January 6th ride

the ride that wasn't. We all got to the meeting place, and almost fell down gettingout of our cars since everything was glare ice. We sat down and had breakfast and one of us had fallen down just in front of her house, another couple had ridden 300 feet from their home and decided to drive to the meeting place instead.
We drove because it was 20 miles.
After we were already almost done with breakfast, one poor guy came in, he'd fallen 3 times, he rode from home. the last fall was in the parking lot.
We all sat around and talked and went back home.
SOme of us are regrouping about 1pm at Leschi to ride the south lake washington loop.

I had a great ride. It was 40 degrees and drizzling when I had to leave my house, but I had plans to meet a special friend at our club ride, and didn't wanna disappoint him. This special friend is Ted Campbell, a type I diabetic that had a successful pancreas transplant but a failed kidney transplant a few years back, and is now recovering from his second kidney transplant he had about a month ago. Those of you in the bike frieday community may have seen his story here: http://www.bikefriday.com/tedcampbell. He too nearly didn't make it to the ride start, as his driver also had concerns about the weather. This was a ride where only the toughest in our club showed up. I was the only women. It was cold, and the winds were fierce (15-25 mph) and the plan was to climb out of kreuger canyon and come back down river road. Riding with Ted is always inspirational. This is a guy that plans bicycle tours by connecting the dots between dialysis centers. He was really strong. The friend he brought is also a type I diabetic, and again an inspiration to ride with. These are guys that don't let crap get in their way of having a full life. It did start to rain when we were 7 miles out, and I got a call from my husband asking if everyone was OK and if anyone wanted a ride in. No takers, no one was going to deprive them of their well-deserved tailwind! It made my day to have the privilege of riding with these guys.

Boy that story about Ted is great. Makes me feel like such a sloth.

I just did a ride aroung town thing, did go far enough out in the country to go by the llama farm and stopped to visit with Mama LLama.

Even though I only recently started riding spinervals on the trainer, I could tell a difference. It has effected how I shift, I run it up onto the big ring more often. I also pop up off the saddle more often and more easily. I only did 20 miles today, but plan to ride again tomorrow, if the dry weather holds. BTW, It was in the 50s here. :)

Trisk, that's an amazing story and you and your group inspired me, for sure!

I just got back from my first ride since (I think) September. It felt great to be on the bike again. I only did 5.4 miles, but that was enough. But boy am I glad to be back in the saddle again!

Just did a 27 mile ride. DH went along for the first half with the promise of avoiding big hills, then he headed home while I headed for Goodman Hill. Temperature was 70 degrees here.

A gorgeous January day in suburban DC, 73 degrees and sunny. I did an easy, flat 20 miles over to Lake Artemesia in College Park and dodged many bikes, roller bladers, joggers, and families out for a walk on the bike path. First time on the road bike in a couple of months...feels very different than the hybrid I commute on.

Now it's time to walk the dogs to let them enjoy some of this beautiful day also.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Triskeliongirl

This special friend is Ted Campbell, a type I diabetic that had a successful pancreas transplant but a failed kidney transplant a few years back, and is now recovering from his second kidney transplant he had about a month ago.

---

Wow! I had read his journals before - but didn't know he had had a second transplant. He is an amazing person!

No riding for me today. Still recovering from the stomach flu (no more puking, but not up to full speed). Took dog for a hike instead. Easier on me and fun for him (he's finally back to full speed after his petsmart issue...). A 70+ degree and sunny day in January is too pretty to waste!!

Carrie Anne

A fabulous non-winter January day greeted me today. It was still raining when I woke up, but by 11 the sky had cleared, the wind was howling, and the pavement was drying. It was 68 degrees (far from a normal January temperature here) when I headed out on my bike for a wonderful 44 miles of wandering.

The wind never stopped but I was so happy to be out on my bike (in summer riding clothes, no less!) that I didn't mind it at all.

http://denise.smugmug.com/photos/121440107-S-1.jpg Yes, this really is me, playing with my camera as I was riding.

