Picking up the pace and the trash

To help keep the Rock Island Greenway green, the Illinois Valley Wheelm’n host regular trash cleanups along the bike club’s adopted stretch of the trail.  Last summer, I saw one of the pickups promoted on Facebook and chose to attend despite not knowing anyone involved or anything about the trail.

Lending a hand to clean up litter on that June day was one of the best bike-related decisions I’ve made.  Not only did I discover paved perfection at the Pioneer Parkway trailhead, but I met people passionate about cycling in the Peoria area.

Since then, I’ve traversed the trail countless times.  After the pickup introduced me to this section of the bike path, I was able to spend the whole summer exploring new parts of Peoria.  It was fitting that in my last few weeks at Bradley, I went back to fill some more garbage bags in the same spot in April.

Collecting rusty beer cans and old Gatorade bottles allows me to give back to the trail that’s given me so much.  When I move out of Peoria after graduation, I’ll miss the Rock Island Greenway like a great friend.  But because of the maintenance efforts of groups like the Illinois Valley Wheelm’n, I know the trail will be as beautiful as it is today whenever I visit in the future.

The first 500 miles

Three weeks have gone by since I picked up my new bike, and we’ve racked up more than 500 miles in less than a month.  Only one day has passed that I didn’t put my feet on the pedals.  While riding last weekend, I realized that my dedication to the road had translated into an average of 25 miles per day.  Now, I really don’t do such a distance each day, but my longer rides make up for the trips with minute mileage.  No matter the distance, every mile is a memory, as Dierks Bentley sings…

Bentley may favor a motorcycle, but the cyclist in me relates to his bike-laden lyrics.  When I look at maps of my rides, I can recite a short story or produce an image of moments recorded by my tracking app.

What was biking like on Thursday?  I rode to the riverfront and found relief from a chaotic week at Detweiller Marina.

How was my ride on Friday?  I biked around the West Bluff in the morning prior to class, rode to my internship at the radio station and wrapped up the day at Dozer Park to work at a Bradley Baseball game.  The Braves lost, but I felt like a winner as I reached the top of the Main Street hill after a long day of commuting.

Saturday, I spent a couple hours in the country before heading back to the baseball field for the second game of the series.  As I pedaled on the outskirts of Princeville, I saw glimpses of summer as several cyclists were out on the roads with me enjoying the 80-degree day.  On the swerving, open roads, I discovered desperately needed solace:

Rain tried to ruin my chances of riding on Sunday, but I wasn’t going to let a little shower diminish my pedal power.  I whirled around the Hilltop, plowing through puddles.  The clouds couldn’t cover up the heavenly view I found in West Peoria at St. Mary’s Cemetery:

On my way back toward Bradley, I cut through the Cottage District, where I stumbled upon a park on the corner of Orange St. and Saint James St.  I stopped pedaling to capture the colorful flower petals at Bushell Park:

Every ride really comes with a memory.  These first 553.94 miles on my new bike are just the beginning of our journey.  Plenty of pedaling is yet to come.  In the words of Dierks Bentley again, free and easy down the road I go…

Taking a break to bike through Brimfield

On a picturesque Saturday afternoon, I halted my homework and hopped on my bike.  I reminded myself that all the group projects and 10-page papers would still be on my laptop when I got back from clearing my mind on some country roads.  After drowning in a never-ending workflow during the week, I was convinced that I deserved a break on my bike.

Upon deciding to pause my work to pedal, I quickly devised a route to my day’s destination: the Jubliee Rock Garden.  Between Brimfield and Kickapoo, this sculpting spectacle features rose and crystal quartz in place of conventional flowers.  I read about it online and knew I need to see the artistry in person to fully appreciate it.  Sure enough, the pink and white rocks were in full-bloom.  Since the site is private property, I only viewed it from the roadside.  But the glimpse I got was worth the ride.

I debated on calling it a day and turning home, but downtown Brimfield beckoned my bike and me.  As I passed the sign saying “Population 950,” I knew I had made the right call in extending my ride.  Small-town charm was ahead, and I couldn’t wait to experience it.

Multiple murals greeted me as I went by the old brick buildings that make up the town’s tiny business district.

I slowly circled around a couple times, matching the relaxed vibe that the village exuded.  Kids rode their bikes around the high school, a family enjoyed a sweet treat at a little ice cream shop and a father and daughter fished at a pond in the community park.  I parked there for a while, not wanting to leave.

Rejuvenated by Brimfield, I conquered hill after hill on the way home.  Sometimes you just need a break from the stress of the semester.  And in my case, that break is always better on a bike.

Pledging to pedal for 30 straight days

A social media campaign called “30 Days of Biking” combines two of my favorite things: pedaling and posting pictures of said pedaling online.  Since 2010, participants have pledged to ride their bikes every day during April and share their adventures socially with the hashtag #30daysofbiking.  I was already sold on the idea before I had even read the best part: For every 30 pledges, one bike is donated to a child in need.  As if I needed more motivation to ride…

Thankfully, the campaign is considerate of college students and busy business people who like to bike.  Pledging doesn’t require riding for long.  Got group projects galore?  Bike around the block.  Any distance counts.

The first day, I did 50 miles.  The next, just four.  Sometimes my schedule leaves room for adventuring, but most times, a commute to the office or class is the best I can do.  Either way, I make sure my tires touch the road at some point during the day.

Even a slight spill on Easter Sunday didn’t discourage me from keeping my pedal promise.  I fell on the riverfront when a strong gust of wind pushed me down onto the pavement while I attempted a turn.  That day, Jesus rose, and I fell.  #Catholichumor

The scrapes on my knee and arm wouldn’t keep me out of the saddle, though.  In fact, I was more worried that my bike might have suffered a scratch.  But the good Lord was watching over us, as He allowed only a minor nick on the handlebar tape.  Alleluia!  I gave thanks at the historic and scenic Springdale Cemetery on a picturesque spring day.

When I woke up on Monday, my prayers for free time failed to be answered.  So a seven-mile sunset cruise around campus would have to suffice.  Tuesday turned into a commuting day, as I fit in five miles to and from my internship downtown.  But on the third day of the week, I was able to put in 31 despite the drizzling rain.  The dreary weather wasn’t worth photographing, but this work of art was:

You’re looking at Kelly’s bike alongside the Kelly bicycle clock.  MIND BLOWN.  On April 1, I read a PJ Star blog post about this unique artifact in Peoria Heights that recognizes the village’s bike manufacturing history.  When I saw that the clock’s title had my name in it, I thought the writer was playing some cruel April Fools prank on me.  But the writer does not know me or care to fool me.  The Kelly bicycle clock is no joke.  And about three seconds after realizing this reality, I decided my bike would pose with the clock for a picture before I left Peoria upon graduation.  Cross that off the Bradley bucket list.  I’m thinking many more items will be crossed off by the time 30 Days of Biking is over.

A week into 30 days of consecutive cycling, I have maintained my pledge so far.  This campaign is beneficial to many people in many ways, and I’m already noticing its positive impact on me as I learn to achieve a good work-life-bike balance.

An udderly wonderful ride

The Easter bunny would’ve surely beat me in a race as I biked on this blustery day.  I was the undoubted tortoise to his hare with winds pushing me in the opposite direction for the majority of my pedaling.  But today was a good day to be a turtle, as slower speeds allowed me to more fully enjoy the most scenic route I’ve ever experienced in the Peoria area.

As most students traveled home for the holiday weekend, I took a significant trip of my own.  The rare free space on my calendar begged for big miles, and I found them in the “Big Bovine Ride.”  Devised by the Illinois Valley Wheelm’n, this 55-mile loop looked like the perfect opportunity to spend several hours among prairies and rolling hills.  I soon realized that the inhabitants of those hills happened to be the namesake of the ride:

Before today, I had no idea that “bovine” described cows.  Who knew I would get a biology lesson while biking?  That’s enough science for one day for this communications major, though.  Moo-ving on.

I passed farm after farm after farm, forgetting every worry in the fields that surrounded me.  I thought for sure I would start to get sore as I moved beyond the 30-mile mark, but the only dogs that were barking were the ones I saw in yards.  This protective little pup caused me to pause my pedaling until I proved I wouldn’t disturb his property:

The standoff ended peacefully, as he retreated home and let me ride away safely.  I continued battling the strong winds but found relief in their southwestern warmth.  There truly was not a shiver on the Mackinaw River.

Resting along the river between Tremont and Hopedale, I could not have hoped for a better day on my bike.  At this point, I had gone 40 miles and felt terrific.

