riding into June and the beginning of summer

[Crankin]

Well, the bike rally is over, and I had my first ride of June, since I was sick on Tuesday-Thursday, and yesterday I decided to hike locally, to test how I felt.
Weather was warm (83 and slightly humid), but thankfully, it got overcast as the ride went on. We had a big group. So, we gave our talk and explained how we split this ride into 2 groups, with 2 speeds.. If people are lagging, they can just stop and wait for the next group, since it's the same route. Within 2 minutes, one woman stopped to wait, and there were 2 others who should have. I asked them several times to please pull over and wait for Lamar, but they said no, they would go at their own speed. One was particularly nasty. There was a big enough group in the back, with me sweeping, but those 2 were outliers. We regrouped at 2 stops and at the top of a climb, so the 2 caught up.
I'd say, it was OK, there was a couple at the end, who was lagging, and the woman had mentioned she was really sweaty, so I asked her if she was OK, and she got mad! I was really trying to be nice, so I said I was just concerned she might be overheating, and she told me rudely she was sweaty because she was working hard. Near the end, on a small hill, they told me to go ahead, but then i had to stop to check out a guy who had crashed, and was with the bike committee leader, who is a nurse. He was fine, thankfully, but they missed the turn I very explicitly told them about, and then I saw them just cut right across the street and kind of ride the wrong way, while I was stopped. Oy.
DH also told me about the antics of a couple of guys up front, too. No matter how explicitly we talk about turning, trouble spots, model it, it seems like a lot of people just don't think. There is only one spot where we have to make a left across a very busy 2 lane road. We reviewed this twice. Still, I found myself screaming "Get in the lane," and finally, "Move left" when they were hugging the right curb.
Still, I am not ready to give it up. We did not stay for the happy hour and dinner this year, have other plans. And now, we live close enough to ride there,

[rebeccaC]

Nice adventure on the metro train system and then riding through the east los angeles industrial and warehouse districts to take photographs today. Very few people working/driving in those areas on Sunday so it’s a good day to ride and photograph there…..well unless you ride through an open gate and find it closed/locked when you come back….thankfully just once a few months ago so far.

First time I’ve used the metro trains with a bike. rode to the station in santa monica and then the train to east l.a. There are spaces for 12 bikes on either end of the rail cars. One hour with a few stops vs shorter in a car outside of rush hours and over two on a bike. They are building out the rail system even larger during the next 5 years too.
Only rode for 23 flat miles total with a lot of stopping and walking to take photos. Good day and enjoyed just being with me.

[Sky King]

We celebrated National Bike Travel Weekend in the Owyhee Wilderness. Small group but we had the campground to ourselves - well except for the two rattlesnakes - one by the bathroom and one in my GF's camp. Also bunnies and chipmonks galore. We think the rattler by the bathroom killed a chimpmonk and he was toasting on the sidewalk yesterday - yuck. It was certainly warm (temp. sign in Jordan Valley said 98 as we drove thru on the way home.)
My gf's are both fighting back issues so Saturday we all started together and they turned around first - after a lovely 7 mile climb... I rode a few hours longer with the boys and then returned to camp to hang with my friends. The "boys" were riding with camping gear and spent the night out. We "girls" had a great evening soaking in the creek and drinking beer. Sunday's ride was a little short - only ten miles but we explored another new road until we came to a gate. Even though it wasn't posted we opted to turn around and I will check with the Owyhee Wilderness Ranger to see if we need to get rancher permission to travel through. These photos are from two years ago but same friends and the hill coming out of camp.

[north woods gal]

Thanks for the great post, Sky. Way back in the 70s, we lived in Boise for a time and did some traveling in that area. That is some rough country, for sure. Beautiful in its own way, though.

[Crankin]

So DH and I started out on a 38 mile group ride, which started very near our house. There was the regular/a bit fast speed group, a slow group, and then a fast group. We went out with the regular group, and there was so much bad riding behavior, DH was not happy. We split from the group at mile 6 or 7 and then got onto the route we led last Saturday. It's a beautiful day right now, but severe thunderstorms are predicted and at the rate the group was stopping, we were concerned about getting caught in a storm. We stopped to use a prta potty at the Stow Golf Course driving range and all of a sudden a large group of cyclists came by. It was the fast group! We got in what we though was behind them, but there were more, so we rode with them for like 2 miles, when they stopped for a break and we went on, a slightly different way back, as we did not want to get caught up with them. I could hang on at the back, but I'd be wrecked afterwards! We ended up doing 28.5 miles, which was fine.
Feeling much better, but I can tell i am about 85%. I am glad I am going away this weekend, so I will have a little break from riding. If the weather is OK, I'll be home in time to ride Sunday.

[emily_in_nc]

Finally got out on a short ride today (we've been doing lots of hiking lately since we've been by great trails, not so much cycling). I debated going as I woke up with a sore throat this morning, and DH has had a bad cold the past few days (so I know what's coming for me). But this was my last and only chance to ride in this beautiful state park where we are only until tomorrow morning, so I got out for an hour rather than miss out completely. Rolling, swoopy hills, beautiful views. generous bike lanes, almost no traffic mid-week, sunshine, breeze, and temperature around 70. Except for the way I felt, nearly perfect cycling!

We are in Mount Magazine State Park in the Ozarks of Arkansas, and I can highly recommend it if you ever find yourself in this part of the US. The mountain is the highest peak in AR, not high by many state's standards (2753'), but being up at even this altitude means that it's a lot cooler here than in the valley, so a nice summer destination. The views are astonishing, and the cycling and hiking are primo as well. There's a gorgeous lodge, beautiful cabins, and a very nice campground (where we are). We will definitely return when we can stay longer.

A couple pics of this gem:

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[rebeccaC]

that sounds and looks like a perfect ride!!!! nice that you got it in before leaving!