Fernely to Lovelock NV

Here is what it looked like

The ride from Fernley worked me pretty good today On interstate 80, the road way itself was excellent. Up at 5AM, I left the hotel I stayed in at 6 AM and enjoyed a peaceful desert freeway and the lands around it made cool by the huge thunderstorm I missed being indoors last nite….

I mean it was ferocious that I saw puddles everywhere. And to give you an idea how serious the speed divots are that warn errant drivers should they cross the fog line, several inches of water still stood inside them for many miles as I pedaled away.

And I pedaled and I pedaled. And as always, the same gear the whole way. Since there was little to distract me from my pedaling effort out here, at times when I didn’t focus my mental energy on other thoughts, turning the pedals at times became laborious. But usually not for long.

I found great humor in all the bungie cord wealth out here. If it wasn’t so hard to stop and then start my loaded bike, I’d probably have 50 0r 50 of these load strapping devices to try to figure out what to do with. I did however stop for a stainless steel spoon. I’’ve been using the plastic one I got from Marily6n and Sue back in Placerville. I also stopped for a pair of mini channel locks! Just what I wanted, I added them to the 8” quality crescent wrench I found yesterday.

Nor is this desert as difficult as the one I rode through Eastern Oregon or Southern Idaho. Or for that matter, through Southern California or Arizona on my second ride. The road itself is very nice to ride on. And there is a lot more life out here. I even heard birds chirping away before the cars took over.

As for the Truckee River, I don’t see it any more. The train line and telephone/telegraph poles I talked about yesterday disappeared from view until the last third of the day. They, as does I-80 follow the contour of the mountains that dominate the landscape of this the most mountainous state in the union. And in doing so, the wide sweeping turns they take send them through the valleys that ancient rivers carved through the mammoth hills that rise everywhere one looks.

Staying at the Lovelock Inn, in Lovelock, NV. Feeling blessed for WIFI as I recharge my batteries in the full knowing that I need a Bigger Power to keep all this going………

THX 4 all of U

Reno to Farley, NV

Up at 6 at Mike’s house, I did an unusual shower to kick off my ride day. Soon, Mike and I were sharing the eggs with tofu charisso (sp?) that he whipped up for us. And at about the same time, the famous Tim Healion, promoter of the Tour de Nez bike race series here in Reno. Too much wow as he and I had talked a lot over the years (6) but never met.

Soon the three of were riding to the downtown Reno Truckee River bike trail. Along then way, we stopped at Tim’s brother’s house. He had just moved to Reno with Panamanian wide Ana and her two kids, Joana and Jose. He used to surf professionally.

He felt the magic of this ride and kept asking me if there was anything I needed. Jokingly, I told him I needed shoes with a 3.5” sole. In size 10. He had a pair! And he insisted that I take them…….

WOW. I rode with his good mojo on my feet the rest of the 56 miles I logged today. Mike left from Jeffrey’s house and Tim guided me out the river path for a mile or so past its downtown beginning.From there on out I Ws on my own on a green lined river within which the trail sat for the next 7 miles.

It ws a good wayto leave Reno because next up for me was an Instersrtate 80 that began with rumble strips right where the bike traveler needs to be. I almost turned around and began to set out for US 50. More mountain passses and less water services were better than this.

As I thought about quitting this road, I thought about Steve Stevens. Why would he recommend it and why would Nev State bike coordinator, Bile Story, tell me the rumble strips had been fixed?

I soldiered on. Finally seven miles later the pavement divots moved deeper and narrower next to the fog line! Yahoo, I could relax a little bit. I began to notice the history that this path cut.
Below me, I could see the rail line that Thomas Stevens used when he became the first man, in 1884, to cycle across America. However, I could not see any dirt path where he was supposed to have ridden. All I saw were rocks and sheer drops from the rail bed hat formed the first transcontinental railroad.

I also saw the telephone poles that made up the first transcontinental phone line. While all the while the Truckee River blessed all of this with a small ribbon of green. And this has been my view all the way to Greenly where I am staying in a Super 8 motel so I can get work done. Here for example is the map for today’s travels http://www.bikeroute.com/BRdC/routeViewer.php?routeid=207

But unless I start getting some cash flow coming in once again, I will soon run out of money. I spent $95 on food and a room with internet today. I might be able to get through Nevada, where friends of friends do not exist, at that rate, but after that I mayhave to call it a ride.

I cannot do the work that needs to be done from city parks or under bridge hollows. That is not what this ride is all about. I’ve done the adventure style ride before. This one has the express intent of collecting data for a SF to Boston bikeway as I meet and exchange with the city leaders and bicycle shakers and movers from each of the areas through which it passses..

If you can help with a donation:
Cycle America
POB 60355
Palo Alto Ca 94306
THX for all of U!!

Btw Do get to the Mayors’ Ride Schedule. Lori Yung has posted a lot of the pictures I have been taking there………..

