24 miles of bike commuting today. About 60F this morning and low 80's this afternoon. Very nice!

19 miles, strong head wind followed up with interval training. it was my first time doing intervals. it really pushed me hard but it felt good. looking forward to more.

rob

After a couple days off with back and neck spasms, I was up at dawn Wednesday morning for a ride, which is weird. I'm not a morning person. Second time I've done that this month. Rode 14 miles for a 13 mph average speed, which is slightly faster than my usual. Still got dropped like a rock by a heavyset guy loafing along at 50-60 rpm on a road bike.

Might ride a bit more later.

***

Well, I did ride a bit more later but not what I expected. Skipped the group ride due to regional t-storms. Just a 6 mile test ride to check on some adjustments and do a little grocery shopping. Clear but muggy night.

A very hot, humid and windy 38 mile ride with my buddy Frank this morning. We don't get much wind during our summer months but right about this time of year, it returns and often with a vengeance. Gotta get back into this riding in the wind again. :(

28.1 miles today at a social pace. It isn't so hard going up the hills when you take your time....

As you know I'm not a big fan of wind nor gravity. Monday on the group ride we had two steep hills, a lot of incline, all in a 15-20mph headwind. It does take its toll. Funny how it seems no matter which way the wind is blowing you're always in a headwind.

Only 17.7 miles today on the Tarmac SL. Overslept again, got out late, but dressed for the cool morning. Some wind today.

2016: 3,839 Miles ♂ Total Miles: 13,460 · Tarmac SL 548m


The Detroit Lions, with zero appearances, are the NFL team that have gone the longest without ever being in the Superbowl.

24 miles again today as a Bike Commuter. Chance of afternoon rain but it didn't happen. Yay!

Personally, I love gravity when the road ahead is lower than the road you are on.

One of Murphy's Laws of Cycling states that it doesn't matter where you are coming from,or going to, but it is ALWAYS uphill and into the wind.
I have found that to be true in many occasions...

3.5 miles. Yep, that's it. Left the house 2 hours before work so I could park my car away from work, and ride 3.5 miles.

Yesterday, same plan, but traffic was so bad I had to drive straight in. I was cranky all day, and not much better when I got home. Even that short 20 minute ride, on a somewhat too small, old hybrid bike is enough to make my day go better.

Not yet sure how long into Fall I will be able to keep this up, or whether the early sunset or colder weather is the most limiting factor. This is my first year at commuting, and only started July 1st.

But I am going to a Cycling Savvy class tomorrow evening, hope to pick up some hints and skills on better riding.

Doing a hybrid drive/bike commute has really helped with being less anxious (it's my nature), but I need to get more confident in dealing with Waltham traffic before I can get to the next level.

Before I invest in a better bike, I want to know that I am capable/comfortable/dedicated enough to keep this up at least 6 months a year, and to be doing it at least 3, but hopefully closer to 5 days a week.

Posting this in case there are other lurkers who might like me feel inspired, but occasionally a little intimidated by those doing so much more.

Just got back from a mini 'Le Tour de Bullhead' on the Raleigh. Hadn't ridden it in over a month (I've been on my Trek hybrid).

Had a very enjoyable breakfast with the wife and youngest grandson at the Grandparent's Breakfast at his elementary school. Afterward, the wife and I went and did a nice and slow 26 mile ride. It was a late start so the temps were starting to rise to the point where it was too hot and humid to do a regular ride. I need a ride with the wife every now and then anyway. :D

I've reached the point where I can tell if it's a slight incline or decline. But especially in the trike, I'm so low to the ground, I can see it. Scary.

20.4 fast miles on the Roubaix today. Waxed the bike and new pedals, slip right through the air (except for the 210lb body on the bike). I'm back to wearing long pants and long sleeves. Cold in the early AM.

2016: 3,859 Miles ♂ Total Miles: 13,481 · Roubaix SL3 1385/3917

Yesterday morning at 8:20am did 10 miles at a very relaxed 10mph, touring the Sound side of Kitty Hawk on the Bay Road. They have a fairly new bike path that was heaven to ride, nicely marked for the official county bike route #3, and the scenery was peaceful and quite beautiful. Headwind met me in Nags Head going back home on a lightly busy NC12, but at least the road shoulders were sand free. 6 miles later that evening just after sunset to try out the colorful new bike wheel lights.

