seedsbelize 

It's a snake skeleton; nothing more. I found it interesting that it would be in such good shape right there in the middle of the road. I'm guessing the ants got to it after it was run over.

spacemanz

Welp, according to mapquest, it's a 36-mile round trip from Magnuson Park over to Redmond. I just got back, and I'm definitely feeling that burn. I'm pretty sure that was only the second time I've been there, the first being part of a long walk home when I found out the hard way, buses stop running early, outside of Seattle, LOL. To those unfamiliar, I severely overshot my mark, on the map, I was trying to follow the curve of Lake Washington, to some cool cliffs I've been to once last summer (Saint Edward State Park, by my "hand" pointer on the map). I was totally unaware of where I was, until I saw a sign saying Marymoor Park, 1.3 miles. I'm still getting lost up on that Sammamish River Trail system, LOL, but that's partly because there are so many little bridges & things, & I'm pretty simple-minded. But it was a good test, my newly customized headlight works great.

RALEIGH_COMP 

DOH! I totally thought it was like some crazy long millepede critter or something. I'm no longer officially creeped out...

otg 

Finally got out for about a 30 miler, weather hasn't been good on my days off in a while. I took my Super Sport out for a spin through Southeast CT. Weather was fine, around 40 when I started out.
Finns Beach in Voluntown, great spot for a dip in the summertime.



An old dairy farm with some patina in Sterling:


And a gratuitous shot of my oldest bike, 1971 Super Sport:

JJScaliger

Nice ride OTG! That's one of my favorite roads. Nice vistas, but exposed, wind can be tough.

Ekonk Hill CT






That same road March 2013

otg 

Oh man, I thought I was being original! Too funny.

I know what you mean about the wind on Rt. 49. A couple of winters ago my wife was on her way to work after a storm. The road had been cleared, but at one point the wind had drifted the snow back across the road. She ended up in a field and had to get towed out, but luckily no damage to the car or to her.

spacemanz

Are you guys messin' with me, just because I'm a cannabis fannabis?

WNG

Did some more off roading with Giant Smurf, this time on a less difficult single track called TRW Trail. Last night I dug out some plastic mtb toe clips and straps for the bike. I also lubed the freehub body and repacked the bearings so that I'll have a clean smooth rear wheel. It was 80F in Phoenix today!

All was going well until my left toe clip came off the pedal while negotiating deep sand. The plastic screw retainers cracked! I spent a good bit of time trying to re-attach it just to get out of the desert and head home before sunset. I bodged it back together and rode another 1/4 mile before turning around. But I lost my bearings and wasn't sure of the exit. All the sand washes, cacti and brush looked the same! After several detours and wrong turns, I found my way back.

I'll get used to, it's so different than road biking, but challenging and exciting.
I should have a better outing on Saturday.

Vonruden

Cool barn pics!

noglider 

WNG, your pictures look so exotic to me!

WNG

Tom, as a former New Yorker, seeing the Southwest first hand also took my breath away. So different to what the Northeast is like.
I ended up moving here. It's still ruggedly beautiful to me. But I'll be moving on to a new place to call home.
Once I swap out a set of pedals, I'll be off again this afternoon, and will try to take more photos.

Update: I went out this afternoon to return to the TRW Trail that I had to abort over a toe clip separation yesterday. I made sure the toe clips would not come loose by replacing plastic anchors with steel nylock nuts and bolts. The trail is rated as much easier, but only a short portion was easy. The rest was quite technical. This trail is located across from the rest of the Hawes Desert Trail System. I believe it's called TRW due to a defense contractor located nearby. They've fenced off a security perimeter with warning signs of being prosecuted by Dept of Homeland Security! @_@
Too bad, there are trails that used to be accessible by the public.

This outing saw my first crash in decades. I went down while descending and I couldn't get my foot into a toe clip. I was cursing it the whole trip.
It distracted me and I lost control of the front end when it veered into soft sand. I landed on my hands and got poked by a thorn. The left brake lever got scratched and acquired some desert vegetation. Too bad, I was so proud of restoring a set of damaged Cane Creek levers to new appearance. But it's OK, all part of the fun. But these plastic toe clips are NOT. Pure frustration. One can't bend them open more. I think I'll try a pair of big platform pedals next.

