3,000 miles and I burned off the heat shield.

I coaxed my daughter into going on a club ride today. The weather sucked. It was 50 and grey. Usually this particular ride attracts riders of every make and model, but because the weather was kind of nasty, all the fair weather riders stayed home. We were in the very back of the pack, accompanied by a very noble sweeper, and I listened to my daughter complain about everything the entire time.

At the end of the ride, she admitted that it was actually a lot of fun and she'd try it again if and when global warming catches up with Loovul.

She's up to 55 total miles. When she goes over 100 I promised to get her a U of Kentucky bike jersey.

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:thumb:!

Very humid today, but nice temps (upper 70s) and virtually no wind. Did 32 miles after an aborted start due to a strange noise from the rear hub. Checked it out at the LBS but nothing was wrong. Maybe some trash got under the rubber dust cap... who knows. Ended up starting about 90 minutes later than planned, but a good ride nontheless. In addition to the numerous dogs, squirrels, cattle and goats, saw one (likely?) dead snake, two live snakes, a live turtle and an unfortunately dead Siamese cat. :-( Hopefully I'll get a ride in tomorrow as well, since I'll be oncall next weekend and therefore, no riding.

Feeling a bit under the weather yesterday - which is much much better than feeling under the ground - got out today for a five mile ride with my stoker - on separate bikes - around our and a couple of nearby neighborhoods.

I rode to the dump today. It was "bulk trash" day, so I loaded the trailer with all sorts of long boards, hanging out of the back. The workers had never seen anyone drop off large bulky trash with a bike. For that matter, they probably had never seen anyone bring anything by bike before. They were joking with each other, "Check his ID!"

I did! I did! I did get to ride today! After riding regularly for about 2-1/2 months, 3 to 5 times a week, I didn't get out at all last week (circumstances beyond my control). I did 26.5 miles on Monday this week and then didn't get out until today. 38.5 miles today! My longest ride in 25 years - yippee! And I had gas left at the end but I flatted and was about 1/2 mile from home, so instead of continuing on with my spare - I opted to see if I could pump slow leak and make it home. Beautiful day - 95 degrees and about a 5-7 mph breeze from the SW which alternated between a headwind and tailwind on different legs of the ride.

I did the Capital To Capital ride from Richmond, VA to near Williamsburg and back. The ride runs in kind of a figure 8, and you can start at either end. The ride is mainly flat with a very, very few rollers.

The weather report looked pretty bad, but we missed all the rain. There was a huge thunderstorm at the start about an hour before the ride began, and more after I finished, but I didn't get a drop. Perfect! Had a pretty strong headwind the last 35 miles or so, but that's OK.

101 miles, 5:45 riding time. All but about 20 miles or so I was riding solo.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/311264140

No energy to post last evening. Did the Cap2Cap, century ride. Total miles ridden, 104.

Got to the MUP with intentions of doing a 37 mile ride but ended up doing only 20. Became really tired during the first lap. I'm hoping that this new medication dosage isn't starting to drop my blood levels as did the first dosage they put me on.

32 miles, beautiful weather and a personal best.

Rode to Victoria Station in Manchester to catch a train to Smithy Bridge (5 miles).

Then rode up to the Pennine Bridleway up a very steep, stony trail which I confess I got off and walked up, then a very rutted track up to the top of the hill and then joined the Pennine Bridleway shown at the Marker in the first picture.

Then down the PBW to the site of an old Pottery my partner wanted to get some specimens of vitrified rock which were the result of the firings of the pottery there.

Then back up the Bridleway stopping to make way for more advanced MTBers descending at high speed down the rutted, muddy trail laden with pitfalls and stones, they had no fear of it tho.

Then down another trail back to the original track we came up, was very glad to be descending back down it!

One more gentle climb finished the ride up a cobbled path.

About 4/5 miles not very long as the weather was threatening and by the time we got down to the Visitor's Centre for a welcome coffee it was raining.

Rode home after catching the train back into Manchester and got totally soaked by the time I was home.

Good fun day tho:)

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Thanks for your report from the Other Side of the Pond, with pictures, to boot! Nice!

25 mile ride on the Screamer with my Stoker (The Mother of My Children). I told her she didn't have to pedal hard, if she didn't want to. She pedaled hard.
Happy Mothers Day!

Wow! Two rides in one week! :)

27 miles this afternoon with a friend. Beautiful weather and a light to moderate, somewhat fickle wind (couldn't make up its mind on where it was coming from).

Yesterday went on a group ride billed as 5 by 5 - rides up 5 of the steeper hills in the east bay. I had a hard stop to get back and do some chores, and unfortunately (that's my story and I'm sticking to it) I had to bail after 3 of the hills. Still got in 25 miles and almost 3,000 feet of climbing. Today went for 2 rides of about 2 miles each with my wife. She is getting more comfortable on the bike, and it is a true pleasure to have a partner to ride with.

I did a homegrown 67 mile loop in VA from Marshall over Ashby Gap on Rt 50 over to Front Royal and back. 5800 feet of climbing, including one crazy steep section that went from 1300 feet to 2000 feet over just over a mile (climb up Chester Gap Road). I think this is the steepest section of road I've ever ridden over that kind of distance.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/311817171

Wow, what a change from Saturday's pleasant weather. The cold front came through, and kept the temperatures down, but mainly the wind was just horrible. Steady 20mph winds with gusts up to 30. Fortunately I had the headwind mainly at the start and during the downhills, and ended up with a nice tailwind for the last ten miles. I was seriously almost blown off the road on the downhill to the Shenandoah River on Rt 50.

Did the spring classic century with six others. 101 miles with a 19.3 av speed perfect weather. Great ride

62 miles @ 14.7 on the club ride Saturday, then 37 @ 18.3 solo on Sunday

A very nice 33 mile ride at the MUP today. Not very impressive, time wise, but one of my better ride times since this medication side effect stuff started. 2h 16m battling some pretty good headwinds.

Thanks :)

One thing I did learn was to wear good gloves in wet weather, I could hardly operate my gears which are the rotate shifter type, not much good in heavy traffic tho I did get grip on them eventually.

I'm finally back to riding. I rode ten miles round trip to/from work yesterday. Skipped today's ride, but will be back at it tomorrow!

10 miles 5-12, sure was cold, but moderating, frost overnight. Tomorrow, 83f

15 miles on the road. Sunny, reasonably warm and only a bit breezy.

just a couple more weeks and I'll have Saturdays off again and can get back on the bike.

Just 15.7 miles during an afternoon break. Cool, windy. Traffic was frenetic.