Weekend Rides?

[Owlie]

Nippy but sunny with a decent wind off the lake, here in Chicagoland. Got in 33 miles on Saturday, and 38 miles today. Today was my maiden ride on my new custom Ti Seven Axiom SL with Ui2 electronic shifting! It was a very smooth ride. The Ti really soaks up the road "clatter" that I was used to hearing/feeling on my full carbon Cannondale. So far, I'm loving the Ui2...just need to learn how to get a good feel for it when wearing my thicker cold-weather gloves. I can hardly wait for the warmer temps, so I can shed my thick gloves for my fingerless ones to really get comfortable with the electronic shifting.

Linda

Oooh! Pictures?

[azfiddle]

I didn't expect to ride today- the forecast was for very a windy day, but the morning was calmer than expected. By the time I convinced my DH to go with me the wind was rising, but we drove up to Saguaro NP and did the 8 mile loop and out to the picnic ground.

[luv2climb]

Here's yesterday's ride. No crashes this time, but plenty of climbing to make me live up to my username!

This is the South Fork American River Trail (SFART). The trailhead is right across the road from the Salmon Falls trailhead. It starts off with quite a bit of climbing on technical singletrack with tight switchbacks. Good stuff!

There's not nearly as much technical stuff as on Salmon Falls though. There's lots of smooth singletrack and doubletrack.

It ended up being almost a 24 mile round trip ride with 3,442' of climbing.

South Fork American River Trail by freighttraininguphill at Garmin Connect - Details

Here's the video. As always, this is 100% natural sound. This means plenty of heavy breathing on the climbs, so be forewarned!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfHQtzifblQ

Nice switchback where I waited for some climbing cyclists before descending.

switchback on SFART by freighttraininguphill, on Flickr

Abandoned structures at the Cronan Ranch trailhead

abandoned buildings on SFART by freighttraininguphill, on Flickr

abandoned buildings on SFART 2 by freighttraininguphill, on Flickr

abandoned house on SFART by freighttraininguphill, on Flickr

I'm used to seeing "connector", like the trail near Auburn. There were several of these signs along the trail.

'connecter trail' sign on SFART by freighttraininguphill, on Flickr

View of the American River on the way back towards Salmon Falls Road

view of American River from SFART by freighttraininguphill, on Flickr

A trail that definitely lived up to its name, and made me live up to my username!

'down and up trail' sign on SFART by freighttraininguphill, on Flickr

[ridebikeme]

It was abit chilly here as well, although got out for 30 miles. Temperature was 32 although the winds were blowing 30-35 MPH, needless to say, the ride back home was a bit tough. BUT, it's February and I'm not complaining, we generally are not riding outside this time of year here in Maine!!


http://chasecyclery.blogspot.com

[SheFly]

I'm trying to get motivated to head out today, but rode both Saturday and Sunday on the road, for 43.5 and 40.5 miles. It was warmer on Saturday, but still nice out yesterday as well. Hoping to get out for another 40 or so today if my knee will hold up (whole other story - I took another digger while trail running yesterday, and my knee is cut, swollen and bruised - sigh).

SheFly

[SheFly]

Decided against a road ride at the last minute, and ended up heading into the woods instead. I was totally enjoying being out in the woods, and came upon another solo MTB woman. We passed and said hello. Later, I came upon her again and we started chatting. I invited her to join me, and we ended up riding for another hour - a nice surprise! Glad I managed to drag myself out there after all - I may have just found another riding partner.

SheFly