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.