May 29th Memorial Day Ride reports

[Trek420]

Bikeless just text messaged me, I don't think she'd mind my passing this on to the group and I'm sure she'll add to it later:

"Short ride today, it's like a sauna out there but I need groceries and up the way is the LBS that specialises in Specialized"

Says she's thinking of test riding a Sirius.

[snapdragen]

My rearend seems to be glued to my recliner.......this is not getting me ready for Healdsburg......

[jobob]

I have to go into work today - big meeting tomorrow that I'm no way no how prepared for. :p :p :p

and yet, here I sit *sigh*

'eeze OK, day after tomorrow I'm Outa Here !

[DebW]

I just got back from a 33 mile ride. Not much by the standards some of you set, but felt good to me.

[Duck on Wheels]

Bikeless just text messaged me, I don't think she'd mind my passing this on to the group and I'm sure she'll add to it later:

"Short ride today, it's like a sauna out there but I need groceries and up the way is the LBS that specialises in Specialized"

Says she's thinking of test riding a Sirius.

Don't mind a'tall. Now I'm back. Just a 4-miler or so. Got some groceries. Took a Sirrus Comp around the block and an Elite for a spin in the parking lot. Nice bike. Poor service at the shop. Guy just sort of eyed me up and down and put me on too small a frame, even though I said I was pretty sure I needed the next frame larger. I was right. He let me try the larger size after, but that one had cages on the pedals so that's the one I only took for a short spin in the lot. Kinda creepy with those cages scraping at every turn.

Anywayyyys ... they won't take the Giant as a trade-in since I didn't buy it from them. Also they only have '05s in stock, which have compact double chainrings. The guy grudgingly looked up options for switching to a triple or getting an 06 that already has the triple on it, but either way they'd have to order, it would cost extra, it would take time ... All in all, they couldn't put me on the bike set up the way I want it in time for the Janesville Pie Ride, so for now I'm still on the clunker. It's good exercize with all that extra weight, and I do know it will take me the distance.

Tomorrow or Wednesday, when I get the settlement offer, I might go back into town and try the Trek and the Sirrus alternately. There's another shop that sells Specialized. I haven't heard great things about their service either, but they're right around the corner from the place that gave me all that friendly help with the Trek. The Trek place also offered that I could try other flatbar road bikes/fitness bikes they had, like a Fuji.

I may still get a bike here and ship it if the fit and the deal are right, but if I do decide on a Sirrus I'll have to sell the "clunker" here via Craigs list and can just as well get the Sirrus in CA at my sister's lbs where they actually offer Service! Not to mention that it'd be fun to have her take me bike shopping. And it'd save me some shipping too.

[Trek420]

hmmm, thought the new bike would be going back to Norway with you and riding to H*** and back frequently?

If it's staying here is that a hint there could be another sabatical in the near future? :p

Thing about keeping "new bike" here is that on your visits once we really know your size there are good rental options on visits or at least many more than in Norway.

My thinking was: Bikeless arrives on the left coast Monday June 26th through July 10th.

So if you could let me know the make model and size you find you like whether you've bought or not by June, I'll contact Summit and or Velogirl here and see if they can have it at hand, we swing by, fit you with a rental. You just pack helmet, gloves, shoes, maybe saddle.

Then we either schedule a TE gals ride-eat and/or take you on the Velogirls and or Lunachix Club ride either the weekend of the 1st-2nd and/or the 8th-9th?

Or, subliminal hint get a Bike Friday and you always have a bike in the suitcase :p

Aren't too many TE gals who have to think about the logistics of bikes on different continents and coasts :)

BTW, no ride of my own today but...progress made on painting the hallway front and Mae (faithfull mutt) got to meet her dog walker.

[Duck on Wheels]

There's a thought. If I do buy a bike here, I can ship it to Norway with the rest of my stuff, then ride a rental out in CA next visit. That'll save me one leg of shipping. As for a ride ... isn't there one in, where was it, San Leandro? Something about lung disease? Big Breath? Bad Breath? something along those lines.

Now, what's a Bike Friday?

[snapdragen]

Now, what's a Bike Friday?

Cool little bikes (http://www.bikefriday.com/)

[Duck on Wheels]

Snap, every time I see one of your posts, I have to laugh. I envision that feisty kid punching out the message, and then the message is something like "cool little bikes" :D
Same with Betagirl, pounding the table. Such cool avatars!

[DirtDiva]

Went for a pootle around where I'm going to be doing some fun racing (if I don't chicken out). Saw enough of it that there shouldn't be any nasty surprises come Wednesday, but whether I can hack the pace remains to be seen. Went for a look-see last week; hardly any women racing, so I should do okay in my class by default. :D

[J-hawk biker]

Did a 20 mile ride on a different route. The elevation change was a bit more than I thought it would be, but I survived!

[Selkie]

Rode my Bianchi today which is always a pleasure and a treat. Started around 5:15 so I could see the sun rise---humid, warm (67 degrees), but nice. Unfortunately, I hit a bunny, as he darted out behind a bridge and I didn't see him til he was under my front wheel. I was hauling a## at the point, too so at least it was a quick hit. When I looped back around, I didn't see any blood or signs of the injured poops, so I hope he was OK. I kept thinking about whether I'd have the guts--like Nanci--to put him out of his misery if I had badly hurt him and the poor soul was suffering. I'm usually on the lookout for bunnies and slow down on the "bunny heavy" segments, but they usually don't hang out around the bridges on the trail. Got in 33 miles because the trail traffic started picking up. Back to my prison cell -- I mean work -- tomorrow, so I'll be riding in the heat/humidity of mid-afternoon after I serve my "sentence" for the day. haha.

[im4smiley]

I have felt like such a bum lately. I haven't ridden since May 18th, :( I had finals, we had lots of rain, I got a chest cold (still coughing a bit) and then we had company for my sons college graduation this weekend. But I went out today...oh my, did I feel out of shape! Went 15 miles, only 1 big hill, avg speed was 15.8, my legs were sooo tired and my heart rate was up there! Hopefully this week I will get to ride more and get back into shape!!

[salsabike]

nootka roses. They're native NW plants---pink shrub roses. You can get them, if you garden, in lots of 10 from the King Conservation District, for an incredibly low price. They smell wonderful!

Nice 27 mile ride on the trail today, but WOW! So crowded! Everyone who didn't want to ride in the rain yesterday came out to ride today, and their brothers, sisters, cousins, and kids. I love seeing little kids riding their tricked-up bikes on the trail.

[Running Mommy]

Really had no ride planned today since I rode yesterday. But I saw Tony getting the Santa Cruz ready and I asked him if he was going for a ride. Indeed he was, so SPencer and I decided to tag along. Poor guy, I know we ruined his ride, but he was just happy to see me on nobbys for once!;)
A couple of guys have done an AWESOME job building a trail system up here. It's like having a park in your backyard. And it's not easy, no sirree bob! I- being the weenie that I am- did a fair amount of hike a bike. They even named the trails and rated them and made signs and everything. You would never know it's a backyard organization. But sweet nonetheless.
Anyway, it was a good ride, but hard! You dirty girls sure have to concentrate when you ride huh? The trails are all singletrack with jagged granite rocks and cholla cactus on each side. I was happy that I was able to clean some things I didn't think I would. But MAN was it work! It's such a different sensation being on loose stuff. There was a deep sand wash that I surprising held on to. I could feel the wheels sucking into the sand but I was determined and I just told myself to keep spinning, and low and behold I made it! We also have alot of what I call deep v washes and ruts. I've always been afraid that when I hit the other side my wheel would plant and I would endo, but I've mastered those as well. Now if I can just get over my fear of going down steep hills on real loose rocky stuff... :eek:
Yeah, I'm a weenie! I do NOT like falling!! :cool:
But yeah, it was a good ride overall. Nice to step out of the box every once in awhile and challenge yourself.
Oh- and NO SNAKE sightings!! Even Tony mentioned that it was prime snake weather today so we needed to keep an eye out. But they stayed in their holes just for me I suppose...:p
I posted a couple of pics on my photobucket page..

