March 25th Rides

[makbike]

Hey it's Sunday and the sun is shining, temps in the low 80's a perfect day for a ride! My legs were a bit tired from yesterday's hilly 60 but I decided I need to get out and enjoy the wonderful gift presented to those of us in the Bluegrass region today. The skies are a beautiful blue, the flowering crabapple trees are in bloom, flowers are popping up all over the place. The birds and frogs were in full chorus, what a joy to hear them. Who could ask for more? During my 35 miles ride I spied the following birds: cardinals, eastern blue birds, tree thrushes, red tail hawks, black buzzards, mockingbirds and a northern flicker. The calves were playing in the pastures and the freshly plowed fields looked inviting. I hope our farmers have a great harvet this year! We are forecasted to have yet another beautiful day tomorrow sure wish I did not have to work nor attend the faculty meeting after school. I may still have time to get in a quick 15 if the boss does not keep us too late.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Makbike, what a lovely ride report! Isn't Spring incredible, especially from the saddle of our very own bike! I saw the first crocuses blooming this morning in my yard, and today I noticed the white narcissus bed shooting up all green oout of the ground (up to this weekend it's been covered in snow for quite a while!)

DH and I changed my bike stem today, and though I didn't get a real "ride" in, I did take a spin around the block a few times and things seem to be ok so far. Always tricky for us, removing, replacing, and then re-adjusting that bar end shifter and the rear derailleur. If it's not raining all day tomorrow, I'll try to go for a 12 mile ride to test it all out further before retaping.

Happy Spring!!!!

[Kalidurga]

A day of firsts:
- 1st ride of 2007
- 1st ride since beginning chiropractic treatments back in January
- 1st ride since getting a Serotta fitting last week that included raising my stem, adjusting my cleats and changing my saddle
- 1st time I've had to change a tire when there wasn't a floor pump nearby

All in all, a great ride. Gorgeous spring weather along the Potomac River out around Hancock, MD. Pretty busy day on the Western MD Rail-Trail, but that worked in my favor for a change, since a very nice gentleman stopped and offered to pump up my tire after I'd changed it. Changing the tire's easy, but I'll take any help I can get when it's time to work that mini-pump.

Having been sick off and on for the last couple of months, it's obvious that I've got to build my strength back up, but the ride was easier than I expected due to the adjustments that have been made to both my spine and my bike. After pedaling with stiff shoulders and a crunched-up neck last year and thinking it was just how I would have to ride, it was a joy to be comfortable even down in the drops My chiropractor and my bike fitter are now my heroes!

[GLC1968]

Got a HUGE slap in the face today.

DH and I joined an organized ride...did 64 miles and 2300 ft of climbing. I wasn't expecting it to be too difficult as we knew the route and had been riding all winter...boy, were we wrong. Granted, it was hotter than normal (85 degrees and sunny), but man...it was hard. We finished with an acceptable average speed (15.7mph) but we were both wiped out.

The problem is...in 6 weeks, we are riding our first mountain century (over 8000ft of climbing). Today showed us just how far from ready we truly are...

Ick. At least now we know, right? I've got a rough 6 weeks of training ahead of me!!

[HillSlugger]

It was a beautiful day to be outside; bright and sunny with temps in the middle 50s, but windier than I would have liked (uphill into the wind? No thanks!). I did a ride on the Iron Girl Columbia Triathlon route, 17.7 miles with several challenging hills. I followed that up with a run around the lake.

There were lots of cyclists all along the Iron Girl route and the Columbia Triathlon route and the path around the lake was crowded with runners, walkers, dogs, kids, scooters, etc.

The hills had me working pretty hard and my knees were really complaining on the run and I had to give them a few walk breaks. Thankfully, my ankles feel pretty good. It seems my orthotics are doing the trick.

I'm having trouble imagining how much harder this will all be following a 1000m swim! Hopefully I'll be in much better shape by then.

[Grog]

I had a friend from my cycling group back home in Montreal (I am now in Vancouver) who is in town for business and wanted to go for a bike ride. All week it looked like it would be pouring today but it turned out, at the last minute, to be sunny and about 10C, unseen weather in a long time for us PNWers! (on a weekend day at least)

He rented a road bike at the Reckless store (on Davie St.) and the bike and staff were okay and well intentioned (well the staff was), but not super. It took seemingly forever to get a slick tire on the front wheel (he decided not to ask for anything done to the rear wheel in case it would take even more time), the pedals were not working right (note to self: always bring my own pedals when renting) and the front tube's valve broke when the store guy inflated it. Well...