Big Breskthrough in Reno

The black skyscraper in the middle is Reno City Hall, the Mayor and Council are on the 15th floor!

A major breakthrough for the ride took place today!! I got Firefox to run on my little two pound Netbook (an Acer Aspire One). Not only is my line life going to be infinitely easier, this also allows me to run our NBG maps at http//bikeroute.com/brdc (they do not run on IE)!! And as such instead of blowing out of Reno at 6AM, I was busy tracking my travels from South Lake Tahoe to here.

Toward that end, I had maps and notes spread all over the bedroom here at Mike Damon’s house and nearly five hours later I had this result । Wow, what a braktrhough. Wow, what that means for this ride that I am pulling out of the ashes of the bus and crew that once was going to support it!!


My next job was to make sure it was acceptable to the Nevada state Bike Coordinator, Bill Story, who I met yeas ago at Interbike। He had already sent me email to tell me about water availability out on 1-80 as Jeff Moser from BikeCarsson।com had told him I was coming through……॥

But not before I made sure it ws OK with Mike Damon who had a work party to go this eve and would not be around until 6PM. He said yes with the only condition being that I get his kids on top of my Eagle for a picture tomorrow morning!!! As I was speaking with Bill, I asked him a bunch more questions about 1-80. And he knew the answer to everyone of them. From the shoulder width, mostly generous, to hotel cost, $30 to 90, to the total amount of miles, almost 400, to the road grade for the three passes that are out there, less than 6%, etc, etc, he knew the road very very well!!

Then I went by phone to my Internet guru, Lori Yung। She told me how to get a around on this Windows machine a little better so I could access my files. She also tracked down some html editing software that we are hoping will let me see my files a WYSIWYG if that means anything to you.

I also spent some time at REI’s site. In lieu of all the money I am going to spend on hotels out there on 1-80, I had thought I could camp. Having a tent to do so would also give me needed privacy and a place to meditate at mid day. However, it looked like a five pound penalty for Peter Wagner’s rack. And at 7 x 23 folded down, size is also a concern. Might there be anyone out there with a 2 or 3 lb tent I could borrow for a few months that they are not using? Send me an E at hiwheeler@gmail.com

Thx 4 all of U!!~

Mike Damon's Reno

At left is Mayor Bob Cashell, who has ridden the Busycle before along with his scheduler Marcia Morse, who I have talked with for years and bike favorable councillor, Dave Aizzi, in their office 15 floors above the city.

Today began at the usual 6AM but not on the road. Mike and his wife Semi, fixed me a batch of banana pancakes that were ready for me to eat after I took a delicious shower and answered a few emails. His twin 9 year olds, Timmy and Johnny, were up and excited that they were going to be riding their bikes down the hill two miles away to school. Tho Mike was instrumental in getting the road to their school restriped with bike laqnes, he is a wee bit nervous about letting them do the two mile distance by themselves just yet.

He plans to document how our Mayors’ Rides made what was once a 4 lane speedway into a tame two lane bikeway that the community loves, but until he does, I will just say that the alliance he formed with Mayor Bob Cashell and Councillor Dave Aizzi, saved what was going to be certain hell for cyclists from becoming a reality. The transformation that is now taking place on Mayberry Dr has everyone excited, both cyclists and non cyclists.

Soon we were visiting cyclist, Mark Trujillo at his coffee shop, Waldens, where he comped me a fruit smoothie while we waited for the kids school to be ready for me. Soon, I gave three presentations to three different classrooms. In 15 to 20 minutes time, I told the kids what I was doing and why. I also planted the car free seed for them to consider. When I opened things up to questions, they were non stop.. So much so that Mike had to step in say he had to get to work where he had a lot of fires that were already there to fight as soon as he arrived.

Mike went to work and rode to downtown five miles away where I wrestled with the Evil Microsft Empire that governs this precious Acer Netbook. I plan for this to be my one internet accomplishment for the day here att Dreamers Coffee shop overlooking the Truckee River and City Hall. However, I did try to download an FTP utility for this machine so I could keep BikeRoute.com current. I tried three different apps, and could not hit a home run with any of them. Several hours later, nothing.

While I waited for downloads to be complete, I tried to clean up my blog writing. More DOS frustration as the Blogger.com program started changed my text into illegible Hindi characters. Ugh……….

Hmm, maybe this is pay back for my being a traitor to my not being on the Mac platform, which is all I’ve known, and as a power user, for two decades now……….

More later if I get time, but tomorrow is I80 into Salt Lake..

Thx FOR ALL OF U!!

Over the Sierras ito Tahoe

The riding work of Sunday and Monday left me with little energy or really ability to document a lot of what took place. While it was good that I chose US 50 in the interest of getting some traction for my efforts, because it was a holiday weekend, the incessant car herds made it very hard for me to take my hands off the bars a lot of the time. After I left Alder Creek campground along 50 with a 6AM start, my hands were so cold, I couldn't feel them. So that approach did not work either.