http://s11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/tony66denise69/?sc=1

[mimitabby]

we did our longest ride of the year, 54 miles on our tandem. we left right before 9 in the morning and were met with nearly carless roads all the way around the lake. The lake, being lake washington. According to my husband our elevation gain; (how much we climbed) was 2665 feet.
The brooks b67 my new saddle is still not quite "dialed in" but my butt's not sore. hey, that's amazing.

HEre's a photo of my husband extolling the virtues of our bike to Oscar the grouch at mile 40; logboom park near Juanita washington.

[salsabike]

Hey, I bet I saw you today! Lots of tandems out. We did our tandem ride yesterday; today I was on a Bianchi Eros Donna, and Logboom is my start/end place. Nice day, if kind of jam-packed with folks. Congrats on your longest ride! I love the Lake WA ride.

[EvilTwin]

Finally , the weather is cooperating. BF and I rode 39 miles, with the most hills I've done so far. 39 miles is also my longest ( my one mile) ride to date. Couldn't ride Sat or Sun as the weather was awful, and we were tearing down sheetrock and tearing up carpet for BF's remodel. So at least I was using muscles I had forgotten I owned, at least until the next day. But today's ride was awesome... slightly overcast, but a perfect temperature. We were hoping to break the 40 mile mark for me, but, alas, it was not to be.

[Tater]

Short ride today, windy, but on a taper for LRRH this weekend.

[withm]

Gorgeous day. We did abut 39 miles. Flat, no wind. Fabulous sun, but not too hot. Saw lots of snakes (ewwwwww) but fortunately they were all "sleeping" by the side of the road. Some were flatter than others..... LOL. We went to Mickey D's for lunch. I have not eaten there in probably 10 years, maybe more. Someone on here mentioned that the Asian salad was good.... whoever that was, thanks for the recommendation. It WAS good - and it really hit the spot. I might have to go again :)

This was my first long ride with my new pedals. Changed from Speedplay Xs to Frogs. Way better. Anyone need a set of Xs and cleats? And some size 43 (too big for me) Specialized road shoes??
Martha

[Nanci]

I rode 29 miles today. I ran a trail marathon yesterday, with no running training, and my legs were toast. Frozen up toast! I got on my bike in the yard to make sure I could turn the pedals, and it seemed less painful than walking. It was our bike club's picnic, out at this spring, and when I got on the bike, at first, my legs felt deader than they ever have- like there was nothing there at all. But after a few miles, they warmed up and quit being so painful, and after a few more miles, though not back to normal, they were good enough. I'm sure it was much better to go for a recovery ride than to lay in bed all day! We rode on a paved trail I hadn't ridden before, followed by a dip in the 72F spring (brrr!!!) and a barbeque lunch. Great day.

[Fredwina]

A rode with a different club today. Of course since the club i'm the secertary of is usually too fast for me, these folks (Redlands) were too slow, Now , where's the prorridge that's just right... We did thirty miles to a bagel shop and back. There were some other floks that appeared to be doing my speed, so maybe's there hope. I hust hate having to drive 25 miles to ride. Gorgeous day, with prefect temp, with no clouds or smog.

[Nanci]

Riding with people who are too fast for you might make you a faster rider, but it's not that fun. I ride with people who are mostly too slow, but there are getting to be a few break-away faster riders, who I can ride with if I feel like it, or ride slower if I feel like it. They are just a friendlier group in general. The faster group just goes fast- they don't take time to stop and enjoy the cool things along the way, like the biggest oak tree in fFlorida, or the River Styx, or baby llamas, or even a cool sign or flower.

[Nanci]

This is the spring, Little River, on the Suwannee River, where we had our picnic.

