BikeFest Rural Heritage Tour

[Blueberry]

Looks like Hubby and I are riding - probably the 31. We'll be behind the rest of the riders, so I would expect we'll be getting back to the start around the time the 62 mile fast people come in.

Looks like interesting weather - usually it's hot as &*%$ - I think it was last year that there was a tropical storm in progress - this year, it's predicted to be a high of 75 and cloudy. So long as it doesn't rain, perfect

See y'll out there!

Carrie Anne

[emily_in_nc]

Oh good, Carrie Anne - have fun sweeping! I am in Charlotte for work this week (no riding, pooh!) and just saw on the weather tonight that it is only going to be 75 on Saturday - how wonderful is that?! Last year we were just baking at the courthouse rest stop volunteer station with muggy temps in the 90s, but I knew the riders were suffering a lot more than we were!

Barry and I are planning to ride our Bike Fridays up to the Hillsborough Farmer's Market that morning - my first road ride since October. Should have nice weather for it! I am a little nervous, but for the sake of the environment and my own recovery, I know I need to do this. We live about 7-8 miles from there, and it will be fun to see riders out and about doing Bikefest when we roll into town.

Enjoy Bikefest!
Emily

[Blueberry]

Barry and I are planning to ride our Bike Fridays up to the Hillsborough Farmer's Market that morning - my first road ride since October. Should have nice weather for it! I am a little nervous, but for the sake of the environment and my own recovery, I know I need to do this. We live about 7-8 miles from there, and it will be fun to see riders out and about doing Bikefest when we roll into town.

Emily-

Awesome!!!!! You'll do great! Has Barry been riding at all (mtn biking?) or will this be his first time on the bike for a while? I'll keep an eye out for you - we're not scheduled to start until 8:30 and I'm not sure we'll be out of the gate all that quickly then - I'm thinking there will be lots of people that are really slow on the 31 mile ride. So...our pace will be leisurely (if I minded, I wouldn't be riding sweep ).

Still haven't decided on the Friday - Crusoe or Tourist (3 lb weight difference, right on either side of my current road bike) or barcons (though I really don't like rollamagigs and there's no other way to get the brakes I need) - I'm driving Walter crazy, I'm sure

You have my sympathies on Charlotte - I'll be back there before the end of the month on business too (probably), and I didn't even try to find somewhere to ride (we were staying downtown).

Carrie Anne

[emily_in_nc]

Has Barry been riding at all (mtn biking?) or will this be his first time on the bike for a while?

He has been riding the trainer, jogging, a couple mountain bike rides, and he went on his first road ride (also since Oct.) a couple of weeks ago, then hurt his back (completely unrelated to cycling) so has only ridden on the trainer since. He is so active, though, he's in incredible shape, but this will be a very leisurely ride, with panniers to boot!

Still haven't decided on the Friday - Crusoe or Tourist (3 lb weight difference, right on either side of my current road bike) or barcons (though I really don't like rollamagigs and there's no other way to get the brakes I need) - I'm driving Walter crazy, I'm sure

So did I! I had to decide between an Air Friday, Pocket Crusoe, and one other - maybe a Pocket Rocket Pro?? I finally settled on the Pocket Crusoe, as you know, and never regretted it. If you can swing the financial difference, I'd highly recommend the lighter bike. You will appreciate it on every hill! As I mentioned, Walter suggested the barcons, and I was very leary, but he highly recommended them because of the better shifting, and he's right. Barry has had some issues with the STI on his Crusoe (I was in a rush and forgot to mention this in my post on your Bike Friday thread). He has the rollamajig so he could also use the mountain brakes. His shifting is more finicky and requires more adjustment than mine. Mine is click-click-click, never a problem. The front shifter is friction so is infinitely trimmable, which I love (no chain rub!!) The only thing I wouldn't like it for is if I were really hammering out of the saddle and needed to shift fast while standing, but I so rarely stand on my Friday as it's just not an aggressive-riding bike for me, that that has never been an issue. And I adapted to the barcons almost immediately. Not everyone likes them, but I was sure a convert. I had begged Walter for a Campy-Shimano mix (Shimano on the back but with Campy in the front as I love my Campy shifters on my Aegis), but he said it just couldn't be done on Fridays; that's why he suggested the barcons.

Not sure when we'll arrive at the farmer's market, but we're not really early morning people, and do not want to get caught in the start of Bikefest madness, so it will probably be more like 9 or 9:30 when we get there, so you'll already have left, in all likelihood. I'm not sure which way the 31 mile route goes, but If you happen to see us coming or going on our Fridays, do give us a shout! We'll definitely be distinctive with red panniers (I'll probably just have a Tailrider on my rack and Barry will have one or two rear panniers) and our Fridays (Barry's is blue, mine white).

I guess I better get some sleep....gotta work tomorrow.

Emily