Recreational & Family - How was your fun ride today?

I noticed that the commuters forum has, "How was your commute?". I have not found a "How was your ride just for fun?" in this forum, so, here it is :)

Husband and I barely bought bikes. He commuted the last week of work (I'm a teacher and he also works at a school). Now we're trying to do some fun riding around town this summer; for health and for me getting used to urban riding.

We just did a ride to one of our fave vegan restaurants. This ride takes us down Normandie, East on Hollywood connecting to Sunset Blvd. We rode just about 4.5 miles in all. Not tons but good for beginner like me. All very busy streets. Getting used to city riding will take a little time but overall should be fine. Today I found that busses are a pain in the butt as they stop often, smell, and don't care if you are there when they need to change lanes. I also learned that when stopped at a light with a gutter that is angled or rigid....don't, it's a pain to get started :).

Took my 13 yr old for a cruise down the Beach at 7:00am. She had a blast, so did I.

Rode my Worksman cruiser on the bike shop non-drop ride. Had a flat (thumbtack), but otherwise okay. It's been hot here, so riding is a sweatfest. Rode my cargo trike down to Walmart later.
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z172/stephenhazelton/MiscBikePhotos/4813Proc.jpg

HA! I knew some of us who ride just a couple miles here and there for fun wanted to share. :)

Saturday we went out for a ride on a nearby rail trail path. My wife and I were on bikes with our two boys (1 and 3 years old) in the trailer. It was a great ride including a stop for ice cream and we made it back to the car just as the rain started.

In Durham we have a 6.5 mile "greenway" trail. It is relatively flat and very biker/jogger friendly. There are many streets to be crossed in that 6.5 miles, but it is still the best riding option for families.

Yesterday we rode the greenway (plus a couple miles from the house to there), had yogurt smoothies, and then rode back. It was rather warm, but the path is tree lined and shaded most of the way. And the kids love drinking ice water out of their Camelbaks.

The smoothies must have charged up the kids because we averaged 10mph on the way home as opposed to the 8.5mph on the way out. We did just over 17 miles round trip and we all had a great time.

My wife and I rode part of the Mississippi River Trail enjoying strong breezes, had a nice lunch on the water, and rode some more. It was more than a few miles, but our attitude was casual and the pace right relaxed. On Saturday we rode in hot humid weather on streets and paths with some fine shade.

In Durham we have a 6.5 mile "greenway" trail. It is relatively flat and very biker/jogger friendly. There are many streets to be crossed in that 6.5 miles, but it is still the best riding option for families.

Yesterday we rode the greenway (plus a couple miles from the house to there), had yogurt smoothies, and then rode back. It was rather warm, but the path is tree lined and shaded most of the way. And the kids love drinking ice water out of their Camelbaks.

The smoothies must have charged up the kids because we averaged 10mph on the way home as opposed to the 8.5mph on the way out. We did just over 17 miles round trip and we all had a great time.

WOW! 17 miles with kids. You're my heros, now to get ME to go that far :)

Rode my Worksman cruiser on the bike shop non-drop ride. Had a flat (thumbtack), but otherwise okay. It's been hot here, so riding is a sweatfest. Rode my cargo trike down to Walmart later.
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z172/stephenhazelton/MiscBikePhotos/4813Proc.jpg

Wow, and I thought seeing a converted Kid Kruiser was a cool grocery hauler! That is an awesome rig.

It has been too hot here in NE lately to ride "for fun", but I did take the long way home from work today just for kicks. It was nice just riding through the shaded neighborhood streets rather than "pounding" down the bike trail on my way to work.

i take a few bike trips every day with the good weather. it mellows me out. i don't really ride a bike for exercise, it just gives me peace of mind when i am riding a bike and i like the neat idea that it gets me from point a to point b in such an effortless fashion. i get stressed out riding the car, you seem to have to go too fast for my comfort zone.

I rode down to the local university "mini park" and back for no reason at all. It was fun, but short. At least the weather held up today, it was really nice (for as nice 90 degree weather can be).

