June 24th Ride Reports

[salsabike]

If BF hasn't EVER seen anyone stop on a hill before...then he needs to get out more often! That's how we learn to climb hills--do the part we can do, stop and recover a little, get back on and do some more, etc. till we're strong enough to do it in one go. How else can you build the strength and lung endurance? Go girl---you're doing just right!

Did my first ever beyond 40 mile ride today!!! 42 miles, including major, major hills. BF's name for this ride is "Fox Lane", which is 5 or so miles and the majority of the hills on the lane are way steeper than highway grade. Plus, there was some floral event going on at a farm, so the traffic was busy. But, I did the ride with only a minimal amount of whining. I'm soooo awful at hills.... I have to stop frequently on them, which drives BF nuts... He says he's never seen someone stop on hills before... Silly Boy, how else can I climb them??? But. I didn't walk any of them. The weather was HOT... 91 by the time we got home. Am I ever going to be ready for Bike Idaho????

[Duck on Wheels]

What does PNW mean, and what are doggles? (Must be the cleaning fumes, or the late hour. I'm just not getting it.)

[SadieKate]

Today was sort of a sad day for me. We went up to Nevada City to help our friend Chris Kelly with his “shutting of the doors” sale after 20 years in the business. He made my gorgeous pink cyclocross frame in my bikejournal avatar photo and came out to my car as we were leaving so he could put a matching decal on my new bike board (notice how the board and bike coordinate). I know he’s going to find something big and grand to do, but it was emotional wrench. I can’t even imagine what he and his wife have been going through.



On a brighter note, check out the bug. Bubba and I took a break today to get dirty on the mtbikes again and look at what thwacked him in the head in the parking lot. I swear there has got to be a radio hidden somewhere to go with those 2 inch long antennae.

[KnottedYet]

Duck - PNW is Pacific Northwest. Doggles are goggles/sunglasses for dogs. They are very cute, and actually wearable. Protect dogs eyes just like sunglasses/goggles protect humans' eyes.

[mimitabby]

cool bug Sadie Kate. I have often seen them in pairs. they are actually not considered "good bugs" (they are beetles) because they eat trees.
They are asian longhorn beetles and they are an exotic pest.
(sigh)

This PNW gal actually got some sunburn. It has been so long since i've been out in the sun
i didn't remember what to do about it! KnottedYet was a great ride leader, careful and energetic despite her cold!

[SadieKate]

Oh no! So that's what those pests look like! Darn, I could have performed some eradication work had I but known.

Thanks for the quick ID, Mimi.

[KnottedYet]

Aww, Mimi, you made me blush.....

(hey, I had sunscreen in my pannier! next time tell me if you need some!)

[Veronica]

84 miles, lots of climbing, great company, awesome roads, yummy bakeries... cows, sheep, deer, a camel, a llama, lots of friendly dogs

V.

[SadieKate]

cool bug Sadie Kate. I have often seen them in pairs. they are actually not considered "good bugs" (they are beetles) because they eat trees.
They are asian longhorn beetles and they are an exotic pest.
(sigh)

Mimi, I think this is the Oregon Fir Sawyer. Still not necessarily a good bug.

http://www.uvm.edu/albeetle/identification/index.html
http://s22.photobucket.com/albums/b3...=Radiobug6.jpg

Off to do some more research. If it truly is an ALB, sightings should be reported.

[slinkedog]

Well, he's quite an interesting looking pest!

SK, sorry to hear about your rather sad day.

I had a short, easy 23 mile ride today with 3 other very nice ladies. One gal had a problem with her wheel, so she opted to ride her mountain bike. She rocked!! We did go slower than usual, but she did great!

Also met a really wonderful new friend today. It was a good day... got done before it got too blessed hot, as well.

[Nanci]

We have something like that here- I think the Southern Whitespotted Sawyer. They're pretty cool. I took some pics of a stick insect the other day, but haven't DLed them yet. Did you use macro to get that? Mine will only focus to about four inches- can't get any closer than that.

NAnci

[mimitabby]

Mimi, I think this is the Oregon Fir Sawyer. Still not necessarily a good bug.

http://www.uvm.edu/albeetle/identification/index.html
http://s22.photobucket.com/albums/b3...=Radiobug6.jpg

Off to do some more research. If it truly is an ALB, sightings should be reported.

omigod, THere are a whole family of them!! were the white spots kind of bluish?

You made a good ID; the white dot on its back!! (lots of dots )

[makbike]

I rode the club ride this evening, appropriately named "Taste of Virginia." I HATE hills but because my BF was ride captain I felt I needed to participate. I was rather concerned the first 10 miles or so for my legs felt dead, nothing in them and I knew what awaited me. However, after the first long climb my legs kicked in and I felt my strength and confidence growing. I started to catch up to those who took off in the fast group but who were slowly falling back due to the continuous climbing. Eventually I found myself with two gentlemen, I passed the one and the other one became my carrot for the rest of the ride. He was determined to keep me from passing him and I was set on passing him for we seesawed back and forth. We came to a red light and as I pulling up behind him he turned around and said "pull you big, heavy steel frame up here and trigger the light." That was all it took, for I'm very protective of my little blue bike, I love it. I know it is old (1985 or so), I know it is heavy, I know it is out dated according to a lot of the club members but it is my bike, it works for me and I have a great time on it. When the light changed I took off like a bat out of h*ll, dumped him and finished with an average speed of 15.6 mph. I figured with all the hills my average speed would end up around 14.5 - 15 (if I was lucky) so I really surprised myself when I looked at my computer (it came with the bike so it too is old and always brings comments from the peanute gallery).