Wednesday Dec. 13th RIDES

[Grog]

Had a fabulous time on the bike!

I just went out for an hour, I wanted to take advantage of a calm window in a nearly week-long wind storm we're having here in the PNW. I saw a few rays of sun shining through and rushed out of my office at lunch to go on the road.

Well I was not alone enjoying the fine(r) weather. I saw more bald eagles than I had ever seen around here. At first I thought they were following me - that's nice, I thought - and then I counted SEVEN simultaneously in one spot, and then a few duos and trios that I am quite sure were different from the first seven. Then on my walk back to the office after my shower I saw another group of six playing in the wind. My office is right by the Georgia strait and this is a typical hangout for eagles, but... wow!!

That was a happy moment.

[Bad JuJu]

That is so cool about all those bald eagles, Grog. We occasionally see one or two around here, but they're very illusive.

My own ride involved birds today, too.

I almost didn’t go—so much end-of-semester work to do. But it’s going to get worse before it gets better, since final papers are due tonight and I have to submit semester grades by next Tuesday. So I suited up and headed out on this unseasonably warm day for mid-December. I did my usual 20-miler from home, down to and over the Garcon Point Bridge and back. (Garcon Point Bridge crosses from Garcon Point to Gulf Breeze, at the confluence of Escambia, East, and Pensacola Bays.)

As I was heading over the bridge on the way out, I had the opportunity to race a flock of ducks, flying south, about 200-300 feet to starboard. They quickly left me in the dust, but I caught up with them when they stopped for a break on the calm waters of the bay, below the highest part of the bridge. They might have been hooded mergansers, but I couldn’t be sure from that distance.

Having crossed the bridge and made my u-turn, I headed back and found it pretty easy going. Usually at this time of the day, the wind is from the north so there’s a bit of a struggle heading home, especially scaling the high part of the bridge. I know it’s good for me, but it’s not my favorite thing. But today, it wasn’t so hard. I kept up a good, respectable pace, even on the uphill and into the wind. Saw what might be a shrimp boat capsized near the point at the north end of the bridge—it looks as if it’s been there a while, but I called the Marine Patrol anyway—yes, they already knew about it. As I reached the end of the bridge, more birds were pacing me--this time, three brown pelicans. They're so cool!

It sucks that I didn’t have my camera with me today, but it was a great ride!

[makbike]

The warm weather has returned to the Ohio Valley and I promptly left school at 3:30 so that I could get a quick ride in before the sunset at 5:30. I managed to get in 14 miles and though my legs were quick heavy from the trainer tour class last night it felt so good to be outside.

It is suppose to be in the 60's this weekend so I'm planning another quick ride Saturday after I leave the clinic and I have hopes of joining in the club ride Sunday afternoon. Part of me loves this warm weather and the other part (the kid side) longs for the cold and snow. I'm so torn!

[MomOnBike]

Today I got up before Dawn, and rode to work in the dark. It took me about 15 minutes.

Went in and slaved over a hot computer until lunchtime. At lunch, I looked out and there was my bike gleaming in the sun - tempting me to slip the bonds of work and go out and play. To my everlasting sorrow, I resisted and went back to a windowless office to move electrons around.

At the end of the day I rode home in the dark. It took me about 15 minutes.

Mom(the martyr)OnBike

[Geonz]

I rode to work on my fast bike, then dropped it back off at the shop (where I ride it on the indoor training rides) adn switched it with my Xtracycle, which FINALLY has its DISK BRAKES :) :) :)
It felt really good and right riding it. Not that there was anything wrong with the other bikes (especially doing 69 miles Saturday - good to have an aluminum bike then!) but ... it's so the right bike for right now. (The Christmas tree on the back and the strings of Christmas lights hlep)_

Left work and didn't know how many miles HOward had ridden. Had a 100 mile margin on him at the bike-switch (if I do it on a differetn bike, I enter it as a different ride)... but if he rode 70 miles... so I did a nice 7 miles of laps around campus (1.4 times 5). Hey, they pay all that money for the really good lighting - somebody should be using it!!!
Then off to the home front... 26 miles on the day... and Howard only did 40 :) Still have 73 miles on the man and only how many days left in the year ... and he goes on vacation on the 26 :) :) Thinking that maybe we'll cross 8000 for the year at the same time!

[suzieqtwa]

I just did my usual 11 miles in the dark. Saw a raccoon ,and lots of cars splashing dirty rain water in my face ,but it was still nice getting out. When I get my road bike I may start commuting which is about 6 miles each way.

[Fredwina]

Thanks to bikejournal.com, I can tell that my new lights are helping me increase my increase my average. Of course, ridding before sunrise, means I can't give a wildlife report. But only one more week till the days get longer:)

[margo49]

Hooray for school holidays...
Out this morning at the leisurely of 7-45 to do a short (1 hour) circuit and check out the greening of the countryside as we had a shower of rain the night before last.
Irrigation problems in a new dates grove meant a few hundred muddy metres, but it was a glorious morning comrades in wintery sunshine. Heard a squawk down by the River and saw a Grey Heron rising up from one of the eucalyptus-es. So slow and graceful.
The lad is out on the bike too now. DS#1 (19) starts Basic Training on 24 Dec and is getting in shape. It is wonderful to be able to share the riding experience with him; and he is man or boy or person enough to be able to ask Mum's advice and listen to Mum's explanations and most important follow through on them.

