The Light House Ride

 I rode to the Admiralty Head Light. This is a ride I try to do at least once a year. This ride differs from last years ride. This ride I went north along Holmes Harbor on Honeymoon Bay road rather than going on Smugglers Cove road. I had hoped there would be more climbing on along Honeymoon Bay. However according to Strava this route is a little shorter and only differs by 47 feet more elevation. It was a little windy but what are you going to do its Whidbey Island. 

Here’s the ride. 

Great Climber.

Nairo Quintana

Brook's Hill Boogie

I had a short hiatus due to gout.  This image is the best interpretation of gout I have found. This little monster is shown biting the toe. More often I am bitten on the left ankle. After a few days of eating mass quantities of ibuprofen I was able to nurse my ankle back to health on the rollers.

 While I was disabled I made some changes to the bike. The biggest change was the installation of new Speedplay pedals and cleats. I didn’t realize how worn out my old pedals were until I installed the new ones.  They are tight and secure. I feel as if I’m getting more leg power to the crank. They are very comfortable and I thing they’re going to solve my foot problems as well.

Here’s today's ride.

Great climber.

Egan Bernal

Keeping it close to home.

 On this ride I didn’t want to get to far away from home in case it started raining. I also wanted to do some climbing. Here’s the result.

Great climber.

Laurent Fignon

Best of Laurent Fignon

Saturday Spin

 Saturday was a beautiful day for a quick spin into Langley.

Great Climber

Alberto Contador

Best of Alberto

Best Moments

Scatchet Head - Ebey's Landing

 Once in a while Jody will go up to Ebey's Landing to hike. I'll leave the house shortly after she does and we meet in the Ebey's Landing parking lot. Quite often our timing is perfect. She is just getting back to the car just as I arrive. 

There is no end to the scenery.

This ride was a lesson in patients. The wind was strong, cold and in my face most of the way up there. Fighting the wind is futile. I had to keep telling myself  "Be patient. Get into a nice gear and pump out a steady rhythm." I would build up momentum and some speed.  I'd start feeling like I was getting somewhere.  Suddenly a gust of wind would hit me and I'd loose all the momentum and speed I had worked for and I'd say it again "Be patient ...."  

Great ride nonetheless. Check it out.

Great Climber 

Mara Abbot

Interview

TED talk

Willy's Route

 My capacity to suffer was low today. I had my heart set on climbing a bunch of hills earlier this afternoon. I couldn't bear the effort to climb anymore than I completed on this ride.

Great Climber

Jacques Anquetil

Campbell’s Glendale Double Loop

 Nothing but climbing. 

Great Climber

Fausto Coppi

Dean'S Route 🔄

 Dean's Route so named because I know someone who lives along the route. This was my first 30 mile ride on the season.

Gino Bartali great climber.

Langley and back.

 I was feeling pretty good on this ride. Unfortunately when I rolled into Langley I started getting a "kachewoop" in the bottom bracket. Just a little bump on the non-drive side crank. Enough of a bump to make me think I should head for home however. I went through Langley and turned for home on Maxwelton road. By the time I got out to the highway I had a real bump dee bump going on.  I could control it by the way I peddled. 

That got me out to the Little Brown Church where it came apart as you see in the picture.  I rode one legged from the church to the Maxwelton park. I figured I wouldn’t make it up Swede Hill one legged so called my son to come pick me up.

I have corrected the problem. Now ready for more riding.

Here’s today’s route.

Pedro Delgado great climber.

May is Climbing Challenge Month

 May is Climbing Challenge Month and I started out by climbing Campbell Road. Campbell road is one of the most challenging hill climbs on the south end and one of my favorites. So I thought it would be appropriate to start the climbing challenge with this phenomenal hill. 

 Here is yesterday’s ride.

Today I climbed Heggenes Hill, the Mur de Bob and of course Swede Hill. Heggenes is another favorite climb of mind. The lower curves remind me of Switzerland. The Mur de Bob is a must do during the climbing challenge. It's steep and long and should be done more than once in May. Swede Hill is how I get home. I don’t plan on riding up Swede Hill it just happens at the end of most rides.

Here’s today’s ride.

 

Here is a picture of Marco Pantani.

 One of the greatest climber of all time.

Greatest Moments 

Riding with Jodi: Anacortes

 Last Friday Jodi and I cruised up to Anacortes with are bikes and rode along the Tommy Thompson Trail  that goes along the water. We had been wanting to do this ride for a long time. Now that we are vaccinated for COVID-19 we feel a little bit more comfortable about leaving home. The ride was marvelous and the weather surprisingly good. We drove out from under the clouds as we left Coupville. By the time we arrived in Anacortes the sun was shine bright.

After the ride we had lunch at the GERE a DELI . Our favorite place to eat in Anacortes. Having lunch at the GERE a DELI is another treat we had been looking forward to for a long time. They have a meatloaf sandwich to die for.

After lunch we felt we hadn’t had enough cycling  so we when to Washington Park and did a loop.

 

Here's our smiling faces.