November Rides

[north woods gal]

Nice thaw, yesterday, with temps up into the 50s. Whoo hoo! Of course, the trails turned a little muddy.

Before


On sponge bath, 5 minutes, later


Back to below freezing for a high, today, so should be able to keep things a bit cleaner.

[azfiddle]

Hi everyone.... been riding almost every day in November but just haven't been posting. I've been commuting 4-5 days a week and was riding some long rides to prep for El Tour de Tucson last weekend. I rode the whole 106 miles, raised money for JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation). There was a pretty steep minimum commitment ($750 for a "day rider"). But boy did they take care of us. Three dinners at a posh hotel/resort. My husband and I paid for a one night stay. They transported the bikes and set them up near the start, then drove us to and from the start/finish. Great aid stations which were only for JDRF riders. And really, we got a much better understanding of how tough it is to live with Type 1 diabetes, and how the money raised by the JDRF rides has helped bring new advances that are helping people right now. We were glad to be part of it- I joined the ride in support of a co-worker's son who was diagnosed 2 years at age 5. Tough stuff- he's a little hero though!

[azfiddle]

I've done a couple short rides this week, chasing a Couch's Kingbird which was way out of range in Arizona, and then today did a 40 mile ride to look for a Least Grebe, also way out of range. I saw the kingbird on Thursday on the third try- the grebe was easy- just a longer ride and a half mile walk to the pond.

[north woods gal]

Nice to see posting, again, AZ. Way cool on the Couch's. That would be a life bird for me.

[emily_in_nc]

Very cool about the birds, az!

Finally got out for a ride today after too many days off due to weather, Thanksgiving, other chores. We normally don't ride on the weekends as the bike paths are full of other people, but it was too pretty not to go today. Sure enough, lots of cyclists plus a few runners and walkers, but very few kids on tiny bikes, which was a good thing.

34.2 miles

[Crankin]

Got back from my trip later last night, but woke up at 6:30. It was certainly warm enough to ride (48), but with winds gusting to 30 mph, I had no desire. We did a 4.6 mile hike locally, in a place that is pretty flat, but truly the rockiest, most full of roots place we've hiked. You have to pay attention. It really helps with balance and flexibility, but although the rocks didn't get me, a root that was extended up like an upside down U did! My foot went right in and when I went to step forward, down I went. Not a face plant and all I could think was, oh no, I just recovered from 2 bike crashes on each knee. But, it mostly hit my left shin and the side of my right knee, almost past the knee. We continued on, more slowly and then sped up again. I've iced twice and while it's sore, no terrible bruising, just swelling a bit, which Arnica is working on. I will be able to go to my class tomorrow.
Hoping to ride early am on Tuesday and do the club ride on Wednesday.

[north woods gal]

Sorry to hear about the spill, Crankin. That sure sounds like fat bike territory to me. Those big tires do take the sting out of roots. Lots of them in our area.

Interesting to hear about the soreness, Sheila. I was experiencing all manner of soreness earlier in the year when I was still running drop bar bikes along with and my flat bar bikes, mostly because I got out of drop bar bike riding shape. Does take me awhile to get back in shape to handle the drop bar bike position if I lay off too long. In the end, though, figured it wasn't worth the hassle of running two different bike styles, so sold off the drop bar bikes and now run flat bar bikes for all my riding, which is mostly trail riding, anyway. For road work, found that the Jones bars allow a multitude of hand positions, so makes flat bar road riding very doable.

Speaking of the Jones bar, took my Krampus with the Jones bar for my trail work, yesterday. My other 29+ bike, the aluminum Stashe, being a lighter bike with lighter rims and wheels, is a bit faster and more nimble, but it's nowhere near as smooth as the steel Krampus. The Krampus is a limousine on the trails, by comparison. Preaching to the choir with you, of course.

[emily_in_nc]

Ouch Crankin! Hope the pain is brief. Falling is no fun (ask me how I know...oops, you know how I know!)