First Ride of the Year
 

I just completed my first ride of the year. I did a twenty-one mile round trip ride on the Steel Valley Section of the Great Allegheny Passage. It took me just over an hour and a half averaging 13 mph. This is about where I was (performance wise) last fall before I had an accident that ended my ridding for the season.

The weather was 45 degrees and sunny, The trail was in good condition but there was some snow on the shaded portions of the trail.

Overall a great ride. Please post the details for your first ride of the year.

It's been subzero for the past 10 days but could see today's 40deg warmup coming. Pulled my heaviest bike off the trainer and did a shorter workout with the hills that surround me. I love the first ride except for the tease not knowing when the next ride will be. Sure was nice getting out of that Tour de Livingroom for a workout.

Welcome to the 50+, glad that the thaw let you get in a ride today. Hopefully the spring warm up is not to far away for the northern tier, heck the entire eastern half of the country.

Bill

I was tempted to go out today. A lot of snow melting, so big puddles, wet pavement. That really doesnt bother me, but 3-6 ft snowbanks right at the curb is sort of intimidating. I like an "out" in case of vehicular confrontation. Knowing I can jump the curb to get out of harms way is comforting. Riding next to a six foot wall of rock hard snow is not my idea of a relaxing ride.

But hey, it was above freezing!!!!! Its a start. Did i hear more snow is coming**********??

I took one 20 mile ride in January, nothing in February. I normally have 500 miles YTD by mid-March :cry:

I'll ride about 60 miles this weekend, I hope.

01/01/2014, New Year's Day - the Icycle Bicycle Ride around Pittsburgh sponsored by the Western PA Wheelmen. It was a "balmy" 28 degrees with an overcast sky, but the roads were dry. About 13 miles around the city, starting at REI at the Southside Works down Carson to the West End Bridge, across the Northshore to the 31st Street bridge, then down Penn Avenue to Grant Street, and out the Jail Trail back to REI. It's a great ride and a nice group of people - I rode next to a 24 year old fellow (hey, Rob!) on a fixie - he kicked my butt on the approaches to each bridge that we crossed!

You are a better man than I. Sounds like a fun ride, I rode a portion of that route today (Eliza Furnace trail head to Smithfield street bridge to the waterfront, back to the Fort Pitt bridge, across to the north shore, over the 7th street bridge and back to my car via the point.) I will try to make the ride next January.

It was a fun ride!

With the right clothes, it really wasn't bad. I used an Under Armour Coldgear compression jersey as a base layer and a long-sleeve thermal bike jersey from REI. A pair of thermal tights kept my legs toasty. I had a polar-tec vest on with a windproof jacket over it plus a balaclava for my head. By the end of the ride, I was actually too warm and started unzipping the jacket to cool down.

This is a great time to pick up some thermal gear - I found some good stuff at both REI and Performance Bikes at a pretty good discount.

Took my first ride today since 11/1/13 ...actually second, but the actual first one two weeks ago was so bad it hardly counts. This one was really short - 13 miles, but having been off the bike for more than four months (for unavoidable reasons) it will take a while to come back to even my previous state. Hopefully a warm windless spring is on the way :) , despite us not having any kind of winter like most everyone else has... although we have had snow, sleet, ice, etc. several times so far, which is unusual for us.

At least I washed my bike this afternoon.

Yesterday was my first real ride since November 25, when I had a total knee replacement.


I had been around the neighborhood for a couple of 15 minute rides or so, however yesterday I got out on the bike trail for about 16 miles and I consider this my first ride of the year. It wasn't fast, only about 10.5 mph average, but one of the better rides I've ever had.


It was absolutely gorgeous. I live in Southern California and yesterday was just absolutely beautiful, right around 80°, very little wind and the trail that I rode had very little traffic. It's absolutely amazing to me how a good bike ride can lift your spirits.

This is when we in Florida get our payback for suffering through the unbearable summer. I have been hittin' it 90 miles a week for the last month and did 43 miles today with a 16 mph average, lots of climbing.(.well, 27'..:>)).

The temps are 50-70, low humidity and light wind.

Next month, towards the end, it will start hitting 85+ in the afternoons. Not good. I do own an air conditioning business however.

Mike

I took my first ride today, but not planned. When I got home from running, I had lost my house key through a hole in my pocket. Got out my old bike with fenders and rode the route looking for the key; no luck! At least I got in about a 7 mile ride, although it was REALLY slow. Riding through the ice-covered puddles was interesting, I'm glad I didn't fall!

Yes Old_Roadie we have had pretty nice weather in SoCal this winter.
Today was my 56th ride of the year.

Today was a recovery ride from yesterday's almost century (94.4 miles - 8,878 feet of climbing), a very difficult century with a climb up Mt. Palomar in the middle (pretty much). Very brutal, not just Palomar but Cole Grade too, arguably more brutal than Palomar.

Here is the Strava: http://www.strava.com/activities/119187491

Plus, I had a lot of lower-back pain, making me wonder if I should even attempt the Joshua Tree Double next Saturday. Maybe I need more Motrin and more Bengay . . .

Monthly totals so far: January, 874 miles and 49,808 feet of climbing
February, 837 miles and 41,693 feet of climbing
Centuries so far in 2014: 7
Double Centuries so far in 2014: 1 (Camino Real)

Rick / OCRR

We got out for a 20 mile ride, in 78 degree weather . It was a great ride, even got a little sunburn. It snowed that night, today it's 34.

Not much better here, about 30 miles per week this year instead of possible 80 per week during the winter; entirely due to work demands.

As a year-round bike commuter my cycling year doesn't start and stop; it waxes and wanes. I consider April 1 as the New Year Day to bring out the carbon fiber bike.

Went out last Saturday with my gf to see the results of her recent bike fitting. A tremendous improvement on pedaling efficiency and comfort. We went 17.3 mi. at 13.4 mph. Then went out with three riders from our cycling club on Wed. did 28.3 mi. with one long, steep hill. Managed around 13.4 mph again. No one is in a big hurry at this time of year. And, I'me just happy to have recovered enough to ride again.

That is a really goo thing to hear from you, Bruce! The feeling is such a good one to experience, too.

Bill