Hey NE girls

[Surlygirl]

Hey you guys, any of you still out riding? Just wanted to see how everyone was?

[DeniseGoldberg]

Still out riding? Of course!

My riding is pretty much limited to the weekends now because of the lack of daylight during my non-working hours, but my bicycles insist on continuing to roll down the road. Oh, and I cheated last week and took a vacation day on Tuesday after I saw the forecast for temperatures in the upper 60s. It was an awesome day for a ride.

I rode yesterday and today too, 24 miles each day. And I guessed fairly well at the right layers for the temperatures; my only mistake was that I should have had shoe covers on yesterday and I didn't. My toes were much happier today with the extra layer. Starting temperatures were 42 degrees yesterday and 44 today.

--- Denise

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Yep, still riding almost every day. I've ridden 116 miles in the past 5 days. Temps are in the 30's -50's. My layers are working well.

[Crankin]

Hi Jody,
Yes, I am still riding, but like Denise says, mostly on the weekend. Last week I brought my bike to school and was able to get out at 2:45 on Tuesday. I am going to do this on Tuesday and Wed. this week, because it will be warm. We rode 15.7 today, but yesterday I did errands, and it looked kind of cold when I got back, so I ran (well, ran/walked). I'm finding I'm much more tolerant of riding in the cold, but sometimes my head says "the season is over." I'm definitely not in my peak shape! I'd like to stay outside this way until the end of November and then hope for at least one day outside on the road bike in Dec., Jan., and Feb. Of course by then, I hope to be X country skiing and snowshoeing. I've been to a couple of spin classes and I bought the Cyclo Core DVD and a trainer, so hopefully, time will go quickly until March.
Where have you been?

[DebW]

Hello all. I rode 28 miles Saturday, around Wayland and Sudbury, up Goodman's Hill twice. Today I had to go do some trail work in the Berkshires. I'll keep getting out on the bike when I can. Maybe take it to work by car for an occasional afternoon ride.

[Surlygirl]

Great to hear from you guys. I've been out a few times in the past couple of weeks. Yesterday I did 15 miles and my feet got a little cold at the end. I had my smartwools on but I think I need toe covers. It looks like I may get a few in this week, its suppose to be a little warmer.

[DeniseGoldberg]

Yep, still riding almost every day. I've ridden 116 miles in the past 5 days. Temps are in the 30's -50's. My layers are working well.

Lisa -
Just curious... where are you in upstate New York? My folks live outside of Utica, so I'm wandering through the state occasionally (using my car as opposed to my bicycle).

And 116 miles over the past 5 days implies that you are able to get out in daylight during the week. I wish I had that option! (Let's see, I suppose I could take a couple of hours off in the middle of the day and then work later. Maybe...)

--- Denise

[CycleChic06]

I've been too busy to ride on the weekends and that's the only time I can go out since it's dark before I leave work now. It's so sad, cause I really try to make time for it, but my weekends are just totally filled with stuff! I'm never home! At least I get to spinning classes during the weeknights, but it's just not the same.

This past weekend was the worst, the weather was so beautiful. I had triple booked, planning to go for a ride one day and hike the entire Skyline trail in the Blue Hills Reservation the other day, but realized I couldn't do either because of rehearsals all weekend.

Sorry, I'm just sour, and I get grumpy when I can't exercise as much as I want to.

Emily

[short cut sally]

I too am still out riding, not daily like when it was warmer but still out there. This mornings ride was enough to convince me i needed some sort of shoe cover and that's next on my agenda for the day. 32 degrees, and the smart wools weren't enough, my toes were miserable after 8 of the 20 miles and just had to stop my ride short. Its been rainy the past few weeks so that cut down on being out, hate cold and rain together. This week has high hopes for it being in the 50's and looking forward to it. Enjoy your riding everyone, hopefully we will have a few more days to enjoy before ol' man winter sets in..

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Lisa -
Just curious... where are you in upstate New York? My folks live outside of Utica, so I'm wandering through the state occasionally (using my car as opposed to my bicycle).

And 116 miles over the past 5 days implies that you are able to get out in daylight during the week. I wish I had that option! (Let's see, I suppose I could take a couple of hours off in the middle of the day and then work later. Maybe...)

--- Denise

Hi Denise,
I'm in northern Columbia County NY (near the top of the Taconic State Parkway). If you ever pass nearby we should go for a ride!- let me know.

Yes, I am very lucky in that my DH and I run a business from home, and so we can often work in the evenings and take off for a ride during the middle of the day instead. I am VERY fortunate to be able to arrange my own work hours for the most part. I often go out for a morning ride and then start work at 11am and make up for lost work time after dinner. I'm not into tv anyway.

As to cold feet.... here is the time of year when NOT being clipless has its big advantage! I use PowerGrip straps on my pedals instead of cages or clipless. As long as they are adjusted large enough, I can wear nice warm Thinsulate hiking boots and fit in my pedals just fine. I just changed over to my warm comfy boots this week after freezing my tootsies in my running shoes a few times in the 40's temps. Works for me!

[PAP103]

Hi Everyone,

I haven't been out riding much. I went out to do a 25 miler a couple of weeks ago but between the wind and the cold, I ended up doing 8. I've already lost some of the fitness I had built up over the summer. I've headed back to the gym. I've also been busy getting the house and yard ready for winter. Been doing the basic leaf clean up and we're putting on a new roof this weekend.

This getting dark at 4:30 really put a damper on my riding too. Hope you all are well and enjoying the beautiful fall here in NE!

Patty

[telegirl]

Still riding up here - harder now, with it getting dark early, but I have a light and can still hit the trails. Almost time to put the studded tires on! But I am not getting in as many miles and now have to supplement with CycloZen and spinning dvds. Ick....