--- Denise

Bad day today...
We went out for a 33 mile club ride (not the club we lead for). After riding to the meeting spot about 4 miles, we set off with the slower group (usually averaging between 15-16). It was an unbelievable 70 degrees here. About 4 miles into the ride, we were right behind the leader, and the next thing I know, Steve is going down. I don't remember hitting him at all, but all of a sudden, i was crashing and so did two people behind me. Steve got up right away. I was still clipped in, off on the soft shoulder, a little stunned. But, I got up and we inspected my bike and didn't see anything. We set off again, and BOOM, down I go again. This time I see my headset is twisted and the bars are all cockeyed. Everyone blows past us, leaving us (gee, good leadership skills there. Good thing we are experienced). Steve fixes it and we decided to just ride the ride, thinking eventually we might catch up, since they stop a lot. About 5 miles later, Steve yells back at me, "Holy sh--t, look at my elbow." It had a nice goose egg sized lump. It didn't hurt, but since he is on a blood thinners, we decided to ride to the hospital and get it checked. Of course by now, I am starting to feel not so good, just from the stress. We ride the six or seven miles to the hospital. He gets an x ray, nothing broken, it's just a bruise, swollen from the lack of clotting in his body. We decide to ride home and ended up with a 21 mile ride. About a block from our street, we see the group riding back, going the other way. No one even stopped!
So, my total damage is a small patch of road rash on my right knee and a bruise on my right arm, along with some scratches. My knickers were torn a bit, so they got tossed.My arm hurts a bit and so does my head, but the nurse at the hospital took a cursory look at me and said I looked fine and to come back if I didn't feel well later. Nothing has changed really. We carefully inspected my helmet; there is no damage or anything. I think I just barely clipped the front right corner.
So, we can't figure out whose fault this was. The leader, in the past has shown evidence of not signaling in time or when he is slowing. Steve doesn't know if this is what happened, or if it was him, having a momentary lapse of attention. We were all so enthralled with the weather, it's possible he wasn't paying attention.
I am heading out to the neighbor's for dinner and still upset, but oh well.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Robyn Maislin

Bad day today...
all of a sudden, i was crashing and so did two people behind me.

---

Robyn -
I'm glad to hear that you and Steve (and your bikes too!) about both OK in spite of what sounds like some nasty bruises. I'm sending healing thoughts to both of you.

I'm appalled that no one else stopped to see if you were OK. That's definitely not good group riding behavior, and beyond riding, not good behavior as a member of the human race.

--- Denise

Robyn, sorry to hear about your bummer of a ride. Heal quickly.

Wow, what a day for cycling weirdness.

Strangely warm and humid day here, even for Florida. Here in the panhandle, it should be cool and dry in January, but today, no such luck. I was just able to squeeze in barely 20 miles between bouts of rain. Of course I came home dripping wet anyway from road spray and mist, but SO glad I got out. Supposed to have more of the same tomorrow, only with thunderstorms thrown in, so I don't see myself going out in that.

Wow.
Gorgeous day in MD. Sunny (but breezy) and 70! Ummm...is this January?? Somebody tell my daffodils and the cherry trees. I had a trio of flickers working the yard over for bugs that don't know it's winter this a.m. I broke a sweat taking down the Christmas lights!
So...DH and I had to go out. Just wouldn't be right, since this weather is so wrong. We were riding in shorts! We had visions of doing our "French Countryside" loop, but the thought of some of those hills on our tired, way out-of-shape legs did not seem appealing. So we did "108 and back", a flat route up New Hampshire Ave, with a detour down Tucker Lane for some hill work. Tucker Lane is a series of short, sickly steep rollers and I questioned which was tougher - long steady hills of the French Countryside route, or the short steep killers of this one. I didn't win the argument. Anyway, Tucker Lane is very tree covered, so the roads were still wet. We both took it very easy on that road.
All told: 20 miles bit off my goal of 2500 for '07 in 1:24:00, which is, what? 14.3 mph avg.
Oh...and later in the day...we stopped in to visit my bike-commute partner. His knee is fine, had surgery to repair his quadricep! He tore the tendon holding it to the knee clean through! Ouch! He's out for about 12 weeks for healing and rehab.

Well, I'm going to add to the bad vibes, too.
We were going to go and do Sunset loop in Redlands(on of the stages from The Races there), but the weather forecast was calling for Santa Ana winds. I was going to be charge of the longest option(70 miles), but no showed except for a Tandem couple who was going to do a shorter option. I asked I could hitch a ride with them back. The winds weren't bad in the Morning, but were supposed to pick up, and lot of the riding was through some very gang-infested neighborhoods(I Think they would still be sleeping in the morning), just As I was getting ready to take off, I heard some one call my name. Another rider from the club had showed up. We called the tandem couple and told that we would be going west instead of east(they told the wind was "very bad").
Things went fine until we got to the midpoint of the Ride (Bonelli Park in San Dimas), The other rider had pulled ahead on a hill. I was descending and saw him standing in the middle of the road with his bike:confused: . The Rear Derailleur had broken:( . We tried to make an emergency Single Speed, since we were about two miles from a shop, but had no luck. He eventually called his DW to rescue him and I went on my way. I discovered that chain breaker of my minitool was missing a piece, so I went and got a replacement. Had a flat, Stopped by REI and got a rack trunk, and went home (not wishing to press my luck) wound with 53 miles

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Robyn Maislin

Bad day today...
We went out for a 33 mile club ride (not the club we lead for). After riding to the meeting spot about 4 miles, we set off with the slower group (usually averaging between 15-16). It was an unbelievable 70 degrees here. About 4 miles into the ride, we were right behind the leader, and the next thing I know, Steve is going down. I don't remember hitting him at all, but all of a sudden, i was crashing and so did two people behind me. Steve got up right away. I was still clipped in, off on the soft shoulder, a little stunned. But, I got up and we inspected my bike and didn't see anything. We set off again, and BOOM, down I go again. This time I see my headset is twisted and the bars are all cockeyed. Everyone blows past us, leaving us (gee, good leadership skills there. Good thing we are experienced). Steve fixes it and we decided to just ride the ride, thinking eventually we might catch up, since they stop a lot. About 5 miles later, Steve yells back at me, "Holy sh--t, look at my elbow." It had a nice goose egg sized lump. It didn't hurt, but since he is on a blood thinners, we decided to ride to the hospital and get it checked. Of course by now, I am starting to feel not so good, just from the stress. We ride the six or seven miles to the hospital. He gets an x ray, nothing broken, it's just a bruise, swollen from the lack of clotting in his body. We decide to ride home and ended up with a 21 mile ride. About a block from our street, we see the group riding back, going the other way. No one even stopped!
So, my total damage is a small patch of road rash on my right knee and a bruise on my right arm, along with some scratches. My knickers were torn a bit, so they got tossed.My arm hurts a bit and so does my head, but the nurse at the hospital took a cursory look at me and said I looked fine and to come back if I didn't feel well later. Nothing has changed really. We carefully inspected my helmet; there is no damage or anything. I think I just barely clipped the front right corner.
So, we can't figure out whose fault this was. The leader, in the past has shown evidence of not signaling in time or when he is slowing. Steve doesn't know if this is what happened, or if it was him, having a momentary lapse of attention. We were all so enthralled with the weather, it's possible he wasn't paying attention.
I am heading out to the neighbor's for dinner and still upset, but oh well.

---

Gee, I hope you let the ride leader know what happened, that's terrible!

We re-met up with a few of our club members at 1pm. It was so cold! There was a wind and the sky had clouded up, but there we were, two tandems and a single (fixy) and we did our 28 mile south lake loop. I am happy to say that it was uneventful, and we got done in 2 hours and 15 minutes.
I had on 4 layers on my torso (including the new raincoat) and 2 layers everywhere else.
BRRRR

I rode out to the bike shop and traded my big red commuter for my fast blue Trek (it stays out there 'cause there are group trainer rides on Tues and Thurs) then rode with our little group then back out to trade back for my commuter bike, where more people were dropping in with condolences - still kind of wrapping around the idea that Fritz will not be there (he unexpectedly died in his sleep Mon/TUes at 61). He and Peter have been out there for many moons. He will be missed.
Rode home via grocery store and enough loops to get a metric century 'cause I said I'd do a dozen of them this year at bikejournal. (It also put me back AHEAD OF HOWARD :D :D )
Okay, we *did* have a flat on the ride... but JOhn admitted it was self-imposed. THe very same man who chastised *me* for riding a tire until it fell apart needed a boot and a ride home ;)
Some of you might hafve thought it was cold but it was at least 40 for most of it, and 10-15 mph winds... well, they're typical around here...

Yet another wind and torrential rainstorm overnight and this morning. More trees down, so navigating local roads and trails was next to impossible.
Decided to do a little caching instead (am I the only one on the planet who didn't know what geocaching was until recently?? :o ) Snagged two or three caches this afternoon while there was a break in the awful weather, and headed home for a hot bath.

