Happy July 4th US!

[nancielle]

What are people's plans for today?

The uncharacteristic quietness on my street for a Tuesday morning is quite nice.:D

My city has a parade which will be starting in a couple of hours. Forget driving there. All streets in the area will be closed to traffic (except emergency vehicles, natch) so the bike makes more sense. Once the streets are reopened will be heading to a friend's who lives on a lake. If the threatened "scattered thunderstorms" hold off (although it's nice and sunny at the moment) we'll take her boat out.

She even has thoughts of trying -again- to teach me to kayak (painfully humiliating attempt :o :D previously.)


Be safe out there.

[KnottedYet]

I've got a morning open water swim planned with a friend who is also doing the Danskin in August, then we're going to the 4th of July BBQ that all my college housemates and their S.O.'s and kids have every year. Last year someone commented that we were all nearly the same age now as our parents were back when we all lived together.

I'm too young to be middle aged!

No fireworks for me, I have to work tomorrow and just can't stay up that late.

[Lise]

I just heard the Declaration of Independence read on NPR. Gives me chills every time.

I'm riding out to my sister's. 9 miles across the west side of Chicago, not a fun ride, but a ride none-the-less! I was going to take the Marin--easier to transport watermelon chunks in the panniers than on my back. But decided to take the Bianchi--my nephew will think it's cool, and impressing the 7 year old is what it's all about in my world! The Timbuk 2 carries everything on my back, and if it's watermelon soup when I get there...that will be a learning opportunity, right?! :o :p

We'll watch their small-town middle America parade, and then head back to the house for chow. Looks like perfect weather for the 4th of July.

Have a great Independence Day, my sister Americans! :D

[margo49]

Last year someone commented that we were all nearly the same age now as our parents were back when we all lived together.

I'm too young to be middle aged!

.
Oh Knotted , do I know that one!

[Nanci]

I'm working till 2:00, then riding my bike somewhere.

[horsemom]

Good morning, Ladies!

My husband and I are taking the dogs for a hike to a remote waterfall near here, then I am running up the gulf on the way home - training for a big 100 mile endurance (horse) ride in CA in Aug. When the hubby and the dogs catch up, we are heading home to work on the stone we are siding our house with. I'd like to get a bike ride in - my new GF Cobia is still at the shop, though. Most likely going to fireworks this evening, but I too, have to work tomorrow.

Happy trails-
Laura

[Brandi]

Happy 4th!!
Well my day is starting out with a ride with my best friend. Then I am coming home to make brownies for our little celebration tonight. Every year my dh and I get our kayaks and meet our best friends ( we have at least 6 best friends,very lucky) in morro bay with thier boats and we all paddle over to this sand spit. We bring blankets,hot coffee and chocolate, maybe a couple desserts. And watch the fire works they set off from the boat launch docks. It is really nice at the sand spit cause the tourist that come to town all hang out at the park by the docks. they don't have boats like us. So it is all locals at the spit. I think last year there were only 5 big groups of people on the three mile long sand spit that seperates the ocean from the estuary. And then by the time you have paddled back to the docks the crowds are gone. It is really cool! And most 4th of july's I am working and don't get to relax so it is nice to be able to spend one at home with the one's I love!

[bikerchick68]

I'm at work today... hoping to sneak out a bit early tho and then go home and rototill a new island flower bed I am creating... have about 30 plants just waiting for homes! :D Then at some point I will bbq a chicken breast, make some veggies, open a beer and watch the Tour. :)

[hirakukibou]

I rode with the club today again. I rode over the weekend almost 100 miles, and then another 67 today. The most I've ridden in one day. I have been improving and it is fun. I can actually keep up most of the time and today I even pulled for part of the ride. My skills on hills are improving too. I told the leader that today I want to wear the polka dot jersey. :) It was a fun day. No other real plans other than to rest.

[Fredwina]

My club had a "show n' go " ride today. Only two of us showed. Warren and I changed our minds halfway through the ride and went up a road in the mountains that is closed to cars (Glendora Mountain Road). Despite it being blazing hot, we both made good time. We had to make little detour for the City Of La Verne's 4th parade. I did a little extra so I could get a metric century in for the day. watched Le tour, too

[LL_Super_D]

Went mountain biking today, and discovered what a clipless wonder I am off road :p . Fell too many times to count cause I couldn't clip out in time (maybe it's just time to admit I need different pedals). No harm done though! In fact if I wasn't clipped in to my bike as I fell, there was one point where I definitely would have fallen a lot further into the ravine! Off to a bbq and a game of kickball.

[Geonz]

12 of us went on a ride (45 miles), then I went out on the parade route ChampaignCountybikes.org with the blender set up and my piggy helmet. There was a two-person bike wtih mujsical instruments as part of it, a "buddy bike" (tandem with two people next to each other), some amazing bike decorations... and at least soemthing else besides Scot's neat 3-speed that he built... It was neat 'cause there were about 20 riders. We were the very, very last people in the parade (besides the street sweepers). THe smoothies were great at the end.

