Hey let's see a pic of your favorite ride!

[withm]

This was from my favorite ride earlier ride this month in the Netherlands. There is a bike path that runs along the canal and we rode from near here to Vianen - about a 30 mile ride, complete with headwinds.

We rode through the town of Kinderdijk, which is the home of 19 working windmills. Though none were operating at the time of the photos, we did later encounter one windmill being preped for starting up and we were able to go inside one to see the massive wooden gears inside. The miller has to actually climb the blades like a ladder to set the sails, then manually turn the turret around into the wind to start it up. But if it gets too windy, they have to slow it down and take reefs in the sails so the blades don't go too fast. If they turn too fast, it creates intense friction in the wooden gears, and, well, they catch fire. Not a good thing.

This was truly a beautiful and wonderful ride, but windy.
Enjoy.
Martha

[Xrayted]

WOW! I love the wind mills.

Check. Add the Netherlands as another place I've got to visit. Thanks for the pics!

As for all of the other pics, I've definitely got to get serious about moving somewhere else. And soon.

[roguedog]

WOW! I love the wind mills.

Check. Add the Netherlands as another place I've got to visit. Thanks for the pics!

Def.. that was gorgeous... I always thought it'd be fun to visit up there and cycle about since it seems to be such a bike friendly country.

[Toni]

Houston, Texas sux. I know there is a reason I live here, but after checking out all these beautiful pictures, I am having a hard time remembering the reason!

[Bluetree]

It was a lovely morning for a ride and wonky hamstrings bedamned - I had to try a slow climb (against doctor's orders).

Crenshaw Boulevard is famous for the gang shootouts as it goes through South Central LA, but by the time it reaches the South Bay it is transformed altogether. It goes up the hill of the Palos Verdes Peninsula and ends at the top, with a view overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

I took this shot with the marine layer still hanging on a bit to the water. Sometimes, when you see the cloudline is below you, you feel like you're sitting above the earth. The hillsides are mostly browned because of winter, but there are some excellent MTBing trails through it. Off in the distance to the left, the peak rising up through the mist is the top of Santa Catalina Island, which is itself a wonderful place to ride and home of a popular triathlon.

I think my hammys are toast, but sometimes its worth it

[Meaux]

Houston, Texas sux. I know there is a reason I live here, but after checking out all these beautiful pictures, I am having a hard time remembering the reason!

I feel you. Riding that Memorial Park loop will only take you so far. (1.1 miles around to be exact, ha ha) We're going to Brazos State Park this weekend with our MS150 team to train. Hope that goes well. People here are so mean to cyclists. I almost got run over by some guy in his midlife crisis (aka his convertible). Blech. I have got to move.

[Rai Sue]

Here's a pic of the end of one of my regular rides up Canada road. The reservoir is on top of the San Andreas fault!

Not the best pics, but here goes...

[Mimosa]

WOW! I love the wind mills.

Check. Add the Netherlands as another place I've got to visit. Thanks for the pics!

As for all of the other pics, I've definitely got to get serious about moving somewhere else. And soon.

And don't forget your bike, there are some many of those beautifull places like kinderdijk to ride. For instance Noord-Limburg, Veluwe-rug, Zeeland, you name it. And it's very bike friendly ....

[bcipam]

2 years ago on my way home from the Texas ride, we were fortunat enough to ride through one of the most incredible wildflower blooms in recent history due to heavy rains... from Texas to California this was the view:

[ridethewind]

The flat lands of central Illinois:

[SadieKate]

Hey, Jean, where in central Illinois? Our family farm is near Athens and my family goes back many generations. Hordes of us mentioned in the "Settlers of Sangamon County."

[ridethewind]

Hey, Jean, where in central Illinois? Our family farm is near Athens and my family goes back many generations. Hordes of us mentioned in the "Settlers of Sangamon County."

Hi Sadie...that road would be about 100 miles east of Springfield. I see you're a long way from home.