Riding Cross Country Alone - Page 3 - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

03-02-2005, 01:25 PM

Fritz,

Thank you for the advice. I'm Type 2 and on oral medications. i take
my meds, ride for exercise and eat appropriately. My diabetes doesn't
scare me so much as does the heat and the lonliness. However, I'll
adjust to the heat as I ride behorehand. And I'll deal with the
lonliness as I've always done before: I'll sing, talk, listen to
music. I've been riding nearly 3 years now and I've never ridden with
anyone else. The only group I knew about for sure rode on an evening
I couldn't. Perhaps I ought to look closer. Matter of fact, my LBS
might know of groups riding. Time to take the bike in for a check up
and repair anyway. I'll ask when I take it in.

I did ride tthe Tour D' Cotton in Childress in October, but that was a
real mess. This was the first time they've done anything like this and
they didn't have half the ducks in a row. I rode alone becuase the 30
mile group left fifteen minutes before registration closed. I missed a
turn because the route wasn't marked real well. The SAG vehicle was
watching three rides. I got lost and rode 14 miles out of the way
before they found me. Wound up riding 44 miles that day. Like I say,
it was the first ride the Childress group had ever sponsored a ride.
I'll ride again. And I did quite well.

I plan to ride to Wheeler the first day. Think that's about 90 miles.
I'll stay overnight and then finish the rest the next day. I hadn't
considered the wind and you're right. I'd probably have the tail wind.
So I'll ride from Amarillo.

>Get slicks for your bike.

I ride the trails in Palo Duro Canyon a lot. Would I need different
tires for riding down there or will the slicks work equally as well? I
don't have the equipment you mention, but I'll get them.

All I plan to carry with me are food, water, and sunscreen . My
girlfriend will meet me in Wheeler and bring changes of clothes,, etc.
along with her love and support.

I appreciate your advice and will keep you updated as I prepare to go.

Kumen

03-06-2005, 03:03 PM

Kumen wrote:

> I did ride tthe Tour D' Cotton in Childress...

If you can do 44 you can do 150. My wife has an uncle in Childress. He
grows cotton and peanuts.

> I ride the trails in Palo Duro Canyon a lot. Would I need
> different tires for riding down there or will the slicks work
> equally as well?

Palo Duro is mostly rocks and dirt, right? It's been 20 years since
I've been there -- beautiful country. I don't know enough about
mountain biking to tell you if slicks will work there or not.

I'm looking forward to hearing about your trip.

RFM

03-06-2005, 03:03 PM

Kumen wrote:

> I did ride tthe Tour D' Cotton in Childress...

If you can do 44 you can do 150. My wife has an uncle in Childress. He
grows cotton and peanuts.

> I ride the trails in Palo Duro Canyon a lot. Would I need
> different tires for riding down there or will the slicks work
> equally as well?

Palo Duro is mostly rocks and dirt, right? It's been 20 years since
I've been there -- beautiful country. I don't know enough about
mountain biking to tell you if slicks will work there or not.

I'm looking forward to hearing about your trip.

RFM

03-06-2005, 08:04 PM

I checked with my LBS. They guy says there are groups in Amarillo, but
they get all their equipment online and then get mad when the LBS won't
support or publicize their events. I might have to contact the
univeristy in Canyon to find a group. But tthat bunch would all be 30
years younger than I am. Think I might just get one of my business
cards out and take it to the LBS and tell the guy if he hears anyone
else asking about a group to call me. LBS says slicks are best for
road riding and my knobbies are better for the trails. So I don't know
exactly what I'm gonna do.

Palo Duro is beautiful. There are a lot of trails there, now. Some of
them are well marked and some of them .. well, you're on your own. The
Lighthouse trail is well marked and very poplular and you never have to
wonder if you made the wrong turn.

Had my eye surgery and now I'm anxious to get back on the road. I saw
"Shall We Dance?" the other night and seeing Richard Gere find
something he really loved to do in the movie inspired me. I want to be
back on the road. Doc said I could work back into it in a couple of
weeks, but I really want to give my eye a chance to recover, so I'm
giving it an extra week.

Thanks for the encouragment. I'll be letting you know how it works
out. It would be so thrilling to see my Aunt's quilt shop in Elk City.
When I finished my first thousand miles, I celebrated by riding about
25 miles to Palo Duro Canyon. I cried the last mile. I mght be too
tired to cry the last mile or so into Elk. Biking changed my life. I
found courage and determination and the knowledge I could set a goal
and really reach it. My son passed me when I was about three miles
form the gate at Palo Duro Canyon. He told me later that afternoon,
he'd *never* seen me so alinve as he did that day. Riding to Elk City
will be a challaenge and a thrill. And I can do it.

