Saturday, June 12 rides

[Crankin]

The weather predicted rain, starting later today, so I actually slept in until 8 AM. It started looking a bit dark out, so we decided that today would not be the day for a long "wherever we end up" ride. Just as I was sitting down to put on my cycling shoes, the doorbell rang. It was my son, decked out in his cycling clothes. He was headed to a group ride, got lost, and missed the start, so he figured we would be heading out. It started sprinkling as we set off, so we ended up just doing the short, 15 mile loop around Concord. I was most happy that he commented on how fit I seemed compared to our last ride together. He thought it was from riding in Spain, but I explained that the last time we rode together, it was the beginning of April and I was sweeping a club ride with a bunch of very fast people... which didn't put me in a happy place. Except for the place where DH decided to see if DS could keep up with him on a hill sprint (where DH realized DS is now stronger than he is, and yes, he is 27 years old), I kept up with them. The skies opened up about 5 minutes after we got home, making me feel badly for the charity riders I saw, going in the other direction.

[malkin]

We rode in a drizzle to the opening day of the downtown farmers market. It is newly expanded, so way more spread out than last year, because the fire department didn't like the crowd.

Not crowded at all; maybe all the babies and dogs were at real estate open houses.

[7rider]

DH and I did the Oxon Hill Bike Club's annual Patuxent River Rural Legacy Ride.
The name is quite a mouthful, but it's a nice ride....a metric century (shorter routes are available) that starts at a wildlife sanctuary and hits several nice areas in a sort of Figure-8 route along the Patuxent River. A nice rolling course...this year they changed it up some due to road construction and it was - we think - a big improvement over previous years.
This ride also serves as the sole remaining "date ride" for DH and me...a ride we can do together, alone, without the crew from the bike shop (who I love dearly, but I don't want to do EVERY ride EVERY weekend with them!). DH has to go slow for me - but he does sprint up hills and wait for me at the top - it's the one cross he still bears for me!
We did run into TE's NYBiker at the 3rd rest stop, and again at the end. Was nice to chat, NY (but...see paragraph above for why we didn't linger!).

[azfiddle]

I am traveling in Ireland and borrowed a Dahon folding bike for the afternoon for a ride through green, rolling hills of County Clare. Not sure how far- maybe 15 miles? I misread directions and it's hard to figure out the roads here... anyway, it was beautiful. I also rented a bike in Dingle earlier in the week and rode 27 miles around the tip of the Dingle Peninsula- gorgeous, breathtaking scenery.

[Catrin]

I am traveling in Ireland and borrowed a Dahon folding bike for the afternoon for a ride through green, rolling hills of County Clare. Not sure how far- maybe 15 miles? I misread directions and it's hard to figure out the roads here... anyway, it was beautiful. I also rented a bike in Dingle earlier in the week and rode 27 miles around the tip of the Dingle Peninsula- gorgeous, breathtaking scenery.

How lucky, it sounds beautiful!

[XMcShiftersonX]

Did my first century today... I'm extremely proud of myself. There was almost 4,000 feet of climbing. The weather was perfect sunny and mid-70's!!