Twas the Night Before the Night Before Christmas

Hello and Merry Christmas!

It's a balmy day before Christmas Eve, and I'm finally getting back to the blog. The fall has been very busy with work, my son's soccer games, lots of football games and all my favorite holidays.  My two favorite teams, the Carolina Tar Heels and Panthers had great seasons that really held my attention, much more than the past few years. Also in the mix was a wreck in November that totaled my car. No one was hurt, thank goodness, but the mechanics of replacing the car took even more time, and my blogging efforts have suffered.

I have been able to keep riding. I've made my goal of 200 miles in every month this year except February and have cracked 300 several times. Those rides have also produced some blog-worthy moments that I'll write about in the new year, including the first cold ride of the winter, how bikers who don't keep track of anything else track their distance to the inch, and a memorable Veterans Day ride.

Despite the great distractions, I did get in 50 miles
on a recent Sunday.

Thank you for taking the time to read my little missives in this blog. I'll try to give you more interesting reading in 2016. Meanwhile, in spite of this year's yuletide heat wave, have a wonderful Christmas and a happy new year.

P.S. You'd think that if it's 70 degrees two days before Christmas, at least it wouldn't rain so you can get in good ride. Ah well...

In Good Company

I ride alone most of the time. Riding has become “me” time, and by myself I can go as fast and as far as I want. Most of the other riders I see on the greenways are riding by themselves as well. You do see riders in pairs and small groups and the occasional larger group, especially families. But mostly you see single riders. I rode with a friend recently and found it very enjoyable and a nice change of pace.

A little background: Even though I mostly ride solo, I’ve ridden on the greenways with other people. Sometimes I ride with someone who can go farther and faster than me. Other times I’m the one who can go farther and faster. I was looking forward to the ride with my friend, but I couldn’t help thinking about my past experiences. When I ride with someone who goes faster, I feel like I slow that person down. When I ride with someone who isn’t quite as fast, I feel like I don’t get as much out of the ride as I usually do.

Make sure you enjoy your company when you ride with a friend.
Don't worry as much about pace and distance.

 

We started out by riding down to the Neuse trail and turning north. Our goal was to make it to Capital Boulevard and back, a round trip of about 34-35 miles. We kept up a brisk pace at first and were talking about our sons (they go to school together and are teammates on the soccer team). As we rode, I found myself worrying about when we would have to adjust our pace. I was surprised at how distracting it was, especially considering that it was a beautiful day, it felt great to be out on the bike and we were having a very pleasant conversation.

It was the morning of Labor Day, and the trail was like the beltline at rush hour. Evidently most of the riders in Wake County had the same great idea we did: taking advantage of the holiday to ride on the greenway. We went by probably 20 sets of riders before we passed Old Milburnie Damn, and at least that many walkers and joggers. It was frustrating as our conversations were interrupted several times to make tight turns and pass people. We barely avoided an accident as we rounded a sharp curve and just missed a pair of handlebars coming the other way. We crossed the suspension bridge past Hedingham and stopped for an early water break. We talked for a few minutes, and it was then that I realized that my frustration wasn’t caused by worry about a pending change of pace. I was frustrated because the tight quarters made it more difficult to keep up the conversation. We also couldn’t ride side by side, which also made it more difficult to converse. I had stopped worrying about our speed.

Without admitting it to my friend, I decided to just relax and enjoy the ride, but mostly to enjoy the company instead of focusing on pace and distance like I do when I ride alone. We continued north after a few minutes. I never once checked our speed on my phone. But we talked more. I learned more about my friend’s position being eliminated (his company was going through a merger) and that he had an interview for a new job the next day. We talked about interviews (I went through a similar experience and shared some of my stories about it). I also learned that he was going through some of the same pre-teen issues with his son that we were experiencing at my house. We laughed at ourselves when we realized we sounded like our fathers when we talked with our sons. When we decided to turn around sooner than we had planned, it was no big deal. We made it to Horseshoe Farm park and saw the new picnic area and other improvements, then headed back to Knightdale. It was one of the most pleasant rides I’ve ever had.

My friend did well in the interview the next day and got the job (woo hoo!).

Rain, Rain, Go Away

Rain, rain, go away, I’d like to ride my bike today.

