We're riding Baby

[Crankin]

Seems like there are a lot of colds going around this list. I did the right thing Surly, and did not ride Sunday. I did go for a 3 and a half mile hike in some local conservation land; about 500 feet of climbing in mushy snow. I probably shouldn't have. But I feel better today. I had my last session with the personal trainer today. More time to ride... I have a dentist appt. Wed. and i am not going to work (although i could have gone in late) so I can come home and ride. Thursday looks good, too.
Saturday I am going to a bike maintenance workshop. I hope I actually learn to change a flat. With all of the mechanically inclined people on this list, I am embarrassed. When I ride by myself, I tend to not go more thn 20-25 miles because I am so mechanically challenged and worry that I might have an issue. I wish I could say this is a case of being of a generation that didn't teach women these skills, but my dad was the klutz in my family and my mom could fix anything.

[Surlygirl]

Doing the happy dance. What great weather! 54 and climbing. Hope all who still have snow get a chance to get out.
Hey Robyn, where is the clinic on Saturday, maybe I can escape and join you?

[CorsairMac]

I rode today!!!....first time since 03/11. I still have a slight nagging cough in the morning but I figured cover my mouth in the AM, do an easy "recovery" type ride and drive tomorrow as a rest day. It just felt sooo good to be out there again on the bike! and in the 70s this weekend so I might try another easy ride!

[Crankin]

Doing the happy dance. What great weather! 54 and climbing. Hope all who still have snow get a chance to get out.
Hey Robyn, where is the clinic on Saturday, maybe I can escape and join you?

The clinic is at the Trinitarian (sp?) Church in Concord Center, on Thoreau ST. It is sponsored by AMC. You have to be there at 9:45 AM, bring a wheel, tire irons, pump, and lunch. I am not sure if there is still room; it says you can register at the door, but there is no phone # for the guy I sent the check to. If you go to the web site www.outdoors.org and scroll down on the right side, click on the Boston Chapter. When you get to the chapter home page, you can find the cycling activity page and you might find something there.
I am going for the techie stuff. I think there will be some stuff in the afternoon that will be too basic for me (and you).
I finally rode 20 miles yesterday with some hills. Today I did 14.5 and I feel like I have never ridden. This is quite discouraging! Let me know if you are coming to the worksop.

[SadieKate]

When are you girls going to post some pictures? You've seen us northern Californians! We've seen emily's trails. We've seen Irulan hugging a tree. When we going to see you?

[DeniseGoldberg]

When are you girls going to post some pictures?

Hmm... I'd be happy to post some pics, but unfortunately we seem to have another serious rain storm getting in the way of cycling this weekend - at least in the Boston area. Sounds like Saturday will be a total washout, but there's still a possibility of a Sunday ride (I know, I know, I'm just dreaming...). If the weather permits a dry ride, I'll bring my camera with me. Pictures may be coming...

Can you gals in California send some of your nice weather our way?

In the meantime, here's a non-biking photo from my early morning walk on Tuesday (3/29) - anyone for some very wet riding? Not me - my bikes like staying on the road, and they don't like riding through standing water!

--- Denise

[DeniseGoldberg]

Hey Robyn, where is the clinic on Saturday, maybe I can escape and join you?

If you're still looking for clinics - I took a couple of one-on-one sessions at Belmont Wheelworks before I started touring on my own. I just checked their web site, and it looks like they have both individual classes like I took and Park Tool classes that look more like structured classes. I was really happy with my one-on-one sessions. More info at http://www.wheelworks.com/class.htm.

--- Denise

[Surlygirl]

Hey Robyn I'm not going to make it on Saturday, to many kid obligations. Looks like a good thing to do on a rainy weekend. You'll do fine.

Here's a ride to consider and I've heard its lots of fun. The Flattest Century in the East. You have to register early though since it fills up by June. You can choose 25, 52, 68 or 100 miles. This is a ride, not a race the organizers say. Check it out. www.nbwclub.org and then go to the Flattest Century page. You can print out a registration form. I think Hubby and I are going to do it and it gives us all summer to train since its not until September.

Hey Denise, that looks like my back yard! The old Blackstone River has been over its banks once already this week. Good thing I live up on big hill.

[DeniseGoldberg]

Hey Denise, that looks like my back yard!

Well, it's practically my back yard - that photo was taken along the road leading into a college campus next to my townhouse.

I did get out riding today. I snuck out of work at 3 this afternoon - the sunshine was beckoning, I knew my bikes were screaming at home, ready to ride - and the weather forecast for the weekend makes it sound like this isn't going to be a riding weekend.

Yup, that wide band to the side of the road is sand! Some of the towns have started cleaning the roads, but for the most part they are still a mess with sand on the side, and lots and lots of pot holes where you could lose your bike! And I figured I'd better include a picture of my bike too so you'd all know that I was really out wandering on two wheels. Here it is, patiently waiting for it's ride to stop taking pictures! Ah, springtime...

[Crankin]

Glad to see that N. Andover has as much sand as Boxborough. I did notice that other towns are starting to clean the roads (Stow, Bolton), but sometimes it's close to May 1 before it is done here. I went to spin yesterday before work because I thought it might be raining in the PM. Of course, it was gorgeous, but I didn't want to overdo and ride twice. This morning I went for a 2.5 mile walk in the rain and am now heading out to the clinic.

Surly, that century looks interesting. The way I am feeling now, 100 miles seems impossible, but I will discuss it with my husband. I have never ridden more than 67 miles (with stops, etc), but I think if I worked at it, I could. Are you going to do the 100, or the 68?

The weather looks good for this week....

[DeniseGoldberg]

This morning I went for a 2.5 mile walk in the rain....

And here I thought I was the only one crazy enough to walk in the rain. (But I'm not crazy enough to take my bike out into this crap!) I'm about to head out for a walk in the rain myself...

[CorsairMac]

[QUOTE=DeniseGoldberg]...and lots and lots of pot holes where you could lose your bike! And I figured I'd better include a picture of my bike too so you'd all know that I was really out wandering on two wheels. Here it is, patiently waiting for it's ride to stop taking pictures! Ah, springtime...[QUOTE]

I thought maybe you included a pix of your bike so we'd know what to look for in case in fell in one of those potholes!

[Crankin]

I am going to stick to the cartridges. I practiced taking the rear wheel off in the basement before my ride yesterday. I did it, but I wonder if I could out on the road in an emergency! I also practiced changing the tube on a wheel from my old Cannondale. My husband was pretty impressed. We rode 21.5 miles yesterday, with 1350 ft. of climbing. Lots of hills in Harvard. We decided to take it easier on the speed, and not be so hard on ourselves. I felt pretty pathetic on the first long climb, but by the end, felt I had my "groove" back.
Surly, I would love to do the trail with you, but I am a teacher and I can't ride during the day. I am having enough trouble making myself stay after school to work (what a concept) with the advent of nice weather and DST. I usually do little loop rides after school, 15-20 miles a couple of times a week or more. Tomorrow is going to be nice and I have a dentist appt. that will last until 5. But, it will still be light when I get home, so I'll try to get a few miles in. We can ride during April Vacation... or on the weekends. This weekend looks good...