March outdoor rides - let's drop the Lion!

[Crankin]

Second ride of the season. G-d, I am slow. But, nothing hurt today and I was dressed correctly! By the time I got out, a bit after 1:00, it was cloudy, but the sun peeked out near the end of the ride. It was about 44, no wind, and I didn't have as much water in the road as on Saturday. The town has nicely filled in the horrendous potholes, but, unfortunately, they are covered up in kind of a "lumpy" way,that I don't want to ride over. I think they may settle in once the temperatures even out. Saw a few riders, all going the other way, which means no one passed me. At this point, I feel like I can barely make it up my driveway, but, I am forcing myself. Did my regular loop, not the short one, about 15.5 miles. All the climbing is in the first half, until I get back to my street.
Onward. It's supposed to be near 60 tomorrow, DH is working from home, so we'll go out when I get home, around noon.

[rebeccaC]

The VP I work directly for wanted to take two days to get away from the office, do some riding and photography and when not that think about and work through strategies for a couple of new bids and a new project. When she interviewed me cycling was a much longer subject than it should have been for an interview and I kinda knew my chances had gone up.
We went around 40 miles north of Joshua Tree NP and rode part of the Ca. portion of the old Route 66. Good desert riding with very little traffic, temps in the 60 to 70 range, little wind and a good sense of isolation. Yesterday we worked in the morning rode 52 miles and worked again later. Today we rode some side roads for 42 miles in the morning, worked and then had dinner and came back to LA.

Part of the road between Essex and Amboy on Route 66

[Sky King]

RebeccaC sounds like a perfect way to get some work done. Looks awesome!

[BikeDutchess]

I like that VP!

[azfiddle]

Rebecca- neat picture. How were the wildflowers?

I've ridden every day this week: wore our Irish jerseys for a quick 16 miles on St. Patrick's day before gigs, quick trips to Saguaro NP Tuesday and Wednesday, and today rode the very long way via Pistol Hill (southeast of Tucson) to my classroom with a friend. Took her to lunch at the Thai restaurant and she generously helped spend about 2 hours organizing and sorting papers to be filed and recycled. That's a really good friend!!

43 miles, perfect 70's with almost no wind and very thin cloud cover. We saw lots of wildflowers everywhere. These are ones I noted from the ride: brittlebush, desert marigold, Parry penstemon, desert chicory, paper flower, desert zinnia, lupines, phacelias, creosote, fiddleneck, popcorn flower, Streptanthus (common name??), fairy duster, some little yellow mustards, desert globe mallow and prickly poppy. Plus I got a look at a circling hawk that seems to have been an out of place Gray Hawk- usually found in riparian areas where there are some cottonwoods, but this was over dry and not too vegetated Pantano Wash. Other birds noted- Pyrrhuloxia, Phainopepla, Mockingbird, Curve-billed thrasher, Gila Woodpecker, Red-tailed Hawk, Mourning Dove, Black-throated Sparrow.

[emily_in_nc]

I've ridden four days in a row -- 25, 33, 36, and 35 miles. Today was down to Nogales, AZ (with a view of Nogales, Mexico) from Patagonia. VERY hilly but beautiful ride, and some of the best highway shoulder (wide, smooth) ever. Tomorrow I take a well-earned day off the bike, but I am feeling really good, and DH says I'm riding the strongest he's seen me since my accident in 2005. I've certainly put in the most miles in an early season in 10 years. Not bad for an almost 53-year old!
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