Sweet! I love seeing bears when I ride!
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Did a 42 mile loop, today. Saw a Ruffed Grouse sitting by the road, right on the side of the road, so circled back for a better look. Got very close and saw it was a hen with chicks, so I carefully backed away and just enjoyed the view.
Half mile down the road from that very spot, saw something big and black moving though the brush making its way out onto the road. Sure enough, big black bear. It crossed the road about 50 yards in front of me and went on its way. Don't think it even saw me. Nevertheless, I waited a bit than pedaled VERY quickly past the spot.
No camera, of course. Still, made a great ride all that much better. Life is good in my north woods.
Sweet! I love seeing bears when I ride!
Cool wildlife sightings, NWG! I have never seen a bear in the flesh before. I would have pedaled fast too!
Today we rode from the state park campground where we're staying into the charming little town of Weston, MO. We then did some riding on a rolling county road before heading back into town for a tasting at the local distillery. They give two tastes (max per day) for a quarter each! Of course, it's good business as they know most people will buy something, and we did, of course. Nothing like a shot of liquor before heading three miles in strong headwinds and high heat up big hills requiring tacking -- oy!
16 miles at a very slow pace but a lovely, hilly ride.
Emily
2011 Jamis Dakar XC "Toto" - Selle Italia Ldy Gel Flow
2007 Trek Pilot 5.0 WSD "Gloria" - Selle Italia Diva Gel Flow
2004 Bike Friday Petite Pocket Crusoe - Selle Italia Diva Gel Flow
NWG thankfully it wasn’t like (this) encounter last week in the Sierra Nevada’s captured on a go pro. It came out in a shady spot.
Come out for a insect free ride and we'll load you up with lemons to take back
I’ve seen black bears on the road in the San Gabriel mountains here on a couple of rides. A ranger told me all the bears in the S.G.’s are descendants of some bears sent to the region decades ago (eta 1933) after getting kicked out of Yosemite for being trouble makers. I also see it as a good excuse for a threshold sprint interval !!....i did come across a cougar going across the road in the santa monica mountains once. THAT made me nervous enough that i immediately turned around and did my fastest descent ever on that section of road.
!!!!!.....there's some inspiration in there some where
Last edited by rebeccaC; 06-23-2016 at 02:15 AM.
‘The negative feelings we all have can be addictive…just as the positive…it’s up to
us to decide which ones we want to choose and feed”… Pema Chodron
I have not seen a bear, but the last time I went mountain biking, up in the north woods of Maine, a moose jumped across the gravel road I was on....
2015 Trek Silque SSL
Specialized Oura
2011 Guru Praemio
Specialized Oura
2017 Specialized Ariel Sport
We do have moose and also wolves in the area, but have yet to see those while biking. Also some reports of cougars in the state, now, too. A lot of folks, up here, carry guns in the woods for protection against animals, but even though we do have guns (we are target shooters, only, not hunters.), I just wont can't carry a gun while biking or hiking. Just seems to ruin the whole spirit of the thing and, besides, the odds of having any issues are less than getting hit by lightning. Doubt I could kill anything, anyway. Do have some bear spray, though. That might be an option. No offense to anyone who does choose to carry a gun, though. Very much a personal choice. Hope I don't upset anyone with this comment. What does everyone else do on this issue?
On a more positive note, my husband accompanied me for a few miles on my ride, today. He is very much a newbie and has some disabilities - back and foot problems - but it was great having company. I do get lonely sometimes, riding for hours on these remote roads.
By the way, I always carry a cell phone and we do have cell phone service in our remote areas.
Last edited by north woods gal; 06-22-2016 at 04:36 PM.
i always carry a satellite gps messenger when I do rides alone in the desert or mountains. It’s worth it for my peace of mind in sending location info and a message if I should need help or to emergency responders if needed for me or others. I also always have pepper spray gel hanging on the side or in my handlebar bag. what i use is even more potent for animals but like with people it subsides with no damaging harm done.
‘The negative feelings we all have can be addictive…just as the positive…it’s up to
us to decide which ones we want to choose and feed”… Pema Chodron
I ditched the group ride yesterday; just was feeling off when I got up. Actually had my cycling shorts on, when I decided. Instead, I walked to the gym, did a power class, and then walked home.
This morning, I got up at 4:50 and got out for a glorious 10 mile ride, starting at 5:15. It's funny, before I moved to the condo, I would see tons of riders on my early morning rides, including large groups in Concord center, at 5:30 or 6 AM. Today, was the first time I saw other riders, 2 to be specific. It was 52 out , but I was dressed correctly, except maybe I should have had a light head cover on. Ad perhaps, long fingered gloves.
2015 Trek Silque SSL
Specialized Oura
2011 Guru Praemio
Specialized Oura
2017 Specialized Ariel Sport
Brrrrrr! I can't imagine. We are riding in the 80s now, which I enjoy until I stop and the sweat rains down my face. I am such a wimp about chilly-weather rides, but good for you! I can imagine that riding so early when very few are out and about would be very peaceful, but I'll never find out. We're lucky to get going by 9 am.
