riding into the new year

[redrhodie]

Yep, I stole the title from the runners.

TV forecast said mix of rain and snow for today, and the temperature was 29º. Funny, it looked sunny outside. Went to the online weather site where temp was listed at 41. Oh, now that's a little better--no ice. So, off I went.

The online weather was more accurate, and it actually felt even warmer with the sun shining. It felt almost summery after a week inside riding on the trainer. I rode Puddin', and I gotta brag, she's the most comfortable bike in the world. I haven't ridden her in a couple of months, and she's a dreamy ride. Wore my new wool buff, and it's fantastic. I highly recommend!

20-something gorgeous miles an a perfect December day.

[Crankin]

I thought the same about the weather forecast, RR. It said rain/snow? While it's cloudy now, the sun was out and it's 35 degrees.
Maybe I can get in a ride???

[pfunk12]

Finally got out yesterday and today after not riding since the major snowstorm. Since I was in Pennsylvania for Christmas for a few days and the weather and roads weren't that good, I had been on the trainer for several days. Even though it was so cold and so, so windy these past 2 days (gusts today of 40 mph ), I enjoyed both rides. I rode with some of the guys from the shop (7rider knows them well). Yesterday there were 3 of us and today there were 4 of us. I did 22 yesterday and just over 28 today. I'm sure I would have gone out by myself but it sure is nice riding with other people when it's brutally cold.

[Ritamarie]

I got out the last 3 days too! My husband thinks I am crazy for riding in this cold/wind, so I am slowly catching up to his mileage for the year. I am now just 21 miles behind and I have a 35-40 mile ride planned for tomorrow. So as long as he doesn't go out in the next two days, I'm good! He's not much of a road rider in the winter, so even if he does go out on his mountain bike I don't think he'll get ahead. hmmmm... maybe I should ride longer tomorrow just in case! I am such a goofball.

[azfiddle]

Tucson weather is more amenable to riding this time of year than most places- we got out for a long ride today with temps in the 50's but a little more wind than I would have liked....

[Owlie]

It's supposed to be about 40 tomorrow, so I'm hoping to get to the bike trail. Yay! My first ride on my tuned-up bike, and with new batteries in the computer. I'm looking forward to it.

[Ritamarie]

Hey, I just realized looking over my log for the week that I tend to ride the temperature in miles. Like Sunday it was 43 degrees and we rode 43 miles. Yesterday and today it was 26 degrees (with 26 mph winds!) and 26 miles was about right both days. Tomorrow it's supposed to be 35 degrees and I just happen to have a 35 mile route laid out. And 63 degrees is about ideal for a metric century! Okay, the theory falls apart for a full century but well, all theories have flaws. Maybe it just works in the winter. Think I'll go pour another glass of wine now....

[smilingcat]

Didn't ride today because of appliance delivery and scheduled rolfing. I was hoping to get out but didn't materialize.

Rode yesterday, day before that... strange. Its one thing to be cold all over but yesterday and day before, my toes got terribly cold. It's the same cheap shoes I've worn for few years... so what has changed?

I think I need new pair of socks. They are bit threadbear in the toes. oops.

I love the "she loves hill she loves them not"... so I'll order few pairs of them soon. Hope to go out and do an easy ride tomorrow before 30% of me gets wet. 30% chance of rain.

hmmm...

[IFjane]

Hope to go out and do an easy ride tomorrow before 30% of me gets wet. 30% chance of rain.

hmmm...

You'll probably be ok as long as the 30% is not your feet!

[owlice]

I rode both Sunday and Monday, short rides both days, just 14 miles on Sunday and 10 on Monday. I left late on Sunday and *really* needed my lights on the ride back from the lake. I got out a little earlier in the afternoon on Monday; it was windier and felt colder to me than Sunday did, though it was also about 32 when I started out. One of the small puddles I rode through was crunchy. I felt I could have ridden much more on Sunday, and that I'd ridden enough on Monday -- go figure!!

I dropped my bike off for some service after Monday's ride and will pick it up today. No riding today, though; the kid wants to meet friends in Philadelphia, so we're heading north for a good part of the day.... assuming he gets up and showered in time!!

[Owlie]

It was something above 25 today, so I went on a ride on the bike trail. (It actually got up to just below 40 on my way back, but was probably something like 30 when I left.) There was ice in some of the potholes and on one of the bridges, but overall, quite nice. Mostly cloudy, next to no wind. I did just over 23 miles, which is a new record for me...and may lead to a few new purchases (clipless pedals, shoes, and some new shorts.) I did get some odd looks from the roadie types on the trail: there's me, a woman riding alone, on an entry level road bike, in a cycling-specific jacket with bones on it, in a not-cheap helmet, wearing track pants, wool socks and tennis shoes with the hem of the right leg of my pants tucked into my sock. Yeah, I must have looked weird.

[Ritamarie]

Woo-hoo, I made it! 4502 miles for the year (2 in excess of my goal and 15 ahead of my DH)! I did a 36.5 mile ride today with a good friend who was kind enough to keep me company in reaching the goal. It was supposed to get into the 30s but according to my friend's cyclo-computer we ranged from 24-28F depending if we were in a hill or valley. It was cold, but fun too! We kept each other entertained with stories about this and that, and it was just fine. There was a few icy patches and my friend showed her riding skill when she hit a patch with just a bit too much speed on. But the wind was relatively light, so it was definitely better than my solo rides yesterday and Monday!

I think I'm going to keep my butt planted firmly in my desk chair tomorrow. I've got a lot of work to catch up on after the holidays and all of this riding!

[owlice]

Owlie!! Congratulations on reaching a new high!! Feel you look weird? Ride with me, and you'll feel like the archetype of normal!

Ritamarie, yahoo! on meeting both your goals -- your mileage goal and the ahead of your DH goal!!

[pfunk12]

I did just over 32 miles today. Met 3 of the shop riders at noon to get in some miles before we met a group of shop riders meeting at 1 p.m. It was about 32 degrees when we were out - cold but bearable since it wasn't windy like yesterday. When we met the others at 1, there were 10 of us. Pretty cool to have that big of a group cycling on a Wednesday afternoon when it's 32 degrees outside but most people are on vacation. I got dropped towards the end of the ride by 5 guys who were left. There was no way that I could keep up with them. I was toast. Went to the shop after the ride to get an espresso and to look at the shop's winter jackets. They didn't have jackets but they had a thermal vest in my size. When I tried it on, Mike, the shop owner, asked me if I liked it and if it fit. I said...yes and yes! And he said, "Merry Christmas...it's yours." Wow.
If I do 14 miles tomorrow, I will have 7,000 for the year. This is huge for me considering it's my first full year of cycling. Obviously, the daily commute helps a bunch.

[redrhodie]

Last ride of the year today! 21 miles along my favorite route. A lovely end to an awesome 2009. Cheers everyone!

Pfunk, sounds like you have a great lbs!