[GLC1968]

I cut out of work early to do some stuff in prep for Christmas, but as the roads dried up, Skye called to me. I answered. :D I headed out for what would have been a wonderful 30 mile or so ride, but very early on I discovered that my gears weren't working right. I was stressing because I'd only ridden about 30 miles on this bike and felt that cable stretching shouldn't be an issue yet. I turned around and headed back cutting the ride to only about 14 miles so that I could make the LBS while the chief mechanic was still on duty. I put the bike in the car and drove right over there. I figure that if I have to be out and about in my biking gear...at least it was at a bike shop, right? The mechanic said that there was an abnormal amount of stretching in the rear cable but it was a quick adjustment. Phew...nothing major.

We are due for quite a few days of unseasonably warm temps, so I've got lots of rides lined up!! :)

[silver]

wed. I rode my bike for the first time since my wreck on 10/29. I was tentative at first but sooo excited to be cranking again! I'm too afraid of my new bike with it's new fangled pedals to ride it yet, so it was just me and my now beat up, but repaired trek 1000. It's a little difficult to shift with the cast on my right arm so I stuck to flats but it's getting easier.

soooo wed, 12 miles
Thurs. 20 miles

hopefully a few more tomorrow! And maybe I'll get up the courage to ride the madone.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Silver, that is W O N D E R F U L !!!!!!! :D :D :D :D

Congratulations, girl!!!!!! Wheeee!!!!!!

[Grog]

Great job Silver!!!

Why not put your old pedals on the Madone?

[Brandi]

First... Yea Silver!!! i have finally had a chance to ride today. I was so busy all day then just dropped everything and went. It was so nice but the weather changed really fast. When I left home it was sunny then half way through my ride it totally got foggy! socked in! So when i got home i was freezing. But it was refreshing to say the least.

[silver]

Great job Silver!!!

Why not put your old pedals on the Madone?

thank you!!!!!!!!!:D

I know!! I've caved into the coolness factor. I wanted to put ultegra pedals on the madone since it's all ultegra components. I also go some ultra cool new SILVER Nike road shoes to go with the new pedals. Like that would be sooo cool! ha! Now i'm too chicken to ride it. So far I HATE the new pedals.

I propped myself up next to the sofa and tried to clip in and out and it's soooooo hard!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well the old pedals are practically wasted from the wreck, but if I can't get comfy with the new ones tomorrow the old shimano SPD's are going on the madone!

[salsabike]

Ha, Silver! Congrats.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Silver, I'd put comfortable pedals on your new bike if I were you- just get riding it and build confidence riding without worrying about pedal clipping, fer gosh sakes! The idea here is to feel GOOD. :rolleyes: (Wouldn't it be a "good" concept to just ride, not worry, and not have a clipless fall for just a "little" while??) ;)

This turned into a wed/thurs ride thread, so gotta say I had a GREAT sunny 21 mile ride yesterday (thurs). Gorgeous weather- 50 degrees and lite breeze and sunny- like Spring at Xmastime!! My cold is slwly fading- just a lot of mucous now but no more earaches or sore throat or balloon head. YAY! What a relief.
So good to get on my bike and ride again! (I bet Silver is saying this too, bigtime!!)

[silver]

yes, Lisa! I will. I checked out the spd pedals and the right one is so beat up, but I'm pretty sure they are going on the madone today. I've got everything else ready to ride the madone, computer's on and chain is waxed. The weather is beeeeeeeautiful. The madone and I NEED to ride!

[Bad JuJu]

Soooo glad to hear you're back on your bike, Silver. I remember my first few rides after laying off for a back injury, and you just know that's where your body wants to be. Good for you!

[Grog]

Well the old pedals are practically wasted from the wreck, but if I can't get comfy with the new ones tomorrow the old shimano SPD's are going on the madone!

For some strange reason the Shimano road pedals (105, Ultegras...) are very different in the ease to clip in and out from one pair to the other. I have tried three different pairs and the Ultegras I have are better than the 105s I first had, but neither of these is as easy to clip in and out of as my partner's Ultegras. Note that all pairs are set at the easiest setting. Also when my cleats get wet they're really hard to unclip of. I had to "train" my ankles to do it...

The mountain SPDs are very, very easy to get in and out of, of course.

So definitely do keep the mountain pedals for now. You can always try the Ultegras later, or just find better pedals. That's probably what I'm going to do this summer (Looks? Candy? Speedplays? who knows?). I just thought it was convenient that we'd have all the same pedals on the different bikes, but it's becoming dangerous not to know whether I'll be able to unclip or not.

[silver]

thanks grog!!! well, I went out to today and tried the ultegra pedals on the new madone! I actually survivied! I was scared to death at first and then very concerned and finally enjoyed myself! I'm still not comfortable wtih the ultegra pedals, but I'm ok with them. They are on the easiest adjustment. I'll give them some time and if I can't adjust I'll switch later.

I rode 20 miles!!!!! So nice on the madone! She's just lovely! She does need some derailler adjustments. She'll go to the doctor on Monday.

thanks everyone for your encouragment! It was just such a blessing to get these few days of nice weather to get back out there again!