photogravity

You just love those folders. I recently acquired one, but haven't put it together yet as I've been too busy riding. My wife wants me to get it put together for her to ride some, so I guess I better do so, eh?

So are you using a twist shifter on that bike?

noglider 

Yesterday, my wife and I went to visit her cousin in Hoboken, NJ. Cousin has an apartment that overlooks the Hudson River and Manhattan, so we couldn't pass that up for viewing the grand fireworks display.

We chose to make another adventure out of it and pedaled through some pretty tough city and industrial areas of New Jersey. I only took pictures from one spot, while crossing the Passaic River in Newark.

It took us two hours to go 17 miles because it was so urban, and we had to stop and check the route often. We also had to stop at an Egyptian bodega (if there is such a thing) for some snacks, because we ran out of fuel and started collapsing under the heat and exertion.

photogravity

Nice post northbend. It is both poignant and humorous. I'm going to have to find out if my local liquor store can get their hands on some of that Dead Guy Ale.

jimmuller 

Thanks! How many miles? We figure about 1500 since we started in October. There ain't no such thing as "this year" because the winter was so warm we rode straight through. I didn't install a computer until we had ridden 200 or even 250, so we don't really know for sure. But I'm sure whoever is keeping score in the cosmos knows.

For today I just did my commute. But after yesterday, man, I'm exhausted and hungry and glad to be home.

photogravity

I really like that you're constantly on dirt and gravel roads, and that you seem to find stuff that's different like that rock with the painting on it. I really need to get on more dirt roads.

photogravity

So Tom, was this ride on single bicycles or on your tandem? BTW, it sounds like you had a fun time with the fireworks display.

jimmuller 

I'm reasonably certain your computer was reading about 3% low that day. Maybe even 3.5%. That's not your fault. You rode the metric century but you just can't prove it.

JJScaliger

I probably only rode about 5 miles on dirt, but it's often a highlight of the ride. A treat to plan into the ride.

This road was really cool, it started in RI and crossed into CT, going through a state forest and then, after it became paved, by some small working farms.

I try to find something entertaining for each post.

photogravity

Today, I managed to pull off a 41 mile ride, though it was supposed to be more like a 50 mile ride. I planned to ride my 1967 Carlton Super Race, but when I went to get it take it out, I realized the rear tire was flat. Since I wanted to try to get in most of my ride before it got too hot, I decided to take the 1949 Hercules Kestrel instead. I'm finding that the 3-speed hub actually works well even in pretty hilly terrain, in spite of the view by many that 3 speeds isn't enough. In any case, I arrived home around noon and managed to miss the worst heat of the day, though in the direct sun it was blistering hot as the day wore on.

The first place I walked the bike. It was steeper than the pictures lead you to believe.

Hawbottom Hauler - Hercules Kestrel - 1 by Sallad Rialb, on Flickr


Hawbottom Hauler - Hercules Kestrel - 2 by Sallad Rialb, on Flickr

This is the point where i decided to turn around. All I could see was hill going up for a good long distance, so I figured it was time to bail and instead do a fast bombing run back down the hill.

Hawbottom Hauler - Hercules Kestrel - 3 by Sallad Rialb, on Flickr

Catoctin Creek Nature Center which, unfortunately, was closed. They open at 12 noon and I didn't want to wait, so it will need to be visited another time.

Hawbottom Hauler - Hercules Kestrel - 4 by Sallad Rialb, on Flickr

pamaguahiker 

Nice Ride Dallas! The hills in my area seem never ending as well...sometimes just gentle grinds...but they have those very steep sections and then the long grinds. Great riding. The roads in your pics look like my type of terrain! Great pics! Do you ride that bike 'tapeless'? if so, do you ever have any problems or get sore? gloves? just curious.

photogravity

I'm desperately trying to improve my hill climbing ability since I'm a weak up-hiller. I haven't yet taped the bar since i wanted to make sure the position of the brakes felt right for me. I hope to put white cloth tape on the handlebar this weekend. I do wear gloves, but it is not as grippy as I would like. I don't really get sore hands, but do get a little numbness at times.

pamaguahiker 

i have an old set of rubber grips, sliced. i place them on areas of the bar that i ride on frequently and when setting up a new bar combo. i place them on with a couple straps of electrical tape or zip tie so that holds them in place. It allows me to move them around for comfort while seeing if i have things placed where it is most comfortable for me. It works well! and the only way to get better on hills and used to those grinds...is to keep riding them. ugh!

drrobwave

Asheville to Mt. Mitchell summit (and back) - 64 miles; the first 3 miles into Mt. Mitchell state park are brutal! The club sandwich and homemade chips at the restaurant were great!

jimmuller 

Nice!

just dank

40km Hamilton to Burlington to Hamilton, first time clipless, love it!

scozim 

At an adoption family get together for the weekend. Negotiated a couple of days to ride with my wife before the large group of people arrived. 25 miles on Thursday and 32 yesterday up the Columbia River. A little smoky by the turnaround spot thanks to wildfires.



Rocky Reach dam - outside Wenatchee, Wa

photogravity

Nice shots. I'd love to do that ride some day in the future. Do you know how many feet you climbed on the ascent? I'd imagine it was a lot.

photogravity

I take it that you were riding next to the lake? Nice! Riding clipless is pretty neat, isn't it? The funny thing is that I'm probably going in the other direction on my C&V bikes. Either to clips (actually half clips), or just platform pedals believe it or not. On my tandems in particular, I'm not crazy about being clipped in and even with one sided clipless pedals I frequently find myself on the wrong side of the pedal when I don't want to be.

photogravity

That is some beautiful country out there. I need to make my way back out to that part of the country and take a bike with me when I do.

scozim 

Any time - my RV trailer also serves as a guest house for visitors from April to mid-November.

noglider 

photogravity, my wife had the feeling that riding the tandem would be a bad idea. I pushed for it but gave in to her. She was right. It would have been hell on wheels. And we still have to dial it in for stoker comfort. She finally took it for a test ride around the block. Unfortunately, the bike is quite whippy. I'm not complaining, since I got a killer deal on it, and I'm sure we'll eventually have fun on it. It's going to take a lot of patience.

RobbieTunes

It got down to 101 today, so my partner and I rode 40 miles at 2:15 pm.
I told her to shoot me next time I suggest this. It was.....grim.

drrobwave

it was a great ride - I think it was around 6000 feet. 8% grade for the first 3 miles in Mt. Mitchell state park.

drrobwave

You need to be shot! Robbietunes carries one water bottle and a credit card when he rides. it was hot today! Did the guy at the convenience store take your IOU for the gallon of water and snicker bar?

photogravity

I simply cannot ride when it is that hot and the humidity is high. Now if I was in SW TX desert, I might be able to handle, but on the east coast it is simply too unbearable. Nice you stuck with it Robbie and lived to tell the story.