Anyway, we had a good 85 km ride, more than I've ridden in one shot since the Christmas break! I took him on the flat open roads (Iona Beach and Steveston, for those who know the area). I kept up with him for the first 40 km perhaps but after that I started having a much harder time. He might not have cycled outside all winter, he's much stronger. But that was fun anyway, and he was gentlemantly enough to lend me his wheel to draft from when I needed it, and slow down a bit, without me asking... (Other note to self: Remember to start eating more again during rides. This is not winter anymore, you're going out for longer and harder rides.)

Didn't see that much nature - unless you count Vancouver drivers as a special species - but two times a couple of eagles, perhaps the same. And the mountains were gorgeous. I'm so happy spring is returning at last!!!

[mimitabby]

We had a late start since lunch was involved, we started at 10 from Gasworks, and it was almost 10 degrees colder than I expected and rainy. If I had any way of getting OUT of that ride I would have.

We got on the bike and the unpleasant feeling of being smacked by really cold rain kept reminding me of why I didn't want to be on the back of the tandem.

We rode along on the wet sloppy streets, with me as uptight as I could be, and finally Raleighdon started complaining about my jitteryness.

Of course, that didn't help. What did help is that the rain quit and we got into the rhythm of things. We were surrounded by gorgeous blooming cherries and plums and millions of flowers in everyone's yards, as well as Magnolias and even the Maple trees were beautiful. There were also some of the scented Clematis Alba, Seattle is just gorgeous this time of year.
At Seward Park, knowing the restaurant was near, I was feeling better; and I was clipping in and out slightly more often than Raleighdon was; but only missed his cue and unclipped late once, which is not a big deal on a tandem.

We went to a Mexican restaurant in Rainier beach instead of the DimSum restaurant (don't ask me why) It was only 11:15am when we got there, but we ate anyway, the food is excellent there (Maia's.)
As we were eating in the restaurant an amazing thing happened. The sun came out!! I would finally be warm!
We then crossed over to Beacon Hill and took the new Chief Sealth trail, it is nearly finished and no one except Raleighdon and I even knew it existed (our neighborhood). We left Beacon Hill by taking HOLGATE, which really terrified me, but thankfully, Raleighdon kept the speed down, I guess we never went faster than 32mph...Phew! from there we rode trhough the International district and through the waterfront (you want to talk about a traffic mess!?!?)
NExt we went through Myrtle Edwards park, where we discovered that due to sewer problems, the trusty restrooms were closed so I had to use a very over used portapotty.
We then rode up to Ballard, and had to cross the locks (on foot) and finished up at Gasworks park in the sun at 2pm.

31 miles.

[Grog]

That sounds like a nice ride Mimi I like the 'Dim Sum Ride' concept (although I wouldn't trade the Dim Sum for Mexican food at brunch time).

Now I have to think of a Dim Sum or brunch place somewhere not too close. Well there's my partner's grandparents who said they'd have us for breakfast sometime... Hum.

[lesliejo]

I just loved what you said about getting in a quick 15 miles after work. This time of year I am swamped with faculty meetings, SIP meetings, GLT meetings, LA district committee meetings, etc. I can hardly breathe. But......as soon as I am out, I hop on my bike (I keep it in my classroom) and head out the door. It keeps me sane. I do treasure the weekend long rides, where would I be without them. Keep up the good work.


Bionica, the weekend and quick after meetings rider.
ps Didn't you love the early time change?

Hey it's Sunday and the sun is shining, temps in the low 80's a perfect day for a ride! My legs were a bit tired from yesterday's hilly 60 but I decided I need to get out and enjoy the wonderful gift presented to those of us in the Bluegrass region today. The skies are a beautiful blue, the flowering crabapple trees are in bloom, flowers are popping up all over the place. The birds and frogs were in full chorus, what a joy to hear them. Who could ask for more? During my 35 miles ride I spied the following birds: cardinals, eastern blue birds, tree thrushes, red tail hawks, black buzzards, mockingbirds and a northern flicker. The calves were playing in the pastures and the freshly plowed fields looked inviting. I hope our farmers have a great harvet this year! We are forecasted to have yet another beautiful day tomorrow sure wish I did not have to work nor attend the faculty meeting after school. I may still have time to get in a quick 15 if the boss does not keep us too late.

[makbike]

As I see it 15 miles is better than no miles. The rides after school help me to decompress. As you know this time of year is packed with stress and worries (committee meetings, state testing, planning for next year, kids not making the grades, etc) and I simply need something to work my worries off before I head home in the afternoons. I've started riding to work (only 2 miles) attending whatever meeting I have after school, quickly changing, tossing my bags on my bike and riding a short/quick 15 miles before I head home. That time on my bike does wonders for my mental state! We only have 36 more days of school and I'm so looking forward to May 31st!

I hope what remains of your year goes smoothly and is as stress free as it can be for this time of year. Hang in there!