May 31st report!!!

[FreshNewbie]

Ok so i will be the first on to tell about my ride today. Maybe some of you already heard my whininng about not being able to ride during week days, and that's the reason i never post my daily ride report - because there are no rides! But last week i spoke to my manager about getting to work at 9 instead of 8 am every day. So, today I got up nice and early at 5 am and went to a bike path ( 2.5 miles) :( next to my house. Remind you it's NY, Queens, there is no place to ride in Queens, on weekend i drive to Long Island to ride with a club. Anyway, it was about 75 degrees and a little hazy but nice. I rode 12miles with half of it in a headwind about 17/20 mph, but it was a blast. Also managed to not have a panic attack going by myself in traffic ( there wasn't that much of it :D ) and managed not to have another spectacular fall! Planning on doing 2-3 rides during the week now/

FN

[Geonz]

I got up early but not quite enough early to do the 12 instead of 7 mile commute, so I just cruised the 7. I had a sensory flashback to those teenage summer mornings when it's not really hot YET but you can feel it in the air, and you're on your bike but not quite awake and going to the pool for morning swim team practice.
Going to try to actually take lunch (no reason not to, I just forget to leave my desk and do it) and go out and ride a little bit.

[DirtDiva]

No riding yet today. I'm entering my first race tonight though. :eek: I was excited earlier in the day, but now I'm just pants-wettingly nervous. :eek: :eek: I'm sure it'll be a blast, but we'll all have to wait until later to find out.

[margo49]

best of proverbial, Tee-Ell
How's the noggin btw; all better I hope

[susiej]

The fell right off the back of the bike! I knew they weren't bungee'd tighly enough, but I shrugged off my misgivings. :confused:

Noticed they were gone at the station. Left a message on my husband's cell for him to look for them as he drove to the train. Half an hour after I get to work, he calls, "did you lose your sandals?" (Did he get the message I'd left? no! Hate his phone.)

He walked to the train because he didn't want to bike in his nice pants. He'd seen a shoe, wanted to photograph it, then thought, that really looks like Sue's new sandals that we ordered special from REI. So he called to ask because I'm obviously the kind of person who would lose her shoes off the back of the bike.

Now I'm sitting in my nice warm office, but at least with air circulating my toesies. :D

[Fredwina]

I got up early got in about 13 miles. I always think it's nice to see the Sun coming up over the mountains. I can do that, and get showered, dressed, and be ready to catch the train at 7:20

[mimitabby]

last night my hubby and i got on the tandem and did an astonishing fast 22 miles with his friends, all veterans of tens of thousands of miles of riding.
we went up and down hills and on streets filled with parked cars and commuters. we ended up with an average of over 14 mph.. I can't tell you how many times I looked down and we were cruising at 18mph.
I was scared to death half the time but kept pedalling..

and then today i got my cholesterol checked and the total has GONE DOWN and my "good cholesterol" has gone up.

I will keep riding!

[fatbottomedgurl]

Rode five miles up a mountain and five miles down. Trespassed for a mile to avoid a nasty climb (this land was made for you and me). Wild flowers are peaking. Discovered thistles grow at exactly the height of my bars. Sucked blood off my fingers and made a mental note to buy full fingered gloves. Ran into a hiker and gave him some directions. Saw some longhorns. And a peacock! Warm, but not hot at 85º. Heaven.

[KnottedYet]

35 miles today. No rain!

Did my usual commute to and from work, but didn't go home after work. Instead I braved a new route, one I hadn't even driven in the car. Folks at work told me about it.

For you Seattleites: I was trying to find a way from Shoreline to LFP to get on the Burke. I took 185th over I-5.

The route was GREAT! (Perkins street through LFP) It went through a little canyon with a creek running along the road, big gorgeous trees and flowers everywhere. I could hardly believe I was in the middle of the city.

Found the Burke-Gilman and rode down to the U-District. Had a picnic in a park along the BG. (next to Metropolitan Market at 40th) I was gonna ride to LBS and ask them to adjust my rear deraileur, but decided I should learn how to do it myself.

The veiw along the lake was amazing. I could see all up and down the lake, with sunbreaks and shade from the clouds. Both the Olympics and the Cascades were out, and had bright white snow patches that were just brilliant where the sun was hitting them.

Unlike this weekend (in the rain), today I couldn't smell the Nootka roses. I did smell some dead critter... ick.

