Biking Diabetic

2012-02-04T14:25:00.000-06:00

Wow, we sure have had some great sun rises and sets lately. I get to see them almost every day going to and from work at my new job. The new job has kept me jumping, but at least it's commuting distance from home. If I had studded tires, I would be riding to and from work already, but the funds just haven't been there to invest in a set. This spring I will for sure, since the days are longer, I won't need a head lamp. Another thing to invest in, I guess.

Photo Redux

2011-11-02T10:28:00.000-05:00

At the suggestion of Doug, I took the power lines out of the very long distance shot (for a compact camera) of Enger Tower. I like it!

Enger Tower Redux

Doodling with Photos

2011-11-01T13:57:00.000-05:00

Since I haven't been able to do much physically lately, I've had a chance to play with some photo editing. Published some on Facebook, so I though I'd post some here.

A trail in the Piedmont system

Another

A nice climb

Enger Tower from the rocks above Skyline Drive

Looking west from the same rock ledge

Fall in the woods

The broken ribs are starting to feel better so I should be able to get back on the bike soon. I can't wait!

A Good Ride Spoiled - ER/Silly Safari Edition

2011-10-22T11:57:00.000-05:00

Yesterday started off with me planning a photo safari by bike. Back in the Canosia Wildlife Reserve was to be the location. Deer, bear, moose, coyote, wolf, or anything else that moved was to be my quarry. I packed my DSLR and lens' in my back pack, along with food and extra clothes, and set out to capture some images in the forest. I've ridden the road/trail many times before, but not lately. Things have changed - the hills have had some furrow/berms cut across them, and about a half mile from the river I was trying, road stopped. It appears the area has been logged in a most bizarre way. A quarter mile wide pile of logs, branches, and debris stops anyone from getting through. I tried walking though, but it was almost dangerous, what with all of the sharp sticks ready to go through one's foot. I'm glad I was wearing MTB shoes with a stiff sole!

Frustrated, I turn back to scout another route. About a quarter mile into the return route it happened. I was trying to carry some speed going up a long hill, I hit one of the berms. A split second later, I was on the ground, unable to breathe. Finally, I did manage to breathe (obviously) but very painfully. I got to my feet and surveyed to situation. Cameras, cell phone, bike, all intact. No skin loss. To cuts or bleeding. No real signs of impact, just pain along my left side, plus difficulty breathing. I tried to ride the rest of the way up the hill, but deep breathing was unbearable, so a slow hike-a-bike up the grades and more coasting down, along with soft pedaling on the flats.

I finally got back to the van, loaded up and headed up the Lavaque Road. A stop at my folks house to grab some Aleave and rest, the home. We ate dinner and later headed to the emergency room at St Luke's Hospital to see what was going on. The doctor examined me and called for a CT scan, as he suspected I had damaged my spleen. Results were negative on the spleen damage, but showed a broken rib and the others badly bruised. Treatment? Nothing but some Loritabs and rest. Stay off the bike for a while, take a deep breath to make sure pneumonia doesn't set in ( due to shallow breathing, pneumonia is common with rib injuries), and stop taking metforman for a few days due to it's interaction with the CT contrasting dye - that can shut down your kidneys. That would be just what I would need!

Climbing to the sun.

Weird place to pile wood and boulders.

Looks like big kindling for a big fire!

All in all, a beautiful day to take in the fresh, fall air and perfect weather. The ribs will heal and it's just another lesson learned. What lesson? 29ers' can't roll over anything if you don't pay attention!

Piedmont on Foot

2011-10-20T15:45:00.001-05:00

Piedmont trials on gorgeous fall day.

Lots of climbing.

Up and up.

Believe the signs!

Rock drop. Not for me at this time.

This ones not too bad. Thanks, COGGS!

Still some beautiful foliage.

I went for a ride this morning on the Piedmont trails to see what the more advanced areas were like. Tough, twisty, up and down, rocks, more rocks, roots, you name it, it's there. I was very cautious and still had a couple of biffs. If there's one thing Duluth has, it's variety of riding that's second to none. Varied terrain from one end of town to the other, beginner to advanced, no one is excluded. Today my lack of fitness really stood clear. I haven't been out much due to so many circumstances beyond my control, but things are kind of settling down. We'll see. The pics above are from this afternoon, when I went back and walked what I had previously ridden. I was right, this is tough terrain. I'm glad it's just up the hill from where I live. Nothing more humbling than riding over your head!

