Great weekend for bike riding

Still contemplating the Katy Trail ride but balancing the need for saving vacation time for other major events this year like the arrival of my first grandson! The KTR still sounds like a great idea but there is always next year.

Other biking news.

I suffered a minor breakdown on my ride home from work a week last Friday. I broke the cable for the forward derailer. I was able to find a replacement cable the following Saturday but was not able to do the work until Sunday- During the repair I struggled with the stop screw for the derailer. The head is just too stripped out to be able to adjust it. I was able to remove the screw but no one was open to sell me a replacement on Sunday. The closes shop is only open from 10-6 and I do not get home until 6:30. Finally made it to another bike shop on Thursday only to be told that I am unlikely to find something like the only I am trying to replace. Apparently they are quite specific to the model of derailer and mine is almost 20 years old. Two solutions present itself - first is to find a source for very fine thread metric screws. The other is to just replace the whole derailer. I hope to take the bike into the shop tonight to get some quotes - then it is decision time.

Katy Ride Update

I spent more time thinking about this event. I contacted the organizer with some questions. They were out so I left a message. Do they still need volunteers for sweep riders (for me) and how are massage therapists selected and organized (for René).

I also talked to Gabe and Hannah to see if they might want to ride. Both turned me down though Gabe has ridden on the Katy Trail before . . . Since Gabe was not interested in doing it I approached him about using his bike and tent . . . He seemed willing if a bit reluctant.

I also spent some time sounding out others to see if they might be interested in riding. My first thought was for my brother Tod. He is partly responsible for my interest in riding and I thought this might pique his interest and it would be fun to spend some time with him - it has been a while. I thought it might be tough for him to make it as he is also an avid sailor and it is high racing season. Also he has been quite busy zooming around the world with his business but I thought I would give it a try. As expeced, the timing is tough for him. he will be between two big regattas that week so he turned me down.

I also was that CeeCee, my niece has started riding bicycles too. She announced on Facebook that she rode 15 miles yesterday so somehting like this might be intresting to her and her boyfriend. Again both of these young kids are sailors so I am not holding my breath . . .

I am not sure if I want to spend too much effort finding others that might want to ride with me. I might just go solo and see what friendships I can strike up along the way.

Gee, I have not even formally made a decision to do this yet as I read back over this it certainly sounds like I have made a decision. I need to talk more with René about her thoughts on this.

The Katy Trail Ride 2010

I learned yesterday of this annual event and am very tempted to participate. This year’s ride covers approximately 225 miles of the Katy Trail from St. Charles to Clinton, MO over a span of 5 days. The longest ride is 54 miles while the shortest is 38 miles. They offer a lot support and activities that make it an attractive opportunity.

So why not sign up - I wonder. The biggest hurdle is the use of 5 days of vacation. Is it fair to use that much and leave my spouse behind (she laughed at me when I suggested that she could ride too)? I used up quite a bit of my vacation time closing up my father's house in preparation for it's sale and I have a short trip planned to participate in my son's graduation in Special Forces so that does not leave much time to vacation with the family. Another hurdle is equipment. I have an old road bike which is not really suitable for this sort of ride (packed crushed lime stone is not kind to skinny tires) nor do I have camping supplies. Lastly, in the words of a country western song, "I am not as young as I once was." Though I have done as much as 100 miles in one day, that was 20 years ago. Will I be able to hold up with 5 days of long rides, up (gentle) incline and against prevailing winds? And who knows what the weather will be like.

On the other hand, the cost is not excessive for what is being offered (less than $300 after including some extras). That base fee includes breakfast, dinner and snacks along the way, hot showers (a real plus) and camping sites each night. I have never had the opportunity to ride on this very popular trail so it is attractive to me as a new experience. Having participated in other group rides I have found the experience to be very positive meeting a lot of interesting people. It would also consider it an achievement to complete such a ride.

The word is that this ride fills up pretty quickly so I feel I should make a decision soon if I want to do it. I also have to plan on getting a few miles under my belt before then, though my regular rides home from work (25+ miles) is a good start.