[im4smiley]

Well I left the family while they were still in bed and headed out to do a group ride and picnic in Vermont. We drove to Putney and then we split into two groups, one doing an old race loop that was 62 miles and my group did a 25 mile trip that really ended up being 35 miles. The first seven miles was a slow steady uphill climb! ugh! We had a nice down hill run to the town of Saxtons River. They were having a town celebration so we walked through town because there were too many people to ride. Then we headed uphill again. I don't remember all the towns but we went through Bellows Falls and ended up back in Putney. I couldn't believe the hills! The heat and humidity made it tough, we were (dare I say this) actually wishing the sprinkles that landed on us would turn to a rain shower! After the ride we went to one of the group members houses and had a nice potluck picnic. I got home around 5pm and now will spend time with the hubby. Our fireworks are next Saturday! :)

[makbike]

I rode a short century (90 miles) through some very hilly terrain. It was a small group, started out as six riders and quickly dwindled down to three. There were only two store stops along the way and boy did I welcome both. Our biggest and longest climb took us up the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Our ride captain was very knowledgable about the area and share tid bits here and there along the way. A the top of this long and what seemed endless climb (it was approximately 1 long) we stopped at a lookout sight to catch our breath and take in a beautiful sight. From there we had only 25 miles to go but I swear they were the toughest 25 miles I've ridden in a long time. I found myself counting off the remaining miles. We found ourselves racing an approaching storm the last 10 miles or so and those dark clouds helped all of us dig a little deeper and push a little harder to the finish. The heat and humidity were tough today. I drank 8 bottles (20 oz) of gatorade during the ride, a liter of water and felt somewhat dehydrated (mild stomach/intestinal cramps).

Our ride captain today had ridden a century on Saturday and was riding strong today, boy I hope I can do that some day. He also shared that he has ridden at least one century every month for the past 63 months - I found this amazing to say the least and so very cool.

[im4smiley]

oooh I forgot to say....I saw a Pileated Woodpecker on my ride today!! Flew across the road in front of us ....soooo cool!!

[Trek420]

I awoke to fog. Watching the tour I checked TE, bikerz had PM'd me "how about a ride?".

"let me get some coffee first" I replied and I did.

We agreed to meet up at ACT noon'ish (scene of next Saturdays ride, hint, hint). We had a great ride, the weather had cleared by the time we set out, it was not crowded on the trail. They must all be watching the Tour

I had a case of hotfoot, time to change shoes or new Smartfeet or both so we just did the out and back, skipping Jobob nemesis hill...but not Jobob. :)

We ran into (not literaly) the Bob's and stopped for a chat.

According to Bikerzs digital helmet mounted weathervane (just kidding, she does not have one but wouldn't that be cool?) we had about 60% headwind, 20% crosswind.

Great ride, great company, nice to see the Bobs. Thanks TE for introducing me to these great folk.

Now just keeping the dog calm.

[salsabike]

We took the tandem on an easy 40 mile trail ride today---no hills, to the bagle shop and back. Taking it easy on the 4th, hiding the cats from neighborhood firecrackers. Went by Bothell Landing Park on the ride home and saw people in costume ready to reenact the Battle of Concord, I believe. Why in Washington State? Why not, I guess...Happy 4th, all.

[betagirl]

Did a 40 mile ride today, with 20 of those with Fuji girl.

Currently I'm admiring the fireworks one of my neighbors invested in. They're shooting them off a bit south of me and I can see them out my office window. Fireworks are "illegal" in Illinois, which equates to everyone driving over the border to Indiana to buy them. They do have busts on the border every year, but most people manage to get whatever they want back.

[Lise]

18 miles to/from my sister's. Headwind the entire way back.

And now, my neighborhood sounds like I imagine the seige of Sarajevo must've sounded. I hate the neighborhood fireworks part of the 4th of July.

[Duck on Wheels]

No ride today as I am again (temporarily) Bikeless. Walked to downtown Sonoma with my 83-yr-old Mom. She was staffing a table on the Plaza, I was walking in the parade with first the Peace and Justice Committee and then Health Care for All. Great crowd, great weather, lotsa fun, and PJC won the grand prize for best parade entry. :D Then wandered around the Plaza getting blasted by bands from all quarters -- good bands, but hard to enjoy blues in one ear and salsa in the other at once. Walked home, frosted the cupcakes, then took cupcakes and biscotti over to Mom's neighbors' burger bbq and watched the town fireworks from their back yard. Oooooh! Aaaah! Wow! and Ooooh again!

[emily_in_nc]

No ride today as I am again (temporarily) Bikeless.

Bikeless??? How? Why? :confused:

I can't ride for another week or so myself - doctor's orders. I had laser surgery on a varicose vein last week and am not to ride for another week. The leg is sore from groin to the back of my knee, so I don't have the strong desire to ride until it feels better, anyway. So I spent my 4th reassembling my new Titus Racer X that came UPS Monday (ebay purchase). She is just lovely and hugely lighter than my Novara Bonita (starter mtb). Taking her to the LBS today for some service. So, even though I couldn't ride, working on my ride made for a fun 4th. Also watched the tour, of course. Other than that, just enjoyed a day off from work! :)

Emily

[Trek420]

emily_in_nc "Bikeless??? How? Why? :confused:"

Duck on wheels bike is now on her way home....to Norway. I'm working on a rental bike for her so she can join us on the 8th. Her next bike needs to be a bike Friday ;-)