Where is Lance?

Follow Al on his cross country bike tour!

If you want to see the itinerary, click here.

To learn more about the tour, click here.

MISSISSIPPI RIVER TRIP DAY 4

2012-10-01

ARE YOU KIDDING ME? THERE AIN'T NO WAY THAT PIANO WILL GO UP THAT HILL
GALENA TO BURLINGTON IOWA

I leave Galena on a 75 miler to Cordova. It's 43 degrees and the first two miles are downhill and I am quite cold. Not to worry, three hills of 13-14% grade warm me up. Seven miles from Galena there is a hill of 15-16% and a mile long. For those of you that are not bikers, this is one motha of a hill. My front wheel threatens to come off the pavement and unless I can ride a wheelie I need to keep it there. Breakfast threatens to leave my stomach. I'm sweating profusely. I make. On the downside my bike shimmies, scaring the crap out of me.

OK biking friends, why the shimmy and what can I do about it?

Now let me ask you, under any conditions could the piano bike make it up that hill. My vote is no.

I call B. He has forever promised me that he would prove that he can ride a hill of this slope. There is a short segment in Ann Arbor of about 100 yards of this grade.
Ride it I say, now. I am upset. He tries to calm me down, but I'm not having it. After all I just climbed a mile long 16% hill. We will have to find another route.

I have given up on all maps. I am just heading south, knowing there is a highway to my east and the MR to my west. Supposedly I am following the Great Mississippi River Trail. Ha. I could follow it if there were signs. My directions are useless.

The team is working well. Chuck and Dave enjoying their rides, Larry keeping us going.

Another beautiful day, 70's and sunny. I see on the weather channel that it will snow in Minnesota in the next few days. Were we lucky or what?






Doing what we do best.


I knew they were doing poorly, but this?


Larry, you missed this one.


On the Great Mississippi River Trail, for a while anyhow.

Messages

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I agree with Al. The JBX plan needs more thought starting with having the pushing bicycles bebiking tandems.0 Sent 2012-10-04 from chuck

Nice looking appetizers. What's for dinner? Sent 2012-10-04 from Jim

Magnifico! Enjoy my friend! Sent 2012-10-04 from jerseyshore50@yahoo.com

Point of clarification. The pizza in front of Al was for him after he had an entre salad. The pizza in front of Larry was for him alone. Please note my relatively modest salad. My moderation did not continue as subsequent photos will attest. Sent 2012-10-04 from Chuck

Point of clarification. The pizza in front of Al was for him after he had an entre salad. The pizza in front of Larry was for him alone. Please note my relatively modest salad. My moderation did not continue as subsequent photos will attest. Sent 2012-10-04 from Chuck

How many other people did you invite to consume all that food? Sent 2012-10-03 from Sharon