Nov 11 Rides

[HillSlugger]

I'm still working at getting back my cycling form. I set out to do 25 miles but just didn't have it in me; my legs were not up for it. Instead, decided to do 17. Later, decided to tack on 3 more to make 20. Ended up with 22.

22.71 miles 14.62 miles/hr

[makbike]

This certainly was not my weekend to ride. Yesterday my ride was delayed due to a large staple in my rear tire. Today things got worse. I should have listened to that little voice that told me to check the tire and tube (I did not change it yesterday) but I got involved in things and never got around to it before I departed for the starting point. The tire appeared to be okay and so I assumed it was. At about the two mile mark while flying down a hill I heard a loud pop and I knew it was my rear tire. I quickly pulled off the road and could tell immediately I was in trouble. The side of the tire was shredded. The tube had a 4" gash in it and the beads on the outside wall were exposed. Luckly, the wires were still okay so after some discussion with those who stopped to help and offer advise I decided my ride was over for the day. I changed the tube, put some air in it and gingerly rode back to my car. I was advised to stay off the seat as much as possible and I did my best to follow this suggestion. I guess I should not complain that tire had over 10,000 miles on it. The upside was I was not hurt, I did not lose control of my bike coming down the hill and I had a spare tire at home. All is well!

[fastdogs]

today I went 7.5 miles, but my husband and 4 year old came along again. I pulled the trailer and my husband insisted on riding the walmart bike. It threw the chain once and he had some gear trouble, but he insists it's just fine. The limestone trail is mostly flat, but after 3 miles or so it deteriorates into mountain bike territory and we had to turn around- fine for the bikes but not wide enough for the trailer. At one point we ended up down a steep rocky slope- loose rocks about 3" diameter. I actually was able to come back up it with the trailer, even with rocks slipping out from under the tires the whole way. My son gets impatient riding in the trailer after about this distance, so that's his limit. I wanted to ride longer, but he'd had enough. I think my husband would ride as long as I wanted.
I enjoy having them along, but since I'm used to riding by myself it sort of cramps my style- I can't go where or as long as I'd like, and the weekend is the only time I have to ride any distance at all. Andy will be better once he's tall enough to ride the trail a bike I got off craig's list (his legs aren't quite long enough, it's a gary fischer freeloader), then we can go longer.
I'd like my husband to get a better bike, but he seems perfectly content with the mongoose he's got. I found a trek 7100 on craig's list today, not far from here- with rear rack and bag, and computer, for $75. 20" frame, he'd have to try it to see if that's too tall, but what a deal. He had no interest in it though.
vickie

[indigoiis]

I did a stretch of a bike path here... lots of leaves on the ground, but relatively quiet. Cold... 40's. 15 miles total. I feel like I am not riding as well as before... DH says it's cuz it's cold.

[mimitabby]

Today we did our last big ride before going to Arizona on thursday. Dear DH thought we'd do about 70 + miles
but at mile 45 I was getting pretty beat, so we did 55 total miles at 13mph (with 700 feet of altitude gain ooooooooo). We rode from our house to Auburn and then to Kent to stop in at my mother;s and then to Renton and then home again. Almost completely flat.
It was windy; and yes, we planned for tailwinds for the home stretch. The wind wasn't as bad as our ride about a month ago east of the mountains, but it got stiffer as the day grew longer. Come to think of it, my knees got stiffer too. oh. right
Here's Raleighdon posing next to another kind of Davidson


and we still have lots of beautiful autumn color here, but there are more and more trees with no leaves left; and LOTS of leaves on the trails.

[Fredwina]

I didn't get back from church until 2:30, and the sun sets at 5, so I did a quick 15 mile ride around ontario airport, The weather was threatening, so no pics

[sandra]

Mimi, beautiful picture! Also, is that Brooks bar tape on your bike?

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Great pictures, Mimi!!!