r.e. bold -- Have a friend who ALWAYS was up before day break but now is a 7am and sometimes 8am riser.

Happy Friday y'all. Today, I was in mellow mode and wanted to ride at least 1000ft elevation gain, maybe 10 miles. I went to my local park (a 15 minute drive). The parking lot was full at 4pm. Dog walkers, hikers, bikers, bird watchers, etc. Love this place, a few short conversations with others and everyone was so friendly. that is rare. There are a few tough short 16-20% climbs if you ride the trail that way. I did. But I was still in mellow mode. I am so happy I am feeling in shape in general. and not sucking wind, as I have done in the past. Just riding a lot more.




https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...2aa9b78261.jpg

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...697d9fb0e4.jpg

I got out and rode for 25 miles which was 5 miles more than I planned.
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ee577d00e.jpeg

A late start. I forgot my water bottles at home! Ugh. I expected 50° weather. so my thermal tights and thermal leg warmer too, 4 layers of shirt/jacket, and shoe covers. Wanted to ride for at least an hour. my fourth this week. I got in 20 miles.
and it was a chilly, foggy, gray ride, but I had fun. and somehow had a dozen PRs. while being passed multiple times...hahah! no time for photos. one during a snack water break. new Almsthre saddle bag.
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...240ab13d40.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c2c03bd999.jpg

I have not ridden outside for a several weeks now. Its been brutal here in the Upper Midwest. I have done a fair amount of stationary riding. Probably around 35 "miles" a week. Alternating between VO2 Max Intervals and 1 hour Zone 2 sessions. You do what you can.

Went for a short 6 mile ride around my favorite lake. It was 66°, sunshine but a bit if a breeze, 20-30mph gusting higher. A cold front moved through this morning bringing that north wind.
It was really interesting crossing the crushed gravel dam. It’s about 1/2 mile across and is laid out east to west so I had a fun crosswind all the way. A couple of gusts had me wondering if it could blow me off the thing. 😄

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f569a78f5.jpeg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a016569bc.jpeg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a3f9ce153.jpeg

Whitecaps on that little lake makes me wonder what the big lakes look like.

I got in 35 today to put me just over 5k for the year. Down a few hundred from last year. After a great October, it's been one thing after another keeping me from riding as often but tis the season as they say. Hopefully get more riding time once the Holidays are past.

The wife and I got out for 13 miles this morning.
The wind was pretty tough, but temps were nice for this time of year.

I'm too soft to ride in 30 F. I could blame my shoulder injury, which is keeping me on the trainer for the next 6‐8 weeks, but either way, a good Z2 recovery ride;
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...bc57ca89b8.jpg

r.e. bold -- Sorry about that, take care and enjoy the trainer :innocent:

As for myself, got outside at 4:03am some 6 hours before the Winter Solstice at 10:03AM today and started riding at 4:04am for a quick 7.47 miles

I was able to get out and ride today after being off the bike for a week. I went on a cruise to the Bahamas with my sister and a group of friends. So today I got out at 9 am and found there was activity on the bike path. Some sort of event so lots of people. I quickly found another route to ride and got a 20.3 mile ride.

Great detour to a Great Ride. :thumb::thumb:

Have a short 4 night cruise to Nassau and MSC's Ocean Cay next month and going to give a Water Trike a try. Have *Walked On Water* on all the cruises we've done and now finally going to post on STRAVA a *Bike On Water.*

p.s. -- Managed to get out at 10:02am for the last few seconds of FALL and welcomed WINTER at 10:03am with a 8.88 mile ride.

Got out to chase the dark days away.


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f930dec7c0.jpg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...655f388182.png

Forgive my ignorance, but are you controlling a drone while riding to get this video?

It's actually a 360 camera with two fisheye lenses back to back.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e3d310d20d.jpg
New one on left
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...031f9abf77.jpg
You can see the 2 fisheye lenses on each camera.

The camera is on the end of a selfie stick that I then position as I want. They've been around for around 5 years but are getting more popular.

Our cruise also was 4 nights with a stop at Nassau and Freeport.
The water trike sounds like the best of both worlds.

I left the house this morning at about 8:40 and rode for 20 miles.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ab3e70167.jpeg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d5ccdac4d.jpeg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1b35f896c.jpeg
Thank goodness for weekdays, the bike path wasn’t busy today.

Always thankful to post this thread
 

Been a while since I rode - holidays + rain and wet have gotten in the way. When I returned home at 2pm, it was 42* and getting ready to rain. But a bit of sun on much of the ride was nice. Winter gear helps. Maybe fenders for this one.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e232e614d.jpeg
Some (diminishing) blue spots in the sky.

Not too proud to dress like an old man in layers of lycra&wool. :50:
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...668407ecc.jpeg

I left the house at 9:28 am this morning, making for a very late start for me. I rode for 17.7 pleasant miles with a stop at the bike shop hoping to find a solution. The issue is that I am using a back pack to carry whatever I need. The salesman at the bike shop explained that I can't put a rack on the back of my bike and it seems the only good solution is to have a handle bar bag. He suggested a handlebar bag by called TourGuide by Topeak. I will give it some thought.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...575382ae5c.jpg

Low to mid 40s and cloudy today, but no rain! Went out and did a quick 16 miles and 1,300’.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...05fbfc46f.jpeg
Snoqualmie Falls
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...5ba7e0bf9.jpeg
Mt Si, WA
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c96b77c7a.jpeg
Snoqualmie river before the falls.

Topeak is a good brand. You might also consider a top bar bag or under seat saddle bag depending on how much 'stuff' you have to carry with you. I only use an under seat bag that's water resistant and it also keeps a lot of road debris from reaching my backside. But yes, unfortunately back packs unless specifically designed for bikers are clumsy and swing from side to side unless you have it secured so tight you can't breath. I have a chest pouch that I use occasionally which was designed for a handheld radio. It worked good on S&R but doesn't really hold much other stuff. Good luck, Smokey

I have learned the wool! so great to you

I rode a different area today as I wanted to drop my husband off at the beach. So we parked the truck at Sand Key beach and I rode 18.2 miles down Gulf Blvd. The ride out was so pleasant and the ride back was into the wind(more work, less pleasant). I took a picture of a vehicle that I saw yesterday while driving, today I saw it parked in a driveway so I stopped and took a picture.

Oh and I forgot to mention on yesterday's ride a car hit his brakes so hard the tires had smoke coming off them. Somebody had just pulled out in front of him. He was fortunate not to hit the guy.
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...2a063b5ace.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...11e2c13536.jpg

Got in about 15 miles on the old mountain bike. Second ride on the new studded tires (the old ones were about 30 years old and the bead separated from the rear tire and I had to walk home about 2 miles a couple of weeks ago).

The wife and I got out for 13 miles this morning. Unusually warm for this time of year in north TX.
My yearly mileage this year so far (1,679) is with 9 miles of what I rode in 2024. (1,688).

We're both in our late 70s btw.

Very cool.