July 29th rides

[Tri Girl]

We drove down to the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge to camp and ride around. Got up early and rode ? miles (a little over 2 hours but didn't put the computer on). Took some pictures for fun. Had one REALLY scary encounter. On the refuge, there are loose buffalo and longhorn steer. Not a problem (usually). Today there was one walking in the middle of the road. I had nowhere to go (couldn't turn around because another one was on the road behind me), so I just moved as far away from him as I could on the road, straddled my bike, stood perfectly still, and didn't breathe or blink for like 4 minutes until he passed me. I was so scared, but had nowhere to go. I've heard they have poor eyesight, so all I had to do was not get trampled by this 2000 lb best. I didn't want to try to ride past him, as they are surprisingly agile and fast. I wish I would've taken a picture (since he was just 5 feel from me), but there was no way I was moving a millimeter.
If I was to be trampled, at least I was doing something I love, and I told my DH it would've made for a really cool story of my death.

On the way back, I saw a herd of about 40 buffalo just wandering a very safe distance away. I decided to take their picture instead.
The last picture is a stock photo of a buffalo, but it looks just like the one that brushed past me.

[shootingstar]

Some great shots, Trigirl.

Last time we passed a large herd of bison was in Southern Alberta, near Pincher Creek. Not far from Waterton National Park.

We were in the car, not on bikes at that time. Alberta is known more for bison herds.

[Crankin]

Did 40 miles, about 33 with with my club. I chose the shorter ride, which was fine because it was humid out, but cloudy, so not so scorching. It was nice because our group only had 10 people and the other group had 30. I rode to the ride, and we did a loop around all of the roads I usually ride, but in a backwards direction. When we got back to Concord center, we went on to Bedford, where we visited a former member of the club who lives in an assisted living place. He has a collection of cycling memorabilia that was on display in the lobby. Most of it was art work that probably is worth a fortune, and few photos from the track races they used to have in Cambridge (where Major Taylor raced). Our leader wanted to wait until the longer group of riders came, so I had to hang around longer than I wanted to... finally, they arrived and the leader stopped at the "lunch stop," but since it was already 1:30, I just wanted to get home. I lead a group of 6-7 back, trying to catch 4 of the fastest men who headed out ahead of us. I couldn't catch them, but one guy fell back, so I rode with him, until he pooped out. I waited for the group, to give them directions back to their cars, and then headed home.
One interesting thing that happened was before we went to visit the guy, we were stopped by a giant tree that had fallen across the road... police and fire had to redirect us. All in all, one of my better group rides; since there were only 10 people. Some are squirrelly, but I know who they are. Ever since my crash 2 weeks ago, I am not so enamored of groups.

[pfunk12]

During my ride home from work today, I was close to home and starting to fly down a hill when I spotted a little boy on the sidewalk selling lemonade. I yelled, "Lemonade?!" and when he said yes, I had to slow down and do a U-turn and try to get back up the hill. He said, "You are the first person on a bike to buy lemonade from me during my lemonade career." I said, "So you do this every summer?" and he said, "No, just this summer." He was 8-years-old and a real cutie. He made my day.

[7rider]

During my ride home from work today, I was close to home and starting to fly down a hill when I spotted a little boy on the sidewalk selling lemonade. I yelled, "Lemonade?!" and when he said yes, I had to slow down and do a U-turn and try to get back up the hill. He said, "You are the first person on a bike to buy lemonade from me during my lemonade career." I said, "So you do this every summer?" and he said, "No, just this summer." He was 8-years-old and a real cutie. He made my day.

And I'm sure you made his day, too! No, wait. His career!
I'm going to miss our neighbor's daughter, who every summer sold all sorts of things at the foot of her driveway. DH and I would come back from a ride and end up buying cookies, lemonade, and these ice-slushy things ("What flavor is pink??").

[Owlie]

As I'm finally done with my project, I decided to celebrate with a bike ride, after getting over my somewhat foolish fear of making an idiot of myself in front of other people with bikes. I'm proud of myself. I think I've figured out the gears, I fixed a little problem ("Oh wait, I'm supposed to shift to a smaller gear in the back if I do that!") and went out on the roads by myself! Also, longer than I've done at any one time.
I think my adrenaline level shot through the roof at one point, though. The roads on this end of campus are in desperate need of repaving, and I hit a rough patch. The bike decided that she wanted to go somewhere that I was not expecting. Woah. I stayed on the bike, and was fine apart from being a little shaken, but I got myself onto the sidewalk at the next stop sign and took a minute to get myself to calm down.

[Tri Girl]

I'm glad you went out for a ride, owlie, and didn't let yourself be intimidated.

pfunk- that's awesome!

[pfunk12]

Two weeks ago, again while commuting home from work, there were 2 young boys (about 13 yrs old) selling lemonade. Once again, I did a U-turn to go back for a cup. Have to help the U.S. economy! I asked how much it was and the one boy told me that it was 50 cents. I gave him a dollar and told him to keep the change. And then...I saw his t-shirt. DUKE! I am a huge Tarheel fan so I said, "You're wearing a DUKE t-shirt?!" He was cute - he grabbed his shirt, looked at it and said yes. I said, "Well, I'm a Tarheel fan. I want my money back." His friend cracked up but I think he thought I was serious!

[Biciclista]

i commuted today. 4 miles down the hill at 73 degrees at 6am
and 104 degrees going up the hill at 3pm. It was unlike any ride I've ever done, never had that much hot air blasting me. But i felt strong and got home quickly.