Great Lakes - Rough Weekend Rides

Saturday:
I had to take my daughter to a class at Fermi and I thought I would ride down there. Figured on taking the Illinois Prairie Path (IPP) to the Fox River Trail (FRT). Not a bad plan but the IPP and it's crushed limestone (wet) is not the place to bring a tricked out Cervelo. Road for quite a while trying to intersect the FRT but apparently made a wrong turn because in over 15 miles I never found it.

Sunday:
I head out again fairly early and decide to try to find the FRT in East Dundee. On my way there, I cross a drain and get a pinch flat on the rear. After trying for quite a while to get the tire off without a lever, I finally succeed. Have more trouble with my CO2 pump but get it inflated enough to ride (barely). Go to hop on the bike and realize it got the front tire too. Time for the phone call, I only carry 1 spare for my road kit.

So, two quite unsatisfying rides. :(

Might try the trainer later as the wind is brutal now (30-40 mph).

Hope you guys did better. (and I know I need to HTFU)

I generally like it, but today wind is a four-letter word! Gusts here are about 60 MPH, making small stones into unguided missiles and bringing the wind chill below the weather-wimp line.

I'm going to try and brave the wind here. gusts at 21 mph... We'll see how my first ride out in 6 weeks goes. I wish I had better weather, but I'm just so eager to get out.

First snow flakes were experienced at the 'Cross race in Milwaukee today !!

Just drive it west a couple miles on Butterfield Rd (Rt 56) and park along the trail in North Aurora, then go either way. Or, call, and I'll meet ya!

Pedal & Spoke, in North Aurora, is even open on Sunday!

I didn't do the river trails today. I made the mistake of going west out of North Aurora, and it was NO FUN, until it was time to go home-------------

Yesterday we headed out and braved the wind for just under 30. Today we raced cross in Bartlett as a part of the Chicago Cyclocross Cup Series.....epic weather. The cold front came through just as our race was going to start. Wind, snow, rain, hail, and we hadn't even lined up yet.

We all cold geared up and made it to the line for the sun to come out. Wind was horrible during the whole race, but I ended up doing very well. Rain/hail was moving in at the end so they didn't even post the results. Pretty sure I was in the top 20. Don't think I made the top 10. Held 2 guys off in a sprint at the line even when my chain wouldn't go into my big ring...

...mud, wind, sun, occasional rain drops.

Official summed it up when we lined up and he said, "This is cross weather guys."

It is.

Check out the front page of Peloton-Pix.Com (http://www.peloton-pix.com) if you like SCARY 'cross pictures !!

Well my first ride in a couple was pretty aweful. I'm totally out of shape and it was freezing 25mph winds and snowing. How exciting!

Mountain bike ride at the Kettle. So my friend and I are almost the farthest from the parking lot we started at, and he crashes. Hard. Right on his left knee on some rocks. It didn't swell or bleed at all, but he was in considerable pain. Luckily, we are near another parking lot where he can wait for me to ride back to get the car. So a nice leisurely ride in the forest turned into a hammerfest.

Nothing like a little off-road drama! :twitchy:

you guys are still riding and doing it outside? wow, i need a big glass of HTFU. :)

actually i was out of town this weekend. i did have some thoughts yesterday afternoon when we got back to having the wife drive my 30 miles west and drop me off with the bike. then i could hammer it back with that 20 mph wind that was blowing all day. just a thought.

later.

Mountain bike ride at the Kettle. So my friend and I are almost the farthest from the parking lot we started at, and he crashes. Hard. Right on his left knee on some rocks. It didn't swell or bleed at all, but he was in considerable pain. Luckily, we are near another parking lot where he can wait for me to ride back to get the car. So a nice leisurely ride in the forest turned into a hammerfest.

Nothing like a little off-road drama! :twitchy:

Off topic: Reminds me of when a buddy crashed on some railroad tracks - not hurt, but got the wind knocked out of him. Couldn't ride, so he sat in the grass against a post, 90 degrees, bugs, etc. I hammered to get the car some 5 miles back and arrived with the car still sweating bullets only to find him ... sitting in an air conditioned SUV driven by a fully uniformed Marine and his family, sipping cool lemonade. "Hey Bub!" He's a former Marine himself and they were having a great time.

The *******. :D

you guys are still riding and doing it outside? wow, i need a big glass of HTFU. :)

You know where the drinking fountain is....you just have to fill your glass.:thumb: