Daily rides thread...

I've been thinking lately that we should have a daily ride thread. Just a thread where you can share anything you want about your ride of the day.
I always see things on my rides that I think would be cool to share with you all, but I never get around to it. So I think I'm going to start a daily thread, and if I miss a day, maybe one of y'all can pick it up for me. I think it would be fun to see what riding is like in other parts...
So to start er' off, here is mine... :)

I just started back working after a two year quasi retirement. Luckily I'm working in my husbands office, so I have tons of flexiblity. But I do still miss my mid morning ride. So to get my training in I have to get up at 5:00 am to go for a run, and then I ride when he gets home from 6ish to around 7:15- 7:30 (dark). It sure is cool seeing the sun rise and set. The mornings are cool (for now) and gorgeous. And by cool I mean low 70's. I usually run in a tank top and shorts.
Tonight I was feeling tired, but I knew I would feel better if I got out for a ride. And of course- I did. It's different riding in the evening with the shadows and all, but cool at the same time. I saw my favorite jack rabbit with the long ears. He always stops and watches me. The saguaros are blooming, so the cactus wrens were out in full force. I thought of Nanci. I looked towards the sierra estrellas and saw the faint outline of the moon. Wow, it's gonna be a full one tonight. There were clouds to the west, so I knew I was in for a spectacular sunset. As I rode there was a faint breeze, which was nice since it hit 100 today and was probably still in the mid to low 90's. I felt strong going up the hills on my hill repeats, so that was nice. Usually by the end of the week I'm dragging my tail!
I had to slow coming back down the hill for a quail family to cross. I love quail, they are so cute. And this was quite a big family! They must have had 7-8 "kids"... COOL!
Before I knew it the gps read 13 miles, and the sierra's were turning their signature shade of purple. A sure sign that sunset is upon us. The moon was now getting quite bright. I said hello to him.. :p
I started heading back, but stopped to look towards the west to enjoy another spectacular desert sunset. It seemed like I flew home, but I had to. I still had my sunglasses on and didn't want to break my stride by stopping to change them. At 7:20 I pulled into the house with a HUGE smile on my face.
It was a beautiful day! And I must give thanks for having been given another day to enjoy it!
So now it's your turn... How was your ride today? (or run, swim, walk, hike, etc.)

My ride to work was a bit fast, because I passed a school with kids and parents and busses all arriving and had a pile of SUV's behind me. The lead SUV wouldn't pass, so I lead the parade to the corner where I turned left. Talke about speedy cadence!:)

It was bright (but not sunny) and suddenly there were a few BIIIIIG drops of rain which made a surprising amount of noise when they hit my jacket.

My ride home was also on the speedy side, because it was getting dark. I wore my Whisper vest and it kept me from sweating as miserably on the uphill as my jacket does. At one point I pulled over and hung my nite-ize light on the back of my pannier. Just in case. I pulled over right in front of a park with huge cedar trees. Kinda the forest primeval.

Had to use my granny gear a bit more than usual. It seems like I'm definitely going faster with the clipless pedals. Like 5.2 mph uphill rather than 4.5.

Yesterday's ride went really well...at least until I got home, anyway. Did my usual out and back route with the rolling whoop-tee-doos which I enjoy. I had just cleaned my chain Wednesday evening and was looking forward to a nice ride without shifting issues. Had a nice ride, average pace went way up, most likely because we were house hunting Wednesday and I couldn't ride. But, as I was crossing the railroad tracks two miles from the house, I freewheeled. As I did, I heard the typical ratcheting, but something else as well. Got home and took a closer look. I certainly have something not quite right in my cassette. It doesn't make noise like that and I'm not comfortable with it. Off to the my favorite wrench after work and hope he can clear up what is wrong rather quick, as I have a metric century this next weekend.

I stopped and listen to the wheat fields today. It was so nice. And even though I hate the wind when I ride it really does make things more interesting! I looked over at a rolling grass field and you could see the wind rolling across it. I made a little poem up in my head as I watched it. But it's silly so I will keep it to myself. But I imagined it was spirits walking across the grass from the ocean. Ok a little creepy. I also noticed today how sweet the air smelled with all the floweres blooming and all the tree's blooming. I am glad I am not allergic to spring like some people. I am just allergic to everything else! Well off to back pack for the weekend!

wow Brandi! Sounds like a very cool ride!

<----hangs head - I drove today! One of the very rare days when I Wasn't on the bike! ROFL....but my drive was very nice, I rolled all the windows down and "pretended" I was on the bike! :p

and I'm going to buy a new tire pump and tire for the bike - does that kinda count?? LOL

I drove up to a trailhead all ready for a couple hours ride, rode one mile up the trail and decided to stand and hammer up a little hill. Didn't realize my gearing had my chain crossed and I broke my chain. Considered doing an on-the-trail repair but since it was mostly downhill from there I coasted out. I had to "Fred Flintstone" back to the car, as I didn't want to walk and my seat was lowered for the downhill anyway. So my little hardtail is at the shop getting a new chain (she was due). While I was there I test road a little 14" Gary Fisher WSD Cake2 GS full suspension bike... to be continued???

Last night's ride was pretty cool. I rode a twenty-eight miler down to the observatory where I work part time and as I was turning into the park entrance, the full moon had just crested the bluffs in the east. It had an awesome pink tinge to it that later turned to a beautiful yellow later while we had the telescopes on it.

Oh, I just found my new LBS as well. I came home from Wednesday's ride with noise in my cassette/hub area. Took it yesterday into a new LBS I had been advised about and told the cute wrench what my symptoms were. He took my bike for a spin in the parking lot, then put her on the stand. Fifteen minutes later, he had repacked the grease in the hub, tightened the spokes on the rear wheel, cleaned/lubed the drivetrain, and inspected the cassette. When I asked what I owed, he said nothing! :eek: Wow! I will certainly be doing more business there.

Oh yeah!! Give that shop LOTS of business!! My LBS did that with my sons bike. He has some shifting issues and they fixed it up right quick. He didn't charge me either. I was shocked!! The lbs is part of a big chain (well it was- supergo) so I sent an email to the corp. office praising him. Corporate sent it to the store and they had it hanging in the shop. pretty funny.