Sad face... I am the only one who rides for fun apparently.

well this morning july o3 i rode to fireside deli for the paper as usual, my morning constitutional, and then after a cup of coffee and cigarette i rode off to town to have lunch of two slices of pizza and bought two half gallons of milk. weather is ideal for bike riding now in the mid seventies and no rain today and have the sun.
pumped up the tires to eighty psi, i have panaracer tourguide tires. always make sure they are rock hard to keep rolling resistance to a minimum.
guess i might ride a bit more today seems a waste not to with the good weather and i get the heebeegeebees anyway when i am indoors too much.

Yesterday I rode to my local taco stand for a taco (about two miles from my house). I'm addicted to their green sauce. On my way I waved Hi to my fave UPS delivery guy, stopped and admired my neighbors new bike and bought a drink at the mini-mart for later at home. It was hot outside...

Today I'll ride to the bank and drugstore.

I try to get on the bike everyday, even if it's just a very short ride. I miss it if I don't.

Sad face... I am the only one who rides for fun apparently.




If I ride my bike on mundane errands it's more fun than walking or driving...and I still get stuff done. Some days I have lots of time to just ride for fun!

If I ride my bike on mundane errands it's more fun than walking or driving...and I still get stuff done. Some days I have lots of time to just ride for fun!

After my cruise next week, my goal is to get out (almost) daily. I am so new and need to build up some strength and resistance. The goal is to be able to ride to work most days next school year. It's only 1.4 miles and it's a slight down grade the way there. I rode to school the last day of work this year and it was so close and so quick.

By the way, I bought a book yesterday that looks great. The title is "Biking Los Angeles". It's got lots and lots of great bike routes with tons of info on the route, distance, elevation, etc. Told husband we should do one of those a week this summer. We got similar books for walking and hiking L.A. the last couple years and those have gone to good use.

If I ride my bike on mundane errands it's more fun than walking or driving...and I still get stuff done. Some days I have lots of time to just ride for fun!

I totally agree with the errands part. I am looking into getting a grocery bag that mounts to my luggage rack so I can get my errands done a little easier and just a little bit at a time. I don't like buying in bulk, it might be the same amount of money that I am spending on groceries and "what not", but at least if I buy things little by little I don't feel like I am spending my money all in one place. Plus it gets me out more!

Rode down to my work and back just to say hi to my girlfriend who was working at the time. Then rode to the convenience store for a sports drink, then back to the apartment for some rest before going frisbee golfing at the park. Thought about riding to the store for some toiletries, but it was WAY too hot!

I took 4 of my kids on an 8+ mile ride. We went to drop off a bill, get lunch at BK, grocery store, snow cone, and hardware store. The 2 and 3 year olds went to sleep in the trailer and the others were beat tired by the time we got home. I need to get at least one more trailer to haul more groceries and kids.

The kids look forward to their daily bike ride.

I took 4 of my kids on an 8+ mile ride. We went to drop off a bill, get lunch at BK, grocery store, snow cone, and hardware store. The 2 and 3 year olds went to sleep in the trailer and the others were beat tired by the time we got home. I need to get at least one more trailer to haul more groceries and kids.

The kids look forward to their daily bike ride.

Sounds like a great day and a great way to get the kids tired and reinforce healthy habits!

I need someone like you to take me out daily...because I get stuck on lazy easily, as does my hubby :)

Every ride is a fun ride... today I was volunteering down at the bike shop and opted to take the long way through the river valley and for the most part just maintained a really easy pace, sucking in the fresh air, and enjoying the scenery which did not include any cars.

I rode to the store today and that is about it. It was nice to get on the bike today seeing how I didn't ride my bike to work because of me not waking up on time. It was really hot today though, upper 90's. I am planning on taking my bike up to the lake on Wednesday though! Can't wait.

I had a bunch of errands to do this morning and the body was not all that cooperative but riding always makes me feel better.