Running?

2011-09-29T17:26:00.000-05:00

What are running shoes doing on this blog? Glad you asked. You see, many years ago, I was a runner, cyclist, and skier all at the same time. I was engaged to my first wife and was a fat slob, so, I got back to cycling. I lost some weight, but the pounds didn't really come off until I started running. Three days a week were for running, three for riding or skiing, and one for rest. Eighty-six pounds gone in six months was what that accomplished.

I've been thinking about why it hasn't been that easy to drop the extra pounds these days as compared to my younger years. Sure, age has something to do with it, along with the many physical problems I have encountered in the last few years. Fine. Recently though, I realized that I used to run quite a bit. And that I enjoyed running. And I lost weight quite quickly running in combination with biking. So, why haven't I been running? My left knee was trashed for years, but now feels almost new. That excuse is now out the window. Time to get going.

As you can see in the above pic, I stopped at the Duluth Running Company and got a pair of Brooks Cascadia trail running shoes. I'll start slowly and build up the mileage as the knee allows. Fall is my favorite time of year to run, and there are lots of trails to explore in this area, so here I go.

Back In Saddle

2011-09-20T12:55:00.002-05:00

I finally got out for a ride yesterday, the first in a month. The first couple of miles were hard, but I soon settled into a rhythm and things fell into place. 14 miles in one hour and eight minutes was a pretty good effort for me on gravel roads. This was the same route I took on my last ride before the Lyme's Disease knocked me out, and it took 4 minutes longer that time. My thinking is that I was getting sick for a while before the rash showed up. I'm glad my weight stayed down for the last month and will continue to drop now that I can ride again. Time will tell.

Impatiently Recovering

2011-09-12T08:53:00.002-05:00

A couple of more days left on the Doxycycline and I should be good to go. I'm feeling much better, but still get fatigued easily. I've tried to ride this last week, but in a few blocks, my legs felt like cement. At least he nasty body aches and light-headedness are gone. It looks like my next door neighbor may have gotten Lyme's too. More and more people I've run into have had it or know someone who has contracted it in the last couple of years. Be careful out there...

A New Excuse

2011-08-30T16:43:00.000-05:00

For the last 2 weeks, I've been felling rotten. At first, I thought it was the flu, what with the fevers, chills, sweats, no energy - classic flu symptoms. Then, it started to go away. Until yesterday, that is> I was going to head out for a mountain bike ride, but I could barely get the bike off the wall hanger in the garage. I went back in the house and laid down. Didn't feel to bad, just tired. Then the rashes started. Light red areas that itched like crazy. This afternoon, my back felt all itchy and puffed up. Linda took one look and we called my doctor. He told me to get to his office pronto, so off we went. He took one look and said what I had thought - Lyme's Disease. Caught in the early stages, I just have to take antibiotics for a couple of weeks. A friend didn't know she had Lyme's for 20 years. Now she is on pesticide therapy. Glad I acted quick!

Itchy!!!

2011-08-29T15:01:00.000-05:00

Here's a study that proves what I have said all along. The more you exercise, the more the effect on blood sugar. Just getting back to a regular work out and ride schedule has helped me cut my insulin intake dramatically. And, for me, the longer the duration, the longer the effect lasts. In my humble opinion, the first thing doctors should prescribe to a new type 2 diabetes patient is exercise, and plenty of it. Lower the carbs, move your butt, and keep a positive outlook. Just what the doctor should have ordered, but the first thing seems to be pills. I guess there's no money in prescribing diet and exercise, so this is what we get!

Not Quite So Fat!

2011-08-25T11:10:00.001-05:00

This is the standard Body Mass Index chart that is used by most folks concerned with such thing. Doctors, nurses, diabetes educators, etc. all use it show where you fall in according to industry standards. 17-25 is considered healthy, 25-30, overweight, 30 to 35, obese, above 35, you better push away from the buffet and get some help.

At an appointment at the diabetes center a few weeks ago, the nurse/educator said she couldn't figure how I did what I did as far as exercise.
Her - Your BMI is 35.1, you should really lose some significant weight before doing such intense cycling efforts.

