May 21-22 weekend rides!

[emily_in_nc]

Okay, I'll start!

What a lovely day -- I guess this is kinda like the first weekend of "summer" here in NC since it's in the 80s today and forecast to go to 90 tomorrow and for days after that. We've actually had a lovely spring here in NC with many days in the 60s and 70s, so even my heat-hating mother can't complain and say we had "no spring" this year as it sometimes seem.

Did the usual market ride with DH this morning -- farmer's market and food co-op with panniers. Got lots of healthy goodies and brought 'em back. That was around 13 miles round trip. After a snack, water bottle refill, and bathroom break, I pulled the panniers off and hit the road for some additional solo mileage (DH did the same, but he's so much faster we just split up and waved to each other at one point during the ride when our paths crossed). Got in an additional 22 miles for a total of 35.

Had a "crazy driver" incident on the market part of the ride. On one road in town, there were just too many cars to ride across (or on) the road as a parallel road is closed for construction, diverting everyone and creating much more traffic. So, seeing a pedestrian walkway nearby, I got off my bike and began walking across. After crossing the first two lanes, I stopped in the middle to make sure the cars coming the other way were actually going to stop. The first one BLEW right through the very well-marked pedestrian crosswalk. If I'd continued across, I would not be posting this right now. I wanted to catch her eye and give her a "WTF" type of gesture as she blew across, but I couldn't because she was looking down at her phone on the bottom of her steering wheel and very obviously TEXTING. I actually started yelling "She's texting?! REALLY!?!" She never even saw me or realized she could have taken a pedestrian out. What if I'd had a baby in a stroller? Sheesh..... The driver behind her stopped for me. Sure wish there had been a cop around.

[Biciclista]

we got our grey wet cold back but it didn't keep me from heading out first thing to meet a friend at a bike store to help her buy a bike! 1/2 mile from light rail, I noticed i had a rear flat tire. I took the light rail to downtown then pushed the bike 1 mile up the hill got there just as the LBS (Velo Bike) had opened. They fixed my tire for me so we were able to test ride bikes (She bought a used Raleigh hybrid) then I got home before the rain, an easy 10 miles.

[Catrin]

Yesterday (Friday) I had an awesome 23 mile country road ride - and even got sunburn! I am NOT complaining about that! Nary a dog in sight, and the only reason I didn't get my desired 30 miles in was because I ran out of time.

Today I loaded up the Jamis and headed to Brown County State Park and rode a short fire road with a couple of friends - they are avid mountain bikers and were kind enough to do this with me - then they went to have fun on the groomed mountain bike trails while I hiked one of the beginning trails to scope it out. It may not have been a long ride, but it was a lot of fun!

[Velocivixen]

I wasn't as outgoing as the rest of you, but I rode a leisurely 9 miles today to the public library and back.

Yesterday I rode about 12 miles or so.

[azfiddle]

I drove to the meeting spot and discovered I had forgotten my shoes. So I went home, parked the car and rode 49 miles solo. Overall a good ride but started experiencing a problem with my knee each time I got back on to the bike after a rest stop, and it went away the first 2 times, but not the 3rd time. I'm icing it now....

[Bike Writer]

I had a great 14 mile ride on Friday after work. I specifically wanted to work on hills and exploring the low range of gears. It was a great ride and productive too. I had a volunteer effort going on today and didn't get to ride but plan on a long (for me) ride tomorrow.

[okraftw]

I rode 17 miles on the Schuylkill River Trail. I've been traveling for work the past few months, and this was my first chance to ride this year. It was the perfect day for it.

[WindingRoad]

I rode 17 miles on the Schuylkill River Trail. I've been traveling for work the past few months, and this was my first chance to ride this year. It was the perfect day for it.

Hmmmmmm.... I know that trail. I go to Valley Forge on in every so often.

I had a great ride Saturday, did my first FAST ride here in Philly and I did NOT get dropped. I was happy.

[Roadtrip]

Rode the Ohio River trail from East side, into downtown and to the future home of a bike center. They'll eventually have bike rentals, showers, security for your bike, and full service repair facilities. First group ride and their were about 20 or so at the start.

The trail takes you on off onto parts of the busy roadway for about two miles and I was nervous about that and likely pushed a little harder and did 16-18mph on that entire stretch as I was trying to catch the group I was riding with. Ride "leader" wasn't exactly prepared as many didn't know how to get where we were going, but eventually found our way, then the group just sort of split and went different ways. Glad we found the wheel of one of the locals we'd shared emails with and rode back with a smaller group of four others. Logged a total of 14 miles.

Shannon

[emily_in_nc]

Did 30.6 miles today -- the first half with my friend Eileen, who's a beginner and on a mtb, so that was the "recovery/social" part of my ride. Took a quick break for snacks & more water after dropping Eileen off, then rode solo for the rest of the time. I was really pooped by the end since both of my weekend rides were slow so entailed a lot of saddle time. Plus it was getting hot and sunny out. The shower felt great, and the ice cream tasted yummy!

[ZenBiker]

After a week of rain we're having a beautiful Sunday. Rode 41 miles including some moderate climbs. That's my longest ride to date, pretty happy with how it went. Having trouble getting motivated to do yard work now, though!

[azfiddle]

I got in another 27 miles- got to my 100 for the week. Mostly flat, out to the farmer's market and back with a short detour for a few extra miles. My DH drove out and met me, and drove the groceries home. I meandered back home and am feeling pretty lazy now. The knee didn't really hurt today.

[ACG]

Yesterday, Saturday, May 21. Rode up Glendora Mountain Road to the east fork. Saw the Amgen Riders fly by. Then headed down Glendora Mountain road, waited not very long while they looped around Glendora Ridge Road and Highway 39 to see them wind up GMR. Had a good time, loved the challenge of the hill. Lots of cyclists doing the same thing.

Today just the usual ride thru Arcadia, San Marino, Pasadena and Altadena about 30 miles.

[Catrin]

I WANT TO RIDE TONIGHT...the rolling thunderstorms appear to have stopped and the sky is clearing. However I have to go to bed in 4 hours to get up at 4am for work (only go in this early once a week) and I need a 3 hour window between bike and bed...and I have enough left to do before I can ride that I will lose that window. Bummer. They are still saying the winds will increase so it is probably best.

It sounds like everyone has had some awesome rides - as I did yesterday and Friday so I can't complain...more than I already have

[TrekTheKaty]

We were late heading out to the Trailnet Strawberry Shortcake fun ride. When we arrived, there were people everywhere (way to go Trailnet)! As we rolled out of registration my DH informed me of the 20 mph SSW wind that was forecast. WAH? Off he went. He headed out for 54 miles and myself for 42--putting us at the car close together (booger!).

I bring my own snacks, since I can't have gluten. I snacked on a Kind bar, a gel and sharkies while riding and stopped at a general store for another bar and a soda. Apparently, DH headed out with nothing, planning on the usual snacks on the road. He managed to get a 1/4 of a stale bagel at one stop (he dug for a raisin one--bonus). However, he missed a turn and unbeknowst to him, he was on the shorter route. He ended up at the car, 12 miles short and with no car keys, so he turned around and rode back to find me.

How come I rode for the first 20 miles with a headwind or crosswind and the last 20 with a crosswind? NOT FAIR! I had about 5 miles of tailwind and pedaled my but off to take advantage when it suddenly disappeared.

Overall, a good ride. Drive through Burger King, shower, nap, Tour of CA. A good day.

PS. Thanks for the thread that suggested face wipes. At the midway, I wiped my face off and reapplied sunblock. At the car, I was wiping my face off again when DH said, "HEY! I want one of those!"