Ride To Conquer Cancer, Training Progress, Part 16

Nicholas does his first 50 miler this early morn--from Keenland to Frankfort and back. He says it wasn't that difficult. He forgets to put sunblock on his arms. It takes him 3 hours to do the route.

I'm proud of you, Nicholas.

I run on the treadmill for 30 minutes. My knee feels fine. There is some soreness.

Ride To Conquer Cancer, Training Progress, Part 15

It ain't pretty, I know, but the link below will take you to a marked-up map of our Rogers Gap To Burgess Smith Loop bike ride near Sadieville. I've marked on the map where I wiped out May 28 on Burgess Smith. Don't know why the map image won't display directly in the blog.

Rogers Gap To Burgess Smith Loop

Ride To Conquer Cancer, Training Progress, Part 14

Okay, I do today what the doc said to do--work my banged up knee with an activity other than biking. I run for 30 minutes on an elliptical treadmill. My knee feels fine. Yahoo!

Maybe I need to adjust my bike seat? (But my leg is almost fully extended with my bike's present seat height.) Hmmmmm.

I think it's really considerate of the county transportation department to warn motorists about the high school's substandard highway entrance.

While on the treadmill, I watch a History Channel feature about how some scientists are taking seriously the Seven Signs (Seals) of St. John's Apocalypse. There is much discussion about mankind being wiped out by asteroids, man-created plagues and mega earthquakes. I don't worry about such things. Do you?

Ride To Conquer Cancer, Training Progress, Part 13

More overflowing creeks down the Double Culvert tunnel.

Pickup truck coming through. I don't try it.

Looking the other way down Double Culvert Road. That's my truck.

Ride To Conquer Cancer, Training Progress, Part 12

Went to scout a new bike route today. Heavy rains flood the tunnel on Double Culvert Road.

Today is very humid. My camera lens keeps fogging after I step out of my air conditioned truck.

Ride To Conquer Cancer, Training Progress, Part 11

Excellent 6-25-09 Georgetown News-Graphic article about the Pig Skulls Bike Team. Left click to enlarge article.

Ride To Conquer Cancer, Training Progress, Part 10

I see the orthopedic doctor this early morn, June 24, about my banged up right knee. The bad news: he'll have to amputate. The good news: my double-duty pedaling left leg will soon be a dead ringer for limbs seen on Kentucky Derby thoroughbreds. Nah, not really! Doc says I might have some bursitis. And get this--HE WANTS TO TREAT ME LIKE AN ATHLETE and see a physical therapist. Cool huh? Doc says to stay off the bike for awhile and try different activities that work the knee e.g. hiking, swimming, treadmill, to determine if it's just biking that is the culprit.


This fella was one of two bucks I saw near my house yesterday. He was the smaller one. His big brother had an impressive rack. These guys better watch out come bow hunting season.

Ride To Conquer Cancer, Training Progress, Part 9

Nicholas and some new bike toys he just HAD to have-- blue chain cleaner and super-duper purple tire lever. Nicholas says he refused to buy these two items until Pedal Power bike store had them in his two favorite colors. I guess he gave the store owner quite a tongue lashing for ignoring such an important color sensitive niche market. (I love my son but sometimes I think he watches too many Rambo movies.)

Nicholas and his Giant bike.

Closeup of Nicholas' bike and hairy legs. I keep advising him to shave his legs so he can at least look like Lance Armstrong. Me? I shave my legs because they look really cool that way.

Hey, the Pig Skull Bike Team had its first flat tire! Nicholas early yesterday morn, June 23, set out from Keenland for Frankfort and back (50 miles). He was eleven miles out on Versailles Road when his back tire ran over a tiny piece of glass--pfffft! He had neither a spare tube nor pump. A kind motorist rode him and bike back to Keenland. Guess what? Nicholas is now an expert at changing flats.

Nicholas rode early this morn, June 24, in our Mallard Point neighborhood. He did a quick seven miles and says he shaved seven minutes off his last time. Nicholas also says he conquered the BIG hill while standing up in the bike. Nicholas is working on breathing and pedaling techniques and urges me to do the same. I say "no thanks." I've been breathing now for 56 years and have pretty much mastered the nose-mouth thing.

Ride To Conquer Cancer, Training Progress, Part 8

Nicholas just about lost it early this morn, June 22, while biking in our Mallard Point neighborhood. He was by himself and didn't do well making the right turn off of Woodduck onto Mallard Point Drive. He went up and over a high shoulder onto a front lawn with his road bike suddenly doubling as a mountain bike. Nothing hurt but his pride.

One thing I've learned since beginning road biking: 35 miles per hour on a bike is a lot different than 35 miles per hour in a car. You really feel the speed on a bike. I find myself saying some quick "Hail Marys" while careening out of control down these Scott County country roads. To mangle the cowardly Oz lion's prayer--"I do believe in flat tires, I do, I do."

Ride To Conquer Cancer, Training Progress, Part 7

All world-class athletes drink beer and the Pig Skulls Bike Team is no exception. There is one big difference between them and us, however. The Pig Skull Bike Team brews its own beer. Today, June 20, we opened the first bottles of Pig Skull Ale. Great color, great smell, great head and great taste. It is a fine example of an American Pale Ale. Slightly more hops than an English Pale Ale.

Nicholas, one of my assistant brewers (Jacob is my other assistant brewer), samples the first bottle of Pig Skull Ale. Our ale goes great with the Pig Skull Jerky we made.

I learned some disappointing news from my doctor the other day. My knee that was banged up in the bike accident May 28 is still not right. It aches and tightens up when I ride. In fact, it was that way even before the accident. Doc says I shouldn't ride until I see an orthopedic doc this Wednesday. I'm hoping for good news.

A word of warning: please be careful when using the Georgetown/Scott County Road and Street Guide map from the Chamber of Commerce. I have discovered street name errors for some country roads in northeast Scott County e.g. Boyers Chapel, Dryden, Muddyford.

Ride To Conquer Cancer, Training Progress, Part 6

Tractor moving out from home at Hinton-Sadieville and N.E. Countyline roads.

Horse along N.E. Countyline Road. I know nothing about horses but this one is beautiful.

Same horse and another one. What breed is this? I ride one mile down the road and am forced to turn back because the road turns to gravel for one mile. I'm not certain if my road tires will survive one mile of gravel. Must find out from more experienced bikers. Pity. It's a beautiful road.

Zebra at Rogers Gap Road farm. Same place that has the camels. It looks like the donkey (mule?) protects the little zebra.

I complete 30 miles today. I spook a deer and turkey on Elk Lick Road. Remember the sunny 8:30 start? The last seven or eight miles of my return trip are in the rain. Good experience, huh? We must be willing to adapt, huh? We are the superior critters on this planet, huh? Well, why the heck then does the big, fat ol' train park itself at the Rogers Gap crossing stopping all automobile (and bike) traffic for 10 or 15 minutes? By the way, did I mention it was raining?

Ride To Conquer Cancer, Training Progress, Part 5

Inviting flowered entrance to N.E. Countyline Road. It looks perfect. I'm going down there.

Closeup of entrance.

Pretty home and pretty flowers at Hinton-Sadieville and N.E. Countyline roads.

Uncle Sam at intersection.

Ride To Conquer Cancer, Training Progress, Part 4

Start out at 8:30 AM today, June 18, on Rogers Gap Road. That's the I-75 overpass in the east. Weather is fine and muggy. Nicholas can't ride with me because of work. I intend to try out a new road today--N.E. Countyline Road off of Hinton-Sadieville Road.

This is my Specialized bike. Notice my silver twinkle-toe shoes that attach to the clipless pedals (and of course, my feet). The red bottle is my refillable air horn.

Sadieville Boat Ramp on Hinton-Sadieville Road near Davis Road. Water is slow and muddy. Dogs across the water run along the bank barking at me. What's with these dogs? Do I still smell too much like a Yankee?

Looking the other way while at the boat ramp.

