Ride To Conquer Cancer, Training Progress, Part 45

This is my wife in my red truck coming to my rescue on Bond Pike, Aug 19. Turn up the sound to hear the rolling truck tires and the tweeting birds!

Ride To Conquer Cancer, Training Progress, Part 44

Stranded again! Yesterday's early morn 13.7 mile ride before work turns into a lazy morn because I have another flat tire and again no spare tube. I phone my wife and she picks me up and shows me Gaines Road which is beautiful country road that I will explore when I get my bike back from the bike shop. My guess is that there is some pointy thing in the front tire, undetectable by me, puncturing the tubes. I am now a bike guy without a bike. These first two pics are at the intersection of Bond Pike and US 227 northwest of Stamping Ground. This is where my wife rescues me. The pic below shows my bike on Bond Pike facing US 227. Stamping Ground is to the left.

I have divine help today notwithstanding the fact that I am dead in the water...and these goats and old tractor today are the instruments of God's saving help. I like to say my morning prayers while biking these beautiful, peaceful country roads. I just finish my Guardian Angel prayer "Angel of God my guardian dear..." when I notice these goats and old tractor. I stop and take some pics and then notice that my front tire is flat. Flat tires are annoying but my goat-inspired photo op probably saves me from serious injury. Look at the pic below to understand why (left click pic).

This is a long, steep Bond Pike descent that empties into US 227. Last time I rode down this hill I did about 40 mph. It is just after the goats and old tractor.

Some people equate goats with the Devil. Not me.

My vital stats from the bike computer: Speed (13.6 mph avg., 37.7 mph max.); Heart (119 bpm avg., 146 bpm max.); Cadence (82 revolutions per minute avg., 111 revolutions per minute max.). I burn 329 calories. Actual pedal time is 1 hour.

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."