April 14 rides

[Duck on Wheels]

Wheeee! :D First ride of the season for me. UK Elephant, on the other hand, has been riding all Winter. She and her BFs colleague Rich who rode with us graciously allowed me the illusion that I could almost keep up. As I got warmed up I found I could comfortably do about 13mph on the flat stretches, or even one of those deceptive slight inclines. But I went all wheezy on hills, had to walk the biggest of them. 3mph walking up those hills, and 7 down the last gravel road back into Wivenhoe brought my average down to 10.3. Last time UK did that route alone, her average was 15. When we got back today she had to get her inline skates out and run around the block a few times to use up some of her ride-energized "batteries". I, on the other hand, stretched, showered, and collapsed. :o Still, it was a better start than last season, when my first training ride for the Cindy was 27 miles at an average of 7mph that took me all day.

Essex is "flat" the way the Cindy route is "flat" ... pancake, maybe, but a lumpy one, and with a couple of largish wrinkles here and there. But as opposed to last year's Cindy, the weather was gorgeous! Sunny, 22C (72F), and just a touch of a breeze. :p We rode to the very quaint and scenic village of Dedham, had tea (of course!) and cakes at a village cafe, then rode home again. 23 miles in all, I think it was.

Now let's see if I can upload some pictures ... Must document Team Amici Veloci's presence in Dedham, Suffolk, UK. :cool:

[Kalidurga]

Wow, Duck, I'm envious of the scenery on your ride. Great photos!

Part of the TE-DC contingent (Regina, Divingbiker & I) hit the C&O Canal towpath today for a casual, chatty, 26 mile ride under overcast skies. One of the highlights of the ride was having a Canada goose "chase" us as we passed a watered section of the canal. If the sky had been clear it would have been a gorgeous day, but we still had a really pleasant ride.

[makbike]

Duck on Wheels thanks for sharing. Your pictures make me want to cross the ocean with my bike in tow to explore new roads and byways. Unfortunately, my checkbook says "NO trip this year." Oh well never hurts to dream.

I tried to ride today - checked to see if the rain had stopped, convinced myself I could brave the cold, damp conditions, got myself dressed in all my layers, filled my bottles and stepped out my back door - it was raining! I turned around and headed back inside, took off my layers and dreamed of warmer, dried conditions. Where did those sunny, 80 F temps go? I sure wish they would come back for an extended visit.

[Triskeliongirl]

Had a great ride today, finally sunny, no rain, YEH! We had a bad storm last night and it was still windy, so I did have to don arm and leg warmers and a wind vist. Good riding pal turned up at the club ride (Bourne to Waring to Sisterdale). This ride starts with a climb in a very exposed area, so you need to deal with wind and hills, before you are really warmed up. The turnout was poor, wind wimps, and then after ~5 miles we saw two riders turn around to go back! We persisted, and recovered a bit on some descents, but then hit a low water crossing with water covering the bridge we were supposed to bike across. We took off our socks and shoes, rolled up our leg warmers, and carried out bikes over. I actually hooked my shoes to the bike frame with the shoe clasp, didn't want to lose them like a friend did recently. At the other side, we stopped to put our shoes and socks back on, and 3 horses came up the fence next to where we were and wanted to visit with us, seemed really sweet. We decide to take a shortcut back in to cut a little mileage, but didn't know that the climbs on it were *steeper* than our planned route.... SO I was toast by the end, but it was one of those what doesn't kill us makes us stronger kinds of rides. At the end, DH was waiting for me in a cafe to have a well deserved lunch. Got in 37 miles. I'll do a longer but flatter recovery ride tomorrow to be ready for the Fiesta Wildflower ride next weekend.

