March cycling: In like the Lion of Flanders, out like...?

[buffybike]

We had gorgeous weather in North Georgia all weekend, sunny with highs in the 60s. I rode 38 miles on Saturday (my longest since I broke my wrist in December) and 16 on Sunday. I was in heaven.

[Jolt]

First (short) ride of the season yesterday...rode to the bike co-op to volunteer for the afternoon, then back home. Not even a 6-mile round trip but it was a nice sunny 45-degree day and the roads going there had enough of the snowbanks melted that it felt OK to ride (the potholes on one street on the other hand...UGH). I brought home a lot of sand though...next time should rinse the bike off a little before bringing it in the house. It was also the first ride with the Power Grips that I finally got around to installing. Not sure I am going to like them (especially around town, since getting in and out complicates starting and stopping) but will do some adjusting and give it a chance. I felt like they were keeping my feet turned in a little which didn't feel right, so will loosen them a little and see if that helps.

[SheFly]

I've been riding all winter - lots of fat bike riding on snow, and lots of cold temperatures.

But yesterday? A balmy 45 degrees! No winter mittens, no bulky tights, no down jacket... It was, however, WET! By the time I got home, everything was soaked, and VERY gritty. Bike got a wash and the clothes have now been through the machine twice. Given the reports I'd heard of the road conditions (MA is only 1.9 inches from setting an overall snow record) - narrow roads, puddles hiding pot holes, etc - I opted for the bike path, with just a short venture onto some very quiet roads to get some elevation. So nice to be able to ride outdoors with less gear, and without needing lights!

SheFly

[Crankin]

I so want to ride, but I am not ready to face the craters in the roads. I can deal with wetness, dirt, and even cars on narrowed roads. I am telling myself the season is long and another week or two won't kill me, but now is the time I wish I still had a mountain bike. I did notice that the roads in Acton seem less impaired than in Concord, and I saw some crews already filling in potholes this morning.
I am going on a hike with a friend this afternoon, and since it will be colder the next few days, I won't feel as bad about not riding.

[SheFly]

Another beautiful day here in the northeast, and despite a short time frame, I managed to squeeze in a quick ride after work. Opted for the bike path again thinking that it would be safer than the roads (flooding, potholes, traffic), and instead found that spring has brought out the oblivious people - ear buds turned loud enough to not be able to hear, do walkers on one side, dog on the other with leash in between, swerving toddlers, cranky pedestrians (really? The sun is shining and you don't have to dress like an Eskimo!). Oh, and the path was a veritable basin of great lakes joined by raging rivers. I think I may have been safer on the roads...

SheFly

[ny biker]

I went out for a ride after work last night, first ride since February 8. And I've been largely sedentary since that last ride, thanks to bad weather (ice, dangerous wind chills), some family obligations, and network problems at work causing me to work from home. So the hills were kinda painful.

I was unpleasantly surprised by the amount of sand on the roads, since I had thought we'd gotten enough rain the day before to wash it away. And the roads were wet, too. I just had the bike taken apart, cleaned and tuned up at the bike shop, and it's already a mess again after only 17 miles. And it wasn't shifting right -- apparently they had replaced a cable which needed to be tweaked.

Nonetheless it was nice to be back out on the road. We're expecting more rain tomorrow which I hope will clear more of the sand away. And I brought the bike to the shop at lunchtime today for an adjustment, so I'm ready to go again.

[Sky King]

Finally!!!! I had a ride I can actually consider a ride. Okay, last weekend I did ride 12 miles - 10 of it was downhill Yesterday 3 of us did a very easy, flat ride along the River on the bike path. Rode about 20 miles, stopped halfway for a beer (hee hee). I just kept it really easy - bit of a head wind going out. I did clip in and the foot did okay. Iced when I got home. this healing has sure been slow, ugh

[rebeccaC]

I spent last week riding in the Santa Monica Mountains

I was hoping you were going to post They do think it though well!!

Those photos give an excellent feel of those routes! I’m soooo glad you had a good time. You had an unusual heat wave, a friend said it was hot. There’s now one person who will know the canyon roads I’m talking about. How would you compare it to your other away rides?

You get to know where the water is after some riding and talking with people….lots of outdoor faucets with good water.

[khg]

How would you compare it to your other away rides?

You get to know where the water is after some riding and talking with people….lots of outdoor faucets with good water.

It was a really nice way to have a spring challenge--the riding was definitely hard, but there were fewer feet of elevation/mile than my Dolomites trip last summer (I'm going back this summer!!!!! Yay!!!!) It was also nice that the climbs were relatively "short"--I think the most elevation gain at one go was 2200', and most climbs were more like 1500'-2000'. We have a couple training hills that locally that are 1200'-1500' (in just 2.5-5 miles) so it was nice mentally to be able to tell myself that the upcoming climb was barely more than I'm used to at home, and likely less steep. The terrain was a fabulous mix--some long steady climbs, some with really varying slope. I'd definitely like to ride there again--but winter might be my best time of year!

Having the local knowledge of water and such would be great--it would be really fun to be able to just head out and do these rides. But I will say that it was awfully nice to get to the top of a climb and be greeted with smiling faces, camp chairs, food, water, a van that I could throw stuff into or take stuff out of, etc This supported riding thing is kind of addictive...

And after these few days of rest, I'm ready for my next adventure--on Friday my husband and I bike up to Whidbey Island for a couple nights there, then back on Sunday. We've been wanting to do this for a while, and it just happened that the first weekend that worked with both of our schedules was also our anniversary. So by accident, we're actually doing something for our anniversary--this might be a first...

[azfiddle]

I love all the pictures- beautiful. How do you guys get the full size pics in your posts? Mine just come out as thumbnails.

I rode ALL the way up Mt. Lemmon last Saturday- 65 miles round trip, over 7000 feet of climbing. A little chilly up at 8000 feet! I was glad I brought an extra layer and knee warmers. I rode solo- and it took 4 1/2 hours of riding time going up (more because of various stops) to get to Summerhaven at the top (skipped the last 2 steep miles to the ski lift). A little over an hour to go back down. I shaved off 5 miles and met my husband by the base instead of riding home.

[marni]

and I'm sure that you thoroughly enjoyed Californias brief 10 day spring green period which can be so clearly seen in all of your beautiful photos. Amazing, a car free ride. If only.

[khg]

We had a lovely weekend up on Whidbey Island. It was a 27 mile ride from Seattle to the Mukilteo Ferry, and it was a better ride than I anticipated. The Interurban trail has been much improved since I last rode it, and even a lot of the suburban unfriendliness of Snohomish County has a bike lane or a reasonable shoulder. Then, after a short ferry ride, just 6 more miles or scenic island roads, and we were at vacation!

The best part was even though the bike ride wasn't too strenuous (we both took it easy, and had a huge tailwind), it was just enough to help work up a good appetite for the wonderful dinner we had reservations for.

Though I took no ride photos (the Mukilteo Speedway just isn't that scenic), here's my bike on the balcony of our room:



And a couple of the views we had:







Biking into a monster headwind today to get home seemed like an appropriate way to be welcomed back to real life... But headwind and all, it was really fun to get there under our own power. I foresee more trips like this in the future!