PMC Kickoff

PMC Kickoff, originally uploaded by Martinator.

Getting ready for the kick off show to start!

Bike Parking @ the PMC

Bike Parking @ the PMC, originally uploaded by Martinator.

Lots of bikes.

The Pan Mass Challenge is This Weekend!

Quite a Journey...

I am all packed up and ready to get dropped of in Sturbridge(MA) tomorrow. To say that I am excited to participate in my first Pan Mass Challenge is an understatement. I have learned quite a lot as people have opened up to me about their experiences with cancer. It has been quite a journey and I haven't even ridden a mile yet.

In June the ride became much more personal as my step-father was diagnosed with Renal Cancer. He is scheduled to have his Kidney removed on August 6th.

So the Tuesday, after I ride the Pan Mass Challenge, I will head down to NJ to be there for my family.

Marty

NOTE: I will still be collecting donation up until the end of September, so don't think it is too late to donate to a good cause.

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Pan Mass Challenge

Please visit my PMC Profile, read my story, and sponsor me as I ride for a cure.

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Over the shoulder

Over the shoulder, originally uploaded by Martinator.

Here comes Phat Tuesday on the last training ride before the PMC.

Broken Spoke @ Bike Shop

Bicycles Plus

I dropped off my rear wheel, Shimano WH-R540, at Bicyles Plus+ after work yesterday. They didn't have the spoke in stock so they are going to order it. It should definitely be ready by the PMC Weekend. It would be a bonus if it was ready by this weekend.

At least I got in almost 300 miles of training over my 2 weeks of vacation. Also thankful that the spoke chose to break at the end of my vacation and not at the beginning (or during the PMC for that matter...)

I plan to write a big blog post about my trip to Alabama sometime soon.

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Pan Mass Challenge

Please visit my PMC Profile, read my story, and sponsor me as I ride for a cure.

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Fairhope Alabama

Fairhope, Alabama (Baldwin County)

Me at White Ave. Pier, originally uploaded by Martinator.

This is where I started all my rides from. That is Mobile Bay in the background.

Monday, July 6, 2009: County 3 to Weeks Bay and Back

Day 1

I decided to go for a short ride to make sure I put my bike together correctly. The short ride became 29 miles.

IMG00510.jpg, originally uploaded by Martinator.

On my way back from Weeks Bay Point, I met up with a rider named Lin (short for Marlin). He was down from Tuscaloosa with his family getting some riding time in.

You would't believe how many time I've run into this rider during my first week here. We plan on riding together next weekend :-)

Date	Distance	Moving Time	Average	Route
July 6, 2009	27.92	1:34:18	17.8	County 3 to Weeks Bay and Back

Tuesday, July 7, 2009: Short County 13 Loop

For some reason I only got in a short ride on the second day. I think I was futzing around too much in the morning and the only way I could get a ride in was if it was a short one. So a short ride it was :-)

Date	Distance	Moving Time	Average	Route
July 7, 2009	13.47	0:49:31	16.3	Short County 13 Loop

Wednesday, July 8, 2009: County 3 - Figure 8

This is my third vacation down here where I had my bike so I was getting pretty familiar with the roads. Once you are a mile from the shoreline, it is a giant, discontinuous grid of farmland. So I mix it up a little with a figure 8 route.

Marlin Sighting #2

As I pass by the Marriot at Point clear, I see this guy crossing the street. It's Marlin. He is taking a Real Estate Continuous Ed course and he is heading out to his car. What a coincidence. I stop, we talk. I tell him about a bike shop I know of up in Daphne.

Date	Distance	Moving Time	Average	Route
July 8, 2009	22.47	1:23:05	16.2	County 3 - Figure 8

Thursday, July 9, 2009: County 24 - Scenic 98 loop

Typical Shoulder, originally uploaded by Martinator.

This is about as wide as the shoulders get here. Unless of course you are riding along the 4 lane portion of US Route 98.

Guy on a Tri Bike, originally uploaded by Martinator.

I'm headed back to the house on Scenic 98 when this guy on a Tri-bike (Triathlon bike) passes me. Now, where I come from, people on tri-bikes are serious riders, but apparently there is a high ratio of road bikers here who ride Tri-bikes. This guy also has killer calves that come from lots of riding.

