November Rides

[ny biker]

Crankin, I'm glad you're okay. Sometimes people are just nuts.

I've had a full day today. First I had to run an errand about 25 miles north of where I live. I got there when the store opened at 9 and planned to be in and out in 15 minutes. That turned into a half hour, though. Then I had a 50-mile drive around the beltway to southern Maryland to the start of the bike ride I was planning to lead for the bike club. The ride started at 11 which I thought would give me enough time to get there 15-30 minutes before the start. Ha ha ha. Of course two lanes of the beltway were closed for road work. So I got there right at 11:00. Two people were waiting for me, ready to ride. Another person was also running late. Fortunately the two who were on time were patient and good-natured about it. We had a nice ride, 33 miles. The weather was fantastic -- 70 degrees and sunny. It was a bit breezy which slowed us down a bit but didn't feel too bad.

We finished before 2:00 which was the goal, for two reasons. First, the annual dinner for club volunteers started at 3:00. It was at a restaurant near the ride start; I chose the starting location specifically so we wouldn't have far to go afterwards. The second reason was the weather. The cold front was due to hit around 3:00. All the weather forecasts I checked were remarkably consistent on the timing, and they were spot-on accurate. It was warm and sunny as I packed up the car and sat in it checking email and putting on a little makeup. By the time I arrived at the restaurant, the sky was cloudy and a bit gray. When we left, around 5:45, there was light rain and sleet, it was windy and the temperature was down to 45.

After I got home I put the flannel sheets on the bed, took the rest of the winter clothes out of storage and put the summer clothes away. Which of course is my semi-annual opportunity to wonder if there is such a thing as "too many sweaters." Because holy cow I own a lot of sweaters. I did pick out a few to donate to Good Will and one that I think my mother might like, if it's the right size. I also went through the bin of short sleeved bike jerseys, because holy cow I have amassed too many of them to fit in the bin anymore. I picked out a couple of old ones that are a bit small and will donate them to the local nonprofit bike shop. I also pulled out a couple that are more like wicking t-shirts -- v-neck with no zipper and just one small rear pocket. They were among the first bike jerseys I ever bought. They're still in good shape so I'll wear them when I go for a walk or to the gym.

[Catrin]

NWG, lovely shot on the snow-covered woods! It made me itch for my hiking boots

Crankin, that is just plain scary. I was always afraid of meeting someone like that when I was still riding the roads. Rural roads made that a little less likely, but it also meant there would have been few witnesses if something happened. So glad you're ok!

Winter has finally touched central Indiana. I'm all layered for church (massive space, built over 100 years ago, there IS heat but it's really hard to tell it's on, love the congregation though so I stay) - indeed my layers are appropriate for hiking so am taking extra socks + hiking shoes, may find some dirt trails afterwards.

[Crankin]

Catrin, it's only happened to me once before, and just a couple of months ago. I suspect, and I hope this doesn't sound horrible, that it's because my new home is very close to and on the route to a town where cyclists are not so common (but not unknown) and it's just a different vibe. The potential for a lot of anger... It's too bad this happens as this town has a cool downtown, lots of restaurants we patronize, and a sort of growing creative class. But, maybe I know too much from my clients! The old timers don't want change and perpetuate this attitude in their kids, which explains a younger person doing something like this. Well, there is a bike path being built through the downtown, and new sharrows on the roads, so we shall see.

[north woods gal]

Yes, isn't it amazing how the vibe can differ so much as to how a town accepts bicycling and bicyclists. Once lived in a truly great bicycle city in Portland, Oregon, where every neighborhood had its own bike shop and where a high percentage of drivers were also bicyclists. Super bike culture city. Then moved to a northern suburb of Chicago where motorists sometimes went out of their way to hassle you, no bike lanes and where bicycling on the streets was very much an exercise in survival. Believe it or not, some of the local cops even encouraged me, off the record, to ride on some seldom used sidewalks along some nasty traffic roads for my own safety. Night and day difference.

[north woods gal]

Another inch of snow, overnight, so now have enough - barely - to say I am riding in the snow. The fat bikes, though, tell me to get real. They don't consider it snow, yet. Still, almost forgot how uplifting, even spiritual, it can be to ride in the snow on a quiet, lovely day. It's very much the same "I'm in heaven" feeling I get on the cross country skis when everything comes together for that perfect glide. I am so blessed to live, here.