Tried to get an iced Latte at Starbucks after my BG section, but the chickie at the drive up window said they can't serve bikes. (we might hurt ourselves carrying our drink in one hand and steering with the other) So I rode half a block to an espresso stand that DOES serve bikes and sat on a bench next to the Perkins/Brookside creek and had another picnic.

Rode UP the big hill I was sure I'd have to walk, so I felt studly. Now I'm home all stinky and sweaty and salty. Time for a Clif Recovery and a shower!

[mimitabby]

what's LFP? maybe i need to know?

[DirtDiva]

Cheers margo. The noggin's all good now. I was a bit extra tired for a week or so, but that was it. Had a way kewl bruise on my leg too that is all but gone now - shame really, I enjoyed showing it off.

The race was pretty cool. Did three laps, which was my goal. Really glad I didn't have to do another because I sooooo didn't have another in me, but I hope I can manage four by the end of the series. I'll put something in the proper section tomorrow. Right now it's bedtime (please, please, please may the bike cleaning fairies stop by my garage overnight :p).

[kimct]

Bad ride today. Well...short, and...just BAD. Decided to try a new route, hubby tried to warn me....like climbing Mt.Everest, 5 times in a row! I made it up the first 2, huffing but feeling decent. Could have reached out and touched the top of the 3rd, shifted to a higher gear so I could stand, thought the gear caught, stood up and the gear HADN'T caught.,...so pedals jerk, with my weight on them, knee hit the top tube of the bike, stars going through my head cause it's a bad knee in the first place. I walked the rest of the hill and the knee was hurting too bad to go up the next hill. :( So I came back home. Sweaty and mad!

6 lil miles, and a sore knee!

Kim

[tulip]

14 miles to work this morning, worked all day, 14 miles back this evening. Such is life.

[salsabike]

Didn't get to ride today because of work. Work sure gets in the way of the important stuff.

Mimitabby, LFP is Lake Forest Park, where 3rd Place Books is, and a big entry to the BG trail--a couple of miles south of Logboom. KnottedYet, am consulting husband on best route from Shoreline to LFP, and will PM you, although it sounds like you did great. Did you have to go back UP that hill to go home?

Kimct, Mama said there'd be days like that, right? But there will be better ones too. Know you won't give up. At least today's bad ride is behind you! Everybody's ride sounded great--even the tough ones. Ride on, guys.

[betagirl]

Commuted today, 25 miles round trip. It was the first day back at school after a month off, so that was joyous. Ran over a dirty diaper in the bike lane, and had a kid chase a ball into the street in front of me. Thankfully I saw it bouncing toward the street before it went in front of the rather large van he ran out in front of. Considering I was cruising along around 20mph, that could have been bad. Scared him a bit though :)

[AuntieK]

Rode 14 miles trying out a tri-route with Lifesgreat. Nice route...overlooking the lake in a quiet little community. We practiced some sprints when a neighborhood dog decided to chase us. All in all, lots of fun! :D

[Lifesgreat]

Rode with AuntieK and two other friends on the west side of Utah Lake. We were scoping out the bike portion of a tri I have in 1 1/2 weeks. Boy, can AK sprint when a dog is at her heels :p The dog also chased me. . . almost squirted him with Gatorade. . .

[KnottedYet]

Salsa- yeah, the uphill (Perkins from 3rd Place Books to 185th) was homeward. It was doable in my lowest gear.

Such a pretty route. Nice to know I can get to the Burke without putting the bike in the car. And the traffic on the route really wasn't that bad when I was out there.

[winddance]

Today I rode part of the Bay Trail with bikerz and tomgrrrl (I think?). I came flying home and was already planning on heading out the door to ride Old Tunnel Road when I checked the board on a whim and found that there was a ride being organized!

Of course it was for 6pm, and it was already nearly 6 when I got home, but the two of them were so kind and accomodating in coming back to catch me at Emery Point. It was pleasantly windy, with a beautiful view of the fog rolling into San Francisco, and we enjoyed a brisk, chatty ride. I know the other two added on some miles going back and forth, but I think I did about 14 or so.

[bikerz]

Yes - that was a great ride - the Bay Trail always makes me feel good! It's been a while since I rode with Tomgrrrl - she's FAST! I ended up with 24 miles in, and the little racetrack hill twice!