Me- I don't feel super obese, my heart rate monitor tells me when to cool it off a bit. I don't worry about it.

She - Let's use our new super-duper electronic BMI machine and see where you're really at.

Me - Cool.

Down the hall, into a different area of the center.

She- Step on this machine. Hold still while I hook up theses self stick pads and hook the leads to them

She - Hold your arm straight out.

The nurse hits the buttons, enters data, sends a current through me, and gets the reading.

She- This can't be right, let me do it again.

She- It reads the same. 29.3 Weird, can't be right. (implying I'm a certified fat bastard and somehow the machine can't figure it out.) We'll try another day.

Yesterday, Linda and I went and had our BMIs' check and protein levels evaluated. I'm up first for the BMI test. My weight was down 21 lbs. My BMI is at 28. The gal doing the test can't figure it out, either. She thinks her machine is also FUBAR. So, she tested Linda. Right on the money. She gets out the calipers and tape measure. She finds the machine is right! Now I only need to drop 58 more to be on low side of healthy. Piece of cake!

Fitness Flown

2011-08-23T14:48:00.000-05:00

Just as the weight comes down, the fitness goes up, the fickled finger of fate gets you: the flu. Rode last Thursday, felt good, but a little lacking on power. This got worse as the ride progressed, so I cut it short and headed home. The blood sugar was OK, if not a bit high. Just an off day, or so I figured. The next morning, I had an Herbalife shake for breakfast, good to go, or so I figured. A couple of hours later, the sweating started. Then, I felt like I was in the deep freeze. Soon back to roasting with intermittent freezing, no energy, no appetite, cold sweats, hot sweats, weird dreams, no sleep. Sounds like drug addiction withdrawals, doesn't it? So, it's been the couch or bed with some fluid intake, but up until today, food was off the board. I think it will be gone tomorrow, with any luck. At least Versus has bike racing on every afternoon!

The Sky!

2011-08-15T13:21:00.000-05:00

This sure has been a summer of dramatic sky's. I seems like every day we have some weather that presents great opportunities for fabulous photos. The lower shot was featured on the local television station's (KBJR) Saturday night news cast. Pays to always have a camera at hand.

Great Hawk Chase (on the right day)

2011-08-08T15:43:00.000-05:00

Niner Air 9 Carbon. I'd love to have one!

Here's some shots from Sunday's Great Hawk Chase. I had mentioned I was going out Saturday afternoon to check it out. Glad I didn't, because it rained hard. Then I checked the Website for the MSMBS and saw it was on Sunday.

Women's Expert winner, Sarah Kylander-Johnson

Women's 4th Overall, Kari Gate (517)

Men's 2nd Overall, Josh Tesch (one of my college instructors)

Ian Nancekevill's unique downhill style

Local favorite Charlie Farrow

Local endurance racer (and blogger) Tim Ek.

Great Hawk Chase

2011-08-06T10:25:00.000-05:00

I think I will spend some time out at the Great Hawk Chase mountain bike race this afternoon. Get some pics and watch the top level riders on the single track to see how they tackle it. Could help my technique so I can get faster. Should be a good time.

Storm birds

The eye

Blue sky disappearing

Why these pictures? I just like them, snapped them during a recent storm. We may be in for more of this later today and tomorrow.

A Pleasant Day...

2011-08-05T12:09:00.000-05:00

Took the MTB for some gravel road exploring, along with a bit of single track (path through the woods?) exploring. Lots of rolling terrain was covered in the lakes area just north of town. A few hours of cruising around, a few pictures, a few bugs, lunch on a bench in the middle of nothing? Nice.

Had lunch on this bench off the side of the road. Saw a few in the area.

Lots of wild flowers.

I didn't see a car on most of these roads.

East Cook Lake Road.

A quiet little inlet.

I could look at this type of scenery all day.

Island Lake


A ride-able path to nowhere. Good for developing log and root riding.

With the current cash flow cut back due to being laid off, one austerity measure was on food - including cycling grub. I thought back to the old days, and remembered riding strong on a diet of peanut butter & jelly sandwiches, bananas, fig bars, and sweetened ice tea or Gatorade. That's what I went with, and it worked out just fine.

