Waterloo to Dubuque
#1
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Waterloo to Dubuque
Ride Across Iowa in 3 days!! Broke the string of 100 milers. Only 93 miles today. Took back roads again.
For the first time on these rides I just felt tired at the start. It was all I could do to turn the pedals. I had several HTFU conversations with myself. I reminded myself this was for fun, I was out riding because I wanted to and just take what the road gave me.
After about 30 miles I found my groove, picked up a little helping wind and rode the next 35 miles in a zombie state doing 20-25 mph. I even zoomed past my sag support without even noticing!
Stopped in Dyesville for a huge lunch.
Hit a few hills near Dubuque. Actually climbed up to a ski slope!! In Iowa????
On to Illinois!
(Anybody reading this stuff??? Getting too old???)
Started out on bike paths in Waterloo.
Crossed over a river.
New DRY shoes after yesterday's rain!
County roads with Share the Roads signs!
A white water section in Manchester
Self explanatory
Gorgeous barn
For the first time on these rides I just felt tired at the start. It was all I could do to turn the pedals. I had several HTFU conversations with myself. I reminded myself this was for fun, I was out riding because I wanted to and just take what the road gave me.
After about 30 miles I found my groove, picked up a little helping wind and rode the next 35 miles in a zombie state doing 20-25 mph. I even zoomed past my sag support without even noticing!
Stopped in Dyesville for a huge lunch.
Hit a few hills near Dubuque. Actually climbed up to a ski slope!! In Iowa????
On to Illinois!
(Anybody reading this stuff??? Getting too old???)
Started out on bike paths in Waterloo.
Crossed over a river.
New DRY shoes after yesterday's rain!
County roads with Share the Roads signs!
A white water section in Manchester
Self explanatory
Gorgeous barn
Last edited by jppe; 09-08-16 at 07:15 PM.
#2
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No pics of the ski slope?
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The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. - Psalm 103:8
I am a cyclist. I am not the fastest or the fittest. But I will get to where I'm going with a smile on my face.
The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. - Psalm 103:8
I am a cyclist. I am not the fastest or the fittest. But I will get to where I'm going with a smile on my face.
#5
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Yes, I'm checking in everyday. So far, it looks like your having a great trip. Ride safe.
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George
George
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I'm enjoying your posts. You hit some serious rain when you crossed IA.
#7
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<--- I'm still reading your posts every day. You're doing great on describing each section in details that would probably run all together in your mind and be lost if you did the whole story at the end.
I'd offer to guide/ride with you through the Cleveland area, but you're much too fast for me - my 'distance' pace is more like 15-16mph.
US20 through Indiana and western/central Ohio parallels the Indiana and Ohio Turnpikes. As such there are a LOT of truckers that take that route to avoid the turnpike tolls. When you get into Western Ohio, there is an ALT US20 that starts about 12-15 miles into the State, and following 60 miles that will take you to the southern edge of Toledo instead of through it where it rejoins US20
If you're still riding US20 through Ohio when you get near the Cleveland area, there is a rail-trail from Kipton (by Oberlin) into Elyria that you can take to avoid the US20 4-lane 'no bikes' section there. From the Oberlin/Elyria area to
I'd offer to guide/ride with you through the Cleveland area, but you're much too fast for me - my 'distance' pace is more like 15-16mph.
US20 through Indiana and western/central Ohio parallels the Indiana and Ohio Turnpikes. As such there are a LOT of truckers that take that route to avoid the turnpike tolls. When you get into Western Ohio, there is an ALT US20 that starts about 12-15 miles into the State, and following 60 miles that will take you to the southern edge of Toledo instead of through it where it rejoins US20
If you're still riding US20 through Ohio when you get near the Cleveland area, there is a rail-trail from Kipton (by Oberlin) into Elyria that you can take to avoid the US20 4-lane 'no bikes' section there. From the Oberlin/Elyria area to
#8
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Yup, reading every day and enjoying it immensely.
It's been a wonderful blog/report and would love to see it archived for future reference.
It's been a wonderful blog/report and would love to see it archived for future reference.
