March rides.....riding into the days of the Spring equinox

[rebeccaC]

NY...The thunder/lightning was the only difference from earlier rides I’ve done in some of these el nino storms. The thunder actually caused some shaking for a few seconds and hearing car alarms going off was really different. The lightning/thunder started a little before sunrise, just after i left home and I wasn’t expecting it. The lightning gave off very bright flashes in the dawn light but was off in the distance coming from a group of cumulonimbus clouds so I wasn’t too worried about that. Being warm and dry is what matters most to me....i see the weather as just an interesting adventure

My ride home on the beach bike path part was a LOT calmer, in the high 50’s with a nice sunset but still some wind (lots of wind ripples in the sand from the morning)…..both rides made for an interesting commute today

[Crankin]

Did a 31 mile ride with the group today; it was 57 at the start and 77 at the finish . Had the arm warmers down after a mile and took my knee warmers off at mile 12.6, when we stopped at Great Brook. I felt pretty good today (a miracle for me). It was mostly the "big boys" out today and I was able to keep up, albeit they are not that fast compared to real fast. The real fast riders, who are in the invitation only group I got sucked into, also started at the same time/place, but they were off to ride 68 miles for someone's 68th birthday. Not ready for that, and probably never will be with those guys.
We had one traffic altercation, which could have been really bad. Thankfully, I was near the back and bunch of riders were turning left onto a side street, from a busier street in Acton. Not a highway, but a busy road. They kind of moved over to the left abruptly, but they were together, but they didn't signal. A dumb azz tried to pass them, as they were moving and turning, and 2 of the riders had to make evasive moves. Of course, he was a jerk, but I never assume anything and if they were on a ride I was leading, I would have really laid into them for not signaling.
I felt really tired at the end, but I came right home and ate, as I have to go get my haircut, so I couldn't stay for the lunch at Verrill Farm.

[rebeccaC]

Rode in Oxnard to take some photos…just a relaxing day, wandering, no place to be, just gliding through the afternoon….don’t know mileage, temps etc…ended the ride with a sunset. Good day

[azfiddle]

I rode a quick 13 miles Wednesday after work - last ride on the Ruby before Thursday's fateful incident with the bike rack. Nice weather, and good to get out the stress of the last week of work before spring break.

Saturday, I did errands in the morning and then got out on the Surly. It was breezy so I planned about 20 miles with less of a headwind on the way home. I was surprised how stable the Surly felt in the wind. I didn't mind riding the heavier bike, but I am really looking forward to getting back on the reconstruction version of the Ruby Weds!.

[Crankin]

Rode my last ride from my house on the hill. 20 miles with DH, on a flattish ride around Concord, Carlisle, and Bedford. DH has not been riding at all for about a month, doing so much remodeling work, so it was like his first ride of the season. It was really nice, about 64 and sunny out, pretty breezy at first, but it died down. Tons of cyclists.
I can't say I'll never ride up the hill again, but at least I won't have to see the 15% driveway.
Tomorrow I go to the gym, Tuesday I will either go to spin (rain predicted) or rest, and Wednesday is moving day. Since we have been bringing everything over ourselves and unpacking as we go, I don't have a ton to do on Wednesday, except unpack the last of the kitchen things that are going into furniture the movers will bring. I will try to sneak out for a short ride, to get away from it all.

[rebeccaC]

Rode the beach bike path with Ellie to Redondo Beach to meet three friends for a ride into the hills of Palos Verdes…..good climbing with great high views of the coastline. We stopped on the way back in Manhattan Beach cuz I was craving a strawberry chocolate galette. I also got an olive flute bread (Looking at the bread being held by and sticking out of both sides of the cover of my handlebar bag made me think of the rides to the boulangerie for a days bread when I was young.) and some cinnamon crunch bagels to take home. 30 miles of pleasant beach bike path interrupted by 26 miles of climbing and descents. Temps were in the 60’s so I wore a ibex merino sports bra and tank top under my jersey which worked perfectly. Now, after a yummy toasted cinnamon crunch bagel, I have to work the rest of today and probably into the night.

eta...

I am really looking forward to getting back on the reconstruction version of the Ruby Weds!.

azfiddle...good to hear you'll have a few days left of your break to ride the new ruby!!!! about the surly...i love my milano commuter, i see it as strengthening me for weekend rides on my seven

[Helene2013]

Considering my tibial plateau fracture 10 weeks ago (now healed) and ortho/surgeon saying past Tuesday I was to resume my life (gym) progressively, we took our cyclocross out yesterday. It was about 10c yesterday but very windy. Today a frisky 6c but sunny minimal wind. Yesterday was just 17km. Not bad after being 9 weeks without serious training but physio. Yesterday was only residential sectors to "test" my knees. Today we did 20km but mostly on rural roads. Felt soooo good. I was able to test going on the big cog and did good for 2km. Did not want to push my luck. But I sure feel good now. Working on "renewing" my gym program with PT but for now, we do ave to take it easy. Don't want that healed fracture to crack again.

[ny biker]

I did my first post-work hill ride of the year last Wednesday. I was overdressed -- thought temps would be dropping into the 60s but it was still above 70 for much of the ride. It did get cool near the river, though, so I wasn't really uncomfortable and even if I was I wouldn't have minded because it's a small price to pay for great weather. My legs were killing me from the hills but I managed a normal average speed.

I thought I'd be riding yesterday (Sunday) on a club ride, but the forecast called for rain showers in the late morning/early afternoon so it was cancelled. I was tired so after the ride was cancelled I went back to bed. And then slept for more than four hours. Then spent the rest of the day in my pajamas. What can I say, last week was a bad week and I was feeling unmotivated. Tonight I will use the indoor trainer. I've said it here so I'm committed -- no laziness.

[Crankin]

Back to normal March weather. Rainy, raw, in the 40s. The weekend looks dry on Saturday, but with a high of only 39. Sunday is going to rain. I am spoiled now from the warmth, so back tot he gym/hiking.

[ny biker]

Yeah today was low 50s, cloudy and drizzly here. It's supposed to warm up Wednesday but will rain in the evening -- I hope I can get in an outdoor ride before it rains.

So I didn't get home tonight until after 9 pm due to working late and having to pick up some tasty cookies from Whole Foods to give someone for his birthday tomorrow. Then I frittered around for a bit before setting up the bike on the indoor trainer. Finally at 10:09 pm I started pedaling. I did 40 minutes, much of it in a difficult gear. It was a good workout.