[Fredwina]

An adventure.
I lead the short club ride. we had one drop out because her front brake fell off:eek: , and then there was good disparity in my charges, so I wound up getting plenty of sprint practices in. I took a break at the coffee shop, and did a hill climb(Lytle Creek). Ran across a member of Team Testosterone. Noticeably spend up when I came in to view, and didn't say anything when I passed him, I said something like "good morning" (maybe he need his "sponsor's" products(or he's a big Floyd Fan)). I stopped briefly to get something out of my bag, and he passed He manged to keep ahead (just barley) until he pulled off. He did looked he had overdid it. I finished my climb, and head back down hill . During this time, I had remembered I had a church committee meeting, I adjusted My route, and Got there on time. Rode on home afterward, but wound taking a detour due to a broken water main.
Miles on bike 69.66:)
Miles on car 0.00 a very good day indeed

[mimitabby]

Duck! lovely pictures! and you resemble your sister, it was great to finally see your face. But I never saw an Elephant.


Today I did a city ride. Total; 8 short miles. I rode to the bus stop, and there was no bus, so I rode another mile and waited. The bus took me downtown, and i got off and rode to Seattle Center where there was a drum and rhythm festival. I was going there to see Alessandra Belloni, in hopes that she was teaching Tarantella. Instead, she was teaching tamburine, so she gave us each a tamborine and i stood there making noise with the rest. my bike was safely locked outside with two locks, my latte lock (thoughtfully looped through my saddle rail) and a big fat cable lock too. I actually brought a plastic bag to cover my saddle with, and i am glad i did because when I came out of the workshop, everything was wet and glistening the way it does after a spring rain.
my saddle was dry. ;) I got back on the bike and rode the mile or so to the bus stop, only to discover the bus had just left and the next one wasn't for another 30 minutes.
So i Just rode through downtown, on our famous killer bike lane (in the left lane of 2nd avenue, a one way street) and I did okay.
I got to Jackson, and lo and behold, there was that bus! So i got on it for a bit (I didn't have to pay for the return trip) and got off past the congested areas and rode the rest of the way home including stopping at my favorite chinese vegetable store.

[KnottedYet]

Great pics, Duck!

I did a 24 miler to and from my LBS, where I gazed upon the used compact double 110 bcd that will soon grace Flossie's frame. (right now it's a 46/36, so I need to choose chainrings. I know I want a 48, and probably a 34)

The weather was fabulous and energetic! Huge black clouds and dumping rain alternating with blue sky and sunshine, sometimes rain and sun at the same time. The sky was beautiful!

Most exciting near miss: a chickie having an animated discussion on her cell phone weaving around riding one-handed. I hollered and got away from her as quickly as I could. Shortly after I heard a scream, but no crash. I'm guessing she gave up on the phone after that...

Most exciting find on the trail: a soggy trampled bandana in a mud puddle. Yes, I went back and picked it up; tied it to my empty bottle cage. (hey, it's a *bandana*! I need those!) Ran it thru the washer with a load of clothes and it's tumbling and toasting in my dryer as I type.

[sarahlou]

I had my first road ride today too. Mountains, snow, ocean all in one. A huge head wind and wow did I fly on the return trip. Thank god I'm not still on the trainer!

[mimitabby]

oh, Knot, I passed a perfectly good washcloth; it was even folded! but I was in a hurry and didn't stop. :(
good score on your part!

[run it, ride it]

w00 rides! Today Mother Nature was kind enough to offer a balmy overcast 3 degrees C.

The ole university cycling club decided it was high time to pick up where we left off when Mother Nature pulled that cruel April Fools' joke of pretending it was going to be spring for a week, then plunging us back into winter temperatures with gusty winds.

But I digress.

Four roadies and our token MTBer did did about 50km at an easy 25km/h pace with a fun little time trial run in the middle.

My asthma decided to give me a scare up one of the last hills--throat: SHUT. No in, no out. Only panic. I don't remember when or how I started breathing again, but the tears streaming from my eyes after weren't just from the wind anymore. Thankfully the riders waited at the next lights for me to come wheezing in.

w00 bikes!

