The Eola Winery 45 mile bike ride through wine country in the Willamette Valley needs preparation....like lots of miles on a bike, with hills, valleys, curves, traffic, intersections and plain miles of road. Today's training ride roughly followed the Tour de Cure ride route that was held in Washington County. The bicyclists gathered at the Coach's house, rousting him out of bed for an early morning ride. Communications are a necessary part of training. He expected us an hour later, but the Tour de France was on the TV so we had a brief discussion of the finer points of the day's ride in France while sipping coffee and contemplating our own 30 mile tour de jour.
Chilly temps gave pause for clothing considerations, but talk of The Hills tempered any concerns we had. Heat would follow energy expenditures. We followed the leader along a low traffic area route to emerge on to a newly painted bike lane along Evergreen Parkway. We all felt a bit safer as the traffic whizzed by, each traveler in their own designated lane. The countryside soon enveloped us as we took the back roads connecting to Jackson School Road heading north and west.
A stop for a flat tire on the freeway overpass gave the Coach an opportunity to teach the riders about changing a tire. Such skill and speed he exhibited as he quickly replaced the inner tube, remounted the wheel and pushed us on our way. The Hills did indeed provide heat to the lightly clad riders and the chance to practice gearing up and down again and again. The motto is "let your gears do the work and not your legs." Nice sentiments as the legs screamed in protest at the long, long hill. The summit finally appeared, along with spectacular views of the Tualatin Valley and Coastal range.
Fields of lavender, wheat, corn, nursery stock and other assorted crops rolled into view as we mounted hill after hill. The Coach kept a sharp eye out for approaching cars, calling ahead "car back!" quite frequently. Seems as if many folks were out for a Saturday morning drive today. Just as we arrived at the top of "Pallet Hill", so named for a pallet factory there, another cry rang out. "Flat!" For the second time the Coach pulled out his tool kit, but this time the riders were given a hands on experience in changing the tire tube. It went more quickly this time and confidence grew.
As the miles rolled by, the riders marveled at the vineyards and the vistas from the higher elevations. The downhill coastings were thrilling in their speed but unnerving in that too. Once the hills were conquered, the riders enjoyed a final ten miles of relatively flat terrain, chatting in between passing cars and other bicyclists. By early afternoon we had 30 miles in the bag and were ready for some lunch. The Coach's wife, a fellow rider extraordinaire, prepared a quick feast from her yard and freezer and we dined on the patio, enjoying the lovely yard and garden and conversing over a range of topics as the nourishment elevated blood sugar levels.
By mutual agreement, we will ride again before the big day next month, training so that the long ride will seem like a piece of cake. We are ready to meet the challenge. Dust off your bike and hit the hills of western Washington County for views that will take your breath away, if the ride doesn't.
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| 30 training miles in the bag! |
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| Lunch on the patio |
Chilly temps gave pause for clothing considerations, but talk of The Hills tempered any concerns we had. Heat would follow energy expenditures. We followed the leader along a low traffic area route to emerge on to a newly painted bike lane along Evergreen Parkway. We all felt a bit safer as the traffic whizzed by, each traveler in their own designated lane. The countryside soon enveloped us as we took the back roads connecting to Jackson School Road heading north and west.
Fields of lavender, wheat, corn, nursery stock and other assorted crops rolled into view as we mounted hill after hill. The Coach kept a sharp eye out for approaching cars, calling ahead "car back!" quite frequently. Seems as if many folks were out for a Saturday morning drive today. Just as we arrived at the top of "Pallet Hill", so named for a pallet factory there, another cry rang out. "Flat!" For the second time the Coach pulled out his tool kit, but this time the riders were given a hands on experience in changing the tire tube. It went more quickly this time and confidence grew.
As the miles rolled by, the riders marveled at the vineyards and the vistas from the higher elevations. The downhill coastings were thrilling in their speed but unnerving in that too. Once the hills were conquered, the riders enjoyed a final ten miles of relatively flat terrain, chatting in between passing cars and other bicyclists. By early afternoon we had 30 miles in the bag and were ready for some lunch. The Coach's wife, a fellow rider extraordinaire, prepared a quick feast from her yard and freezer and we dined on the patio, enjoying the lovely yard and garden and conversing over a range of topics as the nourishment elevated blood sugar levels.
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