Febrrrrruary rides

[ny biker]

We're starting February off with a warm up -- high temps are in the 50s for three days in a row before we get more precip (snow? ice? rain? mix?) and colder weather next week. I went out for a 30-mile road ride with a friend today. The weather was nice, with sun, light winds and temps ranging from the mid-40s when we started around noon to 52 when we finished. We stopped for a sandwich on the way home and it felt much colder as the afternoon sun was getting low in the sky.

Although there are still patches of snow around, especially in shady areas, the roads were completely clear today. Most still showed showed traces of white from being treated with salt, and we saw some large piles of accumulated salt here and there. One road, which gets a fair amount of traffic and has some steep climbs, was still very white and salt-covered. I had put a fender on my back wheel but I regret not taking the time to put one on the front wheel, too. Tonight's assignment will be to clean my bike.

I also noticed that my throat felt irritated and I had more asthma symptoms than usual, and I think the road salt caused that, too. So I'm hoping that we get some good old-fashioned rain this week to clean the roads. My car could use a good steady rain, too. Unfortunately I think they will have to treat the roads again even if we don't get snow, since it will be below freezing at night so anything wet will freeze up.

I think it will be at least a couple of weeks before I'll be able to ride outside again. It's nice to have these breaks in the weather, and I hope they are not too few and far-between.

[pll]

It felt luxurious today. I went out to explore the Chesapeake-Ohio canal path, but once in Maryland, there were long patches of ice and slush, so I got some unintended cross practice. I made it just past Bethesda, where I rode on ice/slush/mud for more than 1/2 a mile. I turned around and cut my ride shorter than I wanted. On the way back, I stopped in a shop in Georgetown to get my drive train and wheels a little cleaner. Everything was caked in mud and I currently don't have supplies or a place to clean the bike.

I will have another go tomorrow. I would not dream of a warm break like this in Chicago.

[azfiddle]

Cooler weather in Tucson than we have had for a while - the high was 61 and the ride started under overcast skies and light rain. We all ended up with mud freckles on our faces from splatter off the road. But there was occasional sunshine and the rain was quite brief. I got in 53 miles altogether- some with the group and 13 extra going to and from the start.

[rebeccaC]

it was in the 60's for a days ride on the Pacific Coast Hwy…..great light coming from clouds breaking open.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7423/12281272274_3e6d938d62_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/100062844@N06/12281272274/)

[Crankin]

Temperature was at 50 when DH went out to defreeze the entrance to the bike shed. Rain was predicted for 4 PM. It was noon. He came in and said, "It's getting pretty dark out there." Within 15 minutes it was raining.
I went on the trainer.

[ny biker]

It felt luxurious today. I went out to explore the Chesapeake-Ohio canal path, but once in Maryland, there were long patches of ice and slush, so I got some unintended cross practice. I made it just past Bethesda, where I rode on ice/slush/mud for more than 1/2 a mile. I turned around and cut my ride shorter than I wanted. On the way back, I stopped in a shop in Georgetown to get my drive train and wheels a little cleaner. Everything was caked in mud and I currently don't have supplies or a place to clean the bike.

I will have another go tomorrow. I would not dream of a warm break like this in Chicago.

The towpath can take a while to dry out after wet weather. But it is a great place to ride. The hiking trails up at Great Falls are nice too, including "rock scrambling" on the Billy Goat trail.

It's been a while since I've been up that way, but I used to like to ride the Rock Creek trail up through Maryland to the end at Lake Needwood. It's all paved, but much of it goes through the woods, and the sun doesn't get through the trees to dry it out. It will probably be wet and snow covered for a while, but can be a nice shady ride once we've had a good stretch of dry weather.

We've gotten some heavy rain this morning. I hope the salt is gone from the roads. Long-range forecast shows temps in the 30s for more than a week -- I hope that changes.

[kernowcyclist]

I'm glad to see some people are getting out on their bikes. Here it's been raining constantly and high winds. Between weather, work and other commitments I haven't had a bike ride in over a week! But tomorrow it looks like I may have a break in the weather for a couple of hours and I have to go to the hairdresser, so I may cycle there (how she hates me wearing a cycle helmet on 'her' nice arranged hair LOL!) So fingers crossed for me.

[buffybike]

We're experiencing a few days in the 40s and 50s in Atlanta, so I'm definitely taking advantage. Rode for 1 1/2 hrs today, and will ride once or twice over the weekend. Barely ra
od during winter, so I'm soooo out of shape right now.