It did get me over a pretty large ascent into the small town of Strawberry before I then took on 7500 foot Echo Summit. Both passes required a tremendous amount of effort. I pretended like I was doing a gym workout where I would push for 40 or so minutes and then start looking for a turnout where I could stop and rest.

I stopped where these widened spots in the road began. -walked me and my bike to their top most end and sat down. I drank water and ate an energy bar or two as I caught my breath. 10 sometimes 15 minutes later, I would use the turnout to remount as I could not do on the uphill and ride to where वेयर I had gotten off and turned around back up the hill for more.

In all, on each long 6% grade, I must have made five or six stops during the day. I also used these stops to take photos and talk ideas into my recorder. of which i realized that not a lot needs to be done to make US 50 bike worthy indeed.

Before I CLIMBED ECHO, i STOPPED IN STRAWBERRY AND TALKED to Jim, the only store proprietor. He said his business is down by a third and that what scares him is all the people paying for 3 and 4 dollar items with credit cards. He said he sees one or tow bike riders a week u here and yet I am sure he would more than happily welcome all the bike riders that would come his way if the biking were better o this stretch. In fact, there are a lot of little hotels and other purveyors who would be much benefitted with more such bike traffic!

From Echo Summit इ looked down on the south end of the Lake Tahoe valley toa fast downhill that went down forever I took the whole lane and prayed as Ii powered along with my legs crossed in front of the steer tube. Holiday cars were backed up coming from Tahoe as I scorched past them. And I was moving as I thought a bout all the people and reasons I needed for this descent to have no errors.

The uphill traffic was no doubt astounded but I did not dare to let myself be distracted by looking. I couldn't help but notice the grey rock wall adjacent to them. or in other words, how to get a bike lane in there was a big hmmmmmmmmmmm. But I did make it to the bottom safe, sound and relieved. as well as grateful to all of you for your prayers and support.

Soon I made contact with Chuck Harrison, an employee of Lynn LePage's back in Folsom. Chuck, an 86 TransCon vet, was at the beach but told me to come to his caBIN WHENEVER I WAS READY. f\He had wifi and power that I could use! However since he was five miles away, I decided to work on line at a deli until later in the afternoon. However their wif went down after a few hours and I head up S Lake Tahoe Blvd to हिस house.

I got there without my precious computer though and had to go back. A ten mile detour that must have me famous as I traveled back and forth on Lake Tahoe Blvd, aka US 50 the Lincoln Highway. It was also a mistake that did not leave me much time to visit with Chuck............

The next day I ride to Carson City over yet another pass made worse by some huge climbing around the lake. More on that next blog.........

THX 4 all of U!!

Nevada Stateline

I am in S Lake Tahioe without wifi yet again. It's 37 degrees so I will wait 4 warmer I have a lot written on my laptop that I am anxious 4 u to read. My TwitteR and Facebook followers (with pix) know I got my 80 pound 1891 one speed pedaled up and over 8k foot Echo Summit Bexome my friend at Facebook. Follow me at Twitter. There I am @hiwheelmartin. This post is from my iPhone

Placerville Love Continues and Big Change in ride 5/24

A couple of pretty big developments took place today after I left the love Marilyn Ferguson and her daughter Sue Hayes blessed this ride with. I will tell U about that in a bit. But before I do I gotta tell you about big change that took place and why.

First of all, I stopped riding at noon today on US 50. Second of all I am on US 50. Why this is notable is because I had fully planned to be either on or at the base of Mormon Immigrant Pass today at this time but I am here at a campground right on the old Lincoln Hwy where just as I was developing this thought, Greg from the campground next to me just walked up and handed me a plate full of salmon covered crackers. He invited me to dinner at his and Liz’s camp site later when they eat and then he excused himself so I could get back to this!!

He had earlier come over to ask me about my bike। Whereupon I found out he is a classical guitarist from Sacramento. They are up here next to the fast flowing American River for a couple of days doing some r&r.

Coming back to 50 and here and the importance of why all this is so, let me begin by telling you about the pass I have elected not too ride। It became clear to me when I left this AM and had ridden for well over an hour and had made little progresss and had been forced off the bike by a few uphill surprises that surprised me as I entered a couple of turns, that I was going to have to return to the formula that worked for me in 1986.

Then, I pedaled a 13 foot long rig that weighed in at over 150 pounds। I quickly realized that the roads cyclists like to train on or use for recreation were not going to work for me if I WAS going to stay on the public speaking schedule I had set up with the National Head Injury Foundation, if I was going to spend my day going up and up and up down over all the hills that our US Hwy System graded so that you went either up or down for a long period of time at per cent grade that was manageable and did not destroy me or the bike. When I crossed over Hwy 50, I remembered all this.