Hartley Field

2011-07-29T13:27:00.000-05:00

My view

Nice single track

Love weaving through the trees

This bike makes it fun!

Hard to see on coming riders through this tall grass on the way up to the outlook

A rock garden as seen from the outlook

Top of the outlook climb

A rather large rock formation that is the outlook

Nice view

Speaks for itself. The area is well marked


We'll need a bath when we get home

I really do need to explore this beautiful area right here in Duluth more often. Fun and varied trails for all skill levels. Today was a gas. I can't believe how nice the 30 speed XT shifts, even when wound up with grass and mud. It's nice to have better gear than ability, I rode to the top of the outlook without touching. That's a first for me.

New Blog Roll Addition

2011-07-29T09:16:00.001-05:00

Thought I'd add a great blog to my list, Gnat, a cyclist with a great camera eye and attitude toward the sport. I really enjoy his work, and I think you will, too!

Other Side of the River

2011-07-28T17:59:00.000-05:00

The Thompson Reservoir as seen from the side south of the Munger Trail. I took my 29er today and explored some of the off the beaten path trail around Jay Cooke Park. Sure do see some different sites this way.

The view east toward the dam

It was a lot of fun just popping around in the woods, the trails are in great shape, and challenging at times. I seem to be getting better at mtb riding, and the easy rolling 29 inch wheels do help the confidence

The Groomer


Taking a break

A great day was had by all - me! 83 and partly cloudy, the humidity wasn't too bad. I came home and made dinner, a cold beer, and now to relax!

Making a little Carbonara

Home Alone

2011-07-27T17:47:00.000-05:00

L went to Dallas for a Mary Kay deal, so I'm batchin' it till Sunday evening. Sure is quiet around here, but I've got plenty to do, kind of like Jens animating a race. Lots of home repairs, riding, that sort of thing. I started yesterday with a nice solo metric century. Doesn't "metric century" sound better than sixty two miles? Does to me. No problems, no bonk, just a smooth day in the saddle. The last longer ride I did left me a shambles for several days, but today, I feel great. What a difference a year makes. I took the mtb out for a little off road action today in the Piedmont trails. Tough riding, those, not for beginners, a real challenge for most skill levels. I love how this town has so many mountain bike loops, one never gets bored.

Tomorrow, I'll do another longish road ride, since I didn't get picked for jury duty tonight. I am looking forward to serving on a jury, so it's just my luck not to have been picked yet. I've never had jury duty before and would like a swing at it. I also need to hit the home center for some pressure treated lumber to fix the front porch. My home project list is as long as my arm, but my wallet isn't. Slow but sure, they'll get done.

Le Tour and Other Thoughts

2011-07-25T11:13:00.000-05:00

The best Tour De France in years has concluded, and what a race it was. Only one doper ejected, lots of great finishes, and a worthy champion. Cadel Evans finally got over, much in part, I believe, to the efforts to clean up the sport at the highest level. With a level playing field, and a great team, Evans was able to race like he always has been able to. Strong and determined, he controlled the pace, kept it close with no help from other teams, and was able to put the hammer down in the final time trail, like Greg LeMond did back in 1989. An emotional man who has made his country very proud. The Schleck bros need to look in the mirror ad see what it takes: mainly, turn those boy bodies into men's bodies. And quit whining while they are at it.

Me, I've been able to ramp up my riding quite a bit, being unemployed again, Hopefully, this is a short term situation. Being a tech geek, I was scanning some old riding logs form years back. I appear to riding in wet cement compared to back in the 80's, but am getting faster than 2009. My weight is still way to high to make hills fun to ride again, but flat and rolling terrain is getting to be a gas, especially on the mountain bike. Much of this is due to zone training, intervals, and of course, a strong core. Hills are waiting for me after another twenty pounds is shed. Probably about three months.

The last five years were rough physically. Joint and muscle pain, weight gain, diabetes complications, you name it, have hindered riding to such an extant I didn't look forward to being on the bike. After finally quitting taking a statin for cholesterol, many of these symptoms have vanished. I've been able to work harder, cut back on the insulin, and generally feel like a new man. Linda's going out of town on business for the next week, so I'll be channeling my inner Mercx - Ride the bike, ride the bike, ride the bike!

CALIENTE!!!