[Catrin]

Thanks for posting, those in more moderate climes than central Indiana. I do wish the weather forecasters wouldn't tell us every single day how far below average our temps are, this morning our temps were ~40 degrees below our usual average for this time of the year and our daytime high was still close to 30 degrees lower. It WILL pass, eventually. It helps to hear about those who can get out there and do things! Thank you!

[rebeccaC]

Took a few days off to get my mind into the finishing of one of my big projects at work and decided to go to the desert. A good friend has ridden in the Borrego Valley and highly recommended it as a place to ride/relax and think. I was surprised by the number of bicyclist in the Borrego Springs area especially for such a small desert town. Great rides on both the Borrego Valley floor and riding into the mountains around it was something I heard from some people I met a few times on my rides. I met some older women on a brevet this year that also recommended it.

Montezuma Valley Rd going into the mountains and the Anza-Borrego State Park from Borrego Springs is one of my new favorite rides. Mid 70’s the three days I was there and an interesting mix of artist and bicycle culture!!

http://rchauvin.smugmug.com/photos/i-VkCQPXp/0/XL/i-VkCQPXp-XL.jpg


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[rebeccaC]

Borrego Springs is in the center of a series of over 100 sculptures by Ricardo Breceda. They are placed through out a large area of the Borrego Valley. They make for an interesting days ride on the valley floor and another world if you have any imagination.

http://rchauvin.smugmug.com/photos/i-bLvXFKr/1/XL/i-bLvXFKr-XL.jpg


http://rchauvin.smugmug.com/photos/i-CCR94bM/1/XL/i-CCR94bM-XL.jpg


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back to roads
http://rchauvin.smugmug.com/photos/i-3s422GC/1/XL/i-3s422GC-XL.jpg

[ny biker]

These are great pictures, and I especially love seeing them today since we got a foot of snow here last night. Thanks for posting them!!

I've now bought two winter cycling jackets and another pair of wind-blocking tights. I'll get another high credit card bill this month but I got some good end-of-winter sale prices and I know I'll wear them for outdoor activities like brisk evening walks and shoveling snow. If the roads are clear enough this weekend I want to test some of my new clothes out with a short ride, too.

[azfiddle]

Loved those pictures from Borrego!
Sorry east coasties- the desert southwest is the place to be right now. Tucson has a "rodeo weekend holiday" and I rode Thursday, Friday and today.

Thursday: the regular ride to Saguaro NP and the 8 mile loop road (23 miles total). Lots of wildflowers trying to get the show on the road before they dry up. We had the rain in the fall for germination but none since then :( Still, lots of flowers are out already- brilliant yellow Brittlebush especially.

Friday: rode up Mt. Lemmon to milepost 7 (4800 feet). I started around 10 am, and it was pleasantly warm and I didn't even need a windbreaker on the descent.
I wanted to go further but had stuff to do. More roadside flowers, especially up to about 3500 feet. One of my favorites is the white Desert Chicory, which was in abundance along the road, along with several very large and showy white Evening Primroses. I should have stopped to take a few pictures. Met up with my husband at the coffee shop at the base and took a ride home so my total was 29 instead of the 34 I planned on.

Today: rode 10 miles to the start of our team ride- which was a lot of hills today. I had to turn off early so I missed the last loop but it was a beautiful morning. I had about 38 miles altogether.

[rebeccaC]

thanks ny and az!!! az, wildflowers were just beginning when I was there. I'm planning on a weekend ride in Joshua Tree NP soon for the blooming there.

Some climbing in the santa monica mountains today. 70+ miles with a good friend, a relaxing soaking bath when I got home and off to dinner in a while. if not warm rides at least safe rides for all this weekend!!!

[redrhodie]

Finally made it out today for my first ride of the year. I kept it really easy since I'm out of shape. But it wasn't as bad as I feared. I felt pretty good, and it was such a nice day.

Hopefully I can keep it up and get strong again soon.

[ny biker]

I was going to do a club ride today but incorrect directions to the ride start and a car accident changed my plans. I'm not hurt, I think the other driver is okay, two cars are crunched, and I met a very nice police officer, tow truck driver and cab driver.

[azfiddle]

Oh- NY biker- so sorry- not a good way to start your day!

[Catrin]

OH NO NY Biker, so sorry to read this, very glad to hear that you are fine!

[ny biker]

Thanks ladies.