Show your 2013 summer adventures (picture thread)

[Bike Writer]

rebeccaC

Your photos of Big Sur to Carmel were exactly as I remembered it. One of the more beautiful places on our planet that I've been to. Thanks for the memories!

[Crankin]

From this weekend at the Mount Washington Hotel: Yes, the last one is not cycling related... it's Mojito related.

[rebeccaC]

Mary Anne, I used my phone to do my last post and didn't see your post with the nice comments...Thanks! This thread is great for showing some of our varied riding areas. I have some more places I'd love to ride because of the sharing!!

Bike Writer, Big Sur is a beautiful area!!! I really like the Huron River ride that's on your blog. Those Metroparks look like they have some very peaceful riding areas as well as good outdoor family activity areas!!

[Bike Writer]

Crankin, oh I love covered bridges! Nice one

rebeccaC, thanks for looking!



photos are from a jump bike course off a trail I ride with a niece and nephew enjoying it, Michigan State Capital building at the League of Michigan Bicyclists Advocacy Day, the foundation from Meads Mill in Edward Hines Park, a ride over Argo Dam and a morning silhouette from an early morning bike ride that was the Kickoff for the Tour de Livingston held at the Howell Balloon Fest.

[Bike Writer]

More photos from the TdL Kickoff Ride at Balloon Fest

[Bike Writer]

Lastly,

Two shots of the Blue Trail at Island State Park. It's the only real mountain bike trail that I've ever been on and a shot of the trail at Willow Metropark

[rebeccaC]

Lastly,

Two shots of the Blue Trail at Island State Park. It's the only real mountain bike trail that I've ever been on and a shot of the trail at Willow Metropark

I think I'd be spending more time doing photography than riding in those Metroparks you're riding in .....Love the 'morning silhouette' sunrise is one of my favorite times to be outside.

Crankin...+2 on covered bridges!!!

[mzone]

Here are some shots from the North West Tour in June. We camped in Empire, MI, and rode 1. Traverse City-Old Mission Peninsula, 2. Empire-Glen Arbor-Leeland-Lake Lelanau-Cedar-Maple-Empire, 3. Empire-Honor-Franfort-Elberta-Arcadia-Empire.

[mzone]

A few more.

[shootingstar]

Some cycling "scenery" actually by a bike path. More photos in cyclewrite below.

It's been slowly discovering what routes/roads are open after our major flood that displaced 100,000 people. I don't cycle as far but then again, my motivation is needs abit of a kick.

[emily_in_nc]

We just returned from two weeks in New Mexico and did some great cycling while there (in addition to excellent hikes). We took our Jamis mountain bikes rather than roadies as we figured our rides would be more urban and/or on unpaved trails in this part of the country. I've included links to some of our photos from the trip below. In all cases, the guest password is TeamEstrogen. Please let me know if it doesn't work.

We spent a week in Albuquerque where we were very impressed with the cycling infrastructure -- bike lanes and paths just about everywhere. Being a big city, there is a lot of traffic, but we only rarely had to ride on a road without a bike lane, and we used the Albuquerque bike map to determine our best (and worst) routes. The biggest downside of the riding here was goatheads -- oh my! We'd never experienced such a thing, having done most of our riding east of the Mississippi, but we quickly got an education when I got my first flat after one day of riding (on pavement -- did not expect that). I got more flats than DH, and after the first one, we went and bought tire liners and additional tubes. Still got a couple of flats even with the liners. And DH picked numerous goatheads out of our tires nightly before they could cause us to flat. He got very good at changing tires quickly.

Here are photos from our favorite place to ride in Albuquerque, the Paseo del Bosque trail: Paseo del Bosque trail ride photos

One day we took the bike-friendly Rail Runner train up to Santa Fe and rode the wonderful Santa Fe Rail-Trail there. What a lovely trail. Once you get south of town, it goes from pavement to an unpaved surface but is not technical, which was perfect for us, since we really haven't done much technical MTBing at all. Since we're road cyclists primarily, we prefer swoopy, fast riding to tight turns, roots, and rocks.

Links to these photos: Santa Fe Rail Trail Ride

Next, we headed to Taos for six days. We didn't care for the West Rim Trail at the Rio Grande Gorge as it was much rockier than expected, so we turned around after the first couple of miles. We later tried and much preferred the Rift Valley Trail at the Taos Valley Overlook area. It was an easy to moderate single-track trail. Had to walk a few times for short distances, but for the most part, it was doable for beginners like ourselves, and we got a good workout. Scenery was gorgeous too.

Photos here: Taos Valley Overlook Mountain Bike Ride

The urban cycling infrastructure wasn't too good in Taos and traffic was heavy, so we didn't ride on the roads there. Loved a lot of things about Taos, but Albuquerque was better for in-town riding.

[Crankin]

Great pictures, Emily.
The one of the cholla made me a little wistful for my former home.

[rebeccaC]

After doing a long organized ride the previous Sat. (with lots of other riders) I needed to get back to riding on the quiet roads of the Santa Ynez valley that I’ve come to enjoy exploring and training on this year. This route has long climbs and incredible views. When I stopped at the ranger station for some water a ranger said there can be incredibly beautiful fields of poppies and lupines in the spring. Next year!!

Figueroa Mountain and Happy Canyon roads, starting and finishing in Los Olivos Ca.

[rebeccaC]

San Lorenzo Seminary


Matthew 11:28-30

[emily_in_nc]

Absolutely stunning photos, Rebecca! I can't wait to visit California. Never imagined it could be that gorgeous.

Thanks, Crankin -- glad you enjoyed the photos. We really like the southwest. The humidity back here in Kansas is painful!