November 2nd rides

[Andrea]

I rode a solo 17 miles to a 40 mile group ride today, then made the 17 mile trip home in a slight (but definitely there!) headwind. Usually my favorite person goes with me, but he was busy engaging in super secret CX practice, so I was on my own today

[badgercat]

I had a very leisurely day of riding. My BF and I biked to Denny's for brunch, and then to the grocery store to pick up some staples. All in all, only about 10 miles, averaging about 11mph, but it was a sunny and very pleasant (low 80's F). We've been trying to do more and more of our errands by bicycle and cut the vehicle out as much as possible, and it feels great!

But, it also made me lustful for panniers, since my shoulder was killing me from my messenger bag by the time I got home... and all I had in it was my wallet, u-lock, bread, bagels, and butter...

[Crankin]

It was 44 when we went out with our cycling friends at 1:30. I had a great ride yesterday, but my groin and side were acting up this morning, despite tons of stretching and pre-ride yoga warm up. Our friends rode to our house and were freezing, since they don't do as much cold weather riding as we do. We shortened our route and ended up just doing my short loop I did on Friday.
I was way overdressed, but my combo of woolie bullie socks and my new Gore booties were perfect. It was not a great ride for me, I was in pain and extremely slow, but it was gorgeous out! I have developed more of a tolerance for cold weather riding and that is good.
15.8 miles and when we got back we sort of planned our big summer trip. Looks like we'll be doing the Tuscan coast at the end of June. It's not set yet, but I'd better get working on getting my strength back! This will sort of be an early 30th () anniversary present for us.
I had to drive our friends home, since we talked so long and it was dark and cold already.
Only 15 more miles to meet my goal for the year.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Went for my biggest ride in over a year with my new partner. It was a blast. We went 18.5 miles, and the body is only a little grumpy. I was on the trike, and I feel like I could have gone 30 miles. Life is so wonderful. I think I am in love with being alive again.

So good to hear this!!

....We've been trying to do more and more of our errands by bicycle and cut the vehicle out as much as possible, and it feels great!
But, it also made me lustful for panniers, since my shoulder was killing me from my messenger bag by the time I got home... and all I had in it was my wallet, u-lock, bread, bagels, and butter...

Have you read my thread on grocery bikes yet?
I am converting one of my 2 bikes to a grocery/errand bike.
I got these panniers ($55 for the pair) and am still waiting for the rack to arrive:
grocery panniers

Only 15 more miles to meet my goal for the year.

Yay!

I suspect I will only ride half the distance this year as I did last year....and yet I feel stronger and have more muscle and can get up hills better. Go figure.

[badgercat]

Have you read my thread on grocery bikes yet?
I am converting one of my 2 bikes to a grocery/errand bike.
I got these panniers ($55 for the pair) and am still waiting for the rack to arrive:
grocery panniers

I have been keeping up with your thread... I can't really afford much right now, but I'm anxiously waiting to hear how you like the Novarra panniers, as maybe I'll be able to get them for Christmas or something.

[fastdogs]

I went on a "haunted" ride today, well, not really haunted, but i did ride on "zombie road", which has been the subject of numerous paranormal investigations. I rode al foster trail till Ifound the singletrack that leaves al foster and leads to zombie road. I rode up zombie road for about a mile, until I came to a big tree across the road. I turned and went back at that point. I ran into an older couple who had also read about the legends and were headed up the road. They invited me to walk with them, but I wanted to get in some riding on the trails, so I went back out to al foster and on to stinging nettle. I road stinging nettle a couple of times, criss crossing on the connector trails. There were very few people there, a big difference from al foster, which was really crowded, and I suspect castlewood. I did run into one poor lady on a schwinn, whose crank kept falling off. She'd just stick it back on, ride a bit, and it would fall off again. She said the nut was missing.
On the way back I truned off on the trail to zombie road again, this time I rode for a couple of miles. The road was completely washed out a couple of times, and I had to climb down into the washout and climb up the other side, awkward with the bike. I did find a nice little singletrack on the way back that parallels the road and bypasses a couple of the big down trees and one of the washout areas. I didn't see any shadow people. I am waiting for uforgot to join me so we can ride th whole thing. I was glad to be on the mtn bike due to the broken up road and washed out areas.
zombie road, looking back toward al foster...

[fastdogs]

can't put the photo in.
vickie