Our ride started out badly. Last night at 10 pm we found a really bad cut in DH's tire and we thought we wouldn't be able to ride at all, however my father-in-law knows one of the LBS's owners really well and we were able to get a tire early this morning. We drove an hour northeast of Houston to Coldspring, but when we got there, it was very foggy, and we didn't want to ride in the fog. We had planned a 40-50 mile ride today, however, we had to wait in an odd little cafe (it had a mannequin in an old-fashioned dress standing right near the door, creepy...), so we were unable to do a full ride. So, we went out to a state park and 17 miles on the park roads. (It wasn't foggy there, oddly enough.) Even though we weren't doing the ride we wanted, it was the first time we had actually ridden together as a team, it was great fun. My father-in-law fell once, and I was coming in (sprinting at 23 mph, I might add), I fell over. I was slowed down, of course. It was one of those falls you get when you're going too slow. I'm probably going to have a bump on my arm, but it wasn't bad at all. I laughed. :D

I can't believe that we rode in short sleeve jerseys in January!! I recorded a high of 73 degrees today! :eek:

Rode 56.4 miles with DH today. First 35 miles were awesome...fast, warm and a lot of fun. Last 20 miles back to the car sucked. Nasty headwind on open farmland made for a slow pace and some difficult miles. Avg speed overall was 16.1 mph and that amazes me considering how slow the last 20 were.

All in all, a really nice ride...especially for winter!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Popoki_Nui

Decided to do a little caching instead (am I the only one on the planet who didn't know what geocaching was until recently?? :o ) Snagged two or three caches this afternoon while there was a break in the awful weather, and headed home for a hot bath.

---

I've known about geocaching for quite a while, and it sounds intriguing and fun; but I barely have time for cycling and a little kayaking, never mind adding another outdoor sport. Maybe when I retire....

DH, a.k.a. BikeBoy, finally got around to modifying and installing the new stem and bar we got for Barbie, my winter bike. Because of lower back pain & sciatica, I had to be set up higher in front. I took her out for a shakedown cruise this afternoon in bright sun and 71 degrees. BikeBoy and I rode a leisurely 50 miles from home around the county, just enjoying the day and being out in short sleeves in January. We'd had another 1 1/4" of rain last night, and with the water table so high from other recent inundations, several creeks overflowed onto some of the roads. Nevertheless we were able to get through without rerouting. Beautiful day!

Well, after mulling my options (and sliding down the cul-de-sac because it was icy--no harm done), I originally planned not to exert myself. But I looked out the window around 10.30 am and decided it looked as if it had warmed up to the point where I could go. So, the usual up and back through Big Soos Creek. At least it was not covered with water as badly as I thought it would be. Today it is again raining buckets. I know I won't be doing BSC today!

I hope everyone has a better day today than yesterday.

East Hill

Update on my bad day:

I did get an email from the leader, checking to see if we were OK. I don't think he was aware of what happened. Someone told him we were going off on our own. He said he didn't recognize us when we saw the group on our way back. I find that hard to believe (the others in the group did), since we have Kuota bikes that are pretty distinctive looking and not common around here.
I am very stiff on one side of my neck (not the side I fell on), but the bruises and other rash are really not bad at all. I feel better moving around and would like to ride today, but I think Steve wants to take a day off. His elbow hurts, but is less swollen.
If I had been leading this ride I would have turned around and gone back when I realized that 2 people were not with the group. In fact, we have done that when a man got heat exhaustion and we found him puking on the side of the road.
Well, just another story to tell!

Absolutely beautiful day in Virginia! We recorded a high of 73 degrees at the foot of the Blue Ridge. Group ride started late and by the time we got going, the headwind was about 20 mph. Only rode 24 miles :( but I guess that was better than nothing. Some wet roads but no standing water. We were all in shorts and short sleeves. Amazing!

I'm so sorry to hear about the bad rides some of you had. Hope you can get back out soon and get a "good ride" in........one of our ride leaders, in his wisdom, says that's the best antidote for a bad ride...a good ride!

Saturday's ride for me was a PR for distance,(43.4 miles) thanks to a detour we took due to the road being flooded. It was a challenging day to ride in NE Ohio with strong headwinds and crosswinds, temps were fairly mild in the mid 40 's. Thank goodness my riding partners, both men, didn't mind me drafting. :D

Oh, and I'm newly clipped in to my pedals and did manage one fall at a stop.......that's my second now and I do hope I am not going to be falling down much longer! Fortunately, this time it didn't hurt at all.

Colleen