[Fredwina]

Nanci, I argee that the club in Redlands is more my speed. I may do some more with them after I do (attempt?) ride around the bear. I would like to see if I can get some thing going closer to home. I'm currently leading slower rides on sunday moring before church ( I wear a riding skort, so I look somewhat appropraite.) I'm going to wait for a month or two to see if we build anything out of it.

[Lifesgreat]

26 mile ride with AuntieK! I had a terrific time. AK is great to wait up for me. There was a headwind and a couple of nasty hills, but the weather was sunny. Came home and ddaughter baked cookies and hubby is grilling burgers. Life is good.

[Crankin]

These rides are from my weekend in the White Mountains of NH (Saturday and Sunday). We arrived Friday night and checked into the B andd B. it was a trip with our club, but I did not know most of the people. We drove up with friends, so at least I knew there would be someone I like to ride with. Saturday was about 75 and cloudy, with rain threatening. Our ride was 48 miles of 2 big climbs. We soon found out that there were a large number of people there from another club that is more competetive. They were acting very un AMC-like! My husband and I swept and helped a woman who was struggling on the first climb. When we got to lunch, of course half of the super fast riders pooped out and took a shorter route back. We ended up leading the rest of the people back. We must have been flying, because my average was 14.3, even with all of the climbing. I was not happy at the end; the last five miles felt like h***.
Sunday it was 87 degrees out! We drove about 30 miles and rode over the border, to Vermont. We followed a great, flat to rolling route to a town just south of Quebec. I didn't care about the others, they were still acting like show-offs. The lunch spot was beautiful, saw lots of cows and horses, and most of the ride was along a river. My husband and I and a friend rode over the Canadian border, took some pictures and went back the same way. When I got back to the car, I had 49.2 miles on my computer, so I rode around, until i hit 50! I can tell it was flat, because usually my time for 50 miles is 3:35 and it was 3:16. Boy, it was hot, though. We decided not to ride today and left early to beat the traffic. I sat by the pond and relaxed.

[Duck on Wheels]

What be-a-yootiful places you can get to on a bike!!!
And here I just test spun around a parking lot today. But Saturday's ride was pretty. Now let's see if I can move a picture from the memory card and over here ...

hmmm. not. Somebody who knows how to do this, could you maybe post a "recipe"? 'Tis the season for gorgeous rides! (Well, I guess all seasons are.)

[Waverly]

I didn’t ride today but I rode Saturday and Sunday. Saturday I only rode about 8 miles and then I had some weird fall out, throw up, pass out thing? Who knows at least I was off the bike when it started. Anyway I called it a day after that. Sunday I went to a local (as in an hour away) bike path and rode about 30 miles. Last Sunday we did 20 on the same path. Today I gardened!

Jessica

[susiej]

Inaugural ride with the baby and my inaugural ride of the season (a 2 mi round trip commute is not a ride). Hubby had the baby on the old beater moutain bike with the nobby tires. Hubby is in much better shape even without any biking and needed the extra drag! We went from Valley Forge out to the Perkiomen trail, because it has a miniscule number of walkers and roller bladers. Bikers are also very clueful, with only one close call with one guy riding in the left lane with a group of four others -- but he reacted well to the screech of "in front of you!" and smiled at the baby.

Baby enjoyed it, until he fell asleep. Makes me wish a bit that we had a trailer, but the baby seat was a gift from a non-biker, and just so thoughtful I can't complain.

Lots of bikers, lots of women, lots of kids. Saw (presumably) a family of at least four on a three person tandem with a trailer. The people on the tandem had matching jerseys. Very cool!

Really pushed it the way out (that woman in the skort muttering about "cadence" and "challenge that hill!" was me) and stayed in a lower gear with a higher cadence on the way back. I was then passed effortlessly by another woman, and thought better of shouting "go baby go!" Sometimes people misinterpret statements like that. ;)

Those 2 mile commutes are actually working. I was in much better shape "starting" the season than usual.:D

(And anyone who has ridden the Perkiomen Trail: there is a well-paved but very sunny detour at the end closest to Valley Forge. It's fairly yucky compared to the original shaded path.)