[Pika]

hmmm- the following may be why we don't ride much together....
Last evening we left one of our cars about 35km away-

Our ride had to take us on a very busy highway (4 lanes) for about 18 of the 35 km- it has a good shoulder but I was still wary- DH wanted me to ride first so he wouldn't unwittingly drop me on some of the hills- again seemed like a good plan

Well I heard him singing behind me with only about 10km to go ( on the hwy) and I thought, man- i just can't wait to get off this- I can't believe he is singing- about a km later I turned and he wasn't there!!!!:eek: - It was sooo windy and noisy with the traffic...I turned my bike around but there was no way for me to cross the highway- Yikes! I backtracked as best I could but it was sooo scarey- when I couldn't see him I jumpd to the conclusion that he turned off the highway before the agreed upon point- I was mad but continued to where that road has to come out again to the highway- he wasn't there either!!! now I was really worried- decided to ride the point where we were going to turn off the hwy- still no DH- ohh I thought he was dead- it was horrible- I was able to cross the hwy there and started to head back to the point where I heard the singing... and then he pulled up in a pickup!!! I wasn't sure if I should hug him or yell at him.:rolleyes:
Turned out he had a flat- called but I couldn't hear him and then the silly silly man had no pump( he saw I had mine and didn't bother!!!):confused: :confused:
ahh...needless to say he will bring his own next time
Long and short of it I rode 30km- he rode 18 ( he actually had the guy in the pick up drop him at the car- after all that...
Good news was - it wasn't raining and dh wasn't actually dead:D

[mimitabby]

gee, Pika, that was scary. You guys need to get cellphones; it helps.

(no i don't know how we survived all those years without cellphones!)

[SadieKate]

What a day of adventures. I'm trying to figure out why Merry Old England looks sunny and fab and Kalifornia looks like this. MP and V are headed right for it (kinda along that pink line). The weather was supposed to be clearing with intermittent thunderstorms this afternoon. Yeah, right. It's just parked on top of us.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b310/SadieKate/Davis400k7pm.jpg

[pastrypam]

I went on a short 16 mile ride 7 a.m. this morning before work. Living in the Southern California desert it was 63 degrees at that hour and clear.

Had 3 guys pass me and they didn't even say good morning. I always do, what's up with the guys?:rolleyes: I am a fairly new rider and think it's fun to see other riders out there.

Just being friendly,
Pam

[RolliePollie]

Hey SadieKate...I recognize that KCRA Live Triple Doppler! We didn't get the T-storms up here at 3,500 ft. but it was rainy and windy pretty much all day. I stayed inside today and practiced clipping in and out of my new pedals in my bedroom doorway.

[SadieKate]

Bubba and I stayed inside most of the day also doing, um er, luxuriously unproductive activities.

[jobob]

LeeBob and I hung quilts on our walls. Long ride tomorrow.

[snapdragen]

I stood under a very large tarp slicing ham rollup sammiches, or out in the rain mixing Gatorade. Woo hoo!

[SadieKate]

Sounds like the karma of the universe is balanced.

We did the luxuriously unproductive thing and you did the intrepid beleaguered volunteer thing. All is well. :D

I'd say you earned a cocktail.

[Crankin]

Did 31 not so great miles. The beautiful sunny day never materialized, so we headed out at around 2:00 or so. Concord is overrun with tourists here for Patriot's Day festivities, so i was on guard about weirdo drivers as we rode through the center of town. It was actually, OK, though. It was 53 when we left, cloudy, and there seemed to be a headwind no matter which way I was riding.
We did a 12 mile loop around Hanscom AFB and when we were turning onto the main road that leads in and out of the airport, I heard a loud volley of gunshots! There was a battle reenactment going on there, tons of cars, police everywhere, but we managed to get through with no issues. Then we rode back to Concord, to Great Brook Farm, taking a more direct route than usual. Steve felt tired and his back hurt. I tried pulling for a while, but then my back hurt! We stopped and i ate a Clif bar. Then we rode back home, taking a route that is mostly uphill, but not really a big grade. Just lots of rolling 5% hills. My quads were aching and then my bike started rattling. We stopped twice and figured out it was probably the bottle cage. It was extremely annoying, but got it fixed partially. Finally, we got to Strawberry Hill Rd., grateful to be going down. Of course, then we finish with the climb up our street, but I managed to maintain 7.5-8 mph up the 15% part of my driveway...

