Machka 

It's Friday afternoon here in the lovely, sunny country of Australia ... time for the weekend to begin!! Of course, for me, every day might as well be a weekend these days.

Anyway ... where are you riding this weekend? Anywhere interesting? If you're in the northern hemisphere, are your leaves changing colour? If you're in the southern hemisphere, are you seeing signs of spring yet?


Over here in Victoria, today was one of the warmest days we've had in a long time ... about 15C, I believe. The sun is shining, the wind is blowing, the daffodils, cherry trees, plum trees, and some other little purple flower in the ditches are blooming ... it is a gorgeous day out there.

And best of all ...

Today ... I just got in from a 12.4 km bicycle ride on my road bicycle (Machak) on the road!!! That's the first road ride I've had since the beginning of June, and the longest distance I've ridden by far since that time!!! WooHoo!! I'm getting back into it again ... but, wow, am I ever out of shape. I'll have to watch for swelling in my left leg, but so far, so good.

Flatballer

I never thought I'd see that day that Machka posted about riding 12.4 km.

For me, tomorrow is Friday (which is part of the weekend, since I don't have classes).

Tomorrow will be about 4 hours on my MTB. 2 hours spent riding to and from the trails (on fire roads and pavement), and then a couple hours on the single track.

Saturday, probably 5 hour road ride, then Sunday about 3 hours (before football watching, of course).

That'll be about 20 hours for the week. Getting back into the base mileage time.

Braden1550

Machka-where in VIC? I'm in Geelong. Diggin this weather ATM, although with school and work I get all my riding in at around 5:30-6am before school, or 8am Sunday (unless you count commuting on Saturday and Monday). I plan to do a small training crit this Sunday around Eastern Gardens (where the Masters Games Crit's were held), hopefully just to keep the legs ticking over for a Crit on Tuesday.

Machka 

NE of Melbourne ... between Alexandra and Healsville. Sort of near Lake Eildon.

fauxto nick

Rode with lance armstrong lol.

cyclezealot

Your leg is a little swollen. From the lack of riding.? Hope nothing more.. I think of Machka as crossing continents ... Not 12.5 Km rides...
In the south of France , Fall hopefully does not arrive until around Nov. 1. Now is the time for smelling the grapes being harvested and the vintners stinking up the terrain being that the fermentation process is in high gear...... This weekend will be a 60 Km ride thru the hills of the Aude region. The Aude is often a location for the Tour De France to pass through Roussillon... Rolling hills tops off at about 1000 meters... Weather is great. Less hot than a couple weeks ago when all the beach people were in town.. Great weather for cycling at about 25 C. for the highs.. Sunny skies..
Your description of Victoria sure blows Australian stereotypes... Most think of the Great Barrier Reef and palm trees. And year round riding.

Surferbruce

Indeed it is the best month of the year here in southwest France. Off today for some cruising around the Lot valley up near Figeac. I've been pretty much off the bike since mid July and it's rough getting back.

cyclezealot

,^. You off the bike. Impossible.?... Are you staying in France beyond September..?.. If it snows up there in December, come on down.. Usually the worst we get on the Spanish border is just a frosting..

Machka 

Not from lack of riding ... from DVT https://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycling/567817-still-no-cycling.html


Yes ... it's not like the sterotypes here!! This area of Australia is much like the Vancouver/Seattle area of North America except that it does get hotter in the summer here than it does there. It's early spring so we're still experiencing frosts ... it got cold enough for a frost last night. And winter consists of a lot of rain. Not far from us, the ski season is still going ... one of the popular mountains is about 20 km away from us.

Here's a shot of the view from just outside our cabin ... not exactly palm trees and GBR!!

cyclezealot

Beautiful. Sort of looks like parts of California come Springtime.. Looks like great cycling.

khatfull

Friday afternoon/evening: probably a short 20mi. solo spin if it doesn't rain, maybe a few hill repeats thrown in..
Saturday: maybe a 20-40 mile solo ride, dunno, depends on family stuff.
Sunday: 79 mile club ride scheduled. Never done this route so I don't know anything about it. Mostly rural, was going to map it at MMR to see what the "elevation" looks like.

So hopefully a 100-120mi weekend if I can pull it off.

saratoga

It's only Friday morning here (FL). Haven't begun to think 'weekend' just yet

I registered for the races this weekend that are about a 3 hour drive away and am now contemplating not going because I'm still feeling the after effects of the flu.

Machka 

It's still quite green here because of the amount of rain we've had this winter ... but come summer it will turn brown.


I'm hoping to get out for a ride again today ... yesterday's ride felt good, and my leg didn't swell.

Steve in MA

I'll be riding in the Connecticut Valley Century this weekend. The course goes from Hatfield, MA to Brattleboro Vermont along the west bank of the Connecticut River, with a return leg down the east bank of the river. 102 mile round trip, and the weather should be perfect (78 and sunny).

The leaves aren't changing yet here in MA, but I wouldn't be surprised if I see some color on the trees when we cross north into Vermont.

Machka 

I've been to Brattleboro ... hilly area, if I recall correctly.

BarryJo

Our tuesday night group will be doing the same century. It's without question my favorite ride of the year, about 40 of us ride the first 75 together, and after that 3rd SAG stop the speeds pick up until the last 10 miles where the ride always breaks apart. Good fun, and a great post ride dinner to give us something to look forward to.
Other than that, 2 hours on the trainer today, maybe an hour of easy spinning tomorrow.
Best time of the year to ride a bike here in New England.

BarryJo

Brattleboro is very hilly, but the ride itself is pretty flat, following along the Connecticut River. The only hills to speak of is when you head out of Brattleboro into NH. And then it flattens out again.

edit: By the way, forgot to mention, good to see you back on the bike again!

Machka 

Thanks!!

Machka 

Today (Saturday) is a gorgeous day here. Our verandah thermometer reads 21C, and that's in the shade. It's a bit windy, but not too bad, and the sun is shining. Lovely. I was actually out in short sleeves for the first time since I got here.

And ... Rowan and I rode 14.3 km today. We're both getting back into it again, only Rowan has much better fitness than I do because of the work he does.

Machak, with Cathedral Mountain in the background:



And a few more:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/1430288...7622345234456/

scotch

gotta vicious seasonal head cold. no riding for me this weekend. sucks.

gsteinb

Are there roads in the bush?

Machka 

Yep.

This is the road from our cabin to the gravel road:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/1430288...7619719051119/

See also the photos of today's ride here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/1430288...7622345234456/

StephenH

Didn't ride yesterday because of the rain, only rode 10 miles the day before, got up this morning and it was rainy. So I rode down to the bike shop anyway (no one there for the Saturday morning ride), so I rode on out to White Rock Lake.
Saw these guys out rowing:

Not visible in the picture was a smaller boat behind them with a coach calling out directions.


Pretty much rode non-stop except for a brief pause here at a pavillion. That's the lake in the background. I think that's just rain in the background, not fog.


And me, playing duck:


29 miles total.

mike868y

No ride this weekend for me. Still trying to get over being sick.

acaurora

First time ever experiencing rain while out riding. Was an interesting experience. Was not aware of all the muddy water that would come flying at you when you're close (and even 1 bike apart) to the person in front of you while drafting. Half the time I was trying to see through my glasses that were getting pretty muddy pretty fast. Was kind of cool though, on my right tons of clouds, on my left nothing but sunshine.

Sad to see that the season is coming to a close, as most of my friends that ride with me are saying. (I don't like riding in the rain)