^ and don't kiss the blarney stone.
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...78ba80b672.jpg |
Very short and slow ride on the Greenway today; I've never seen so many people social distancing in one place before! Don't they know this is MY Greenway?
"This hole, this Quarry hole is mine!" Sitting on the grass afterwards to avoid the shared-surface bench https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b242ca4942.jpg |
I took the '76 Motobecane Grand Touring for a short 16 miles of social distancing today. There was a pretty brisk and damp north wind today but it beats the couch. The Vitus 172 tubing and 27×1 1/8 tires make for a really smooth ride.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...4ca65c1cb8.jpg https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b007370230.jpg https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f0cffe0ccf.jpg https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ee484d9552.jpg https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...195e394f18.jpg |
Between weather, travel and pandemic I did no riding excepting grocery runs in March,. Today was a lovely 60-deree day in New York City and I wanted to see what the quietude looked like.
I live near the northern end of Central Park on the West side and I rolled all the way down to the Battery and back up the East side. Here's a few things I saw: A clear run south down 7th Avenue to Times Square https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...4b21d5d8de.jpg Most of my favorite places have been closed for weeks. https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3917355406.jpg The southern end of Times Square. I was one of 5 people there. I have a cool 360-degree shoot of it here https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...fdf9c0d4d4.jpg I've seen Canal Street busier at 2AM https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...773242378d.jpg To be sure, I encountered vehicles everywhere I went, but I didn't have to seek out these photos - it was what I found when I got there. Riding with a cone mask was annoying, my glasses fogged and it was hot. Small price to pay for being well and able to ride. I'm counting my blessings and filled with gratitude every day. Be safe, be kind, ride your bike, and wash your hands. |
As I'm a morning person anyway, getting up to start my ride at dawn is no problem. And the "normal people" will not show up that early, only the experienced trail users. I'd rather travel with them. So I headed down the driveway at 6:00am to drive to the Oaks, PA trailhead. Only one other car there. 49 degF and overcast. Excellent. Down the Perkiomen to the Schuylkill River Trail and pointed it east towards the city. My blue "pumpkin seed" Crescent was just flying. Not a breath of a breeze that early so I was sailing nicely. Little did I realize the pace I was running, just enjoying the clear open air and the clear open trail. The very few other users were doing the right things so no worries. After I made my turn at Shawmont Ave (16miles) and headed back west I checked and found that my ave speed was 15.8mph. !!!! WHAT? The Crescent just kept flying and the pressure built. What could this turn into? I've never run this well before. The pressure kept building and I kept pushing. 20miles. 25 miles. Valley Forge Park, pretty tired but still got some in the tank. I kept an eye on that blinking arrow, pointing up. 4 miles to go. 2 miles to go and still cranking with the arrow pointing up.
When I got back to the car I found my ave mph was 15.9. Wow. In this time of illness and hospitalization and stress and worry, I just ran the best 30 mile round trip I've ever done. Gosh. Maybe not epoch for most folks but I was quite satisfied. Sorry for bragging. No time for photos. Just head down and tires wooshing. |
First ride in 3 weeks - it's been cold and gloomy in Chicago. Saw Jerry Ortega in Glencoe heading south, so things can't be too bad. 25 miles total.
Plenty of bright sun today - got to try my new Cateye computer (large print edition). Love it! https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...dc3be0f4_k.jpg They shut down a section of Lake/Cook for bridge work. Was able to get through on the sidewalk. https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...2751b96c_k.jpg Had to wait for the Linden train. 5 cars and not a soul aboard. https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...9f2de931_k.jpg Great to get out finally. Been WFH going on 4 weeks. Walking everyday, but really miss the bike. https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...0cfa613c_k.jpg |
Originally Posted by thinktubes
(Post 21402382)
First ride in 3 weeks - it's been cold and gloomy in Chicago. Saw Jerry Ortega in Glencoe heading south, so things can't be too bad. 25 miles total.
Plenty of bright sun today - got to try my new Cateye computer (large print edition). Love it! https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...dc3be0f4_k.jpg They shut down a section of Lake/Cook for bridge work. Was able to get through on the sidewalk. https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...2751b96c_k.jpg Had to wait for the Linden train. 5 cars and not a soul aboard. https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...9f2de931_k.jpg Great to get out finally. Been WFH going on 4 weeks. Walking everyday, but really miss the bike. https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...0cfa613c_k.jpg What shift pattern is that... |
Originally Posted by billnuke1
(Post 21402455)
Whoa!
What shift pattern is that... |
I've ridden the last 5 days in a row. Wednesday and Thursday were hour-ish MTB rides, Friday was a quick 25 miles on my SLT.
Saturday night was a wonderful ride on my fixed gear Motobecane, up until a couple of miles from home when my chain broke. Still not sure how that happened :foo: Unfortunately, I did not have a chain tool with me. Never expected to need it since I thought that the chainline was really good. Had to make the call of shame and got to walk wearing only socks for a while. Better than walking in road shoes. https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1c85136c53.jpg https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...8204b5ad37.jpg Today was 48 miles on my Trek. Legs felt like they were filled with cement and I bonked at about 30 miles. Still a beautiful day to be outside :thumb: https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7bdee54262.jpg https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...30d39ed4ee.jpg |
|
I just remembered a moment from today's ride. As I started to roll away from Times Square I saw a person dressed as a Plague Doctor (see below) pushing a shopping cart that had a kind of hippe-looking dude in it. The "Doctor" was singing something I didn't recognize. They waved at me as I rolled by, and I waved back. I love NYC.