#9
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US20 through Indiana and western/central Ohio parallels the Indiana and Ohio Turnpikes. As such there are a LOT of truckers that take that route to avoid the turnpike tolls. When you get into Western Ohio, there is an ALT US20 that starts about 12-15 miles into the State, and following 60 miles that will take you to the southern edge of Toledo instead of through it where it rejoins US20
If you're still riding US20 through Ohio when you get near the Cleveland area, there is a rail-trail from Kipton (by Oberlin) into Elyria that you can take to avoid the US20 4-lane 'no bikes' section there. From the Oberlin/Elyria area to
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When I ride my bike I feel free and happy and strong. I'm liberated from the usual nonsense of day to day life. Solid, dependable, silent, my bike is my horse, my fighter jet, my island, my friend. Together we will conquer that hill and thereafter the world.
When I ride my bike I feel free and happy and strong. I'm liberated from the usual nonsense of day to day life. Solid, dependable, silent, my bike is my horse, my fighter jet, my island, my friend. Together we will conquer that hill and thereafter the world.
Last edited by Barrettscv; 09-09-16 at 08:14 AM.
#10
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I'm reading your post EVERYDAY and throughly enjoying it!! I even go back to some of the older posts when I see a new comment posted and/or for reference. Definitely living, errr riding, vicariously through you.
Keep the posts coming!!
Not sure what I'm going to do when you finally make it to Boston, maybe chair the JPPE Withdrawal Anonymous group..
Keep the posts coming!!
Not sure what I'm going to do when you finally make it to Boston, maybe chair the JPPE Withdrawal Anonymous group..
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Actually, the riding was pretty good in the eastern part of the country. Where Hwy20 parallels I90 the riding was really nice. We found that most of the trucks took the Interstate instead of Hwy 20. Often 20 would go right under the interstate. Toledo was not a problem either; it is not too difficult to pick your way across a city.
I would not classify any of the riding as "unusually dangerous." Our goal was to ride the longest contiguous coast-to-coast highway in the U.S., so we stayed on 20 as much as we could.
#12
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It has been awhile since my wife and I rode across the U.S. on US 20; we rode it on 2007. I really don't remember any real issues from the Iowa border to Chicago. We got off the busy sections where needed or when a nearby alternate when required.
Actually, the riding was pretty good in the eastern part of the country. Where Hwy20 parallels I90 the riding was really nice. We found that most of the trucks took the Interstate instead of Hwy 20. Often 20 would go right under the interstate. Toledo was not a problem either; it is not too difficult to pick your way across a city.
I would not classify any of the riding as "unusually dangerous." Our goal was to ride the longest contiguous coast-to-coast highway in the U.S., so we stayed on 20 as much as we could.
Actually, the riding was pretty good in the eastern part of the country. Where Hwy20 parallels I90 the riding was really nice. We found that most of the trucks took the Interstate instead of Hwy 20. Often 20 would go right under the interstate. Toledo was not a problem either; it is not too difficult to pick your way across a city.
I would not classify any of the riding as "unusually dangerous." Our goal was to ride the longest contiguous coast-to-coast highway in the U.S., so we stayed on 20 as much as we could.
__________________
When I ride my bike I feel free and happy and strong. I'm liberated from the usual nonsense of day to day life. Solid, dependable, silent, my bike is my horse, my fighter jet, my island, my friend. Together we will conquer that hill and thereafter the world.
When I ride my bike I feel free and happy and strong. I'm liberated from the usual nonsense of day to day life. Solid, dependable, silent, my bike is my horse, my fighter jet, my island, my friend. Together we will conquer that hill and thereafter the world.
#13
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Ride Across Iowa in 3 days!! Broke the string of 100 milers. Only 93 miles today.Took backroads again.
For the first time on these rides I just felt tired at the start. It was al lI could do to turn the pedals. I had several HTFU conversations with myself.I reminded myself this was for fun,I was out riding because I wanted to andjust take what the road gave me.
After about 30 miles I found my groove, picked up a little helping wind and rode the next 35 miles in a zombie state doing 20-25 mph. I even zoomed past my sagsupport without even noticing!
