Originally Posted by rpenmanparker (Post 19623801)

Give me a break, huh. I'm on vacation.

Originally Posted by Jadesfire (Post 19623891)

I like riding in the rain, but I don't like starting out when it is already coming down. And it has been pouring rain almost every day (with lightening) during my available ride times. So, no rides for me recently, which has me bummed as the HRM came in the mail on Tuesday, and I'd like to try it out.
But then also, a new fork arrived yesterday, so some of this weekend will be devoted to "upgrading."

Originally Posted by WhyFi (Post 19623903)

Anal-retentiveness takes no vacations. :mad:

;)

Originally Posted by rpenmanparker (Post 19623911)

I'm in a quandary of my own making. If I correct spelling and grammar errors, I am lambasted for being a putz. If I don't, you guys gloat over my missing something. What to do? What to do? I guess I will opt for putz as it is at least authentic.

Lightning has no "e" except when it means to remove weight from something. So it is "thunder and lightning" and "We were lightening the plane by throwing the penman out the side door as he so justly deserved."

Originally Posted by rpenmanparker (Post 19623886)

Not happening on this trip. Maybe we will do more westerly another time.

Originally Posted by Rowan (Post 19623926)

I wouldn't put Edmonton on your visit list... Calgary is much (MUCH) better. Edmonton, although also a university city, is more industrial than learned from what I could see (apologies to any lurking Edmontonites).

Originally Posted by Heathpack (Post 19623629)

Today we road a 35 mile/4700 ft ride on the mtn bikes. Cool and overcast, great temps for riding.

My friend who is here visiting with us is not the fastest rider and she likes to stop and take pics. So I just noodled around unconcerned about much of anything. It was pretty enjoyable. Very few cars or hikers.

We saw a couple foxes and a bunch of Buffalo. Nice one.

http://i771.photobucket.com/albums/x...93AF7D2BA2.jpg

http://i771.photobucket.com/albums/x...BAAA0F2112.jpg

Originally Posted by Velo Vol (Post 19623649)

When I last posted on a ride (Sunday), it looked like this (foreshadowing)

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ut...LdlGtJacA=w800

On Memorial Day I ventured out for an even more epic ride into the wilds of South Knox and Blount Counties.

Usually when I go out and there's a decent chance of rain, I look on the radar. But I forgot to Monday. Shortly after I left it started sprinkling on me, and continued to do so (off and on) until I was half way into the ride. It was quite daredevily to risk getting rained on like that, but I HTFU and rode anyway.

The storm hit South Knoxville even worse than West Knoxville. I saw a bunch of downed trees. On one of the longer climbs over a ridge the road was littered with a twigs and sticks. Just over the top I see a sign on the center stripes

"Road Closed"

Uh oh. I don't ride that area often and don't know the roads well. And I didn't want to turn around and go back the way I came, so I proceeded slowly.

Came across this around the bend.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/y0...OmIcfdw6Q=w800


Uh oh.

Fortunately, on the far right side if you went off the road you could walk around the wires without risking electrocution, so that's what I did.

Later in the ride I came to a second road closure. Again I rolled through. In this one the fallen trees had already been removed. Not sure why the sign was still in the road.

Anyway, I saw critters.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_K...jnw7yFdlg=w800

And birds!

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Wk...DEy0umFPQ=w800

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/9I...TeNQNo5yQ=w800

And thus, thanks to my HTFU and persistence, I finished the ride entered into Strava lore.

Originally Posted by Ramona_W (Post 19623487)

We have ridden about 27 miles on the new tandem. I am still experimenting with bike shorts and seat combinations but I'm happy because my allergies haven't interfered much with the riding. Today was especially excellent because we had no mechanicals and did not have to make the Call of Shame to LoP's mom.

Originally Posted by Trsnrtr (Post 19622697)

I have more good health news. I saw a neurologist for advanced chronic microvascular ischemic changes of the white matter of the brain far greater than my age. Sounds scary, doesn't it?

Well, yes, my brain showed a lot of these damaged spots from the MRI but the neurologist said they could just as easily be from the 235,000 miles of bike riding (read falling and crashing) and the few concussions and broken helmets along the way. None of there damage is in areas of any concern. Also, no history of balance issues, headaches, or memory trouble.

As a bonus, he pointed out the cross section of my carotid arteries and how nice and clean they were which was excellent for my age. :thumb:

So, no recommendations except monitor my BP and keep seeing my GP every 6 months and... lose a few pounds*. :rolleyes:

*why does every one of my doctors say that?

Originally Posted by f4rrest (Post 19623671)

I rode on Mars today.

Looking up the final switchbacks at 12500 ft.

I was ready to quit but ultimately made it.

http://i.imgur.com/vZxT9N6.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/DJom1Eu.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/3P7jQk4.jpg

Originally Posted by rpenmanparker (Post 19623801)

Give me a break, huh. I'm on vacation.

Originally Posted by BillyD (Post 19623970)

On the other front, I hear eating less works well. :innocent:

:D

Originally Posted by rjones28 (Post 19623974)

Isn't that a permanent condition for you?

Originally Posted by WhyFi (Post 19623966)

On Monday, we celebrated our boy's 6th bday (how did that happen already?). During said celebrations, I ate something that didn't agree with me and I had trouble, ah, absorbing nutrients for a couple of days. Finally feeling like systems are back to normal, but I missed my Wed ride. How am I supposed to barnstorm the weekly Addiction leaderboard from such a hole? :(

Originally Posted by rpenmanparker (Post 19623911)

If I correct spelling and grammar errors, I am lambasted for being a putz.

Originally Posted by WhyFi (Post 19623983)

Blasphemy. :mad:

Originally Posted by datlas (Post 19624009)

Question: does anyone know how/when the elbow flick became the universal sign that the lead rider is pulling off? I have only noticed it (and been using it) say for the past 5 years or so. Has it been a thing for decades and I was just oblivious??

Originally Posted by datlas (Post 19624009)

Question: does anyone know how/when the elbow flick became the universal sign that the lead rider is pulling off? I have only noticed it (and been using it) say for the past 5 years or so. Has it been a thing for decades and I was just oblivious??

Originally Posted by Trsnrtr (Post 19624082)

It was common in my racing days in the 80s and probably before that.

Much better than the fredly hand off the bars wave through gesture.

Originally Posted by rpenmanparker (Post 19623911)

I'm in a quandary of my own making. If I correct spelling and grammar errors, I am lambasted for being a putz. If I don't, you guys gloat over my missing something. What to do? What to do? I guess I will opt for putz as it is at least authentic.

Lightning has no "e" except when it means to remove weight from something. So it is "thunder and lightning" and "We were lightening the plane by throwing the penman out the side door as he so justly deserved."

Originally Posted by SwtBadger (Post 19623562)

We are keeping the spotted cow over here and as long as you keep that so called profession football team on you side of the river we will be fine ;)