Weekend Rides?

[carolync]

I did another organized ride, a poker run for the Lion's club. This weekend it was 37 miles, but with hills, well hills for this flatlander. Kicked my butt, but in a good way. Much more humbling a ride than the flat 50 miler I did the weekend prior.

[azfiddle]

We did a moonlight ride in Saguaro National Park last night. It was the night before the actual full moon. We arrived at 7 and rode out to the picnic area to have a snack. Even before it got dark it was unbelievably beautiful- a reddish cast was on the Rincon Mountains as we approached and the moon was already up.


We rode back from the picnic area and then on to the 8 mile loop drive through the park. If I had not been a little concerned about rattlesnakes coming out, I would not have used a light at all, because it was so bright out.
We didn't see any snakes after all.

We stopped frequently to just enjoy the night. The temperature was perfect, the moon was breathtaking and it was a memorable ride.

[Catrin]

Longest ride since my neck injury (26 miles) and I got to test my commuting route at the same time. It was still pretty dark when I left home so I got to test my Light and Sound Vis360 helmet lights, they worked well with my cheap Planet Bike light on the bar (flashing) and on the seat post.

I burned far more calories than expected - I always seem to do that when I am on unfamiliar routes. It isn't like it was hilly, outside of a couple of steepish bumps - I think that when it is a route I am unaccustomed to that I tend to work harder. I was also trying to use the big chain more frequently to become more efficient - faster on the flats at a lower cadence.There was also the unplanned sprint to get away from 2 pit bull mixes my first dog chase since one took a bite out of my calf last spring (and still isn't quite healed).

I had fun, the route is doable, and I felt far safer on the busy street in the 1-lane section than I thought I would. The lanes are quite wide so they can give me plenty of room without having to cross the line.

I made it too late to catch the opening of the Indpls 500 Mini-marathon but that's ok. I had a very nice morning. 65ish degrees, winds <7mph. I will take it

[Crankin]

Just got back from leading our club's annual new member ride, which is really just the first official ride of the season. We had lots of things going against us: it's electronic recycling day in Concord and the street we start off on as well as the parking was blocked off. It rained through last night and the roads were wet this morning. It was cloudy, though not too cold.
We figured how to lead the people out. Only about 20 people came, which was great, split into 2 groups of 10. DH and I led the "faster" group. There was a lot of traffic, an altercation with a Prius , who decided to go on the other side of the yellow line while our group was turning left, and a few other azzhole driver things. But, the ride was uneventful and pretty. We were all together, which as the sweep I appreciate, but in the second half, the one other woman fell behind and I had to stay with her. She was very nice, but I was getting antsy. The slower group had fun, too.
Afterwards, we went out to lunch with our cycling friends (she led the other group) and one other leader we know well. All in all, a good ride of 23 miles.

[Fredwina]

The Kitty Toll Booth. Some other riders paid for me, or I'd be in big trouble:

Construction from Irene:

Fultonville:


Beauty is where you find it:

[7rider]

Holy smokes.

Did my first N2 group ride with my club since - oh, maybe October.
Got dropped about a half dozen times. Thankfully we had some re-group spots.
I've been doing a fair bit of riding - but slow commutes or slow rides with one or two friends. This was my first hard effort in a group in a long time, and wow. My legs felt it. Ice bath when I got home felt great.

57 rolling miles at 17.1 mph. Totally spent.

[hebe]

21 miles for me this morning through the country lanes. I'm chuffed to bits as that's my longest ride so far. It was the first sunny (and dry!) day this week. I saw a hare racing me through a field, and a garden den flying a Skull and Crossbones. Navigation was off for the last few miles - one wrong turn, one long walk up half of a long steep hill, then my lovely Vita gamely managed an off-road path saving me a bit of time.