Daily ride thread 5/12

[Running Mommy]

Just getting this thread going for all of you early riders. Today is my day off, but I'll probably pull the nobbies out and go for an evening ride with the family. Those are my all time favorites!
Will post more later...
So how was your ride today? Tell us all about it!

[Brina]

Its raining and cold here in Chicago today. My riding will be confined to the spin studio.

[DeniseGoldberg]

I hope that those of you who do not live in the very rainy northeast don't mind us riding along on your shoulders today (and for the next several days from the looks of the forecast!). I'd love to put a real ride entry here for today, but somehow my bikes have put their brakes on and refuse to ride in our wet, wet, weather!

Oh well, I managed my first of the season bike commute to work last Friday, and my first of the season weekend trip by bike (http://denise2006ThreeStates.crazyguyonabike.com) last weekend, so I guess I shouldn't really complain. Maybe I really need a rest...
--- Denise

[Tater]

Mid 70's and not a cloud in sight. But I'll be on the mountain bike today, since my beloved will be in the shop.

[Running Mommy]

ohh tater, sounds like some good dirt lovin fun! Do tell when you get back!!

[Geonz]

They say this cold clammy stuff will be here for the duration - but heck, it's better than tornadoes.
My Xtracycle just won't let me drive. IT's like a big labrador retriever at the back of the garage, just LOOKING at me with those big wheels that want to ROLL. It's not that wet... (and it isn't, here;we're just south of the real rain. It's just sort of a damp nasty perspiration kind of thing oozing from the air. As weather goddess, I arranged it because for the first time in my life I PLANTED STUFF in my yard and now I don't have to be responsible for the heavy watering you're supposed to do at first. Apologies for any inconvenience for the rest of the universe!)

So much for a full moon ride, though!

[fatbottomedgurl]

I'm getting ready to go out after riding with daughter to school. It is overcast - 57 F and forecast is partly cloudy/ high of 77:p . I will be hitting the dirt, will keep you posted!

[FreshNewbie]

Ladies, may i just let out one scream of FRUSTRATION here it comes: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH :mad: I can't ride outside during weekdays, and every day of the week I am checking weather and it rains every other weekend. So tired of that NY weather. I am trying to train for century this August, and there is nothing worse than to depend on that factor. GRRR
Sorry, had to let it out, feel better now. Off to work....

[mtbdarby]

Wellllll......I woke up to a little snow on the roof and sleet. It's in the 40's and still raining, which is better than yesterday's 30's with winds into the 70 mph range!

If I am fortunately enough to get my sons bday cake baked, dishes done, dogs groomed, house cleaned and kitchen cabinets painted and hardware put on tonight, I may spend some quality time on the hulk watching the tube. Unfortunately, I don't think it will happen tonight. Maybe in the morning while Bryce is watching cartoons:p

For those fortunate enough to have some decent riding weather - ENJOY!

[profàvélo]

So it's officially Bike to Work day in my city. I rode about six miles from my house to get downtown and was pleasantly surprised by the traffic, or lack thereof. Most of the roads are either very wide or multi-laned; only one truck got too close to me. It was a gorgeous morning, perfectly blue sky, about 52 degrees. A little cool, but in a good way. I got downtown just in time for a gathering of the mayor, city council members and cyclists. The mayor and some reps. of our cycling club spoke. He signed a resolution to make Greenville more bicycle-commuting-friendly. The turnout was decent; there was free coffee, juice and bagels for everybody--nice! Several of my cycling friends were there as well. There were some cameras, so it should be on the news. I work two miles from my house, so I rode back out of town, past my house to campus, and just really enjoyed the sunshine and the blue sky. It was a nice way to start the day and support local cycling efforts, all at the same time. This summer we will be moving downtown, so now I am considering riding my bike to work at least a few days a week, especially in the summer when it doesn't really matter how I look when I get there.

[Bike Goddess]

Now that it is getting light earlier, I am more apt to go out and get a few miles in before I head off to work.

Today I left the house around 5:55AM and did my usual 15 mile ride. On the way I met a runner friend who is talking about getting a road bike. So, we chatted a few minutes- I always get excited when someone tells me they are going to buy a new bike.

I then headed out for my ride. It's about 60 degrees outside with slight winds coming from the Southwest.

I live in an historical town, so my ride includes going by buildings that were constructed shortly after the civil war of the 1800s. I always admire these buildings and wonder what stories they have. One building, the guard house, has been restored and is quite lovely sitting by itself on a knoll overlooking the Carquinez Strait.

