Todays Biking Experience *Feel free to share your's*

Google sponsored links

fuish

I had been going 3.75 miles and today I went 7.50 miles, *mostly because I got lost lol* But I was excited and I just wanted to share. I'm still very very new to riding, so this is a big deal for me, I know it's nothing compared to 75 - 100 miles and up that a lot of you guys/gals do, but yeah... Yay!

I went on the ROAD road today too, and got buzzed for the first time... haha it was scary and fun. And when I stopped for a water break teenagers in a car swerved towards me and I just stared them down and they looked really startled that I was looking right at them fearlessly and they just drove off. Who would have thought that people would give you @!#* in a residential area?

Anyways, that was my biking day.

What was your's?

The BikeForums Team

-adv-

This is an archived thread, you can find the full version of this thread, with images, links and more content here.

Ready to buy? Check out these two online bike stores:
- http://www.nashbar.com (you can find the latest bike nashbar coupons in this thread)
- http://www.performancebike.com (you can find the latest performance bike coupons in this thread)

Cya on the forums,
- The BikeForums Team
- http://www.bikeforums.net

chunkyd

fuish

Congrats!! Next thing you know double centuries! :) Keep up the good work!
isnt it COLD in Ohio!!

I just did spin classes today... Tomorrow will be my Stationary long ride.. *sigh!
I want Spring!!!

I love riding on the road! I love passing a Car on a down hill (35 speed limit) on this double lane straight away where i have my own lane. I love when riding in groups and the drivers give you the thumbs up.

I have had 3 days of 60 degrees weather and I'm taking advantage of every day, even if it's a little rainy. Tomorrow will be the last day of 60 + degrees weather for a while so I'm soaking it up. I don't mind the cold too much, but yeah it is cold here, 45 on thursday and that's the high, so yeah. My goal is to ride every dry day I can.

StephenH

Got home way after dark, changed clothes, put the headlight on and went for a ride. Cruised a bit on the bike trail, then the deserted suburban streets, wound up with 9 miles at 12 mph or so. A bit faster and a bit farther would have been nice, but that was fine for the day. Rode in shorts and tee shirt and was sweaty when I got back.

fuish

Tom Stormcrowe

I've been stuck on the computer all day......

I have to put together a presentation for Anthropology Class. :(

I did get it done though and can ride tomorrow :D I'm planning a little 25 miler to relax a bit.

b_young

Congrats on doubling your miles. Keep up the good work.

Daveyboy

No riding today. But I had two days of sweet cyclocross racing this last weekend. Have only done 5 races, but so far I'm addicted. I actually had a good race going Sunday when I picked up a nail in the last lap. :mad: So I carried the bike the last half lap and had an interesting sprint to the finish against another rider (me running, him riding, I held him off - NICE :D).

StephenH

"Is night riding fun? I've never tried. "

Guess it depends. For me, this time of year, it's a choice between night riding or not riding, and night riding is better. But I'd rather go in the daytime. The bike trail is sort of creepy where it goes in the woods. A good light helps. I stay off main roads, and the side streets are pretty dead after dark.

fc_

Yesterday was our 'in office day' for our development team. Roughly 28 miles each way. Loaded the laptop, clothes, etc into the panniers, double checked the lights (i knew I was going to be riding in the dark at least part of the way home) Made good time on the way in mostly because the winds were calm. No significant headwind (or tailwind) on the way into the office.

After getting unpacked, dressed, etc. our boss treated us to lunch (as he always does, great perk! :) ). We went to the pho noodle place, had a seafood combo rice noodle soup. Really hit the spot.

