Bahntrassenradeln: Falkenstein - Regensburg

Die Bundesbahn hat vor mehreren Jahren alle Streckenabschnitte stillgelegt, die nicht mehr rentabel waren. Viele dieser stillgelegten Bahntrassen wurden in Radwege umfunktioniert. Einer dieser Radwege führt von Falkenstein nach Regensburg. Es ist einer der schönsten Bahntrassen-Radwege in Bayern. Der Streckenverlauf ist wie folgt: Falkenstein – Gfäll – Schillertswiesen – Hirschenbühl – Roßbach – Hauzendorf – Bernhardswald – Wenzenbach - Gonnersdorf (nördlich von Regensburg). Dieser Radweg wurde 1992 eröffnet und ist ca. 40 km lang (inkl. der 7km Strecke auf dem Donau-Radweg von Gonnersdorf nach Regensburg, der nicht zur Bahntrasse gehört). Wer mehr über das Bahntrassenradeln erfahren möchte, sollte sich die Seite http://www.achim-bartoschek.de/ ansehen. Dort findet man eine hervorragende Zusammenstellung der Bahntrassenradwege in Deutschland mit Bildern und einer Bewertung. Den Falkensteinradweg findet man unter: http://www.achim-bartoschek.de/details/by4_11.htm.

An dieser kleinen Kapelle fährt man nach mehreren Kilometern vorbei. Das Bild habe ich mit dem kostenlosen Bildbearbeitungsprogramm Gimp (http://www.gimp.org/) gestaltet. Diese Gestaltungsweise nennt man Colorkey und ist mit etwas Zeitaufwand verbunden.

Wer eine kleine Rast machen möchte, der kann im Radl-Bahnhof neue Kräfte sammeln.

Der Radweg ist überwiegend geschottert, teilweise aber auch geteert. Mit einem MTB oder einem Tourenrad kann man den Radweg sehr gut befahren. Die geringen Steigungen sind sehr angenehm, da ja die Bahn diesen Weg früher auch meistern musste.

Ein kleiner Brunnen am Waldrand.

Entlang des Radweges haben einige Künstler ihre Skulpturen aufgestellt. Die Fischskelette sind aus Holz gemacht und bewegen sich im Wind.

Auf dem letzten Teilstück des Donau-Radweges, der nicht mehr zur Bahntrasse gehört, findet man unter einer Brücke eine Vielzahl von bemerkenswerten Graffitis.

Die Gottesanbeterin unter der Brücke beendet die MTB-Tour. Es fehlen nur noch wenige Kilometer und man ist in Regensburg am Ziel. Regensburg wurde vor kurzem von der UNESCO zum Weltkulturerbe ernannt und ist wirklich sehenswert!

Endurance

Looking forward to my first endurance race this Saturday. The Levis/Trow 100, part of the WEMS. At least I hope that I'll be participating. Rain is a possibility and being held in a State Park that could shut it down. Also I injured myself at the Wednesday Night Races and will see how I feel tomorrow. Today I feel dizzy and have a headache.

Didn't expect there to be a race until I called the Metro Hotline. I had ridden my bike to the gym earlier and worked the bis and tris and mixed it up ending with the military press and lots of walking. Could feel the fatigue in my arms on the way home. The Hotline message said a double header, two two lap races and I thought two laps would be no problem. When I finished the first race the Beer Man said; "Go again. We're only doing a one more lap."

I landed on my shoulder and head first. A good bounce and I ended up with most of my left side (right side; blow to the head) scraped and banged and gouged. My helmet saved my face and glasses from being mangled. I'll save you a view down my leg. Fatigue, not completely comfortable with the thinner front tire on my wife's wheel and high speed down a rugged course all contributed. I read somewhere that you should ride two weeks on new equipment before racing to adjust to the new feel.