[kimct]

Salsa, no ma'am I won't be giving up! Think I need a day or two off though...been pushing way hard with distance and I'm really feeling it longer than I should be. I wasn't feeling right when I took off, but was determined to ride....maybe I should have just listened to my body and mind in the first place!



Kim

[tomgrrrl]

I'm not that fast! lol....I had a good time too riding with Z and winddance (who has a very cool looking bike). I don't usually ride in the evening, but I think I'd like to do it more often after tonight's ride....and having a couple nice riding pals doesn't hurt. It was a bit windy, especially along that exposed part in Emeryville, but I actually think the wind calms down a bit in the evening compared to the afternoon. As Ann and Lisa have mentioned, we rode at a nice pace and had great scenery and conversation along the way. The Bay Trail makes me so appreciate what a beautiful place we live in....and it's nice to actually have a (relatively) flat ride....Thanks again for a great ride!

:)

[CorsairMac]

So I decided to pick up some extra miles on my ride home, and I had 1 hour to do it in. Left work and started off on a nice 12 mile route and saw a young man walking his bike on the bike path. Stopped to offer my help and his back tire had slipped out of the dropouts and the tire was rubbing on the frame. Poor kid had not a clue how to fix it soooooooooo, we flipped his bike upside down, I pulled out my trusty Leatherman (it wasn't QR levers but actual bolts) and proceeded to fix his bike. He was all manner of impressed that I A)knew what the problem was and B)had tools With me that could fix it. Got him up and riding and continued on my journey, kinda with less time than I had originally planned but still enough to pick up the miles and Still make it home for my meeting.

Started climbing a long, steady overpass and here come 2 kids weaving and bobbing their way Down the overpass and one calls out "you got a pump?" Well...as a matter of fact I do soooooooooooooooo, we flipped his bike over, spent Forever taking the valve cap off, I had to switch my pump from Presta to Schraeder and pumped his tire up. The kid was Very impressed I had a pump and that it would work on his bike too!! Anddd that I knew what I was doing with it. He had to hold the valve stem since it was not seated in the rim straight - which I suggested he fix when he got home to make it easier to put air in next time. I also joked it was lucky for him I had Just switched from CO2 to a pump or we might've been in trouble. So...he wanted to know all about CO2 cartridges and why I switched and how easy were they for him to carry. I answered all his questions, got his tire pumped up and sent him on His way. Now.........I'm really starting to hurt for time and I'm only halfway home! :eek:

Finished the rest of my ride without incident, walked in the door at 6:10 with my ride due there at 6:15. Whewwwwwwww just made it barely!!!

[bikerz]

Nicely done CM - it never hurts to have some extra bike karma in the bank! :D

[Geonz]

I did a 24 mile loop on my homebound commute, and the rain caught up with me, but by then I was kinda sweaty so it was good. 3 miles from home, I'm cruising down a "hill" (quarter mile long little pimple in the prairie terrain) and a hokey spoke (a big light that attaches to two spokes and sits between them), which had been occasionally clicking, does something noisier and bam! the whole mess is loose and banging around and I'm in danger of being hurled to the ground. I brake sorta hard (I'm incapable of slamming on the brakes... too much winter driving!) and now I'm fishtailing!
I was still mentally trying to decide whether that imbalance was because of the spoke thing or something else, when I realized that a: it was your basic "brake on slimy wet pavement and you're going to skid" and b: I had already moved hips, feet and hands and, without the usual necessary painstaking verbal instruction from the brain, steered out of it *and* braked some more.
I'm limping it forward the 100 feet on this skinny road to a little chunk of gravel so I can take that spoke off, watching like a hawk and yea, here comes a truck... he slows... "Do you want a ride?" ... and his badge says Urbana Police. Alas, I turned him down on the grounds that it was just a broken spoke and I was just a mile out (only a slight fib)... now I'm thinking I should have taken him up on it becuase a: I might have been able to advocate (yes, I'm an almost normal commuter person and it's normal to ride a bike!)... and b: I still had to limp the bike in 'cause one spoke short (and with one hokeyspoke weighing down one side) the front tire had visible (tho' not severe) wobble. OTOH, it would have been a significant bunbite to get my creature into his truck and I was really wet and sweaty and gritty.
So now I switched off wheels with my trek, have the wheel in back to take to the bike shop (because I'm still a Klutz and have some questions about taking it on GITAP): http://www.resourceroom.net/pcc/3wheelbike.jpg