TT biking club

“Wow that is good dhutch!

I barely average 15mph with my road bike. I have to admit that my weight makes the uphills really slow for me...on the other hand, the weight works for me on the downhills and I scream past everyone...which also makes it annoying when someone pedals like hell to pass me, then coasts once in front of me, so I have to brake to keep from running into them - my biggest beef on the Trek.

Although I've got the mileage now, I still don't feel as good as in past years. One reason is the weight I gained after surgery (which appears to be in no hurry to leave) plus I've had some post surgery problems that are pissin' me off. I feel pretty good that I'm doing the Trek at all, since a month or so ago I was ready to bag it.”

“I have to admit that it feels pretty good to pass roadies on my mountain bike and hear the whispering.

Twig - It IS great that you're preparing for the Trek. 63 miles is nothing to sneeze at! In fact it's amazing.”

“You should feel good passing road bikes with your mountain bike!
And thanks for the compliment dhutch!

I'm trying something different this year on the Trek. Normally the hardest part (for me) is getting a ride to Newry where the ride starts. It's an hour and a half drive, so for anyone taking me up, it's three hours on the road. Coming back in the dark on back roads it's easy to get lost.
(there are busses, but none leave from here, plus I thought I had a ride up until it was too late to get a space on a bus)

So this year I've devised a plan so I can drive myself up. It means I won't be biking with the group for all of one day and part of another, but if it works out ok I won't have to worry about it again!”

“16 easy miles yesterday evening. The hardest part was breathing the bug spray that is ABSOLUTELY necessary, got bit anyway. This is basically a relax and prepare week for me. Tried out the new tires, They're fine. Bike computer stopped working?? Something other than my fat must've jiggled while riding. 8-)”

“cool!

If the computer display isn't seated right, it won't register. Or the sensors (likely the one on the spokes) could have moved and not be lined up right.

The Trek starts Friday, so I rested Monday and Tuesday, and will do my last ride tonight.
wahoo! =D”

“I'll try to readjust the computer before the race. Any tips on getting jiggle free?

I'm excited for you twig. I also know you will not forget the trip report....right?”

“Twig --

Didn't realize the Trek was so soon!!!


Have fun!


I did the circuit today. I was dreading it because of low grade stomach issues that have been running (hhahahah) through the family and bothered me all day yesterday . .but the ride went great!

I actually lead most of the way . . .I took an unending amount of crap fromthe others . . I was wearing a new bike shirt . .one of the multi-colored ones . ..this is a Castelli??? has ablack scorpion motif . .the shirt if red white and blue (like my bike . .and my helmet .. . .again . .what a dork-asuarus)

Anyhow .. .I was flying . .it felt great.


As I droped the last gy off at his house we had an average speed of 17.8 (which includes 3 or 4 minutes of drifting at 10 mph waiting for folks) . . . .

but by the top of my hill it was down to 15.5.

Anyhoooooo



Have a fun Trek twig!”

“I have to admit that my weight makes the uphills really slow for me... - twigeater

Dang too heavy bike construction! ;-)”

“lee. See, the shirts help don't they.”

“sometimes I wipe the sensors to make sure there's no dirt or anything blocking them - I'd think that would be more of an issue on a mountain bike. No idea on the jiggling computer unless it can be tightened...now jiggling fat - bike more! Advice I intend to take myself, LOL. Hoping to complete a century ride shortly after the Trek.

Sorry if you mentioned this before and I missed it - when is your race dhutch?

Definately will post a trip report - on this thread most likely.”

“My bike is light as a feather...I almost feel sorry for it when I heft my bigbutt onto the saddle, LOL...”

“lol. My bike weighs 29lbs and I feel the same way.

Saturday is the next race twig.”

“good luck dhutch, I'm sure you'll do well!
I look forward to the trip report!”

“Yeah, I didn't know it was so soon either, Twig...have a great time. I so jealous, someday I'll do it.

Tried to check out another trail today, wasn't quite what we expected, actually didn't know what to expect. It was more for some really fat mountain bike tires with shocks all 'round. Not soo good for what we had on our bikes for tires. Oh well were just exploring to see what's good to do and what's not so good. We'll figure it out. I really do like road riding better than off road anyway.”

“33 miles tonight...my legs feel good, but I'm gonna adjust the handlebar height and angle a little more.

What kind of tires do you have on your bike skeetah? mountain, cross, or road?

The Trek is always Father's Day weekend...not that I expect anyone to remember that, but it's always that weekend.

