It's 24deg, winds gusting at 30mph, spitting snow....perfect day for a brutal little climb. The 5miler is an up and back but that 2.5mi out is all uphill with a Strava routed .3mi 169ft 8.7% grade that is a beast. Slowly and crank by crank I'm improving.

Let winter storm Samson blow. Here it comes.

My ride today was less ambitious than OldsCOOL's, by far: I rode 1/2 mile to the store to get some bread on my MTB. About 24 degree temp.

But you were out there. Way to go, man!

Up at 0230 after 3 hours of shut eyes, longer than usual, and got out for 20 miles on the grocery grabber. Tried out the new 5,000 lumen helmet mounted light. Awesome beam. Having some breakfast and will get out on the Giant for another 50 or so.

Nothing yesterday, heavy rains and high winds all day. A tornado passed real close to our home early yesterday morning. Thankfully there was no damage, or injuries, in the area.

Bill

Made it back out and met up with a group of 14. 30 miles to a breakfast stop for everyone but me. 35 miles back home into the wind. Last 20 were by myself since the group made a pit stop and I could not keep their pace so I went my own way. Was hoping for 50 but wound up with 65 and the 20 in the early AM for a GREAT 85 miles today.

I rode this, today:

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h8...538A3A259B.jpg

Rode this afternoon, 26.5 miles, from the weather forecast this might be the only day this week without rainfall. It will be wet and cool when I get back out. I hope the new neoprene shoe covers work, as advertised.

Bill

Lite snow the past couple of days but today was sunny (34°) and cabin fever was setting in. So I put some air in the tires and took the Sirrus out for a short 5.3 miles. The streets are clear, but the bike lanes questionable. I know the usual Truckee River Bike Path is still covered in snow (see my trike entry from 12-26 w/pics). Felt good to get out even for only 5 miles.

2015: 4851 Miles ♂ 2013-15: 9944 Miles
Allez 1231.6/2431.8 · Roubaix 1366.6/2532.4 · Sirrus 669.8/1962.0 · Trike 1583.1

Getting over a cold that I came down with on Sunday afternoon. Felt pretty good this morning so I went out for a ride. Didn't want to push it so I ended up with one, easy paced, 24 mile ride. Hoping tomorrow will be a better day for a ride, if it doesn't rain.

Didn't end at 85 yesterday. I ordered some e-gel for a friend and decided to deliver it to his house as a surprise. With lights a'blazing, headed out at 9:00PM and biked the long way to his house on the grocery grabber, 3 miles direct but 6 miles with extra zig-zags. He wasn't home from work yet so I dropped it off by the garage and continued on biking. More zig-zagging with a stop a McDonald's for a late night Egg McMuffin and one to take home then more zig-zagging and back home by 11:00PM. Total of 18 extra slow miles added to the earlier 85 so made 103 for the day.

Rest today and might try for another 100 tomorrow to finish out the year. Could be another 85F temperature WINTER day.

Did 12 miles in 40-something degree temp, but a beautiful clear afternoon. Ended up with a sinus headache, so next time I'll wear a scarf, at least until I get used to riding again in chilly weather.

I will just have to let my Tuesday's riding be the last 100+ mile day of the year. Got on the grocery grabber and was off to Walmart at 0530 today. A quick pick-up of a few items, drop off at home then headed to my friend's house. My knees have been talking to me after Tuesday's mileage so I decided to ride with him for only a few miles as he was going to meet with a big group for some fast riding. Headed back home and totaled 25 very warm, very humid miles.

37 mile ride with my buddy Frank C for the last ride of the year. Two months off the bike, this year, caused me to miss my second 10K mile year goal but with 8,400 miles, I can't really complain. It was a great year of cycling and I'm hoping next year will be even better. Here's hoping all you guys reached your mileage goals this year.

Missed my 5,000 miles goal by 146 miles. Didn't count on health issues (rheumatoid arthritis) slowing me down. Missed half of November and part of December (weather too). But 4854 ain't so bad for an old duffer :50:
There's still frozen snow on all the bike lanes and paths but the streets are clear. Had to go out for one last ride this year on the Sirrus. Only 3 miles in a wind chill with a frozen face. Dedicated rider.

2015: 4854 Miles ♂ 2013-15: 9947 Miles
Allez 1231.6/2431.8 · Roubaix 1366.6/2532.4 · Sirrus 672.8/1965.0 · Trike 1583.1

Took the mountain bike out for a ride around town. The foot of fresh snow has put me off the hills for now. This is still better than the trainer. :)

I took the fixed gear out thinking to get a little fresh air and sunshine, spur of the moment with blue-jeans and headband, just a quick ride. Off the bat, I randomly chased a pair of "rabbit" roadies but they soon pulled off so I just kept going since I knew the area more or less. They were pretty fast and I don't think I would have caught them if they'd kept it up.

The sun dropped and I figured I'd better head back, taking the direct route according to my mental map. I had no memory of that road being so hilly, only about 100 ft/mile objectively; I guess I'm still getting my fixie legs. It turned out to be only about 20 miles total (unless I forgot about a stretch in my oxygen deprived state, which sometimes happens) but it seemed like more. Overall a good workout and on portions of it I started to finally understand the attraction of fixed gear. When your cadence is smooth, because it has to be, and you get into the zone.

I'm glad that I passed the mileage goal for the year, no riding until Saturday, at the earliest. Besides the fact its been raining for two days, and its supposed to continue through tomorrow, I have had to start taking a medication for Parkinson's Disease symptoms, and I need to adjust to the side effects. It thoroughly kicked my butt yesterday, and this morning. This stuff had better work as I am missing riding in the wet stuff.

Bill

Well I was able to get two rides this week with all the rain, we did 37 on Tuesday and 25 yesterday, low to mid 40's the next several days. I did get 5,120 miles for 2015, so I have had a good year for an old man. Happy new year.

A great start for the New Year. 48 miles on the Withlacoochee Trail with Team Coast 2 Coast riding from Ridge Manor to Inverness and back. Forecasters predicted some rain this afternoon but it held out until after we were done and gone.

My New Year's Day ride was four miles right at 32F. Much prefer 90F with high humidity...........

i also only logged about 4 miles today. Will go for at least 10 tomorrow. The wind out of the west was a bit harsh. I will have 2 pairs of gloves tomorrow.

Happy New Year

Well, thought it would be a good way to kick off 2016 with another 100 miler. Took my time in 50 degree cloudy weather. Nice ride and first century this year and my 5th over the last 5 weeks.

Did about 16 miles in 45 degree weather, pleasant but I definitely need some soft wool or polypropylene undies - my cotton longjohns were soaked halfway through. Probably ought to get a decent windbreaker too. I have a nice lightweight parka with GoreTex shell and Thinsulate insulation, but it needs to be below freezing to be practical.

Intended to ride a 40 mile round trip, my longest since resuming cycling in August, but got started too late and I tend to stop every few miles to take photos. Probably try again this weekend with an earlier start.

Haven't checked in for awhile. If you get behind on BF it seems you can't catch up :)

I hadn't ridden in nearly two weeks because of rain and other self-inflicted damage, so I'm trying to ease back in. 25 miles on local roads on Thursday, and then on New Years I did 46 miles mostly on the Blue Ridge Parkway from the James River north, and then down into town for lunch, and back. It's crazy how quickly I get out of riding shape these days...

https://www.strava.com/activities/460896901