All About Mick's World

What I Did on My Summer Vacation Every year my employer graciously requires that I use five days of my vacation (almost a quarter of my allotment) at said employer’s convenience. While I would (much) rather choose when I use my vacation, the fourth of July is not so bad a time to not be working. Since my wonderful wife does not have an unlimited supply of time off, I often have much of this time for myself. I then use this time for household chores...and of course, some biking. I’ll regale you with my cycling adventures from this most recent time away from work. (As always, I'll try to keep it brief, but no guarantee.) This might seem a bit tedious, but this is my blog, and you chose to read this, so if you dislike it, you have no one to blame but yourself. Enjoy, if you can. Day 1, June 26 My annual “vacation” began at 1:45pm on Thursday, June 26. Coincidentally, this was to be the day of a very good friend’s celebration of her birthday by riding her age in miles. I got...

Perspectives on Speed : (Speed as in d/t [distance over time] not as in chemical performance enhancement.) My thoughts: June 1, 2014: Riding my bike to our niece's graduation party. Normal to Princeton, approximate 80 miles, 53 directly north, followed by about 25 west, with three nice climbs in for the final ten miles. I ride a route that I would never take with a group of riders: all state highways, with two miles of interstate thrown in for grins. Not conducive to safe group rides. Route 251 north from Kappa all the way to route 71 where I turn to the west for the rest of the ride. I've ridden this route several times, and it can be a bear with a north or northwest wind. This time I hit the wind jackpot (for the first fifty miles, anyway). Southwest wind at about 15mph and rising promised a fun trip north. For the first 53 miles I averaged over 23mph, including the roll out from my home, and all of the stop signs in the towns I rode through. (I come to at least ...

I walk out into the garage, slap the push button on the wall to open the overhead door. After the door is up I hear a mechanical sort of rustling from the north wall where I store my babies (aka my bikes). I look out on the driveway, and it's obvious why the kids are excited. Sunny, little wind, and 75 degrees. "Which one of us will be the lucky one today?" I imagine them wondering as I walk in their direction. Walter, the TT rig, knows that it's Friday, and my ride is likely to be a shorter, hard one, just exactly what he does best. Maude, the road beauty, says that it's a perfect day for a leisurely ride up to the lake, grab a beer, and then head back before dinner. The Dude, my fixie, is confident that it's his turn, he hasn't been out much lately, and it's perfect weather for him. I walk up to the threesome, pause a second, shake my head sadly, and continue on to check the oil in the mower. Sorry, gang, but this is a three day weekend, and ea...

The Capitol City Century or How Not to Get “Lucky” by Mick Hannah April, 2000 * This describes my experience from a near-century in September, 1999, with updates added throughout, and at the end. Enjoy! After reading all the entertaining articles in the past few months of this newsletter ( McLean County Wheelers ), I thought I’d try my hand at relating my experiences at one of my annual favorite rides, The Capitol City Century in Springfield. This event was the site of my very first century back in 1991 and I haven’t missed one since. The ride is put on by the Springfield Bicycle Club and is always nicely run with ample food stops and plenty of SAG support. Perhaps my favorite part of the ride is the post-ride party, with free brats and beer. Those of you reading this who know me well know that I would find the latter part particularly enjoyable. Few things in life are more satisfying (to me anyway) than finishing a good ride, taking a refreshing shower, and having a brat and a co...

I Am Not…….. I am not an athlete, so I was told. By someone with WTC, the Ironman Company, so she ought to know, right? No, make that Corporation, not Company, I think of “companies” as friendlier entities than “corporations”. If you're one of the few who haven't yet been bored to tears by my telling and retelling of this tale, grab a drink of your choice (as will I) and I'll fill you in. Go ahead, I'll wait... Ready? Okay...here goes: PART ONE It was a sunny early Friday afternoon in Madison, WI, September, 2011. As has become a tradition for me, I was accompanying a few of my triathlete friends to the Ironman there. They were there to compete, and I was there to support, cheer, assist in any way needed, and generally have fun. We'd checked into our rooms downtown, and I joined the iron people as they headed to the convention center to check in. By the time we arrived, the line for this check in was already snaking its way from deep in the bowels of the buil...

Pumpkin Pie Ride, 2013 ride report: I find myself sitting at a bar, in my underwear, electric blues playing on the stage. I try to not draw attention to the fact that the beer in front of me is Bud Light, while the guitar is belting out a sweet solo, loud, louder and louder still. So loud I'm starting to  hunch over and cover my ears, and suddenly...I'm awake. Interesting dream. Love the GLT blues on the weekend, but that was a rude awakening. Time for a quick weather check, the forecast for the Pumpkin Pie Ride had been iffy. It looks acceptable, so I hit the shower to wake up, and shave the legs. I pull on my BCF kit, and head into the kitchen for a bowl of cereal and some coffee. Turning on my phone I see that neither of my riding companions, Jenny Keen and Thursday Gervais, remembered my address. I send that info out quickly and open the garage and turn on the lights so they can find me. Three people, three bikes, rack room for two. My wheels need to come off and Maude...