Ten down, two to go – My first brevet (200k)

By John Straffin | Published: 15 August 2009

(Waitaminute… “Ten down”? How’d we get from six to ten? Sorry… I’ve been a slacker. I have a draft or two of the other rides, and *will* add them, back-dated so that the order is correct, but I want to get the more recent rides entered first, while they’re still fresh. Sorry for the confusion…)

On August 15th, one week after riding 100+ miles in the 2009 Tarwheels Bikefest, I went on to cover more distance on my bike in one ride than I’ve ever done before: 200km (or 125mi). It was… amazing…

Posted in Riding my Bike | Leave a comment

Six down, six to go – 3 Mountain Madness

By John Straffin | Published: 30 May 2009

I doubled-up in May, doing two Year-Rounder rides. The second was the best organized ride I’ve ever done, and the hardest.

3 Mountain Madness is a 40-, 70-, or 95-mile ride that starts in the town of Pilot Mountain, NC, and goes in a circle through the mountains and foothills of Surry and Stokes counties. The 40-mile ride keeps to the foothills and cuts the loop a little short. The 70-mile ride makes the full circle, with trips up and down three mountains along the way: Sauratown Mountain, Hanging Rock, and the eponymous Pilot Mountain. The 95-mile ride adds 25 extra foothill miles to the 70-mile route, between Hanging Rock and Pilot Mountain. I rode the 95-mile ride (of course).

Posted in Riding my Bike | Leave a comment

Five down, seven to go, with a friend

By John Straffin | Published: 16 May 2009

May’s Year-Rounder ride was the “Biking with the Band” charity ride put on by the Middle Creek High School Marching Band in Apex, NC. I was joined by my good friend Dave Lennon for his first “real” bike ride and we rode the 32-mile loop. What’s that you say? How can a 32-mile loop possibly count towards the YR? Well… Middle Creek High School is 35 miles from my house. :)
Read More »

Posted in Riding my Bike | Leave a comment

Bike-to-Work Week, Day Five – I’m All Wet

By John Straffin | Published: 15 May 2009

On the final day of the bike-to-work experiment, I expected no big changes: wore jeans, socks, t-shirt, bike shoes; carried work shirt & sneakers on my back; rode the road bike again on the same route as the day before (so no maps necessary again). It was a little misty as I left the house though.

Turns out that it was no mist, however… Read More »

Posted in Riding my Bike | Leave a comment

Bike-to-Work Week, Days Four – A Little Faster

By John Straffin | Published: 14 May 2009

Took the same routes as yesterday (so won’t bother with maps), but on my road bike this time. I gained a little speed, and could carry a little less weight as I had the extra shirt waiting for me at the office. No other real differences to mention… still sucks to be on Roxboro Road for any distance at that time of morning.

Also, for the second time this week, as soon as I got home, I hopped into the car and drove almost all the way back to the office to pick up my eldest daughter from her dance lessons. Again, I would have picked her up on my way home had I driven to work so, for the day, net emissions difference is near zero. Oh well…

Posted in Riding my Bike | Leave a comment

  • Elsewhere in the `tubes…