Where I got on, I also saw a delicious shoulder and a smooth road surface। The turf from I had just left offered neither, so I left the 6 years I had built up for Mormon Immigrant Pass behind , all in one left turn. And as I rode I continued to rationalize. The Mormon ascent I had had in my mind was not on a bike that was loaded down with gear but the sporty, lively machine that the Eagle is , was when it is not asked to carry all the stuff I have on it॥

I began to realize that even though I wrote about Mormon Immigrant and the soon ahead Loneliest Highway that I had researched for my book, I had visualized a journey that would be a supported one। That said I am going to take Steve Stevens sage advice and pedal I-80 across Nevada and am now headed for Lake Tahoe where as a bonus I might be joined for a while by Ron Bishop’s cycle zealot daughter, Camille. I also already hear back from Mike Damon and I can stay in Reno on Tuesday and will also get to meet Reno Mayor Bob Cashell on Wednesday.

My camera and voice recorder also returned on US 50। I had been working so hard on all the hilly roads that parralleled it that I could barely take my hands off the bars long enough to do anything more that keep the front wheel going straight॥ And besides, there is not a lot of difference from being hit by a car going 45 on a winding road than there is in being hit by one traveling at highway speed. And at least on the fast roads there are far greater sight lines for the cars to see you….

Even though the riding conditions were much improved once I hit what was once the first coast to coast highway in the US, I did have to call I a day at noon। Being a holidday weekend, the number of cars passing grew and grew until I chose a noisy river over noisy cars. I also want to be fresh and alert for the 8000 foot pass that separates me from Lake Tahoe.

In the case of Marilyn and Sue last night and even this morning, the wow is just more than I can adequately describe। Before I knocked off on her outside deck, Marilyn washed my clothes as her high energy daughter, a talented wildlife artist, who was about my age, was busy cooking me a delicious and huge mountain of spaghetti। And before Sue did that, she had gone to the store and bought back a bag of groceries based on the kinds of things I had told her I like to eat!! That both surprised and astounded me.

And if that was not enough, there was more। She got up at 4 AM the next morning and cut a fresh supply of the business cards Ron Bishop had created for me on her paper cutter. Artistic wonder that she is, she painted the white letters that had fallen off my butt pack and handlebar bag. The handelbar bag that I use to carry my Camelbak had holes in it that were getting bigger and bigger॥ She sewed them It together.

As I was packing things they kept giving me things. From matches to bungie cords, I could not believe how much they wanted me to do well. Marilyn, the docent for the Placerville History museum from whom I learned a lot, even told me from where he city got its name. Placer, is a type of gold, a gold that is found by washing it away from the other sediments within which it is mixed.
She also told me that the beautiful two story house that she, Sue and her friendly husband Wesley live in was built not long after the discovery of gold in 1849 । Marilyn and her husband who has since passed on, bought this dwelling in 1964 at a time when US 50 below her was almost a quiet road that they could usually walk across into town with hardly a problem॥ Now there is a signal and a pedestrian overpass under construction.

The hills got bigger and the shoulder became less consistent…

… More soon॥

THX 4 all of U!!

lynn LePge's Folsom to Placerville 5/23 (wifi finally)

The magic of this ride powered me into the early evening here in Placerville, CA. It began for me at a little before 6 when I awakened in Folsom. I went into the kitchen and Lynn LePage (at right), the recreation manager for the city of Folsom, was busy preparing a morning breakfast for me and my ride. There was oatmeal and hard boiled eggs. and even six or so different toast options ready for me to try. along with a pile of cut up fruit and several different bottles of juice.

As he exhorted me to fill up, we overviewed the ride ahead for me yet again and 50 minutes later we were off. He got on his Mountain bike with no more than a small water bottle and wearing a t-shirt, baggie shorts and tennis shoes. From there a profound lesson in politics and area history began for almost the whole rest of the way. But not before Will Kempton , a friend of Lynn's and the #1 man at Cal Trans who I had met the day before in Sacramento, slowed his car down to say hi, near the small town of Rescue, maybe 10 miles into the ride. He was on his way to play golf.

And indeed, Lynn is well connected. And indeed I was actually making real the ride I have dreamed about for 6 years. I was pedaling my way over the Sierras! Of which I pedaled all but less than a 100 feet of it today! If I hadn't had such a load or maybe if I was more famiilar with the new rack Peter Wagner made for me, the 14 % grades that knocked me off might have been doable. While it was hard on the bike, and did make the riding more labored, the old rack mount did seem not to bother my hill climbing. In fact the weight of the bars as they slung back and forth did seem to create a momentum that I lost when we improved my gear carrying abilities.. But how well the original design that got me on the road would have played out on those two short ascents that beat me, will always remain a welcome mystery. I'm loving the way the bike rides now!!