Emily
2011 Jamis Dakar XC "Toto" - Selle Italia Ldy Gel Flow
2007 Trek Pilot 5.0 WSD "Gloria" - Selle Italia Diva Gel Flow
2004 Bike Friday Petite Pocket Crusoe - Selle Italia Diva Gel Flow
Thanks, Rebecca. I like the idea of the pepper spray and the GPS, too. I do get a little spooked being myself, out in the middle of nowhere, sometimes. Been meaning to add the GPS, anyway, since I have a terrible sense of direction.
Good for you Crankin. Riding in cold weather is very doable. Just a matter of having the right clothing and knowing how to dress. If I limited myself to riding in warm, summer-like weather, I'd be lucky to get two months a year of riding. Even in the middle of the summer, we get days where it only gets into the 50s or 60s. Fortunately, I have all the bike specific winter clothing that I've accumulated from years of riding in cold weather. Very expensive, but it really helps. I also use the same clothing for my cross country skiing, so well worth the cost.
Well 50-60 is my favorite riding temperature! What I call fall type riding, definitely not winter clothing. I had on knee warmers, thermal arm warmers and a vest. I do have heavy duty winter riding clothing, though. Today was more like, wow, I haven't ridden in these temperatures in about 5-6 weeks. It's about 75 now.
Emily, early morning riding is extremely peaceful. I get up early anyway, and it's much preferred than trying to ride after work.
2015 Trek Silque SSL
Specialized Oura
2011 Guru Praemio
Specialized Oura
2017 Specialized Ariel Sport
Heheh, that's my winter riding get-up. :-) I don't mind those temps too much if it's sunny and not windy, but if it's overcast and windy, I won't ride in temps below about 60. I just hate having my nose run and then starting to overheat and having to peel off layers. It's so much simpler to leave in shorts and a short- or no-sleeve jersey. I just feel a lot freer than when I am wearing more clothing for rides. I guess I learned that from DH, who has always much preferred summer riding. He likes it a bit hotter than me, though!
Emily
2011 Jamis Dakar XC "Toto" - Selle Italia Ldy Gel Flow
2007 Trek Pilot 5.0 WSD "Gloria" - Selle Italia Diva Gel Flow
2004 Bike Friday Petite Pocket Crusoe - Selle Italia Diva Gel Flow
Yes, it does take awhile to get ready for a cooler ride. But I don't mind stopping to peel off things. I can push down my arm warmers while riding, and sometimes I leave them that way! In early spring/late winter, I tend to leave my vest on, just because I like it for the safety part; drivers may not be used to seeing riders in March or April. And yes, at cooler temperatures, wind and/or couds make a huge difference in how you need to dress. I agree with you, though, I don't like riding in hot weather, either. I have built up to it, but mostly I can plan shady rides on those days. But, sometimes you have no control. Last year, we led our 50 mile, hilly ride up to Hollis, NH on a 95 degree and slightly humid day. Though it is mostly shady, the heat, plus 3K feet of climbing just about killed everyone. Praying that this year, when we lead this on 7/16, it's 75 degrees and sunny!
2015 Trek Silque SSL
Specialized Oura
2011 Guru Praemio
Specialized Oura
2017 Specialized Ariel Sport
Wish I had a pic of me riding in sub zero weather in the snow with not an inch of exposed skin, goggles, face mask, the works. Pretty frightening pic for some of you folks that ride in the tropics. Up here, when the weather gets really rough, I do usually ride indoors on the trainer, but I HATE doing trainer miles, so the weather has to get really bad to keep me cooped up inside.
June is really a lovely riding month, up here. The typical high is in the 70s. Have had a few days in the 80s and a few in the 60s, but mostly 70s. Our summers are just so short, though, so I ride as much as I can. I know very well how soon winter comes knocking on our door.
Sub-zero weather riding....shiver! You are a beast, NWG!
Crankin, I agree that a ride like that in 95 degrees would be miserable. 75 degrees = cycling nirvana for me. My DH likes 80+. I prefer 65-80. But, we make do. Most days, one of us is a little happier than the other on our rides. Often they start out oat my ideal temp but rise to his by the end. Today was like that: somewhere in the 70s starting out and mid-80s by the end, but overcast, so it didn't feel too bad.
Today's rides: 16.53 miles total of utility rides on two different bikes (MTB and Bike Friday). One ride to a produce stand mostly on an unpaved trail, and the second ride into a grocery store in town. Two short rides but both hilly and fun. The reason for two rides is that we could only carry so much stuff at once. We're essentially living a car-free life since we refuse to take our motorhome out of a campground once it's parked, until we leave for the next place. As long as we have three bikes each, we're set!
Emily
2011 Jamis Dakar XC "Toto" - Selle Italia Ldy Gel Flow
2007 Trek Pilot 5.0 WSD "Gloria" - Selle Italia Diva Gel Flow
2004 Bike Friday Petite Pocket Crusoe - Selle Italia Diva Gel Flow