Life is not a Practice

First trip of the year with the Tuesday bikers. Easy ride round the Grüntensee and then a bit of fun through the Wertach valley.



If you take a look at the track at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=rjjcggjplqmerukp you can see that my GPS receiver had a bit of a problem at the start. this is because the last time it was switched on it was in the USA.

Max also wrote about the trip. His notes are at http://sites.google.com/site/hogarthadventures/biking/tuesday

last night was the 100 year celebration of the Nesselwang sport club. It was a lot of work but now it is finished.

The fun part was our step aerobic routine http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phdNJFF03hs



To celebrate I was out geocaching today with Alison and max. We did a cache called Fox on the Run ( http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=b5518072-826f-47b5-93c1-aaa914df8b9d ). I was using a new Garmin Dakota 20 GPS receiver lent to me by Jon. It is easy to use and has a map installed. Great fun.

The track is at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=wepmacrfiytygazb With this new receiver you can just pull the tracks across from the receiver already in gpx format. A big move up from my beloved Geko.

Full size picture at http://picasaweb.google.com/neill.hogarth/Geoaching2010#

Another sunny day in Indiana. Our plane die not leave for Europe until late afternoon so Norbert and I decided to go out and have some fun.



We headed up to Town Run Park Mountain Biking Trail ( http://www.indianaoutfitters.com/mtn_biking/town_run.htm ) and after a few tries found the car park. The southern section was closed due to roadworks but the northern section was fun enough. After a slow trip round to check out the trail, we went round again at speed taking photos on the way. Norbert then did another "quick" run and covered the whole route in 22 minutes.

This was my first time on a specially created mountain bike trail and I really enjoyed it. Especially good was knowing that no one was coming the other way.

All the pictures are at http://picasaweb.google.com/neill.hogarth/2010Indiana#

After two days of non cycling exercise, I was out mountain biking again today :-)

Three of us drove to Paintball Valley ( http://www.valleybranchretreat.com/ ) in Brown County. Here there are about 30-40kms of mountain bike trails.

Our American colleagues had lent us their mountain bikes - thanks Mike, thanks Pat.



The three of us set off to the far side of the area - up ridges and down valleys. Good fun.

Right across the other side of the park Wolfgang broke his derailer holder and could no longer ride. I cycled back and got the car which I then drove round to pick him up (after he had waded a river). He took the car to try and get the bike repaired in Columbus while Norbert and I crossed the river and then cycled back through the woods.

We soon got totally lost but we had the owners dog along that knew the way so we followed the dog and eventually got back to camp.
Good fun.

All pictures at http://picasaweb.google.com/neill.hogarth/2010Indiana#

After two days of non cycling exercise, I was out mountain biking again today :-)

Three of us drove to Paintball Valley in Brown County. Here there are about 30-40kms of mountain bike trails.

The three of us set off to the far side of the area - up ridges and down valleys. Good fun.

Right across the other side Wolfgang broke his derailer holder and could no longer ride. I cycled back and got the car which I then drove round to pick him up (after he had waded a river). He took the car to get the bike repaired while Norbert and I crossed the river and then cycled back through the woods.

We soon got totally lost but we had a dog along that knew the way so we followed the dog and eventually got back to camp.
Good fun.

All pictures at http://picasaweb.google.com/neill.hogarth/2010BrownCounty#

After the fun on the treadmill yesterday, I thought that I would give jogging a try.
It was freezing outside in the southern suburbs of Indianapolis but after a little I warmed up.
I jogged through the dark with no plan and no idea where I was going and passed people scraping the ice off their windscreens. Maybe I should just give up taking exercise until I get back to my bikes.

I am on business in Indianapolis USA. No bike and on the edge of the city even if I had one.



Rather than do nothing, I went and tried the fitness room. A few years ago they had an exercise bike in there but now there are only tread mills.
I hate running - it is for those who can not afford a bike but faced with the decision treadmill or nothing I decided on the treadmill. Half an hour of running on the spot is probably good for the condition but is no where near as much fun as biking through Allgäu.
And I don't have a GPS track. It would only be a spot on the edge of Indianapolis :-)

Easter Monday, the family was asleep and it was only raining lightly.
A 6 km walk through the lovely Allgäu countryside with sun shine, snow and rain but all alone. Met no one all the way.



Track at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=smjqzmyneegkzhhb

Picture at http://picasaweb.google.com/neill.hogarth/ViewsAndPictures#

The weather forecast appeared to have lied. It was not raining.
So I set out for a quick hour of race bike. But of course it soon started raining :-) Good that I have such good clothing



Track is at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=jhlzirdtszgkgzqo

Full size picture at http://picasaweb.google.com/neill.hogarth/2010CyclingI#

Out with Jon on our racing bikes.

