June 18 ride reports...

[DrBee]

This was my first ride since my crash and the first ride with clipless pedals. I took a short ride this AM - 11 miles. IT was around 78F with 10-15mph winds. I felt good, loved the clipless, LOVED the shoes! Up to this point, I've been riding with cages and my walking shoes. My feel were so cool! Love the new helmet, too.

Encountered a dog - black lab type dog. He gave good chase, but I yelled "git...git home" very loudly and he turned immediately and went home. Imagine that! The one day I didn't wear my good dog socks and I encounter a dog. I should have known

I was not twitchy around cars (thought I'd be). It feels good to be back on the bike!

[Nanci]

What shoes/pedals did you end up with? I never thought about non-cycling shoes being hot. You know what's _really_ cool?? Sandals!

Do the Good Dog socks prevent chasings?? If so, then what is the purpose of the Bad Kitty socks?? Those are my favorites, only I don't wear socks with the sandals in the summer...

I always yell "No!! Go Home!!" Sometimes it works. I still would like bar-mounted pepper spray, though. Whenever a dog stays in its yard and just lets me go by, I always say "Good Dog!!" so they know.

Nanci

[Running Mommy]

ALmost got hit by the newspaper dude today! It was a CLOSE one!!
We have a gated area that is like a T. When you go through the gate you either take a left or a right. Well I usually take a right, go do a loop then come down and go through the hood that's on the left, then go loop the hood on the right again and then go out the gates. So today I did that, I took a right, looped then went and rode the left side of the hood and was heading back to the right side. I was riding by the gated entrance when a guy that was coming towards me (from the right side hood) decided to cut me off and take a left right into my path. So it was either hit him or swerve to the right. So I did that and I gave him a thumbs up and said "thanks buddy" and shook my head. So he stops his truck and rolls down his window. So I come up to him and I say "You need to watch for bicycles please" and he says "I saw you."
Me: "then why did you almost HIT me"
him: " I didn't. We were both turning" (BY now I'm stopped an unclipped)
Me: "NO. I was going straight. Did you see me signal a turn?"
Him: "No, but you turned"
Me: "yeah, because I didn't feel like getting HIT today!"
Him: "Oh.... (pause)... I'm sorry. I really thought you were turning."
Me: "well when you see a cyclist, please don't assume anything. If you had hit me it would have been ugly for both of us. I know your distracted delivering papers and all, and your probably running late, but you need to remember that there are others out early in the morning too. Esp. in the summer."
Him: "I know. My brother rides bikes so I should know better. I'm really sorry"
Me: "well thanks for that, most people don't take responsibility. Just please be safe out there"
Him: "Oh I will, believe you me! I would never forgive myself if I hit someone"
Me: "And your brother wouldn't either. Imagine the holidays after THAT?!" and I kinda laughed. He did too and then we went our seperate ways.
It stated out a bit tense, but when he realized he was wrong he really started apologizing. Of course me pointing out that I knew he was delivering papers prolly scared him to. I could have called the newspaper on him. But like I said, he took responsiblity, so I chalked it up to one of those things. I was lucky though cause it was REALLY close!! I was going about 18 mph at the time. That would have hurt.
Other than that, not much exciting. Just an early Sunday morning ride. ONly had time for 1.5 hours tho because someone is coming to pick up the Volvo. My hubby sold BOBO lastnight, so I had to clean her out. I'm going to miss that car. I'm kinda sad. But she's going to a good home...

[kelownagirl]

What shoes/pedals did you end up with? I never thought about non-cycling shoes being hot. You know what's _really_ cool?? Sandals!

Nanci

Are they regular sandals or are there sandals that work with clipless pedals? I wore morenal (huh? what the heck does that say? -normal...) sports-type my sandals once riding and found my feet sweated too much in the rubbery soles. What are yours made of?

barb

[Nanci]

Mine are clipless pedal Shimano sandals. Rubber footbeds- but my feet don't seem to sweat- maybe because they get so much breeze? Sure was nice to be able to put ice under my toes on the 100+F 200k I did last week...

Nanci

[DrBee]

Nanci - I went with SPD pedals (I'm not sure which ones - I'll go look in a minute) and the Pearl Izumi Vagabond M3 (mountain bike) shoes. Happy accident - they match my bike (silver and blue). I tried shimano, nike, and pi shoes - these felt the best by far and were mid-range in price ($85). 3 velcro closures and very nice airflow. My feet never felt hot.

The Good Dog socks seem to have special powers. I don't know what to tell you about the bad kitty socks. I had a black cat cross my path when I first started out this morning - of course I own 2 black cats, so they cancel it out


RunningMommy - wow what an adventure! At least it ended up positive and with you in one piece. That was a close one!

[winddance]

of course I own 2 black cats, so they cancel it out !

I've got two cats, only they own me! It's a good thing they're cute...

RunningMommy, I'm glad you managed to evade that driver and are all right. Sounds like a scary, close call.

Bikerz and I rode the Bay Trail today. We really booked it up to Richmond. There weren't a lot of people out until we got to the marina up there, and then there was a lot of "highly oblivious person evasion" (HOPE) with people on headphones and unable to hear us calling out, or just not paying attention in general. I almost got chased by a dog that was off a leash, but the owner called him off. That was good.

I always like riding this trail, because you really get a good look at the bay. I'm always thinking, "look where I get to ride!" and really enjoying the scenery. The wind picked up towards the end (just what we needed) but we still managed to increase bikerz's personal average speed record for this trail by a tenth of a mile.

I had a great time!

[Fredwina]

I lead a club bagel ride (about 15 in the am. It was mostly fast guys who wanted to go farther, so I told them they were were on their own. I bought a New Camelbak last night, so tried it out and scoped a ride I will be leading on 7/1 to an air museum(wen by Corsair drive...). It all worked out OK. Typical Inland Southern California June day (Hazy with temps in the 90's)

[Lise]

Rode around town, meeting, brunch, errands, racked up 10+ miles on the Bianchi. I don't know if it's the bike or if I'm getting stronger, but the wind has not bothered me so much this weekend. Maybe it's because riding on city streets, the wind gets broken up some by buildings and cars? I don't know. But I have the feeling of cutting through the wind with the Bianchi that I don't have with the Marin.

Then I ran 2.5 miles after my nap this afternoon. Starting a 19 hr call shift tonight, so I'm going to shower, eat, watch some more IM DVD and try to sleep a bit.

RM, good on 'ya for setting paper guy straight. L.