Kumen.

03-06-2005, 08:04 PM

I checked with my LBS. They guy says there are groups in Amarillo, but
they get all their equipment online and then get mad when the LBS won't
support or publicize their events. I might have to contact the
univeristy in Canyon to find a group. But tthat bunch would all be 30
years younger than I am. Think I might just get one of my business
cards out and take it to the LBS and tell the guy if he hears anyone
else asking about a group to call me. LBS says slicks are best for
road riding and my knobbies are better for the trails. So I don't know
exactly what I'm gonna do.

Palo Duro is beautiful. There are a lot of trails there, now. Some of
them are well marked and some of them .. well, you're on your own. The
Lighthouse trail is well marked and very poplular and you never have to
wonder if you made the wrong turn.

Had my eye surgery and now I'm anxious to get back on the road. I saw
"Shall We Dance?" the other night and seeing Richard Gere find
something he really loved to do in the movie inspired me. I want to be
back on the road. Doc said I could work back into it in a couple of
weeks, but I really want to give my eye a chance to recover, so I'm
giving it an extra week.

Thanks for the encouragment. I'll be letting you know how it works
out. It would be so thrilling to see my Aunt's quilt shop in Elk City.
When I finished my first thousand miles, I celebrated by riding about
25 miles to Palo Duro Canyon. I cried the last mile. I mght be too
tired to cry the last mile or so into Elk. Biking changed my life. I
found courage and determination and the knowledge I could set a goal
and really reach it. My son passed me when I was about three miles
form the gate at Palo Duro Canyon. He told me later that afternoon,
he'd *never* seen me so alinve as he did that day. Riding to Elk City
will be a challaenge and a thrill. And I can do it.

Kumen.

03-06-2005, 09:36 PM

6 Mar 2005 20:04:34 -0800,
<1110168274.854898.246490@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups .com>,
"Kumen" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> concluded:
\snip

>Biking changed my life. I
>found courage and determination and the knowledge I could set a goal
>and really reach it. My son passed me when I was about three miles
>form the gate at Palo Duro Canyon. He told me later that afternoon,
>he'd *never* seen me so alinve as he did that day. Riding to Elk City
>will be a challaenge and a thrill. And I can do it.

Amen!

I'm certain cycling has more than once _saved_ my life and continues
to enrich it daily. Bicycles teach us things about ourselves we'd
otherwise be afraid to ask.
--
zk

03-06-2005, 09:36 PM

6 Mar 2005 20:04:34 -0800,
<1110168274.854898.246490@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups .com>,
"Kumen" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> concluded:
\snip

>Biking changed my life. I
>found courage and determination and the knowledge I could set a goal
>and really reach it. My son passed me when I was about three miles
>form the gate at Palo Duro Canyon. He told me later that afternoon,
>he'd *never* seen me so alinve as he did that day. Riding to Elk City
>will be a challaenge and a thrill. And I can do it.

Amen!

I'm certain cycling has more than once _saved_ my life and continues
to enrich it daily. Bicycles teach us things about ourselves we'd
otherwise be afraid to ask.
--
zk

03-07-2005, 12:26 PM

Hello Kumen, and thanks for the inspiration!

> I checked with my LBS. They guy says there are groups in Amarillo,
but
> they get all their equipment online and then get mad when the LBS
won't
> support or publicize their events.

[Editorializing] The cost for the LBS owner to publicize rides and
generate a little goodwill is low, but his returns are potentially
great. Online buying is a fact of life for any retailer today. Your
local LBS owner needs to figure out how to make money from the local
bicyclists instead of just bad-mouthing them. IMHO.

In my city of 76,000 people there are 3 local bike shops; I know at
least two of them are doing well. Within 30 miles there are at least
another 20 bike shops to pick from, including large discount places
like Supergo.

RFM

03-07-2005, 12:26 PM

Hello Kumen, and thanks for the inspiration!

> I checked with my LBS. They guy says there are groups in Amarillo,
but
> they get all their equipment online and then get mad when the LBS
won't
> support or publicize their events.

[Editorializing] The cost for the LBS owner to publicize rides and
generate a little goodwill is low, but his returns are potentially
great. Online buying is a fact of life for any retailer today. Your
local LBS owner needs to figure out how to make money from the local
bicyclists instead of just bad-mouthing them. IMHO.

In my city of 76,000 people there are 3 local bike shops; I know at
least two of them are doing well. Within 30 miles there are at least
another 20 bike shops to pick from, including large discount places
like Supergo.

RFM