New Years Eve 2012

It's been an interesting year.  Not an epic year on the bike, but a good year anyway.  Last January, I asked our managers to write down some things they'd like to accomplish during 2012.  The top item on my list was to break 2:00 in a half marathon, well, I did run a 1:52 at the Prairie Fire Half in October.  Running takes time away from the bike, but that's OK.  As long as you're active, that's what's important.
Last month, I picked up my Salsa Beargrease, a fat tired bike with 4" tires to take on snow, sand, whatever you want to throw at it.  We've done rides up the Arkansas river, on the sandbars, but it was a blast.  It's the most fun at 6 mph that I've had in a long time.
Goals for this year?  I'd like to run a half in 1:45, but that would be tough, I'd really have to train for it, and I do miss the time on the bike.  Daughter Kristen and I have signed up for a trail run in St. Louis in February, a 15K run.  Dirty Kanza 200 is always in the back of my mind, but 200 miles is a long way.  Don't know if its in the cards.

Salsa Beargrease 

Today, on New Years Eve, Wichita finally got some snow, with maybe up to 2" by the morning, we'll see.  Anyway, Osa (the Beargrease) is gonna get wet in the morning.  The roads are wet, but I know I'll find some snow to ride on.  

Dirty Kanza 200

I've done it again. I signed up for the Dirty Kanze 200. A 200 mile gravel road race in the beautiful Flint Hills of Kansas. This annual event has grown from I believe about 45 particiapants the first year to now over 300, in just a few short years. My first attempt in May of 2009, I made it almost to the first rest stop. I covered 55 miles in about 6 hours. Heat, wind, but probably not training properly knocked me out 5 miles from the opportunity to get the map for the next 50 miles. Averaging 10 mph I should finish the 200 mile event at about 4:00 am. This year, a group of cyclist from Wichita have signed up and have a training plan in place to attack this event. The plan is to do long slowish ride, building up to the June 4th event.

This event which starts and finishes in Emporia Kansas has become what some say is North America's premier gravel road race. Training for this years event started this past weekend with 50 miles on Saturday and 40 on Sunday, both rides to Clearwater Kansas on mostly gravel roads. Saturday was a group of 8 riders, and Saturday was a solo ride. Casey's convienence store proved to be a good stop to refuel for the trip home.

Untitled by gotchile at Garmin Connect - Details

Untitled by gotchile at Garmin Connect - Details

The first ride of

the Spring season (officially) the past 2 yrs has been after what seems like a late 2-3" snow storm that just shuts business down at the stores. This year was no different in that on Friday night and Saturday morining we had 3+" of snow. By Sunday morning the snow was melting pretty good and it was time to get out on the bike. It had been too long since I had taken a 'long' (2 hr or so) ride. With a pretty stiff SSE breeze I decided to head east on 13th. street to Andover, about 15 miles. My return trip was mostly on an old rail bed, the 'Red Bud' trail. Hopefully this spring I'll get to see the trees in bloom. This future Rails to Trails gravel bed is a good route for cyclocross or mountain bikes running from hiway 135 going east. I picked up the trail in Andover and rode about 10 miles to the end. With stops at every major mile road, it does make riders get off the bike frequently, but is a great off road option in the area. As you can see, the area was snow free by Sunday afternoon.

Every 2 weeks

is not enough for riding. Nancy and I had a great time visiting Mom in Florida, then did a 3 day cruise. We were home a day then I was off to Texas for a meeting. I was able to get in 40 miles on Saturday, and today we did our group ride. Today instead of riding up to Newton to the Burger King, we headed east on 101st and rode to Furley Kansas. Furley was a Super Fund clean-up site in the past, hopefully it is all cleaned up. We split off there, and our group stopped for some fries and coffee on the way back home in Park City Kansas. (Where they caught BTK) It was a good day for 45 miles, temps close to 50 with a little east breeze. This week in the Wichita Garden Show we are exhibiting in so not too many miles this week.

Birthday bike rides

are an annual tradition for our cycling group. Saturday, February 13 was a perfect day for such a ride to Newton. With temps hovering near 40 we headed out from Ronnie's needing to get in 55 miles. With my 55th birthday in late February, one can't be too choosy in doing the miles on the actual date. J.D.'s 78th birthday was earlier in the month, but that's quite a few miles for this time of the year. Denise, our favorite cake baker was apologizing for her cake, the frosting was not staying on the cake. That chocolate mint cake with gooey frosting was a hit at the Burger King. I think there were 13 people there to enjoy the party. Ronnie's birthday is in early March so our 55 miles will be a good warm-up for his, let's see 58 miles.

Get your name on the list and we'll do the miles!

Newton - Burger King

is our somewhat regular Sunday ride. Summers we usually headout at around 8ish, but today we waited until noon, when the temps had risen to almost 40. This is a pretty nice ride with not too much auto traffic. Up and back I today I got in 48 miles, in almost 3 hrs. Our normal stop in the Burger King for a frozen Coke. I normally get something else to fuel the trip home. Our group size is maybe as little as 4, and as many as maybe 12 on a good day. Today was nice, a little south breeze, sunny and temps may have reached 50.