If only it were that easy.

It seems like we’ve had several weeks of nothing but rain. We’ve had low pressure systems, noreasters, rain dances, and now we’ve got a hurricane coming that my 12-year-old son says should be spelled more like it sounds. What’s a biker to do?

The rain was hard on the trails. It even toppled this tree.

My goal for riding is 200 miles per month. Sometimes winter weather makes it hard to reach that figure. Some months in the summer and fall I can reach 300 if the weather cooperates. I got in a short 14-mile ride just before the rain started, giving me 271 miles for September. That’s a great total, except when you consider I had an entire week left in the month. It should have been easy to get to 300. But the rain started and looked like it wasn’t going to stop. Luckily there was a break on Sunday. It stopped raining that morning and the sun even tried to come out. The streets and sidewalks dried out, and I began to hope. But just as I got on the bike after lunch, it started to sprinkle. I circled back to the house as it came down harder. I checked the radar on the computer and saw that it was a thin line of rain that would be over quickly, so I waited. Sure enough it stopped and I was able to get in 34 miles. But the rain had been hard on the trails. A tree had fallen down across the Neuse trail south of Poole Road. I had to lift my bike across it to keep going. But it was a ride and it felt great. Less than an hour after I got home, the rain started coming down again, hard.

We don’t usually have this much rain day after day. A friend who has recently started riding asked me what kind of exercises you can do when you’re off the bike for so long. Here’s a short list.

• Walking or jogging: both of these are good aerobic exercises and will work your legs. You’ll want to make sure you don’t overdo it, especially with jogging. Your knees and ankles may not be used to the pounding they’ll receive.  

• Swimming: provides a total body workout with the impact of jogging or walking. You can swim laps or just play.

• Take the steps at work: if you work in a multi-story building, take the steps whenever you can. If your job keeps you at your desk, talk to your boss and taking breaks to walk the steps. It’s great exercise for your legs.

• Hit the gym: if you have access to a gym, rainy days are great for pumping some iron. Don’t just work your legs. Arm strength will help you handle a bike, especially on longer rides.

• Spin class: I’m not a big spin person, but I know other bikers who love it. They seem to enjoy spinning just as much as they do riding. That part’s lost on me, but to each his own.

When rain, work or family commitments or anything else seems to conspire to keep you off your bike, find some sort of exercise to do.  Choose one from this list, or figure it out on your own. You’ll be glad you did. And it might be a good way to distract yourself while you’re waiting to get back on your bike.

 

 

The Right Stuff

In addition to wearing the right clothes when you ride, you need the right equipment. That includes your bike, as well as accessories for hydration, repairs, and, of course, tracking your progress. As you do longer and longer rides, it’s going to occur to you that you are often 15-20 miles away from your house, sometimes more. You don’t want to get caught without something you need.

The primary piece of equipment is, of course, your bike. You need to make sure you’ve got one you’re comfortable with if you’re going to bike longer distances. There are several things to think about when getting a bike. The first is fit. Most any store that sells bikes is going to have at least one employee who knows the basics of “bike fit.”  In addition to their advice, think about the height of the bike and the handlebars. You should be able to stand comfortably with both feet on the ground while you’re on your bike. If you’re on your toes or both feet don’t reach the ground, it’s too tall. When your butt is in the seat, you should be able to put one foot flat on the ground. Again, if you’re stretching, the bike is too tall. You should be able to hold the handlebars without bending too far over and without extending your arms all the way. If you spend more than hour on your bike, you’ll be glad to have a good fit with your handlebars.

The right gear can make all the difference. Note the helmet and the hydration pack.

 

In addition to the size, you should consider what kind of bike is best for you. Road bikes are lighter and leaner, with thin tires. They are built for speed. You can go very fast on them, but you’ll need to stick to smooth surfaces. Roads and newer paved greenways are great. Unpaved surfaces or older greenway trails – which tend to have more bumps and potholes – can be harder on a road bike. Good road bikes can also cost a pretty penny. Mountain bikes are more rugged. They have wider tires and just feel heavier and more solid. You won’t get as much speed and will work harder to pedal with a mountain bike. They are great for rougher surfaces. I ride a comfort bike, which is a combination of both. It has a wider seat that’s easier on your butt and inner thighs. The handlebars are positioned a little higher so you don’t bend your back or extend your arms as much. In short, the bike is literally built to be more comfortable. If you start biking later in life (like I did), a comfort bike is a great place to start.

