Author: bbcbike

I never say "clear," because I don't want to sound like I am authorizing anyone else to go on my observation. I check for myself, and cross when I see that it's safe. But I always try to call out cars when I see them.

I have to say I agree with these comments. A lot of the safety issues I have found relate to riding as a group. When I am solo, I have a particular approach to stop signs/lights which is very effective for me. I assertively yield to any car which might conceivably have the right-of-way over me, and then I go (usually without completely stopping). In other words, I wait my turn. I feel, however, if I took this approach when I am part of a pack, I would pose a hazard to those piling up behind me (especially if I communicated that a driver should proceed while someone whizzed by me). Plus, we would tend to stretch out ridiculously at intersections. A lot of other interactions are also complicated by being in a group. For example, last weekend's encounter between CE and a dog. The dog was in the center of the pack, and CE was in the center of the pack, and there was really no way for CE to take evasive action without taking out those around him.

I don't know any solutions to these issues, they're just things that jump out at me, coming from my background of riding solo most of the time. I will say I am impressed by the way BBC members will call out street obstacles (like potholes). On the Hilly Hundred, for example, this sort of communication can be quite spotty.

Sunday afternoon, August 16, was our club’s quarterly service activity of road clean-up along our adopted mile of Old Highway 37, south of town from where it crosses State Road 37, down to Ketcham Road. Here’s a map showing “our road”:

Jim Schroeder led the club on a 57 mile adventure through Ellettsville, Stinesville, Gosport, Spencer, and Whitehall. (Have you figured out the name of the ride yet?) The route involved familiar bits from several different rides, somewhat reminiscent of the way the Ride Around Bloomington does. Perhaps the most interesting parts were the new roads that took us from Gosport northwest beyond McCormick’s Creek State Park: Hollybrook Rd, Phillips Rd (part called Wesley Chapel), and, especially Rocky Hill Rd the last 6 miles down into Spencer. Here’s a link to a copy of the map at mapmyride.com.

When we got into Spencer we were a bit undecided what to do in part because Jim had just said that there were lots of places to stop. My little group reconnoitered on Main Street. As we stood there, a fellow came along and commented how we must be having trouble deciding which way to go. All but one of us were pointing south. But Ron Brown was pointed north. We asked the man to take a photo of us:
Our group of eight decided not to go over to the Sunoco station. After a little drinking and eating on the street we just headed out of Spencer to attack the aptly named Cemetery Hill on the way toward Hwy 43 and Whitehall.

Tom Reynolds led an OWLS group of around 18 riders on a 28 mile route to the west. Here’s a link to his map, which I called the Karst Ride, out Woodyard, by Karst Farm Park, the airport, and the Fairgrounds.

By Jennifer Miers

Back on Highway 135 the group encountered another “road closed” sign blocking access to Medora from the east via Highway 235. They retired to the Vallonia Gas and Grill for lunch (homemade sweet breads for sale at the register) and to take stock of the situation. Saturday’s rides had taken a toll and now, at mile 65, heat and lack of shade were upping the ante and slowing the pace. Reaching Medora to rejoin the route (which included some healthy climbing on Old US Highway 50 to Leesville and a few packs of energetic dogs) would require a 15 mile detour. Satisfied with another 60+ mile ride, Kathy decided to join Mark for an air-conditioned ride home. The remaining four riders chose to abandon the route and continue north on Highway 135, picking up Highway 58 near Freetown, and suffering the chip and seal of Highway 446 for a no hassle, familiar slog home. SAG stops where now requested every 15 miles (or the next batch of shade, whichever came first) so the salt-encrusted riders could continue consuming the gallons of water and Gatorade needed to keep them upright. Stan suffered some cramping and at the 58/446 junction, with nearly 160 miles under his belt (jersey) for the weekend , he agreed to help (wo)man the SAG truck. Not too shabby after a serious injury and 6 weeks off the bike!

The smell of hay was strong at our final stop, the Fishin’ Shedd, and spirits lifted when plans were made to reconnoiter at Mike’s house for a celebratory beer. Much deserved after 213 miles!

