https://live.staticflickr.com/4228/3...0ddc73ff_b.jpgAnother tunnel by Matthew Pendergast, on Flickr

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...794048eafe.jpg

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9ab236a460.jpg

First ride of the year on the '73 Super today. While the ride is sublime, it's really just too small for me. But it looks sooooooooo good :)

DD

the road along the Illinois river was certainly empty of traffic, but only if Asian Carp don't count as traffic...

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...4f91cf_c_d.jpg

and just for some standard midwest scenery, a typically empty road adjacent to some recently planted corn....

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...d0cc0d_c_d.jpg

Steve in Peoria

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...90e74097e5.jpg
Near blowing rock, nc

Fantastic, and you had to have rang that bell in there. Is that one of those Soma Suzu bells?

Alone on the Burke.

https://i.imgur.com/qyXU7rQ.jpg
.

Hmmm... 15% grade or 22% grade? Decisions, decisions. (OK, I did them both). Thankfully, they each continued only about a mile beyond this photo.


https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...97e4334c31.jpg

West End Rd. in Arcata. It's a beautiful ride, but normally there's too much traffic.


https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...08b7c2e27c.jpg

Mornings in far east Denver....
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b7cc88d235.jpg

Lewisville, Texas

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...0f6b2f7a06.jpg

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6edc8af4f0.jpg

Vantage Hwy - Ellensburg WAhttps://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...de1cb324ab.jpg

On the way to the Snake River south of Colfax, WA
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...bcc125a37b.jpg

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...becf5afb06.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...8068563cc7.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6b43ab81bd.jpg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c5c1b7d963.jpg

Another tunnel pic...midway through Snoquamie Pass.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ac4508524.jpeg

Does this count?
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...85c8ac79c.jpeg

Some great photos in this thread...
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...01292fd9f8.jpg

I bought it locally. A painted Crane bell if I recall correctly

I'm sure there's a road around here someplace...

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c2984914e9.jpg

I need fatter tires!

DD

I grew up just west of you, over in rural Rock Island County. Your photo reminded me so much of home that I almost teared up. Thank you!

C & O Towpath - my favorite bike camping trip ever.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1c2df846a.jpeg

very happy to have triggered some happy memories! I actually grew up about 20 miles north of the Quad Cities, so maybe we both went to the same bike shops?

If you start feeling too homesick for the midwest, don't forget the joys of biking in all of the seasons!

https://live.staticflickr.com/4891/4...052e01_c_d.jpg

:)

Steve in Peoria (had to cut a ride short this morning due to some surprise rain)

5th ave in downtown Seattle on a Friday night!
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...fdc5e048f.jpeg

That I don’t miss!

20 miles straight north, on the Iowa side? We used to go tubing on the Mighty W opsipinicon when I was a teenager. I grew up west of the QCs in Taylor Ridge, IL. I usually go back in August to visit and get nostalgic. I think if I went in February it would cure me of that.

[edit: Pretty funny Steve - it wouldn’t let me spell out W opsipinicon without the space in there. Guess the program thinks it’s a bad word or something!]

I didn't know that people tubed on the Wapsi... all I remember is the routine flooding that blocked highway 61 (before the 4 lane hwy 61 was built).

If you have spare time in early June, you can take part in the Quad Cities Bicycle Club Tour of the Mississippi River Valley. It is a two day weekend ride from Bettendorf up to Dubuque on Saturday (or from Goose Lake to Dubuque, on the short route). Sunday is the return from Dubuque. I've been doing it forever, and a few intrepid C&V folks were planning on giving it a shot this year (before this whole virus thing).

a couple of photos from the ride...

https://live.staticflickr.com/4270/3...516360_c_d.jpg

https://live.staticflickr.com/4215/3...5b9348_c_d.jpg

Steve in Peoria

Ah hah! Apparently if I had spelled Wapsipinicon correctly, it wouldn’t have thought it was a bad word! When I misspell it with an O, this happens: ****ipinicon. Whenever I bring my Florida-born wife back to the Midwest, I challenge her to pronounce some of our Native American place names. You should hear her tackle “Maquoketa”. Always good for a belly laugh!

Ride looks great - have to keep it in mind. Still need to do RAGBRAI one of these years too.

Finally, a new M-T road picture to share. This one from yesterdays ride in Yakima Canyon

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...c2187625_b.jpgNear the North end in the Yakima River Canyon by Matthew Pendergast, on Flickr