Soon after my brief break, the wind was finally at my back.  I turned onto Springfield Road and immediately had a spring in my step.  Not only was the wind pushing me back toward Peoria, but a delightful downhill stretch opened its arms to my tiring legs.

I sailed down at nearly 33 mph and before I knew it, I was seeing more cars than cows.  While normally I hope for the opposite sight, I knew that more cars meant more chances at finding a gas station.  And I was in desperate need of fuel.  Thankfully, I found a Casey’s around mile 60 to fill my tank:

Because it took me 10 miles to arrive at the route’s starting point in Morton, I knew I would surpass the originally suggested distance of 55 miles.  But I did not expect to go as far as I did.  I had a 60-mile Sunday last semester, but I bested it by over 10 miles on the “Big Bovine Ride.”

Graduating to a new bike

A 30-year-old Peugeot passed on to me a passion for cycling as strong as its steel frame made in France.  Originally my dad’s in the 80s, the now-vintage road bike became mine when I started training for a triathlon in 2011.  I figured I would finish the race and then put the bike back in the garage.  Four years later, I had fallen so in love that I refused to store it anywhere but my bedroom.  From country roads to Costco trips, my bike and I made countless memories over the thousands of miles we traveled together.  We’ve been inseparable throughout my college career, exploring Peoria far beyond the Bradley bubble.  But as graduation nears, my parents decided it was time for me to graduate to a new bike.  So I took my Peugeot for its last trip in Peoria, pausing on Grand View Drive.  After seeing so much beauty while sitting in this bike’s saddle, I found it fitting that this retirement ride came on the World’s Most Beautiful Drive.

On St. Patrick’s Day, I had the luck of the Irish on my side when my parents told me to start searching for a bike as a graduation gift.  I immediately began bookmarking bikes for sale online, and I finally found my pot of gold on Craigslist less than a week later:

I was conveniently scheduled to spend the following weekend at home to attend orientation for my new job, so I could swing by the seller’s place while I was in the suburbs.  My parents and I pulled up to the seller’s driveway to see a sparkling set of nearly new wheels awaiting my arrival.  One spin around the block was all it took for me to know that we were a perfect match.

The bike may as well have been a plane because I legitimately felt like I was flying on this full-carbon frame.  I assured the seller that the bike her late uncle had only ridden a handful of times was in good hands.  I promised that this bike would receive the love and care the original owner had intended for it.

Since picking up the bike on Friday evening, we’ve gotten to know each other over three rides in two states for a total of about 88 miles.  Our first ride was through the familiar Paul Douglas Forest Preserve in Hoffman Estates on Saturday.  But on Sunday, we trekked into completely new territory together in the Quad Cities:

As my sister visited Augustana College in Rock Island, I checked out the trails along the nearby Mississippi River.  I crossed over the water and into Iowa for an unexpectedly wonderful ride through Davenport.  I cannot overstate the impressiveness the Iowa trail system I sampled.  I passed through park after park on seemingly endless paved paths.  I saw a wealth of wildlife along the riverfront and in wooded areas, and I even spotted some extinct species:

I guess he needed some carbon fiber in his diet.  All joking aside, though, I thoroughly enjoyed my first look at the Quad Cities’ biking scene.  I think I’ll bring my bike every time I visit my sister when she begins school at Augustana next fall.  In the meantime, I’m going to introduce my new friend to Peoria before my final semester at Bradley ends.  Just like its predecessor, it will safely sleep right beside me every night.

Spring Bike 2015 (continued)

After frequenting forest preserves in Cook County, I headed to the country for a few days.  The second stint of my spring break riding series commenced in Somonauk, IL, where my family’s lake house is located.  Though the weather was dreary, my spirit was cheery because I had three days of biking ahead without a single stoplight to impede my pedaling.  I said goodbye to the suburban bustle and hello to the rural tranquility.

• Day 5 – The small town of Sheridan was the perfect place to start my ride on the right track.

The temperatures dipped into the low 40s and I foolishly failed to pack pants, so I stopped here to jump around and regain feeling in my feet.  I took a seat at a park picnic table and watched as locals packed the tiny Calico Cafe across the street, reminiscing about the time I devoured an omelet there with my uncle and mom before a long ride.  The memories warmed me up instantly.

The simplicity of the country lifestyle mesmerizes me.  As I rode by farms and cornfields, I was in love with the view:

No stoplights.  No traffic.  No worries.