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Did a 10 mile easy ride in the morning, then a 21 mile hilly ride in the afternoon with friends. Total 31 miles. A good day and 45-50 degreesF breezy and pleasant (assuming adequate layering of course).
Several days of rain and sleet now, so not sure when I'll next be able to ride again! :(

[7rider]

Well, I got to see a part of Maryland I have never seen before. DivingBiker, Kalidurga, and I did the C&O Canal - as K mentioned. It was really nice. I love this time of year - the fresh spring green, the openness of the woods, and the crisp, fresh air. And a social ride, chatting it up in good company is always a nice way to spend the day, too! 26 miles off road on "The Flat-Tired Dust Collector" - i.e., my mountainbike. First time it's seen dirt in ... well, a loooong time.
Here are some pix. I shrunk them to fit - some are bigger in the MA forum, but I hope they're not too big here.

[withm]

Nice pix! I really thought about coming over for that ride - but I haven't bought my hybrid yet, and didn't think my tires could handle that road - would have been ok for a mile maybe, but..... not the right tool for the job. Where did you start from?

Martha (used to live in Gaith)

[7rider]

Nice pix! I really thought about coming over for that ride - but I haven't bought my hybrid yet, and didn't think my tires could handle that road - would have been ok for a mile maybe, but..... not the right tool for the job. Where did you start from?

Martha (used to live in Gaith)

DB and I were on mountainbikes: Kalidurga was on a cyclocross bike with 32's, I believe. Yesterday, it would have been fine on a hybrid - dry and hardpacked. It might have been difficult for a skinny road tire - maybe if you had 28's it would have been okay - as long as they were tough. I guess it can get quite muddy there - especially in the summer?

We started at White's Ferry (near Poolesville) and went up to Point of Rocks. The bridge is the (help me here, Tam) Monocacy Aquaduct over the Monocacy River, just before it joins up with the Potomac.

[withm]

Yeah, I thought that was the Monacacy Aqueduct. My 23s would never have survived it. I have kayaked and canoed and walked around that area, but never biked it.

[Duck on Wheels]

Just got an IM from UK Elephant. She did the same route again today, without me slowing her down. Today her avg. was 15.5 mph, without the benefit of her top gears. She has to go back to the LBS later this week for some adjustments. The new "granny" gears are fine, but for some reason the top gears aren't working.

As for no elephant in the snaps ... well, there's no duck either. But there is an "Elifant" and a "Duck". And yes, I'm the stretch version of Trek420, or as Trek says, she's the scale model. ;)

[Kalidurga]

DB and I were on mountainbikes: Kalidurga was on a cyclocross bike with 32's, I believe. Yesterday, it would have been fine on a hybrid - dry and hardpacked. It might have been difficult for a skinny road tire - maybe if you had 28's it would have been okay - as long as they were tough. I guess it can get quite muddy there - especially in the summer?

We started at White's Ferry (near Poolesville) and went up to Point of Rocks. The bridge is the (help me here, Tam) Monocacy Aquaduct over the Monocacy River, just before it joins up with the Potomac.

Yup, Monocacy. I like that top pick, Regina, cool angle over the handlebars.

I was actually trying out some new 700x30 'cross tires I had picked up recently. Not a huge difference from the 32's I usually ride, but they felt nice 'n' smooth on the towpath. I definitely need to try them in some mud ;)

Withm, where are you located that you could join us? I ride the C&O very frequently, so there'd be plenty of opportunity to join either just me or a group of us for another towpath ride. We also talked about getting together for kayaking sometime this summer, if you'd be interested in that. Keep your eyes peeled on the Mid-Atlantic section of the forum.

[withm]

I live in Bethany Beach but have family all over DC area so get back there on weekends periodically. Problem is I get stuck with family stuff on the weekends so lots of advance planning is required. Are any of you doing the Ocean to Bay ride on Saturday (4/21) starts and ends at Fenwick Island. 25,35, & 50 mile routes. Some friends and I are doing that ride, and then either riding, or kayaking at Assateague on Sunday (depending on the weather). There is always room for more participants. If anyone is interested, I can post more info.