I took my girls out tonight and we rode to the shop where I spent a little time tuning up their commuters for them and then we rode some more... this is always the best... they love riding.

wednesday july 08 at 1030 am est. i rode my bike route then off to town about 2 miles away to have 2 slices of pizza for lunch and to get shaving cream at the supermarket, then stopped off on the way home to get the newspaper. weather was very nice and cool. guess i'll ride the bike to work later instead of using the car

We just got back from a week in the Adirondacks and rode our bikes almost every day. We did about 30 miles total; 11 of that was on the Warren County Bikeway with the rest being trips around town (to the park, beach, etc). Our two boys riding in the trailer had a great time and brought lots of comments.

http://davidp.ordinarylight.com/gallery/ny-trip-07-09/001SD-4606_park-4x6.jpg
http://davidp.ordinarylight.com/gallery/album/ny-trip-07-09/3/

I was waiting for some glue to dry on a shelving unit last night, so I took the Collegiate out for a half hour ride around the neighborhood, headed no place in particular :)

Been riding to camp with my son as a detour to my commute this week. It's always fun to get out in the morning with him. :D

Last night went 5 miles on a strong pace, and my wife finally got to feel that burn in her legs that i have been telling her about. Up till now we have been just cruisin with our little boy on easy rides. I told her just think when we get back into shape we will be having to go 30 miles or so just to feel that burn again. I use to be an avid rider 10 years ago, since then got married, had a kid, gained weight, now starting over.

A few pics from some recent "just for fun" rides...

As if watching out for cars wasn't bad enough...
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h170/HandsomeRyan/IMG_0984.jpg

I only got off the bike to take the picture, I rode up the hill!
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h170/HandsomeRyan/IMG_0987.jpg

A road bike with 28mm smooth tires is not the best for mountain biking...
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h170/HandsomeRyan/IMG_0956.jpg

Tavern with a bike rack out front. (AKA: epic win)
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h170/HandsomeRyan/IMG_0961.jpg

Some scenery along the way-
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h170/HandsomeRyan/IMG_0950.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h170/HandsomeRyan/IMG_0951.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h170/HandsomeRyan/IMG_0953.jpg

A few pics from some recent "just for fun" rides...

As if watching out for cars wasn't bad enough...
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h170/HandsomeRyan/IMG_0984.jpg

I only got off the bike to take the picture, I rode up the hill!
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h170/HandsomeRyan/IMG_0987.jpg

A road bike with 28mm smooth tires is not the best for mountain biking...
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h170/HandsomeRyan/IMG_0956.jpg

Tavern with a bike rack out front. (AKA: epic win)
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h170/HandsomeRyan/IMG_0961.jpg

Some scenery along the way-
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h170/HandsomeRyan/IMG_0950.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h170/HandsomeRyan/IMG_0951.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h170/HandsomeRyan/IMG_0953.jpg

Gorgeous scenery!

Today my husband and I finally got out for a ride. We've had our bikes about 2 months, maybe a little less but I haven't ridden more than a dozen times. It's been a hectic month. Anyway, today we drove out to Manhattan Beach and rode the South Bay Bike path for 8 miles. It was a little gray and overcast which kept the temps cool for this time of year. Lots of people on the beach and on their bikes. All in all a fun day and 8 miles is my furthest so far but now I know I can do it :)http://lh3.ggpht.com/_TuKudpPLZyA/Smz3QYypW3I/AAAAAAAABCQ/BHPmnTefLXE/s512/DSC00347.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_TuKudpPLZyA/Smz3NZa_NWI/AAAAAAAABCM/jyyCkL4NsIU/s400/DSC00351.JPG

This is my kind of riding! I've been picking blueberries all summer and it messes with my after work fun ride... so this evening, I picked until 8:30, then put the bike into my truck and rode until dark in a quiet neighborhood. It was only 30 mins and 4.8 miles, but it was so nice. I just bought bar ends for my bike and I've been wanting to try them out, so tonight was wonderful.

Husband and I did our first little group ride this morning. We joined a group in downtown Los Angeles for a "meandering" ride. We were a small group of about 8 or so and completed ten miles of light, fun, social riding.

8 yr old's moving off the t-a-b, 4 yr old's moving onto it:

http://home.comcast.net/~adrian_spidle/aug1.jpg