Winter Riding

Having been born in California, I often times blame my warm-weathered beginnings on my inability to ride outside once the temperature goes below 50 degrees. And as much as I hate to admit it, I am definitely a fair-weather rider. Call me crazy, but I'm just not a fan of riding in the cold with frozen toes and lungs and my nose running like a faucet. So usually once November hits, I resort to riding inside. In the past, I would utilize the stationary bikes at my gym however after riding for most of the year on my road bike, I began to notice the vast discrepancy that exists between stationary bikes and real bikes. I just didn't feel like I was getting the same workout. So that's when I decided to look into purchasing a bike trainer for my apartment. I did some research, consulted Craigslist and wound up purchasing a Kurt's Kinetic fluid stationary bike trainer. Even though it sits in my garage for a large majority of the year, it is worth its weight in gold for how much use I get out of it during the winter months.

In order to keep my front tire in place, I purchased a CycleOps stabilizer. I know some people just put a few phone books under their front tire to make it level with the rear, however I like the added stability that comes with a tire stabilizer. The CycleOps one that I purchased is made with 3 different size slots for different sized tires. 

So whenever I get the urge to ride, I normally just set this up in my bedroom. That way I can play music or watch movies and not have anyone bother me or visa versa. One downfall of the Kurt Kinetic trainer is that it can be fairly loud. However, on the plus side, the noise it makes is very much so a "white noise" so it is easy to block out. One other down fall is that you really can't stand while you ride on the trainer because it puts too much strain on your gears and hub so if I ride for over an hour I usually get a bad case of Sore Butt Syndrome. 

Some of the pros of riding on a trainer are that an hour on the trainer feels like 2 on the road. So I feel like I can get a great workout in a short amount of time. It is also really easy to set up and break down... I would say it only takes about 3 minutes to do each. Finally, the weight that is on the right side of the trainer is replaceable so if you decide you need more of a challenge, you can purchase heavier weights to exchange with the weight that comes on the trainer. 

There are TONS of other trainers out there and my one recommendation before purchasing one is to do your research first! This website has some pretty good reviews on the top 5 bike trainers on the market: 

http://stationary-bike-stand.org/

Happy Biking :)

Mountain Biking Comlara Park- Northern (Hillside) Trails

Another part of Comlara's mountain biking trail system includes "Hillside" which is considered by most to be the "downhill" section of the CORBA trails. To get to Hillside, you have 3 main options: 1- park at the main trailhead that starts you at trail #4 and ride the single track from trail 4 to trail 1. Trail 1 ends at Evergreen Lake Road (Route 8) and then you simply cross the road and you are at the trailhead for Hillside. Option 2 is to ride the road from the main trailhead to the Hillside trailhead. And Option 3 is to park on the side of the road next to the Hillside trailhead. I normally go with option 1 because the Hillside trails aren't very long and I like to stretch my ride out by doing the southern trails first. 

Bovine Trailhead

There are 3-4 main parts of Hillside depending on how you interpret the map. The first part you gain access to once you cross Evergreen Lake Road is called Bovine. You can take Bovine either to the left or the right, and each of these directions will lead you downhill. However, if you take the trail to the left, there is a section that is fairly steep and has three different jumps on it. This part is considered part of the "downhill" course. Once you reach the bottom of the Bovine trail, there is a small stretch of double track that will lead you to the back side of Hillside that is more heavily wooded and technical. This part of the trail is called Downhill and it as some very steep and narrow single track. There are also a few stunts along the Downhill trail such as platforms, long ramps, jumps and a teeter totter. Downhill eventually leads to a trail called Prelude. This trail is very narrow and is carved into the side of a hill so it can seem a little sketchy at first. You may want to take it slower than usual on the first try to avoid sliding off the side of the hill.