Anyway, I see if I can reel him in. I do. It was rather easy. So I am riding his wheel on this relatively flat road and he is moving along at just under 18 mph. BTW, that is not fast given the conditions. He is riding rather erratically also.

So with only two miles to go before I get back I pass him and just go. I'm probably cranking along at 23 mph and leave him in the dust. After a short while he is nowhere in sight. I get back to my starting point and he (eventually) rolls up to me and says "You sure dusted me back there". I didn't mean to, he was just going too slow, but I'm polite so I don't say this out loud. I come to learn that his name is Jackie, and he is from Daphne and is just getting into biking after a 3 year hiatus.

Ah, that explains a lot...

Date	Distance	Moving Time	Average	Route
July 9, 2009	23.49	1:22:20	17.1	County 24 - Scenic 98 loop

Friday, July 10, 2009: Battles Point

I head a little west, a little south, and come back to Scenic 98 through an area called "Battles Point". Then I head to the bike shop in Daphne where...

Marlin Sighting #3

I'm sitting in my car (mini van) on the phone in front of the bike shop when I see Marlin walk past my vehicle into the bike shop. This time I ask for his business card so we can get together for a ride.

Date	Distance	Moving Time	Average	Route
July 10, 2009	19.93	1:11:58	16.6	Battles Point

Saturday, July 11, 2009: Silver Hill - Weeks Bay Loop

It's Saturday, time for a longer ride. I've heard about a group ride that leaves from the Fairhope Pier @ 7:00 am on Saturday Morning that does 60 or so miles. I get there and I see cars with racks, but no bikers. I later learn that the group meets at 6:30 during the summer, but nobody updated the website.

A solo ride it is then. So I head in a straight line due east toward the town of Silver Hill. Guess what... It's on a hill. I then head south, then west, then south again as I approach the Fish River. I then head over to Weeks Bay Point and ten head back.

Fishermen at Weeks Bay Point, originally uploaded by Martinator.

Weeks Bay Point is full of fishermen on a Saturday.

Marlin Sighting #4

As I head back I run into Marlin again. He turns around and we ride together back toward Fairhope. He shows me this cool little loop that takes you on a bluff overlooking the bay. We part ways and promise to make plans to ride together next Saturday.

Date	Distance	Moving Time	Average	Route
July 11, 2009	46.38	2:49:39	16.4	Silver Hill - Weeks Bay Loop

Sunday, July 12, 2009: Rest Day

Legs needed a rest.

Monday, July 13, 2009: 20 Mile Loop

I called this ride my "20 mile Loop" because I am running out of names for these rides. Over the course of this ride my handlebar tape breaks down.

Stupid Handlebar Tape, originally uploaded by Martinator.

My handlebar tape is falling apart. I'll have to get it replaced when I get back home.

Date	Distance	Moving Time	Average	Route
July 13, 2009	19.97	1:16:08	15.7	20 Mile Loop

Tuesday, July 14, 2009: Fish River

I'm running out of new roads to ride on. So I explore the roads further inland. I bike along the Fish River.

Date	Distance	Moving Time	Average	Route
July 14, 2009	28.34	1:43:37	16.4	Fish River

Wednesday, July 15, 2009: Rest Day (Gulf Shores)

Beach Day :-)

Thursday, July 16, 2009: Weeks Bay out and Back

After a day of rest I decide to do an "Out-and-back" ride to Weeks Bay Point. I push it (but not too hard). I want to see how fast I can go. 17.4 mph over ~27 miles on essentially flat roads. That's good, right?

Date	Distance	Moving Time	Average	Route
July 16, 2009	26.77	1:32:13	17.4	Weeks Bay out and Back

Friday, July 17, 2009: Daphne

I bike north to Daphne along Scenic 98. Now that road is hilly. Funny how a road less than a quarter mile from the water can be so hilly. Or maybe I've been getting used to the flats.

The roads up around Daphne are a lot more congested and less biker friendly because of that. That's just the way it is.

