I rode epically today. I just got back from a trip to the St. Louis Arch grounds. After calculating on google maps, I seem to have gone a total of 50.9 miles.

My legs are toast.

Did my regular 13 mile morning ride today. And Saturday. Thursday I went 10 in 5he other direction.

Today was the best because the weather was beautiful, especially after weeks of 90 degrees plus followed by a week of heavy rain storms, flooding, wind damage and concomitant debris.

Got in a nice 20+ mile gravel ride this morning. Played around some little jumps. Misjudged one landing and landed with my wheel turned. Bam on the ground hitting my head on it. All good. Made sure everything was still connected. Just some soreness under my right arm by my upper rib and some on my forehead where my helmet protected me. Helmet is fine, no cracks just small scratches. Continued on for another 18 miles.
GPTempDownload (2) by 2cam16, on Flickr
IMG_3849 by 2cam16, on Flickr

62.5 k on the C & E Trail, a rural road with less traffic albeit narrower shoulders.

Are those beehives?

First off, glad to know you're ok after that nasty fall. That road looks like it was setup for your gravel ride.

Yes, those are hives. There are a number of honey producers in our region and the bees collect much of their pollen from the bright yellow flowers of the canola plant. It will likely be a bumper crop for canola farmers this summer.

Thanks Batstar. I just mark it down as one of my many. lol But at this age I'll have to back it off a tad. Hard to do though!
Nice info about the honey farms. I didn't know Canada produced honey.

Took my time and enjoyed the ride. Still burned over 2,000 calories!

2nd Ave. North in Minneapolis

New Brighton Museum

Downtown St. Paul

Nothing major, just did 32 miles. The big news is I passed 3000 miles since January and it could be a 5000+ mile year if the weather stays OK.

FINALLY... It cooled down (briefly) and the sun came out, so I got out my old C&V, 1985 Fuji 12 speed road bike and went for a quick spin, just to work out any kinks, and finally get back into riding. You all remember, these past few weeks, last month, etc... Here in Richmond, VA, it was always unbearably hot, 97°, 95°, heat index 107°. NOBODY went out on a bicycle, unless they got up at 5:30am! Then we had that tropical storm come up the coast and it rained and rained and rained... Ugh...

So, as you see by these photos, I took my classic '85 Fuji and decided to experiment with my 2012 Ford Escape, put the back seats down, measured the height, width, etc... and just barely squeezed my C&V '85 Fuji in the back with the front tire & handlebars turned 90°. Somehow, someway, it fit! As seen in the photo, I don't have a bike rack (yet), and didn't want to ride all the way down to the James River from home (dangerous side roads, idiot drivers, yellow safety vest/blinking bike lights, etc...), so I squeezed in my Fuji into the back of my Ford Escape and drove down to the river.

5.25 miles out 'n back in 21:27 or so for about 14.7 mph. Not too bad after not riding for a while.





Can you believe it? They FINALLY finished the small bridge on Riverside Drive (it was closed for a long time, as one of the massive storms we had and rushing floodwaters, washed part of its structure away!

Snuck a ride in this morning after skipping yesterday due to our out of this world poor air quality. And before it goes up again this afternoon.

26.6 miles this morning and when I started off it was only 52 degrees. Now 26.6 isn't much for some of you but it is my longest ride of the year so far. What makes this a great ride is I finally made it over my "nemesis" hill without getting out of the saddle and walk. Every other time I just couldn't do it. I conquered that baby today...a good ride today.

A shortish 40 miler around the beach where we’re staying this week. The only climb is the bridge to the island over the intercoastal waterway. A couple weeks ago we stayed oceanfront during the hurricane. This week we are on the canal side where we can kayak from the dock.


This is why it’s called Sunset Beach.

A large live oak spanning the road.

Not sure if it’s actually that old but it’s definitely older than me.

Our view out the back of the house. Great kayaking during high tide.

One of our favorite eating joints.

The top deck is nice if the weather is agreeable.

The intercoastal waterway.

Looking towards the house where we’re staying.

Today’s ride.

15+ ride with my son, for the 2nd time in 3 days.He ran into me at a stop sign and we went down. We both had some scratches and I bumped my knee, so We lengthened our luch break, and I shortened the route for me. It's been over 30 years since we rode together. :-)

Got in some fun up in the hills this morning before the smoke from our fires moved in:
IMG_3905 by 2cam16, on Flickr

Rainy the last 2 days, & I took off. So a ride is needed just for the smells. Then back to the yard work past due. Kill the Moss season in th PNW.

Condolences to my old riding areas in Santa Cruz and Santa Clara counties California. What a tragedy.



Zeus, muchly Zeus’d out. Metric 531.

Fields and smells after the rains

Old timer needs a few upgrades. RetroGrouch

10.3 miles This morning on my Rockhopper.

Went on a brisk 20k ride with a friend on the local trails. Nice evening to be on the bike or on the water.

I rode about 50 miles late this afternoon. I spent all morning thoroughly cleaning my bike. I also replaced the chain, cassette plus the guide and jockey wheels on the RD.

And then rained the last 20 minutes of the ride. Geez.....

Rode the Falcon to meet for a CraigsList purchase of a new used saddle.


Brooks Swallow

After changing my mind twice the Brooks went on the DeRosa, and the Benotto yellow ribbon was just the funishing touch. Totally changed the bike’s appearance.

Off for a ride

Italians like to be near vineyards this time of year

Late maturing this year given mild summer temps.

22 miles today from home to and around Waterfall Glenn, Lemont, IL

Just shy of 73 miles today.

By St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota

When for my regular ride after skipping yesterday due to the red flag warnings we got plus the smoke. Today I ended up ending it halfway as my eyes felt irritated plus I had a flat. lol Halfway point is only a few blocks away from home so I babied the bike there.

Didn't ride today.

I crashed on Sunday. I was going about 25 mph and landed in soft poison ivy and dirt. Most of the impact was to my back, left shoulder. I rode 4 (slow) miles yesterday on my hybrid. It felt like someone punched me in the stomach.

Stomach feels better today, shoulder is still sore. I did my weight training today and yesterday, and that felt pretty good.

I should know this coming weekend if I did a good job with the Tecnu Extreme Poison Ivy and Oak Scrub.

I rode 60 miles after walking 18 holes this morning and shooting a 73. Nice day to ride. Some cloud cover with temperatures in the mid 80s. I took a few roads I hadn’t ridden in a while. The new chain, RD wheels and cassette seem much smoother and quieter.



An intersection where a really good friend and his wife were killed on his motorcycle. A car turned onto the road I’m on and directly in front of them. My friend went through the passenger window of the car and his wife was ejected.

Still my favorite pair of short fingered gloves. Wearing them celebrating the 4 year anniversary of riding through Yellowstone on my cross country ride.

A local historic spot.

Grist Mill Stone.

Neat building but the waterwheel needs some love.

I wish folks wouldn’t do this.