Back side of Hillside and Prelude trail

Pros of Comlara Hillside Trails:

- fun alternative to the flatter southern trails

- great place to test your downhill skills with jumps and stunts

- very pretty area with lots of trees

- varied level of difficulty among trails

- good for bikers who really love to climb and then descend at the speed of light

- different kinds of stunts compared to the stunt course in the southern trail system

Cons of Comlara Hillside Trails:

- they are not very long so you may have to repeat them a few times for a longer workout

- some parts of the Bovine trail are grassy with deep ruts that are easy to get stuck in

- the Prelude section of the trail can be a little dangerous for new riders with narrow, slanted trails and steep drop offs 

For more information about the whole Comlara Mountain Bike trail system, visit CORBA's website at: http://comlaramtb.com/

Here you can find maps of their trails, as well as information about the CORBA club, group rides, races, events, other clubs in the area and much, much more! 

Mountain Biking Comlara Park- Southern Trails

If you are looking for some decent single track, trails with gnarly stunts and a challenging down-hill course, look no further than Comlara Park. Located in Hudson, IL (about 15 minutes north of Blo-No if you take US-51) this park surrounds Lake Evergreen. Arriving at the mountain biking area may be confusing the first time you go to Comlara because you have to pass by the main park entrance and take a winding, picturesque route about half-way around the lake. The easiest way to get to the main trailhead is to continue west on Route 8 (after you turn off 51) and follow it for about 4 miles. You will eventually come to a large, gravel parking lot with a latrine... you can't miss it!

Big dip on Trail 3

From this main parking lot, you will have direct access to a series of numbered, lettered and named trails. Trails numbered 1 thru 7 are mostly single track. Trails lettered A and B are a little wider and are double track. There is also the Lakeview Trail, Fisherman's Trail and White Oak Trail, all of which are double track as well. I find the lettered and named trails to be fairly easier than the numbered, single track.The main trailhead parking lot is situated so that you begin in the middle of the trail system either at trail 4, Fisherman's Trail or trails A and B. My favorite thing to do at this point is to take Fisherman's Trail east until I reach trail 6. Although this may not be the wisest choice, I then warm up on trail 6 (which is the stunt course) and from there, I hit all of the single track in descending order (6-5-4-B-3-2-1) and then return back to trail 6 by taking the single track in ascending order. I normally avoid the double track because it isn't as challenging and it sometimes doesn't lead back to the single track in the most convenient way. I also avoid Coharie Pass and Trail 7 because I am not a fan of the flow and the stunts on this trail, however many people do enjoy it, so don't knock it until you try it!

View of Lake Evergreen off Fisherman's Trail

Comlara in the Fall

For the most part, the trails at Comlara Park have a nice flow to them. I find that going from trail 1 to trail 6 is a little easier and flows better than riding from trail 6 to trail 1, but it is fun either way! One thing I would recommend is checking out a map of this trail system before you venture onto it because it can be a little confusing at first. Here is a map of the CORBA trail system at Comlara Park:

Or you can visit this website (http://comlaramtb.com/our-trails/) for a printable version of the map.

Pros of Comlara Southern Trails:
- Very easy to get to!
- Perfect for a quick 1-2 hour ride after work or on the weekend
- Very scenic with lots of trees and some lake-view sections
- Varied level of difficulty throughout the trails
- Lots of different stunts to test your skills and "chutzpah" and all stunts have an out if you decide you're not up to it

Cons of Comlara Southern Trails:
- This trail system is only about 4.5 miles long so if you're looking for a longer workout, you may have to ride each trail a few times
- There are some very tight turns and tree passages that make it easy to bash your handlebars
- The trail system can be a little difficult to learn at first
- There are quite a few steep dips and then climbs in the trail that can be frustrating for beginners
- Lots of roots (which is fine if you are a seasoned rider, but can be scary for beginners) and beware of black walnuts in the fall! They are the size of a golf ball and the color of a tennis ball and they have the ability to make your tires slide out from underneath you

