Machka 

Tell us about your cycling or other sports on this lovely November weekend ... or on the days surrounding the weekend. Where did you go? What did you see? Are you getting involved in other sports if cooler weather is coming your way?

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Saturday ... to quote Rowan ...


We've had a busy weekend already and we've only just begun! The 50 km ride was good. Surprisingly fast! We do need to sort something out with my fit arrangement to ease some sciatic nerve pain I'm experiencing. Right now, 50 km would be my maximum ride with the current set up.

It was a beautiful day, fairly warm, light winds, not too much in the way of climbing ... maybe 250 metres?

Oh, and the Mexican food ... my favourite!

slimyfrog

Got to go out for my first ride on the new bike. It was cold in the early morning (in CA terms), but beautiful bright day. Did nearly 32 miles and it was magical. Unicorns and rainbows everywhere! I'm in love with my new bike.

I had the flu the first half of the week and it was the very first run so I was pacing myself and yet I set a lot of PRs.
I took a MUP for the first half so I could stop if/when needed, and the road on the way back, once I was more used to the bike. The ride is so quiet and smooth. Couldn't have asked for a better maiden ride.

https://www.strava.com/activities/428266823

Jakedatc

Sat: 40mi with a group of friends. windy but 60s so it wasnt too cold but the wind was rough. mixed abilities so we kept it civilized and fall paced

kbarch

Look at all those PRs!

jbchybridrider 

Yep legs didn't want to work and no energy. Could be coz I'm still getting back into cycling after a winter off or because two days ago the weather was like middle of winter and today the middle of summer or both ?, hot weather doesn't usually bother me. But still finished one of my favorite rides. "Oh" I've become a porky pig too, have my work cut out getting back in shape now

Machka 

I wondered where you had disappeared to ... nice photos as always.

Machka 

Our Saturday photos ...

bikecrate

As a setup to my following report I've notice an uptick of bad driving and wacky cyclist the past couple of weeks. I think the record heat is baking some people's brains. Saturday was a typical S. Tampa 35 miles route.

However, Sunday was a bit of a disaster. I planed on doing 40 miles or so to Picnic Is. and Davis Is. There is one part were I cut through a park MUP for a couple of blocks. On the way out I almost collided with a roadie coming from the opposite direction who was not looking ahead. After shouting "heads up" several times. He finally raised his head and swerved out of the way. I should have paid attention to this omen. I reached Picnic Is. turned around and was making my way back through the same park. All of a sudden, on a blind curve, a lady on a cruiser bike appears on the wrong side of the MUP. I wasn't going particular fast but I had no time to stop and no room to maneuver. I tried to make it to the left side to avoid her but got broadsided. We both went down. Her heavy cruiser was fine and she wasn't even scratched. My poor road bike's brand new front wheel is destroyed, the back wheel maybe toast and the big chain ring is bent. I'm just hoping there isn't any frame damage. I've got some scrapes and a nice big welt on my lower leg. I'm going to be spending the rest of the day with pain pills and ice bags.

I feel sick about my road bike. If anyone has read some of my ride post you'll know I've had so much trouble this past Summer and Fall with minor problems that kept me off the bike. I finally got it ironed out and now this. I must have rode my bike on an Indian burial mound and spit on a grave. I've incurred some curse. I'm trying to remind myself it could always be worse.

VwFix

First ride on a new bike. Decided not to do ay remote roads in case of any issues with a new bike. But the bike did great and I am in love with the bike. First Cf bike and first bike with components about Claris level.

Nice flat 47 mile ride with some very scenic views.
https://www.strava.com/activities/428345179

alexaschwanden

Saturday :35 miles
sunday: 46 miles

Jakedatc

Sunday: windy 46mi with club. Had a good A group going and luckily my legs were feeling good today after yesterdays easier ride. Talking yourself into fighting for a wheel and not getting dropped is huge haha ended up with 21avg which is nutty this time of year but it was a solid group that kept it steady. wish i had worn my lighter vest as it got warm near the end but not horrible.

finished up with a trip up this hill.. .3mi at 18%-ish (photo by a friend in the group)

kbarch

Even though I didn't finish strong on either ride, it was a marvelous weekend.
Yesterday was warmer but cloudier - shorts, and windbreaker with regular jersey was perfect. 56 miles, 2400 feet, a fine mix of casual and spirited riding. Had some fun dashing up a few of the little hills on the way to Pie Lady. Delicious Very Berry Pie with vanilla ice cream and an iced coffee, then we zipped through Grandview to Piermont. Once over the hills (which we took a bit more casually), a few of at the front decided to ride hard to the finish. Well, our group wasn't exactly practiced at real pacelining. Yes, there was yelling, but the fun kind. One guy thought that when it was his turn to pull he needed to get out of the saddle and take off! I chased him down, and unfortunately, after taking my turn at the front, I let the line advance too quickly and had to jump to try to catch the last wheel as it went by. Try. For a couple of miles I just managed to hold my position, but it was too far back, and without a draft I might as well have still been pulling, with no one to relieve me. After about 2 minutes, I was toast. I took it easy for a little bit, they disappeared, but eventually I got a second wind and worked to get to the finish not TOO much later than the first group.

