Asheville Ride Report - Metric Century!

Last year during training for Vermont I dreamt of cycling from my house in Jonesborough to Asheville.  Jessica and the boys would drive down, and we would all meet at one of our favorite pizza joints.  It never happened last year, so I was really excited when it was clear we'd have a chance this Saturday. 

I rolled away from the house while the family was still asleep.  The weather was great: the temperature was 66, and the sun was trying to climb over the mountain tops.  I made my first town--Erwin, TN--in a flash.  A couple of people were setting up for what looked like a farmer's market, but nothing else disturbed the waning repose of this cool little town.  The climbing increased gradually after I left Erwin, and I was soon pedalling nearer Flag Pond, where Jessica and the boys met me with water and snacks.  After my refueling, Jessica, with the boys, played cat-and-mouse with me to snap some pictures.  Each time the boys saw me, they would yell, "Rock on me hearties!"  I love that.

The road between Flag Pond and the NC state line seems to barely hang on to the steep pitch of the mountain.  If the road had fingernails, it would dig them in.  Going was slow for the last 3 miles especially (except for the brief time I was being chased by a dog, when I still couldn't go fast enough).  But, the top soon came and offered me a chance to work with gravity rather than against it.  I hurtled down parts of the NC side at speeds over 40 mph.  The new bike never quivered, and it tracked solidly the whole way. 

Crossing the NC/TN State Line - no chance that trooper was going to ticket me!

The rest of the trip was more navigating exercise than real workout.  Many road signs have been removed from their posts between Mars Hill and Weaverville.  Someone must be doing a little interior decorating with highway hardware.  My strength faded well before I reached this flatter section of the ride, so I piddled up hills and watched my average fall.  Oh, it would have been so nice to have someone to draft!

I rolled into Asheville a few minutes after 12:00 and found my family and in-laws waiting on me at an outdoor table.  That was a good sight!  And just like that, it was over.  A dream finally realized and really enjoyed!

63.41 miles; 4 hours, 23 minutes; 14.4 mph average, 4080 feet of climbing

on his way...

post by Jessica

Allen left here at ~7:20 on his journey to Asheville. You can follow his progress here.

The google app that auto uploads GPS tracking can be finicky so if you refresh and he appears to not have moved, try adding "?2" to the end of the URL. Sometime adding this addendum just once works and you can go back to refreshing normally but sometimes you need to continue by counting up (?3, ?4, ?5....) with each revolution.

The boys and I are off to meet Allen 20 miles into his trip to refresh is drinks and snacks then we're going on to AVL.

JBO to Asheville - Big Mountains and Big Pizza!

I am planning a ride from my home to Asheville, NC tomorrow morning as part of my training. I will post a google link to follow my ride progress on this blog in the morning. Anyone who wishes is invited to join my family for a post-ride lunch at Mellow Mushroom in Asheville at 11:30.

55 Days, $2700 To Go

Hey, folks! It's been a couple of slow training weeks for me due to travel last weekend and a disabled bicycle this weekend. My accrued mileage for this season stands at 791. I'm beginning to feel like A-Rod...only, it's "when am I going to reach 800?" Fortunately, I have a spare bike in Greenville. Oh yeah, and a new bike on order :-)

The ride is approaching very quickly and I need your support! I sincerely appreciate the many folks who have already given JDRF $2300. You all are great! Thanks!

In case it's been some time since you saw the slide show I put together in '09, I have posted it again here. First timers can get a really good sense of how Braeden's life is changed by Type 1 Diabetes and imagine the impact a cure will have.

Please keep those donations rolling in!

I Don't Like It. It's Not Fair

"I don't like it. It's not fair." Braeden

Last Thursday evening was "set change night." This comes around every 3 days and is when we replace the infusion set that allows insulin to be delivered subcutaneously from Braeden's pump. The process involves prepping a site, holding Braeden still, and using an inserter to quickly plunge the cannula of the new set beneath the surface of the skin. The large gauge needle that supported the flexible cannula is removed from the tissue, and the cannula is held in place by an adhesive pad. Tubing connects the cannula to Braeden's pump.

We typically install the sets on Braeden's butt. However, after a couple of years of pokes, his cheeks are scarred, and some of the more recent wounds remain inflamed. It seems that, only 32 months into this, Braeden is already healing slower. This particular night, we decided to install the set on one of Braeden's thighs to give his butt a rest. Braeden didn't cotton to the idea. Set changes are painful, and he only politely tolerates the pokes in his butt. Braeden cried through the whole thing. Jessica and I were nearly in tears, too.

I hate this disease.

Whew, Hot

It's mid summer, but it seems as though it's been decades since the mercury first boiled over the 90 mark, the bugs began singing all night, and the dog got her new summer coat. I can no longer recall the cold of winter. Nor can I imagine sledding in the back yard or ever needing four wheel drive to get to work. Unless the asphalt melts and gets to slick for my "old man" sedan.

The heat is a big challenge for me right now. I'm often fighting leg cramps near the ends of my rides, especially the long weekend spins. I've got to beat this. Anyone have any ideas? I just began alternating sports drinks with water on my rides (hasn't helped yet). I have been staying very well hydrated most hours of each day, whether I plan to ride sooner or in a few days time. I'm eating a fair number of bananas. I stretch.

I think I need to buy more water bottle cages.