Rain Rain Go AWAY!

Just got back from a weekend in Spokane visiting my son. No rain on Saturday or Sunday. We did have a gray start but by noon the sun broke out and it was breezy and nice. When we left this morning it was raining. Had a great visit with my son. Did not get a ride in so I'll have to ride after work this week or go to the gym.


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My daughter, my son, and me at Riverfront Park.

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Bike trail at Riverfront Park. I believe it goes all the way to Coeur d'alene, ID. I will be visiting my son again this summer and I plan to ride the trail.

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Fountain at the park.

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My daughter and me.

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My son and hubby enjoying the sunshine as they munch on mini donuts and milk.

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Radio Flyer. Not bike wheels but some mighty BIG WHEELS! :)

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Both of my kids, out of college, in their twenties, and they still act like kids! Weeeeeee!

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Look Mom, no hands!

We got rain all 3 days for our Memorial weekend ride in Vancouver Island. I didn't bring my rain layers but had a great time anyway!

Beats getting snowed on in Edmonton. :cool:

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Originally Posted by Stellar1

I too, love the NW. When I travel and fly back home over the Sound I'm always excited to see home.

Now about the rain: I rode out to the Black Diamond Bakery yesterday (Sunday) dodging rain showers. Really it wasn't bad, lots of mist, but no real rain. That's why gortex was invented.

My hubby just had his Orbea Onix re-geared and is chomping at the bit to get in a hill ride. His riding career started when he lived in Hawaii so I have a hard time getting him out in below 65 degree weather.

See you on the road.

Stellar 1 (Rodriguez Stellar, coming up on six years old.):)

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I've got a Stellar too...and since you mention the Black Diamond bakery, it reminded me of my friend Estelle - an amazing person and cyclist, who actually designed the Stellar. She moved out of the Seattle area, but loved that ride, as well as any other ride with a bakery on the route!
There's even an out of print book that she wrote the preface for, Bakeries by Bicycle - A Guide to Puget Sound's Best Bakeries - By Fred Wert. Unfortunately, a numer of the bakeries are no longer in business, but it's uniquely Puget Sound anyway ~
I rode out in the Carnation valley yesterday and also lucked out in avoiding any downpours...the sunshine and blue skies this afternoon was a nice surprise, so I fit in a walk since I didn't have my bike with me...
Tailwinds!
Mary

Black Diamond Bakery . . . one of my favorite stopping spots!

Carnation . . . one of my favorite riding spots!

Glad to see a lot of people got out on their bikes this crazy weather weekend. So, when can we say good bye to this weather pattern? I'm ready for 70 and up temps with plenty of blue sky and sunshine.

Jessica, I read at the cascade forum that the training rides were canceled due to rain. Did you get out this weekend?

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Originally Posted by Susan126

Bike trail at Riverfront Park. I believe it goes all the way to Coeur d'alene, ID. I will be visiting my son again this summer and I plan to ride the trail.

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It sure does. From downtown Spokane, there is a paved MUP-like section that takes you just past Gonzaga, then there's a nice bike lane for about 10 or so miles to Spokane Valley. From there, it goes back to MUP for about 20 or so miles to Post Falls (over the Idaho border), then some turns on the road, then back to MUP for about 5 miles into Coeur d'Alene, then some turns on the road, then back to MUP alongside the road on a nice lakeside tour of Lake Coeur d'Alene. We usually have wind going one way or the other (as I'm sure you enjoyed even though it was sunny ;)) that changes a little as you cross the river and again in Coeur d'Alene along the lake, but it varies. The trail is generally flat, with some rollers, and a couple of hills toward the Coeur d'Alene end.

