December rides...

[north woods gal]

New snowfall of 2", so trails now snow-covered, again. This snow was pretty decent, though. Definitely drier and less ice, so riding was actually pleasant. Was able to even do some of the milder climbs, but the aggressive steep stuff that requires one of those give it all you got sudden bursts of speed? Well, no. Even this light a snow is enough to cut my speed enough to cause a stall out. Those trail sections are now one way - downhill, only.

Serious cold, as in more typical December cold, headed our way, soon. That's a good thing, by the way. When we get enough ice on the lake, will be riding there, too.

Nice ride


Surly Pugsley, today.

[emily_in_nc]

That's gorgeous, NWG! Glad you enjoy it...I would be huddled up inside by the fire, drinking hot chocolate and looking at the snow out my window, I fear!

[north woods gal]

Thanks, Emily. Riding in this weather makes getting back inside with a hot latte' all the more enjoyable. Truth is, I begin to feel like an animal trapped in a cage when I sit inside for too long. Just me.

[Crankin]

Me, too.

[ny biker]

I rode 28 miles yesterday. It was supposed to be 30 miles, a ride I was leading for the bike club. But no one else showed up. This didn't surprise me, given the weather and the fact that there are only a handful other people in the club who ride at my pace. And I always assume no one will show up when I lead a ride, and have a backup plan just in case. So yesterday my backup plan was to shorten the ride slightly and bring extra food and water so I would not have to go into a store and leave my bike outside unattended at the rest stop.

It was gray and cloudy with temps in the high 40s-low 50s. On the one hand there was no wind to make it feel colder, but on the other hand the lack of sun made a real difference. I actually could see the sun, blurred behind the clouds, and for a while near the end I could see my shadow faintly. But it didn't help to warm things up. I wore my heavy Gore jacket, with the fleece linking and windstopper soft shell, which is only good when you have no reason to think you will warm up enough to want to remove layers during a ride. I thought it would be warm enough so I only had thin wool base layer underneath. However I brought a wind vest in case I felt cold, and did end up putting it on at the break. Otherwise I was dressed just right -- fleece-line Gore Windstopper gloves and booties, PI Amfib tights, wool socks, chemical toe warmer between my feet and the cold metal cleats, wool cap under my helmet. So all in all the gray chill kept it from being a great ride but still it was pretty good.

Also yesterday I tested out the new saddle, as noted in another thread.

When we lead rides for the club we write up a report and post it on the website. When I got home yesterday I ended writing a pretty long report, despite the fact that no one joined me for the ride. I thought about going back in and editing it, but it kinda made me laugh. Having no one show up is something that happens from time to time to everyone who leads rides often, and some people seem to get pretty upset about it even though it's not anything personal. I decided not to shorten my report so I could show that you can still have a nice ride even when you have no company.

Looking ahead, we're expecting that cold blast of air at the end of the week, so next weekend's high temps will be below my 40 degree threshold for riding outdoors. I might get the indoor trainer out of storage. Then again I might try bundling up and doing a short ride around my neighborhood. But that will depend on whether there's any sunshine and also on the wind. We'll see.

[north woods gal]

Yeah, it's headed your way. We will have a high of 30, tomorrow, but temperatures falling rapidly, come afternoon. Could be awhile before we get above freezing, again. Stay warm.

[rebeccaC]

As always, thanks Emily…and NY, not editing was a very nice way of showing your positivity and helping other ride leaders feel it too.

Very peaceful image nwg!!!!

My very cold/wet/muddy ride in Michigan on Thanksgiving re-enforced the enjoyment/adventure that any kind of weather can give a ride….then again a fireplace, a hot chocolate and a view of falling snow hmmmmmm

[azfiddle]

Yesterday my husband and I did a "birding by bike" adventure in the Santa Cruz flats, a desert and agricultural area north of Tucson and south of Phoenix. We "chased" two Rufous-back Robins and saw them, plus a Burrowing Owl, an entire field full of Caracaras and Ravens, many Kestrels and Red-tailed Hawks and one Prairie Falcon. About 3/4 of the road was dirt so it's a good thing we took our touring bikes - the road bikes would not have been that happy on the dirt roads, even though they were well graded. 39 miles and about 40 species of birds.

Untitled by Sharon Goldwasser, on Flickr

[rebeccaC]

But there sure are a lot of dang cornfields.

“Waist high by the 4th of July”
Thinking they are also needed on a hot ragbrai days ride when you need to drink lots of water……well, at least for me and the group of women I rode with. .....One of my favorite states to have ridden in and across.

Taking all day tomorrow to ride to Mt Ventoux with Alex, an uncle and a friend from here. My mother and a couple of others will ride with us for a shorter ride on the beautiful roads to Sault too. The San Gabriel rides before we left home were good preparation. Feeling blessed to be here with family and friends…