Today was mostly sunny, but cooler, and an easy day - base layer and thermal jacket, lighter-weight tights were comfortable, but shorts would have been fine. 33 miles, 1480 feet. For some reason I thought it would be a smaller group today, and the leaders had agreed that it would be a comparatively easy ride, so I decided to try it on the fixed gear bike. Well.... It was actually a lot of fun - as much fun as I've had on a group ride, as a matter of fact - but unfortunately, the return from Piermont was via State Line (about a kilometer, at 6%, with a couple of bits above 10%) and I had to pass. Not happening on the track bike today. Actually I have managed to tackle a similar hill (Churchill) on it before, but just barely, and when I'd tried Churchill on my way to the start, I failed (twice) so I had to head down home in the valley and say farewell to the gang rather early. But fortunately, the part I missed was a route I've ridden scores of times before, and the parts I DID get to join them on were the ones that were totally new, fantastic, and more than a little perversely fun: up a leaf-covered, broken up road to a lookout, and good bit along an unpaved trail. On a track bike. Everyone seemed to be having a ball. It was a gorgeous day.





(edit: had a heck of a time with the photos. Both are on photobucket, but for some reason, the best picture - the one of the group - comes in as a thumbnail (but you can still click on it to enlarge), but the other one I somehow managed to get to show up full size. )

dagray

Weather is getting windy, rainy, and it is dark out earlier so after church and church council meetings yesterday I created a 41.7 mile route in Strava that starts and ends at my house. I then after a bit of warm up rode that loop on the BKool Pro trainer (smart trainer) for a total mileage of 42.1 miles which is my longest ride to date.

I figure am doing good as March 2014 I was barely able to ride1.5 miles round trip. In May205 I rode the 25 mile route for the Spokane, WA Tour de Cure, and am now training for the 50 mile route of the 2016 Tour de Cure.

Machka 

Sorry about your bicycle ... but if the frame is still OK, the repairs may be relatively minor. Have you had it into the shop?

nastystang

Pretty wet and rained all weekend so I decided to break in the new trainer. Popped in a sufferers video and got a couple good work outs in. Not so bad with a structured video.

2manybikes

Is that Fall River? I used to ride up President Ave once a week. Twice in a row a few times. You should ride from home and do President Ave. at least once a week.

My knees can't do that except at walking speed now.

2manybikes

Lakeville Mass. a few turkeys on the road today.


Also these real turkeys.

joejack951

Got in 50 miles on Friday riding to Victory Brewing Co. in Downingtown and back with a friend. On Sunday got in another 19 miles going to the park and 'racing' around with my son, 13 of which was towing him in the Burley trailer with his bike bungeed to the top (70+ lbs.). 6 miles and change for the just-turned-4 year old isn't bad either.

Jakedatc

Yes, it is a few streets before Pres. ave called Weetamoe st. it is steeper but shorter.

I do plenty of hills that don't include riding through Fall river. Once in a while is ok but it not a nice place to ride... crap roads, traffic, etc

woodcraft

The plan was for a rambling course suitable for cooler temps.



Some scenic miles on gravel levees were added



Out of seven, three fully earned the beer.

This was from last week- to the lighthouse. (Don't try this at home)



Not bad for November!

Machka 

Sunday ... a nice flat (but windy of course) 40 km ride on our Bike Fridays.

Enjoying the good cycling roads in northern Tasmania.

Machka 

And us ... about to head out to the theatre on Saturday.

Machka 

Tuesday 10 November -- a brisk 21.6 km ride after work! One of our few after work rides of late. We walk lots in the evenings and I've started doing some weightlifting, but not so much in the way of cycling.

bikecrate

Thanks for asking. I took it to a LBS on Sunday. They are supposed to let me know the damage today. After I got it there it looked like the back wheel maybe okay. So perhaps the front wheel, chain ring and straightening out a few things. Still hoping steel is real and the frame held up to the impact.

My body is a different story. I'm starting to feel all those little bruises and points where I hit. My leg looks better, but feels worse. In some ways I'm more banged up than the time I got hit by a car. Thinking about it a bit more that lady was probably going a good speed, even though it was a cruiser. She had the wind at her back and that thing looked really heavy. Oh well, one day my bike and I will rise again!

sirkoondog

Bear Mtn/Lake Tiorati, 32miles on a very brisk saturday morning. Probably the last ride up there this season. I didn't wear enough layers and ended up catching a cold. ugh