April 24, 33+ miles today, summer is here I was sweating today, it was another beautiful Florida day, sunny high 80s, and a light wind to deal with. Came across a rider that had taken a header over the bars (no helmet) and had to send him to the hospital, It was just good to be out side and turning the cranks. The days are starting to get a lot warmer here in FL.

33.5 miles today
660.5 miles this month
2498.5 miles this year
77 ride days TY vs 70 ride days LY
5001 miles needed to hit 2010 goal (7500 miles)
I am @ 33% of goal. I need to be @ 33.3% (2500 miles) by the end of April
693 miles ahead of this date last year

Except for the wind that kept swirling and felt like it was hurting most of the day it was a very good day to ride. Got in 73 miles with 5000 ft of climbing. Grades got up as high as 15% for some short stretches. Darn headwind for 20 miles going out and at least the last 10 miles-an out and back too.......Legs were pretty tired from traveling along with extracurricular activities this week.

I have not done that one in 5-6 years. Are they doing that route clockwise now? Always loved the stretch along the river-but if you had headwinds that could be a drag.

It is clockwise and has been for the last four years I believe. The stretch along the Toe was very nice but there was a constant headwind through there. Still, it is a fast ride, especially if you are willing to stay with the lead group until the climbing starts in Red Hill. I think the first guys finish in 2.5 hours.

Spit off the back on lap 12 of a 17 lap, 22 mile race today. I raced with the Master's 35+ and 45+ races. Some of the big guns from last weeks Cat 1, 2, 3 race rode in our race and it was a hammer fest from the get go. After riding the last 5 laps solo my average speed for the race was 23.7 mph. I spent too much time near the front during the attacks and burned all my matches early.

In retrospect, my going off the back could be related the beat down Louis put on me during yesterday's ride.;) I need to blame someone so it might as well be Louis.

:lol::lol::lol: When we passed over that swampy area I think I heard some turtles laughing. :twitchy:

The other day I rode 4.5 miles. Today it was 7.5 miles.

The temperature was expected to climb in the high 80's but I still went around noon. I guess I wanted to see how I would fare in the heat.

It wasn't that bad. I drank plenty of water and kept moving. When I got to where I wanted to go, I drank some more water and cooled off in the mall before heading back home.

I've been riding almost daily for a week now, soley on the sidewalk.

However, after riding the sidewalks for a while, I can see why some brave cyclists (and there are not many here where I live) risk the street.

Those sidewalk ruts and bumps are murder on your butt and your bike. Those sharp steeped driveways are no fun either or those narrow on/off sidewalk ramps. They were not made for trikes that's fer sure. Whenever I hit a rut I think my tire is gone but so far, so good.

I have nothing interesting to report. No glimpse of nature, no saving of kittens. This was pure endurance type training for me today.

No riding for me tomorrow though. It's suppose to rain heavily. I'm not going to test myself in the rain - yet.

Yes! Finally after 9 days of laying low with a cold took my road bike out for a 14.2 mile road along the coast. Nice spring morning. Perhaps tomorrow will do a bit longer ride.

About 12 miles yesterday evening after work - just getting dark as I finished (flashing headlight and PB Superflash)

After doing what had to get done today (mowing, weedwhacking and then writing a short paper for a class) went for a ten mile ride knowing that rain was headed our way. Put on the fenders first, just in case, then got out for a short, fast/slow ride (fast with a tailwind/slow into a headwind). Overall, more tailwind than headwind = fun ride. Arrived back to our neighborhood just as it started to rain.

Only a 20 miler down to the LBS- 10 miles each way but into a headwind that was cool. Decided to push it a bit and paid for it. At one point I saw a bike???? in front of me and chased it. Could not catch it and it must have been a casual rider due to the upright stance of the rider. Chased it for 5 miles and could not get any closer. Then a set of traffic lights and it was not a bike. It was one of the low powered engine propelled scooters that abound over here. The rider must have had just as much trouble with the headwind and the upright stance as I did- and I must get new glasses.

Saturday I did a 60K loop down the Don across the lake to the Humber River and stopped for Lunch at the Drake with my daughter..... a little cool and a strong head wind. Thanks fully for the climb up to Lawrence we had a tail wind. Was a great day!

Next up Wednesday is 100K north of the City :)

Which way do you go heading North. I find getting south easy, but North, you need to get North of Major Mac before the car traffic drops to the point, where it's relatively safe. The new bike lanes North of Steeles on Dufferin look like a possible route, but I haven't had a chance to try them. Nice thing about going North is that your going uphill when your fresh and downhill when your not. Where abouts are you in the city, Bathurst and Sheppard area here.....

42.4 miles. Forecast was for clouds and rain this morning but the sun broke through the clouds for about 3 hours and it was a plesant ride with a little breeze coming from the NNE.

Did a Mtbride as recovery from yesterdays 200k brevet. Wanted to go on a shorter route so I tried my regular straight up and down forestride. I had overoptimistic ideas about the amount of snow above 900 feet so I ended up pushing my bike on skitracks for a little over a mile. I felt a bit tired waking up today but the ride made me feel good.

Rainy and windy in Toronto today so chose to do a 90 minute muddy cross ride.

Short ride
 

Today I thought I would make a photo journal record of my regular ride. Borrowed my wife's camera and set out on a beautiful Sunday morning. Only got to the first lighthouse (there are 5 within 5 miles of my home.) After taking these pictures I felt a few braking jolts from the rear and a loud bang. Blew the rear tire but while going up a hill so at slow speed. Spent about an hour trying to repair a 5 inch slit on the inner face of the tube. Not successful so had to walk the bike home (about a mile). Several bikers asked if I needed help which was nice. There is a camaraderie among bikers that exists similar to the one that sailors experience. Nice.

Anyway here are the pictures of the first lighthouse, Portland Head Lighthouse, commissioned by George Washington in 1790. The others will follow when I replace the tube. It looks like some exotic snake with the patches and still leaked.
Attachment 147916Attachment 147917Attachment 147918Attachment 147919

Shorter ride
 

I did some grocery shopping the Varsity. It has a pair of Wald baskets on the back, plus a touring-size saddle bag, so I can essentially carry three grocery bags full of stuff. Which is what I did.

Did a short 66 miles in the moountains and took the easier route back for a change.

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u.../rockslide.jpg

I had to work today but did 22 miles at lunch. It was very windy but a beautiful day. As I was finishing up the ride I passed a church sign that said it was 80 degrees. Summer is definately here.

I am at Lawrence and Avenue road. We go up back streets wherever possible ie. through Armour hieghts to Bathurst then sheppard east a couple of blocks then north to steeles. from there it will depend on the mood. right now we are getting ready to do the Ride to Conquer Cancer in June so I want to get up to 80K this week.

Check your PM's.

Wife and I did the Chico Velo "Mildflower" (100K) on our tandem. The one climb, "Honey Run", was certainly tough enough on the tandem. Well-run event, beautiful weather, good scenery (last 20 miles excepted), good food at ride's end. Pulled three singles on the downhill at speeds up to 48 mph, but ran out of gas the last 15 miles or so.

The wife and I put in a nice little road ride, 34 miles and even though it was windy and cloudy, we stayed dry and had a most excellent time! We've been riding with the local club lately and their pace is more like a "pure training" ride for my wife. Today it was just US and I let her set the pace and stops and she actually had FUN. Looks like were going to ride with the club "every other weekend" so she can get the feeling of "riding for fun" back!

Thought you might like one more pic from the Sat. ride. Looking up from the rockslide, pic by MarkAJ.
http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u...53/rocks-1.jpg