Around Urbana-Champaign

My home town is really two towns, Urbana and Champaign. Together and including the University of Illinois Student population their are about 150,000 people. So it's not very big.

I've not lived in U-C since 1976 when I graduated from the U of I. While I was a school I cycled many miles all around the area. But today, I decided to bike all the way around the town. So I set out from my house at 2206 Combes St. and rode the half mile to the corner of Windsor Road and Philo Road. I went east from there to High Cross Road and then north about 7 miles to Ford-Harris Road. Now west 8 miles took me to Staley Road. South on Staley to Windsor and east on Windsor to Philo Road.

I got a really nice view of the fields surrounding the area.

Distance: 32 miles
Weather: Clear, 38 degrees F

Christmas Day Ride

My family gave me a about an hour on Christmas day to have a ride. So, I went from my house to Windsor Road and then west on Windsor to First Street. South on First street about 6 miles brought me to Country Road 900 North. Then two miles east over to Race street, north six miles and back home.

Got a beautiful view of the south side of Urbana.

Distance: 14 miles or 22 kms
Weather: Clear, South wind about 20mph.

First Street to the County Line and Back

Today I again went south but this time, Windsor to First, then First South to the County Line Road about 14 miles. Then two miles east to 1350 E. and back north 14 miles. 1350 N. becomes Race Street. Back on Windsor.

Distance 32 miles or 51 kms
Weather, party cloudy and 30 mph south wind.

East to Vermillion County Line

Today I from my house out to Windsor Road East to the one mile past the Vermillion county line. North four miles brought me just north of Interstate 74. Back west to 1 mile East of St. Joseph then south one mile to Illinois 150. West on 150 to Homer Lake Road and then west to High Cross Road. South on High Cross to Windsor and then west back home.

Distance: 36 miles
Weather: Clear, 28 degress F.

New Bike- New Miles

My new bike that I've helped to design and ordered for the trip came yesterday. It's a Rodriguez Rainier, from Seattle Washington. It has two S & & joints that allow the bike frame to be taken down into two parts. Then the whole bike can be taken in a suitcase. It went together like a dream with no problems.

So today I headed out of Urbana and onto the country roads, straight south to Villa Grove. I haven't biked so in Illinois for over 20 years. It was nice to be back. But, it's flat, so the cardo workout has to come from pushing bigger gears.

Mileage: 38 miles
Temperature: average 30 degrees F
Clear skies
North wind (15mph)

No Bike- Off to the pool

Still no bike, so it's off the the Urbana Aquatic center for 1200 meters. It's good to do something different. Still, I got a good workout.

No Biking-Weights and Orbital

In the States with family and have no bike. So it's into the University of Illinois Intramural building for a full weight workout and 30 minutes on the orbital. Hopefully will have the new bike next week.

Riding With Johnny Howe

I usually ride alone, because I squeeze my rides into a busy schedule. But today I went with a friend from church who is an avid rider. Even though he said he's not been riding for several months we still had a good quick paced ride. We average 25kph even though we rode on the hilly "Route de "Vignoble" from Nyon to Fechy and back. (If you want to see the route, go to www.viamichlin.com and type in Nyon Switzerland as the start and Fechy Switzerland as the end and it will give you our route).

I find that when I ride with someone else, I keep my pace up higher and more consistently than when I ride along. We traded draft a bit and at the end I was at the head. Johnny urged on up that last hill as I stood on the pedals, riding out of the seat. We ended having had a good training ride.

Distance 33 kms.
Time just over an hour.
Weather-cold, sunny, clear 10-14 degrees.

Total for the week: 55kms

Terre Sainte Loop

Today, because of the stiff south wind I headed southest from Nyon, through the Changins Agricultural station, up thorugh Asse toward Trelex, then on to Gingin, Cheserex. From there I headed up to the Abbey de Bonmont (there is nice golf course there) and caught a cyclable foot path called "Jura Crete." It turned nearly straight south to La Rippe. From there I headed down to Crassier, hitting 55kph, on then on to Bogis-Bossey, Chavannes de Bogis and passing La Chataigneraie, Founex, Commugny and Coppet.

In Coppet I took the "Route du Lac" back to Nyon.