On to Illinois!
For the first time on these rides I just felt tired at the start. It was al lI could do to turn the pedals. I had several HTFU conversations with myself.I reminded myself this was for fun,I was out riding because I wanted to andjust take what the road gave me.
After about 30 miles I found my groove, picked up a little helping wind and rode the next 35 miles in a zombie state doing 20-25 mph. I even zoomed past my sagsupport without even noticing!
On to Illinois!
… your pictures are very photogenic, and particularly illustrative in that they nicely capture all the elements ofthe Ride: the terrain, surfaceof the Road*, lighting, [and loneliness]etc., so relevant to a cyclist, and as I remember them on our cross-country ride.
jp,you obviously freely chose …the Roads you are now riding,with tough, as well as sublime riding conditions. IMO … how you handle these conditions tossed your way, brought on by your choices, represents your Character.
jp,you obviously freely chose …the Roads you are now riding,with tough, as well as sublime riding conditions. IMO … how you handle these conditions tossed your way, brought on by your choices, represents your Character.
I'm very motivated by novelty, and stymied by boredom on a bike, but I do have the motivation of commuting to work. I have foundthat when I drive my frequent, decades-old routes I often notice things I had not seen before. I think it’s because I can look around at more than just the road surface when driving. So when the commute [route] is getting too familiar, I just raise my head higher and look over a wider field of view….
One other whimsical technique on familiar roads is to imagine I'm riding with a certain fellow BF subscriber from the Midwest I enjoy reading, and I'm showing him around on my route. I particularly enjoy having visitors to Boston and take them on tours…
One other whimsical technique on familiar roads is to imagine I'm riding with a certain fellow BF subscriber from the Midwest I enjoy reading, and I'm showing him around on my route. I particularly enjoy having visitors to Boston and take them on tours…
Originally Posted by Steven Wright
”I have an imaginary friend, but he won’t play with me.”
Yes, I'm checking in everyday. So far, it looks like your having a great trip. Ride safe.
I'm reading your post EVERYDAY and throughly enjoying it!! I even go back to some of the older posts when I see a new comment posted and/or for reference.Definitely living, errr riding, vicariously through you.
Keep the posts coming!!
Not sure what I'm going to do when you finally make it to Boston, maybe chair the JPPE Withdrawal Anonymous group..
Keep the posts coming!!
Not sure what I'm going to do when you finally make it to Boston, maybe chair the JPPE Withdrawal Anonymous group..
I previously posted to this thread in 2014, “did you track your miles in 2014?”
I don't want to hijack this thread, but your story might be an interesting topic for the Touring Forum; how do you do a segmented, presumably connected linear Cross Country Ride?
Or maybe the OP and subscribers of this thread would be interested too, since we all seem to be mileage junkies ("Hi...my name is Jim, and I'm a cycling mileage junkie. It got so bad that I even rode in the Winter...I had to hide it from my co-workers and family...")
Or maybe the OP and subscribers of this thread would be interested too, since we all seem to be mileage junkies ("Hi...my name is Jim, and I'm a cycling mileage junkie. It got so bad that I even rode in the Winter...I had to hide it from my co-workers and family...")
BTW,at this point in the ride, is it becoming less a tour and now a way of life, totally dissociated from everything before? Is this your longest ride? As usual no need to reply, but otherwise welcome; but this is what I’ll ask you in Boston.
Last edited by Jim from Boston; 09-09-16 at 08:19 PM.
#14
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Don't know which way you will be leaving Dubuque, but if you leave via SR 20 into Galena, be very carefull once you leave Galena. That's a truck route and can get very dangerous. If you happen to go through Elizabeth, IL, stop in at eTown Coffee and Cork, have a really good panini and cappuccino and say hello to Liz.
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Am enjoying reading of your journey, only thing to comment is as a 50+er listen to your body. It may not be a matter of HTFU.
scott s.
.
scott s.
.
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Hopefully, we have a few more touring years left, and it is never too late to see some new places. Northern Illinois might be one of them