Tour de Zona is a series of rides through a county I spent my early years. Iconic names: Bisbee, Tombstone, Fort Huachuca. I missed this ride last year because of illness so I wasn’t about to be absent again. While I am a solo act and not representing any club, I am really looking forward […]
Taking on Tour de Zona 2023 Read More »
It started as a whim. “That Seattle-to-Portland (STP) ride was always there…” I told myself. Then a friend said she’d ride it with me. OK, now I have no excuse. After RAGBRAI last summer, I wanted a similar experience without sullying the Iowa trip memories. Hmmm..what about tacking on a trip to the San Juan
Heading North in July 2023 — A PNW Adventure Read More »
Until yesterday afternoon I could get on my bike at any time and just go. Until yesterday afternoon I loved riding with a group. Until yesterday afternoon I could find ways to process things on my bike. But not after yesterday afternoon. I got stuck in the past. Literally stuck in one place. Unable to
This is my bicycle. It is a simple conveyance. It takes me from here to there, sometimes with lots of speed. It has special components, a lightweight frame and special handlebars and a computer. It is a fast machine. I learned to ride fast with fast people on my bicycle. From pacelines to drafting to
This is My Bicycle Read More »
Ride across Iowa? On a bicycle? And camp along the way? Really? Back in 1998 I was newly single and getting started with serious bikes. I took the plunge and rode an MS150 2-day ride from Duluth, MN, to Anoka (the NW Twin Cities) one June weekend. I brought my new hybrid bike
More of a “let’s get there” day. Got the beer shirt and dipped the tire. Got on the road in West Union at 5:36am on the way to Lansing 65-plus miles away. With lots of hills in between. And lots of downhills on the other side of those big hills! Was able to be in
RAGBRAI Day 7: The Big Finish! Read More »
(This post is a day late because when you put 25,000 guests into towns with populations of 900 to 4000 the cell service can’t keep up!) Charles City To West Union. Sixty-three-plus miles. On the road by 6:15 am and into the last overnight town at about 3:30 pm. A bit slower as we stopped
RAGBRAI Day 6: The Last Overnight Read More »
We are up to Day 5 at RAGBRAI. I never thought I’d think of a 48-mile ride as a cool down ride. But it worked after yesterday’s century. Mason City to Charles City, a pretty little burg on a river. A beautiful bridge to walk and ride over to and from the campground. Out at
RAGBRAI Day 5: The Cool Down Day Read More »
Day 4 at RAGBRAI. We survived the 100-plus miles (actually 105) from Emmittsburg to Mason City. Out at 5:45 am and in around 4:00pm. Beer stops helped! And stops for pie, ice cream and a great brat. Music by the Eagles, Queen and Willie, ABBA, Gordon Lightfoot, Pearl Jam, among others. Met Chewy, the tandem-hauled
RAGBRAI Day 4: The Century Read More »
More stops for food and beer and conversation. Learned about the beer tent firsthand. Added another wristband to the collection. What a vast improvement over the medical and hospital bands from just 3 years ago. Almost prophetic. Out at 6:30am with a temperature of 69 degrees (a far cry from the 80s back home in
RAGBRAI Day 3: Tutu Tuesday Read More »