S

[Geonz]

My! I was ready to feel wimpy... I, too, was pretty stuck inside. 95 degrees and I don't get along. I did go a grand total of 3 miles piddling around... including half a mile with Stuff From Pete and Marge's House. http://www.resourceroom.net/pcc/bigloadplusmay29.jpg

You can't see the 1.56 gal. jug of laundry detergent or the 3 cartons of punch and whatever else on the other side. It was too heavy to pick up - I had to have help to get it off the porch! But once it was moving... it got home safe.

[Brandy]

A little over 42 miles with the some of the southern California TE members. My longest ride to date!

[fatbottomedgurl]

Love the pictures everyone! Good job getting down and dirty, Running Mom! I posted my ride on the mtb forum, but may I add that on both my group rides I crashed. Friday on sand over hardpack- bike just slid out from under me at a slow speed -- and today I sort of lost control on a downhill and laid over into the grass-- not quite so slow speed.:D Just a few scrapes.

[mimitabby]

what a bunch of great rides!

[bcipam]

Adding to Brandy's note - a group of So Cal TE members got together today and did 42.5 miles, sortof a mountain to seas ride. We started out in the foothills and rode down to Newport Beach, attempted to take the ferry from Balboa Island to Newport Pennisula but turned back because of heavy holiday traffic. Stopped and had a nice lunch and then rode back to our start. The weather was So Cal California perfect. I got my first sunburn of the season. I met some wonderful ladies and their gentlemen friends and can't wait for the next organized ride.

Big thank yous to my friends Wayne and Connie for riding along and helping out. Couldn't have done it without you both. And thank you to Cathy, Nina (and her husband), Brandy, Judy (and her friend) and Tracey for showing up and riding along. It was sooooo cool to meet everyone!

PS, in case everyone anyone was interested, Wayne did go out and do a mountain bike ride after. He called me at 7 to report now he was really sore and after, thought it was foolish. But he had a great time meeting everyone as well. Now next time - let's try the mountain bikes!!!!

[Brandy]

I was wondering if "The Intimidator" http://www.tinklebelle.com/Smilies/images/laughinghard.gif made it to the MTB ride! Thanks for updating us Pam. I swear, cyclists are the friendliest people on earth. I was just telling my husband about Wayne offering to loan out mountain bikes and how I wanted to try it. It was such a diverse group today and I felt so comfy with all of you. It's like I've found my people! http://www.tinklebelle.com/Smilies/images/buddies.gif

[Quillfred]

Did a nice mid-afternoon 28 miler to Ray's Boathouse at Shilshole where my SO met me for a nice dinner on the patio. Had a tasty Vashon beer with the insignia of the bike-eating tree.

http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tips/getAttraction.php3?tip_AttractionNo==1412

Actually caught some sun today.

Tinkered with my Brooks Team Pro for a spell, but just a scosh to balance between sliding off and mashing the bits. Think I'm going to like it.

Quillfred

[kimct]

I just got in a short 5 mile ride today, but all with my 9yr old daughter! We loaded up the car and headed out for a trail that I found but hadn't explored...wasn't too much of a trail, so we rode to the beach instead! Quality time with the middle child, and teaching her some rules about road riding! Lots of fun, even though it was short and very low speed.

Kim

[DeniseGoldberg]

It was a good riding weekend for me too - even though I overdid it by not taking a rest day before the weekend. I managed 44 miles on Saturday, 50 miles on Sunday, and 40 on Monday. The ride that was the real prize though was Sunday's. I drove to Salisbury, MA, and then rode along the coast to Portsmouth, NH and back again. Although I really prefer that road in the off season (there were a lot of people out, a lot of cars!), it's still a beautiful ride.

