April 27-29 Weekend Rides

[Bike Chick]

A group of us went to New Harmony, IN on Saturday to ride the Harmonie Hundred. It was a very windy 50 miles but a nice ride. Yesterday, I rode around the neighborhood and took pictures of the flooding. All the state highways and county roads that we use are closed due to flooding and the interstate is the only access to anywhere. No bike rides longer than 5 or 6 miles for a while until the water goes down.

[emily_in_nc]

So my plans changed a bit, but I rode on Sauvie Island for 25 miles! Got a late start and it took over two hours including water breaks. The road is flat, but not smooth, has no bike lanes or shoulder. It was sunny & 70 degrees, windy (maybe 10 mph or so), and since we got a later start at around 5:00 p.m., it was chilly by the time we returned to the car as the sun was setting. I was sore, tired and hungry! But it was all good. No mishaps to speak of. I didn't really care for that type of riding, as it was my first riding on those types of country roads. It's a bit of a trek just getting to the island, so I doubt I will do it again. I'm much more an urban cyclist and we have great city roads where I can go for long ride in a bike lane. Here is a photo:

Very cute photo, and that looks like a beautiful area! I wonder if you would have enjoyed yourself more earlier in the day? I love country roads and used to ride them all the time when we lived out in the boonies. They do have a few downsides, though; no shoulders (here in the south), fast-passing cars and pickups, and lots of loose dogs. Don't have that much in the urban/suburban areas I ride in now. But I love how you can ride so much further without having to stop at lights/intersections so often, and there is a lot less traffic. Each type of riding has its pros and cons for me.

[Biciclista]

Completed my 5th 100 k ride for my p12 yesterday, the first of May
I was not in the mood, have been feeling out of sorts and we started the ride the day after my husband did the fleche, a 24 hour ride (ugh) and we started much later than we normally do for a long ride (almost 1pm when we finally got on our bikes)
big picture is our reflection on our truck "Honey, does your truck make me look fat?" "YES!"


We rode in the Olympia/Tenino/Rainier area and it was really very beautiful. My husband was strong but sleep deprived, so I was always worried he would not perform well, oh yes..we rode the tandem yesterday because I wanted us to be FAST. well, we weren't, we did a "keep together" ride instead.

The weather was perfect. with highs around 67 degrees, light wind, sun, dry pavement and few busy streets, it was a wonderful ride. Mount Rainier, covered with fresh snow, stood out like a jewel against the blue sky.

glad May is done, it's going to be a really busy month.

[Catrin]

A group of us went to New Harmony, IN on Saturday to ride the Harmonie Hundred. It was a very windy 50 miles but a nice ride. Yesterday, I rode around the neighborhood and took pictures of the flooding. All the state highways and county roads that we use are closed due to flooding and the interstate is the only access to anywhere. No bike rides longer than 5 or 6 miles for a while until the water goes down.

I was thinking about you Saturday, was wondering how windy it might be down there. I limited my riding to a nature preserve park, but Friday had a nice ride on my country roads

Sorry to hear the flooding is so bad, sounds quite extensive!

[Velocivixen]

@Emily, I should have clarified a little. I think that part of my "dislike" of the ride had more to do with feeling the road. In a parking lot while we stopped for a break I rode my DHs bike (hybrid with bigger tires and no heavy pannier on the back), and his bike felt so much more "cushy". The cars on the island expect cyclists and were gracious in their passing of us. I am already thinking about getting a more "road-type" bike (I think I've been bitten!).
@Emily, I loved your photos! I saw Mt. Hood, Mt. St. Helens, and a third mountain. I absolutely LOVE living in the great PNW.

[Biciclista]

I absolutely LOVE living in the great PNW.

yeah, especially when the sun comes out for a few minutes!!!

[chryss]

Nice thread! As a road cycling beginner, I like the idea of reporting in on rides!

So this was the second weekend with the new Kona Sutra. I rode twice, Saturday 16.8 miles "flat", Sunday a bit over 15 miles "hilly". It looks to me as if 50 miles/week could be a realistic goal for me to start out with. Does this sound reasonable?

Where I live, there's basically 1 road (that's not untypical for Alaska). I'm at mile 21 (well, about a mile off, via currently muddy unpaved side roads). It ends at mile 53 or so at a resort built around natural hot springs, and afterwards there's wilderness and then, somewhere, Canada. Mile 1 is a little outside Fairbanks, and at about mile 7 or so a road goes off to the town of North Pole. The bit between Fairbanks and where I am is pretty hilly (for me), older pavement with some chipseal and potholes, but a shoulder (presently occupied by lose gravel). The bit between me and the end of the road is nearly completely flat, has a new road surface, fewer cars, and no shoulder. The road passes in a river valley through a very picturesque State Recreation Area with numerous hiking trails going off (into the mountains), fishing ponds... It's extremely beautiful to drive out a little bit, to one of the trailheads, and ride out a few trailheads down, turn around.

If I want to ride anywhere else than on this road (or the one at right angles at mile 7) I need to drive. Or to get a mountain bike, which I may.

[emily_in_nc]

Mimi,

You are awfully brave to post that photo. Too funny!

[Biciclista]

well, Emily, I don't really look like that!!
I love my hobbit feet!!