Total distance: 37kms
Total Climb: 421m to 600m
Weather: overcast, 7 celcius, wind s 20 kph

Nyon-Basssins and Back

Today I did an hour and a half by climbing from Nyon (406 meters) to Bassin (750 meters) traversing the villages of Duilliers, Coinsins, Genolier (passing by the world famous Clnique de Genolier) Le Muids and ending in Bassins. It's a continual climb of just 1000 ft vertical and nearly 15 kilmeters. The direction is north west so I had a headwind on the way up.

The descend was through La Cezille, Genolier, Duiller, but only 11 kms. Wind at my back.

Total distance 26 kms.
Weather: overcast, temperature 8 celcius
Wind: Bise (north) 25kph

Good work out

Rainy Day- In door training

Back on the Airdyne- 11.6 miles or 18.56 kms- 38 minutes

Nyon-Cheserex-Aubonne-Nyon - 47kms

Cold today, below freezing. So I donned nearly all my cold weather biking great including heavy gloves and neoprene over shoes.

The "bises" (local French jargon for strong north wind) was blowing today so after going to downtown Nyon for Saturday morning men's group, then to Cheserex (west from Nyon) to set-up for our church's twentieth anniversary, I headed north to Aubonne and then back to Nyon. Coming down the hill out of Aubonne with the wind at by back, I hit nearly 55kph. I averaged better than 20 kph for the whole ride.

Indoor cycling

Spent 35 minutes on our stationary bike as it got too wet to ride on the Friday afternoon. But I still got in a good bit of exercise as we have a Schwinn Airdyne that is both a stationary bike but also an upper body trainer that simulates cross-country skiing. 35 minutes at nearly 70 rpm is more than enough for me to break a sweat.

Hopefully, back on the bike tomorrow.

10 miles on the Airdyne = about 16 kms

Ballynahinch Stage Two

Got another 20 miles in around Ballynahinch. This time it was alone. I did the 20 miles circuit by doing some dead recogning. It was cold (0 Celsuis).

Tomorrow, maybe Portstewart.

Ballynahinch

On a business to trip to Northern Ireland to see John Duncan, the European Area Director for YFC, he and I did twenty miles in the beautiful NI countryside around Ballynahinch.

I felt really good and got my confidence restored aftering "bonking" (cyclist talk for running out of energy) on Thursday. The vintage Olmo that John had fit me well and I really enjoyed our ride.

Maybe more tomorrow.

Climb to St. Cergue

Thursday at lunch I went up to St. Cergue (1047 meters, Nyon 406= 641 meter climb). It's 16kms from my house and 17 down going through Arzier.

It was a very warm climb. I had to shed my hat, windproof undershirt and light gloves. But at the top, it was quite cold, so back on went all I'd shed.

I thought it would be no problem to climb, but I was wrong. That 34kms has wiped me out for several days. I think I had not drunk enough water before I went and had not eaten enough in the days previous including that morning. I found it quite discouraging. But I'll be back on bike this weekend. We'll see how I do.

Commute the back way

Commuted to Coppet the back way- Nyon, Crans, Celigny, La Chataigneraie, Commugny, Coppet - but via the roads above the lake route through farms and vineyards.

Return home on the Lake Route

24kms.

Vic Jakobsen

It's interesting to see that for many, faith and and fitness go together. Vic Jakobsen, a faithful servant of God cycles an hour every day. So I biked half and hour to meet him (to Tannay), bikee an hour and ten minutes with him and then a half an hour back home. (26 km there are back and another 20 with Vic).

46 km today.

254 km total for the week

Commuting Training

Riding to work, amateur cyclists do it to reclaim time. So I'm no exception. Yesterday I got in 28 kms and today another 20 kms. Part of the ride yesterday was a ride to lunch at Chavannes Center...only 12 minutes up and 10 minutes back...8km round trip.

So the weeks total so far is 208 kms.

First Century

An around Lake Geneve ride yielded 160 km (Genthod, Geneva, Thonon, Evian, Le Bouveret, Montreux, Lausanne, Morges, Rolle, Nyon). To get 160km I had to go past Nyon 3kms.

130 kms equals 83 miles, so here is the first time I've done the average day's distance that we'll do everyday next summer. Finishing the century was icing on the cake.

Good challenge. Felt fine afterward, except I think I need to invest in good, wrap-around riding glasses. My eyes are wind burned in spite of wearing my aviator sunglasses.

80 K Week

The week started with a 47km ride on Sunday from Nyon to Tartegnin to Gimel and back.

