First T shirt ride

[kpc]

I know we have all written about how great it is to get out again after the winter, but today was the first day i was able to go out in a T shirt and shorts! The best! To feel the sun on my arms and legs. Everything just feels so much more relaxed when the cold is gone! Love spring!

[annie]

I hear you, kpc!!!

I went out in shorts and SLEEVELESS jersey today. Okay, I was pushing it a little with the sleeveless part, it didn't quite hit 70, but still, it felt wonderful! So different than bundling up in layers and layers. As long as I kept going at a good pace, I was warm enough.

Loving spring so much! And soon, we'll have daylight savings time! Even better 'cause then there'll be more time to get out in the evenings.

[doctorfrau]

Amen to More Daylight in the evenings!!!!

Most days I just cannot get away and out before 5:30 or 6pm, and by then it is getting dark.

I took my youngest daughter out to the rail-trail this evening, where she practiced without training wheels. It was warm and there is a swampy area where the Peepers were nearly deafening! If the peepers are out - it is definitely Spring!

[Adventure Girl]

It rarely gets under about 40 degrees where I live, so I ride year-around without bundling and layering. In the winter it's tights and long sleeves. In the spring and summer it's shorts and sleeveless jerseys. But even though I don't experience much of the "seasons", I do love this time of year. Things are blooming everywhere (sorry to all you allergy types), and the days are getting longer. After we switch to daylight savings time next weekend, it will be light enough after work to get a quick ride in. By June full length rides will be possible. Yeah!!

[Hillhugger]

We here in Ontario are still waiting for spring - I know it is somewhere out there...

I'm looking so forward to just get out there on the road!

[kpc]

Just got back from my first group ride, 22 miles. My thighs are toast! But it was so nice. The spring peepers were going as we went around a marshy area. And a group of geese flew near me for a little bit. Even the drizzle was fine - not cold. Spring is the best!

[emily_in_nc]

Yep, today was a brilliant day for riding here in central NC - our first weekend day over 70 degrees this year, I believe, and with beautiful sunshine to boot! Short-sleeve jersey and shorts for me too! I did a bike club ride and had a blast. There was a huge turnout (60+ riders!) because of the wonderful spring weather. The loop was 30 miles and included a rest stop with a multitude of different varieties of chocolate chip cookies. This ride was actually written up as a "Best Club Ride" in Bicycling magazine in Oct. 2003! The woman who runs it does it about every two months and bakes all the cookies herself, carrying them in panniers. And yes, I ate three! Mmmm....

I love spring - too soon it will be hot and muggy here, so I really cherish these days after riding in tights and jackets for months.

Emily

[pedalfaster]

It was warm and drizzly this morning...and all of the girls I had planned a road-ride with bailed on me...grrr

Like....they'll melt or what???

I headed out anyhow, but was in a foul mood. In my book (I used to race so I might not be so lenient ) a ride is only cancelled if it's raining and below 40F OR there is lightning.

It starts to rain harder and I decide to pull off and don a wind-vest, remove my spotty glasses and eat some breakfast (PoweBites this morning). I don't usually stop to do these things, but like I said, I wasn't super-motivated to ride at this point.

As I am sulking I see another rider approach and hear a "Hey, is this the Saturday morning ride?"

It's one of the fastest local Cat 1 racers. Ohhhhh great. So I say "yeah I'm it this morning" .

Luckily it was a recovery ride for him. We had a *great* easy spin with hills, chatted the whole way, and rode back into town about 2 1/2 hours later in glorious 70F SUNshine. The best part? We passed a group of the girls who bailed this morning (they decided to run instead). I sprayed them with my water bottle and said "ha ha....missed a great ride!"

One of them called later to say she regretted not riding

Thanks for letting me vent!

[annie]

Originally posted by pedalfaster

I headed out anyhow, but was in a foul mood. In my book (I used to race so I might not be so lenient ) a ride is only cancelled if it's raining and below 40F OR there is lightning.

More power to you! I am wimpier,,,,,,, If it's below 60 and raining, I stay home. (That's why I am home now, typing instead of riding.) If I'm caught out in it, that's different, but I won't choose to go out. I can do wet, if it's warm, and I can do cold, but putting them together and riding cold and wet just plain sucks! And riding in lightening if one doesn't have to is a dumb thing to do.

Anyway, glad your ride turned out so great, pedalfaster! I, too, had a great ride yesterday so I don't mind so much being off the bike today.

Hillhugger, hope your spring comes soon!!!!!

[AnnieB]

AHH Spring in the Northeast - one day its 70 degrees and the next we get 3 inches of snow. Yesterday was my first ride in short sleeves - and I had to stop after about 10 miles to take off my tights! JOY -

I always forget how much I ache after my first long ride of the year (why did I allow myself to get so out of shape ) - especially when I am trapped in a high rise office building in downtown Philly and its beautiful outside!!!

I tend to start slamming things around my desk, causing my colleagues to shake their heads and say to each other 'she is just mad b/c she is not outside riding her bike'.

The pain of newly stretched muscles, the pleasure of the searing in your lungs, the relaxation of a beer and feet up on the coffee table after the ride - is it any wonder that I am addicted to it!

[doctorfrau]

Ahh it was a glorious day today!!!!

I was just so glad to feel the sun, baking winter out of my bones on my 20 mile ride, that I now have pink & white striped arms!

I even met a couple along the way who pointed me in the direction of a club that I didn't know existed. AND there is a satellite group specifically for women! I am excited, and am going to e-mail for more info.

Definitely a glorious day!

[Hillhugger]

I decided not ot wait for spring in Ontario anymore, but to go where the sun is - mid of April our club is having a training camp in Florida!!!

Has anyone been to Clermont? It is supposed to be a great vacation village with the National Training Center right beside it.

That will be one fun-filled week with lots of sunshine and training!!!

[Surlygirl]

Hi girls,
I went on my first ride of the season on Friday. Wahoooo.
It was in the mid 60's and it was just beautiful. I did the Nashua River rail trail here in Massachusetts and it was glorious. Last weekend we had a Northeaster(snow), this week finally broke the 60's. For all you up North, spring is coming, just hang in there. That first ride of the season was sweet and I had a grin on my face the whole way.

[fultzie]

Just got back from two races (more like "rides" for me ) in Ohio and Indiana... and yikes! did i get sunburned! I was really surprised, because i never used to burn so easily. I guess perfect, 70 degree sunny weather both days and riding for more than an hour each time with my arms laid out on the hoods did it... even the soft part behind my elbow got crispy! ouchie... glad for roomie's supply of aloe gel!
but, I now have a cyclist's burn/tan! yaay! cycling buddy and I were discussing ways to show it off back on campus. we decided on shorts slightly above the lycra line (with the waists rolled down, of course ), and a middriff- bearing tank top. stylin'! too bad it'll only be around 50 this week

*don't worry, neither of us is planning on making a fashion faux pas... i don't think either of us would be caught bearing our pasty middriffs (read: guts) around campus... although just about anything goes in A2

[grannydea]

AHHHH spring!!!
Its when 60 seems like a heat wave. I always am amazed this time of the year of all the new growth bulbs comming up and the animals that are out and about after a long winters nap. Great time to be outside riding again. Winters forgiven.
Dea