New Years Day Rides

Just got back from our city's all club Ride in the New Year ride. The ride start was cool for us, only high 30s. I was freezing at the start, but resisted adding layers since I knew it would warm up fast. It was in the mid-50s by the end so it was a good thing. Not too much wind and abundant sunshine. I love the way the cacti and bare trees look this time of year, when the sun is shining down in the crisp winter air. I did get a flat (big chunk of glass caught in my front tire) but it was a good opprotunity to teach my riding partner how to change a flat. I didn't realize she didn't know how. She carries equipment, but always one of the guys fixes it although she told me once it happened one she was alone so she hitched a ride with a cowboy So, 35 miles to start the 2007 log. Forgot to say yesterday, ended up with 3760 miles for 2006. Trying to make 4000 for 2007! HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL.

My first off-road use of the new-to-me Fuji Thrill mountain bike. It's a hardtail. Actually, it has no suspension at all. I took a ride around the Lake Youngs Watershed, so about 9 and a half miles, plus 4 miles out and back home, giving me about 14 or 15 miles for today.

I did not see any other cyclists. Quite a few walkers/runners, though. I was surprised to see so many people out early. I think I started down there around 0730, took about 1.5 hours to get around.

East Hill

Too cold to ride outside so I opted for 18 miles on my trainer in my warm living room. I watched the WV vs. GT football game - a good one at that and much better than the one I watched earlier as my Tenn Vols went down in defeat - oh well.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by makbike

Too cold to ride outside so I opted for 18 miles on my trainer in my warm living room. I watched the WV vs. GT football game - a good one at that and much better than the one I watched earlier as my Tenn Vols went down in defeat - oh well.

---

No! They're my Vols. ;) I watched much of that game from my trainer as well.

I got up at 5:30 and was on the road by 6:15. We had a three club ride to watch the Tournament of Roses parade. There was about 20 people that got up bright and early to do the 57 mile route. A couple of folks turned back because of dense fog at the start. We were out of it after 5 mile and soon arrived at Citrus College in Azusa, where we picked up about 30-40 more riders who were only doing 25 miles. We had a wonderful time watching the parade (Favorite "float": The Star wars Stormtroopers marching band - George Lucas was the Grand Marshall) after a couple of hour, my clubs folks, about 20, decided to have lunch. We went to our traditional sport only to find out it had closed for the day! I knew where there was a Denny's so we headed there. There was line out the door there, so we backtracked to a Bagel and Grill place (it was either that or In-n-out - sorry Caligurl!) after the refuel stop, I escorted a tandem couple who did not the way back. When we got to where they knew the way, the let me go on ahead - I thought I could in 75 - I was feeling good- but when got further east (about mile 65), I ran into the Santa Ana Winds coming off the Cajon pass. They're about 40 mph gusts. I was doing 6mph on level ground. It's like a hurricane without rain. I fought them for about a mile, before deciding it was safer to return home. Wound with 70 for the day, which is 1% of my goal for the year:)
PS - I'm working on uploading my photos will edit when they're ready.
Edit . I got them uploaded. Sorry the Stormtrooper didn't turn out too well:

http://s122.photobucket.com/albums/o...parade%202007/

http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o...omtroopers.jpg

Once I finally decided I did want to ride today, we only had time for a short ride. It was better that way, I have been battling tummy cramps for two days and last nights festivities left me a little less than 100%.

We did a 15.18 mile loop around our little country town. The bad thing about being out here is there is no real regulation on dogs. Someone's pit bull and chow came chasing me. I thought they were behind a fence until they jump through the barb wire! I am normally not one that gets worried about a particular breed, but these two were snarling and barking. DH kept encouraging me to just keep riding, hoping I would get away from their territory. Bad thing was they were at the base of a semi-steep climb, I was pushing along with all my might but dropping speed quickly. Luckily, a motorist in a Dodge Durango made a u-turn to pull on their side of the road and block them from me. He/she also kept honking at them. I was too scared to turn around and thank her, but I was relieved. I really think she distracted the pit from lunging at me.

After that, the second half of the ride was pretty uneventful! We came home, I took a warm shower and now plan to retreat to watch some football.

DH and I got up and rode a little over 12 miles. It doesn't seem like much but my average speed was around 15 mph, which makes me very happy. Of course, I was dead tired when I got back, but I'm very very proud of myself. I'm starting to feel ALMOST like a "real" cyclist.:D

Got up, looked at the rain ,and went back to bed...never got out of my PJs today. ; ((( I think its supposed to rain much of the week.

