January rides? Anyone?

[salsabike]

I was out today ahead of the big storm that is predicted here in the northeast. Other than being outside today, it was very exciting to be back on the bike... I've been injured for quite some time now and am just getting back on the bike... and the first time on a bike outside YIPEE!

Great to read about all of your rides posted here, keep going ladies!!

That's COOL! Good for you!

[Sky King]

We got our first desert ride of the year in on Sunday. 17 people showed up at the kick off point. I was a bit stressed as some of them wanted to be back in town by late afternoon and I have ridden this area before & knew that would make for a very fast ride. On the drive out I practiced the mantra of not needing to be responsible for other people and reminding myself all were capable, adult riders and as it was an out and back we could all go our own pace. The ride is 30 tough miles on a jeep track, gradual climb out to a canyon overlook. Beautiful desert scenery. Except for Sunday, we got there in a bank of heavy fog. The aggressive riders took off at a good clip, at mile two we hit a significant muddy patch, (note to self - no need to follow the pack) Everyone's bikes, sans one who stopped and picked his bike up, were totally covered in mud. We stopped, grabbed some sticks and started scraping. One guys rear derailleur snapped in half - he is a skilled mechanic and he quickly turned his bike into a single speed.
I knew that once we climb the next hill we'd be out of the mud but much to my surprise everyone on the "extreme team" opted to turn back as did a few of the first time in the desert riders. Suddenly 17 became 7. We climbed the hill and viola no more mud the rest of the ride. Ryan rode the entire way with one gear. The rest of us noodled along at a nice steady pace, the sun burned off the fog at mile 7 and it was an amazing day.
One of the women who turned around is deep into racing and she had her carbon fiber full suspension mt bike and she was freaked out that she'd gotten it dirty and was afraid it would break, that surprised me as why spend all that money on a bike if you are afraid to get it dirty - but then that's me Do I feel a bit self righteous, well I suppose I do. Looking forward to the next ride and am confident I won't be stressing out about not being "good enough"

[azfiddle]

Saturday was slated to be really windy- just couldn't psych myself up for 30 mph gusts so I stayed home until 3:30- just went out for 16 miles.

Sunday I rode 67.5- rode to the start (not too cold, mid-40's) but it stayed overcast and the first 10 miles were along the bike path along the Rillito "river" (usually a big dry wash, as it was that day) and the cold air drainage from the foothills dropped the temperature - possibly into the 30's. My hands were freezing. Finally it warmed up- but it wasn't quite what I prepared for.

Guess the 200k did me some good- 2000 feet+ of climbing didn't stress me at all. The group wasn't really pushing hard though, so that helped. Stopped for breakfast at a golf course restaurant but I didn't really much as we had 20 miles to go and my stomach doesn't do well with greasy or heavy protein meals mid-ride.
It turned out to be a nice day in the end.

[AppleTree]

A little warmer than last week's ride on the trail, another balmy northwest day, but seemed to be far fewer people this week for some reason. 25 miles, still trying to go easy (on my knee) and it was great except for the worms... I have never seen my bike so worm encrusted before. It is absolutely disgusting... and I JUST washed it and lubed the chain the day before. I have full coverage fenders on this bike, but still got worm guts thrown up on my water bottle and the underside of the down tube...the inside of the fenders are...just YUCK! Unlike skyking's friend, I'm not afraid to get my bike dirty... mud is one thing, but worm guts are quite another.

[salsabike]

Oog, is THAT what I was picking off my rear fender this afternoon? I thought it was some incredibly disgusting bug. I rode the same area you did, 32 miles altogether, but from about noon to 3 pm, so probably later than you. It sure was a nice day! Even as I worry about a summer drought, it was dang nice out there today.

Funny, SkyKing--I too think you shouldn't be afraid to ride your bike. They're tools, meant to be used. It's why I ride my Seven through the winter--if it can't take a little rain, what good is it?

Azfiddle--I can't eat big meals during rides either. They make me want to take a nap.

[Jolt]

I went out for a short ride in the snow yesterday on some side streets to test out the studded tires I recently made (you put screws through the knobs on mountain bike tires from the inside, then line the tire with an old tube so the screw heads don't puncture your tube). They worked pretty well, though I did still have some sliding because there were a couple inches of snow so the tires got packed with it at times. I was surprised how much harder it is to ride in that stuff...I ended up picking a low gear and staying in it for most of the ride. However, it was fun!

[Sky King]

crazy lady also drop the air pressure in your tires, if you didn't already, when riding on snow. However the best for snow are the 4 " and widers, even my ECR with the 3+ struggles in anything deeper than 2 inches.

I went out for a short ride in the snow yesterday on some side streets to test out the studded tires I recently made (you put screws through the knobs on mountain bike tires from the inside, then line the tire with an old tube so the screw heads don't puncture your tube). They worked pretty well, though I did still have some sliding because there were a couple inches of snow so the tires got packed with it at times. I was surprised how much harder it is to ride in that stuff...I ended up picking a low gear and staying in it for most of the ride. However, it was fun!