March 27 Rides

[rubywagon]

I need to jaunt down to your neck o' the woods azfiddle! That sounds lovely.

[moderncyclista]

Today, it was wet, rainy, and cold.

Yesterday, however was windy but in the 60's. I rode Critical Mass with friends, then we picnic'd in a park after the ride (shared a jug of communal wine and fruit, bread, & cheese) as the sun set & hazy shades of pink, purple, and blue streched across the horizon, the moon visible in the clear sky. Laughter, bikes, friends. Is there anything better?

[Crankin]

20 miles on a cool, crisp, very sunny day. It didn't get higher than 42 today, but other than the first few miles, nothing was cold except my fingers. Still sticking with my strategy of going slowly, keeping to 14-17 on the flats. I feel good now. DH felt tired and let me beat him up our hill, a rare occasion.
Did the cue sheet for the ride we are leading on 4/11, today. It's exactly 30.1 miles from the start point, 38 from my house.
Tomorrow will be a longer 35-40 mile ride.

[DebW]

I had to attend a meeting today in Lowell from 9:30-4:00, so I biked there. It was 25F when I left home at 8 am but sunny and beautiful. I rode the Bridgestone MTB with studded tires and was glad I did - some icy patches on Rt. 4 in Billerica. Got to ride the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail for the first time. On the way there, I went north on Rt 4 and did about 2 miles of the trail, but on the way home I did the whole trail (6.8 miles) and rode back on Rt. 225. 14 miles there, 19 miles home.

[ZooZoo]

Got my bike back from the shop last night. Had her tuned and a rack put on the back. Rode 20 miles today. Went early and it was chilly but not too bad. Hoping tomorrow morning will be good enough to go again.

[pfunk12]

I did the Saturday morning "N2" group ride. It was about 33 degrees at the start - pretty chilly so it took a while to warm up. A bunch of us did the Poolesville route which gave me 65 miles for the day. I felt strong but my legs were burning on some of the hills. A good burn. Nice group of cyclists and a lot of funny and bad jokes.

[OakLeaf]

Today was a yoga and running day, this afternoon DH and I rode a couple of miles downtown to a wine tasting/art walk. I remembered to bring my jackets since we'd be coming home after dark when it was much cooler. He didn't.

[Crankin]

Deb, Where did you go to in Lowell and how did you get there, specifically?
I drive down (up) West St. in Carlisle to the intersection of 225 and 27. Then I take 27 into Chelmsford center, to Rt. 110 into Lowell, into that horrible rotary thing where I have to go, to get downtown. I was taking Lowell Rd., past Great Brook to Rt 4 for awhile, but it's actually a mile or two longer. But, I'm asking, because I have tried to think of a way to ride there, without going through that rotary. I could take the trail for about 2/3 of the trip.
The drivers in Lowell are scary enough in the car, but, I still keep thinking of riding. I will be doing another internship there next year, where the place is right on Rt. 110. Going does not involve the rotary, but going home does.

[7rider]

Nice group of cyclists and a lot of funny and bad jokes.

That about sums 'em up!

DH and I saw the thermometer this a.m. and decided to shut off the alarms, shut off the coffee maker, and head back to bed. We both have lost our enthusiasm for below-freezing ride starts since the daffodils and forsythia are in full bloom, the tree buds are filling in, and Spring is definitely in the air.
So, we left much later, cruised through Rock Creek Park, stopped at the LBS. Our standard weekend cruise. 35 miles.