Great Lakes - Did you ride today?

Oh yeah, I meant to mention my ride today.


29.28 miles, 1071kJ, 1:34:22
I'd prepared to do the Power Profile Test today and see what my current FTP is since the last time I did an FTP test was early July (I practically didn't even use my PTap during this whole season) in the Ohio State TT.
So yeah, I ended up doing 5x5's. I'm pleasantly surprised by my w/Kg. 4.63 w/Kg; not bad for being in base. I'm looking to increase my points to 5.5 w/Kg by April or so. How much higher I'll go will depend on my race schedule.

12/14- 37 mile night ride. Rain, several downpours, some nasty wind!, and tons of road grime. looks like i may do a run tomorrow since all of my stuff is soaked.

Managed to get about 30-ish miles in this afternoon between rain showers. The wind was strong, temps not too bad - though not the 50 degree day I had been looking forward too! Still better than the trainer.

12/14 - 20 Miles, Joliet Junction / Rock Run Greenway

Mid 40's, overcast, WINDY, WINDY, WINDY.

20 miles in the cold. My water bottles froze.

Was too windy for me Sunday. We got ice Monday and today we're getting 2-4 inches of snow on top of the ice. Roadways never really recovered at all yesterday. Looks like an icestorm is coming on Thursday then more very cold weather. Think i'm done riding til March.

I ran two miles today. My new shoes are WORLDS better than the old ones. I've noticed I can go faster, more comfortable, longer.
I added a different leg to my route today:
One of the trails I run on is right on a creek, so if you step off the trail you're falling a few feet onto creek shale. On the other side of the creek is another trail, but there aren't any spots to cross over safely. So I noticed a big, wide tree fell across the trails, so I ran across that and did that trail. Fun.

I saw the XC team and they were like "Are you a triathlete? Have I seen you at schoo before?"

Think i'm done riding til March.

I haven't ridden since mid-November. Sometimes we get a January thaw, but if we don't, I am likely done till then as well.

1.5 hours at rays

1.5 hours at rays

sounds fun. Wish I had thought of going :(

Today's commute was interesting. Rode on slicks in the morning, back home at lunch where I switched to studded tires. Rode home on ice, no problems. Fun.

12/18- 30 miles. Thanks Bill (Allegheny Jet) for hosting the ride and the hospitality post ride:thumb:

Yee haaa. 6 miles in almost an hour in heavy new snow. Only dumped it once. Had to drag the bike in a few spots that were too deep and icy to ride through. The ride home should be nice.

http://www.pbase.com/image/107234648/original.jpg


Here is a shot of my snow mobile. Notice the snow packed around the brakes. I tried to use them to stop in my parking lot and no matter how hard I squeezed, they had NO effect. I laughed out loud.

http://www.pbase.com/colorchange/image/107234649/original.jpg

"Winter Weather Advisory" for today. Luckily I have no exams today. The snow started coming down about 2 hours ago, though not as badly as I'd have thought. Still, approaching about 1.5-2 inches and showing no sign of slowing.

http://crast.us/james/photos/albums/Misc/SnowedIn/img_4382.jpg
http://crast.us/james/photos/albums/Misc/SnowedIn/img_4385.jpg

Once it slows down, I'm gonna throw on my cross tires and mess around a bit. Until then, I get to ride with robbie ventura

http://crast.us/james/photos/albums/Misc/SnowedIn/img_4386.jpg

2 hours at rays today

50s on the way in, 27 coming home. should of looked at the forecast 'cause I froze coming home.

Put in about 30 miles earlier today. Cloudy, wind chill around 22 degrees. Wasn't too bad of a ride - better than putting the time in on the trainer...

40 miles yesterday on the roadbike and 23 today on the mountain bike :)

Anyone going out riding today? It's a balmy 3 degrees outside :D

40 miles yesterday on the roadbike and 23 today on the mountain bike :)
you are insane.

12/21 - 15 Miles, at the health club :(

Finally broke down and went to the health club with my daughter.

