#336
Today was the day for my 'famous' 9+9 = 18 ride, where the early birds meet at 8am and go ride around Empire Ranch, then the rest of the folks meet us 1.5 hours later for a relaxing casual ride around Folsom.
It was 19 miles for me, making me still below the 200 I pledged this year for May is Bike Month and far short of last years astounding (for me) 249 miles. How did I manage that, anyway? No clue.
As I write this, after a busy afternoon of band-geekery, Red Leader is out riding around, getting the rest of the 100 miles he pledged for MiBM.
CU in June!
31 May 2014
28 May 2014
Bike-shark
#335 / #139
Red Leader and I got a late start today, 6:35pm, after fixing a flat on his right front tire. He replaced the tube, I supervised.
We went from the Folsom parking garage to some really outstandingly awful porta-potties past the Upper and Lower Sunrise areas.
We got back right before sunset: still enough light to see but glad we were both running front and rear blinkies as the bikes oncoming and overtaking us at the end of our ride were remarkably difficult to see (those with no lights).
I don't take corners as fast as Red Leader does, so he slowly pulls away from me on curvy sections, like the one coming to Willow Creek boat launch from the west.
Anyway, Red Leader was 1 curve ahead of me the whole way through that, and the tall yellow flag looked just like a shark fin, cruising right, then left, then right, then left.
I'm leading a ride on Saturday morning, and that'll be my last ride for May is Bike Month. I toyed with the idea of riding around tomorrow, to make up the lousy 33 miles I'll be missing from the 200 I pledged, but I just have too many other things to do. Boo hoo!
Red Leader and I got a late start today, 6:35pm, after fixing a flat on his right front tire. He replaced the tube, I supervised.
We went from the Folsom parking garage to some really outstandingly awful porta-potties past the Upper and Lower Sunrise areas.
We got back right before sunset: still enough light to see but glad we were both running front and rear blinkies as the bikes oncoming and overtaking us at the end of our ride were remarkably difficult to see (those with no lights).
I don't take corners as fast as Red Leader does, so he slowly pulls away from me on curvy sections, like the one coming to Willow Creek boat launch from the west.
Anyway, Red Leader was 1 curve ahead of me the whole way through that, and the tall yellow flag looked just like a shark fin, cruising right, then left, then right, then left.
I'm leading a ride on Saturday morning, and that'll be my last ride for May is Bike Month. I toyed with the idea of riding around tomorrow, to make up the lousy 33 miles I'll be missing from the 200 I pledged, but I just have too many other things to do. Boo hoo!
24 May 2014
Pizza, gravel, trains
#344 / #138
Red Leader and I rode down to Alphabent (local recumbent shop) where we met yet another new shop minion. I don't know what I'll call him: Nameless Minion? to pick up the replacement seat mesh for RL's Gekko, which was stretching out where he sits.
It was rather hot today, but we decided to see about detouring to Costco over on Expo for a slice of pizza. I was - as uaual - hungry! We found a place to park out of the way. I minded the trikes and Red Leader fetched hot hot pepperoni pizza. Yum!
We headed back towards the bike trail, deciding to continue along the levee to see if there was a bike path entrance at the other end of the Costco building. We didn't see one, but we did get to ride/skid down an access hill covered with large gravel to rejoin the bike trail.
Just as we were going under the elevated train bridge, the freight loco let off several blasts for the upcoming level crossing. Very loud under the bridge!
We staggered back to our parking spot at William Pond, sweaty and tired.
Saw 5 trikes and 2 recumbents on the trail. The recumbent may have been the same one twice. It was orange, I can tell you that.
Red Leader and I rode down to Alphabent (local recumbent shop) where we met yet another new shop minion. I don't know what I'll call him: Nameless Minion? to pick up the replacement seat mesh for RL's Gekko, which was stretching out where he sits.
It was rather hot today, but we decided to see about detouring to Costco over on Expo for a slice of pizza. I was - as uaual - hungry! We found a place to park out of the way. I minded the trikes and Red Leader fetched hot hot pepperoni pizza. Yum!
We headed back towards the bike trail, deciding to continue along the levee to see if there was a bike path entrance at the other end of the Costco building. We didn't see one, but we did get to ride/skid down an access hill covered with large gravel to rejoin the bike trail.
Just as we were going under the elevated train bridge, the freight loco let off several blasts for the upcoming level crossing. Very loud under the bridge!
We staggered back to our parking spot at William Pond, sweaty and tired.
