February 10 rides...

[Kano]

I didn't see one, so I thought I'd start one...

First ride of the year for me! and DH too. Oh did he fuss about going for a ride! WHAT?!? he said. We didn't have plans for a ride! when I showed up in his office wearing my tights and shoes, saying, come on, let's go. Then he went on about how the bikes are in the basement, and will be hard to get out. My answer? Tires are aired up and I'll bring it up front for you too...

Only about 9 1/2 miles, but that's okay. As I told him, we have a ski lesson tomorrow, don't want to start the morning with sore legs!

Delightful surprises:

First -- clothes still fit. Always a plus!

Not much of a surprise, but, bike still works. Body still works. I'll admit: I've been mostly a couch potato all winter, knitting socks and puttering on my computer. I expected to feel like I was starting over, but it was all good! Dressed too warmly, though -- tights, lightweight fleece top and windbreaker. Fleece ear band under helmet, boy was I hot! Good to have kept my sinuses warm, though. They've been pesky lately.


BUTT DIDN'T HURT! I thought after about four months off, I would have noticed the seat? Maybe on a longer ride?

Most exciting surprise: my new favorite merino hand knit socks fit inside my bike shoes! Aren't they fun? That's particularly delightful, since when I wear my new favorite socks, I have a much more limited shoe wardrobe than when I wear my everyday store-bought socks... (these are my new favorite cuz I just finished making them)

It was good. I can hardly wait to do more.

Karen in Boise

[Bad JuJu]

Karen, those ARE cool socks--I love the colors. Looks like the four-legged fellow with the black nose likes them, too.

Well, I've only been off my bike for about two weeks (though I did do a couple of spinning classes in that time), and today's 32 miles just about knocked me out. Probably had something to do with riding my heavy touring bike, too, but I had no choice--the club ride started at 9 and when I went out to load my bike onto the rack--flat tire! The ride itself was great--cold, but a clear, beautiful winter day, well-behaved traffic, good company.

But post-ride, I felt whupped, so I've just been hanging out with my dog all afternoon, reading and doing a little laundry. Actually kind of a nice break!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Supposed to get up to 29 degreesF tomorrow, and sunny...so we will "try" to get a ride in for the first time in 2 weeks of cold and being away.

Those are GREAT socks, Kano! I'm a knitter too, and my personal favorite thing to knit is socks.

[Geonz]

I rode out to the bike shop and found out that three layers aren't nearly as good as four were yesterday, and it was 5 yesterday and 11 today. Alas, the light that worked fine last night but had to sit to let the silicon harden... worked sometimes... then not at all. However, it's back on the bike so the bike doesn't look bad. (It's the Gazelle with built-in eerything; the taillight is like a taillight on a car...) He suggested I go to my local Gazelle dealer for repairs [grin] ... but hey, anybody know anybody in Holland who might be able to help?

[Kano]

JuJu, 32 miles would probably have done me in today too! Not quite ten was awfully nice though...

sixty degrees and sunny here when we left the house -- we've had a warm week, and I've been meaning to get the bike out since last Sunday, but, of course, life happens.... Now it's raining! Maybe we'll have some fresh snow for our ski lesson tomorrow morning!

Khan doesn't like that I'm knitting socks lately, and won't snuggle next to me when I've got them out. I don't know what the deal is... This particular pair has me elated -- the colors are SO exciting! I've got several pair going right now, and have been trying to make myself finish some more of them before starting any more. It's very hard, since I don't seem to be able to buy just one skein of yarn at a time and I get really curious about what the colors will do as they "weave" together. I've got a FABULOUS purple/pink yarn to make another pair, and my grandson Xander wants some since I've been making them for his little brother. Found a fun pattern for "pirate" socks that I'm sure he'll love.

By the way, Lisa -- http://www.lisaknit.com has some beautiful sock yarns! I've been struggling for weeks to decide which to try first! They're my new favorite thing to knit. I liked scarves, but I don't use them, so socks are especially good to make! Felted bags are good too: I can keep sock projects in them!

Karen in Boise (hmm, hijacking my own thread? Oops!)

[kelownagirl]

I got out for my first ride of 2007 today too! It has been above freezing all week and the ice and snow on the sides of the roads has melted so there was no reason not to. We took the mountain bikes because of the gravel right now, so I had work my a$$ off even more than normal but it felt GREAT to be back on the bike. We had one 10 km ride on New Year's Eve but our last "real" ride was 3 months ago. Did 25 flat km. The hill home killed me though. I usually do it in 4.5-5 minutes at about 10kmh, but it took me over 6 minutes at 7 kmh on the mountain bike. Talk about a slow bike race... Maybe this will be the kick in the pants my diet needs.

[Trek420]

I posted my ride report at the end of this thread:

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=10689