We covered the 35 miles in about 4 hours. And I was in Placerville well before noon. We stopped at a place called the Cozmic Cafe (cozmicafe.com) where they have a great vibe and Wifi. Even though he had a long ride back home ahead of him, Lynn went to the Farmers Market across the street and returned with a pile of fruit for me. And he then came back from inside the Cafe with the two iced teas he bought and the two muffins they wanted me to have. With a table full of food we sat down for the next few hours and watched the Placerville world go by as we also talked with some of those who walked past..

No discussion of this amazing today could ever be complete without telling your about some of the things I remember that Lynn told me. Because I was working so hard, I couldn’t take my hands off the bars to record them, so here is a partial list

- Folsom used to be called Granite City
- The Foslom power plant, the first long distance power plant, was formed by the Livermore brothers from whom the Contra Costa County city takes its name. It was from this spot also that the mammoth Pacific Gas and Electric, PG&E, began.
- Folsom prison began as a way for the power plant people to get cheap labor to build the dam that would drive its turbines
- The Olympic pool that Lynn championed, was passed by one council but almost went down in flames with a new one until Andy Morin got involved. The success Andy enjoyed here then got him interested in Folsom politics.
- Lynn grew up in Folsom and graduated from Sac State
- During his 23 year career as the Folsom Recreartion manager the city has grown from 2 parks to 28, including a world class sports complex
- Lynn even knew why his city went from 7 to 70 thousand people, most of whom came during the Folsom building boom of the 80’s. A second little heralded gold rush took place during that time. Th city contracted with developers who offered to create homes and schools on land that could be cleared by crushing the giant rock mounds that covered it and using that for fill. Well, what is little known, is that while doing so, they utilized a process that extricated the gold that was still inside the rocks and boulders. And word has it that they did quite well in so doing.

As a postscript, as Lynn and I talked and got to know each other, it made me happy to know that he knew he was blessed to have such a great wife, Jenna, and three high achieving, student athlete teen age boys. Lynn learned to appreciate at a very young age. Born with a deformed left hand, he spent enough of his youth in hospitals surrounded by kids with problems far worse than his to feel grateful for just the miracle of life. So much so that he gives no power to limits. While getting Folsom its 50 meter pool is a more recent example, in high school and junior college he shot well enough with both his bad hand and his good hand to make him a varsity level basketball player starter who also cranked top grades. And if he has his way, it won’t be long before the rail right of way that Folsom bought all the way to Placervillve will soon become a recreation highway that will grow to connect Lake Tahoe with Placerville, Folsom and Sacramento as per what Lynn sees in his crystal ball.

Nor was Lynn finished when he left at 3Pm to ride home. Before he did, he went down to the Historical Society down the street and told the docent there that I was in town. Marilyn Feruson got on the phone right away and called the newspaper and Mayor. Being a holiday weekend, no one was home. But this 78 year old power house took care of me in grand style as I will show you in my next report…………

THX 4 all of u!!

American River Trail Heaven - Sac to Folsom!!

Rode an amazing 30 miles along the Jeddidiah Smith River Trail that follows the American River from Sacramento to Folsom today. After Ed Cox escorted me to the trail head, I was blessing Peter Wagner, the Mr Bicycle of Davis, the whole way. Peter took the idea that Jacques Graber had of getting the weight of my load off of the steer tube to a whole another level. As I rode, I thought about how he had melded the discarded items of the modern day world into that which lived at the cutting edge of 19th century technology , the Eagle, in a way that added a whole new level of killer performance to this machine. Outfitted now with the hack sawed off back end of a dead mountain bike, this farthing penny (not a penny farthing where the wheel configuration takes its name from the English denomination of coins where the penny was the much bigger of the two ) rides now almost as good as it ever did!!

And this trail that they people up here get to enjoy is so fully wired in, that it does a great job of emulating the highest art form of the SF to Boston greenway I have long foreseen. Aware of the fact that most cities cannot achieve what has taken place with this corridor, and while this is the model, I still maintain that we can start to move in this direction with an inter connected network of bikeable roads and paths that connect the coasts .

To give you an idea why the Jedidiah is 21st Century bikepath perfection, I will try to run you through some of what I saw. To begin, there are signs stencilled into the the beautifully paved, smooth asphalt that tell people on foot that they are to move against trail traffic on the dirt that lines its edges. This did not seem to be a problem for the peds as they all appeared to be content to move along at their slower speeds.

Every mile or so there are tastefully designed signs that read"Adopt the Parkway" . A box at the top tells you who has volunteered to keep each section orderly while another box below it tells you who the paying sponsors are. The trail als0 looks out on the river on one side and fields and rolling hills on the other. it passes through a few beautiful parks with sprawling lawns and as I've written in year's past, it does not let you know there are busy cities and freeways over the ridges beyond. ll signs of humanity are hidden from view.

Wow!!

This is what I enjoyed as I "speeded" along until almost the end where John Holmes slowed down to ask me a few questions.. It wasn't long before he took me to Karen's Bakery and he bought me an ice tea and a fruit cup. We talked for a while and he rode back to his afternoon work as a family therapist.