This morning at 8:32am kissed hubby goodbye and left him with the dogs to enjoy a morning reading on the deck overlooking the ocean while I did a 20 mile loop around Kitty Hawk and Kill Devil Hills. No wind at all as I headed north then east up towards the bridge coming across the Sound into the OBX, then turned south onto the county bike route #1 which started out with a wonderful bike trail including quite a few interesting little pathway signs detailing the history of the area and the notable flora. It was only the inevitable gathering of mosquito highwaymen quickly zeroing in on me when I stopped at each sign that forced me to read quickly, then pedal the heck as fast as possible out of range of the little bloodsuckers...until the next sign. The nice path soon dumped me rather unceremoniously onto a less than congenial winding road with debris-strewn shoulders, but the drivers were courteous enough that it wasn't too annoying. In a short mile or so the #1 route merged with bike route #3 which took me back onto the nice Soundside road from yesterday, but this time I went further and ended with a tour through the Wright Brothers National Memorial using my new senior pass. Since the ranger was happy to give me permission, I biked up the steep path to the monument on the dune that those brothers used to launch their first "heavier than air" flight trials. After some pictures and chatting with other visitors (who were frankly amazed at seeing a bike up on that hill) I walked down to the bottom with one hand squeezing the brake as my bike was more than happy to just gallop down that steep slope willy nilly. Once at the bottom and across the main 4 lane highway, I was once again on the beach road, heading north...right into the headwind. The calm morning had turned progressively winder and rougher, and the flags flying enroute were at full military attention, all pointing in my direction. Not too far from home, though, so it wasn't hard to tough it out. VERY happy with my vintage bike - it was a good choice to take on this vacation as it rides as smooth as silk, is delightlfully comfortable, and is so incredibly dead quiet.

Dinner tonight for our 38th wedding anniversary. :-)

Today's ride was up Acadia Natl Park's Cadillac Mt and around the Park Loop Road. 2200 ft of climbing (1000 up Cadillac). I rode the UO-8, my first derailleur bike.

http://theworld.com/~muller/pics/Rid...NearTheTop.jpg

Another bike to work day - 4 in a row this week but chance of rain Friday - with very nice weather again. 22 miles total

Congratulations to you and your husband on your 38th! It has been a long time since I was in the VaBeach (Dam Neck) area; took a few trips down to KDH but wasn't into bicycling at that time. Sounds like an excellent ride.

My second ride on my new Specialized Sirrus. Getting back into it after years without riding. Rode 14 miles in just over an hour. I probably would have come in under an hour but traffic was heavy and I was a bit timid dealing with it. Felt pretty good other than pain in my neck and perineum. Hopefully both will get better as I ride more.

It counts. When I resumed cycling last year after many years away I could mange only 1-3 miles the first week or so. But every ride feels great, and I find myself making excuses for longer rides now.

Intended to ride only a couple of miles for errands, ended up stretching it out to 23 miles tonight. Tried a new-to-me pedaling technique for platform pedals. Felt odd at first but good as I went along. Gonna keep trying it for awhile.

As George Costanza would say "The sea was angry that day, my friends..."

Tropical storm "Julia" is moving up the Atlantic coast and really irritating our previously tranquil ocean. This morning I did a short, very windy, blowing sand 4 mile round trip to the grocery store, then a quick 2 mile run down the beach road and back to see if the ocean's waves, pushed by the tropical storm winds, had overrun NC12 again at the Black Pelican. The morning high tide mark was within a foot of the road, and tonight's high tide is supposed to be even higher.

Even with my heavy vintage hybrid I got roughly smacked around by the TS winds, and pushed several times too close to the sand banks alongside the road. Was a "hands-tight-on-the-handlebars" type of ride. Would have been smarter just to have turned down to the interior roads where the wind is blocked by all the vacation properties. But I was in a hurry to get back, and not inclined to deal nicely with the plethora of vigilant stop signs standing sentry at every corner on each block of those interior roads. And no, you can't blow through them because most of those interior roads connect direct to the main superhighway and those cross roads don't have stop signs on their sides.

6 miles today, and that will be it. No recreational tours for me until the winds die down. A short time ago I did see a pair of sleek road bikes racing past heading south on the beach road, bless them, with a tailwind harrying them along. The red "No Swimming" flags are up and flying high, and the strong winds are making sure that message is seen. The beaches are pretty much empty of all life.

Got 25 in this morning in and out of rain showers.
We are riding with a friend who hasn't been on the bike much lately, so our pace is a bit slow;
however, I am finding it to my liking.
Too many days off for me this summer, so my weight is up and my speed is down.
But, I tell myself that as long as I am out there riding, things could be worse!

Nice 58 mile ride with my buddy Frankie. Other than the heat and humidity, it was a near perfect ride.

16.2 miles on the Allez. Now that I've ridden the two Tarmacs several times, and the Roubaix again, I can tell the difference between the aluminum and carbon fiber frame(s). Does make a difference.

A friend gave me two new Mavic tires so I put them (700x23) on the Allez and cleaned the wheels and cassette (messy job). Looks like new. It's still a great bike.

2016: 3,876 Miles ♂ Total Miles: 13,497
Allez 1282/3713 · Roubaix SL3 1385/3917 · Tarmac SL 548m · Tarmac S-Works SL3 240m · Trike 213/1796

Did a "Le Tour de Yard Sale' on the hybrid. . . .

Down by the river, i rode my steelie.....


This is a salmon gate on the Cedar River. The salmon run is being held downstream (Lake Union?), but the spawning season is underway.