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9cf450a3eb.jpg |
Me and a buddy did our "L'Eroica Tribute" ride today by adding some hills and gravel to the route. Just short of 40 miles, he on a '77 Superior and me on the Casati. Good times :)
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b88e92d48f.jpg https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...24dbd4f733.jpg https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...25280e4d21.jpg https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...2ebdcee5dc.jpg https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...bde6b65237.jpg https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f5d1e76c28.jpg https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e8c73c2f17.jpg https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...bede209479.jpg https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ac1161fe50.jpg DD |
Yeah - too nice in Puget Sound not to ride. But I doubled up on seasonal allergy meds.
Over to Issaquah. Just short of 30 miles. Triple crankset makes it easier and I took the less hilly route. Community center = Closed https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...631f2161d.jpeg Figured the old guy could use something speedy https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...31254b801.jpeg Some old buildings are only good as small museums https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3d1e5340b.jpeg Just a stream, but doing the orange brown thing https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d1a6c8ba0.jpeg Big milk cartons and milk crate on that semi. https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...562631ffa.jpeg Good ride, home safe - maybe more triples in the future for this old man. Note chain on small/big - a leftover from the climb back to home. https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...4a6489e55.jpeg |
Originally Posted by Drillium Dude
(Post 21402577)
Me and a buddy did our "L'Eroica Tribute" ride today by adding some hills and gravel to the route. Just short of 40 miles, he on a '77 Superior and me on the Casati. Good times :)
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...24dbd4f733.jpg |
Originally Posted by gugie
(Post 21402685)
That Jacob? I swear every time I see him next to one of his bikes I think "that guy needs a bigger bike!"
Did you get out today? Hope you and yours are doing well and staying healthy :) DD |
Avoiding MUPs and getting in a good ride
Today was my first "real" ride after returning from the Arizona Spring Training ride, held just before the world changed. Andy_K and I have ridden west of Portlandia, there have been many times when one or both of us pointed out down a road never taken and said, "we need to try that sometime." Well, today I did - mostly a ride done before, but with new options. It was a total of about 40 miles with 2500' of climbing - a Goldilocks ride for me.
There's a Multiple Use Path (MUP) literally right behind my house. Since Oregon has gone to our own form of stay home orders, the path has been increasingly used. Car traffic, on the other hand, is way down, so rather than try and keep a 6' social distance from all the people, I made a quick decision to take major roads. Since I live in Portlandia, even the major roads that parallel the MUP have good shoulders and bike lanes - not that this is that important, car traffic is maybe 10% of what it usually would be. Oddly, I saw very few bikes out in the countryside as would be expected on the first spring day on a weekend with no rain in a week or two. I did see a good number of motorcyclists. I'm guessing they feel fairly protected with their helmets and shields? Even though it had been a months since I did any climbing, I ascended in good form. I was sick with "those symptoms" a week after returning from Arizona (my co-conspirators on that trip haven't had symptoms) and lost about 10 pounds - mo bettah for climbing. That which doesn't kill us... Pic, cause it happened:https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b76b095526.jpg Motobacon Le Champion, frame purchased a year ago at Eroica California. Kitted from bin parts. I did spend a gazillion dollars on Rene Herse tires. |
Originally Posted by Drillium Dude
(Post 21402704)
Yes. And his collection/collecting is evolving - Bob's got him going in a new direction regarding fit. This is a bit small, but he started the ride with a lot more seatpost showing - it slipped a bit. Plus, he determined after today's ride (only his second ride after acquiring the bike) that he'll need a longer stem. But he had full leg extension early on - check out the first couple photos; those were shot before the post began slipping.
Did you get out today? Hope you and yours are doing well and staying healthy :) DD and I got out today. |
Originally Posted by gugie
(Post 21402724)
I did spend a gazillion dollars on Rene Herse tires.
Glad you're feeling better. |
Originally Posted by Drillium Dude
(Post 21402577)
Me and a buddy did our "L'Eroica Tribute" ride today by adding some hills and gravel to the route. Just short of 40 miles, he on a '77 Superior and me on the Casati. Good times :)
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b88e92d48f.jpg DD https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ecf8cc6245.jpg |
Out for 23 miles down the river and back with outstanding weather here today. Not a whole lot of people out yet either. Mild NW wind, so tailwind heading down. The GS wears different wheels now, noticeably smoother and quicker. What a great ride. And to top it all off, I got cat-called on the way home.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ea787904b5.jpg |
[QUOTE=BFisher;21403659 What a great ride. And to top it all off, I got cat-called on the way home.[/QUOTE]
You, or the bike??? :p |
Nowhere my ride is of the road just now 😟
|
Originally Posted by jreeves
(Post 21403755)
You, or the bike??? :p
Had to be. That's what I choose to believe. |
An unanticipated extra 1000 feet
I decided to ride over to the Oregon Zoo today Ride With GPS told me 900-something feet of climbing to get there.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...98195a1a_c.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...3487c7c7_c.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...bcbbe582_c.jpg On my way home I tried to ride around Rocky Butte, adding another 1000 feet or so of elevation gain on the Wahoo. I was pretty tired by then, and it was (I think) a bit steeper than the road in Washington Park, so I was pretty much out of gas when I got to the top. https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...8b5aa595_c.jpg |
Originally Posted by Wildwood
(Post 21402645)
Yeah - too nice in Puget Sound not to ride. But I doubled up on seasonal allergy meds.
Over to Issaquah. Just short of 30 miles. Triple crankset makes it easier and I took the less hilly route. Community center = Closed https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...631f2161d.jpeg Figured the old guy could use something speedy https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...31254b801.jpeg Some old buildings are only good as small museums https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3d1e5340b.jpeg Just a stream, but doing the orange brown thing https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d1a6c8ba0.jpeg Big milk cartons and milk crate on that semi. https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...562631ffa.jpeg Good ride, home safe - maybe more triples in the future for this old man. Note chain on small/big - a leftover from the climb back to home. https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...4a6489e55.jpeg |
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