Friday rode the Ohio Erie Canal Towpath (round trip of 36 miles). Cloudy and temp ranged from 41 at start to 49 at end of ride. Got to ride with Louis and eat tons of great food prepared by his sweet wife (two super friends). A few pictures are at the following site. Great ride with great friends: Beverly, John, Louis, and Dick (rtool). http://s885.photobucket.com/albums/a...nal%20Towpath/

Rode 9 miles late this afternoon. Wind was at 16mph with gust to 25mph. Was a good workout. Thought we would ride into the wind, but it didnt matter it was blowing from every direction.
BillMc

[QUOTE=jppe;11711491]There was a full century ride though I think only 6 riders did it. We had a small turnout today for some reason. I wish the NOC would get together with the Franklin Bike Shop and do a Sat. Sun. double metric. One entry, two rides. The Wayah Loop is 72 miles and the TdF Metric is 66 miles. I think that would bring more people up for the weekend. Other than the cool start, the weather couldn't have been better this weekend.

My ride today was a harbinger of things to come. The forecast was for cold but slightly overcast weather, not precip. What I got on my 30 mile ride was a raw cold damp wind with some light rain and hail. Good ride though, I'll take a 30 miles outside this time of year when ever I can get it.

Did my usual 36 miles minus the 5 mile lap around Stone Mountain (that means I rode 30.76 miles). I rode into a headwind all the way out to SM and was tired when I got there so no lap. :o Rested, had a gel, and rode home.
I guess we're finally into arm warmer season. Today was my second ride with them.

This is the time of year that reminds me of an ex-wife or two, as well as a couple girlfriends: BIPOLAR! Went for a very nice 40+ mile ride on dirt and gravel over the weekend in shorts, sandals and with my shirt off. Today it was too darned cold to ride at all, even with a jacket and long pants. I hate bipolar weather!

Did 53 miles this weekend with my Sunday morning partner. I think there is something to be said about age... the older a rider gets the more we realize its all about how you prepare... weight, exercise and know the benefis of high cadence vs. powering into the wind!

My friend is only 32 and I spent the entire time weighting up for him. His size acted more like a sail catching the head winds and even when he tried to draft behind me he caught too much wind.

At one point towards the end I jetted ahead to take a nature break not realizing he would miss my bike on the side of the rode and he continued on. I waited 5+ minutes (he had a couple cramps earlier) before I flagged down a truck to ask if he had seen him back a ways. When he had not I realized I had given him a big lead so I took off after him. The winds and my pedaling style paid off because I caught him and passed him on the final 1/2 mile to our vehicles.

It pays to be older and wiser and today at work he stopped by and said he planned to drop weight and work on his cadence pedaling. It appears it may have been a benifical ride for both of us...

My usual Monday singlespeed ride. 18 or so miles (no computer on this bike yet), very dark on the trail. Lots of wildlife out there tonight (deer, rabbits, almost ran over a frog). Will be even darker next week after the time change, planning to bring a second light on the helmet. Probably the last ride of the year in short sleeves.

45 minute 6 second recovery ride on the rollers at 100-105 rpm Monday evening. The ride was 6 seconds too long as I crashed/fell while getting off the rollers. Started to slow to get off and the front wheel went off the side and I rode the bike slowy across the floor to a table. I grabbed a chair and when I put my foot down my fllot slid across the laminate floor causing quite the racket. :D Complete driver error as there was no one else around to blame.

17 quick miles before dinner and before dark. I wish it had been longer, but there wasn't time. Also, I wasn't dressed for it. at 5 PM it was 50 degrees and I went out in shorts, but by sundown my legs were chilly.

Already the days when I could get 40 miles in after work seem so long ago.

Voted, followed by 56 chilly miles.

34 night time miles with 4 other riders under clear cold 30's temps when we finished up.

24.8 miles (RT) to make the Monthly Bicycle Club meeting on Tues. night, rode the new "utility/back up" bike and tried out a new headlight and blinking light on the helmet set up! Chilly coming back at 9:10 PM., probably going to be the "last" montly club meeting I will be riding the bicycle too, as it will be getting pretty cold at night for the next few months, rats! :(

54 big chainwheel miles. Sunny slight desert breeze, very clear. 88 degrees on my return at 12 noon. Trying to get ready for Saturdays ride up GMR to the Village.

I rode today, 45 miles in the Willamette National Forest along Fall Creek, spectacular day!! The maple trees are in full color, it was sunny and temps in the 60's and no car traffic! My batteries are recharged!

One of several water falls along the ride
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d1.../Fallcreek.jpg

22 days post fusion

Due to time constraints, etc., only got to ride 5 miles yesterday, but did walk a couple of miles, got in good resistance exercises, and swam.

Today - Swimming, physical therapy, 10 mile bike ride.

1 hour of mtb'ing.

24 miles with some climbing. lunch and haircut at the 2/3 point. One year ago or so it would take me about an hour to get to the 15 mile point; today, 52 minutes. I'm getting older and faster. Enjoy it while it lasts.

1 hour on the rollers @ 100+ rpm with 1 minute OTS every 10 minutes.

Early am 1.25 hour 5:30 ride with lights. Temp - 35F, wind chill abdout 30F.

Saw a BEAVER crossing the trail - right near a beaver dam. Almost hit an unlit jogger.

Then therapy exercises, and swim for 45 minutes.

Then later a short ride to store, mailbox and return.

I joined NealH at the Tour de Tugaloo metric this morning. Getting out of Western NC proved to be not as easy as we expected with snow and ice on the roads. After one minor detour around an accident we got to the start. It was a cool, breezy ride of 62 miles and 4000' of climbing in 3:50 ride time. I have to say these rides are getting harder and harder for me. The season is over for events and it's time to work in the gym and get my weight back to where it needs to be.

1 hr on the mtb riding over hill and dale. Feel sorry for them dales' as I was hitting them hard to keep momentum to kill the hills.:thumb: Even with the trail covered with wet leaves the mtb's traction exceeds my expectations. Probably just jinxed myself for the next ride.:lol:

42 miles, 5600 feet climbing, great weather.

The wife and I did a "Veterans Day Parade" Ride, here in Colorado Springs. We rode with the "Veterans Powered Vechical's Group". There were lot's of "cool" trikes, homemades, etc. It was FUN but LOL, it's really hard to ride that SLOW! ;)

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_GW75NWraW4E/TN...ayparade-1.jpg

I'm just to the right on my new to me utility/hybrid!:thumb: