Daily ride thread 5/12

[Bike Goddess]

Now that it is getting light earlier, I am more apt to go out and get a few miles in before I head off to work.

Today I left the house around 5:55AM and did my usual 15 mile ride. On the way I met a runner friend who is talking about getting a road bike. So, we chatted a few minutes- I always get excited when someone tells me they are going to buy a new bike.

I then headed out for my ride. It's about 60 degrees outside with slight winds coming from the Southwest.

I live in an historical town, so my ride includes going by buildings that were constructed shortly after the civil war of the 1800s. I always admire these buildings and wonder what stories they have. One building, the guard house, has been restored and is quite lovely sitting by itself on a knoll overlooking the Carquinez Strait.

After I ride through the arsenal I head for the hills. The first one I do used to be my practice hill- up, down, up down - to get strength hill climbing. Even though I don't do the repeats anymore, I use this hill up to get warmed up. This is followed by a quick descent on another nearby street- my reward!

After another mile, I'm on my 2nd hill. This one gets steeper as you go up. Even though I've already been riding for about 1/2 hour, I still work hard to reach the top. A fast one mile descent and I'm off to the state recreation area where we have a bike trail in the marshlands followed by a road that goes out to a point near the Strait. This is my favorite part of my morning ride. Since it is early, the birds and ducks are abundant as well as all of the runners and early morning walkers. The vistas on this ride are expansive- open space in all directions with the Sacramento river in the distance. Sometimes I see the oil tankers coming in as well as container boats often bringing cars from the Far East to unload at the docks a few miles upstream. I'm riding into the wind now, but it is ever so slight- a big change from the winds we've had this Spring. The sun comes up behind me as I ride along providing light and a little warmth. After reaching the turnaround, I'll have it in my face going home.

Upon leaving the park, I take the rolling hills route home so that I get a couple of more to do before I get back. When I turn onto 1st street-the main street of my town it is now just 3/4 mile to my place. Since few cars are on the street at that hour, I can really go full out. I sprint to the end.

Upon arriving at my driveway (an hour after I had begun), I hop off the bike, refreshed and glad that, once again, I got to do this very special ride.

[Crankin]

No riding here........unless you count the advanced bicycling skills class that I am supposed to take tomorrow. Forecast: pouring rain, gusts up to 30 mph, flooding. And, I am driving 1.5 hours to go to this.

Robyn

[Kimmyt]

Off work in an hour and heading out to meet my SO for a nice relaxing trail ride! It's goooooorgeous outside and there is no way I'm not gonna enjoy it. Hopefully will follow the ride with a yummy dinner of corn on the cob, salad and wine out on his deck.

I heart beeyewteeful weather!!!

[Geonz]

You can drive 10 of the 20 miles and make your own "Park and Ride," too... I like to make my ride 20 miles on the way home, but I"m not sure I could make a habit of doing it both ways.

[Running Mommy]

That is quite an idea Geonz! I'll have to think about that. Though will prolly have to be after the heat subsides. We are just going into our evil season out here. Everyone else is looking forward to the warm weather the next few months, we in the Phoenix area are NOT!
I like to ride when it's hot, but 110+ is just too much!
I was joking w/ Tony the other night that I knew summer was coming because when I wheel my bike in after a ride it smells like hot rubber.
So the next few months will all be sunrise or sunset rides I'm afraid. Or the evil trainer of course. UGH

[Running Mommy]

mtkitchn- OMG! That sounds EXACTLY like my hood in Estrella mtn ranch! I purposely WAIT until about 8:00 - 8:15 before I head out (or I 'did' before I started working). I've had all of those things happen to me MANY times!! Even the school bus. I actually did get whacked in the arm by a bus mirror one day. Hurt like heck and took forever to heal. Of course the school district wasn't too happy when I reported it. They ended up paying my dr's bill since I had the bus number and exact time it happened. Plus I was less than a half mile from the school so I wheeled right over and let the principal have it... Not that it was 'his' fault, but I was super upset- not to mention in PAIN!
Anyhoo.. Yeah, Phoenix drivers! You have to live here to appreciate what we put ourselves through here everytime we put the rubber side down!

[VenusdeVelo]

Go out about 9:00pm here (stays light now in Netherlands late), ride about 3 blocks to the *great* italian ice cream shop, eat a cone outside, and then go off on a 1 hour tour around the city -- even as it darkens the bike paths here are unlimited and you never have a problem riding, night or day. Get back home around 10:30, all relaxed for bed. Did I mention that great ice cream?

[mtkitchn]

mtkitchn- OMG! That sounds EXACTLY like my hood in Estrella mtn ranch! I purposely WAIT until about 8:00 - 8:15 before I head out (or I 'did' before I started working). I've had all of those things happen to me MANY times!! Even the school bus. I actually did get whacked in the arm by a bus mirror one day. Hurt like heck and took forever to heal. Of course the school district wasn't too happy when I reported it. They ended up paying my dr's bill since I had the bus number and exact time it happened. Plus I was less than a half mile from the school so I wheeled right over and let the principal have it... Not that it was 'his' fault, but I was super upset- not to mention in PAIN!
Anyhoo.. Yeah, Phoenix drivers! You have to live here to appreciate what we put ourselves through here everytime we put the rubber side down!

Glad you reported that bus driver. Those people are crazy and what a terrible experience you had!
I learned my lesson and will not ride at that time of the morning again!

[im4smiley]

Rain, Rain and more Rain so sad I went out on friday when there was a break in the rain, about 20 easy miles but now they are saying rain for 10 days...I refuse to listen to them....they must be wrong!!

[wavedancer]

My riding this week has consisted of two early morning rides on the trainer and opimisically driving my mountain bike back and forth to work in the hopes of being able to ride after work Too much rain!!!

I plan to do a 2-hour Coach Troy session today...Looks like this rain is here to stay for a while!