Back to the office for our meeting, talked about what we were working on, etc. Back on the road around 4pm for my ride back. Switched on both taillights for the full trip home (b&m 4d toplight (http://thetouringstore.com/BUSCH%20&%20MULLER/Busch%20&%20Muller%20Taillight%204.jpg) on the rack, vistalite total eclipse (http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/11536-225_VISTE0-2-Accessories-35-Lights/VistaLite-Total-Eclipse-Rear-Safety-Light.htm) on the seatpost)

At 4:30, pull over to put on my reflective jacket, and switch on my helmet headlight (princeton tec eos (http://www.princetontec.com/products/index.php?id=37&type=0&use=4)). After crossing the bridge, switched on my main headlight (DiNotte 200 L (http://store.dinottelighting.com/shared/StoreFront/default.asp?CS=dinotte&StoreType=BtoC&Count1=318676173&Count2=235816597)) for the rest of the ride home.

My route takes me on varied roads and mup's on the way. There are a few sections of road that the only option is to "take the lane" with no shoulders to ride on. Using a combination of lights, along with reflective clothing I was given a wide berth by all (much more than when I've ridden the route on the evening before having to worry about lights)

There was a rider on the bridge coming the opposite direction with what looked like the same dinotte headlight from the beam pattern, in flashing mode, which I found most annoying to look at. In addition I really had a hard time judging his distance from me. (Note to self, don't do that! ;) ).

The last leg of the trip took me back on one of the mup's, and while the lighting I was using was more than enough to illuminate the trail, I really started to get tunnel vision with the light illuminating the trees on the sides of the path. That was a bit disturbing.

Overall, a nice, if uneventful ride. First time I've had a chance to really road test my full night riding setup, and no problems really. Got to watch the squirrels dash across the trails on the way in, watch birds in the marshlands, and look at the salt ponds (which is almost moon-like in appearance while riding by)

That was my ride, how was yours?

Black Shuck

No riding for me today, but I took a longer way home from work(5km, 3.1 miles) and ran it in 38 minutes insted of walking. Yesterday I did a one hour session on the trainer though, wasn't as boring as I had come to expect from some posts I've read, at least not with old Iron Maiden songs on high enough to cover the trainer-noise :-)

CliftonGK1

27 degrees this morning. There was only one other person out on my whole commute, even though the sky was clear and there was no fog. The frost sparkeld like glass in the beam of my headlight. It's supposed to rain on my way home this afternoon, so that might suck.

fuish

Great stories everyone! I have yet to go out for a ride today, gotta catch up on my freelance work, but I will be taking advantage of this last day of 60 degree Ohio weather today before it rains!

Colt45

Did my first night ride this morning... I have "To be seen" lights... pretty much scared $hitless for the 10miles or so I rode... was planning on 20+.... so, now I'm light shopping...

fc_

Did my first night ride this morning... I have "To be seen" lights... pretty much scared $hitless for the 10miles or so I rode... was planning on 20+.... so, now I'm light shopping...

While there's probably a whole heck of a lot more info in the lights, gadgets and electronics forum, here's my approach in a nutshell:

helmet and handlebar mounted lights, redundancy is a good thing, it gives you an "i can make it home" backup should either light go out, and the helmet can act as a kind of "visual horn" to cross traffic, as well as filling in spots that your handle bar light doesn't illuminate

Dual rear taillights, well, redundancy again, and if you have a rack to mount one of them on, its rather easy to do. As I mentioned in my earlier posts, the effect of a blinking light (admittedly a front one, but I think it still holds for a rear light situation) in my perspective really made it hard to judge distance. I run both of my rear lights in steady mode

Be reflective. Use other light sources to your advantage. I'm currently using an illuminte jacket and tights, although I sweat a lot while wearing the jacket (my wife asked if it was raining out when I came in last night). So I may look at other alternatives such as a reflective sash or something

anyway, just my 2 bits.

Tom Stormcrowe

Great commute to school today! 57F on the way in and a tailwind. 24-28 MPH average. On the way home, I had to fight the headwind, but still held 18 or so, against a 20 mph wind. I felt STRONG today!