Of course I was accompanied by my camera - pictures from my ride can be seen at http://denise.smugmug.com/gallery/1503825. I particularly like the guy with the penny farthing (I think I stood and talked with him for about 20 minutes, an interesting break. And yes, I did suggest to him that he wear a helmet rather than the "period" hat that was perched on his head.). And I loved the mute swans. When I approached the swans, they were standing on the side of the road, but they made their way back into the water. Those are big birds - made more obvious when they were standing. (When I looked up info on mute swans, I found that they are listed with a length of 55-62 inches, 140-157 centimeters. I assume that means from their tail to their nose - whatever it is, it seemed that their heads were even with my shoulder!).

--- Denise

[Nanci]

Love the swans! I think the penny farthing guy deserves a break on the helmet, considering the rest of his oufit. Maybe there's a way to build one inside his hat!

[GLC1968]

DH and I did 42 miles yesterday. We took a chance on a new route in a county east of us and it was very pretty. It was a lot of hills, but nothing too terrible. My sit bones were still killing me from Saturday's ride and this ride had way too many roughly paved roads for my liking. :( (I think they call that seal and pebble?) The 95 degree heat also got to me...but SportBeans to the rescue and I was able to finish strong. Good to finally have a chance to start getting used to the heat! ;)

[bcipam]

I just want to add my personal little blog about a great weekend of riding. It started Friday night with my friends "Mushroom" Mike and Richard. We all met at Limestone Canyon and did a beautiful MTB ride up to Bolero Springs and back. It was getting dark and on the way back we saw many deer and a great horned owl sweeping by. Earlier we also saw tarantulas (it's that time of year), a snake and Mike saw a bobcat. I came up the hill too late and missed it.

Saturday I met with other TNC docents Wayne and Della and we led a ride through Weir Canyon. Unfortunately I didn't do so well. Guess I was tired from Friday night but the ride was lovely. Weather was weird. It got hot, cold, hot, cold, arm warmers on, off, on off.... Anyway finished the ride tired, but it was beautiful and fun. We had lots of good guests and we met lots of interesting people.

Sunday evening (after spending the day cleaning house and the yard) My friend Richard and I met Wayne and a group of his friends back up at Limestone and had another fun ride. This ride was much slower paced than
the Friday or Saturday ride which I needed. I was tired and Monday had a long ride planned. We ended the evening all having dinner together at our favorite place and trading silly MTB stories.

Monday was the TE day. I had an interesting night. I was waken at 11:30p by the apartment manager talking to me through my bedroom window (that was scary!). He was telling everyone there was a sewage back-up and no one should use the toilet or shower. Of course, I now go into panic pee mode and have to go all night. Didn't get much sleep (PS I used the swimming pool restroom and shower). I got to the Park Monday morning where I am meeting the TE ladies early and was met by Tracey and Kathy. Got alittle nervous as Paramount Racing was also staging from the Park and at first I thought this was my group - I almost turned around as these folks looked fast and crazy. Thankfully the TE people I met were not crazy and the day turned out just wonderful.

This to me was the perfect weekend. Out every day riding. Each evening just totally exhausted and ready for bed. Meeting new people with a similar interest but with all different backgrounds. I know my friends Connie and Wayne also had a good time Monday. Connie didn't know about the website and since she is moving to Florida next year can't wait to get on and try to meet people in that area. Wayne was our "lassie" fixing two flats and doing sweep honors. He got nicknamed the "intimidater" as he has a very fancy, noisy rear hub that makes a large rachetting sound when he coasts and on this ride he had to coast alot. Hearing the "whirl, whirl, whirl..." constantly behind made one want to ride faster (get away, get away...!).

Anyway, I can't wait to ride up in everyone else's neck of the woods. Any Ventura gals out there? Would really like to try out some rides that way and I definitely want to ride in San Diego and of course out Tracey, Brandy, Judy or Nina's way!

[DeniseGoldberg]

Love the swans! I think the penny farthing guy deserves a break on the helmet, considering the rest of his oufit. Maybe there's a way to build one inside his hat!
You may be right, but he admitted to me that he had fallen on that bike and had dislocated a shoulder... He also said that he knew he should be wearing a bicycle helmet.

And the swans are just amazing.
--- Denise