January is a funny training month.  You never know what nature has in store for you.  And, after my last post, I am sure a few of you may have been eager to see where the intersection of my ethics and survival lay.  On Saturday, a few met at the Bakehouse at the usual hour.  I showed up in jeans and a team jacket, Route 37 coffee steaming in hand and, due to prior commitments, bid the riders (Gary, Kevin and Jared) a good ride.  I would ride later in the day- a jaunt around Lemon with Purvis and Field.  It was a casual ride, chatty all the way.  The wind, however, was wearisome across the small spit of land heading east between the lake and the backwater.  This was an omen for what the following day had planned for us.  Read the rest of this entry »

We had a great ride today.  But that’s not what this post is about.  It’s about Darwinism,  sort of.  It’s about etiquette, or more appropriately, expectations on a training ride.  It’s a good story with a happy, albeit unresolved ending, so I invite you to follow along with a positive appreciation for the age-old question, ”Do I stay or do I go?”  I am interested in your input and thoughts on the subject. You can post a response below if you want to join in the dialogue. Read the rest of this entry »

Riding between fields of snow can be magical if you dress right, but some of you might wondering how anyone can handle a ride at 25F. To help out, I offer my year-round guide for the lycra-perplexed. We go by temperature zone, and it’s all about layers. Layers and layers of layers.

Your zones may vary. Call me a wuss, but I’ve listed the temperatures that I use to determine my clothing choices. If you’re a heat engine you might want to recalibrate, but there has to be some point at which you really will need a good winter jacket, gloves, and bootees. I’ll adjust my zones 5 degrees cooler if it’s sunny. If it’s rainy, all bets are off. The coldest I think I have ever been on a bicycle was going down a French mountain pass at 40F in the rain. Read the rest of this entry »

A few of us showed up at the Bakehouse for the first real-winter ride of the year.  The temperature hovered in the 20s even as the clock struck noon.  The wind was slight and out of the south.   At 20 mph the wind chill at 20 correlates to 11 degrees.   But the sun was out, and I was dressed in several layers, “two winter jackets,” as one of my teammates pointed out.  The posted course was dubbed ‘Winter Trifecta’ and has three loops that all point back to town, with its furthest reaches never more than 10 miles from downtown.  I decided to ride to the start, rather than drive, even though today’s published course would take us west then south, further away from home.  Read the rest of this entry »

2012 Scholars Inn Bakehouse Elite program

January 1, 2012. 

The Scholars Inn Bakeouse cycling team is proud to announce its roster for 2012.  ”A majority of our core racers are returning from a very successful 2011 campaign, ” Team Director Tom Saccone said.  “We’re also bringing more depth to the 2012 season with a few key additions and upgraded riders to the men’s and women’s elite programs.”  The team is in its second year with new title sponsor, The Scholars Inn Bakehouse.  Other sponsors include; Oliver Winery, IU Bloomington Health, The Bicycle Garage, Iron Pit Gym, True Physique, Simmons Performance and EZ Dine.  The team is also a member of USA Cycling, the governing body of competitive cycling in the United States and supports the Bloomington Boys and Girls Club.

Visit www.scholarsinncycling.org for more information Read the rest of this entry »