April Rides

[Catrin]

LOL Emily, I've a few pair like that. I paid so much for them that I am resistant about disposing them!

Crankin...youch that was a hard ride, but it sounds like you were able to walk away with some positives out of the entire situation.

My vacation starts this weekend. One of my many plans is to take my bike to the park at a low traffic period and put her, and me through my paces. If I still am having neurological symptoms after a 20-30 minute ride then I will have to sell her.

Really hoping that won't happen! Amazing what I CAN do off of the bike. Not saying that there aren't other activities I have to be cautious/avoid for the same reason. Very thankful for what I can do! Hopefully I can add riding back in the mix after, basically, taking last year off.

The neck injury from the mountain bike crash happened in fall of 2011, so if there are still issues of the same magnitude then it is time to focus on those many things I can do.

[Crankin]

I hope you don't have to sell your bike, Catrin. It makes me sad, but I understand why you might have to.
We found the the no longer made short reach shifters on E Bay. They are ordered, will be here in a week. Ordered some red cables, too, to match the bike.
This bike is starting to show its age. The frame is from 2007, some of the parts from 2006, when I switched them over from the original too big frame. There's some dings, and I admit I don't clean my bike all that well. Mechanically, it's perfect. Maybe, when I am 65, I'll get a new carbon bike.

[ny biker]

I think I've done three rides since I last posted here. I've had two consecutive cold Wednesday post-work rides. I've actually worn my AmFib tights for both of them. Air temps were in the 50s, but since I don't start until almost 7 pm and ride after dark, I can't count on any sunshine to help me stay warm. And this week we had gusty north winds to make things colder. The forecast for next Wednesday is even worse. On the positive side, I moved the ride start in order to reduce the amount of time I spend sitting in traffic trying to get there, and that's working out well.

I also led a 42-mile club ride back on April 12. The other riders who joined me were all faster than me. A few dropped back to keep me company, but their slow pace was still fast for me. I was exhausted and almost didn't make it up one of the steep hills near the end. I appreciate the thoughtfulness of the guys who rode with me, but I think I might have been better off riding alone at my own pace. Anyway it was a nice, warm day and when I looked up at the tall trees I could see the pale green haze of new buds. Spring, finally.

Tomorrow is a charity ride that I like to do every year. They say it will be warm with winds from the south. It should be fun.

[Crankin]

I rode with Hirakukibou this afternoon for the first time this season. It's really nice out and I had my arm warmers off for the last 7 miles. We just rode from Concord center, where we met, to Great Brook Farm, and then retraced part of our route and went to Ferns, where we sat on the porch, drank coffee, and gabbed for quite a long time. I think it was about 23 miles for me; I reset my Garmin without checking.
Weather this weekend looks iffy. Tomorrow is supposed to be raw and rainy, but there's some hope for Sunday. I'd like to get a 40 miler in, but not sure if I'll have the time.

[Jolt]

First ride on the LHT today...only 20 minutes b/c that's all I had time for between work and another commitment, but better than not getting out at all. This bike is going to be a lot of fun, but the stock saddle is not going to work for me so I will be swapping that out. Tomorrow's weather looks yucky so I will probably just go to the gym instead of riding...hopefully there will be a nice day soon where I have some time!