Friday Writings for Randos - The Loneliness of a Distance Rider

{Friday Writings for Randos - A weekly post that features pieces from other writers that touch some facet of the Randonneuring experience, even if that was not the author's intent. It's stuff that's best read out loud - slowly.} This week it's an excerpt from a blog post titled:

The Loneliness of a Distance Rider

by Vincent Muoneke* (Spokesong)

 

The Distance Rider affirms that every rider has a finite number "x" of pedal strokes. He imagines and hopes that the current stroke, will add to the total number, not subtract from the residual. . . .

Jitters

The Pennsylvania 600k starts on Saturday.  Walking the dog this morning, my legs feel weak in anticipation. 600K, 375 miles, 40 hours. The numbers are too big. I did a 600k once before. But it was flat - it was not Pennsylvania. Think good thoughts. Breathe. Cool morning air. Put one foot in front of the other. The dog wags her tail and smiles. My legs feel weak. Perhaps I will ride to work - see if I still know how. Or maybe I should take the day off and rest up. I should have slept longer. The Pennsylvania 600k starts on Saturday.

Friday Writings for Randos - Endurance

{Friday Writings for Randos - A weekly post that features pieces from other writers that touch some facet of the Randonneuring experience, even if that was not the author's intent. It's stuff that's best read out loud - slowly.} This week it's a quote from:

Counting Roadkill - Another reason to ride?

If you a looking for another answer to the question "Why are you riding?" Here's another good excuse reason: to count roadkill for science:

A re-post from Adventure Cycling's "Bike Bits":

If you're heading out on a road trip yourself this summer -- or even if you just commute to work by bicycle -- you can help the Adventurers and Scientists for Conservation collect data on roadkill along our highways and byways. Cyclists are obviously ideal participants in such a project, as they see (and smell) much more than do those travelers encased in fast-moving automobiles.

Go to the following link to learn more and to enter data: http://www.adventureandscience.org/roadkill.html

PA Randonneurs Blue Mountain 400K

The 2012 Pennsylvania Randonneurs' Blue Mountain 400K provided a course that would test the 30 plus Randonneurs who signed up to ride the brevet. To complete the 250 mile route, they would have to climb hill after hill after mountain that added up to 18,899 feet and 126 miles of up. To put that in context, consider this: Denali (Mount McKinley) is the highest mountain peak in North America and, when measured from base to peak, it is also the world's tallest mountain on land. The base to peak elevation of Denali is 18,000 feet. In one day, the Randonneurs would climb the height of Denali.

Friday Writings for Randos - The Hard Way

{Friday Writings for Randos - A weekly post that features pieces from other writers that touch some facet of the Randonneuring experience, even if that was not the author's intent. It's stuff that's best read out loud - slowly.} This week it's:

The Hard Way

by Jane Flanders

"All right, do it the hard way." My mother's voice - the tone implies mulishness, snubbed advice, and an easy way, of course, if only I'd listen. " . . .

Ride of Silence - Philadelphia

The mission of the world wide Ride of Silence is to honor bicyclists killed by motorists, promote sharing the road, and provide awareness of bicycling safety.

Flying Pigeon PA 06

Put a bird on it.

I picked up this Flying Pigeon PA-06 from a local guy who had bought it at an estate sale. It was in very good condition. Its utilitarian simplicity and rock solid build give it an undeniable charm. Some of its features include a triple spring leather seat, push rod brakes, pigeon rack, pigeon bars, tires that appear to be originals, fully enclosed drive train and kickstand.

A test ride showed that it has three speeds: take it easy, slow down and walk.

Some interweb research led to the following: 

From Wikipedia: 

The classic Flying Pigeon bicycles are the PA-02 and PA-06 (men's) and PB-13 (women's). These are one of the most iconic symbols of old China (the sturdy, single speed black roadster bicycle ridden by the masses).

They are simple, conceived of as a working machine meant to last a lifetime. Like the Ford Model T, they are only available in one colour, black, except for the flare of vanilla at the fender tips.

Friday Writings for Randos - Fly Fishing

{Friday Writings for Randos - A weekly post that features pieces from other writers that touch some facet of the Randonneuring experience, even if that was not the author's intent. It's stuff that's best read out loud - slowly.} This week it's:.

An excerpt from A River Runs Through it

One great thing about fly fishing is that after a while nothing exists of the world but thoughts about fly fishing. It is also interesting that thoughts about fly fishing are often carried on in dialogue form where Hope and Fear - or many times, two fears - try to outweigh each other. 

Treat yourself to the best - The PA Randonneurs Water Gap 300k

On Saturday morning, the sound of the alarm clock ringing at 1:45 a.m., set off a heated discussion in my brain. 

Right brain - "Oh man it's early."

Left brain-  "The 300K starts at 4:00, I have to leave by 2:15"

Right brain - "It's still too early, sleep for ten more minutes."

Left brain - "Gotta get up."

Right brain - "I've only slept for a few hours."

Left brain - "It's good training for a long brevet."

Right brain - "I can't train to not sleep!"

Left brain - "Gotta get up."

Right brain - "Oh, man it's early."

 The whole conversation took place in the seconds it took find and disarm the clock. Then I looked out the window. The soft yellow light of the almostbutnotquite full "super moon" gave an ethereal glow to a scattered layer of thin clouds. Night air, slightly cool, drifted in from the window. Wow. Then Right brain and Left brain reached the same conclusion: This would be a good night to start a ride. That ended the debate. I dressed, packed the last few items into the minivan and headed off to start.

Friday Writings for Randos - On the strength of all convictions and the stamina of love

{Friday Writings for Randos - A weekly post that features pieces from other writers that touch some facet of the Randonneuring experience, even if that was not the author's intent. It's stuff that's best read out loud - slowly.} This week it's:

ON THE STRENGTH OF ALL CONVICTIONS 

AND THE STAMINA OF LOVE

by Jenifer Michael Hecht

Sabina

Today, I sat through the opening statements of a murder trial. Sabina, the young woman whose life ended in an act of senseless brutality, was the daughter of my friend, a friend to my children, a child who was as welcome in my home as any member of my family.

Listening to an opening statement in a murder trial is not like listening to a eulogy. At a trial, death, not life, is the focus, and Sabina was so full of life.

Life is short, precious and fragile. Enjoy it. Live it. Treasure it.