otg 

I took the Trek 660 out for the first time this year, I had forgotten how much I like this bike. On my last ride before the snow shut me down in February, I stopped on a different bike to get a shot of the water just beginning to freeze. I stopped by this morning and tried to get the same shot in the springtime.


This is in Canterbury, CT.

northbend 

Exploring a new route on Saturday over in Eastern Washington. I’ve been playing around with an idea to host a group ride based on this loop and wanted to get a feel for it.
I started in Wenatchee and rode North on Hwy 97 tracing the West side of the Columbia River.
The Road has a nice, wide and clean shoulder.

Winds were calm in the morning



I rode up Navarre Coulee to avoid having to ride uphill through the Hwy 97 tunnel. Navarre happens to also be one of my favorite roads anyway…



Besides being beautiful, Navarre happens to also drop you down on a swooping well paved road to Lake Chelan.



I had a meal of stir fried rice at a small restaurant in Chelan, then headed out of town for the fun descent to the Bybee Bridge, crossing the Columbia River.


On the other side of the river, I hang a left to access the toughest climb of the day: McNeil Canyon. It is a relentless grind, never truly letting up. There is no shade and the sun is now directly overhead. It was getting hot. The road increases in steepness as you get near the top. The wind starts to pick up, helping to cool you off. I stop briefly at the top to enjoy the wildflowers

northbend 

There are wide open spaces on the top of this climb - it is a high plateau with very few people. Dry land farms stretch out for miles as far as you can see.



The wind that helped cool me on the climb, hurt me now as a stiff head wind. I settled into a lower gear and focused on appreciating the solitude around me. This is a big place and the road went on for miles. My water was running out and I hoped I would reach the only town up here aptly named Waterville soon. Several miles after running dry, I reached the outskirts of town.




And found a cafe for a late lunch. The mint infused Lemonade was so good. I ate my lunch, refilled by Bottles and headed out for the last climb of the day: Badger Mountain. A friendly dog accompanied me for a few miles




I finally got to the meat of the climb on Badger soon after passing the local ski hill. It was quite steep for several miles. The grasslands and scrub were replaced by Pine and Fir.



The high point is reached and the land clears out again, spread before me is another rolling, high plateau


Badger Mountain is huge - after many miles of rolling up and down I finally reach it’s southern edge and can see the end of my ride - Wenatchee, several thousand feet below



9 miles of fast YIPPEE coasting down to Wenatchee and I am done for the day. After over 100 miles of riding, a Beer and some sliders never tasted better.

otg 

Great day!

jimmuller 

nb, those pics are spectacular. My sweetie saw that first one and said she wished we had a road like that to ride.

Ed.

Indeed, quite spectacular.

I travelled some roads new to me, and this is what I saw! There were a number along this stretch of road.



So, besides sending a letter, return receipt requested, to the Town Manager/Selectmen, who else should I copy?

JJScaliger

Wow, northbend! Those pics are spectacular! Mine are a little more ho hum ...

I rode 43 miles yesterday on the Moto gr. 70 degrees and cloudy.



rode about 7 miles of dirt roads in western Coventry RI

Roger M

Great ride and pictures, Matt. I got out tonight for a short 30 miles. Seems like the wind is always there, and mostly against me..

rhm

I signed up for a 400k brevet with the NJ Randonneur club on Saturday. Left the house at 2:45 AM and rode to Heightstown, where the ride started at 4 AM. Down through the Pinelands, then west...




down a lot of flat, straight roads. Some shade in the morning, less after we reached Salem, down in the western corner of the state, across the bay from Delaware. Salem is a fairly cute little town, looks like it was much cuter once upon a time.



I started suffering from the heat and overexertion and elected to bail out after 202 miles. Disappointing, but I'm glad I did. I wasn't feeling good at all.

Vonruden

Nice pics RHM!

I got out with my boys for a nice Carolina ride.

gaucho777 

It's been too long since I checked this thread. Great pics, everyone!

whatwolf

@northbend !!! I want to do that ride! Greg and I got into Cino so we'll be seeing you this fall. I still need to find a bike for it.

jwood72

I got 11 miles in on the Neuse River trail, heading out to an old hydroelectric dam on my trek 460. It was a beautiful evening to ride

noglider 

My commute this morning, as usual takes me under the George Washington Bridge and right by the Little Red Lighthouse.



And a few minutes later, I pass through the intersection of Seaman Ave and Cumming St.

thinktubes 

^^^^^^^^
teehee.

northbend 

Warm this evening. Short ride after dinner..

jwood72

I got my 4th day in a row in today, 14 miles on the Nuese River trail on the 29er SS. Its geared for dirt and I sure spun hard to keep my 11.5 mph average up.

Vonruden

My favorite bike on the forum, a thing of beauty.

I did a slow 20 around Wilmington, NC yesterday.

Roger M

Low/mid 70s and partly cloudy today. Got out for a ride this afternoon down in the valley and then to the beach, before heading back home.



This guy/gal was pretty friendly, despite being attacked by flies

crank_addict

Good luck Ed. I think some town folks are saying 'we don't want cyclist'.

Now back in nordern' Illinoiz, brand new sign posted today 1/4 mile from my road route start. Must be some Illinois anti-bike campaign. The state is in financial crumbles but funny they have enough for a $650 sign.





The plus side is once I cross over the border to WI, its a complete different respect and positive to cyclist from drivers.

jimmuller 

I rode my commute yet again today. Took the Raleigh this time. It's been a while since I've ridden it. Whenever I go for enough days without riding something I forget what its true character is. So the R impressed me again. Classic English, balanced between responsive and stable, a bike that is smooth and comfortable, not what I'd call fast but remarkably easy to ride briskly for a great distance. It feels robust and superbly competent under my feet and hands.

hairnet

To the top of the Hollywood sign

jimmuller 

Well, I rode my commute again today, took the Raleigh just like yesterday. I confess I am 'zausted, or at least I wuz until I had nice been, no not been, beer and dinner. Been running, actually riding and working, on not enough sleep and too much to do.

Chrome Molly

Took the "new" Condor out on one of my favorite rides. 84 miles along rivers, trout streams, and a couple nice vistas. Just tough enough to feel it, but not so much you feel completely shelled when you're done.

The mandatory bluff shot. Lots of motorcycles flatulating across the countryside today.


A few moments later, was just hoping those flammable tank cars stayed on the rails.


A look up the Trimbelle valley, a few drops of rain but soon rode out of it.


About 10 miles of this along the trout stream and small farms, not bad.

Vonruden

Took the Ritchey for a spin.