Machka 

Where did you cycle this weekend ... or the days surround the weekend? Tell us all about it! Or did you participate in other sports? Got pics?


And Happy Thanksgiving Weekend to the Canadians ... that used to be a good cycling weekend for me. A chance to cycle three days in a row.


[HR][/HR]


Friday -- We walked 2.4 km up the hill behind our place and back, in the evening after work. This photo was taken maybe about 500 metres up the hill.


click photo for a few more

I also walked a couple km throughout the day, especially at lunch.


And on Thursday, we returned to the gym. Rowan swam and I walked on the treadmill for an hour.

Machka 

Saturday -- Rowan and I drove to Kettering, just south of where we live, to catch the ferry to Bruny Island. Our first reason for going was so that Rowan could collect a pair of sail boards which he retrieved from the local tip. He had them stored at the orchard where he works. Our second reason for going was to get a good ride in.

Bruny Island is an interesting place to cycle because it is an island. Cars are allowed on, but they can only get there by ferry ... so they come in waves. For a few minutes when you get off the ferry, there's a wave of vehicles ... and then next to nothing, for the next 45 minutes or so. Then there's another quick wave of traffic ... and nothing for the next 45 min or so. Lovely!!

Bruny Island is a bit hilly, like most of Tasmania, but the road as far as the Chocolate Factory isn't too bad. And it is scenic ... very beautiful! Pastures, green hills, forest, beaches and Storm Bay. Yes, I'll post a few photos.

We rode our Bike Fridays on the longest ride they've been on ... and also the most challenging ride. Although the road isn't too bad in terms of hilliness, it still has a few challenging bumps. The Bike Fridays handled them well ... actually quite impressed with the gearing.


A comment about the weather ... our Bureau of Meteorology has introduced a "new language" to provide us with a more precise forecast. Uh huh. Right. And yet, today, they predicted, in their new precise language ... that there would be a 20% (slight) chance of rain in the morning, and that it would clear early in the afternoon.

What actually happened?

There was no rain in the morning ... and we were dodging heavy rain showers all afternoon!! We had not gone prepared for rain, so it was fortunate that we only caught the edge of one of the showers.


When the most significant rain shower came through, we were fortunate enough to be nicely settled in an interesting cafe ... the Hothouse Cafe, set up as a hothouse. We've seen signs to that cafe before, but had never visited. The owner/manager was very friendly and told us to roll our bicycles inside so that they would be out of the weather. We had a great view of the scenery from the window. And the large pancake with ice cream and raspberries was delicious.

By the time we were done, so was that particular shower, and we headed back. All up ... 57.81 km.

Now that we live a bit closer, we will have to return.



Incidentally, 57.81 km is the longest distance we've ridden since April 5. Illness and winter kind of got in the way of doing anything over 50 km. But spring is here now!

Rowan

That road is as steep as it looks. I have a device that measures inclines, simply and quickly. One of the missions for tomorrow is to go to the road again and measure the percentage grade.

It looks like it would be a great hills repeat location. I am not sure of the length, but every 100 metres or so, there are turnoffs to cul-de-sacs, so I think doing it in stages would be a good idea initially -- make it to the first one, do a loop in the cul-de-sac, then try to make the next one. The best part is that our house will be just around the corner after the downhill to the junction you can see in the picture.

The top of the hill peaks out around 110 metres (around 330 ft). It's possible to start the climb at two metres (6 feet) above seal level.

Machka 

Getting ready to go for a ride ... it's supposed to be a lovely warm day!!

ButchA

It rained pretty much all day today.

BUT... Once it had stopped and tried to clear up a little, instead of riding my bike, I went out jogging. I did 4 miles in 37:53 which is roughly a 9:30 min/mile.

Machka 

Sunday -- today we drove to the start of The Cycleway, unloaded our bicycles and rode to the other end of The Cycleway and a bit beyond. We returned the same way, stopping in at the ice cream place for a quick snack.

When we got back to the van, we decided we hadn't ridden enough, so we cycled into the middle of Hobart and back.

All up ... 45.15 km.


And the weather ... high today 25C with winds gusting over 50 km/h.

bruce19

Went to my 50th HS reunion in NJ. Saw a buddy who was a cyclist on the '64 US Olympic Team. Does that count?

Machka 

Anyone else riding this weekend?

woodcraft

Saturday: 'Biketoberfest' Local bike festival- microbrewery beer tasting, music, vendors, food, etc. Group ride before w/ out of town folks- very sociable.

Sunday: Cyclocross race. Watched, but rode a test lap- I may try the next one. Type two fun for sure. One of my daughters' friends raced & I watched her.
Also Sunday- got a free kid's bike for my 2 yr old granddaughter- first pedal bike. Putting some new tires on it to give it to her the eve.

alexaschwanden

Saturday: relaxing
Sunday: 56.4 miles with a friend. Mountainview to redwood city marina.

bbattle

I got my Gardin up and rolling on Friday; took it for 16 miles around town.

On Sunday, I rode down to the river and along the levee for a bit, then headed back before the rain started. 25 miles.

Rowan

I measured several sections... most around 17% with the steepest at 18%.

Awesome!

We walked back home via a footpath to a nature reserve, and I measured a section of the path for laughs... 25%!! It was, however, only six foot long, and the rest of the path was around 18%.

And the road right outside our house has a grade of 14%...

Machka 

View from the cafe ...



Bruny Island scenery ...


And of course there are more, if you click the photos.

bikecrate

This is the time of year for my Fall vacation. Last week was spent in the Western N. Carolina area, with trips into North Georgia. No bike riding, but did a good amount of trail walking in the woods looking for waterfalls. Highlights included visiting Brasstown Bald. I did get in one bike ride on Sunday after we got back to FL. Dang if it isn't still really hot here. Next weekend is supposed to be ideal.

nuke_diver

This is beautiful

I got a longer (for me) ride in on Sunday, 42 miles. It was very warm windy and dry and might be the last such day of the year so I took advantage of the good weather. Soon it will be cold and hopefully very wet and I won't get so much riding in

Machka 

It is a beautiful area ... that's the second ride we've done on Bruny Island since we moved to this area, and we plan to do more.


Sounds like you had a good ride too.

gabedad

Saturday - Goodales of Nashua NH 5 annual breast cancer ride- Cold wet rainy but for a great cause

Garmin Connect

Sunday Leaf peeping

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...type=1&theater

Garmin Connect

Machka 

Photos from Sunday's ride along The Cycleway ...

mlander

Finally went and knocked out my first century on Sunday, 11/12. I did it solo because I'm cheap.

Worst part: flat tire at mile 13. CO2 inflator blew up in my hand (the screw-on part, not the metal canister). Luckily my support crew (wife) was handy for a bail-out. I won't do another long ride without bringing a pump.

Runner up for best part: on a country lane, rode past a bunch of kids/teens playing outstide. One kid shouted to get my attenions. I thought, "awe dayum, here we go." He says: "stay safe on those roads out there!"

Best part: a hawk swooped down and flew within 15 feet of me for several seconds. I could hear his wings flap. For me, this epitomizes the beauty of cycling.

Oh, and I finally have a century behind me! Does my imperial century membership card come in the mail automatically or do I have to order it?