October 16 rides

cloudy and now it's raining, but I'm addicted. IT should stop by the time I go home 'cause I'll be here 'til 9:40. Had to put a big box on the back of the bike and get it to the post office, where I was accosted as I attempted to lock my bike to the parking meter. When the guy pointed to the bike racks that are about 50 yards away, I just said, "Oh, I'm just dense," and made to move over... and the guy with him made a point to ask about my bike and how the "xtra" rides.
Of course, that made me a little late, and then I realized I'd forgotten my clothes to change into ... so I zipped back (but it's an extra 1.2 miles for bj!!!) ... and I had a tailwind, so I managed to get here at 9:01 without being in a *total* lather (and since I had clothes to change into it didn't really matter).
Tomorrow we have a "Bicycling & Pedestrian Advisory Committee" meeting in town. There may even be some public turnout since the cycling fatality since the last one got a fair amount of press.
Yes, I"m going to break out the trainer, too. I want to lose 3 pounds between now and that party...

I did my favorite 19.5 mile ride this afternoon.

Started out at 55 degrees and long gloves, warm tights, wool socks, thin merino base layer topped by heavy wool sweater and a smartwool helmet liner. In the cold wind all that felt really good, but then about 1/4 way through I had to shed some layers. Put my regular gloves instead, lost the helmet liner, and changed my heavy sweater for a second thin merino turtleneck- and that combo was just right.

I managed to make some cable tension adjustments little by little during the ride that helped my current rear shifting issues that developed last week. It's not perfect yet but quite rideable again now.
I felt really GOOD today on my ride- stronger, looser, comfortable all over. It was a beautiful day and a beautiful ride, good to be alive!!

We had a welcomed warm day, about 70. Perfect except for the wind. I rode 32 miles and enjoyed :) my downhill with no jitters! I loved not having to bring my camelback and wear all those clothing layers.

Had a great ride today! I'm taking vacation this week, so after a relaxing morning and a long walk with the dogs, I changed into my cycling gear and took off for a ride. I headed out of town towards a loop that I haven't done in ages. I told myself that I'd get to the half-way point by 4 so that I could be back in time to hit the grocery store and still get dinner done by a reasonable hour. By 4, I wasn't as far as I had hoped, so I did the smart thing and turned around. It made sense for my schedule and considering that I didn't have any lights on me and I was afraid to get caught in the dark. It was a fun ride in great weather (60 degrees and just shy of 'peak' colors!). I so rarely get to ride my road bike these days, so I really enjoyed it.

I didn't download the info, but I think I did about 17-18 miles in just over an hour. Oh, and I'll be going back out with less time restrictions tomorrow so that I can do the WHOLE loop! :)

I have been away from my bike for almost a week, it just about killed me! I stayed with my mother for a few days while she was having cataract surgery in Portland ME, then we, 2 of my sisters and my mom, had our annual girls weekend in Essex MA!! Awesome time, massages, facial, hair done...lots of talking and laughing..so cool..but no bike. Today I did not work, so I rode my mtn bike to the gym, it was about 29 degrees and then after the gym I rode a quick loop, about 16 miles total. Then later in the afternoon when it warmed up I went for a ride on my road bike, it was very windy but I did 17 miles. It was so nice to be able to get out and ride again. :) :)

This morning the rain came down in buckets and I thought we would have to run. :cool: As I was driving home from a good day at work (I got a good merit raise), I realized the roads were completely dry. I had expected there to be puddles everywhere. While I was walking my dogs I noticed very little wind stirring the flags across the street and the temperature was an amazing low 80's.

I sent DH a text message at five til 5:00 telling him "no running, let's go riding!" To my delight he got off on time and to his delight I suggested his favorite 18 mile route. We had a great time, barely snuck home by sundown. Our total was 18.19 miles, average speed of 16.8 mph. It is so great to put in some miles after work, I hate that it is about to be over for 6 months!

Did my usual Monday night ride half way home. 18.5 miles with a somewhat decent hill in the middle. Felt really hard for some reason. Must be the lack of activity and lack of sleep over the week-end (away at a wedding). And it is getting cooler out. Had to stop after just a few minutes to put a sweater on and my legs never quite warmed up. After I stopped, I quickly got very cold. Think it is time to do a bit more shopping today and order some warm tights. It is also getting dark very early now. I'll have to bring some extra lights next week I think. It was already dark by the time I got half way. But I'm not giving up my riding!

Welp, I'm getting ready to head back home and it's raining pretty hard... but MacGyver would be proud of me. I dropped new batteries 'way down in my HokeySpokes (it's three batteries going straight down)... and the sproingy thing was ftummeled. How to reach???? Ah! There's this copper wire I refused to throw out from at least a year ago... and it's right there! stretch it out... stick it down... rattle it around... The sproingers are sproinging again (instead of sploitching into the side of the hokeyspoke).
Alas, I have no ductape to put the newly batteried light on, so I'll have tos tick to the oldly batteried... but hmmm.... maybe that copper wire will wrap around and do the trick... Okay dampness, here I come!

... okay, it's Tuesday morning and I see I didn't send this :)

Copper wire worked fine, I had to do some serious sidewalking to get around athe flooded road, but almost no traffic and warm enough to still be comfy. Gore-Tex is good (especially when it was a gift)!