After I ride through the arsenal I head for the hills. The first one I do used to be my practice hill- up, down, up down - to get strength hill climbing. Even though I don't do the repeats anymore, I use this hill up to get warmed up. This is followed by a quick descent on another nearby street- my reward!

After another mile, I'm on my 2nd hill. This one gets steeper as you go up. Even though I've already been riding for about 1/2 hour, I still work hard to reach the top. A fast one mile descent and I'm off to the state recreation area where we have a bike trail in the marshlands followed by a road that goes out to a point near the Strait. This is my favorite part of my morning ride. Since it is early, the birds and ducks are abundant as well as all of the runners and early morning walkers. The vistas on this ride are expansive- open space in all directions with the Sacramento river in the distance. Sometimes I see the oil tankers coming in as well as container boats often bringing cars from the Far East to unload at the docks a few miles upstream. I'm riding into the wind now, but it is ever so slight- a big change from the winds we've had this Spring. The sun comes up behind me as I ride along providing light and a little warmth. After reaching the turnaround, I'll have it in my face going home.

Upon leaving the park, I take the rolling hills route home so that I get a couple of more to do before I get back. When I turn onto 1st street-the main street of my town it is now just 3/4 mile to my place. Since few cars are on the street at that hour, I can really go full out. I sprint to the end.

Upon arriving at my driveway (an hour after I had begun), I hop off the bike, refreshed and glad that, once again, I got to do this very special ride.:) :) :) :)

[Running Mommy]

You know I have considered biking to work, but it's a good 20 miles I think. I'll have to measure it. There are a few roads that are narrow farm roads I'd have to ride on as well. Unfortunately it's not 'farm' traffic anymore either, since the farmers are selling out to the home builders. We also are in a big industrial area w/ lots of big rigs. So I'd be fighting the harried comuters, and the semi's... Could be a scary proposition. Plus, I have a munchkin I need to get home to in the afternoons. maybe in a few years... But I really would rather ride to work! I'd be stoked for that!

[Crankin]

No riding here........unless you count the advanced bicycling skills class that I am supposed to take tomorrow. Forecast: pouring rain, gusts up to 30 mph, flooding. And, I am driving 1.5 hours to go to this.

Robyn

[Kimmyt]

Off work in an hour and heading out to meet my SO for a nice relaxing trail ride! It's goooooorgeous outside and there is no way I'm not gonna enjoy it. Hopefully will follow the ride with a yummy dinner of corn on the cob, salad and wine out on his deck.

I heart beeyewteeful weather!!!

[Geonz]

You can drive 10 of the 20 miles and make your own "Park and Ride," too... I like to make my ride 20 miles on the way home, but I"m not sure I could make a habit of doing it both ways.

[J-hawk biker]

I did a half hour ride this morning before work. Rode around the small lake in our small town (the same lake in the movie "Picnic"). We have a big 4th of July celebration every year with a 20 mile bike ride and a kids bike rodeo, so I took a break from my ride and went through the circles and figure eights that are painted on the asphalt in front of the bath house. It was fun! Beautiful weather here in Kansas, no wind for a change!

[mtkitchn]

Day off today, back to work tomorrow. Set off at 7am, when it was already almost 80 degrees. Rode my usual loop in the fancier part of town. Lots of schools on the route which I usually barely notice (since I don't usually ride at that exact hour), but I seemed to hit them all as people were dropping their kids off. I don't know what it is about people taking their kids to school, but they are the most distracted, ignorant drivers out there. And the bus drivers! Sheesh! Almost got sideswiped twice by school buses, and had more drivers cut me off and turn into me this morning than I have (total) since I started riding in November. Only one fall thanks to a mom in her minivan cutting me off (but no big body damage). She didn't even bother to stop, but a pedestrian helped me out.:confused:
Sorry this sounds like a rant, but really it was a nice day to ride and it's good to get out! There are worse ways to spend an hour and a half!
Next time I'll leave a couple hours earlier or an hour later!

[fatbottomedgurl]

Okay call me blonder-than-I-pay-to-be. I posted this on yesterday's post so if you read this twice, sorry!

I drove up to a trailhead all ready for a couple hours ride, rode one mile up the trail and decided to stand and hammer up a little hill. Didn't realize my gearing had my chain crossed and I broke my chain. Considered doing an on-the-trail repair but since it was mostly downhill from there I coasted out. I had to "Fred Flintstone" back to the car, as I didn't want to walk and my seat was lowered for the downhill anyway. So my little hardtail is at the shop getting a new chain (she was due). While I was there I test road a little 14" Gary Fisher WSD Cake2 GS full suspension bike... to be continued???

