Did my usual ride yesterday. I guess cool weather is officially here. Left home with arm and knee warmers. Took them off after my laps around Stone Mtn. Got half way home and it started getting cool so put the arm warmers back on. :o

Today’s ride:

11/13/2011 30.9 miles

Great ride today with The Florida Freewheeler group. Rode the Northern Exposure route starting in and ending in Sanford across from the Flea Market. We had about 8 or 9 riders and rode at a nice C pace. Met some nice people and it was a very social group. Weather was perfect at our 8:00 AM start and still in the low 70s when we got back. About a half mile into the ride one person had a flat so we stopped to fix it and did not get the tire seated properly on the rim so we stopped again and fixed it a second time..

• Miles today: 30.9
• Mileage this month ( November): 342+
• Mileage this year: 9039+ (112 % of my 2011 goal)
• Miles over my 2011 goal of 8,000: 1039 miles
• Over/under riding days 2011 vs. 2010: +10 days
• Over/under riding days Nov. 2011 vs. Nov. 2010: +1 day
• Over/under miles 2011 TD vs. 2010 TD: +3188 miles
• Average miles per ride this month: 48
• Average miles per ride this year: 45
• Average ride miles per month through October 2011: 869 miles
• Number of rides over 50 miles this month/total ride days this mo.5/7
• Metric Centuries this month: 2 ( Metric Century = 100km = 62.62 miles) This year: 28
• I have ridden 198 days out of a possible 316 days 62.6%
• I surpassed last year’s total miles (6500) on 8/9/2011
• A 10 thousand mile year is not out of reach. 992 Miles to go

Tomorrows plan: Solo ride.

Did my usual 33 miles on my awesome Litespeed. :beer:
Nice comfortable day. Started with arm warmers but took them off once I got to Stone Mtn. Didn't see many cyclists today. I usually see at least half a dozen on a weekday.

Yep I rode today.... About 40 miles to Faver ****s state park near St. Augustine.. Of course it could've only been 33 miles but I missed the road.. I had a cross to headwind most of the way here from Palatka.. I have not been riding enough lately so it about killed me... And then when I finally did make it here the Ranger was gone for half an hour so I could not check in and get camp set up... 40 miles into the wind is bad enough 40 miles into the wind with a fully loaded bike is worse... But I guess I'm no worse for wear now... My luck the wind will change direction for the ride home tomorrow..... Doh...

I didn't get a chance to do the four-day ride I had planned so I'm kind of just sneaking off for another one nighter..

I would add some pictures but I haven't figured out how to do that from the phone to bike forums.

zzotherlandzz, looks like you are getting into this touring thing. What type of tent are you using and are you carrying a stove or eating out?

I don't have a stove right now just kind of eating out.. I have a Sierra designs two-person three season tent. For me it's just big enough for me and all the gear inside. It would be very cramped with two people in here. The campground I am at is right near an exit on I-95. I thought there would be someplace good to eat but alas nope.. I paid eight dollars for a can of Pringles two diet Mountain Dew's and a candy bar. For that kind of money I could've ate out someplace that was pretty nice. I just kind of figured that an exit off the interstate would have something but nooooooo.

Still trying to con my two friends into trying this with me getting close but think both need to get decent bikes first..

I'll post some pictures when I get back..

Jay...

Yep.... I rode Tuesday.... On the way back from my over nighter... I woke up at about 6am or so and started packing up soon after. I had just got the tent packed when it really started to drizzle on me. I was VERY glad I got the tent put away dry. I had planned on more pictures and a bit of exploring before I left. But didn't want to take the NEW phone out so much while it was drizzling. :( I took off about about 7:30ish. On the way out of the park I saw a wild boar and 2 deer. Ohh and during the night I heard something rustling in the bushes behind the tent. And the next morning woke up to a feint smell of skunk... DOH! I ended up riding back to East Palatka (didn't ride over the bridge again) where I got picked up and had lunch with my mom :D about 33 miles for the return trip.

I'll post some pictures in the other "planning my first tour thread"...

Jay....

The campground was was nice..... Clean bathroom and showers too!! But not so nice for setting up a tent. I think there are only about 30 spots in the whole camping loop. Just on the 2 mile ride on the dirt roads leading to the camp site I saw 5 deer. And the next day the boar and a couple more deer. I know there is at least 3 miles of marked trails to ride on, plus the trail at the back of the camping loop. And if you include the the mostly 1 way loop from the ranger station to the park entrance you could get at least 8 miles of dirt riding in. And its another 2.5 miles from the entrance to the OVER priced gas station that is actually a nice ride on a paved road with NO traffic.

