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"The Buzz"


2019 Outdoor Season: Ride #43

The Route: The Rectangle

The Miles: 26.0

The Time: 1:48

The Ave. Speed:14.3 mph

The Weather:

Sunny

76

Wind, 5-10 mph

Season Total Miles: 936

Lots to write about for this ride, starting with this picture and the title of the post, "The Buzz".

I have a buzzing noise coming from the area of the chain guide you see in this photo.

I'm pretty sure the noise is coming from there because the chain is not centered in that thing while riding. When I push my left brake lever/shifter over to the right a bit and hold it there the noise stops. But as soon as I let go it goes back to this off-set position and the noise returns.

Bike shifts fine, it's just an irritating noise that I know shouldn't be happening because there must be a quick fix. I just don't know what it is just yet.

I took a mid-day nap today, thinking that perhaps the forecast would be right and that the fog and clouds would break up and get out of here by afternoon. When I awoke from my nap at 2:30 there was sunshine!

Before I could think twice and talk myself out of it, I hurried to the cycling room to change and get out there before I changed my mind and just took the lazy way out.

On the contrary, I did a version of the old rectangle route, a 26-mile rectangle using Manitowoc Road, which is now open, new roundabout and all. I can back on Schmidt/Midway the old detour way, just the break up the route with some different scenery on the way home.

One thing I did NOT like about the later start was the increased traffic, including school buses in the city portion of the ride, which thankfully isn't that long.

As I approach civilization on the way back I came up on a lady roadie, who took off in front of me from a stop light going a pretty good pace. So I settled in behind her for a short time, not too close as to grab her wheel and creep her out....but to be honest getting a little break from the light wind would have been okay. But after a few blocks she settled into a pace that was just a tad slower than I wanted, so I passed on her left, hoping she would perhaps appreciate a pull for a time.

I have no idea how long she was back there and then she was gone.

Traffic got silly in town. I won't do this route at this time of day again. Plus this reminder....PLEASE be careful riding evenings now as the sun gets low the visibility is ever lower for drivers.

So in the end I was pleasantly surprised at the effort today, although a 14.2 average speed felt more like it was a 16.2, but hey, I went out after my nap....that's a good start!


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