ColorChange

Took yesterday as a rest day. Commuted in this morning (7 miles) and plan to do about 13 miles on the way home somewhat hard.

whitesox

Ran 6 last night. I might try to ride tonight, we shall see... or run of course

voldemort

No doubt about it, we need to find you a FT job. You're having WAY too much fun (read jealous jealous jealous). I just recently found out the arboretum was open to biking. How long has that been? I know it hasn't always been, because I remember thinking what a great place for riding...and at that time it was not allowed (many years ago).

ceiph

isnt the big loop of the arboretum only like 4 miles or something, how are you getting 25 miles a day in i guess

SmokinMiles

Using the east and west loop it's about 7.5 miles plus there are various turn offs where you can loop back around. For some reason, I don't mind the montony of it and look forward to knowing what's up next. I guess the beauty of the place really helps too.

There are so few cars that it's almost dangerous because you start forgetting to look for them. I love the descent on the east loop and the long meandering climb up Frost Hill.

Some much younger, fitter looking young men were training out there....dressed alike...some team I guess.

Voldemort, I'm not sure how long it's been open to bikes. I, too was surprised as I met there to run with someone during the winter and saw that sign about biking in the Aboretum. I lived in Glen Ellyn in the early 90's and I don't think it was open to bikes then so it must be a fairly recent change.

I'm planning to be there on a weekly basis. I'm done teaching at 11:00 and start riding around 11:30 if anyone wants to join me. I'll probably go next week on Tuesday or Thursday depending on the weather.

There's also a fabulous place there for a snack and coffee afterwards. I call it the country club for nature lovers. Now if they'd just let runners on the trails.

Oh, regarding my life of leisure...the high school is trying to talk me into teaching one more class next year. That would mean staying there till 12:30. Not sure that I can hack it. Truly, I am totally spoiled.

Scummer

12:30? Obscene!

SmokinMiles

Ha ha ....The real non sandbagging truth is that I just suck on hills (ask Chipcom) I can get 'er done but it's ugly. I *think* I'm improving some but I have way more guts and determination than I have talent for this sport

Now give me about 200 miles to ride in a day on reasonably flat terrain and some baked potatoes and I'm a happy gal!!!!

Psimet2001 

Says the athlete whose avatar picture was taken quite a few minutes before this fool's picture was taken on that day....

Moochers_Dad

I just rode 34 miles on the lakefront path. 22mph avg headed south, and then 11mph average coming back north. The wind really blows.

At different times, I rode with a Trek 2200 Composite, a Giant TCR, and a Lightspeed; I guess there were people upon them also, but I just like the bikes. Actually the Lightspeed guy was nice and we talked. I had to apologize because I yelled at some kids who were playing chicken on our side of the path so I screamed at them, not realizing I was also screaming into the ear of Lightspeed Guy. It was not a wise thing for me to do.

Between the Field Museum and Belmont, I was greatly underdressed and in fact, two of my fingers froze completely off.

CrimsonKarter21

Yesterday I was late getting out of work and missed my Wed night group ride. Instead I went out solo to punish myself for not being fast enough yesterday. I caught up with a riding buddy from the next city over, got a look at his new SystemSix with Record and rode with him for a few miles. Last year, he was about the same speed as me, and now, I can drop him in a heartbeat. It feels good to be fast now.

Today I left school early to get a ride in in the nice weather, and I got owned by the wind. It was so bad, and I didn't bring enough water so I got dehydrated. In fact, it was so windy that I took my earbuds out because I couldn't hear my music anyways, even with th evolume all the way up! I don't think I ever got a tailwind.

Tomorrow is a rest day, and Saturday is game day.

John Wilke

18 miles of gravelly fun on the Racine County Bike Trail. 59 degrees in Burlington, WI ... 47 degrees here at home in Greenfield. Legs finally starting to show some primitive life.

aham23

skipped out of work around noon today. literally skipped i was so happy it was so nice outside. nicer then forecasted for sure.

it was 39 miles. a pretty aggressive effort for me this early in the season. the last ten miles hurt a bit. just like i like it.

later.

wireless

21 miles today after work. First time in single layer of closing! Last 2 miles were around 6:30 pm going into the wind
I think I am ready for my first 50-miler this season...

dannwilliams

26 miles with the group from Hudson, WI. Kinda cold, 50 down to 45 by the end. Feet were numb when I got back to the car. First group ride of the year. Nice to be able to be shielded from the wind once in a while.

SmokinMiles

"Skipped" That is awesome!!! We soooo understand your enthusiasm. What a wonderful weather mistake they made and we got a nearly perfect day to ride.

SmokinMiles

30 miles with my neighbor. My legs felt surprisingly ok even after yesterday's longish ride. That's what I LOVE about cycling...the fast recovery! Almost no wind on our normally windy route.

Running easy in the a.m.

SmokinMiles

This weekend maybe???? For your first 50?

garysol1 

Leinad and I went down just south of Penninsula tonight to do some hill work in preparation for our trip to Georgia next week. He and I did 15 miles our selves then hooked up with the Akron Bicycle Club for there Thursday night slugfest of 25 miles. Lots and lots of climbing for 40.39 painful miles.Avg speed 18.75 and Max speed of 40.0

ceiph

i did my fun lil loops today river path to the prarie path geneva spur, and than loop back on the aurora spur of the prarie path, fun lil 34 miles, but starting out i crashed and bruised a ribbed so that made things suck

Scummer

Pulled my daughter around the neighborhood for 30 min. She reported it as being a fun ride

joetotale

I did my usual commute from Pilsen to Hyde Park and back (16 miles both ways), and later I did at least another 10 miles from Pilsen to Lincoln Park and back.

wireless

I hope so. But I would not know until Saturday evening - have to keep an eye on couple of things at work.

voldemort

So THAT explains why you didn't mind riding the same route over and over...the "scenery"

Whereabouts? I grew up in GE, at Park and Duane. Then my parents moved to GE Woods, literally a stone's throw from the arboretum.

voldemort

4/16- Did Colorchange's route from 59 and 72 through the castles of Barrington (two actually had turret towers, and one had a garage next to the garage). I should have known I was in trouble when I saw I was going north at 29mph after only five minutes of warming up. Once I had looped around and started southbound, the wind took over, and I actually had to pedal to keep going downhill at one point. I thought about going back the way I came, since that had been a great tailwind the whole way. A little voice inside of me said that strategy wouldn't work, so I huffed and I puffed...(south) aaaallllll the way home.

Anyway, great route overall. Sort of on my way home from work, so might try to make it a semi-regular ride.

4/17 A quick 10 miles before shooting home for kid responsibilities. Damn, nice weather for a much longer ride. Oh, well.

CyLowe97

You heading down for the TdG? Are you going to ride any of the roads?

I'm going to be in Atlanta in August (yeah...August) and am planning on riding up in the northern part of the state if everything works out. Trying to get good routes, places to base the rides, known pitstops to refill on liquids, etc. If you have any suggested routes could you pass them along in this thread?