My favorite biking apps/ mapping websites

1. STRAVA: Strava is the app I use on my smartphone that helps me track how far I've gone on a ride, how long it has taken me, how many feet I've climbed, my average and top speeds and even how many calories I've burned. Strava is free to download on your smart phone, however there is the option to upgrade to the "Premium" package for a monthly fee. The Premium package gives you a detailed power zone analysis, a heart rate analysis, a "suffer score", and it allows you to set progress and performance goals. Personally, I do not use the Premium version of Strava and I've found that I have everything I need with the basic, free package.
What I like about Strava: The main thing that I really enjoy about Strava is that every time I go for a ride or run, the app creates a map for me afterwards so that I can see exactly where I was and how far I went. I find it nice to have a visual of my route once I have completed a ride. I really like how Strava also keeps track of how far you've ridden that year, and also how far you've ridden since you started using the app. It even keep a running average of miles, times and amount of rides you've completed within a week. There is also the option to upload your route to Facebook and Gmail as well as sending your route via text message to a riding buddy. One final thing that I love about Strava is that it calculates the amount of calories burned based on height, weight, age and gender information that you enter into the app.
What I dislike about Strava: There isn't much that I really dislike about the Strava app other than that it does use up a significant amount of my phone's battery, especially when I am someplace that doesn't have the best reception. Sometimes to save my battery, I will only keep Strava running during the first half of my ride and will shut it off at my turn around point. That way, I can just double the time, distance and calories to get a rough idea of how hard I worked. Also, if you are in a heavily-wooded or remote area, it may be impossible for Strava to connect to your GPS location. It also does use a decent amount of data (not enough for me to be too botherd by it) so if you are a person who does not have unlimited data, you may want to watch how often you use Strava.
For more info visit: www.strava.com

2. MAP MY RIDE: The second form of mapping technology that I use is the website, Map My Ride. There is also a site called Map My Run that basically does the exact same thing. This website is great because it not only tracks your routes and physical fitness, but it also tracks your diet by allowing you to enter in what foods you have eaten and adding up your caloric intake for that day. I normally use this website when I know that I want to try a new ride and need to plan a route prior to hitting the road. Map My Ride is a free website that allows you to sign up either with Facebook or with an e-mail account.
What I like about Map My Ride: I like MMR mostly for its mapping capabilities. The website allows you to see a map either in a plain street view, as a satellite image, and even as a topographic map. So basically you are able to see exactly where you are going to go on a ride, what you'll pass and if there are any road/trail restrictions or parts that you should avoid. Another thing I really like about MMR is that it shows you mile markers along the route you've created so you can see how far it is between different stages of your ride. MMR is also great because you can set diet and exercise goals and track them to see if you're staying on track with your new regimen.
What I dislike about Map My Ride: I really don't have anything bad to say about MMR at this point. Maybe I haven't used it enough yet to see its flaws, but so far so good!
For more info visit: www.mapmyride.com

Bloomington to Lake Evergreen/ Comlara Park

Normally if I'm heading out towards Lake Evergreen and Comlara Park, I bring along my mountain bike so I can hit up the single track. However occasionally I like to enjoy a nice long, relaxing ride out to the lake and back on my road bike. This ride is perfect for a weekend or early morning cruise (personally I'm more of an early-morning person because the wind hasn't picked up by then) but really, you can do it at almost any time of day because you will scarcely see a car on these back country roads. The route that I normally take to Lake Evergreen begins on the Constitution trail and heads north into Hudson by way of numerous rural routes. Here is the route that I enjoy:

- Head north on the Constitution Trail towards Kerrick Road
- Turn right (east) onto Kerrick Road
- Turn left (north) onto N. Linden Street/ County Rd 1500 E
- Turn left (west) onto County Rd 2000 N
- Turn right (north) onto N 1300 East Road
(At this point you will have ridden a little over ten miles and the route will have brought you to the southernmost part of the lake. From here, I normally like to take the following route so I can ride around the lake for a bit):
- Turn left (west) onto E 2300 North Rd
- Turn right (north) onto County Rd 1200 E
- Turn left (west) onto County Rd 300 N (this road will take you west for a bit and then northeast along the lake. I normally stop and turn around once I get to Comlara Park's main entrance on route 8. This is my potty/snack break place and there are lots of picnic tables to sit at and enjoy the lake view.)

