Tarwheeling in November - 2010

We closed out October with the Tour De Chapel Hill.

This ride is pretty and we don't leave "town" really.

This is a "Tod" ride. Tod takes us around pretty neighborhoods of Chapel Hill. There are some tight downhill curves and hard short climbs but everyone goes their own pace.

This is a ride of an hour and a half or so.

We start at the Weaver Street Market in Carrboro.

The video above is a repeat from another hub but if some folks are interested in what "Weaver Street" is about, this video helps a lot. Weaver Street is a "co-op" food store complete with hot and cold food bars.

I didn't take many photos on this ride because the ride was short and just a little technical with the neighborhoods and curves.

We wind back up at Weaver Street for brunch.

Keith the Flute Man gives us the gift of music!

The first day I met Keith, he played a private recital for our table.

Of course, dozens of people benefited.

Keith plays the flute, fiddle, and other instruments.

Keith also makes and sells bamboo flutes.

Go ahead! Buy a flute for a few bucks!

Being Wednesday, today we ride as all Wednesdays from Union Grove Church. This November 3rd was my first day of riding with my new SRAAM components that Tod hooked me up with. I was late for the ride and chased. I caught up with the small group at our gas station/convenience store rest-stop. So again, I got only a few pictures.

The ride today from Union Grove Church was the Crawford Dairy Loop:

Turn right from the church parking lot onto Union Grove Church Road.

AT MILE

  3.0       TURN RIGHT on Dairyland

  7.3       TURN LEFT on Dodsons Crossroad

10.9                          straight across NC 54

11.9       TURN LEFT on White Cross Road

13.0                          straight across Old Greensboro Road

16.4       TURN RIGHT on Crawford Dairy

21.9                         road becomes Orange Chapel Clover Garden Road

23.9       bear right to stay on Chapel Clover Garden Road

25.3       TURN LEFT into the EXXON station for a rest stop.

              TURN LEFT onto NC 54 -wide shoulder busy road

26.7       TURN RIGHT on Stanford Road

28.1       TURN RIGHT on Teer Road

30.3       TURN LEFT on Orange Grove Road

32.7       TURN RIGHT on Arthur Minnis

34.0       TURN LEFT on Dodsons Crossroad

34.8       TURN RIGHT on Borland Road

37.5       TURN RIGHT on Arthur Minnis Road

38.0       TURN RIGHT on Borland Road

38.5       Union Grove Church

It was a little chilly and riding will be sketchy until spring because of the cold weather being more consistent now.

It's the Micky-mobile!

Our ride leader is Alan and we're doing the Tour de Hillsbro.

From E. Margaret Lane we ride to Cameron and take a left.

We take Cameron to E. Corbin.

We soon leave Hillsborough on Revere Road that turns into Faucette Mill Road that turns into Frank Perry Road.

We're riding a small loop less than 40 miles. We leave the Orange County Courthouse parking lot on Margaret Lane.

A pretty girl always makes the scenery more scenic!

Here at this beautiful farm, Faucette Mill becomes Frank Perry.

This rider has a helmet video camera. I hope he gets my good side!

Katie and Tod complete a pretty rural scene.

From Faucette Mill and Frank Perry we turn left onto Coleman Loop.

Within a mile or so, we turn left onto Highland Farm Road.

Highland Farm takes us to Efland-Cedar Grove Road where we turn left.

Efland-Cedar Grove Road

This is a pretty strong group here!

In a few miles we're on right Carr Store Road.

We soon cross 86 and Carr Road turns into Sawmill Road.

We soon turn right on Wilkerson Road.

Wilkerson takes us to Walnut Road and we take a right on Walnut.

Out here on Walnut we are joined by a fast rider. He's riding some unique bicycling equipment! It's easy to see the absence of brakes and gears to conclude that his bike is a fixed gear bike.

A fixed gear bike does not freewheel. If the rear wheels revolve from forward or rear motion the "fixed gear" will force the chain and front crank/sprocket to revolve.

The fixed gear bike reflects the track bikes used in velodromes. Brakes are not used while racing in velodromes. That is the nature of track racing.

You will have to slow your pedaling down with your legs to slow your bike to a stop. This is more dangerous for riding outside. Inexperienced riders should definitely use brakes with this type bike. A rider should also not jump debris and potholes. It can be done, but the nature of the beast, with the "fixed gear", does not do jumping well.

But this rider is experienced.

Not only is this a "fixed gear" track bike, but this is a very, very unique hub as it is a fixed gear - but - it has three gears!

You still must slow yourself down with your legs but there are a couple more gears that make downhills safer and uphills a little easier.

At the age of 22, a bright young lawyer named Frank Bowden nailed a most desirable post in Hong Kong. For 15 years or so he made a good fortune selling real-estate, stocks, and shares. But his years there took a heavy toll on his health.

He would be forced to return to England with a very weak body and little energy for his mind. In England, a doctor recommended riding a cycle to restore his strength and save his life.

Within 4 months he was touring 40 miles and more a day in Southwest France. Months later in that summer of 1887 he was impressed with a two-wheeler made on Raleigh Street in Nottingham. He was in love with cycling and wanted to invest with the folks on Raleigh Street.

Bowden was certain the war would drag on much longer than the months that were predicted. He went to London and made a pitch to turn his Raleigh Cycle Works into a munitions plant.

As a result of his patriotism, he was knighted. Twice, Sir Frank Bowden would turn his factories over to his country- for World War I and World War II.

In 1900 Albert Eadie invented a two-speed hub and Bowden was one of the first people in the country to fit one to his bicycle. But two gears were not enough.

It isn't clear who invented the Sturmey-Archer 3-speed hub. It appears that Alfred Pellant and Henry Sturmey conceived the original idea and then it was perfected by James Archer.

The Raleigh Sturmey-Archer hub became one of the most popular and important inventions in cycling. Raleigh three-speed bikes were the most popular three speed bikes in the world. Raleigh has been the most popular bike in the world.

Raleigh's popularity started a downward slide in the 1980s. The right to sell bikes under the name of "Raleigh", in America, was sold to Huffy.

At one time Raleigh sold bike in France under the name of Dunelt. In Holland Raleigh sold bikes under the name of Gazelle. Raleigh also sold bikes under the name of Hercules, Robin Hood, and others. The Raleigh was very popular all over the globe.

Now, to get a "real Raleigh bike" from England one would have to buy a "Triumph".

Well, that's my memory of the bike business and I'm a little out of the loop now.

You can see a cable coming out of the opposite side of the hub.

Our new friend tells me that Raleigh also sold the rights of Sturmey-Archer. The Sturmey-Archer hub was sold to Taiwan. The Taiwanese reinvented the 3-speed hub.

I am very amazed at there being 3 gears- and - this hub is "fixed".

At one time I considered myself one of the best mechanics as I could work on all parts of the bicycle. I even built bicycle frames from raw tubing. One of the most complex parts of cycling has been that old 3-speed hub. I was always glad that I included all three speed hubs manufactured.

Alas, nothing remains the same.

~Micky Dee~

We've taken a right on Walnut Road and soon we took a left on Schley.

We come back in on Schley Road crossing 57 to New Sharon Church Road.

We turn right on Walker Farm Road.

We wait for friends here and take a left on Miller Road.

A couple miles later Miller Road turns right and we turn right with it.

We'll take Miller straight into St. Mary's and we're right back at Camden Street.

Our ride was a little less than 40 miles.

A good time was had by all.

Today, our Wednesday ride is leaving Union Grove so we're Union Groovin' to Eflin. I ride to the ride and before leaving town I see a train contraption and wonder what it is.

I saw a grinder in the mountains that looked similar. The "grinder I saw in the mountains had just set a fire beside the tracks. The "grinder" mills the rails back to a "perfection" that the Railroad likes. But the "grinder" makes sparks that set leaves on fire occasionally.

Our ride route is for Union Grove to Efland

AT MILE

0.0 TURN LEFT out of the Union Grove parking lot.

0.4 TURN RIGHT Aurthur Minnis Road

1.0 TURN LEFT on Borland Road

3.7 TURN RIGHT Dodsons Crossroad

4.2 TURN RIGHT Orange Grove Road

9.3 TURN LEFT Eno Mountain Road

10.3 TURN RIGHT on Dimmicks Mill Road

10.5 TURN LEFT onto Nash Street

11.7 TURN LEFT on Revere Road

11.8 straight- cross highway 70, becomes Faucette Mill Road

13.6 TURN RIGHT on Frank Perry Road

15.0 TURN LEFT on Coleman Loop

15.5 TURN LEFT on Highland Farm Road

16.9 TURN LEFT on Halls Mill Road

18.8 TURN LEFT on Efland-Cedar Grove Road

19.1 TURN LEFT on Brook Hollow Road

22.6 TURN RIGHT on Forrest Street

22.7 TURN LEFT on Mt. Willing Road

22.8                   Rest Stop EXXON station

22.8 TURN RIGHT out of the EXXON station

25.3 TURN LEFT on Holmes Road

25.7 TURN RIGHT on Chestnut Ridge Road

27.0 TURN LEFT on Borland Road

29.1 TURN RIGHT on Borland Road

31.4 TURN LEFT on Dairyland Road

35.7 TURN LEFT on Union Grove Church Road

38.6 Union Grove Church

This ride was broken up a bit as Bruce had a mechanical with his recumbent.

The ride was 38.6. I will often get in another 10 or 20 riding out to the ride.

I really look forward to these Union Groovin' Wednesday rides.

Union Groovin' To Saxapahaw!

AT MILE

 00.0     Turn Right on Union Grove (out of the Union Grove Church parking lot)

 02.9     TURN RIGHT on Dairyland Road

 09.0     TURN RIGHT on Orange Grove Road

 10.7     TURN LEFT on Bradshaw Quarry Road

 15.9     TURN LEFT on Mebane Oaks

 17.2                   straight, cross 54, becomes Saxapahaw-Beth. Ch. Road

 20.8                   Rest stop at Saxapahaw General Store

                           Continue in the same direction

 20.9     TURN RIGHT on Swepsonville-Saxapahaw Road

 22.8     TURN RIGHT on Payne Road

 23.8     Bear LEFT onSalem Church Road

 25.5                   straight, cross 54, becomes Mt. Willen

 27.3     TURN RIGHT on Jim Minor

 27.4     TURN LEFT on Mebane Oaks

 28.8     TURN RIGHT on Oak Grove Road

 31.8     TURN LEFT on Vernon Road

 32.6     TURN LEFT on Bradshaw Quarry Road

 35.0                         straight, cross Orange Grove Road, becomes Arthur Minnis

 36.3     TURN LEFT on Dodsons Crossroad

 37.0     TURN RIGHT on Borland Road

 39.7     TURN RIGHT on Arthur Minnis Road

 40.3     TURN LEFT on Union Grove

 40. 6    Union Grove Church

Sally wins the best dressed award.

She simultaneously wins the best hat award!

Sally looks so good that we have her lead us out.

Dairyland Road

Orange Grove Road

Bradshaw Quarry Road

My Hillsbro, Cy, and I occasionally ride 30 or so.

We're doing tempo riding and keeping the rpms up.

We see a lot of cyclists each time we ride.

Today we're riding to Saxapahaw (almost) and back to Hillsborough.

We're on one of my favorites, Oak Grove Church Road.

We rode out from Hillsborough, made a loop, and rode back the way we rode out.

We join the A ride leaving Wilson Park in Carrboro.

A friend and I ride 14 miles to Carrboro,s Wilson Park.

We'll put in over 60 today but we'll ride back to Hillsborough from Saxapahaw.

Bruce is on the loose with his recumbent.

Saturday November 27, 2010 is the Saxapahaw ride from Wilson Park.

In Carrboro we leave Wilson Park on Williams Street.

We've taken N. Greensboro St. to Old 86, to Dairyland Road.

Dairyland is always sweet.

From Dairyland we take Dodsons Crossroad to Arthur Minnis.

Arthur Minnis turns into Bradshaw Quarry.

We'll take Vernon to Oak Grove Church Road.

Oak Grove takes us to Nicks.

I love the farm in the curve ahead.

My camera, speed, etc. doesn't do the farm and gardens justice.

Still nice.

Nicks took us to Mebane Oaks.

We hang a right and then a left on Mary's Grove Church Road.

We then turn left on Mt. Willen/Salem Church Road.

Salem Church Road becomes Payne Road,

Payne Road takes us to Swepsonville-Saxapahaw Road.

Swepsonville-Saxapahaw Road takes us to Saxapahaw and the General Store.

We need to return to Hillsborough so we part with our riding partners.

We quickly see some riders going our way.

So this ride out to Carrboro and then to Saxapahaw and then back to our origin of Hillsborough, netted us over 60 miles.

I ran out of dialog for this post as it is a very long post.

On most of my hubs you will see riders falling back after being on the front.

You will see, occasionally, riders riding two abreast.

Occasionally you will see a pack of riders.

But, we try to keep things "orderly on the road as the roads are very dangerous.

We ride single file, usually, for safety and speed.

But we do want to be safe and accommodating to automobiles.

After all, automobiles are so big, fast, and dangerous.

Let's everybody - be safe out there!

God bless!

~Micky Dee~

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