The over padded seat and upright position are really uncomfortable,
not to mention it's way to much like exercise.

Scott, The thing Gary failed to mention is that all those miles where in FT LAUDERDALE, FLA!!!!

Repeat after me; Gary is a low life scum, Gary is a low life scum!!!

what a jerk!! I was at rays for 3 hours today on bmx night. ( I need a pair of girl pants) when i get out at 8pm it was 3 degrees!

42 miles today with some guys from Jacksonville. UGH!!!!! Life is tough!

42 miles today with some guys from Jacksonville. UGH!!!!! Life is tough!

OMG.. you suck.

42 miles today with some guys from Jacksonville. UGH!!!!! Life is tough!


where is that ignore button!!!!!

later.

i hope you get sunburnt and a seagull ****s on your head

I am sooooooo not feeling the Great Lakes love here guys :)

**** you, Gary.

There, how was that? :)

Ahh, never mind. I'll be in Florida in a month, so I like hearing others talk about the nice weather. Gives me something to look forward to.

MMMmmmmm...... Sunshine at more than 15% above the horizon.... What a novel concept at this time of year!

Have a happy and blessed Holiday!
To all the wonderful, cool, adventurist, cyclist whom I have had the unearned priviledge of spending time with, cyling with, foruming with, getting to know sort of, and just the joy of finding folks whom love something I also.... I just want to pray you all have a wonderful, blessed, fun, and safe Christmas, New Year and a off-and-running 2009.

Of the many things to be thankful He came to earth to died for, you all are surely some of the most precious.

Thanks for you all being you!

Stumps!

Spent a few hours at Oleta State Park on the MTB trails (http://www.dirtworld.com/trails/trail.asp?id=845&trail_name=Oleta%20River%20Mountain%20Bike%20Trail). Incredible is the word that comes to mind. Very well marked trails from the wide spaced evergreen forest to the very tight singletrack through the fern forest. Lots of bridges and man made obstacles as well as natures own. All the rails are color coded so you can decide if you want a easy or hard trail before you enter. They even have bike rentals and a shop in the park if needed. Highly recommend you check it out if your in the area Cylowe.

Spent a few hours at Oleta State Park on the MTB trails (http://www.dirtworld.com/trails/trail.asp?id=845&trail_name=Oleta%20River%20Mountain%20Bike%20Trail). Incredible is the word that comes to mind. Very well marked trails from the wide spaced evergreen forest to the very tight singletrack through the fern forest. Lots of bridges and man made obstacles as well as natures own. All the rails are color coded so you can decide if you want a easy or hard trail before you enter. They even have bike rentals and a shop in the park if needed. Highly recommend you check it out if your in the area Cylowe.


Sounded interesting. I thought, well I have a spare bike to do some "mountain bike" stuff on, and even though it is raining, it is in the 40's. What a way to end the year. Then I researched the Oleta state park thing and realized it is in FLA. Nice work Gary! You might as well add that you accidentially hit a pole on your new land down there and up came a bubbling crude, or your son bought a lottery ticket by mistake and you all won the jackpot. FLORIDA, huh!


Well... have a good time down there. And ride some for me. I really need it, bad!

Stumps

Heh. My son and I just took a quick spin around the block to try out our new fenders. I bought them because we are going on a bike ride next week, on new years day. Anyway, we got done, got the bikes out, and it started to pour. So, we cut our trip to a quick spin around the block, especially since this was going to be a quick ride, we didn't have rain gear or any thing.

50 some odd miles ...lots of wind (30-35mph) and occasional rain. Took a few pics but no forgot my cable to upload them with...Merry Christmas and happy holidays all...

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c342/garysol1/ATT00004.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c342/garysol1/ATT00007.jpg

Hoping to get some riding in next week after the big thaw this weekend that might bring big time flooding because most of our side streets are nothing but total ice. I may start a new topic about the lousy job that the salt plows are doing this winter so far due to budget problems.

