New Years Day Rides

[Triskeliongirl]

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.

[East Hill]

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

[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.

[SouthernBelle]

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.

[Fredwina]

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/

[Aggie_Ama]

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.

[Brandi]

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

[guest1]

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.

[Tri Girl]

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 ).

[BethinPR]

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!

[bouncybouncy]

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!