Date	Distance	Moving Time	Average	Route
July 17, 2009	26.64	1:38:36	16.2	Daphne

Saturday, July 18, 2009: Weeks Bay Bridge - Fish River - Silver Hill - Broken Spoke

Over the course of the week I have been emailing back and forth with Marlin. We decided to meet up n Fairhope and ride together. One problem though...

Marlin Slept in...

He slept through his alarm, which he told me was in another part of the house. Funny how we kept running into each other but couldn't successfully plan to meet :-)

I decide to do a counter clockwise loop taking me south along Scenic 98, east out to Fish River, then north to Daphne. Then back west towards the only Sonic in the area. I though it would be cool to ride into a Sonic and order something from my bike.

Not many turns, originally uploaded by Martinator.

The roads in this region are pretty straight.

Me and Corn, originally uploaded by Martinator.

Once up on the plateau, everything looked like this.

Me and the historic Marlow Ferry , originally uploaded by Martinator.

I stopped along the Fish River and learned something about the Battle of Mobile Bay: http://www.battleofmobilebay.com/

North winds

During the latter part of this ride I was headed due north directly into a headwind. It felt like I was pedaling through molasses. It was one of the few times I wasn't in the big ring this whole vacation.

Broken Spoke, originally uploaded by Martinator.

Broken spoke = end of today's. Ride. 37.1 miles in, only 2.77 miles away from the Sonic I was headed towards. Hope I can get it fixed before the PMC.

Date	Distance	Moving Time	Average	Route
July 18, 2009	40.08	2:49:34	14.2	Weeks Bay Bridge - Fish River - Silver Hill - Broken Spoke

July 19, 2009: Packing up the Bike

Packed for the Trip Home, originally uploaded by Martinator.

All packed up and ready to go home.

I managed to get almost 300 miles of riding in while down on vacation here. It was a good way to train for the Pan Mass Challenge.

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Date	Distance	Moving Time	Average	Route
July 6, 2009	27.92	1:34:18	17.8	County 3 to Weeks Bay and Back
July 7, 2009	13.47	0:49:31	16.3	Short County 13 Loop
July 8, 2009	22.47	1:23:05	16.2	County 3 - Figure 8
July 9, 2009	23.49	1:22:20	17.1	County 24 - Scenic 98 loop
July 10, 2009	19.93	1:11:58	16.6	Battles Point
July 11, 2009	46.38	2:49:39	16.4	Silver Hill - Weeks Bay Loop
July 13, 2009	19.97	1:16:08	15.7	20 Mile Loop
July 14, 2009	28.34	1:43:37	16.4	Fish River
July 16, 2009	26.77	1:32:13	17.4	Weeks Bay out and Back
July 17, 2009	26.64	1:38:36	16.2	Daphne
July 18, 2009	40.08	2:49:34	14.2	Weeks Bay Bridge - Fish River - Silver Hill - Broken Spoke
Total	295.46	18:10:59	16.2

Broken Spoke

Broken Spoke, originally uploaded by Martinator.

Broken spoke = end of today's. Ride. 37.1 miles in, only 2.77 miles away from the Sonic I was headed towards. Hope I can get it fixed before the PMC.

Getting Pulled in 'Bama

IMG00510.jpg, originally uploaded by Martinator.

On my way back from Weeks Bay Point, I met up with a rider named Lin (short for Marlin). He was down from Tuscaloosa with his family getting some riding time in.

You would't believe how many time I've run into this rider during my first week here. We plan on riding together next weekend :-)

I plan on a big post about my trip to Alabama when I get back home...

Stupid Handlebar Tape

Stupid Handlebar Tape, originally uploaded by Martinator.

My handlebar tape is falling apart. I'll have to get it replaced when I get back home.

First Ride in July

25 miles

I rode 25 miles on Saturday. I saw somebody jogging who was wearing a NerveWire t-shirt. It turns out it was the wife of a former coworker. I found this out by posting what I saw on Facebook. Weird where technology is taking us.

'Bama Bound

After the ride I packed up my bike in the bike case for my trip to Fairhope Alabama. Hot and flat. At least I don't have to pack any winter layers that I was still using on occasion this past June in Massachusetts.

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Pan Mass Challenge

Please visit my PMC Profile, read my story, and sponsor me as I ride for a cure.

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PHAT Birthday Ride

Happy Birthday to Me!

