Ride To Conquer Cancer, Training Progress, Part 50

The Pig Skull Bike Team rides again! This is Nichloas' first time out since his July 20 accident and it's great having him back. We ride 27 miles today, Sept. 2, early morn before work. I show him a new route off of Biddle Pike. I take him down Indian Creek Road for 1/2 mile to Gaines Road which after 3 miles connects with Long Lick Pike. Gaines is a very pretty and HILLY road. I top out at 41 mph descending the hill that empties into Long Lick Pike. Man, I REALLY LIKE SPEED! Today is like a wonderful fall day--cool and blue. I even spy some leaves that have already turned red. The pic above is Nicholas on Locust Fork Road in Stamping Ground feeling glad he's back in the saddle.

Further north on Locust Fork Road approaching Long Lick Pike is this curious sign. Not too far from here I almost become a dump truck's new hood ornament when I encounter said truck while negotiating a curve on a steep descent. There are quite a few log cabin homes along this stretch of Locust Fork. Maybe some log cabin discount some years ago?

My vital stats from the bike computer: Speed (13.2 mph avg., 41.2 mph max.); Heart (112 bpm avg., 149 bpm max.); and Cadence (75 revolutions per minute avg., 119 revolutions per minute max.) I burn 590 calories. Actual pedal time is 2 hours, 4 minutes.

Ride To Conquer Cancer, Training Progress, Part 23

Nicholas-the-biking-weatherman commenting on the heat along Double Culvert near Luke. We decide to turn back. For some reason we are both exhausted after only six miles! I guess it's the heat. One thing is for certain--the Tour de France boys have nothing to fear from us.

Nicholas tells me he didn't want to be the first one to admit defeat. He is relieved when dear Old Dad prudently seeks relief in an air conditioned home supplied with homebrew.

Ride To Conquer Cancer, Training Progress, Part 22

This is Nicholas ascending a steep hill on Double Culvert to Luke. Listen carefully and you can hear him change gears. We get a late start today and it's hot. We turn around here and total only 12 miles today.

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 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 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 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.