There were 4 other riders out there, one being a dad with his 3 kids. I think they were 5 to 7 years old. It was a sight to see them on little mountain bikes behind their dad. They were taking on some of the very single track I just rode. Impressed with their enthusiasm, as some of it is tough! A pretty nice spot to ride, a good workout, nice views and close by.

Looking West, where I came from...

TRW Trail -001 by WNG555, on Flickr

TRW Trail -002 by WNG555, on Flickr

View East towards the end of the trail.

TRW Trail -005 by WNG555, on Flickr

TRW Trail -008 by WNG555, on Flickr

TRW Trail -012 by WNG555, on Flickr

TRW Trail -014 by WNG555, on Flickr

TRW Trail -018 by WNG555, on Flickr

A quarry nearby that is literally carving away the small mountain. There is a pit forming on the other side.

TRW Trail -020 by WNG555, on Flickr

TRW Trail -023 by WNG555, on Flickr

TRW Trail -027 by WNG555, on Flickr

WNG

I reached the end and rested a bit before heading back. There a steep drop I couldn't ride up, and will have to try to ride down. I thought it would be trouble, but proved otherwise. I crashed on something far easier!


TRW Trail -028 by WNG555, on Flickr

TRW Trail -031 by WNG555, on Flickr

Just went down! I should have 'chalked' an outline around Giant Smurf.

TRW Trail -032 by WNG555, on Flickr

After encountering the dad and his entourage, I detoured to try annex trail loop. It was a steep long climb. Tires kept spinning and couldn't get my feet on the pedals. The cactus grew a prickly pair!

TRW Trail -033 by WNG555, on Flickr


TRW Trail -034 by WNG555, on Flickr

The security fence erected right onto the trail!

TRW Trail -035 by WNG555, on Flickr

How narrow the single track and how close the cacti are.

TRW Trail -037 by WNG555, on Flickr

I reached the top of this trail and stopped to enjoy the view before heading back down and home...

TRW Trail -041 by WNG555, on Flickr

TRW Trail -044 by WNG555, on Flickr

Looking northwest...the Eastern Canal and Arizona Canal trails that I rode, cross through the desert in the distance.

TRW Trail -046 by WNG555, on Flickr

spacemanz

I did the 20-mile round trip to the Log Boom yesterday & today both, so I can watch my 'hawks win tomorrow. I dunno what happened lately, but I'm just suddenly getting a little stronger, with a slight increase in lung capacity. Another delayed reaction, to putting down the smokes, I guess. The birds were out in force, but it was mostly ducks & seagulls today. I always hear that Bad Company song, "Seagull", in my head, when I see these guys. I guess you have to look pretty closely at that first pic, but there must be a hundred ducks out there, where it looks like a black line in the water.

WNG

+1 Funny coincidence too.

northbend 

Perfectly nice un-stinky like conditions for the Stinky Spoke poker ride yesterday.

northbend 

WNG, your photos make me envy you in a very big way right now.. keep em coming!

otg 

+1, I've been out to the desert once, about ten years ago. Very special place, you can see for miles and there are very few people out there. Pretty strange for an East Coaster! I'd love to get back there with a bike one day, when I went it was a hokey "cowboy tour" in a jeep. We drove way out there somewhere to a shooting range and shot at targets. It was a lot of fun, but I think I'd prefer to go on a bike and be on my own agenda.

Andybrads

Doh, no cool pics like WNG but a 56 miler over to the worlds end and up horseshoe pass in north wales, 5750 ft climbing so legs are done for right now......

Vonruden

Looks very Prickly

papik

Little run to the col of Babaou with my 1969 PAYAN ...after the hill, the Mediterranée and Porquerolles island.

YoKev

Law and Order Criminal Intent/SVU and some rollers has been my ride for weeks now. Been outside to mountain bike once, but other than that, my body and mind do not process cold weather road riding.

spacemanz

What'd you do, hit him with your bike? Yeah, I meant to comment on the moon being full, & how the fog we've had lately makes it look like an old wolfman movie.

Kobe 

The view is beautiful. Is this a recent picture? It still looks very green there. Never having been to France I have no idea what their winters are like.

papik

It was the 15 - 01 - 2014 ...this an other view of the little village of BORMES LES MIMOSAS , the same day on the road to the hills .
So, weather change quickly in the country, and the days after where catastrofically rainy !

dudeona3V

Nice ride down Legacy yesterday on the Recherché and GF's Moto mixte. Had to break out the sleeves to fend off a bitter cold front (66°)