I'm trekker #127 for Trek 2005!”

“Good luck twiggy! Ride on!

You too dhutch!”

“Have a great time twigeater!
Thanks all”

“Twigeater, good luck on your trek and have fun.”

“knock 'em dead, dhutch!

thanks for the well wishes everyone!

This is Trek #8 for me, and my goals are very different on this trek as compared to any of the others. We'll see how it goes, but I intend to have a blast!
=D”

“And I did have a blast! What a great time...

Maine is a beautiful place. :)”

“Twig, trip report? Did your strategy work out?

I rode the 55 miles! Avge speed 14.5 mph (excluding sandy trail section which ended up to be "hike a bike") Woo Hoo am I a real biker now?”

“Trek Across Maine 2004

The Trek Across Maine is a three day, 180 mile charity bike ride that benefits the American Lung Association of Maine
2004 was the 20th anniversary ride, and my 8th year riding.

I was late starting training this year and well behind in mileage, so along with not feeling the greatest, I had doubts about doing the Trek. My goal was low – to at least attend the Trek even if I didn’t bike. I had gotten my pledges months ago, and continued going through the Trek motion just in case I was up for it. As it turned out, with about 485 pre trek miles and a few good hill rides, I felt great and decided to go for it, dreaming up several possible “outs” just in case.

Thursday, June 17
Both rides I was able to find to Sunday River left around noontime, so I decided to drive my truck up after work. I planned on leaving my truck at the Inn I usually stay at, then I’d pedal back to Newry on day #2 while everyone else was pedaling to Colby.

I was all packed, so after a quick run to wal-mart to buy yet another battery operated alarm clock (this makes #3 – what DO I do with them?) and some stuff for breakfast, I was on my way sometime after 5pm. Trying to avoid Western Avenue traffic got me lost, LOL…so I arrived at the Sunday River Inn around 7pm.

I checked in, made sure it was ok to leave my truck there, opened the window to my room (the place is notoriously hot) and drove up the mountain to the Sunday River ski resort. There I checked in with the Trek, once again thankful I had done the speedy check-in at ALA-ME and didn’t have to stand in the mile long line, and headed out to enjoy the free BBQ and fireworks. My sister-in-law had ridden her first Trek last year, but didn’t like the time commitment necessary for training, so opted to volunteer this year and was keeping the serving tables full of food. She said she had to serve breakfast at 5am the next morning. I think next year she’ll be riding again, LOL.

I chatted with her and some friends of mine who sometimes do the Trek. We ate, then they headed for the bar and I headed to my truck to sort my gear and make some last minute adjustments to my bike. I went back to watch the awesome fireworks, it was really cool! Then down the mountain to my room. It was nice having my truck as anything I decided to leave behind I could, plus I didn’t have to lug all my gear up to the room, then down again in the morning.

It was warm in the room, and I slept ok, but was awakened a bunch of times by people talking in the next room, and two late arrivals – one at 11:30pm and another at 3am. I’m used to not sleeping the night before, so it was par for the course.

more to follow...”

“Sounds wonderful twig! I'd like to do some research and see if MI has anything like this.”

“Friday, June 18

My alarm went off at 5:30am – I had set mine and the one in the Inn for 5 minutes apart just to make sure my new clock worked. I showered, dressed, and ate part of a croissant while waiting for it to be time to leave. I filled my nalgene bladder, topped off my tires, put my luggage in the wagon, and generally got ready to go. I was using my new 100oz nalgene that I got cheap from Binks. Although it seemed big, I was glad to have the space to put my tools, tire tubes, a jacket, and some emergency stuff.

I locked up the truck and was on the road at 6:45am. Feeling good and cruising along…thinking I was making great time when at 16 miles I heard the unmistakable pss…pss…pss of my rear tire going flat. I stopped and sure enough, a piece of glass had punctured the tire and put a ¼” slice in it. I changed the tube while assuring passing trekkers that I was all set, blew it up with a CO2 cartridge, put the wheel back on, and was on my way. At rest stop #1, I went to the mechanic and asked him to check it out. He seemed impressed that I change it myself, said all was well, and quite nicely didn’t charge me for the new tube I requested.

Along the way my friends caught up with me and we rode and chatted. I noticed a black kitten on the side of the road and they stopped to see what was up with it. I pedaled on, knowing they would take care of it and still catch up to me.