Alasdair

I went out for my lunch ride at work. Today's was just under 13 miles and the return trip (it's mostly an out and back with a lot of little side loops and out and backs - I have ~20 back road miles there to choose from) was into a 11 gusting to 17 mph headwind. Yech.

steve2k

Thursday is my weakest day. I commute home on Wednesdays then go out for 2 hours of badminton so I end up not eating Wednesday evenings, which leads to a pretty weak Thursday morning.

I feel particularly weak this morning as I only got 4 hours sleep thanks to my 16 month old sons teeth.

Still, commuted the 5 miles (2 hills) into work this morning in good spirits, it was the first real frost of the year, people were scraping ice off their cars. The only exciting thing was a learner driver swerving to avoid the car that was overtaking me and ending up on the pavement.

Commute home is more fun, it's in the dark, on country roads so I can hear all the animals in the hedges at the road side. I find it a little bit scary, is it a cat, rabbit, deer, fox, or axe wielding maniac in a hockey mask?

Crast

Yesterday it was like springtime outside. Sunny and 59 degrees in November! I normally use my break between my morning and evening classes to do homework, but sitting in the student center watching the sunlight was infuriating. And weather report said that Thursday would be rainy and bad (Tuesday/Thursday are my usual ride days), so I didn't want to give up the opportunity to get in a weekday ride.

I drove home, picked up my bike, went for a furious run, since I wanted a tough workout but didn't have much time. I increased my average speed from my normal for that ride by almost 1mph, I was stunned.

This morning (thursday) I wake up expecting sucky rain and it's 62, not too windy, and overcast. Luck has fallen upon me again, I'm thinking. Suit up, out the door. Before I even mount I notice a loud rubbing noise rolling it out the door. Rear wheel is so far out of true it's rubbing even with the brake quick release open. Maybe I was a bit too furious yesterday. So I put it in the car, drive to the LBS. Since there's nobody there, he tells me to hang around, he'll have it fixed in 20 minutes. Re-trued my wheel, it's all straight now, and didn't even charge me for the labor! I bought some socks and a balaclava though, since I felt bad about leaving there not giving him any money.

Now I'm home and I missed my opportunity to ride, but my wheel's true again and I made up for it by riding yesterday, so it's not so bad.

Kazzy

I awoke to overcast skies this morning. I didn't hear any thunder that usually accompanies the rain in these parts so I went for my usual ride. The road was nearly deserted and very quiet. I took the opportunity to work on my speed. I interrupted a hawk making a meal out of some hapless victim. I wish I'd had my camera.

JohnKScott

Congrats fuish!

I got up at 5 AM and rode a 10 mile time trial on the computer trainer today. Averaged almost 20 mph. Beat my last best time by 3 seconds. Had to back off one time because I started to feel like puking :D. Got a little light headed too. And when I was finished I wanted nothing but off the bike. :o

Mission accomplished I'd say. That was what I was after for this session. Tomorrow is rest day (no ride at all) and Saturday is (hopefully) a nice (but maybe chilly) 35 mile ride up the Natchez Trace, hoping there are still some fall colors left. It should be beautiful!

cyclezealot

I did a 26 mile read, mostly to complete some errands. I went out even thought winds were in excess of 30 mph. Near the coast, I found alternative routes to try and get me out of the wind. If it were just headwinds, mabye they make you stronger. But, those side gusts. Freaky.

fc_

Took the opportunity to sneak out for an hour ride this morning. The road that passes by the lake was closed for tree trimming, so had to take a detour through the park trails (badly maintained asphalt, should have taken the mtb. oh well)

Still, a beautiful day. Temps in the 60s. Hit a bit of a headwind on the way back, but I expected that. Took the time to stop and pull out the cellphone and snap a few pictures to share.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2353/2035663202_2b27082ec1.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/fc3/2035663202/)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2408/2035663066_a3d3ae39e9.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/fc3/2035663066/)

c_m_shooter

Had planned on a two hour ride on the mountain bike trails today. Got cut an hour short when I hit tree and busted my helmet and had to hike back out with the bike on my shoulder. I was pretty dazed, so I went to get checked out by a doctor. He thinks I'm okay but I have to have people checking on me for a few hours. Hopefully I can get my bike repaired tomorrow so I can race on Saturday, there are only a couple cyclocross races in this area and I don't want to miss my chance. I wasn't thinking clearly enough to assess the damage to the bike while I was out there.

