Febrrrrruary rides

[kernowcyclist]

I'm glad to see some people are getting out on their bikes. Here it's been raining constantly and high winds. Between weather, work and other commitments I haven't had a bike ride in over a week! But tomorrow it looks like I may have a break in the weather for a couple of hours and I have to go to the hairdresser, so I may cycle there (how she hates me wearing a cycle helmet on 'her' nice arranged hair LOL!) So fingers crossed for me.

[buffybike]

We're experiencing a few days in the 40s and 50s in Atlanta, so I'm definitely taking advantage. Rode for 1 1/2 hrs today, and will ride once or twice over the weekend. Barely ra
od during winter, so I'm soooo out of shape right now.

[Catrin]

Thanks for posting, those in more moderate climes than central Indiana. I do wish the weather forecasters wouldn't tell us every single day how far below average our temps are, this morning our temps were ~40 degrees below our usual average for this time of the year and our daytime high was still close to 30 degrees lower. It WILL pass, eventually. It helps to hear about those who can get out there and do things! Thank you!

[rebeccaC]

Took a few days off to get my mind into the finishing of one of my big projects at work and decided to go to the desert. A good friend has ridden in the Borrego Valley and highly recommended it as a place to ride/relax and think. I was surprised by the number of bicyclist in the Borrego Springs area especially for such a small desert town. Great rides on both the Borrego Valley floor and riding into the mountains around it was something I heard from some people I met a few times on my rides. I met some older women on a brevet this year that also recommended it.

Montezuma Valley Rd going into the mountains and the Anza-Borrego State Park from Borrego Springs is one of my new favorite rides. Mid 70’s the three days I was there and an interesting mix of artist and bicycle culture!!

[rebeccaC]

Borrego Springs is in the center of a series of over 100 sculptures by Ricardo Breceda. They are placed through out a large area of the Borrego Valley. They make for an interesting days ride on the valley floor and another world if you have any imagination.




























back to roads

[ny biker]

These are great pictures, and I especially love seeing them today since we got a foot of snow here last night. Thanks for posting them!!

I've now bought two winter cycling jackets and another pair of wind-blocking tights. I'll get another high credit card bill this month but I got some good end-of-winter sale prices and I know I'll wear them for outdoor activities like brisk evening walks and shoveling snow. If the roads are clear enough this weekend I want to test some of my new clothes out with a short ride, too.

[azfiddle]

Loved those pictures from Borrego!
Sorry east coasties- the desert southwest is the place to be right now. Tucson has a "rodeo weekend holiday" and I rode Thursday, Friday and today.

Thursday: the regular ride to Saguaro NP and the 8 mile loop road (23 miles total). Lots of wildflowers trying to get the show on the road before they dry up. We had the rain in the fall for germination but none since then Still, lots of flowers are out already- brilliant yellow Brittlebush especially.

Friday: rode up Mt. Lemmon to milepost 7 (4800 feet). I started around 10 am, and it was pleasantly warm and I didn't even need a windbreaker on the descent.
I wanted to go further but had stuff to do. More roadside flowers, especially up to about 3500 feet. One of my favorites is the white Desert Chicory, which was in abundance along the road, along with several very large and showy white Evening Primroses. I should have stopped to take a few pictures. Met up with my husband at the coffee shop at the base and took a ride home so my total was 29 instead of the 34 I planned on.

Today: rode 10 miles to the start of our team ride- which was a lot of hills today. I had to turn off early so I missed the last loop but it was a beautiful morning. I had about 38 miles altogether.