The ride was nice and uneventful, the weather was great, and I was having a great time. It was a little hot, so I chewed on Excedrin migraine to stave off the headache I knew I’d have if I didn’t. I hung out at rest stop #2 for a bit before tackling the 2 ½ mile hill that lay ahead. It looks bad on the map, but really just requires patience. And of course, after every good uphill there is a great downhill.

I saw my friends and they said they found a mother and three kittens altogether. Someone had obviously dropped them off and the mother didn’t look too healthy. They left her some water, then stopped at a store down the road and waited while the store owner called the Animal Shelter.

I saw the first ambulance on this leg, kind of sobering. I came across my first accident just before rest stop #3, apparently it had just happened as the police were just arriving. There was a woman lying in the road and she didn’t look too good. She had road rash on her face. As I took off for the finish line the ambulance came along to get her. Shortly after, another ambulance raced by.

I pedaled into Baked Potato Land at 12:15pm, stretched and rinsed the grime off my face before heading back out for the most delicious potato on the planet and became a hill person. I polished off my potato and kept lookout for my friends. After a while when I didn’t see them, I headed over to the camping area to set up my tent. While passing an unoccupied truck, I heard someone on a radio saying they were at a restaurant and were being attacked by dogs…or something like that…I thought it was too weird to be true.

I spent the rest of the evening reading, eating a yummy Trek supper, had a couple of Coronas, read some more, caught the second half of the comedic jugglers “Rootberry” and read some more before falling asleep. Oh yeah, for the first time I won one of the camper prizes…

63.4 miles, 4 hours, 27 minutes riding time.

More to follow…”

“twiggy, since I don't know a thing about rides across states. Do you have to pack all your gear up and carry it with you or does someone bring it location to location. Kind of hard to imagine you biking that far with a reg. backpack on.”

“My stuff is lugged for me on this ride...we are fed and spoiled rotten, all we gotta do is ride.

I went on a pay tour once as well, you're basically paying for them to lug your stuff, provide route maps and places to camp.”

“that sounds like a fun thing to do then. I know they have something like that in Tenn.”

“There are pay tours all over the country...all over the world...”

“Saturday, June 19

I slept pretty well thanks to the earplugs the Trek provides us and was up at 5:30. My friends wanted to eat after we packed up, so I did that. I was in no hurry since today I wasn’t a real trekker, but was pedaling back to Newry to get my truck. I would take the direct route back rather than the Trek route so I would get about 5 miles less than the Trekkers. It had rained some in the night and the morning, but it looked like it would clear. So…I didn’t pack my foot baggies, shower cap, plastic gloves or rain jacket. I did have my wind jacket and pants. Since I was going to be without support, I had purchased 2 CO2 cartridges and put both, plus two tubes in my day pack. I also crammed in two mini bagels, a couple of bananas and some M&Ms from the day before.

I got my bike from the security corral and squeezed the rear tire just for the heck of it…flat. I figured it was flat because I’d used CO2, and the bike guys say that’s gone by morning. I walked my bike up to the parking lot (where Baked Potato Land was the day before) and waited in line to use a pump. I usually bring my floor pump, but my bags seemed so full this year…

Got my tire pumped, took my number off my bike and started off with the Trek. When they took their first right, I went straight, and pedaled off by myself. It was a great ride, cool and pretty flat terrain, and I was happy to be biking alone. When I stopped at 10 miles to put my jacket on and stuff half a banana in my mouth, I was only 25 minutes into the ride. I thought “cool!” I’m making great time…

Then at 25 miles the rain started…first lightly, then hard and soon I was soaked. I was glad it wasn’t 45 degrees like last year, so the 60 degree rain wasn’t as dangerously cold. I could see that I could have a problem if I didn’t eat or stopped for too long though. I couldn’t see very well with water running in my face, and my sunglasses stay propped on my nose. Going through the town of Rumford was interesting, at one intersection I think all the cars stopped just cause I was biking kind of erratically (since I can’t see a thing, do I try to go left, or get off the bike and be a pedestrian, LOL…) I stopped at a store and used the nice warm rest room, it was tempting to stay. I stopped to snack a couple more times, keeping fueled so I’d stay warm.

The last 16 miles were l-o-n-g, as I counted each mile…I felt like I was pedaling through mud, though when I looked at my speedometer I would be surprised to see I was cruising along at sometimes 15mph.

I arrived at the Inn around noon time, started my truck and cranked the heat first thing. I loaded my bike and gear, then grabbed my clothes from Thursday to see if I could dry off in the Inn. It wasn’t open, so I sat on my rain jacket – I was thoroughly soaked – and stopped at the nearest rest area to change. I hoped my cleats would dry on the ride home under the truck heater, but it didn’t work very well.