It has been 3 years since I did my first Century. It was on day 2 of a 3 day, 250 mile ride from High Point, NJ to Cape May, NJ. [http://martinator.com/bikenj/].

New Tires

My Conti 4-Season tires were shot. The rear tire had a puncture hole it it (it was also worn flat like a drag racing tire) and the front tire was coming apart at the seams (on the sidewall). So I waited until the last minute to pick up some road tires from the bike shop in Maynard across the street from where I work: Ray and Sons Cycle.

The owner is a bit of a character and I sometimes wonder if he is all there. Their selection of accessories and supplies is very limited. However, like I said, they are across the street.

I walk in and ask if they have any Conti's. "No. We haven't ordered any in a while" was the response. I told him I was looking for a set of road tires, size 700x23. He goes into the back and comes out with Specialized Armadillos and All Condition Sport tires. With such a limited selection I opt for the less expensive (and lighter) All Condition tires.

I really wanted a set of Conti Attack/Force tires, but at least the set I did get was half the price.

I arrive at the PHAT Tuesday ride early enough for me to mount the new tires onto my bike. Of course I mount the rear tire backwards (they're directional). I'll fix that this coming weekend, like it really matters.

The Specialized All Condition Tires

They feel heavier that tires I have run in the past (Conti 4000, Attack/Force, 4 Season). They are meatier and almost feel like I have motorcycle tires. This actually helped me when I lost my concentration descending past the Big Apple Farm and almost ride off the road. I had to quickly brake and turn to avoid going into a ditch. When I did that my bike over-steered a bit but the meaty rear tire regained traction real fast when I got pointed in the right direction.

I'll keep these tires for a while and see how I like them. Maybe I'll get a different set when my personal economy gets better and use these as a spare.

Mistake #1 - The Fast Group

Yup, I tried to hang with the fast group. Yup, I was out of my league. Yup, I burned myself out a bit trying to hang on. Nope, the motivational coaching by the guy in the Team Landry's gear didn't help my legs pedal faster.

I dropped back and rode with the second group. I got dropped by them on Fales St. Not by much though. They were probably 200" ahead of my all the way until 120. Jonathon (blue jersey, blue & silver Trek), and I worked together to try and catch the group. We lost the group on 120 and that is where I got dropped by Jonathon also. I need to get better on the climbs!

Hiroshi came up behind me and pulled me into the halfway point. As he was doing so, Maryellen passed us by riding like she was on a leisure ride on a bike path.

Dam Dogs!

After the rest stop a group of us was climbing onto the Dam by the reservoir. There were three teenage girls with two Chocolate Labs, unleashed. The dogs were running in front of, around, and chasing down the riders ahead of me. One dog was running less than 6 inches along side Jonathon's rear wheel. Not a good situation. I knew I was next. So I grabbed my bottle of Gatorade and got ready. As soon as the one dog started to chase me down, I turned around and gave him a face full of Gatorade from my bottle.

That stopped him in his tracks.

I learned about this trick from the article on Roadbiker.com: How to Deal With Bad Dogs

Play douse the Doberman. If you see big, fast Prince up ahead and know that he sees you, sprinting might not work. Especially if the road is tilting up. Take out your water bottle. Just having it in your hand may make him stay away. If he does come near you, give him a faceful and a loud yell. This distraction will slow him down, though he may come back for more. Just don’t distract yourself and ride off the road.

-Roadbiker.com

Mistake #2 - Make Sure the Rear Wheel is "On"

With the dogs behind me I focused on riding with the group I was with. We were slowly reeling in the group ahead of us. The ride around the reservoir it typically moderate as at the end we start to climb up into some rilling hills.

Things are going good when we hit the first climb. "Crunch" "Grind" My rear derailleur is making weird noises as I stand up to attack the hill.

Apparently, when I changed my tire, I didn't tighten down my rear wheel enough. So when I applied extra torque, it torqued the wheel loose. I had to stop and reset the rear wheel. So now the second half of tonight's ride would become a solo excursion.

Summary for this Ride

18.7 avg at the halfway point; 17.4 avg overall.

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Pan Mass Challenge

Please visit my PMC Profile, read my story, and sponsor me as I ride for a cure.

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