• Day 6 – For the second straight day, clouds and wind were my only companions on the country roads.  But just like the tractors plow through poor weather, so did my bike.  Gray skies weren’t going to get me down.

On the way home, I indulged myself at Somonauk’s luxurious library.  Not only is there free Wi-Fi, but there is FREE COFFEE.

After a hot cup of hazelnut, I headed back to the house reenergized and ready to take on the cold.

• Day 7 – After a week with Dr. Dan’s bike, it was time to return my borrowed trusty steed.  Before he came to pick it up, I took it for a spin through Sandwich.  I passed the town’s famous fairgrounds, sportsman’s club and adorable downtown, all of which I’ve seen many times.  But I discovered something new this time around:

I took the small trail that winds around Harvey Creek and basked in the surrounding beauty.  I didn’t see many birds, but apparently, one saw me and took aim:

When riding bikes, always wear a helmet to prevent being pooped on.

• Days 8 & 9 – With just the weekend left of spring break, I returned to Peoria and reunited with my bike for a couple trips on the Rock Island Greenway.  I may have left the lake house, but you can’t keep me and my bike away from water for long.  Detweiller Marina is one of my favorite spots to stop along the Illinois River.

It felt great to be back in my own saddle and to have the sun finally shining.

But when the sun finally did show its face, it also showed me how much dirt was caked on my bike.  Thus, I decided my bike needed to undergo surgery to remove the filth from the frame and the grime from the gears.

The cleanup brought the bike’s colors back to life, and a runner on the trail took notice when I passed him.  He shouted that the bike was a beauty and even guessed its era correctly.  Sure, it’s from the early 80s, but it doesn’t look a day over 29.  The red, orange and yellow stripes still pop like the paint on this mural on Panaderia Ortiz Bakery:

I think I deserve a few pastries from the bakery after my ninth ride in as many days.

Now, 310.56 miles later, spring break is over.  But I’m not applying my brakes any time soon.  It’s full-speed ahead to graduation.  Can I ride my bike across the stage?

Spring Bike 2015

It pained me to leave my bike behind in Peoria when I got on the bus toward the suburbs for spring break.  But thankfully I have a good doctor who knew exactly how to make me feel better.  Dr. Dan, dentist by day and my biking buddy by night, offered to let me borrow one of his bikes for the week.  Bike sharing is caring!  Thus, Spring Bike 2015 commenced.

• Day 1 – Chicago’s Northwest suburbs aren’t Panama City Beach, but I found some sand in South Barrington.

Dr. Dan and I took a spin through Paul Douglas Forest Preserve in Hoffman Estates to kick off my spring break riding series.  We went beyond the bike paths to ride on rural roads and through really nice neighborhoods when we stumbled upon a subdivision called “The Coves.”  There was no swimming or sun tanning, but we had found a little piece of paradise.

• Day 2 – Forest preserves are some of my favorite places to explore in the suburbs.  There are so many in Cook County, but I frequent a few in particular.  Busse Woods, or Ned Brown Preserve, is closest to my house and has one of largest paved loops around.  I adore winding through the wooded areas and cruising by the lakeshore, but I was especially excited to use the recently opened bridge, which eliminated the need to cross a busy intersection.

The bridge allowed me to enjoy an uninterrupted eight miles inside the beautiful Busee Woods.  I loved seeing so many people on the bike paths on this picturesque Sunday afternoon.

• Day 3 – My next stop on the local forest preserve list was Deer Grove in Palatine.  I picked up the Palatine Trail just a few miles from home and sailed all the way to this cyclist hotspot.  Featuring an array of wildlife and wetlands, the area is a scenic backdrop while biking its rolling hills.

I didn’t see any deer this time, but I truly felt immersed in nature here.  It was the perfect place to find peace before heading to my first job interview later that afternoon.

• Day 4 – On St. Patrick’s Day, I hit the natural beauty jackpot…I unexpectedly discovered the sparkling Penny Road Pond.  As someone who picks up every penny I see on the ground, I felt like this was a extra special spot.

While green beer was probably flowing at the nearby Penny Road Pub, I was in awe of the small patches of green signifying spring that surrounded Penny Road Pond.

Upon my return, I got lucky again when I found a covered bridge.  I’ve always wanted to bike through one, and St. Patrick’s Day 2015 was the day it would finally happen.