2011-07-18T16:25:00.000-05:00

Went out for a ride today and took a sauna instead. When one can taste the air, you know it's hot and humid. To add insult to injury, I walked to the post office this afternoon, a mere mile and half round trip, and had to shower again. Sheesh! A cold Twilight on the porch this evening is going to make it all worthwhile.

It appears that I'll have time to catch up on some of those base miles I missed out on this spring. I've been laid off from my job after a little over a year's service. Not to worry, the Mrs. is gainfully employed and I will draw unemployment until things pick back up. Or I land a different job. I'm thinking the latter.

At least I've dropped enough poundage to be comfortable on my road bike again. Though I love my new 29er mtb, I'm still a roadie at heart. Most days, that is. The other day, I cruised down to the harbor, then took the lake walk all the way to 60th Ave East, continuing up the shore to Knife River. A very nice route with low traffic during the week. Nice.

Sunday July 3rd

2011-07-03T12:49:00.001-05:00

Got out early and scouted out an area near where I lived for many years, but never explored. Just north of the Island Lake dam is a maze of twisting, up and down ATV trails. Very fun to ride, but I couldn't figure out how to link them to another trail that supposedly connects to the Bear Island Road. I guess I'll have to print a Google map next time.

After getting out of the woods, I ran over to the Cooke Lake Road and did some cadence work. Staying in the 80-85 rpm range for an hour on gravel takes it out of you, especially with all the short and some longer grades. The 32 middle ring along with the 11-36 close ratio cluster is the real deal that I read so much about. You seem to be always in the right gear to maintain the r's. Fun, fun, fun!

Sunday

2011-06-27T09:06:00.000-05:00

It looked like rain, but it never did. I rode up the Munger Trail, then into Jay Cooke Park via the multi-use trails, which were still soft from all the rain, so I didn't spend too much time in the woods. Didn't encounter any other cyclists, but met several equestrians enjoying a ride. I got back to the pavement just in time to hear crows raising a ruckus about an eagle sitting in a tree overlooking the Thompson Reservoir. I'm not sure why crow dislike eagle, but they do.

So far, the new 29er is working perfectly. Not a missed shift, the brakes are fantastic, and it rides both on and off road way better than expected. I pounded out a couple of hour of tempo on the pavement with the fork locked out and it has the feel more of a road bike. I wasn't so sure about the need for 29 inch wheels on an MTB, but now I'm sold. What about my road bike? I still feel a bit heavy for it, though I'm probably not. Another ten pounds off, and I'll be back on it. Plus, the roads and trails seem to be in the worst shape in years, so the fatter tires on the 29er are just the ticket.

Nice Monday Ride

2011-06-20T17:36:00.000-05:00

Got up early, coffee with Linda while reading the paper and news, out to my folks for some chain saw work to clean up wind fall around their house, lunch, the finally, out for a ride. And what a nice ride it was.

Taking a rest on West Skyline Parkway

I took my 29er for a cruise on the Munger Trail and West Skyline Parkway, along with some side excursions on some single track. Not a lot though, as the trails are rather muddy and I didn't want to tear them up. The WTB Nano 2.1 tires don't leave much of a track anyway, seem to float over things more that dig in, but still grip very well. And roll very nicely on pavement.

I got this bike for the main purpose of riding gravel and two track, but the way it rides and handle single track was amazing. I cleaned some areas that I had to hike a bike before, climbed out of saddle up some steep grades without loosing traction, and made some drops with ease. Speaking of climbing, the close ratios of the 10x30 drive train make it almost impossible to be in the wrong gear. The quick, positive shifting, along with the lock-out fork really helped my confidence in getting up the tougher grades. Love this bike!

Morgan Park from West Skyline
I never got to the small ring, even though I almost did on some steeper pitches. I just stood up and dropped a gear and powered up. I was amazed that I could shift under power without that sickening grind you get with some other systems. I guess there is something to this new Dyna-Sys chain and cassette design Shimano has come up with. I think it would be the perfect system on a loaded touring bike, being very close ratio and super quiet.

Earlier in the day, we spotted two pheasants along the side of the road. I pays to carry a camera just for occasions like this. They sure are pretty birds. Plenty of deer with fawns around, too, so be careful on the roads and trails. Heading out back to grill pork chops for dinner. What a way to end a great day!