If you go the other direction from downtown, you can connect to Riverside State Park (probably 5 or so miles the other way). I can't vouch for that part of the trail, I can't ever figure out how it connects by myself going East to West and riding through Riverfront Park sometimes drives me nuts. ;)

Happy riding! Glad you brought some nice weather for a couple days and enjoyed the red wagon and giant blocks (and garbage goat, I presume). :)

Colby it looks like I will be doing three things on my next visit. 1. Visit my son, 2. Ride the trail, and 3. Do some exploring! :D

I ordered a beautiful map a month or two ago of the entire trail system. It's in color, lists points where you can park, connections everything. So with my map and bike with me this summer I will be ready for a wonderful ride and a great adventure. :)

The garbage goat is one cool critter. It scared me at first; the air suction is strong. Now where does all that garbage go? :confused: :p

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Originally Posted by Susan126

Jessica, I read at the cascade forum that the training rides were canceled due to rain. Did you get out this weekend?

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No, I didn't. It was raining :( This Thursday it looks like it's not supposed to rain so I think I'll try to do Tiger Mountain from the house. It's almost 40 miles, with two big hills (one being Tiger Mountain :D). I still want to do the 100 mile Flying Wheels ride, but it all depends on the weather and if I get enough training in until then. I think I'll wait to register until the morning of, just in case it ends up raining the day of, because I'm not going to do it if it's raining. The way things have been going, that seems like a very real possibility!

What about you, get any rides in lately? My husband did this 40 mile loop by our house today that's pretty hilly, I'm jealous. I spent the day at the Harborview Trauma Conference instead!

No I didn't get a ride in this Memorial Day weekend. Joe, Jackie, and me went to Spokane to visit Aaron so zero riding accomplished. After work today I went out on my new Cannodale and got 5 miles in before returning home. It began raining and I just didn't feel in the mood for a ride in the rain. My last big ride was Sunday, May 23rd, 85 miles. I'm going to try and ride on Thursday after work (according to the weather report our nicest day this week) and then do either the 70 or 100 mile route of the Peninsula Metric this weekend.

I will keep thinking sun sun sun for your Thursday ride Jessica! :)

your son is VERY HANDSOME! and what a great park you guys went to..
sun? uh. hm. i remember that.

Thanks Biciclista! It was so nice seeing him this last weekend. :)

Yay! Finally got to ride outside for the first time in ohhh.... 2 weeks?? I did 45.6 miles, and I would estimate about 3,000 feet of climbing. But I was definitely feeling it and did a much slower pace than usual. However, I did two big hills that always scare me, Tiger Mountain, and 140th. If the weather does what it's supposed to I'll get in two similar rides on Monday and Tuesday (I have to work this weekend). I hope everyone got to enjoy some bike time today, FINALLY!!!

Yeah Jessica! So happy you got out yesterday and rode! It was a beautiful day. I wish I could have gone out first thing in the morning but I had to work. But I did go for a quick 20 mile ride immediately after work. :D It does look like Monday and Tuesday will indeed be very dry days. :)

I only have two more weeks of work and then bring on my summer break! I can't wait! :D

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Originally Posted by Susan126

Yeah Jessica! So happy you got out yesterday and rode! It was a beautiful day. I wish I could have gone out first thing in the morning but I had to work. But I did go for a quick 20 mile ride immediately after work. :D It does look like Monday and Tuesday will indeed be very dry days. :)

I only have two more weeks of work and then bring on my summer break! I can't wait! :D

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Ahhh! That's so nice... I wish I could have a summer break from work. I definitely need a mental break. I'm taking a week off during STP, and then another week in August.

Sue - how did the Peninsula ride go?

Jessica I didn't go! I woke up at 5:00 AM this morning to a down pour outside my bedroom window and said, "NO WAY!" and went straight back to bed. I just didn't feel like riding in the rain today. I did ride yesterday, not a long ride, but I did ride. Needless to say I need to RIDE as many days as I can this week! So right after work tomorrow I intend on getting a 30-45 mile ride in and that goes for Tuesday, and Wednesday, and any day this week that's nice. It looks like a pretty decent week too.

So are you going to ride tomorrow and Tuesday? The Flying Wheels is this Saturday and it looks like it's going to be sunny. I'm looking forward to it. I want to start early. Like right at 8:00 AM and just take my time and try and finish the 100 mile course. :) At least that's the plan!