Today my daughter and I were supposed to do a 20 mile ride when she got home from work. But when she walked through the door a little past noon she said that she had a really bad headache. She also said that her fall allergies were starting up again. So I told her to rest and take a nap. She didn't need to ride in today's heat feeling the way she did. And it certainly was hot this afternoon. In fact according to this morning's weather report today would be our hottest day this week. But I wanted to ride. So I decided to do a short quick ride alone.
I quickly got dressed and got on my bike and out the drive I went. It was warm at 1:03 PM when I left, 82 degrees according to my house thermometer. I filled both water bottles and hoped that would be enough for my ride. Here is my route: Out my door to Alan York Park, left onto Bonney Lake Blvd, then left onto Locust. At the traffic light I went left onto Old Sumner Buckley Hwy until I reached Angeline Road where I turned right. I went down the hill but instead of going into Orting I went towards Sumner. When I reached the on ramp of 410 (near Riverside Ford) I pedaled onto the the ramp and started cycling up Eli Hill! I made it to the top and stopped at the Park and Ride behind Wendys for a water break. Downing one and half bottles of water I continued home. I reached my driveway at 2:08 PM and got 14.26 miles in. That climb up 410 (Eli Hill) was 1.91 miles! It was HOT but I kept on pedaling. Traffic was pretty heavy and there was a lot of debris and glass on the shoulder of the road. I don't think I will ride up this hill again! I wouldn't recommend it to other cyclists. There are plenty of other hills that are better and safer and with less rubbish on them.
Tomorrow I think I will do my Sky Island to Orting, Buckley, and back home route. About a 35 mile ride. Jackie said to just cycle in the morning without her. She said it's better to ride before the heat of the day. So I think I will. But she has Friday off and we plan on riding the 45 mile Headwater Century course before the heat of the day. The problem is where to park. Enumclaw High School, our usual start point, is in session. Yes, they went back to school today. Maybe we'll park at the Enumclaw QFC.
4 comments:
Sue:
No I did not ride yesterday. I had to many chores to do. I can’t let my yard go without mowing more that four days and the 20 hanging plants and assorted potted plants need tending, as well as my flower beds. Oh! Did I say I cook and clean too?!
I did ride my bike to work this morning. Very eventful. Going down Lake Tapps Blvd. I was going around 50 mph on the bridge over the BNSF tracks, and my front wheel started shimming. And tt just keep getting worse the farther I progressed. Just as it got to the point that I thought I was going to be in serious trouble. I recalled reading a article about this very problem. It recommended to bring your knees together clamping down on the top tube. This is supposed to eliminate the harmonic vibration that has built up in the bike frame. I did just that and the wheel wobble went away. Although the ride still was not very smooth due to my shaking.
So other than a 2 ton truck passing me and cutting me off by turning right at a intersection I was crossing straight through. It’s been a average day for a ride so far. I look forward to riding home after work this afternoon.
That climb up Eli hill is less that 2 miles? I thought it was a lot longer than that! Highway 410 is just way to busy to bike on. To many side streets and drivers in a hurry for no good reason. Not a relaxing road to ride on at all. But still that’s a good climb, and with no flats. Incredible!
The Foothills trail should be a nice ride this morning. I envy you. I’m planning to be on that trail this weekend. (sun or mon).
Have a nice ride.
Pedal On!
Gary
Sue:
Here is the info I found on wheel shimmy. Enjoy.
http://davesbikeblog.blogspot.com/2006/08/shimmy-re-visited.html
Gary:
That must have been scary! 50 mph and a shimming wheel! Yikes! I'm glad you got it under control by holding the top tube between your legs. I heard about that trick too. But I hope I never have to experience a wheel with a shimmy. That would really freak me out! Did it always shimmy? Or was this the first time? Are your wheels trued? I would have them checked. I have gone down Snoqualmie, Blewett and Stevens Passes at about 47+ mph and my bike has never shimmied. It just whooshes down the hills nice and smooth! All I hear is the wind in my ears and feel the exhilaration of the speed!
Jackie and I are going to ride later this afternoon. Joe wants the windows and trim on the house all taped and covered. Aaron, our son, is working on it right now. I bet he can’t wait to go back to college in September. Joe really has been putting him to work this summer. It’s his last summer off before graduating next June, then he will have to join the “real” world and find a “real” job!
Thanks for the link with the shimmy info. I will go and check it out.
Pedal On!
Sue
Sue:
The wheel shimmy has occurred before, Once last summer. The bike and wheels are OK. I know because it was trued in early July. It started out as a small vibration. And then built up to where the bike was weaving from side to side so violently that I though I was going to lose all control and get pitched off the bike.
As you might read in the link I sent you, griping the handles tighter makes it worse. Because your body becomes more ‘in tune’ with the bike. Believe me, loosening your grip is exactly the opposite of what your brain wants you to do. Also the larger the bike the more chances for wheel wobble to happen. I had researched the wobble/shimmy issue after the same thing happened to me last summer. That’s why I knew what to do. But I had forgotten and got out of the habit of resting my knee against the top tube as I go fast downhill. I was just trying to go as fast as I can, by being tucked in and over the bars.
Tell Aaron that house painting is good practice for a graphic artist career.
Or at least now he knows what’s waiting for him if he doesn’t apply himself to his chosen profession.
Here is the link to Rodriguez bikes.
http://www.rodcycle.com/index.html
Also. Here is the location of the one lane bridge east of Black Diamond that I spoke of.
http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?searchtype=address&country=US&addtohistory=&searchtab=home&formtype=address&popflag=0&latitude=&longitude=&name=&phone=&level=&cat=&address=&city=black+diamond&state=wa&zipcode=
Pedal On!
Gary
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