You'll need water. A squeeze bottle and a hydration pack
are two of your choices.

No matter what time of year you ride, you’ll need water. And if you’re going to ride any distance, you need to be able to drink without stopping. That gives you three options. The first is a bottle and holder that can attach to your bike. Most of these are made so you can reach down, grab the bottle and squeeze. It shoots a stream of water into your mouth. It’s very convenient, but doesn’t hold much for longer rides. Some people actually have two of them on their bikes. If you don’t have a holder for a bottle, you can use the water bottles that have the D-rings attached and hang it from your handlebars.  This isn’t bad, but it can be hard to remove from your handlebars while you’re riding. I started with one of those, but I recommend getting at least one bottle holder. It’s much easier to handle. The option that’s best for longer rides is a hydration pack. This is a backpack that holds a water bladder with a tube. You simply wear it and position the tube near your mouth and slurp as needed. The bladders hold 2-3 times more water than bottles. There’s also extra room in the backpack for other stuff like snacks, repair gear, wallet, phone, etc. I use a Camelbak hydration pack for longer rides in the summer and an attached bottle for shorter rides.

It only takes one wreak or near-wreck to convince you to wear protective gear like a helmet and perhaps those fingerless gloves. There are different ideas about how much protective gear you should have. I don’t use the gloves or other equipment. I do use a helmet and strongly recommend one.  These are available from most any retailer that sells bikes. You don’t have to spend a lot, either. You can get a good helmet for $20 - $25.

Map My Ride is a great way to track
your speed and distance.

The other piece of equipment you’ll want is some way to track your progress. It’s easy to overestimate how far you go on rides. Plus, as you start riding further, you’re going to want to know how far you’re going as well as your speed. There are many ways to do this. There are devices that you attach to your wheels. There are devices that use gps technology. In my opinion, you’re better off using something you should already have with you: your phone. Side note: having a phone with you is like a security blanket. You may be anywhere from 5-10 miles from home; you just need to have your phone. Even if you can change a flat tire and do other simple maintenance, it’s nice to know you can call for help if you need it.

I use an app called Map My Ride for tracking. It tracks your distance and speed, along with calories burned and other information like elevation changes. There’s a free version and a paid version (which isn’t that expensive and offers a few extra features). I use the free version, which means ads, but they’re not a major inconvenience. I love the live tracking feature and check it frequently during rides. A holder for your phone is nice to keep you from fumbling with it to check your speed while riding. I don’t use one, so I invested in a good strong phone case, just in case.

If you’re a beginner, you don’t need to invest in everything at once. Get a helmet first and some way to drink, and start adding from there. Go ahead and get an app to track your progress. That’s just fun, especially as you ride longer distances.

 

We Train Our Deer And Fish Right In Knightdale

Wildlife encounters are part of the routine when you ride on greenway trails. You’ll see deer, turtles, ducks, geese, the occasional crane, assorted birds, squirrels and, as I posted recently after waiting almost two months for a picture, snakes. I recently had encounters with deer and fish that reminded me – in a roundabout way – that there’s no place like home. Stick with me on this one, because the logic is a bit convoluted. But that’s okay, because this post is more “tongue in cheek” than other lessons from the trail.

I started out recently on the Mingo Creek trail for a longer ride. As I was rolling along the boardwalk, I spotted a boy and his grandfather up ahead, and it looked like they were taking a fish off a hook. I knew they weren’t, because the swampy area there is a glorified mudhole. And the boy was using a red plastic fishing rod. Never saw one of those on Southern Sportsman. But sure enough, as I went by, the grandfather grinned at me and pointed to a decent sized bass. Talk about your double takes. This I had to see more closely, so I stopped my bike and walked back. The boy had taken the hook out and was holding the fish like an experienced angler. “That boy just loves to fish,” said Grandpa, proudly. We talked for a few minutes, and they allowed me to take his picture. That was a definite first for riding on the greenways.

