May 21-22 weekend rides!

[emily_in_nc]

Okay, I'll start!

What a lovely day -- I guess this is kinda like the first weekend of "summer" here in NC since it's in the 80s today and forecast to go to 90 tomorrow and for days after that. We've actually had a lovely spring here in NC with many days in the 60s and 70s, so even my heat-hating mother can't complain and say we had "no spring" this year as it sometimes seem.

Did the usual market ride with DH this morning -- farmer's market and food co-op with panniers. Got lots of healthy goodies and brought 'em back. That was around 13 miles round trip. After a snack, water bottle refill, and bathroom break, I pulled the panniers off and hit the road for some additional solo mileage (DH did the same, but he's so much faster we just split up and waved to each other at one point during the ride when our paths crossed). Got in an additional 22 miles for a total of 35.

Had a "crazy driver" incident on the market part of the ride. On one road in town, there were just too many cars to ride across (or on) the road as a parallel road is closed for construction, diverting everyone and creating much more traffic. So, seeing a pedestrian walkway nearby, I got off my bike and began walking across. After crossing the first two lanes, I stopped in the middle to make sure the cars coming the other way were actually going to stop. The first one BLEW right through the very well-marked pedestrian crosswalk. If I'd continued across, I would not be posting this right now. I wanted to catch her eye and give her a "WTF" type of gesture as she blew across, but I couldn't because she was looking down at her phone on the bottom of her steering wheel and very obviously TEXTING. I actually started yelling "She's texting?! REALLY!?!" She never even saw me or realized she could have taken a pedestrian out. What if I'd had a baby in a stroller? Sheesh..... The driver behind her stopped for me. Sure wish there had been a cop around.

[Biciclista]

we got our grey wet cold back but it didn't keep me from heading out first thing to meet a friend at a bike store to help her buy a bike! 1/2 mile from light rail, I noticed i had a rear flat tire. I took the light rail to downtown then pushed the bike 1 mile up the hill got there just as the LBS (Velo Bike) had opened. They fixed my tire for me so we were able to test ride bikes (She bought a used Raleigh hybrid) then I got home before the rain, an easy 10 miles.

[Catrin]

Yesterday (Friday) I had an awesome 23 mile country road ride - and even got sunburn! I am NOT complaining about that! Nary a dog in sight, and the only reason I didn't get my desired 30 miles in was because I ran out of time.

Today I loaded up the Jamis and headed to Brown County State Park and rode a short fire road with a couple of friends - they are avid mountain bikers and were kind enough to do this with me - then they went to have fun on the groomed mountain bike trails while I hiked one of the beginning trails to scope it out. It may not have been a long ride, but it was a lot of fun!

[Velocivixen]

I wasn't as outgoing as the rest of you, but I rode a leisurely 9 miles today to the public library and back.

Yesterday I rode about 12 miles or so.

[azfiddle]

I drove to the meeting spot and discovered I had forgotten my shoes. So I went home, parked the car and rode 49 miles solo. Overall a good ride but started experiencing a problem with my knee each time I got back on to the bike after a rest stop, and it went away the first 2 times, but not the 3rd time. I'm icing it now....

[Bike Writer]

I had a great 14 mile ride on Friday after work. I specifically wanted to work on hills and exploring the low range of gears. It was a great ride and productive too. I had a volunteer effort going on today and didn't get to ride but plan on a long (for me) ride tomorrow.

[lauraelmore1033]

Did the Cascade training ride, the Bellevue Cumberland loop; 75 miles of hills out in the lovely countryside. I was toast by the end. We stopped by bakery in Black Diamond around the midpoint. Three of us stayed outside with all the bikes, and a guy in a truck passed by, taking in the sight of all the parked bikes, said, "**** you!". Just like that out of the blue. for no good reason.

[Mr. Bloom]

Crane CycleFest

An unexpectedly beautiful day! I rode with many friends including Indysteel and Mr. Indysteel. I've not tallied the totals, but it seems that we netted about $50,000 for disabled veterans!

50 lush hilly miles for me with some screaming downhills!

[Catrin]

Crane CycleFest

An unexpectedly beautiful day! I rode with many friends including Indysteel and Mr. Indysteel. I've not tallied the totals, but it seems that we netted about $50,000 for disabled veterans!

50 lush hilly miles for me with some screaming downhills!

I lost track of this event, will have to make certain I do it next year. Sounds great, especially since hills are easier with my new Gunnar

[Dogmama]

54 miles with a really fast group. It's been awhile since I pushed so hard & so long. It felt good to push myself, since I usually ride solo. Will do it again.

[Owlie]

18-19 glorious miles on the bike trail. My computer malfunctioned on my way out from the parking lot, but I know I rode just past one trail access point that is just over an 18-mile round trip away.
I left about half an hour after I wanted to, because I couldn't find the car key. It was cool enough for arm warmers when I left, but it warmed up pretty quickly. It was a beautiful day, and the first nice weekend we've had in a while, so everyone and their dog was on the trail. I couldn't keep myself from grinning, though, because it was my first good long ride since March. Lots of cottonwood fluff on the bridge over the river, a deer crossed my path on my way back to the car. Perfect morning.

Except for one thing: I tend to leave my jersey collars slightly unzipped. When I took my arm warmers off, I spent a bit of time tugging at them because they got caught on the sleeves of my jersey. Apparently this additional stress had to be relieved by the zipper unzipping itself...and I didn't notice until seven miles later. I managed to avoid flashing anyone, as it's only a 1/4-length zipper. It could have been a lot worse.

[Becky]

30 rolling miles with DH and a friend, followed by breakfast sandwiches at a local pizza joint. That was the best breakfast sandwich that I've ever had!

[okraftw]

I rode 17 miles on the Schuylkill River Trail. I've been traveling for work the past few months, and this was my first chance to ride this year. It was the perfect day for it.

[WindingRoad]

I rode 17 miles on the Schuylkill River Trail. I've been traveling for work the past few months, and this was my first chance to ride this year. It was the perfect day for it.

Hmmmmmm.... I know that trail. I go to Valley Forge on in every so often.

I had a great ride Saturday, did my first FAST ride here in Philly and I did NOT get dropped. I was happy.

[Roadtrip]

Rode the Ohio River trail from East side, into downtown and to the future home of a bike center. They'll eventually have bike rentals, showers, security for your bike, and full service repair facilities. First group ride and their were about 20 or so at the start.

The trail takes you on off onto parts of the busy roadway for about two miles and I was nervous about that and likely pushed a little harder and did 16-18mph on that entire stretch as I was trying to catch the group I was riding with. Ride "leader" wasn't exactly prepared as many didn't know how to get where we were going, but eventually found our way, then the group just sort of split and went different ways. Glad we found the wheel of one of the locals we'd shared emails with and rode back with a smaller group of four others. Logged a total of 14 miles.

Shannon