This as I stayed around and enjoyed their a/c power to recharge my iPhone and this computer as I also created this blog post. Soon, I will be joining my host Lynn LePage the recreation manager for the city of Folsom to enjoy a cover bridges exhibit near City Hall where he works.
ore later.

But right now WoW WoW!!

As a postscript, as I was heading to City Hall to meet Lynn, one of my very good friends from 30 years called out to me from his car. It was Greg Roseblum! Whoaaa, we played whiffle ball, table tennis and basketball together. And both studied accounting at Cal State Hayward. He still works as an accountant and lives now in Folsom. Too wild!!

New! Photo gallery from today

Sacramento Rox my Ride & Kicks Bike Butt!!

At left is Will Kempton, the director of all of Cal Trans!

News Flash These photos just in from Paul Guttenberg of Davis!

What another incredible day filled with even more magic!! But before I get there let me continue from where I left off last nite. Yesterday, Ed Cox drove me over to Costco where I took a leap of faith and plopped down $350 for this, an Acer Computer, that weighs 2.8 pounds, is small and has not ony big power but a a big enough keyboard that I CAN BETTER TELL YOU HOW MUCH LOVE THERE IS IN OUR WORLD. I ALSO PLUNKED DOWN AN9THER $99 for an Olympus digital camera , the FE 20, that I discovered I can offload its pictures to the web through my new little Acer .

I was up tillll probably one or two in the cool little 120 square foot studio Ed built in h8s backyard , configuring these two little devices so I could use them today. Four hours later I was up with batteries थेंcharged getting more configuring done. Ed was chomping at the bit to get his very big day started and he and I left to go meet a bunch of lawmakers, including state assemlblymen Tom Torlikson and Wes Chesbro (sp?), who were riding their bikes in from 30 or so miles away

A few state senators and even Adny Morin and Steve Miklos the two Folsom ELECTED officials who have recieved our NBG in the past were part of the group that stopped at the Tower St Bridge that led to the capitol. We rode with them to the State House.

It wasn’t long bfore the Capitol itself became a hub bub of activity as bikes and club rides and vendors streamed in for a gala event , called Bike Fest, that ran from 11-1. The bike giants were everywhere. I met the and joyfully echanged with the number one and numer two people at Cal Trans Will Kempton and Ken McGuire, the head of the bike facilities unit and a sports coach who I had fun talking to . They were even very knowledeable about the Yolo Causeway and explained why it is what it is.............

Don Saylor, the mayor Pro Tem of Davis was there. As was Folsom Recreation Manager,, Lynn LePage, who offered to put me up at his home in Folsom tommorw and then get a posse together with Daryl who also rode in from Folsom to help me get over the Sierras.

Jacques Graber came by from his nearby office to see how I was doing. And told me in no uncertain terms that the rack mount I HAD was not acceptable. He sketched out a design that the amazing Peter Wagner, who was there demoing his zany bikes, not only approved but even more embellished. And he is going to throw something together tonite and bring it by on his way back to the hospital where his son Sam is getting some surgery work down.


This after Lynn, and his friend Daryl had already offered to deputize one of their friends to do the work. once I got to Folsom and yet since it is a bit uphill to Folsom and Petter Wagner is aqvailable, i CHOSE TO GO WITH THE BEST.

LEDGENDAY HiWheel cyclist, Robert Howe CAME BY to bless my ride abd then I saw Lori Yung. For the first time in 14 ywears. Lori helped me learn html years ago and she offered to help me keep Bikeroute.com current while i AM OUT HERE ON /THE ROAD. And lORI IS OVER THE TOP, BEYOND MAGIC WHERE PUSHING PIXELS Is CONCERNED. HOW EXCITING!!

At the event, Ed Cox was honored with a beautuful framed picture for his role in elevating bicycling in the Sacrmento area to the new exciting level it now enjoys. I asked for the Mic and told the crowd, how Ed was a founding member of SABA, their bike colation as well as the California Bike Coaltion, which bird dogs all legisltion that affects cyclists at the state level. I told them that it was becasue of his tirless efforts, the fruits of his labors are not more buildings, he is a trained architect, but many of the beautiful bikeways they get to enjoy.

Oh and I forgot to tell you about the Mexcian dinner he bought me last nite.. When we left, Ernesto's, the whole restaurant was out on the sidewalk cheering as I prepared to ride off on the Eagle. His dowtown Sacramento neighborhood is filled with cool people and bikes and even has its own Bike Kitchen, a bike coop where many of thpse on two wheels hang out. WoW!!!



And I go to bed tonight with what feels like new wheels. Peter Wagner went home after the Bike Fest and concocted an amazing bike rack made up of the rear end of a mountsin bike, some buts and bolts and plumbers tape. Ed and I met him at UC Davis hospital where his little Sammy was getting his head reshaped, and in less than an hour later, I had what felt like a new bike.