On my way home ... Up the road on US1 ... I passed 2 entrances to Fort Matanzas State Forest.. About 7 miles or so from the park entrance. More trails to ride there too.... Something to check out anyway...

Sounds like fun going to Paynes Prairie... I really had fun there when I went... Although was tooooo chicken to go down on the prairie by myself after reading about the buffalo :P Still one of my most memorable moments falling in the sugar sand 2 times in the same place.. :D

I came across this bit here too....... -----> http://pwbt.weebly.com/ A campground at both ends of the trail. A 22 mile ride on dirt is quite a ride..

It was cold today after the front went thru last night.
Headed out to Stone Mtn with arm and knee warmers, full finger gloves, and a mid weight vest. I was cool, but not cold, for much of the ride. :notamused: I guess I'll need the warmer gloves and jacket for the next ride.
I decided to do just one lap around the mtn so I'd have some energy left to tackle the headwinds all the way home.
Did a "whopping" 28 miles. :o

Today’s ride:

11/19/2011 53+ miles

Great ride today with Richard Davidson. Today was the first beta test ride day on the new Sella Ti-Tanico saddle. My buns could not be happier. This is without a doubt the best saddle I have ever ridden. The weather was cool when I started but warmed up quick.

• Miles today: 53+
• Mileage this month ( November): 586+
• Mileage this year: 9283+ (116+ % of my 2011 goal)
• Miles over my 2011 goal of 8,000: 1283 miles
• Over/under riding days 2011 vs. 2010: +10 days
• Over/under riding days Nov. 2011 vs. Nov. 2010: +1 day
• Over/under miles 2011 TD vs. 2010 TD: +328 miles
• Average miles per ride this month: 48
• Average miles per ride this year: 45
• Average ride miles per month through October 2011: 869 miles
• Number of rides over 50 miles this month/total ride days this mo.7/12
• Metric Centuries this month: 2 ( Metric Century = 100km = 62.62 miles) This year: 28
• I have ridden 204 days out of a possible 323 days 63%
• I surpassed last year’s total miles (6500) on 8/9/2011
• A 10 thousand mile year is not out of reach. 717 Miles to go

Tomorrows plan: Rest day

Not very exciting. Did 20 on the Silver Comet.
Trying to decide on trading my Cannondale Synapse for a Trek 4.2. Wondering if there really is that much difference....

Yep......... Decided it was toooo nice out to keep my lazy butt in front of the TV watching football. At that point it was kind of late in the day sooo decided I would just ride close to home for an hour. Took off and rode to the Carl Duval State Forest (just a lil track of land with a 1.5 mile trail through the woods). Rode there and rode 3 laps on the trail. First lap was a bit slow had to stop several times to clear brush out of the way. Usually they take pretty good care of the trail. Ended up riding an hour and 10 minutes or so. Will see if I have a flat in the morning.... picked some sand spurs out of the tires when I left the trail.

It was kind of foggy this morning so I waited until much of it had lifted, then hit the road. Took the Felt out and did my usual 38 mile ride. After one lap around Stone Mtn it had warmed into the high 60s so I had to remove the arm warmers and base layer undershirt. It was ~72 degrees by the time I got home.
Kinda warm for November 21. :twitchy:

Yep.... Started out headed to town with friend who was riding to the social security office. I took the 29'er cus he doesn't like it when I ride the road bike when he is on his old MTB ... LOL Headwind the whole 12 miles into town. I got a flat when we got to town (didn't call for a ride at first). Took the tire off patched the tube and broke 2 tire levers trying to get the tire mounted. Finally got it mounted and I guess we pinched the tube doing so. Ended up calling for a ride while he went on to his appointment. I was actually going to ride to the bike shop while he was at his appointment, so ended up going there anyway to get a tube installed. Took my mom to lunch... (I didn't eat)... And rode home.... Ended up riding 22.25 miles all total.

Did my usual ride to Stone Mtn yesterday. Cool at the start but warmed up after I got to the mtn. I took off my RoadID (outside of my arm warmers), knee warmers, and full finger gloves. Shoved the gloves and warmers in the pockets in my PI vest. Put on my regular cycling gloves and did my laps. After I got home and was removing everything from the pockets that I realized I didn't have my RoadID. :( It must have fallen under a bush or somewhere out of sight while I was packing the vest pockets and I simply forgot about it with the warm temps and the fuss of packing. I usually put it back on after packing the warmers. I guess the old saying is correct: Out of sight, out of mind. :o

I'm riding again today so maybe I'll find it.

Rode out to Stone Mtn to do my route and possibly find my RoadID. :lol: :rolleyes:
The day was cloudy and overcast so only did 2 laps around the mtn.

