Another Thursday, another loop around the dairy farm at Hague. Averaged 15.8 over 24 miles, and I'm not screaming in agony at the end. I think I'm actually managing to get back into decent shape. Whaddaya know. :thumb: Before the ride I tackled the once-per-pedal-stroke creaking noise that was driving me nuts last week :cry:. Pulled/washed/lubed the chain, popped the cranks, and pulled the bottom bracket. DANG. My two year old spindle is getting the same exact uneven pattern of galling as the original had after 20 years when I replaced it. Maybe it's time to bite the bullet and go with a sealed cartridge unit - they're only $25 or so. Anyhow, after massively overpacking the bearings with Phil and putting it back together a touch too tight, no more roughness and no more ticking/creaking noise. That'll do for the next couple weeks at least. :)

Rode to the bike shop today after everyone suggested I get a Synapse Hi-Mod rather than a Supersix Hi-Mod. Didn't like what Sherry told me about the Synapse. It comes with carbon rims :eek:, hydraulic disc brakes :o, a 50/34 chainring :( and the cost is ~$1100 more :eek:. So the Synapse is out of the picture.
It was getting warm by the time I left the shop so only rode 17 miles.

Headed out this morning for my ride. Got about 6-7 miles from the car and noticed the clouds and northern sky were VERY dark. I checked the radar on my iPhone and thought I'd go to the next crossing and turn around. A few seconds later I saw lightning not very far away and the wind picked up. Decided to turn around and rode "hard and fast" to get back to the car. Started spitting for the last 2 miles. Threw the bike, shoes and helmet in the car. The hard rain started as I drove away from the parking area. :)
Rode 13 miles.

Lucky you! I started my ride this afternoon just after the rain (knocked the temps way back - yay!), and thought I'd be free and clear. Upped the pace around my Hague/IFAS dairy farm loop, looking to work my average pace back up around 17 by the Tour de Tow. Ran smack dab into God's own leaky shower head about 7 miles from the house, and was utterly saturated and dripping by the time I rode back out from under it about a mile from home. :rolleyes: Guess I should plan on doing the chain and bottom bracket *again*, 'cause I discovered that one of the spindle seals was torn. Meh.

Well the big hurricane didn't make it to west central Florida so headed out for another "therapy" ride. ;)
After being mostly off the bike for the last 3 months my fitness has really fallen off. :o Increased my mileage to 18.5 miles today. :beer:

No ride today because Sherry called from Inverness Bicycle and Fitness and asked if I wanted to borrow her bike to test ride a SuperSix EVO Hi-Mod (~ $8000 model I think :twitchy:). I stopped by with my saddle and pedals for Bob (the mechanic) to install. When I picked up the bike it seemed like it weighed about 1/2 what my SuperSix weighs. :D Tomorrow is the big test ride. I'll probably be passed by every old codger on a $500 hybrid and get "the look". :eek:

Well, another day, another thirty miles. Still not climbing all that well, but I'm certainly getting back my speed on the flats - I was running about 17-20 most of the time, which made up nicely for the snail's pace on the hills.

Took my test ride on Sherry's SuperSix EVO Hi-Mod (with SRAM :eek:). Rode from Hernando to the north end of the Withlacoochee Trail and back. Wow!! What a ride. :beer: Not sure about the carbon wheels. :o
Rode 22 miles.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=474811

Phew... Mebane hills not fun under most circumstances, but DEFINITELY not fun with a headwind! *theatrical collapse*thud*moan* :rolleyes: Got in 48 miles at 16mph. Hmm... extrapolating, I think I might just barely have it in me to do 60 miles at Bartow in a couple weeks. Anyone else doing the Tour de Tow?

Sounds like a really nice bike, if an order of magnitude too rich for my blood. :)

Too rich for mine too. I think it was $8500-$10000 minus the dealer discounts. Still too much.
Looks like I'll be settling on this one in green and black as my new 'therapy" bike when they're available in another 3-5 weeks.

Took the Litespeed with a test Fabric Scoop saddle and rode south from Hernando on the Withlacoochee Trail today. Rode 18.5 miles. Not impressed with the saddle so its going back to the shop. :o

I'm committed now - signed up for the 60 mile option on the Tour de Tow on the 19th. Should be doable. Just have to remember not to go all greyhound-chasing-a-rabbit with the hammerheads at the start and burn out halfway through. :thumb: Covered 48 miles on Saturday at a better pace than I was expecting.

Tour de Tow! 63 miles! 16.2mph! With a cool bunch of people! No leg cramps, no mechanicals, and no rain! YEAH!

