November Rides

[Jolt]

Today was the annual Cranksgiving* ride in Portland...it was cold! This year, since I am not a fast rider by any stretch, I decided to compete for the most weight of frozen turkeys hauled, and borrowed a trailer from the bike co-op where I volunteer. In that division, one only has to go to one store, load up with turkeys and ride back so it ended up being a really short ride (probably half a mile each way) to the nearest large grocery store. Somewhat surprisingly, I ended up winning with 135 pounds of turkey between panniers and trailer. There were a couple of people with cargo bikes so I thought one of them would end up hauling more. Next year I may decide to go back to the regular division where you have to get specific items at a bunch of different stores, since that makes for a longer ride. Either way it is a lot of fun and for a good cause!

*an event put on in many cities in the weeks before Thanksgiving, that is a sort of race/scavenger hunt to collect food for local charities. There is no entry fee, but riders buy items along the way to donate.

[Crankin]

That sounds like fun!

[antimony]

That sounds like fun!

FYI, Boston's is tomorrow (Saturday).

https://www.facebook.com/events/302207596652765/

I might go, but I have a bazillion errands to run before family arrives for Thanksgiving.

[Crankin]

It's one thing to do this in Portland, ME, but Boston, no.

[Crankin]

Did my 15 mile loop, which I haven't actually done in a long time! Though it was 41 out, it was windy, and we were heading straight into it all the way on the last half of the loop.
My legs felt good, despite my groin giving me fits. Need to start back to my exercises for that. But, despite wind, the groin, and eating lunch right before the ride, my average was good.
Then I went to the LBS to get the saddle/stem fitted for my new bike!!! Going back to pick it up in 10 minutes. It's going to be 55 degrees tomorrow and I will have it to do a longer ride! Pictures to follow...

[azfiddle]

Yesterday- El Tour de Tucson! 104 miles in beautiful weather

[Crankin]

Took my Silque out for its inaugural ride. It was a pleasant 53-58 degrees. We started in sun, which necessitated some gear changing, but thankfully, the sun went in near the end of the ride. We ended up riding on some of my most favorite roads, near my old neighborhood, where I first started riding. Did a couple of hills I haven't seen in years. Not big hills, but hills.
It was a really good ride, but slow, due to constant stopping to tweak a few things on the bike. We stopped at Nashoba Brook Bakery for lunch and had some tuna salad and watched the people. Felt a bit chilly when we left lunch, but the climb back up to my house took care of that. When we got to our street, the high school x country ski team was roller skiing on the loop, necessitating me to not go up past my driveway and turn around, using the downhill as momentum to get up the 15% grade. The kids were everywhere, so I bore down and went really slowly up the driveway.
You can read my review of the bike in the Bikes thread. 27.5 miles.