Tomorrow, she’s baking a two-layer chocolate devils food cake with a thick filling of mint chocolate chip ice cream for Granddaughter Woo’s 5th birthday. Excellent Ragbrai training, don’t you think?

See you along the I-O-Way in 2020.

My better half also made a strawberry/rhubarb pie last week. I am not much of a “sweets” eater but did partake in a small sliver. Mile progression has dropped a little but still right around 1800 so far. Sending the bike in Thursday for its pre Ragbrai overhaul.