Sunday Ride to Ash Grove

Since the Flèche to Grain Valley is coming up next Friday, it's time to start tapering and we (Tom, Doug, Rae, Ron, Dave, John and I) rode the relatively flat route out to Ash Grove for lunch. It was clear and about 38 degrees when we left at 10AM with a good wind out of the east to push us along. The planes were using the northwest runway because of the wind. The clouds rolled in while we were having lunch at Willy B's, and the temperature had only climbed to about 44 degrees when we left. We stopped not far outside of Ash Grove to call the owner of a dog that had been killed. The owner's name and telephone number were on the collar. The sun broke out again as we approached Springfield, and Rae's shadow raced along side her.

Commuting Year Round

You don't have to quit riding in the winter.

A Pleasant Ride to Pleasant Hope

Rae, Doug, Tom, John and I headed north to Pleasant Hope late this morning. The weather was mostly sunny, in the mid-40s at the start and high-50s by the end. The route north took us across Fellows Lake, where there are facilities for a quick stop. There was still snow along the northern slopes. We stopped for lunch at the Junction Grill in Pleasant Hope on the northwest corner of MO 215 and H Hwy. The route south crossed McDaniel Lake, and by 3:00PM the fishermen were out in force on the bridge. The water level of the lakes is higher then I have seen it in a long time. We were chased by a number of dogs who were also ready to get out for a spring run. Other than the dogs, it was a pleasant 50-mile ride.

Route 66 & Cooky's Pie Permanent

Today, John and I rode a 206K (128.5 miles) permanent from Springfield to Golden City via Miller. The ride was to prepare for a flèche to Grain Valley on March 21. Our flèche route is the same as the permanent, heading north from Golden City through Nevada, Appleton City, Urich, Holden and Greenwood before reaching Grain Valley. Learn more about flèches and permanents at Randonneurs USA.

It was a great day to ride with clear skies and a light wind out of the northwest to north. We left center city Springfield at 6:00AM. The route picks up Historic Route 66 (MO 266) about four miles east of Halltown and follows it until the route turns north at M Highway in Lawrence County. We reached Miller, the first checkpoint, about 9:00AM and Cooky's in Golden City about 11:20AM. Cooky's is a stop on the trans-America bicycle route from Yorktown, VA, to Astoria, OR. They have a notebook where riders record comments about their rides. The waitress thought we were coming through a little early in the year, but she seemed impressed that we had ridden from Springfield after we explained the ride. Cooky's also has great home-style cooking and pie. We were served quickly because we beat the lunch crowd and left Cooky's by noon. The wind gave us a welcome push back. Unfortunately, John had two flats before we reached Miller again. The most exciting event of the ride was when I was chased by a gigantic Great Dane just west of Miller. I managed to wear him down so that when John came along behind, the dog just gave him a woof and headed home. We made it back to the finish at 5:37PM. Not a bad time for this early in the season.

A Cold Ride in the Ozarks

We started out at noon today with the temperature at 34 degrees, but predicted to hit about 44 degrees. I dressed a little light based on the forecast, and I was cold the entire ride because it never made it above 36.

I got to the start a few minutes late and only John and Tom were there. I joked that I assumed the others had already left, and Tom joked back that they were on their way. John had a flat just a couple of mile from the start. He picked up two rock points that were driven into the tire even though he has Kevlar belts. This can be a problem when it is wet be cause the rock points stick to the wet tires.

Our route took us southeast to Rogersville via Turners Station, and then back west to Riverside Inn, in Ozark, before turning north back to Springfield. The damage to trees in the southeast from the recent ice storm appeared more severe than in north Springfield. There was also more snow still on the ground and the bridge where we crossed the Finley River east of Ozark. The bridge at the Riverside Inn was clear as it gets more traffic. We parted ways with John at the Finley because he had ridden up to Springfield from his home in Sparta. It was a cold, but successful, 56 miles.

Finley River Bridge

Father and Daughter

A film about life with a bicycle theme.

If speeding cars are a problem in the neighborhood...

Springfield is considering lowering neighborhood speed limits to 25 mph. Contact City Council through the City Clerk's office if you want to support the measure. This guy found a great solution for those habitual speeders.