A beautifully brisk and clear day (once the fog burned off) here in the Bay Area - I did a 20 mile "saddle break-in" ride with 2 friends along the San Francisco Bay Trail. I was on and off my bike several times to adjust my saddle, and even so, it was lovely ride - everyone was out trying out their new gear (or their new year's resolutions!) The jury is still out on my Brooks, but I know I need to give it another 100 miles or so.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bikerz

A beautifully brisk and clear day (once the fog burned off) here in the Bay Area - I did a 20 mile "saddle break-in" ride with 2 friends along the San Francisco Bay Trail. I was on and off my bike several times to adjust my saddle, and even so, it was lovely ride - everyone was out trying out their new gear (or their new year's resolutions!) The jury is still out on my Brooks, but I know I need to give it another 100 miles or so.

---

FYI, what I finally figured out on my brooks finesse, was that I needed to have the nose of the saddle level, which means the rear is higher, and also have it far back enough on the rails that my sit bones were supported by the leather and not metal frame. Furthermore, since it is higher in back, I had to slightly lower the seatpost, and that eliminated any crotch discomfort, if that is what you are still feeling. It takes about 100 miles to feel pretty good, and about 1000 miles to feel like you are gliding on air. YMMV, but its worth playing with the fit cuz once you dial it in its the best saddle I've ever used.

Thanks for the tips - that's what I hear from everyone, and I am SOOOO hopeful that it will be true for me too. I've been looking for a good saddle for 2 years now (this is saddle #8) but my first Brooks. I am highly motivated to get it dialed in!

I hadn't thought about dropping the seat height - that will be my next adjustment - I'm definitely feeling what you describe in the crotch area. The saddle is about as far back as it can go, and since I feel the inclination to sit back even farther, I might need a seat post with more of a set-back too. I need to proof-hide it too, because it is pretty slippery now.

A saddle cover is nice with a new Brooks, it keeps you from slipping around on the saddle.


I must have Brooks-shaped butt, I got a new B17ti last week and it was fine after about, oh, 3 miles. :rolleyes: It's still really slippery though.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bikerz

Thanks for the tips - that's what I hear from everyone, and I am SOOOO hopeful that it will be true for me too. I've been looking for a good saddle for 2 years now (this is saddle #8) but my first Brooks. I am highly motivated to get it dialed in!

I hadn't thought about dropping the seat height - that will be my next adjustment - I'm definitely feeling what you describe in the crotch area. The saddle is about as far back as it can go, and since I feel the inclination to sit back even farther, I might need a seat post with more of a set-back too. I need to proof-hide it too, because it is pretty slippery now.

---

Too relieve that front of the crotch 'pressure' I had to do both things I described, turn it down in front (but put a level on about the front 8cm) and lower it a tad to compensate for the sit bones being higher. I also had to get a more laid back seatpost to get it far back enough. An inexpensive option is the special kalloy uno 374 from Wallingford (this is more laid back than other unos in QPB) for only $19: http://www.wallbike.com/seatposts/uno374.html
If you like it, but want one in carbon the alpha Q pro carbon is very similar:
http://harriscyclery.net/page.cfm?Pa...ils&sku=ST4701
Others are more laid back (like the selcolf) but then don't tilt down enough. Good luck. Its really worth working this out.

Nope didn't happen! I wanted to but my body said no way!

For the past 4 years, one of our local ladies organizes a RIDE THE TEMPERATURE bicycle ride on New Year's Day. Living in Virginia, it has been in the 40's - 50's each year. We ride whatever the temperature is suppose to be at noon on that day -- or something close to it. This year we had a smaller crowd than normal, 27 cyclist, because of rainy weather the day and morning before the ride, but it cleared-up nicely by 1 PM and we rode. Goal was 54 miles for 54 degrees. Somehow I got 57.5 miles, so all is good.

We SHOULD'VE hit the road yesterday, but it was too cold so we hit the trail instead. Did a 3 hour ride on mostly dry/tacky trail. Was a tough ride with lots of climbing, but a lot of fun. Here is a pic of DH descending a steep slope (doesn't look all that steep, but you should've seen it from the top :) ).

My boyfriend and I decided to head out to the Katy Trail in Missouri to "ride in the new year" on our own! And we were definitely on our own ... not too many people out there in the cold temps. We camped overnight, ended up freezing our you-know-whats off in the wind and rain (thank goodness for waterproof sleeping bags!), and biked back on Monday. Wet and cold, yes! Fun, also yes! Happy New Year!

ooooo...i was supposed to do a Katy Trail ride for Christmas but as you can see i am a little tied to the trainer for a few more weeks!!! is ok cause the weather was wet, wet, wet!!! we did have a great time in st charles and poking around the arch...delmar and all my old haunts!