Epic Bicycle Trip

Goal: be able to do the "lake ride" without shifting off of the third chain ring. Status: made the whole ride EXCEPT the hill out of the park - still have to go to 2:2 for that one. The rest of the ride, lowest I want was 3:2.

Summary for week ending 7/15/2017. Achieved goal of riding 10 miles every other day for a week, with rides on 7/9, 7/11, 7/13, and 7/15. 7/15 Odometer reading (est. 610 miles [I had to reset the odometer.]) 7/15 goal MET: no lower than 2:2 on my entire 10 mile ride. Next Goal: add a 20 mile ride each week. The wheel ratio on my bike computer got messed up, but I think I have it set correctly now. Will have to do a measured mile somewhere and see how it's reading.

Wife and I rode 10 miles on the Franklin trail. Climbed up onto the Belmar Bridge just to look at the awesome fog.

Tried for more speed, didn't gain a whole lot.

I've settled on a ride (for now) and I'm working on a routine. This morning: 11 miles, average speed 11 MPH, course has some hills so it's just enough challenge to work me, and it's local so I don't have to drive anywhere before I ride. ... and it's beautiful early in the morning!

Got a brief 10 mile ride in this morning. First time on the bike in a while. Rode to the lake and back.

I was just going to do a quick ride before dinner. Ended up riding to Oil City then down the bike trail to Franklin. Part way into the ride the skies parted and a deluge hit. My loving wife picked me up in Franklin as it was getting late and I was soaked. 22 miles, took about 2 hours, great ride.

The name of this blog refers to a bucket list item of mine: an epic bicycle trip, riding from my home in Venango County Pennsylvania all the way to Washington DC using as much of the Great Allegheny Passage and the C&O Canal Path as is available. This year was supposed to be "the year of the ride" but the possibilities are slipping away, the money is going to other places, and the ride is no longer looking like a sure thing. That said, I had an experience today that has caused me to rethink my definition of "epic bicycle ride." You see, I've been very sick for the past week. Nothing life threatening, but I'm sure you can all relate: sniffles, sore throat, fever, frequent "potty runs" and EVERYTHING hurts. Today at my house it was sunny and 60 degrees. Finally, a break in the weather. I was up several times during the night with sweats and chills, but looking at the day, all I realy wanted was to be on my bike. There were two voices in m

I rode five miles to my mechanic's garage to pick up the farm truck today. Not a long ride, but I was dying to get on the bike and the weather, and my schedule, just haven't been cooperating. It was 49 degrees when I took my ride five hours ago; it's 32 and snowing now. Ugh. Got a new headlight and new mirrors - one for my handlebar and one that clips to my helmet. Getting ready!

61 degrees on February 19 in Franklin, PA. So of course we went for a bike ride. One hour out, one hour back on the Justis trail got us to Brandon and back. Apparently the village of Brandon once had a station for the Pennsylvania railroad, although a quick Google search didn't turn up much.

This is the year I plan to ride the Great Allegheny Passage and the Cumberland trails. I am looking forward to getting started on my training, as soon as the temperature gets above 32F LOL.