I meet Virgil at the intersection of Hinton-Sadieville and N.E. Countyline roads. Virgil is from Booneville, KY and is visiting his daughter. He walks two miles each day with his tobacco stick-walking stick. He is a Vietnam era vet. We both agree that the vistas out here are beautiful. I give Virgil a Pig Skulls Bike Team business card. I break for water and a snack and look over my Scott County map.

Ride To Conquer Cancer, Training Progress, Part 3

We couldn't ride today, June 16, because of the rain. Nicholas is modeling the latest in anti-canine weaponry. We have found the refillable air horn to be really effective at stopping even big dogs. The pepper spray is our next line of defense. It is difficult to use while moving. We Pig Skulls use only the best stuff to protect our dainty ankles.

See! The pepper spray does work.

Ride To Conquer Cancer, Training Progress, Part 2

We see a LOT of these critters. It seems EVERY home has at least 12 or 13 dogs. NONE of them are leashed (well, not many). NONE of them are fenced in (well, very few). And NONE of them have been fed for three weeks (OK, so I exaggerate). But they ALL enjoy chasing us down "their" country roads. What to do? We have discovered that a REALLY loud refillable air horn available from Cabelas stops Rottweilers and Pit Bulls. We carry pepper spray as the next line of defense. This fella below lives on Josephine Road.

Feeding horses on Josephine Road.

Llamas on Biddle Pike. These critter pictures were taken Fall 2008.

Today, June 13, was the first time on my bike since my May 28 wipe out on Burgess Smith. My knee still aches and there is still some swelling and bruising. I did almost 29 miles today down Rogers Gap to Double Culvert to Luke to Davis to Hinton-Sadieville to Elk Lick to Pike (Davis) into Sadieville to Luke and back. While in Sadieville I saw my fellow librarian, Lee the Bookmobile Lady, in her Bookmobile waiting for patrons to check out books. Drats! I forgot to bring my camera on this bike ride. I missed a lot of good shots.

Ride To Conquer Cancer, Training Progress, Part 1

My son, Nicholas, and I have created the Pig Skulls Bike Team and join other bike teams in the two-day 150-mile Ride To Conquer Cancer to raise money for Louisville's Norton Cancer Institute. The mega bike event is Sept. 26-27, 2009. Donate online through Sept. 24 or print off mail-in donation forms at Ride to Victory.org. Sponsor Mike or Nicholas or both of us and help us reach our individual $2500 fund-raising goals. Join the Pig Skulls bike team as a rider or crew member. Follow our training progress as we travel the pretty Scott County (KY) country roads to get in shape for September. See what strange critters lurk along these country lanes waiting, in some cases, to snack on tasty bikers. See how the potential "meals on wheels" use their superior human intellects to thwart these savage critters. And see how bikers really move their fannies to put distance between ankle and fang.

"We are bike-riding cancer fighters."

This is Nicholas, May 28, taking it easy outside the train tunnel on Double Culvert Road while I do all the hard work like taking pictures. I have to admit his legs look better than mine. Hey, he's a 21 year-old kid and I'm a 56 year-old mature gentleman.

Nicholas still taking it easy while drinking my water and watching all the pretty girls drive by.

Camels! In Kentucky! Can you believe it? These camels live on a farm on Rogers Gap Road. I've also seen zebras.

This particular evening, May 28, we do a short 19 mile ride--Rogers Gap Road to Double Culvert to Luke to Davis to Burgess Smith to Turkey Foot to Rogers Gap. We have our first accident. I lose control on Burgess Smith while attempting to negotiate a steep descending hairpin curve. My backend fishtails when I apply the brakes to slow down. I go down and skid while still attached to my bike. Bang up my knee. Doc says I shouldn't ride for a week.

Our longest ride so far is 35 miles when we rode on the other side of US 25--Biddle Pike to Skinnersburg to Long Lick to East Honaker to Graves to West Honaker to Locust Fork into Stamping Ground then back.

BTW Nicholas is riding a Giant road bike and I'm riding a Specialized. We both use clipless pedals which means we wear special shoes that attach to the pedals. And yes, we wear the goofy, butt-expanding, spandex shorts. The padding really does help during long rides.