[Running Mommy]

That is quite an idea Geonz! I'll have to think about that. Though will prolly have to be after the heat subsides. We are just going into our evil season out here. Everyone else is looking forward to the warm weather the next few months, we in the Phoenix area are NOT! :rolleyes:
I like to ride when it's hot, but 110+ is just too much!
I was joking w/ Tony the other night that I knew summer was coming because when I wheel my bike in after a ride it smells like hot rubber. :D
So the next few months will all be sunrise or sunset rides I'm afraid. Or the evil trainer of course. UGH:p

[Running Mommy]

mtkitchn- OMG! That sounds EXACTLY like my hood in Estrella mtn ranch! I purposely WAIT until about 8:00 - 8:15 before I head out (or I 'did' before I started working). I've had all of those things happen to me MANY times!! Even the school bus. I actually did get whacked in the arm by a bus mirror one day. Hurt like heck and took forever to heal. Of course the school district wasn't too happy when I reported it. They ended up paying my dr's bill since I had the bus number and exact time it happened. Plus I was less than a half mile from the school so I wheeled right over and let the principal have it... Not that it was 'his' fault, but I was super upset- not to mention in PAIN!
Anyhoo.. Yeah, Phoenix drivers! You have to live here to appreciate what we put ourselves through here everytime we put the rubber side down! :eek:

[VenusdeVelo]

Go out about 9:00pm here (stays light now in Netherlands late), ride about 3 blocks to the *great* italian ice cream shop, eat a cone outside, and then go off on a 1 hour tour around the city -- even as it darkens the bike paths here are unlimited and you never have a problem riding, night or day. Get back home around 10:30, all relaxed for bed. Did I mention that great ice cream? :p

[DrBee]

I can't ride today either. I'm in MD visiting my mom. No bikes here. Aargh! I'll live vicariously through all of you!

[Veronica]

Just my usual commute today. I did see this big black bird along the side of the road, trying to catch some dinner.

The campus catering guy was early, usually we pass on the school driveway. He waved anyway, even though I was blocks away from school. If he's delivering when I arrive, he's really cool about making sure I have space in the school driveway to ride right up to my classroom.

V.

[KnottedYet]

Didn't ride my commute today. Got a frantic call from Small Knot, he needed some parts to a game that he left at home when he went to his Dad's house. Found the stuff, loaded it into my pannier, and tootled off on my mission of mercy.

Nice quiet evening ride.

I need to get some lights.:)

[crazycanuck]

I did 45km today on and off road.

I joined our tri group's bike ride and (as noted on another post) i borrowed our coach's extra road bike. Road bikes are shall i say, interesting...Not going to become a full onroadie though...! I enjoyed the speed, powering up the hill without a struggle & just being able to ride without any dramas! Left them after a nice flat white & ventured home for a nutritious post breakfast. Took the bike to the bike shop to have it tuned as a favor to our coach and the other lady that uses the bike.(she's away)

Around 1pm we ventured off to do mtb hill work-for me it was just going up and down a certain hill that goes on & on over pea gravel etc. I am not working on speed, i'm just working on getting up the hill and picking the right line.

Ian and i are going there tomorrow to do the same hill but in a diff way-

c

[im4smiley]

Rain, Rain and more Rain so sad :( I went out on friday when there was a break in the rain, about 20 easy miles but now they are saying rain for 10 days...I refuse to listen to them....they must be wrong!!

[wavedancer]

My riding this week has consisted of two early morning rides on the trainer and opimisically driving my mountain bike back and forth to work in the hopes of being able to ride after work :( Too much rain!!!

I plan to do a 2-hour Coach Troy session today...Looks like this rain is here to stay for a while!

[mtkitchn]

mtkitchn- OMG! That sounds EXACTLY like my hood in Estrella mtn ranch! I purposely WAIT until about 8:00 - 8:15 before I head out (or I 'did' before I started working). I've had all of those things happen to me MANY times!! Even the school bus. I actually did get whacked in the arm by a bus mirror one day. Hurt like heck and took forever to heal. Of course the school district wasn't too happy when I reported it. They ended up paying my dr's bill since I had the bus number and exact time it happened. Plus I was less than a half mile from the school so I wheeled right over and let the principal have it... Not that it was 'his' fault, but I was super upset- not to mention in PAIN!
Anyhoo.. Yeah, Phoenix drivers! You have to live here to appreciate what we put ourselves through here everytime we put the rubber side down! :eek:

Glad you reported that bus driver. Those people are crazy and what a terrible experience you had!
I learned my lesson and will not ride at that time of the morning again!