Seeing Luke pull a bass out of the swampy area of Mingo Creek
is definitely a first for riding the greenway trails.

After watching the boy (his name was Luke) fish for a few more minutes, I left them and pedaled to the Neuse trail and turned north. The humidity was low for August, so I rode all the way to Falls Lake. I stopped for a break right by the damn, where several guys were fishing. I asked one of them if they were catching anything. He gave me a look, and said no. The others overheard and chimed in their agreement. I wanted to tell them about Luke, but their expressions and grunts changed my mind.

The far northern section of the Neuse trail runs by a number of subdivisions. There are access paths from those neighborhoods to the trail. A couple I know lives in one of the subdivisions. They told me that someone in their neighborhood has been leaving food out for deer. Those deer have gotten used to people and will clop right up to them looking for handouts. They also enjoy munching on flowers in yards (one of the curses of suburban living) and will ignore anyone who comes out to try to run them off. I was rolling past those neighborhoods on the way home and saw one of those deer standing by the trail. I smacked my hand on my handlebars and yelled, “hey.” That usually works to make a deer turn and run. But she just stood there, looking at me expectantly. Fortunately for me she didn’t step out on the trail as I went past.

Our deer around Knightdale are much better trained
than their counterparts from North Raleigh.

That encounter contrasted with what happened when I came out of the woods near the turn off the Neuse trail to the bridge to the Mingo Creek trail. There were two deer standing by the trail looking in the other direction. Just like before I slapped my handlebars and yelled, “hey!”  This time the deer turned and obligingly trotted away as I swept by and turned up onto the bridge. As I rode home at the end of a great 50-mile ride, I couldn’t help thinking that we train our deer and fish right in Knightdale. There’s a lot to like about Knightdale, but I challenge you to find well-trained deer and fish on the town website.

Sights & Sounds: Mingo Creek

Editor’s Note: this is the first of a series of “guided tours” of the greenway trails around Raleigh, focusing on some of the interesting sights, sounds and even the occasional smells.

The Mingo Creek greenway trail is relatively new, having opened in the fall of 2014. It runs through Knightdale and crosses just south of my neighborhood.  There are two access points from our subdivision, one off the main road and one from a sidestreet that's harder to find I you don't know its there. The Mingo Creek trail is approximately 3.5 miles long, which makes it an excellent warmup if you’re going to ride the longer trails. Not everyone uses it that way, though.

The Mingo Creek trail is relatively new and runs through Knightdale.

I started a recent ride by going to the entrance off Lynnwood Road. You cross a long bridge over a swampy area, which makes an interesting contrast to the elevated I-540 bridge running parallel to it. You don’t see the 540 bridge as much as you hear the rumble of traffic. The greenway bridge runs right up to the trail, where I turned left, or east.



This bridge crosses Mingo Creek.

The trail follows Mingo Creek as it meanders through the woods. You can see the backs of houses from my subdivision off to one side and houses from another subdivision across the railroad tracks on the other side. You come to a long wooden bridge shortly after turning out onto the trail. It takes you over the creek and by a large drainage pipe that pops out under the railroad tracks. My tires make a very different sound when I hit the wooden bridge, a kind of rumble. That alerted two families who were walking across that I was coming up behind them. Regardless of that I announced myself as I went past and they waved. I passed two joggers over the next half a mile or so and passed another entrance to the greenway, this one from another neighborhood.

The courts are usually in use in the afternoons.

I pedaled to the end of the trail at Mingo Creek park, which has two basketball courts. Usually those courts are full of young guys playing a rough and tumble version of 5 on 5 where the no-blood, no-foul rule seems to be in effect. More guys watch, waiting to take on the winners. But this was the middle of a hot day, and those guys were probably somewhere air conditioned. It was very quiet. I rode up to the little parking lot and turned around. Just past the courts is a small but steep hill that’s difficult on your way up. I was on my way down and used the hill to pick up speed.

There are ducks and other animals in the swampy area of the tail.

