PatW

I went out for my normal Christmas ride. One of the compensations for the hot, humid summers in central FL is the fact that one can ride all year. I was admonished to keep the ride short.

I got out at first light about 7:15 AM. The traffic was light. Also to the plus size, no one seemed to be obviously homicidal. I rode along Lake Monroe and saw a small alligator, a great egret, some moorhens, an anhinga, ibis, osprey, and cormorants. I got back and had 40 miles which I will need given the fact that today is usually given over to the exposure to large and hazardous quantities of food.

I hope everyone has a good day.

Pat

doctor j

Well done, and Merry Christmas!

I had planned to get in a few miles, but we've been the recipient of big-time rain over night and this morning in central Louisiana. Hopefully it will pass and the roads will dry enough to be able to burn off at least a few of today's pending calories, which will be great in number.

Even as we speak, the spousal unit is artistically assembling copious quantities of irresistible calories in the galley area. Far be it from me to insult said spousal unit by lightly grazing. I'll pretend I just rode a double century...

Paul01

Beautiful riding this afternoon on the Pinellas trail except for the usual annoying wind.

GeorgeBMac

It was good day for a ride today here in Pittsburgh. Very quiet and peaceful and the few people around were all happy, smiling and wishing each other well...

Unfortunately my cold toes talked me into stopping a little short of 20 miles. But, that got me over 350 miles for the month -- which I NEVER expected to get in December...

But, they're talking about heavy snow starting tomorrow morning -- so that might it for the year for me...

I'm glad I got that ride in...

Bikey Mikey

Did 42 miles starting around 04:40 so I could eat pie with the Christmas meal I made.

Rick@OCRR

My wife and I rode the Christmas ride put on by our club (OC Rebels) and had a fine time in mostly overcast, cool but not cold weather.

Only 25 miles, but that was enough for me, still recovering from the crash that's kept me off my bikes (pretty much) since Nov. 5th.

The club leader (dictator) Jess, took this photo of us before the ride. Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas ride!

Rick / OCRR

Burton

My Christmas ride involved throwing a tux in a bag and cycling an jour and a half across town in -11C weather. Traffic was light, the company was great and the food was a virtual landslide of goodies! Italians love their food and there are some excellent cooks in the family. I may have to cycle all year just to compensate'

Dan Burkhart 

Does it really take a jour and a half to cycle across town?

stapfam

Depends on how many beers get through to the keyboard.

Despite the weather not being pleasant to ride in--We went to my daughters for the day. So tomorrow--or today now-- may see me cycling down to the Seafront for a coffee and Pie. Only a short ride but I hope I will enjoy it.

John_V 

Glad all you guys got your Christmas Day rides in. I tried but just couldn't make it out before sunset. The park where the MUP is located was closed yesterday. The only road to get to and from my house is very dangerous to ride in the daytime, no way I would ride it at night.

Old Sarge

I did not get in a Christmas ride. I was really looking forward to it since it would be the first time I've ridden a bike of my own in fifty+ years. All our family visits occurred on Sunday and Christmas Eve so I had all the time in the world on Christmas day. But it rained all night Christmas Eve and most of the morning (this isn't a big rant because our local lake is down nearly ten feet from its conservation level...I consider the rain a gift from God on Christmas). Then it turned to snowing. So my bicycle is sitting safely in the garage and it will be too wet today for me to start riding. Perhaps tomorrow if the streets are dry.

lhbernhardt

Christmas ride was 45 km on slush-covered roads to the west of Olympia/Tumwater, WA with a very good friend. Temps were near freezing, but rain was falling and leaving puddles, so no fear of ice, just some rear wheel slippage on the climbs. Had to wear two long-sleeve jerseys plus the lightweight Showers Pass rain jacket, with a cap and XC racing earmuffs under the helmet. Also had to change gloves halfway thru the ride, when we stopped for hot chocolate at one of the few places that was open. The ride reminded me of just two days earlier, when the two of us had been in Seaside, OR, and riding twice the distance thru the hills on Hwy 53 down to Nehalem, then back on Hwy 101 thru Cannon Beach and back to Seaside. Same weather, slush, and temperatures thru the hills, but noticeably warmer by the ocean. But this one felt more like a real HTFU ride, when you start thinking that maybe you didn't need to ride so far. But the Christmas ride was easy.

Rides like these remind of what Sean Kelly said: "You look out the window and it's raining, but how do you know it's too cold and wet to ride unless you've gone out and ridden?"

Luis