No longer do I have to turn the 20 pound load I carry when I steer. As well, my arms won't be having to make all of the kmicro adjustments they do when hill work is required of me. Or in sum, I will be riding a much safer machine in the rest of the US ahead. Hail to Peter Wagner, one of the many patron saints that keep blessing this ride with their talents and love!!

Folsom tomorrow!! Yahoo!!!

THX for all of U (with a little bit extra for Peter, his wife Jeri and little Sammy who all gave to this historical ride)

Davis to Sacto - Michael Washington appears!

After a needed day of rest and regrouping at Paul Guttenberg's house, the two of us did a casual ride to Central Park in Davis for their Bike to Work day. And indeed it was a propitious use of my time away from bagging the miles. For me, the highlight of the morning event was seeing Michael Washington there! And this guy is the real deal and then a whole bunch more. So much so that in 2003, the last time I sAw him, I created a web page for him: http://BikeRoute.com/michaelwashington .

Car free since 1958, he has over a million miles in his legs. He has biked from coast to coast across every continent sans the North Pole. His north to south crossing of Austrailia.is the only one ever mAde by anyone on foot or bicycle. In addition, he invents and makes many of the bike parts he uses. And on and on and on.

So when cycling champion Mayor Ruth Asmundson, Michael, Paul and I posed for a group photo, there was arguably more bicycle horsepower assembled in the form of four people than anywhere ever. While the city of Davis has remained a bicycle leAder in large part because of Ruth, Paul has also been busy rolling the miles. Paul rode a 4000 mile transco in 30 days. He's pedaled Davis to LA well over 50 times in under three days time. He works innumerAble bike events and regularly hosts long distance bike tracelers in his beautiful home.

In Michael W's rarified air sits Paul Guttenberg, who I also want to do a web page for as well, next fall.

More soon!

Napa to Davis Death Riide

After my late night and long day in the Napa heat on Sunday, I made the crucial mistake of not asking Sandy and Rich what their plans were for Monday. I was just too tired and I couldn't summon the energy to ask them if I could regroup at their house on Monday. I mean Sandy had already given up her whole Sunday afternoon to attend to the needs of my Napa City Hall arrival. And then figured out a bullet proof fix with Rich for my rack until late late Sunday nite, so I figured I'd give it a day before I asked.

Well 6AM came and I took a chance. Instead of leaving I got to work on this blog and on uploading pictures from my iPhone to the photo galleries I have set up at our Mayor's Ride Schedule at Bikeroute.com. I got so carried away that it was 10AM before I let Sandy know what I had in mind. And instead of troubling her to find other Napa lodging as she had offered. I decided to take John Young up on his offer to use his escort services whenever I was ready.

Rich graciously rode me the 6 or 7 miles to meet John Young on his Easy Racer recumbent, near Napa junior college. By the time John and I had detoured back into town to get me energy bars and water for the ride to Davis, it was close to noon. And hot. It would get up to 98 degrees in some parts of busy Jamison Canyon ahead. Ugh.............

This was a connection I long had dreaded. And yet it wasn't as bad as I had envisioned. Until we hit Winters. From there the miles ahead leave one with no real goal in sight. Now that's what I call genuine ugh............

And yet for all the years I've sat in a car on the freeways that look out on the Napa to Davis stretch and have felt sorry for the people who live out there, yesterday it was the cars I felt sorry for. Up until agriculture then tamed these lands in Winters, this stretch was all fairly pretty country.

As a cyclist, I do have to admit it was made prettier by the delicious tail wind that blew John and I out of Napa. But for the most part the shoulder was adequate and with the exception of busy Hwy 12, passing cars were not a problem.

And John was awesome. On arguably the world's fastest production bike, an Easy Racer recumbent, he waited for me whenever the road curved or turned and I could not see him. A 64 year old grandfather of three, he is leaving for his own TransCon ride on June 23. So for him, this was hardly even a training ride. Just a helping hand from a gentle man, with a great laugh who is a retired school teacher.

And yet since he does this ride all the time, he before had not been interested in any of the short cuts that would have made the ride shorter. And yet there again ultra marathon cyclist Paul Guttenberg, from whose computer I am writing this, did say that that not many people, even in Davis, know some of the short cuts that exist.

It was 7:30 PM when Paul finally met up with us and rode us the rest of the way into town. John and I said good bye near B&L Bike Shop where he rode off to his daughter's house. Paul, an airline pilot, who knows distance cycling took me to his house where he fed me bowl after bowl of miso soup and other plentiful food and drink. I mean this guy knows how hungry the road can make you.

It wasn't long ago that he rode across the US. His TransCon was a 4000 mile journey that he did for his pilot and flight attendant friends who died in the 911 disaster. He did so in an astonishing 30 days!! As well, he regularly rides Davis to LA in 3 days time. That's 600 miles one way!!

This guy is an animal and I feel like he has taken me under his wing to help me regroup for the many miles ahead!!

