riding into the new year

[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.