It was fitting that I crossed a covered bridge on my final suburban ride of spring break because I “covered” many miles during my brief stay at home.
Thanks for a fantastic four days of riding, suburbs.  Spring Bike 2015 will be continued in the cornfields around Lake Holiday.  We’re packed and ready to hit the road yet again.

Feeling freedom in my free jacket

After class on Friday, I walked back to my apartment in the shining sun’s mild warmth, debating on if I should hit the roads or the books.  But when I received a package from Nashbar, my decision was made.  The cycling jacket I won last week had arrived, and my desire to complete classwork had disappeared.

As soon as I zipped up the jacket, I was enveloped in joy.  No wind, water or worries would get to me while wearing this.  I finally felt free to ride without the fear of a total body transformation into an ice cube.

Speaking of free, I SAW A BALD EAGLE.  I’ve never seen one in the wild, but I spotted one soaring near Wildlife Prairie Park.  As the majestic bird flew by me, I couldn’t help but feel like I was flying too.  The backdrop of a bald eagle in beautiful blue skies above snow-covered cornfields and open country roads encapsulated the feeling of full freedom I experience while biking.  The picture is unfortunately blurry, but the memory is quite clear.

My ride featured even more feathered friends, showing welcome signs of spring.  Dozens of hawks hovered overhead, a cardinal couple cutely flew side by side and a bright-blue bird buzzed by.  The birds are back with the warmer temps, but snow still lingers, which kept me from exploring my destination of the day, Jubilee College State Park.

I once camped at the park freshman year, but I haven’t gone back since then, thinking it was out of my reach.  Now I know I can get there with ease, and I can’t wait to return when the access roads are rid of ice.

I stopped at a gas station in Edwards to fuel up on coffee and discovered there was a Subway connected to the building.  I brought my bike inside since there was no place to lock it up, and the employees immediately began asking about my ride.  I think I told them three times that it took me 20 miles to arrive at their restaurant before they began to believe me.

For the next hour, I scoured The Scout, sipped Subway coffee and chowed down on the always wonderfully energy-filled chocolate waffle from Honey Stinger.

I headed home in my new jacket, comfortably warm despite the biting wind.  As I neared the end of the ride, though, my feet started to lose feeling.  Thankfully, the hotness of Keith Urban sat at the top of a hill to warm me up.

Thanks to the talented country musician of Nashville and the kind people of Nashbar, my wintertime ride felt more springlike.

Nashbar sets a high bar

The only thing I love more than pedaling is penny pinching.  So when I realized the retail prices of good bike gear are often steeper than Peoria’s hills, I retreated indoors to only dream of the thermal jerseys and water-resistant jackets that would be a perfect fit for me, but not my budget.  Drastic times and Midwest temperatures call for drastic measures, though.  Thus, I hit the Internet in search of the best cold-weather bike gear for the least amount of pennies, and I discovered Nashbar.

With discounts and deals for days, Nashbar soon became my shopping buddy.  When I decided I needed cycling tights that would fill my lower body with warmth and not empty my wallet, Nashbar provided me with a plethora of pants to pick from.  A closeout pair of Pearl Izumi’s caught my eye, and there was no looking back once I peered at the price: originally $145 marked down to $43.  Within a week, I was comfortably riding in my new tights in near-zero windchill.

Entirely pleased with my first purchase, I returned to Nashbar when my upper body became jealous of the lower half’s consistent heat.  I snatched another golden deal on a windproof, water-resistant jacket.  Sadly, when it arrived, the tag read “men’s” even though it was listed as “unisex” online.  I composed my sadness in a tweet, and Nashbar came to the rescue with a rapid response:

I followed up with an email and received a fast and personal reply from Nashbar’s social media manager.  He apologized for the inconvenience and admitted the item was listed incorrectly.  He then gave me detailed options for comparable women’s jackets if I decided to exchange the one I ordered.  I returned the jacket because I could not decide on a different size, but Nashbar’s exceptional customer service and strong social media presence ensured that I would return to the site in the future.

A couple weeks later, I was scrolling through Facebook when a Nashbar post proved to be a thumb-stopper.  Who doesn’t love a bike gear giveaway?

I envy whoever won.  OH WAIT.  I AM THE WINNER!  Out of over 900 comments, mine came out on top.  After reluctantly having to return a thermal jacket not long ago, I won a thermal jersey.  Thanks to Nashbar, I will be warmly riding all winter long.  And when summer finally comes (in like mid-July), Nashbar will be the first place I visit for clothing to keep me cool.