Thanks to the participants for signing on to this BBC adventure.

Greg Simmons led a group of 21 OWLS riders on a pleasant 25 mile ride southwest of town. Mike from New Orleans made a short speech about how much he had enjoyed riding with the club over the summer. He’s heading to Ohio State for graduate school now. He’s already made contact with some riders there.

Greg went over the route in detail and we left the staging area promptly at 5:45. I tried to get a few shots of the group heading out. Ordinarily I tend to be toward the back of the group and it’s often hard to get far enough ahead to stop and take pictures.

Here are a couple of shots take at 5:45-5:46 as we left:

Here we are at our stop after turning onto Strain Ridge road:

Our final stop in Smithville at the PO. Tom is really enjoying how well he was able to pull Klaus’s leg with his story about riding all of RAAM in his big chain ring, even through the mountains.

Stops were at the service station at Victor Pike and 37, the Ketcham turn onto Old 37, Strain Ridge after turning off Monroe Dam Rd, and the Old Post Office in Smithville.

One feature of OWLS riding this summer has been that we often do a route again but in the opposite direction. We’ve now done this one twice in the counterclockwise direction and once in the clockwise direction.

Glad to hear everyone was ok. I've encountered more than a few dog owners this season who seem to think cyclists can read the minds and intentions of their unrestrained pets. I lack that particular skill.

There was a plethora of riding opportunities this Saturday. The scheduled club ride was “Dr. T’s Funky 50”. Meanwhile a group was doing the Madison Double Century, riding to Madison on Saturday and back home on Sunday. There was also a charity ride, the Mother Hubbard Ride, that some club members planned to do. So many rides….so little time.

To complicate matters, some OWLS decided among themselves to do the M and M Ride up north, on the grounds that we had just been down south the week before and also didn’t much want to ride on the still fresh chip and seal on 446.

Eight of us opted for M and M. Riders on the other options are encouraged to submit ride reports for the blog.

First regroup at the entrance to the Morgan Monroe State Forest.

(Click to enlarge.)

The first half of the ride was uneventful as we made our way in the cool of the morning up to our usual stop at the Shell Station in Martinsville.

Out of Martinsville we headed into the prevailing south/southwest wind in our traditional pace line while the road was flat.

At about the half way point of this sixty mile ride a dog suddenly darted out from across the road and CE ran over it and went down hard. Some folks came by in a car and helped when we at first thought we’d need an ambulance. But CE soon perked up and after cleaning up a bit was amazingly able to ride on, with only a skinned elbow, a bent derailleur and bunged up shifter.

Ron had been right behind CE and hit CE’s bike, but did not go down. Maybe that’s how CE’s derailleur got bent. In any case Ron realized his wheel was way out of true and pulled out a spoke tool to work on it.

Tom Reynolds led this ride, which he calls “Simpson Chapel Ride”.

Here’s Tom getting us organized, complete with custom maps, before we set out.

(Click to enlarge.)

Tom led us out north through town to Bottom Rd, where we flew along the bottom lands. We then climbed Simpson Chapel, where we regrouped shortly before getting to Sample Rd. Then we went across on Sample Rd, toward town on Old 37, up Fire House Hill, for our last regrouping. We then headed down to Griffey Lake and up Headley and home through town.

We had 18 riders on a nice summer evening. Shelley broke a derailleur cable on the way out and wisely decided to head back toward town before climbing Simpson Chapel. Reports are that she did need to walk on the way back up the hill from Bottom Rd. CE accompanied her back home. (By Saturday’s ride she had apparently gotten a full tune up, with new cables, as well as a new chain and cassette to boot.)

Here are some of the group at the rest and water stop on Firehouse Hill.

(Click to enlarge.)

Overall we had a ride of about 28 miles, with several good hill climbs: Club House Dr (or should we call it Monastery Hill?) in Cascades, Simpson Chapel, Firehouse Hill, and Hinkle Rd up from Griffey Lake. As usual on the way back into town the group split up into twos and threes as people headed home.