The problem with this course is two of the highest speed sections have ruts in the trail with loose stone caused by water. Extremely rugged areas here and there wear hard on bike and rider. Obviously the rider controls how fast he is going and I'm sure I'll be going slower in those ski hill switchbacks where my wheel slipped out from under me approaching the second turn. Another problem is one of the difficult climbs with a sometimes treacherous edge, is littered with loose stone and rock because of the resent rains. Not as bad if cleaned off.

It only gets deeper. I really don't want to look. After the crash I was cautious on getting up and then thought; "How is the bike?" Which was the second question my wife asked after I got home. If I hadn't raced the second race I would only be one for three. I wouldn't have stayed for the drawing at which I won an all purpose tool with patch kit. That with the new scar makes me three for three though I walked away with nothing the first race. Thanks Beer Man!

Some people like to tell me of gruesome crashes thinking I'll just give up. Or think because I don't have Elite level skills I shouldn't be racing citizen. Or talk about 'secret strategies' whatever that means. The bike is fine. Here is a story with picture and if these photos disturbed you... don't look.

Lead Wheel

That would be the metal. Here I have a photo I took of the lead Elite racers out of the grassy start chute and around the first turn before shooting into the forest. Note how I was sure to include all the sponsors. I couldn't get my front tire hub rebuilt in time for some reason, so I used the front tire from my wife's bike. She thought that romantic... that her spirit would be with me and I would do very well. Though only one of several variables the difference in the wheel was very noticeable. I think I like a slightly thinner front tire too. I weighed in only slightly lighter than last race. Am perplexed by my weight issues.

Though promises of rain loomed the WORS Reforestation Ramble was very successful. Alterations were made to the marathon format per the counties request I understood. Some muddy spots but very enjoyable. A brief shower during the Elite/Comp/Sport race was barely noticed. It was my best race and best finish to date this year. I finished the Rhinelander Marathon race last year with a similar field and the exact same result. Though not a full 20 miles (12.8 miles) the course worked to my advantage. The mass start left me far behind the leaders as we bunched up in back. I worked the terrain hard and kept pushing the entire way through. Small climbs, up shifting over the tops and flying down the other side. The last third of the race chasing and overtaking two other racers in my field. The one arbitrarily called 'Wally' held me up in some single track again. Not quite fast enough myself to get around him cleanly, I passed him in the double track. He fought hard to get in front of me before the next section of single track, but I wouldn't have it. Left him in my dust, or mud in this case. Though there is plenty of comradery among the racers since I really don't know any of them well I think it would be rude to mention their real names on my blog.

I'll have appointed a new designated nemesis for this year since the original will have a tough time catching up. Though positions in the series standing have jumped around drastically for some, I have stayed in 5th place after each race. I could very well finish 5th, if not 4th, for the season. Since the top three competitors seem a big step beyond most in my field that would be an accomplishment. The one I'll call 'Wally' set himself up pretty with his good finish in the Subaru Cup Omnium, in which I didn't compete.

I recently reconnected with an old friend of mine from Italy, which made me very happy. I was actually invited by another friend of mine to race in Korea this last weekend but couldn't afford the airfare. Looks like a beautiful course. Quite a mega event in itself. In the garden the holly has yet to take off. I was wondering if this tall small daisy like flower was actually a weed. My friend I'm helping has it in his garden, which is more like a nursery, and he was wondering the same thing. He promised me a slew of lilacs for our church garden.

Lots of race pictures to be up soon. I tried to splice my video clips together but you/tube failed to upload a spliced version so I had to upload each clip separately.

The local trails at Hoyt Park along the river have either been washed away or covered in a soft fine deep sand due to the flooding. Wish I had had my camera with me.

Subaru Cup

As I approached Nordic Mountain and saw a multitude of bicyclists on the course I pondered why everyone was going so slowly. Last year was muddy, racing in the rain. This year it was like riding on sponges. With all the recent rain many stayed away. Our total field was eight racers. I had what I consider my worst race ever and the highest points scored for the series so far this year. I'm weakest on rocks and Nordic Mountain has plenty of those. I haven't raced every course in WORS but I believe this course and Rhinelander are the most difficult and technical. It felt good to just finish the race considering. With citizens racing last I had little chance to take pictures.