After a frustrating trip through Augusta due to a closed bridge, I quickly showered at my house, dropped off my soaking wet clothing and headed to Colby for Pizza Hut pizza that I was craving. I had pizza and ice cream, then set up my tent. I ran into my sister-in-law who said I could share her dorm, but again it looked like it was gonna clear.

While I was eating supper, it poured, so I was glad I’d stowed all my gear under the rain fly of my tent. I also noticed that one of the tent pole sections had a crack in it. My friends were in the dorm this night, so I only saw them briefly.

I read, drank Corona, went to Colby night - the ALA-ME presentation of what they do with the money we raise, plus a slide show of the first two days biking – read some more, had another Corona, then was out like a light at 10pm.

53 miles today, 3 hours, 55 minutes riding time.

More to follow…”

“Sunday, June 20

Never heard another thing until I had to get up for the porta potty. I lay back down waiting for the alarm, but never heard it, so didn’t get up until almost 6am. I went to breakfast first – I like to give my tummy a chance to settle before I get on my bike – then packed up my stuff. It was easy – I just rolled it all up in my tent and threw it in my truck. I really liked having my truck there.

I got my bike from the field house and felt the back tire…not too bad, but it did need air…by now I’m getting a little frustrated with this annoying tire thing. I pumped it up, got my stuff ready and pedaled off with the other Trekkers for Rockland and the finish line at 7:30am.

What a great day! Sunny yet windy to keep the heat at bay. Lots of trekkers were stopped on the Carter bridge looking over the Kennebec. It is a beautiful view, but I see it all the time, so I pedaled on. I wasn’t as careful about sunscreen this day, and got a little burned on my shoulders and the back of my neck.

At rest stop #1 I relaxed for a bit and ate. When I went to continue riding, I squeezed the tire (I gotta quit doing that) and it seemed soft. I looked at the line at the mechanics and decided to use my mini pump to top it off. I don’t know what I did wrong, but all the air in my tire went hissing out of the stem. I went to use the pump and some guy starts telling me I better get a new tire, cause it shouldn’t be all out of air like that. I try and explain that it was only soft and I let all the air out, but he ain’t listening. Anyway, I decide to have the tire looked at. Verdict is I need a new tire, which I really doubt since 1) it was the LLB bike shop and I don’t trust those guys, 2) the slit in the tire was fine for 83 miles, and 3) the air is in the tube, not the tire, so I didn’t think that was the problem.

It takes a good half hour for the LLB guy to write down my credit card info and put the new tire on the rim. He has some kid pump up the tire and seat it. It didn’t look right to me, and I was tempted to ask the kid how much air he put in the tire, but the rest stop was getting low on people (meaning I was behind) and I wanted to get going. While I’m waiting for my tire, a tire that a guy is pumping up explodes right next to his head. He’s also blown out his rim. We all jumped and screamed, it sounded like a shot!

I pedal to rest stop #2 and check the tire, it’s soft, I put air in it. I hear that the wind blew over the LLB bike rack with someone’s bike on it – blew the whole thing across the road and got hung up on a fence. The rest stops are getting low on snacks and are out of Gatorade, so I know I’m in the rear of the pack. Speaking of rear…for the first time ever, I saw a bikers butt crack over the top of his shorts. Had me LMAO, and I knew I had to get pedaling!

My sister and her husband and kids were waiting at the bottom of their road watching the Trekkers pedal by. I stopped and chatted with them, shared some M&Ms with my nephew, and pedaled off.

The wind at rest stop #3 is blowing everything away. I grab and apple and eat it while waiting in the porta potty line.

The ride in to Rockland was gorgeous and I crossed the finish line around 1pm.

I ate a yummy meal, listened to the band and basked in the sun by the ocean until my sister-in-law came and we left.

59.5 miles, 4 hours, 14 minutes riding time.

THE END”

“We did get updates on the ambulances. One guy broke his hip and his leg in a fall. The woman with road rash did have a concussion. I don't think the third ambulance I saw was for one of us.

And the weird radio call I heard actually was some trekkers being attacked by dogs. Apparently the dogs ran out and started attacking the bikers, one guy fell over and the dogs continued to attack him. I don't know the extent of his injuries, but I hope the dogs and their owners were shot on the spot.”

“The new tire didn't help...I squeezed my rear tire this morning, and it's FLAT!

