Category Archives: cycling the midwest

Vacation in the clouds

Posted on July 6, 2018 by Christopher Cudworth

For the past two weeks in Illinois we’ve had weather conditions that produce dramatic cloud patterns. While I haven’t had time enough to lie down and watch the clouds forming overhead, it has been possible to stick an arm out … Continue reading →

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No good deed goes unpunished

Posted on June 13, 2018 by Christopher Cudworth

  Last evening I was cycling down a country thoroughfare called Bliss Road (you’ll see the irony soon) during the opening miles of a 31-mile ride. The road crosses a bridge over Interstate 88 and one lane is closed to … Continue reading →

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How do you view progress?

Posted on June 6, 2018 by Christopher Cudworth

In the age of smartphones, Garmin devices and software that can measure everything from your heart rate to the watts you’re pumping out, the question still remains: how do you view progress? Is it all digital? Empiric? Or can you … Continue reading →

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Why you can’t stop learning about yourself even if you try

Posted on May 29, 2018 by Christopher Cudworth

In the early goings of a hike in the North Carolina mountains, I looked down to find a mushroom sprouting from a root right in the middle of the path. I bent down to behold the shining surface of its … Continue reading →

Posted in bike accidents, bike crash, bike wobble, Christopher Cudworth, climbing, competition, cycling, cycling the midwest, doing pulls in cycling, healthy aging, healthy senior, injury, racing peak, training, tri-bikes, triathlete, triathlon, triathlons | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

When worlds collide on the roads, it’s best to roll with it

Posted on May 16, 2018 by Christopher Cudworth

Last night while discussing bike policies with some associates, the topic of cyclists rolling through stop signs came up. Our city sits on the edge of a transitional zone between the density of the Chicago suburbs and the agricultural fields and … Continue reading →

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Moonlighting as a cyclist

Posted on May 2, 2018 by Christopher Cudworth

This morning’s ride started at 5:45 a.m. The sun was up far enough to provide some light. A bright moon was still perched in the southwestern sky. We tend to think of the moon as truly “here” only when it … Continue reading →

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Look, she’s fifty!

Posted on April 23, 2018 by Christopher Cudworth

My sister-in-law Julie Dunn turned fifty years old this week. Behind the scenes, my wife Sue plotted several surprises including a party for her sister. It all turned out marvelous. A couple months ago we collaborated on a design for … Continue reading →

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Taking a spin through the recovery zone

Posted on April 17, 2018 by Christopher Cudworth

Yesterday a nurse from the orthopedic office called to follow up on my recovery progress after surgery. They actually called a couple times immediately following the surgery, but I missed those calls. So the nurse sounded a little surprised when … Continue reading →

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Walking wounded

Posted on March 27, 2018 by Christopher Cudworth

Last fall I should have listened to my instincts and gone ahead with surgery on the torn meniscus in my left knee. It had been popping out some last summer, but when it stopped acting weird going into winter I … Continue reading →

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Cold comfort

Posted on March 23, 2018 by Christopher Cudworth

Starting a ride at 5:00 pm on a March evening when the temperature is just 48 degrees is a guarantee of one thing. It will get colder as you go. And sure enough, by the time I finished my ride … Continue reading →

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