excellent spring ride

[Crankin]

We had plans to ride about 25 with friends but he called early and said it was a no go for him, as he had a fever/sore throat. So, after reading the paper, going to Trader Joe's, and doing some work, I ate lunch and sort of negatively put on my gear. It is *is* 60 degrees out, but with quite a strong wind. DH was complaining and he wanted to bail, so we compromised on a short ride. I am really suffering with mold allergies and I feel like just lying down! Anyway, we did our super short 8 mile loop and then rode back, and into Concord Center where we stopped at the bike shop and ordered the paint for my bike. We took a longer way back and picked up the speed, but the headwind was ferocious. Just as we were pushing it and had turned the corner onto Strawberry Hill Rd, DH kicked it up and started standing to get a up the little hill there. I just didn't have it in me, but when I was sort of pushing it and deciding whether to try and catch him, this idiot guy, with no helmet passed me really close, with no warning and scared the sh*t out of me, so I just backed off. He was so intent on catching DH, it was funny. Of course, DH thought it was me and started talking to him, but I was too far back to hear this, I could just see it. Then, when DH went to signal and turn onto our street, the guy was like on his wheel so closely, he was impeding DH's turn. Finally, he realized we were turning. I crawled up the hill and am ready to relax. I ended up riding only 13.5 miles, but the wind made it tough.
I will be getting home earlier than usual tomorrow, and it's going to be 60ish again, but not sure if I'll ride. I have boot camp in the AM and I've ridden 3 days in a row.

[Catrin]

Wow Crankin, glad it turned out ok and the guy didn't cause a problem when you and your DH was turning!

I knew better...but I went for a 14 mile easy spin in my favorite park before heading to my Sunday Funday workout (I posted about that in my "other fun" thread). Won't be doing THAT again, but both were fun

[Biciclista]

thanks, Marni for the pictures of the wildflowers!

i rode too; i was invited by my son's GF to ride with her friends in a "cargo bike ride" it was quite the gay assortment of silly bikes and cool bikes. It's a good thing i rode hard (into a head wind) to get there because these riders specialized in going as slow as they could!! it ended with a picnic where my son showed up... eventually.

[GLC1968]

We got out for a lovely ride on Saturday. It was 70F and sunny and the whole time, my DH and I kept saying 'isn't this just an amazing day?". It truly was spectacular! We have this route that we like that we call 'Rick's Ride' because my husband loved it so much the first time we did it about 4 years ago. It's about 65 miles total, but there are places to bail out all along the way to keep it shorter. We used to have to drive to the start of it, but now that we live in town, it's only a 5 mile ride to get to it. This year, as we get back into shape, we've been doing a little more of the ride each weekend. This weekend, we did just over 22 miles of it and it was the first time we got to the more interesting climbing sections. It was really lovely. Tons and tons of cyclists, runners and motorcyclists out enjoying the rare warm, dry, spring day.

The trip was only slightly marred by the scariest sound I've ever experienced. We were heading along a country road (very straight with excellent visibility) and I was following my H when I heard the sound of screeching tires and locked up breaks DIRECTLY behind me. In the split second it took for me to realize what I was hearing, I started pedaling like mad. I kept thinking, pedal faster but relax, pedal faster but relax...I was thinking that by doing so, I could lessen the blow. Luckily, the car managed to come to a stop without hitting me. It was some teenage girl who clearly misjudged how much time she had to pass us before the oncoming cars got there and had to change her mind at the last minute. Afterward, my husband hung back and read her the riot act. She'll likely be terrified of passing cyclists for the rest of her adult life!

No harm, no foul, but man...that would have been a lousy end to an otherwise perfect day. And it would be just my luck that I'd be injured (or worse) as a new season is starting (not unlike having been taken out by my dog at the start of last year's season!).

[Crankin]

Glad you're OK, GLC!

[Catrin]

Oh MY GLC, so glad you are OK - scary stuff! Glad you had fun outside of that!