I'm taking the tire off tonight to look at the rim.”

“Whoa! Nelly. I am saving the reading of your entire report till I get home but that last post was scary.

We rode up on a girl off her bike getting oxygen on the course this weekend as well. I'm not sure what caused the fall but it was a smooth paved trail. Eventually we dodged the ambulance heading down the path to her assistance. Later heard that she separated a shoulder and fractured a clavical.

Owwwwwiiiieeeeee!”

“I know it's long, I posted my original report - the one I write for me. Normally I edit it for TT, but decided not to.

BTW - we raised $1M bucks! All but $200,000 of the Trek is underwritten, so that's a nice chunk 'o change!

The oldest trekkers were four people over 80, with one age 86. The youngest trekkers were four boys and girls ages 6 and 7.”

“I discoverd that the reason my tubes keep going flat is that my rim is defective. Where it's joined, the edges are slightly sharp. Very slighty sharp, but apparently enough. We'll see what the bike shop says tomorrow.”

“Every time I see this thread I think "TT Bikini club" and immediately check it out. Is there a bikini thread?”

“Twigeater, great trip report and I felt like I was right there reading it. It sounds like the trek had it all, rain, cold, crashes, butt cracks and flat tires. Those flat tires really seem like huge pain, though.”

“Sounds like quite an adventure, frought with frustration...

Hope you get the tire taken care of okay.”

“Wow twig, that was an adventure! Sounds like a blast. Good luck with your wheel.”

“thanks all!
I forgot to mention that 28 states were represented on the ride.

The whole tire thing was interesting, I'm just glad I could take care of it on the road. I biked with a woman for a bit who said that a flat on the road was her worst fear.

I like to figure stuff out for myself, so when I mentioned to a friend that something had to be wrong with my rim, I declined his offer to look at it. I thought I should be able to just run my fingers on the inside part that is next to the tube and find the bad spot easily, but I didn't feel a thing. Another friend had mentioned blowing up the tube, finding the hole, then matching it up to the rim. That worked.

Now to the bike shop....”

“I realize this is nothing compared to what you did Twiggy, but last night I went on my longest bike ride so far 17 miles. It was fun, hope to hook up with those folks again.”

“Glad it went well for you twig --

soooo you were on the campus of my old alma mater . . .where did they have you camp?


I pitched many a tent on that campus back in the day . .”

“We all gotta start somewhere Ewker...

lee, we can pitch our tents wherever we want around the campus, but there are a few places that are popular. This year they were tearing up one of the fields and it looked like they might be building something. Our luggage tent was in the field between Roberts dining hall and the road (down the road on the opposite side is the Alfond center) so we all camped there. They feed us in Roberts so it was convenient.
There were less campers again this year because of the rain. Many sleep in the field house on cots, on gym mats and on the floor.”

“I'm back from the bike shop with a hopefully fixed tire.

They took the liner out of the rim and sanded the area down, put in a new tube (free) and put it all back together. If that doesn't work, we'll try a new rim. I guess they think a new rim would have the same problem, but I dunno. We'll see.”

“..and I just realized that I left the bottle of degreaser I bought on the counter at the bike shop...grrrrrr”

“Good for you, Twigeater!!! Sounds like, except for the flat tire(s) and rain, you had a pretty good time. Would've liked to have shared it with ya. Who knows maybe next year. BTW, what's on your agenda for this coming weekend? Not sure, but MB and I might want to try something.”

“thanks skeetah! actually if it's not cold, rain isn't that bad.
Next week I'm hoping to take a day off to squeeze a century ride in with some friends.

If you really want to see what the Trek is like without having to raise money, you could volunteer. I don't know exactly what's required, but my sister-in-law worked for four days and I don't think it was all that fun. Depends on what you get to do I guess.

You have e-mail about the weekend.”

“lee are you still doing your daily morning ride? how's it going?

I went out for 36 miles tonight, it felt great!

I'm getting a new rim while the bike is still under warranty. It seems ok now, but when I look at the front rim you can hardly tell where it joins. So it seems weird that the other rim would be like it is.”

“Tommorrow was supposed to be my attempt at a century ride, but I went hiking this weekend and my quads are talking to me today...
We're gonna try Thursday instead.”

“twig - as long as you're not talking back. It's a century ride. First 20 miles to warm up. ;-)

I rode trails this weekend. More technical than I'm used to. Took a couple of tumbles but did ok considering all the loose rock and sand. Especially cause I didn't change my tires from the "smoothies" I used from my race. :-P”