Well the carpetbaggers are heading back our way. Saw a car with Massachusetts tag and a roof rack at the Hernando trailhead on the Withlacoochee Trail this morning. :notamused:
Anyway I rode to the bike shop to test ride the new screaming yellow bike they have only to find it was assembled but not checked over and adjusted. Maybe I'll get to ride it later in the week. :o Its one of the contenders for my new bike. :) In case you don't know what bike I'm talking about, here ya go.
http://media.cannondale.com/media/ca...1440862759.jpg

Rode a total of 24.4 miles.

Decided against the screaming yellow bike (above) and pulled the trigger on the 2014 Cannondale SuperSix EVO Hi-Mod Team demo bike. I rode a few weeks ago. The price was too good to pass up. Took it for its maiden voyage yesterday. What a ride. I like the SRAM Red system. Very nice. :thumb: Still trying to decide if I'm keeping the wheels or selling them and getting a set of hand built Mavic somethings(?). Did my usual route plus a ride to the bike shop.

VERY cool, VERY cool. :thumb: Gotta post pics of the new ride.

I only got 7-1/2 miles on Saturday, with two flats. That's about when I noticed the multiple holes and the patches of missing tread on the back tire. Just how long have I been riding this thing anyhow? Oh, 4 years. :innocent: Took my daughter and her utter lack of sense of direction forever to drive out and rescue me. Walk a couple miles in cleats and your calves get a WORKOUT. :lol: Amazon delivers a new tire and a bunch of tubes tonight.

Rode the Litespeed from Hernando to the north end of the Withlacoochee Trail and back. I'm seeing more and more carpetbaggers walking on the trail with their dogs. Why can't they let their dogs take a dump in their own yards instead of the trail. :notamused:

Rode the Litespeed today from Hernando to the north end and back. Seems there are a lot more people (carpetbaggers?) walking dogs on the Withlacoochee Trail. They don't give a flip about cyclists or where the dog takes a dump. Saw a pile of dog dung in the middle of the trail when I was heading south. It wasn't there when I rode north. :notamused:

Ok. I thought everyone saw the bike pic I posted. This pic is from the 22 mile test ride I did the week before I bought the bike. I've got to get a picture in front of the white garage door to make it "official". ;)

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=483966

(*thud*zzzzzzzzzzzzzz*)

Hu wha? Oh, yea... just finished the 55 (56? 57?) mile option on the Santa Fe ride. Managed by dint of great suffering to keep very close to my desired pace (overall 15.9, just off my target of 16). Dear NWS "wind calm" does NOT mean "10MPH SE headwind"!!!! :( My legs are screaming, my arms are sore, but the bike performed just about flawlessly. No flats! That's a first for this route. I think once I skin outta these bike shorts they'll likely be able to walk to the laundry room on their own! The people that rode the 100 loop today and are also riding the Horse Farm Hundred tomorrow, I don't know HOW they do it. :)

Did a "fast" (for me at least :eek:) halloween ride today. Rode from Hernando to the north end of the Withlacoochee Trail and back.
Along with the carpetbaggers crowding the trail and parking areas we now have the local "comfortable weather" riders. You know, the ones who ride only in the fall and spring when its comfortable -- like Goldilocks's porridge -- not too hot, not too cold. :twitchy:

Rode the Cannondale from Hernando to the north end of the Withlacoochee Trail and back. Saw lots of other riders enjoying the great weather.

did a 8 mile ride and was refreshed by fresh air and country side view next is a 14 mile then 28 in the same area. hardly see any bike riders in columbia county fl

My son lives in Lake City and every time I go visit I never see anyone on a bike. :(

well today I rode 2 times over 4 miles total and great weather and enjoyed the last ride with my grand daughter who is 11 yrs old. great time can't wait for tomorrow to see if I am able. I seeing now a lot of local routes people has used but can not find out who they are to see if we can united for a ride.

There are notices at every trailhead telling folks how friendly the Withlacoochee Trail is and that everyone is encouraged to smile, wave, etc. I've noticed during my rides for the past month that the snowbirds who have joined us for the winter aren't very friendly. Very few of them wave or nod. Is it a northern thing?
Anyway I went out today to enjoy the cool temps (62F when I got to the trail). The ride was cooler than I was hoping for. The zipper on my PI vest would not zip :eek: so I rode with it open letting all the cool breeze blow against my chest and abdomen. :o Fortunately the temperature warmed up enough so that after about 30 minutes I was comfortable. :)