July 7th rides

[Tater]

Morning commute. Got blasted by the sunrise over the mountains and knew my sunglasses were at the bottom of my pack, but I didn't feel like digging them out. Rear der. is having issues, I think it needs a clean and lube job. Didn't see any other commuters today, hmm.

[Fredwina]

after "How slow am I?" thread, I found that I increased my average speed. Subliminal motivation?

[Lenusik]

after "How slow am I?" thread, I found that I increased my average speed. Subliminal motivation?

I am sorry and happy at the same time. See, for me it was quite the opposite. I did not ride today at all. It is raining here.

[makbike]

I hosted a ride for our local bike club today. We had a great day to ride, sunny, low humidity, clear skies and temps in the mid-70's (not our typically July weather that is for sure!) We rode 34 miles. The fast group took off and as I swept the ride I came upon a lone rider, John. John is probably in his mid-60's to early 70's and what a nice man he is. I rode with him the rest of the ride and really enjoyed his company. It was a slow 34 miles, by my standards, but I found I enjoyed the relaxed pace and my legs were very appreciative of it as well. Time to grab the Giro and go out for a few more miles.

I took the Giro out and got in 16 miles before I had to head home. I sure do feel slow on this bike but with time I know my speed will increase. Climbing hills on a recumbent is far more difficult than on a traditional bike.

[wabisabi]

We are also, finally, having some sun here. I'm not really complaining, it is beautiful and I'd rather have coolness than heat. It was windy yesterday after work, but blessedly sunny. I have a short 25 mile ride that I do through the farmlands, out to the ocean and back. It was very windy, but I really didn't care!

For me the absolutely best part of the ride is stopping to eat the wild black raspberries that grow along the road. Ummm, all sun warmed and ripe--they seem a bit early this year--and with all the rain they are quite plentiful. The farmers were all cutting and bundling up the mown grass, the breeze was coming in from the ocean, and everything seemed somehow pristine and pure...

[withm]

Rode to work today. My route is a straight shot due north along the ocean. Got blasted with 25mph headwinds the whole 13 miles this morning. Oh, and it was a tad chilly. Ride home was much faster with the tailwind but the wind really died down this afternoon. 26 miles total. White caps on the ocean. When I got to work my friend called me to say they had gone out on the boat to do some scuba diving, and got 10 miles off shore before they gave up and turned around. They were getting beat to death on the boat and that would have been very difficult diving conditions. Jumping OFF a pitching boat is easy, but getting back on with 80# of equipment on your back is a whole 'nother story. He couldn't believe I rode today.

Heck, ***I*** couldn't believe I rode today!

[Geonz]

Have Fridays off for a few more weeks on the compressed summer schedule. Scoped out routes and rode around in squares for total of 37 miles. Now to write down the route notes for the rather major project of mapping out good cycling roads in town... oh, and a lady simply decided I didn't exist at a four-way stop (notably rare in these parts) tho' it just meant looking rather closely into her passengers eyes as they went by... and getting the Xtracycle complimented by the cyclist at the other corner.
Saw LOTS of bikes.

[salsabike]

Did the second-to-last big pre-STP ride, 54 miles on my single. Okay, I grant it was all on the trail, whereas the uber-STPers were all out doing the same mileage on the streets with serious hills. But it was still 54 miles. And actually I feel pretty good! Went to a 7 pm reading at the University Bookstore by a fellow weaver and sci fi writer, Syne Mitchell, of her latest book (the idea for which she got at a DARPA conference on nanotechnology--they invited her just because she's so smart, I think). My point being...I was still awake and alert enough to go, enjoy it, be impressed by her brains and sense of humor, and buy two of her books. For me, after 54 miles, that's pretty good! Perfect weather, sunny and 70.

Oh yeah. Ate more gnats on the ride. I live in daily expectation of having a big bumblebee go right down my throat.

Bald eagles. GB herons. Ducklings.

[LL_Super_D]

Went mountain biking for an hour and a half after work. Unfortunately, I wiped out pretty bad in the middle of the ride.... middle being that we were at the end of the trail that we had to turn around on and ride back. All I remember is making a stupid sudden move downhill, losing control, then pain in my right knee, my bike flying over me, and me and my bike (Red Dragon) ending up in the prickly weeds. Knee hurts a bit, but seem to be in one piece, both my knee and Red Dragon... whew! Yay - I can still go road riding tomorrow morning with the Bay Area TE gals. Red Dragon can rest while Blue Sky visits the nice flat paved trail ... ahhh!