 

I followed the trail to one of the nicer features: a long boardwalk that takes you over the swampy wetlands area just south of my neighborhood. The amount of water varies based on recent rainfall, but there’s always some there. There are cranes, ducks, geese and lots and lots of turtles. There are also beaver damns and you can see beaver every now and again. Deer like the cover offered by the tall grasses that surround the water; usually if you see one you’ll see more. After you pass the wetlands you’re back on paved trail that takes you to Hodge Road. This is a busy two-lane road and you need to look carefully for oncoming cars as you approach. Be prepared to stop because your line of sight is limited because of trees.

Be prepared to stop at the Hodge Road crossing.

 

I crossed the road turned right, then left into the Princeton Manor neighborhood and followed the sidewalk until the trail goes off to the left. The next landmark is a fairly good-sized hill. You can take it if you get a good running start and downshift. There’s a screwdiver sunk down into the concrete that you’ll see as you get to the top of the hill. It’s a signal that you’re getting started on your way out. It’s a nice signal that you’re almost finished when you’re coming back.

You take the sharp right turn at the top of the hill and that takes you out to the bridge over the Neuse and the entrance to the Neuse River trail. On the day of my ride there were some folks floating by under the bridge in inner tubes. You see them fairly often on sunny weekends.

The trail ends with the bridge over the Neuse.

The Mingo Creek trail is used mostly by walkers and joggers from the neighborhoods in Knightdale bordering the trail access points. The trail is perfect for walks and jogs and folks often stop on the boardwalks to look at the animals.  That means if you’re on a bike you need to let them know when you’re approaching. People do a great job sharing the trail as long as they know you’re coming. If you’re just starting out on a bike, going back and forth on the trail is a good first ride. Don’t be shy about having to walk up the big hill, just in case. 

 

 

The New Steed

Well, my first “real” bike lasted three years. It was efficient and reliable, and together we went from one end of the Neuse greenway trail to the other a number of times. But as I related recently, it developed some wear and tear that couldn’t be repaired without investing half the cost of a new bike. So I went to Dick’s Sporting Goods in Knightdale and worked with Mike to get a new one. It’s the same model but red and black instead of grey and black; I wanted something about it to be different. I had an interesting experience on the night I went to buy the new one, and I wrote a blog post about it that has gotten some nice reactions.

My second Diamondback wildwood bike. The only difference: it's red.

Anyway, I was able to break in the new bike this weekend with two rides. By an odd coincidence, they were almost identical in time and distance even though I rode different routes. On Saturday afternoon I rode south on the Neuse trail past the water treatment plant to the point where you turn downhill to get back to the river. On Sunday morning I rode out to the Walnut Creek trail and followed it past the softball complex and up the street to the point where it starts getting much curvier. I turned around there and rode out to the suspension bridge at Hedingham before heading home. Saturday’s ride was 30.98 miles and Sunday’s was 30.99 miles. The times were 2:00:14 and 201:19, with average speeds of 15.3 and 15.5. It’s not that significant, just interesting.

What’s even more interesting were the things I saw on the ride Saturday. I started out, as usual, on the Mingo Creek trail. I only pedaled a few hundred yards on the trail when I came face to face with a Knightdale police vehicle with two officers inside. It was slowly following a group of walkers. I waved as I went by and they waved back. There hasn’t been any sort of trouble on that trail that I’ve heard about, but I’m glad to see them out there. If nothing else, their presence will encourage more folks to get out and use the trails. The second unusual sighting was a wedding at the scenic overlook at Anderson Point Park. I rode past quietly as the wedding party was making their way down the aisle. The bride looked pretty in her dress.

A first: seeing soldiers doing a road march on the trail, complete with rucksacks. Hooah!

The third thing was a group of National Guard soldiers who were doing a road march on the trail. They were coming back from the direction of New Bern Avenue when I went by, and a Humvee was in the Anderson Point parking lot waiting for them. They were wearing rucksacks. As a former “weekend warrior,” (Army Reserve for 10 years) I was impressed by the creativity in using a resource like the greenway trail for a training exercise.

The new bike performed well. The pedals and brakes both feel great, especially compared to my old one with its wear and tear. I need to tighten the seat and make a few other minor adjustments. There’s one wire that sticks out near the pedals and scratches my leg. Gotta do something about that. Overall I’m very pleased. I look forward to using the new bike to record many more miles out on the trails.