Monday I went from Nyon to Geneva - 20km

Friday, picked up a van for a weekend retreat and decided to ride 16 Km

Nyon-Aubonne and Back

So, after my 22 kms of hiking in Zermatt last weekend I discovered that cycling does not condition the legs for hard walking. My quads and calves were so sore on Monday and Tuesday.

I rode the 10k to the office on Tuesday morning on the Cannondale Bad Boy. I would have done ten more on the way home from the office, but I got a slow leak. Must have been a spine from a horsechestnut husk. But that's all fixed.

So, today I did 36 kms roundtrip from Nyon to Aubonne. Good stiff north wind (called the "bises" [beeze]) going out. Wind at your back is always fun (average 36kph on the way back.

Total for the week 46kms. Fewer than I hoped for.

Zermatt Weekend

This weekend I didn't cycle. But I did walk about 22 kms. Still a pretty good workout for the legs and back.

Pays de Gex

A Nice two hour ride in the late afternoon took me from Nyon to Gex (France) and back. The route: Nyon, Duillier, Trelex, Gingins, Cheserex, La Rippe, St. Gix (via a small forgotten road above La Rippe crossing with not douane into France), Gex, Cessy, Sauverny, Chavannes des Bois, Chavannes de Bogis, Bogis-Bossey, Arnex, Eysins, Nyon)

Highest point, Gex 630 meters
Distance, 47 kms.
Time: 2 hrs 2 minutes

October 1st Light Ride

After the hard right on Saturday of 43 kms and 1100 meters vertical relief, I took it easy today and did little 20 km loop in my backyard: Signy, Trelex, Genolier, Coinsins, Duililer. It's goes from 421 meters at our place to the highest spot of 547 meters Genolier, a leisurely 120 meter climb. It's just enough to stretch and loosen the muscles.

Climb to La Barillette

An ascent to the top of La Barillette, 1523 meters in elevation, It was eleven hundred meters of climb over 20 kms. 853 meters was in the last 10 kilometers. I believe that's a 8.53% slope, very steep for cycling. Total ride on Saturday: 43 kms.

Sunday Dash

Today did a short 25 Kms trip from Nyon to Coppet along the lake route and back through the hills between Coppet, Founex, La Chataigneriaz, Celigny, Crans, Nyon. Total of 45 kms for the week.

Jura Step

A nice 87 kms loop (route: Nyon, Aubonne, Cossonay, L'Isle, Bierre, Gimel, Longirod, Le Vaud, Bassins, Le Muid, Genoliers, Duilliers, Nyon) along the Route de Vignoble, up onto the Jura Step. For the most part rolling with fast descents into the river valleys and slow climbs out of each. Total kms for the week 122.

Route de Vignoble:Nyon- Aubonne and back

Rode with Frederick Sunesson to the Movepick Cave first and then on to Aubonne along the Route the Vignoble. Route: Nyon, Vich Circle, Luin, Vinzel, Bursinel, Tartagnin, Mont-sur-Rolle, Fechy, Aubonne, and return. Nyon-Aubonne, 20 kms, Aubonne, Nyon,19 kms. Total for the week. 59 kms

Col de Marchairuz

Today, went to within 4 Kms of Col de Marchairuz. Turned around at 1250 meter. Total trip 52 kms. Total weeks riding 105kms

New Triple

After 13 years, my venerable Kestrel 200SCI got a new drive train. I found a Campagnolo Record Triple Crankset for half price on eBay. Got a new Centaur Long cage rear derailleur on eBay as well. New front derailleur, new chain, and new rear cog. From 53-39 to 53-42-30/13-26.

New life for a trusty bike.

St. Cergue Direct

For the first time in two years, I climbed up from Nyon to St. Cergue (1060 meters). Route was Nyon, direct to St. Cergue passing Signy. Descent via Arzier and Genolier. Ascent distance, 13 kms, descent, 18 kms.

Nyon-La Rippe,

Back on the bike after too long. Route: Nyon, Eysins, Arnex, Borex, Crassier, La Rippe, Bonmont, Gingins, Trelex, Nyon. About 25 kms.

Paul's Trip Log

Please come back to this page and see more about my training and preparations for the trip. Then from June 17 to August 15, come buy to see regular trip logs and pictures (I hope).

See you soon!

Paul