February 20th Rides

Maybe I should call this the second outdoor ride of the year?

It was absolutely gorgeous out today. Sunny, 48 degrees, with a light wind. We really debated taking the road bikes out, but I am glad I erred on the side of caution. The roads were full of snow melt and grit so we took the Jamis Codas. Did about 15.5 miles, saw tons of cyclists. I felt sort of jealous seeing everyone on their road bikes, but mine is too small for a fender, and boy did we need those today. Even with the fenders, I came back looking like I had been mountain biking, with all the mud splatter.
I also got to test out my new winter shoes. After seeing SheFly rave about the PI Gore Tex winter shoes for women, I happened to find a pair on line for about 60% off and the only size left was mine. Of course, I had to buy them. I do a lot of errands on the Jamis, which has spd pedals, in the fall and early spring, when these would be great, instead of just my mtb shoes and booties (which are ripping to shreds on the bottom after 8 years). And I hope to do more mountain biking next fall.
Fifteen miles was just fine, since we are going x country skiing in NH tomorrow.

It too was a beautiful sunny day here in the Bluegrass state. After a short nap this afternoon I decided to take advantage of the sunshine and warm temps (low 50s). I headed out to the countryside to take in what was leftover from our recent snowstorm earlier in the week - simply beautiful. Lakes and ponds frozen over, big drifts in the fields, endless white. It was a great day to ride and it was so nice to get off the trainer. Looks like it is back to the trainer tomorrow and the coming days as rain is forecast for a good part of the upcoming week.

I was planning to get on the trainer before work this morning, but my BF was still asleep, and the trainer's in the bedroom. So, I decided I'd either have to wait for him to get up, and probably be late for work, or I could head outside. I only had an hour, so I threw my clothes on, and did a 13 mile hilly ride. I have been riding outside all winter, but not doing any real hills. I felt like I was going to puke! What fun!

Only 20 kms. or so, though it is sunny, near freezin' temp. rising at least 10 degrees C. I should have done more..but what the heck.

I should have gone earlier. I left home shortly after 8:30 am and already some routes had people working/volunteering at the Olympics walking over to where they need to be. (One can tell by certain jacket colours that they work for the Olympic and ID they wear.)

Tonight we would normally cycle to a friends' party, but dearie got hit by another cyclist 2 days ago and has been told to stay off bike for a wk. His helmeted head did hit the pavement.

So we're busing it and walking it tonight. Probably take in a night art light display along the way.

I rode about 18 miles (no odometer quite yet) rode downtown bought spices at the spice store, got some fine tuning done on my bike, cashed in my gift certificates for CHOCOLATE that my son gave me for my birthday, and rode home in the splendid sunshine. Great day to have a nice bike to ride!

A couple of the guys and I decided to do the regular 7:30 ride (the N2) but we left at 9:30 instead to avoid any black ice. There were 5 of us. When we were around 25 miles, a group of the guys that did the 7:30 ride were coming our way so they turned around to join us. So then it was 9 guys and me. Yes...lucky me :D! It was a great ride. 56 miles. But my bike and I were very, very dirty at the end. I had to wash both of my bikes today. No fun.

Crankin - can't believe I didn't see you out there! How did you like the PI Boots? I ended up with a wet foot today because my tights ended up sliding up over the top, and the water went in the top of the boot, but not till the end of the ride (thankfully). I still really like these - they feel like slippers!

I went out with a teammate today. I've been outside a number of times this season (too many to count, actually), but today was BY FAR the nicest. Sunny and warm-ish (I can call 48 warm after some of my sub 20 degree rides), but with that blasted wind still being a PITA.

We ended up out for FOUR hours, and covered 64 miles. My teammate isn't from this area, so she was completely lost the entire time! Good thing I knew where we were going.

Likely will head out again tomorrow before the snow makes a reapperance here this week.

SheFly

I liked the PI Boots; I thought they might give me heel rub, but that was fine. My left foot felt a bit constricted by the end of the ride, but I think it was merely from the fact that I was overheated from wearing a mid layer that was way too heavy, along with my Ibex tights, so I was just plain hot and my foot swelled a bit. They do feel like slippers a little!
I didn't get wet because I had those little gaiters on. They are somewhat a PITA, but for the way the streets are, it's fine. I'm thinking I might put spd pedals on my road bike just for the month of March, since they were so comfy.

My son bought road bike shoes today and is getting clipless pedals. Oh, he is going down the slippery slope quite quickly....

I spent yesterday snowshoeing in the Berkshires, where it was overcast and below freezing all day and had snowed the night before. Funny that it was so warm and sunny in eastern Mass at the same time. I did a 31 mile ride today.