THX 4 all of U!!

Pictures at: http://gallery.me.com/hiwheel#100061
When I am not near a desktop, you can always click on photos in each of the city relays at the Mayor's Ride schedule at http://bikeroute.com/NationalMayorsRide2009

btw:I rode over 70 miles today and yet I cannot be any more exact. I am also too wasted to load the roads I used to our maps at bikeroute.com/brdc . Anyone out there with a Garmin Edge they are not using that I can borrow for a few months?

btw2: I also saw a guy using an Acer Aspire 1 computer that fits easily into a small back pack. Anyone want to donate such a device so I can give more complete reports instead of my having to use the iPhone for this work?

Berkeley to Napa - everyone loving and giving to this ride!

Last nite a call came in while Tom and I were busytalking away that I did not take. It was Shawn Raymond. He had already seen the blog I put up about my brake issue. I replied early this am with a text that he followed with a phone call. An hour and a half later he was in front of Berkeley city hall with a hack saw and my shoes that long had proven to work with the Eagle. Wow.

Soon he was busy grinding and tweaking as Ron Bishop was also hArd at work cutting the business. cards he had made for my ride! The magic had already begin. This and more after Tom & Licy had already filled me up with pancakes and Tom had escorted me from their beautiful home high atop the Berkeley hills In fact, as Tom played guitar on his deck as we sipped the freshly aqueeEd OJ his wife made for us while looking out on his "backyard", miles of watersed and open space, Wildcat Canyon, I knew the ride ahead would be filled with all the love and miracles that reaurrected it in Palo Alto.

Shawn worked my rack some more after the brake fix and we rolled into a day that would reach 99 degrees at 9am iatead of 8. Ron, Tom and I were joined by john young and Diane Lee, both strong pedalers. After Tom and Ron guided us thru the Ohlons trail network, much of which traveled under the elevated BART tracks, strong legs would be needed for the giant rolling hill of the I80 bieway ahead. Pleasant and lighjtly trafficked, the route to the did require some navigation but we made it to the vista overlook feeling excited to ride over this northern finger of the SF bay.

The Vallejo side started out in heavenly fashion. Tame wide roads with newly striped bike lanes, the path to the wine country looked like it would be a golden one. Then we hit Hwy 29 at a point where we had to mAke 13 miles in an hour in the hottest part of the day. with stoplights and hundreds of cars passing us.

This was big challenge for me because holding 14 to 15 mph in these conditions demanded a lot from me. But we mad our spot with Napa vice mayor Juliana Inman on time!! Her husband, John, a cyclist, was there. He took a lot of pictures Soon Clark Smith, of Penny FArthing Wines showed up with his wife, Sue. And then Rpm Bishop and diane lee. In a pick up triuck. Diane had flatter

We assembled for group photos then adjourned to the nearby Ace Hardware where Ron had an idea for how to rig me a new rack. Well a few hours came and went. Several of the employees got involved, as did Clark. We missed the chance for a group meal and they kept sawing and measuring when Sandy realied the last bus to Berkeley was about to leave.

The project ended. Everyone said good bye and soon I was biking to Sanfu"a house about 5 miles away. There her bicycle crAzy husband, Rich, felt the challenge. He pondered and pondered. Then he sprung into action. With Sandy's capable help, they concocted a mounting system that seems bullet proof! All with the nuts and bolts and other fasteners they had on hand! They were at it tiill 11pm!!

Of douse, there again, in all my 5 decades I've never met a couple more bike centric. There are bikes and bike posters and bike gear tastefully positioned evrrwhere you lookk here. Too exciting. Wow!!

Car free restart - Palo Alto to Berkeley

Left Palo Alto those am not at 5 like I had been threatening butt at 6:20.. I rolled toward the Dumbarton Br in cool morning air with a brake that rubbed. And rubbed. And rubbed. A genuine slow down to my travels I thought it would go away after a few miles. Not so. Or after an overpass downhill. Nope. Or the back side of the bridge. No siree. Not even after I pedaled while holding it's lever.

20 miles later, in San Lorenzo, Ca, I broke down and used my crescent wrench to turn the edges of the spoon that presses against the top of the tire up. It worked. Until I bought 2 liters of water for the camelbak that I wear around my waist in my buttpak. The binding grew worse and worse as the sun got the road hotter and hotter. All the way to Berkeley.

Where I sit now at a Whole Foods charging my phone as I write this. Seems my solar charger is not strong enough to also let me do work....

Btw- pictures at BikeRoute.com in the mayors ride schedule in the Palo Alto to SF Photos

The ride hath begin!!

Blogger.com returns from NationalBicycleGreenway.com

From here forward,

all posting activity for our 7th annual National Mayors' Ride

will take place here until we locate staff  so we can send it back to

NationalBicycleGreenway.com !!

Here now in the absence of a vehicle and major sponsor support, I am running Car Free and lean and hopefully not mean :)