March 24 rides!

[mimitabby]

Lycra at the Opera. our ride leader on the right...

Okay, the morning came early, dark, rainy and windy. Raleighdonson is a night owl.
How was I going to wake him up before 8am? Besides, it was dark rainy and windy.

We decided to drive to the theater in Redmond which was showing the Barber of Seville LIVE from the NY Met.

DH at the last minute offered to take us and our bikes to the theater so we could just ride home. OH. I liked that idea.

Raleighdonson just got a brand new Raleigh one way; a fixie, and was unusually eager to ride; so we did.

Me on SPD's for my first real ride, he on his new bike for his first ride of any distance.

The opera was fantastic, funny, beautiful catchy lyrics... then we went to a THai restaurant for a late lunch, and when we left it was pouring. But then it stopped. We hardly even got wet! we rode along the Sammamish river trail
at a scorching 16 mph for a good ways, following a couple on a beautiful lavendar Mercian (yes, now that i've decided to get a Davidson I will be dogged by Mercians) eventually we quit following them and slowed to a pleasant 14 mph.

I was enough behind my son to watch a drama of a dog on too long a leash that charged him ... Raleighdonson went off the trail handy-ly, and did not get hurt, and the dog owner was sufficiently aroused so that when i came by the dog was firmly in his grip.


All along the way, I unclipped and reclipped my right pedal, the whole ride went off FLAWLESSLY.

Thanks everyone for your support, suggestions and encouragement

[roguedog]

Went out on a gorgeous ride from Sunnyvale to Saratoga with an apprehensive, nervous co-worker.

He had some troubles with the hills but other than that was a wonderful little jaunt for him.

Afterwords, in true newbie style, we went to the bike store so he could get clipless pedals, sidi shoes, a real bike jersey and some spare tubes.

We even went to his place so he could ride around clipless just to test the waters. Went fine. He even faked an emergency stop just to see if he'd panic and fall over. He did fine.

Woo.. he ain't ever gonna ride with me again cuz it's too expensive ) (since I couldn't get Mimi to spring for a custom Ebisu, I had to make someone else pay today )

Evil One aka RD ....

[mimitabby]

you're pretty good Roguedog, maybe it's good (for me) that you live in another state!

[DebW]

I missed Robyn's ride today because I didn't get home from Harris Cyclery until 12:45 and her ride started about then. I did get out at 4:00 pm with dh for an 18 mile ride. It was windy and I was still tired from yesterday, so only averaged 15 mph. Dh got a flat (big staple) near the turn onto our street so I went home, got the car, and picked him up. Then he decided to change the flat by himself. He needed a little coaching (No.! No! No tools to install the tire! Now push up the valve stem. Now check the seating.) Good that he is practicing tire changes.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Mimi, great photo!!!

I just LOVE that you and your son are both enjoying bike "firsts" together. How wonderful is THAT?

[SouthernBelle]

Way to go, Mims! Fun wasn't it. After a few rides, we want your opinion on the difference.

[Fredwina]

I did a 300K(190miles) brevet in "only" 18 hours! In between the 11,000 feet of climbing and 20 mph wind, it was a day to remember! Report to follow