Oh yeah, the weather was great today!

Mobiker50

Fourteen miles starting at 6:00 p.m., finishing at 7:00, all hilly, all dark, and my new light (homemade 20W MR16 w/UPS 12V battery) worked GREAT!!! I can ride the night!

ken cummings

I've started taking a main 4-lane road home as it has a good shoulder/bike lane. A long section has several stop-lights and during peak rush hour I am constantly passing and being passed by the same vehicles. It is a good feeling to repeatedly blow past scores of BMWs, Porches(sp?), and Lexi(Lexus plural?).

fuish

I went out today, didn't really feel like it cause it was cold, and then while I'm riding, I start getting heckled from this guy on his front porch. He starts yelling, Oh 8, or that is what I thought til I realized today is the "BIG GAME" in Ohio, and he was drunk and slurring his speech so he was yelling O, H
And I suppose he wanted me to respond by yelling I O back but I hate football and so he yelled it himself and then gave me a big hearty F**k you!

Never ever ride on the "big game" day in your state in a residential area... stupid drunken hecklers... lol

StephenH

cyclezealot

On today's ride, I witnessed the comments of two teen age girls and one woman. At first thought it was harassment. Usually I put soccer shorts over my bike gear. Today I forgot them. So standing in line at the pharmacy , two teens started giggling. I thought it was sort of harassment. They came back after some giggling. They commented about my Take a look style mirror. It has a red dog on the outside face. . A trade mark of some Sacramento , Calif bike shop with a special right to that logo. They later apologized, commenting on my red god mirror. / Then. Almost home, some woman going into a convenience store seemed impressed with my bonjour bike jacket. Sort of pro gear. I told her, it was a Bonjour team jacket. She thought I had been previously a member of that team. Guess, that a compliment. Like to say I had.

Askel

My new hobby:

Showing up for breakfast at diners out in the sticks filled with deer hunters. In my lycra.

I think I was making some people uncomfortable. :D

Colt45

nato

Grrr... 3 flat tires today... got to change the tire 4 times after the Forte tube I had blew a valve... GAH... I took the tire into the LBS today and he looked at me and said "you need heavier tires" :) so I dropped some cash and got them... hopefully I'll have better luck on the next ride... tomorrow..

maybe you should look into getting solid rubber tires. ;D

I wish I could have ridden today, but as colt knows I'm recovering from surgery...couple more weeks before I can hit it again

b_young

Hyahh! Did the Turkey Roll in Denton, Texas, this morning- rode 35 miles (new personal record!) great shorts-and-t-shirt weather, well organized ride, had fun till my legs started getting rubbery on that last 5 miles.

Great job!! Its amazing how your legs can hurt so bad and yet you feel so good after finishing the ride. You'll be doing metric centuries before you know it. Keep it up.

My new hobby:

Showing up for breakfast at diners out in the sticks filled with deer hunters. In my lycra.

I think I was making some people uncomfortable. :D

I can't believe I never thought of this. You my friend are a genius. I am going to start showing up at a couple of beer camps just to see the reaction. I hope I don't get shot.

schnee

I did some mountain biking in Laguna, and added some exploration on to the usual loop. I'd been noticing the bike's been riding rougher than normal. Harder to get over big rocks, etc. After a pinch flat, the third in my last four rides (very odd), my buddy and I looked it over.

After doing some testing, we realized I'd lost so much weight that the shocks were both now over-filled! I took 20 pounds of pressure out of the rear shock, and 10 out of the fork. All of the sudden, my awesome bike was back. Super-smooth, and climbing like a mountain goat on crack.

Talk about having an excellent development sneak up on you!

Previous - Top - Next