Discouraged at weighing in heavier than last race I then had the Trek tent check out my front wheel. Pop pop pop as I rode. The bearings in the front hub were shot. They said it would not be dangerous to race. Having to fight that rotational inertia was not my only problem. Within the first mile I thought I would vomit. I was dehydrated and/or didn't eat properly. My time was so bad, after hearing comments by others after the finish, I wondered if the group I was riding with was misdirected by a course marshal. Yes, I did have someone to race with. Went back and forth with one of the only participants heavier than myself in all of WORS. I took a big lead and then he came up at the end to pass me. Three people in my field whom I've always beat this year finished ahead of me also.

Of course the event was well organized as always. The water station was most excellent. On our final lap they took an ATV ahead to set up a second station for those of us bringing up the rear. Here is the promotional bag with the WORS bottle. My wife bought me a shoulder bag for when I have to do errands on my bicycle. I used the Subaru clip to clip the bag strap to one of my belt loops on my shorts so it doesn't swing out in front of me as I ride.

I said to my wife the night before the race, "Where's the spaghetti?"

"Sorry," she said, "but rice has carbs." (protein too)

So when I wake up mid morning to pack up and get to the race my wife had lovingly made spaghetti. Can't turn that down. Not sure if complex carbohydrates were good right before the race, (something was telling me not) and then the quart of chocolate milk on the ride up. I had an energy bar and drink after I got there and had two bottles of sport drink. We haven't had any pancakes or waffles for breakfast in awhile.

Rain Rain

My bike is in the shop. Getting a new bottom bracket and they'll tightening up the hubs for me. Thought it was my headset but a loose hub was giving me trouble on the control. Looking forward to a tight re-energized ride. Now a new pair of shoes would also add to my performance. Ship-po, one of our dogs, has recently developed a fondness for my foot wear. Bontrager is coming out with a new shoe.

Tomorrow is the WORS mega event the 'Subaru Cup.' We''ll see how the bike rides. The Wednesday night races are cancelled indefinitely. Some photos of the devastation the recent and continuous storms have wrought. Sure there will be plenty of trail work as the WORS and WEMS races approach. The flood waters washing through the channel near my home attract the gulls as they swoop down on small fish and large tadpoles. Found this guy still breathing on the path along our flood wall and threw him back in.
To the west the trails are flooded and blocked with fallen trees so I took a ride to the lake. They finished that bridge at the Lake Shore State Park so it is an easy ride along the lake bypassing the Summerfest grounds. Was a good ride outside of trying to get from the 6th Street Bridge to the Third Ward. The new Canal Street corridor is very bike friendly. A confusing mess to get through the First Ward.

Found this blog on gardening that links to an endless stream of garden blogs. Been doing a bit of work on my own piece of God's good earth. Some parts looking fairly nice while most is still unkempt. Go around helping my parents, my Church and others with their yards and properties during the week, and have the retail business and MTB competitions taking up my entire weekend. Still getting some time in to send out some resumes and develop my own design projects. Have to get down and do some more writing too.

The begonia in the planter gets too much direct sun here and the cosmos, phlox and black eyed Susan's are slowly coming to life. The sedum are always fine. The wet weather actually makes it easier to weed. The vegetable garden however has been doing poorly. The trouble with planting the leafy crops early is rabbits. They don't have much else good to eat. The only thing we have coming up are the radishes and some spinach I planted a couple weeks after the first planting.

Here is Tun-tun yesterday watching my wife slice up some liver. He is very concerned about our diet. He still hangs on. His breathing is getting more difficult the last couple days.

Its fun to help people and I'm always happy to give all these free endorsements. That's why everyone speaks so highly of me.

A Proper Diet

Today is 'National Donut Day,' though the prominent posting on the MSN home page, lacking any reference to the more traditional remembrances, has come down. Started in 1917 it is actually related to the care of our troops.Pick N Save is advertising 10 Cliff bars for $10. My wife didn't buy any but she did pick up some donuts. Last week my wife (not shown) was in jubilation over finding this 10 lb bag of pancake mix for what she said was an incredibly low price. Good for waffles too, with whipped cream and maple syrup. A fried egg with ham and a cup of coffee rounded out breakfast.

People always want to take a sympathetic tone and say that if I really try I can lose weight. Like I'm just supposed to stop eating but I don't have the will. No, it's because I feel like crap, just plain ill, and can't get anything done if I can't eat properly. To have a proper approach just based on your diet requires almost professional advice, not to mention time and money spent on the proper foods, if not outright hiring a personal chef. All things I can't afford or take time to coordinate. Not that I eat too much. I have milk with protein powder or a meal replacement bar on occasion for lunch. Some of the bars are really old and hard. The ones where the wrapper blows up like a balloon I tend to throw away. My brother successfully follows diet programs all the time and his results are minimal. Sometimes your fighting your genes.

Also, I have an alternative that I know works and fits into my desired lifestyle. Before being aware of all my health problems and their seriousness I already started exercising regularly and building muscle mass which had positive effects in my weight 'control'. What really started to work in regards to weight 'loss' was intense physical activity, namely in competition. Outside of being physically active nearly the entire day I can actually lose a pound a week, if not more, during race season.

Another alternative may be to exercise three hours a day or longer. Never achieved that winter training goal and seldom get out for rides longer than 18 miles. Need a few long rides to get ready for the Reforestation Ramble, the one marathon XC event this year in the WORS schedule. Some soft short inclines but most of the double track is firmer than the Nine Mile Forest double track was.

I tend to eat healthier and even less when I get my body into the fat burning mode. Supplements help in that regard too. I tend to take them in different combinations and on an irregular basis. Too much of anything isn't good for you. All is for naught if I can't get enough sleep.

The Nine Mile Start and my finish. Great job by my beautiful wife on the finish!

Nine Mile

First time for me at the WORS Big ring Classic in Nine Mile Forest outside of Wausau. Drove up Sunday morning as the sun rose. The event did not disappoint. 2 1/2 lbs lighter than the last race. I was actually hoping to catch a smaller field and up my position in the series standing but this was the largest so far this year. The largest WORS race so far this year.

A nemesis of old rose out of the abyss. Passing me in the middle of the second lap I finished a minute behind him despite soundly defeating him in the first two races. At the simply fantastic post race refreshments I found him grinning. He claimed that he had to stop twice to rehang his chain after he passed me.

"And then you had to carry two downed racers to safety before returning to your bike.... right?" I added.

I was slightly dehydrated, my tire pressure was too low and I had slept less than an hour the night before. It could have been different. He complimented me on how fast I was through the single track. That would be single track I had never seen before the race start. Yeah, I'm not without skills..... Or maybe he said that to make himself look better.....

This years designated nemesis failed to impress this race. Went back and forth with him several times throughout the race. Here is a photo caught by the parents of an outstanding young professional (career wise) participant at the end of the first lap. Myself leading slightly, my wife happened to catch us a few moments later (or earlier?) on our camera.

Though he didn't believe he could catch me, spurred on with a challenge by some one we'll call 'Wally' my nemesis came to catch me at the end. The person we'll call 'Wally' led him forward and then jumped in front of me before a section of single track. Spending that section trying not to ride up on his back tire and not knowing he had carried my designated nemesis with him, I didn't pass until the next opening. The person we'll call 'Wally' couldn't keep up.

On the second to final long stretch, as I approached a 90 degree direction change the designated nemesis flew by me into the turn. If I had been on top of things I would have immediately peddled hard in behind him and mimicked him through the turn. Not taking the turn as fast he took quite a lead. Another 90 degree direction change into the final stretch found me well over a good stone's throw behind. Pushed it hard and started closing the gap quickly. May very well have caught him if a young participant/spectator hadn't yelled, "Pump it up." Don't know which of us he was yelling at but the designated nemesis turned to look and managed to barely not loose his immense advantage.

Here is a story that might inspire some younger competitors.