Ummmmmm no pictures********** :D

my pictures of the prairie didn't turn out. We did go out on the prairie trail but not as far. Did see lots of "proof" that the bison had been there but no sightings. Then we get home and I read an article in the Ocala Star Banner that they are having issues with the bison. Seems as though one lady had an encounter with them and ended up in a tree. I did come across this article from awhile back but don't see the one from today.
http://www.ocala.com/article/2011091...CLES/110919911

We did have an interesting camping experience. Ended up next to 11 Saudi students who invited us for dinner and socializing. Most have been here less than a year and all were taking English first before other classes. They wanted us to ask questions so they could answer in English. Lots of sign language going on. What an experience! Waking up to prayers and chanting @ sunrise was a little different though. Sure was quiet the 2nd night after they left.

Anyway, the biking was good. We did all the other trails inside the park. Next time we go hubby says we'll let you know and maybe you can ride out on the prairie with us...safety in numbers, you know. :-)

Yep..... Literally dusted off the road bike and pumped up the tires and went for a ride. Drove to the Grandin trail head of the PLB trail. Headed out KNOWING the return trip was going to be all headwind. Road the 10 miles out and turned around into what must have been a steady 15mph headwind (cross wind at times). With gusts that had to be +20. Anyway felt pretty good even coming back into the wind. Got back to the trail head and decided to ride the road to Florahome so I could check out the progress on the new part of the trail. They are really coming along. They have the metal bridge in place where the old railroad trestle used to be. They have limestone down and compacted in most spots. Looking good.... I can't wait to ride it when its finished. There will be 14 miles of paved trail then. And even more paved trail if you ride up towards Golds Head State

1st pic... Turn around point .... head back into the wind..

2nd pic... What is done so far in Florahome by the gas station.

3rd pic.. Looks like they lowered the bridge in to place already put together. All metal. Just wondering if they will cement the the trail over it or use wood. On the way back somebody in a truck had stopped to take a picture too. We both agreed the trail is coming along nicely!!

Park.http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=228569http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=228570http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=228568

Yep... I agree about the safety in numbers thing... I was scared to even go down in the prairie when I went by myself. That sounds like a plan though... Especially If I can find a bike for my one friend and con the other one into riding again hahah. I have been looking and looking for a bike on craigslist for the one friend. He is 6' 3" and wants a mountain bike with lockout front forks. I swear when I was looking for a bike all I found was bigger sized frames (I'm 5'8'' ) looking for bigger frames now all I see are small ones hahah. He probably wont get one till after x-mas anyway... Unless we run across a killer deal. Did your husband ever get a new mountain bike?

I might bike to that park for my next overnight trip.... Not sure when that will be though.

btw.... I don't climb trees very well... hahaah

Jay...

Yep.... Took the mountain bike to the post office and the bank... and then to Carl Duval State Forest trail. I rode for about an hour and 9 minutes. Had a great ride .... despite the fact that somebody has been out on the trail with a 4-wheeler. It is starting to get really torn up in a few places. At the trail head they wiggled the pole out that is supposed to keep you from getting something like a 4-wheeler on the trail. The pole was laying on the ground. On the back side of the trail there is another entrance from the subdivision and they had wiggled that pole out too, and stuck it back in the whole... with the barbed wire still attached to it... Anyway took the number to the ranger station that is in charge of this trail. Going to call them Monday.

Ohhh forgot to mention.... I was going to do another lap.. But OMG the gnats all of a sudden took over the trail. I mean there were millions of them in swarms... Didn't really wanna eat too many of them..... So skipped the 4th lap...


Jay...http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=229217

Did my usual 33 mile ride to Stone Mtn. Bundled up for the ride out (~50F) and stripped down for the ride home (~63F).

Today’s ride:

12/03/2011 48+ miles

Great ride today with one of our riding group. Rode to the horse farms and back.

• Miles today: 48+
• Mileage this month ( December): 92+
• Mileage this year: 9650+ (120+ % of my 2011 goal)
• Miles over my 2011 goal of 8,000: 1650 miles
• Over/under riding days 2011 vs. 2010: +10 days
• Over/under riding days Dec. 2011 vs. Dec. 2010: +1 day
• Over/under miles 2011 TD vs. 2010 TD: +3417 miles
• Average miles per ride this month: 46+
• Average miles per ride this year: 45+
• Average ride miles per month through November 2011: 868 miles
• Number of rides over 50 miles this month/total ride days this mo.0/2
• Metric Centuries this month: 0 ( Metric Century = 100km = 62.62 miles) This year: 28
• I have ridden 212 days out of a possible 337 days 63%
• I surpassed last year’s total miles (6500) on 8/9/2011
• A 10 thousand mile year is within reach. 340 Miles to go

Tomorrows plan: Florida Freewheeler ride