[QUOTE=stumpsbmwm3;8071110]
Well... have a good time down there. And ride some for me. I really need it, bad!

Stumps[QUOTE]

^^^^^^what he said

Merry Christmas everyone! God bless you.

Colleen
(and so this is Christmas)

30 miles....rain, wind and a flat. Sun broke through just as I got back to the condo and it has been a glorious day since.

30 miles....rain, wind and a flat. Sun broke through just as I got back to the condo and it has been a glorious day since.

Right now, I can't think of anyone more deserving:innocent:

Went out for a quick Santa Claus ride, did 65 miles at 75 degree weather, 0-5 mph winds, life is good! No cars, isolated clean roads all to myself, no group ride, completely selfish today. I love my bike!

The last day here in South Florida.....Rode 20 miles on the road bike then took my son mountain bike riding for 2 hours at Markham park (http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=156). Very nice place. Oh.....80 and sunny all day :)

2 hours at rays.

No riding for the next 10 days while im in Vienna except maybe some citybiking. Im up about 12lbs I plan to come back up 24.

15℉ Partly cloudy recently plowed. 2 hours=20 miles. Worked for every one of them.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3219/3138621376_07df3cfe5a.jpg

It's going to be in the 60's tomorrow. Even though I'm on my real break from riding now (9 days off), I want to break it it and ride.

12/27- Was able to squeeze in 41 miles before I leave. Including 2 hills. whoo. I couldn't wait to test out my new and improved bike- I didn't even ride with bartape.


Lets see.
My new Tifosi Tyrant 3 lens sunglasses are awesome- the allweather Red was perfect for today.

My new Easton EA90 aero wheels are the bees knees. eerily quiet freehub- kinda cool. Stiff like when I see Kelly on saved by the bell, and Fast.

I am in love with my new sram rival. Yes, it has louder shifting, I love it! Fits my short hands much better, and I think they must have fixed 09's front shifting, because it is 10x better than my old setup. And the view out the cockpit is nice with the hidden cables. I will now be a sramshill.

Hope you all enjoy the unseasonably warm weather!!

12/27, 40 in the wind (mid 20's gusting hi 30's) warm temps (59 to start 66 later) wet roads that just would not dry out!

I broke my chain in a sprint today. After I downloaded my data I found that when it went, I was moving at 38.2 mph and putting in around 1400 watts.

Did about 35 miles today, 30 of which were into that flippin wind, or so it seemed. But it was nice to able to ride in shorts.

42 miles outside and in the daylight, what switch. Did not matter that the winds were strong and most of the roads were still wet after 3:00 PM. Started out riding South into the wind then West in steps. It was like doing intervals every time we went South. Coming back home was the ticket. Riding North on Vandermark Road rollers at well over 30 mph made me wish it was the Twin Sizzler Race again!

12/28 total 35 miles. The wind speed during the ride was sustained at 31mph with a peak gust of 48mph(info from the local airport). Temp was 35 with wind chill of 22, but never felt cold, working to hard for that!!

Just for fun I started my computer on the way out, outbound was 15 miles, at 14.5 ave, 1 hour 2 min, peak 22.3mph (small hill)

Turned around, reset computer, and did 15.6 miles, at 23.5 ave, 39 min, peak 36mph (flat stretch with following wind).

what a rush! One stretch of about a mile I couldn't match the wind and you could actually feel it lifting you. The speedo never dropped below 35 for the whole mile or so. was worth the punishment just to ride back!

Well...see what happens when you hope others whom are in FLA, enjoy themselves when you are holding a snow shovel next to your bed!

Gary, though it is 80 something down there, we were riding in shorts yesterday. No, no one mugged us and we had to ride in our BVD's, it was sixty+. Yep, 60+!

So...have more fun, do more stuff, hope the rain clouds move to Cuba. And in the meantime, send us some more sun and heat. We, rode 40+ miles yesterday. And as soon as I get feeling back in my legs (too stupid to buy a indoor trainer), I will have enjoyed the ride.

Have a safe trip back. Hi Colleen!