Here is a visual map of this route:

This route one-way is 15.78 miles making it just under 32 miles round trip. This is a great route because it takes you through parts of Bloomington and Normal, then past a lot of farm houses, corn fields, wind turbines and other rural scenes and then finally it ends at Lake Evergreen where you can take in views of the water and the surrounding trees and foliage. Here are some pictures from my ride to Lake Evergreen:

Route 8 toward the main park entrance

Over the dam towards the main park entrance

A view of the lake

Rural roads en route to Lake Evergreen

If you're really feeling the need to have an adventure along the way, White Oak Vineyard is located on 2100 North Rd. (take a left about half-way down 1300 East Rd). Stop in and sample their award-winning wines! For more info, visit this website: http://www.whiteoakvineyardsinc.com/index.html

~~CONSTITUTION TRAIL~~

The Constitution Trail is perhaps the most well-know and used trail in the Bloomington-Normal area. It is a multipurpose trail perfect for runner, bikers, hikers, roller bladers and dog walkers alike. The main "T" shaped section of this trail is my personal favorite stretch because I can cruise for a nice 22-mile round trip ride or I can chose to do just a quick 6-miler on leg of the trail. The "T" section I am referring to is depicted in orange in the map below:

If you begin at the apex of the "T" you can chose to bike north on the approximately 4-mile long (8 miles round trip) section that parallels Linden Street, ducks under the I-55 North ramp and eventually spits you out by a farm on Kerrick Road. Or, you can chose to bike the 2-mile long (4 miles round trip) southern section of the "T" that will take you out towards East Empire Street. This part of the trail ends just south of Washington Street and bypasses the historic Davis-Jefferson mansion and neighborhood. Finally the "stem" of the T-shaped trail that heads east is approximately 5 miles long (10 round trip) and parallels GE Road, passes by Tipton Park and eventually ends at S. Towanda Barnes Road. 

Constitution Trail in the fall

Pros and Cons of the Constitution Trail: 

Pros: 

- Perfect for a quick post-dinner or early morning ride

- Once you ride it enough, it is easy to estimate how far you've biked in a certain amount of time

- Lots of water fountains and porto-potties located along the whole trail

- TONS to look at... the trail passes by farms, back yards, parks, college campuses, UpTown Normal and much, much more

- It's very easy to get to different parts of town via the trail (I often bike to Meijer by taking a little side trail by the Chateau conference center)

- People on the trail are normally very friendly and will flash a smile or a wave as you pass them by

Cons: 

- The trail can get fairly congested in the evening; especially after 5pm

- Some parts of the trail can get a little rough with roots sticking through the pavement or potholes that seem to come out of nowhere 

- The main "T" section of the trail is only 22 miles round trip if you do each section out and back- so if you're looking for a longer ride, I would suggest hitting the country roads

- There are a lot of intersections as well as bridges that can be a little pesky 

For more information about the Constitution Trail, check out this website: http://www.constitutiontrail.org/

Constitution Trail in the Spring 

Project time!

As a college student, sometimes it is hard to find storage options for your bicycles... Especially when you are renting an apartment no larger than a shoe box. Chaining my bike to a tree outside was not an option for me so after doing some research, I decided I would try to build a small bike rack for my road bike that would fit in my bedroom. So I rummaged through piles of scrap wood in my parents' garage, busted out the power tools and got to work. And here is the final product:




















This rack was absolutely perfect! Small enough that it didn't take up too much space in my tiny bedroom, yet large enough to store my cycling shoes and even my helmet... And not to mention, strong as an ox. Unfortunately this rack is no longer in use due to my purchase of a mountain bike, which prompted me to build a new storage rack. I knew I was moving into a short-term lease apartment so I didn't want to put any major holes in the walls. So after drafting up some blueprints, a trip to The Home Depot and a re-acquaintance with my power tools, this masterpiece was created: