Elmhurst Bicycle Club Newsletter

I would like officially welcome Chuck Gentile (on left) to the EBC Mountain Bike Leadership Team and talk about the outstanding result we had on a recent ride, First a few things about Chuck. He has been riding out at Palos for many years; Pussanee and I ran into him frequently over those years and we finally convinced him to join EBC in Feb. 2009. He knows Palos like the back of his hand and I am confident that he will be a great MTB ride leader and he has my complete support. He is a former Professional Ultra Marathoner who has completed a 112 mile mountain trail run in 24 hours and a full marathon in 2:30.

To show you that he fits our “Sanity not required” motto, Chuck once ran 20 miles every single day for 366 days straight. I get tired just writing about it. Like Pussanee and I, Chuck only lives about a mile from Palos and has developed a deep knowledge of the Forest that can only come from riding by your self for years and getting lost countless times. Palos is over 14,000 acres, has over 100 lakes and 44 named groves and parking areas. It is not well marked, nor easy to learn. Pussanee has followed me around Palos for years and still gets lost. Chuck knowing Palos as well as I do gives us great flexibility to assist and teach riders as needed. Below is an example.

After our 1 degree ride on Saturday, January 2nd, Chuck joined Pussanee and me at Staggshead Pub where we recounted the ride and agreed that it was a great advantage to have 2 ride leaders with complete knowledge of the Palos Trail System along on this ride. We had a new winter single-track rider along who was having a bit of trouble, without Chuck being there....I would have had to let this rider go back.

However, with Chuck there and me having complete confidence in his ability to take the rest of the group and not get them lost in cold weather, this allowed Pussanee and me to spend some time giving instruction and this allowed the new rider to have a good experience and allowed me to give some instruction... which is what I most like to do.

Later Chuck, Pussanee and I were thawing out in our hot tub and we all agreed that on Winter mountain bike rides it would be best if Chuck and I lead them jointly, so if someone is slower or needs some help.... one of us could break off and help that rider and the other could take the group without getting them lost.

It's not such a big problem to get lost at Palos in Summer, but it could be a disaster in Winter. Chuck is the first person I have met that knows the system as completely as I know it. So going forward Chuck and I will lead Winter Mountain Bike rides jointly to insure the best rider experience and maximum safety.

Thanks.

Winter Activities Abound

Winter and weather have not kept us indoors as many of our club members have continued to ride (road and mountain bike), hike, and cross country ski in the months of December and January. February promises to offer many more of these fun outings. While our biking activities frequently grace these pages, let’s take a closer look at the other activities.

Ted Sward has been the hiking leader in the number of hikes posted in the Ride Schedule, but hikes have also been offered by Carole Danillo (Brookfield Zoo), Judy Mikesell (Full Moon, also Snowshoeing at Lyman Woods), and Mike Cosentino (Pratt Wayne Woods and Naperville Riverwalk). Ted has helped us explore many of our forest preserves, including Bemis Woods, Teason’s Woods, Red Gate Woods, Bull Frog Lake, and Fullersburg Forest Preserve (near Graue Mill).

Ted’s hikes typically cover several miles and span 2.5 to 3 hours. Two hikes that I attended included a brief stop somewhere in the woods at an F.P. shelter to take a break, eat a snack, wash it down, and then get back on the trail. While special equipment is not really required, three out of four hikers had 1 or 2 walking sticks in hand; and many hikers had “gators” (a wrap that keeps snow from getting into the top of your boots or up your pants leg). Boots took all forms but even the plainest pair was all that was necessary. Just like with biking, even with the temperature in the low teens, as body heat was generated, hikers started to remove clothing layers. The scenery was beautiful on the 2 hikes I took both because of the rustic nature of these preserves, but also because the fine snowfalls at the end of the year. While it was fun just to hike, at least one adventuresome member took an extra trek up a steep incline and then deliberately slid down the snowy embankment on her butt. I’m guessing that the average age of the hikers was over 50 (60?), but everyone seemed like a kid again in the invigorating setting.

Even before the planned UP Cross Country trip, there have already been a number of cross country skiing outings. In addition to the SISU Ski Fest described by George Hermach below in this issue, George has led outings closer to home at Herrick Lake. Nancy Rice has also posted skiing events. You can also tell that there are skiers out there from the questions about snow conditions that pass through the club emails. A recent Chicago Tribune article noted the likely approach of increasing temperatures as we enter the 2nd half of winter. But it is also likely that there will be several more skiing opportunities in the local area. Some of you can’t wait.

SISU Ski Fest

January 9, 2010, marked the date of the inaugural SISU Ski Fest in Ironwood, Michigan. The Ski Fest offered 21 and 42 Km cross-country ski races for both classic and freestyle skiers and a 14 Km non-competitive “Taste N Tour” with food stops along the way. All events started on the ABR trails and finished on the main street in downtown Ironwood. So what is “SISU”? It is Finnish and stands for “Special strength and stubborn determination to continue and overcome in the moment of adversity; a combination of stamina, courage, and obstinacy held in reserve for hard times.” More details are posted on the Fest website www.sisuskifest.com

I entered the 21 Km Heikki Lunta Classic ski race. I’m not really a ski racer and the last time I had skied in a race was 30 years ago when I skied (and finished) the Birkebeiner at Telemark. I got to watch the elite racers start the 42 Km Marathon, which was quite exciting. The trail for the race was interesting, beautiful, and challenging in spots since it included part of Peltonen Pass Out at ABR. The final 11 Km of all events was on a new trail being developed north of ABR at Norrie Park though an old mining area and ending in Ironwood. For me, the best part of the experience was the enthusiasm of the local volunteers who supported the events and staffed the aid stations along the route. While I was in no way competitive with the serious racers, I thoroughly enjoyed participating in the event and crossed the “Finnish” line in less time than my most optimistic estimate, so I am happy with my result. Afterwards, racers were treated to Mojaka (Finnish stew), pasties, and cookies. The participants in the Taste N Tour got to enjoy foods from various restaurants in the Ironwood area at three food stops along the route. Reports from the “Tasters” were that it was an outstanding event.

Sharon was one of the volunteers and handled some of the paperwork, and Ellen Weber was volunteering at the finish line. We’ll be back for next year’s SISU Ski Fest on January 15, 2011. I’ll be doing the 21Km Classic again and Sharon plans to do the Taste. Mark your calendars and come join us for this fun event next season.

Rare Triple Mileage Award

Ray Dal Lago was in a familiar place at a familiar time; yet the seat he sat at was unfamiliar. He was sitting at the foot of the table. Normally when attending a club board meeting in recent years, he sat at the head of the table – as EBC president. But today he was a supplicant as the board considered the mileage dilemma presented by his ride recap for Sunday, December 27th.

Here is Ray’s report:

Two "good friends" and I enjoyed an invigorating, yet peaceful Sunday Morning Fast Ride (renamed the Snow 'N Go and not fast at all) through the snow and slop. "We" started "our" ride on the streets as "we" headed to the Prairie Path via Spring Rd. Once on the Prairie Path I realized it was going to be difficult to keep up with "me" so I rode by "myself" to catch "me". "We" soon caught "me" a few blocks later on the Prairie Path and "we" kept an 8-10 MPH pace with the sound of snow crunching and popping beneath "our" tires. There were quite a few runners on the Path and the snow was packed well with a fairly good surface to ride on. "We" got back on the streets and headed to the southwest side of Elmhurst to get on the Salt Creek Trail to the sledding hill at Eldridge Park. It was slow going through 6-7 inches of fresh snow as "our" tires tried to grip the footprints below the snow. A cross country skier made fresh tracks off to the side and "we" followed the tracks to Eldridge Park. I allowed "myself" to climb up the hill as sledders coasted downhill. It was difficult for "me" to hang back and soon I joined the race up the hill so "we" could ride down the hill. The snow had enough bite to it so there was good traction on the way down. "We" were cautious but the speed was enough to make "me" (and all of "us") happy. More than one sledder wanted to get a bike and join "us" for the exhilarating ride down the hill. Once at the bottom it was time to get back on the streets and head to Villa Park to see how far north "we" could go on the Salt Creek Trail. The St. Charles Rd. underpass was under water ("we" figured that would be the case) so it was on to the streets and Prairie Path for a ride back to Panera Bread with a ride total of 19 happy miles. It may not have looked like a good day to ride but it was. Something about the day called out to this cyclist. That something confirmed a ride can be great with just me, myself and I.

Ray Del Lago.

Now Ray had already achieved the 4,000 mile hurdle even before this particular Sunday ride, but Nancy Schack took her mileage duties seriously and paused to consider the repercussions of Ray’s note. She wrote Ray and said: Ray,

Are you suffering from multiple personalities? Please submit a ride sheet that lists you and all of your alter egos.

Other club members also considered the matter and Keith Laug offered his opinion: I say give he, himself and him the mileage.

Not meaning to diminish Keith’s opinion, Nancy nevertheless decided that the mileage question would have to be addressed by the full board. The outcome of the board deliberations was in doubt until photographic evidence from that day’s ride was produced which permitted the unanimous granting of the rare Triple Mileage award.