The weather forecast for the rest of Easter is not so good and we had the whole afternoon so we went for a "decent" ride up in to Tannheimertal and back.

Passed plenty of lifts still in operation with people skiing but the temperature was relatively warm at about 13°C



And I am not afraid of racing bikes any more. Well maybe a little bit when I am slipstreaming Jon at 55kmh :-)

The track (53km with 525m of climbing) is here http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=rneyyhojfarygrwj

and some photos at http://picasaweb.google.com/neill.hogarth/2010CyclingI#

Out with Gertrud, Jon & Lucas on our bikes for a geocaching tour round the Grüntensee. Jon and Gertrud were testing the new electric bikes.
Alison and Max came and met us in Haslach.
http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=qqayvtedgiqxuaug
Afterwards back home for hot cross buns at our house.



Track is at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=dssktpyivwzwuxrs

Did all the following geocaches and found all but one.
Grüntensee 1 - http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=cddf1d6d-bba1-4586-86a4-d6c04f44749b
Grüntensee 2 - http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=b22073ce-18b3-4a02-8c83-5b9998dd8751
Grüntensee 3 - http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=1a1ef619-1659-49dd-b3ba-5353311cc9bc
Grüntensee 4 - http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=c959a55b-5abd-4ed3-8dee-6ddcf059e213
Grüntensee 5 - http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=735a528f-bfd9-4f28-bcfe-a7410cdbf678
Grüntensee 6 - http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=de5a8a72-fa75-4fc3-aa64-9b206f37dc47
Grüntensee 7 - http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=2b9a4a0b-8b08-43bd-9bee-6da49ebebfc1
Grüntensee 8 - http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=130158d5-dc56-43b2-b96b-e9ea07705e8c
Grüntensee 9 - http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=8aee6970-cc94-4151-b276-06d607e07570
Grüntensee 10 - http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=3741d12f-ce31-42a1-a8d4-291f9426d290

All the pictures at http://picasaweb.google.com/neill.hogarth/Geoaching2010#

Today was the first "Bike Club" tour but Jon cancelled it because it was cold (and snowed a bit).
Heidi. Max and I went anyway :-)
Jon was correct. It was -0.7°C when we got back but as the saying goes
"there is no bad weather - just bad clothing"



Track is at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=tgqslmzywcxbmajv

Pictures at http://picasaweb.google.com/neill.hogarth/2010CyclingI#

Had an hour to spare on a hectic Saturday so took myself and my racing bike off round the Grüntensee. Some bits of uphill were pretty steep for a racing bike (the way up out of Maria Rain for example).



Track at
http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=rvahnheywacdvths

Full size picture at http://picasaweb.google.com/neill.hogarth/2010CyclingI#5453330643377311970

All day the sun was shining and I was at work. So I finished early and went out on my racing bike. 35 kilometers in one and a half hours made an average speed of 23 km/h. You really cover ground on a racing bike.



I took a wrong turn on the way back and ended up doing 2 kms on a cart track. That is definitely not what racing bikes are for.

The track is at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=dgkgcybnjmtoeupm

I'm still quite surprised at the number of meters climbed. It always feels flat.

Picture is at http://picasaweb.google.com/neill.hogarth/2010CyclingI#5451897697896624930

First time out on the mountain bike this year.

+11°C and raining. Perfect mountain biking weather. Max and I were out for a gentle ride around the Grüntensee. Too much snow to go off road so we stuck to the roads.



Track is at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=luokttpiehfdzfxt

Full size picture at http://picasaweb.google.com/neill.hogarth/2010CyclingI#5451085247268731602

It is Saturday and the sun was trying to shine. The temperature was above zero and Jon and I both had time so...

On the racing bikes past Seeg to Hopfen and then on to Füssen. Back through Austria and Pfronten. The photo was taken at the frozen Hopfensee.



The track is at
http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=tafktkuunyzqneur

The big version of the above photo is at http://picasaweb.google.com/neill.hogarth/2010CyclingI#5450749099691362658
There you can also see where it was taken. My mobile phone is so clever that it uses the GPS built in to remember where I took the photo.

Just as we crossed back in to Germany Jon said "there is a geocache here!" so quickly did that on the way past.
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=51d02b30-9e18-469e-a7fe-7e94b106c8b8

Averaged 25km/h on the whole journey. When you look at the profile you can see why the first half was faster :-) Maximum speed was 54km/h - on those tiny tyres with those useless brakes!