Saw 5 trikes and 2 recumbents on the trail. The recumbent may have been the same one twice. It was orange, I can tell you that.
19 May 2014
The Divine Delta
#343 / #136
Sunday, May 18th
Red Leader and I headed out yesterday to the Delta to ride around on Andrus Island and Isleton Roads. The County of Sacramento, as they did a few weeks ago for the Great Scott! ride, closed sections of some roads in the Delta to all but residents, and invited bicylists and walkers to come out and play.
It is about an hour's drive to Walnut Grove, near the historic town of Locke, and it was a nice drive through rural Sacramento County to the Community Center (parking, and most importantly, bathrooms!). We decided to go counter clock wise to have the river on our side of the road.
It was a really nice day for a ride. There was a bit of a quartering head wind on the leg heading north on Isleton Rd, but we sure enjoyed the 3 mile return with a quartering tailwind!
Andrus Island Road cuts across the island, and the road surface was not a nice as the othe road. Red Leader decided that he would want a trike with a 26" wheel and suspension if he were to ride on roads like that in the future. It was not too bad on my fully suspended Scorpion, but there was a lot of vibration.
12 May 2014
Snot-pocalyse
#342
Sunday, 11 May
Have I used this title before? (yes, I have. Tough.)
Anyway, yesterday's ride (and the day before's, for that matter) induced the worst allergies I've had since I was a kid baling hay in the ragweed-infested Midwest.
I started at Alphabent on C and 11th, after having Other Shop Dude sort out my new rear fender (was rubbing on the tire a little bit) and planned to ride up to Elverta on the Northern rail trail, but stopped when I got to Rio Linda as the wind was just too much.
It was better coming back - I was rolling along at 15-17mph instead of 8-10mph but today, waking up with my eyes puffy, blindly groping for the tissues, was less fun.
Red Leader will be back in town today, so we will resume our together-rides on Tues or Wednesday. Yay!
Sunday, 11 May
Have I used this title before? (yes, I have. Tough.)
Anyway, yesterday's ride (and the day before's, for that matter) induced the worst allergies I've had since I was a kid baling hay in the ragweed-infested Midwest.
I started at Alphabent on C and 11th, after having Other Shop Dude sort out my new rear fender (was rubbing on the tire a little bit) and planned to ride up to Elverta on the Northern rail trail, but stopped when I got to Rio Linda as the wind was just too much.
It was better coming back - I was rolling along at 15-17mph instead of 8-10mph but today, waking up with my eyes puffy, blindly groping for the tissues, was less fun.
Red Leader will be back in town today, so we will resume our together-rides on Tues or Wednesday. Yay!
10 May 2014
Pollen Polka
#341
31 miles today on the American River Parkway trail. It was pretty windy, and some trees, particularly near William Pond, were shedding clouds of white fluffy pollen. One hefty piece of pollen or maybe a lightweight bug clobbered me right in the middle of my lower lip, giving me a lovely pout for the rest of my ride.
The AMGEN race is coming to the area soon. I don't know if that was the reason, but there were a lot of identically clad very fast pacelines on the trail today. Many of them were not very good at staying on their side of the yellow line. On a quiet weekday morning this would not be an issue, but on a beautiful Saturday in May, it was, rather.
I'm not quite as wide as two experienced diamond frame riders riding side by side, but I'm not comfortable riding over far enough from the edge to let a runner by (they have right of way, you know) if the folks in the oncoming lane can't stay off my side of the yellow line. So I muttered unpleasant comments under my breath several times.
By the time I was on my way back, most of the pacelines were somewhere else. So the muttering abated.
I'm pleasantly tired and my eyes are bright red from allergies. A great day!
31 miles today on the American River Parkway trail. It was pretty windy, and some trees, particularly near William Pond, were shedding clouds of white fluffy pollen. One hefty piece of pollen or maybe a lightweight bug clobbered me right in the middle of my lower lip, giving me a lovely pout for the rest of my ride.
The AMGEN race is coming to the area soon. I don't know if that was the reason, but there were a lot of identically clad very fast pacelines on the trail today. Many of them were not very good at staying on their side of the yellow line. On a quiet weekday morning this would not be an issue, but on a beautiful Saturday in May, it was, rather.
I'm not quite as wide as two experienced diamond frame riders riding side by side, but I'm not comfortable riding over far enough from the edge to let a runner by (they have right of way, you know) if the folks in the oncoming lane can't stay off my side of the yellow line. So I muttered unpleasant comments under my breath several times.
By the time I was on my way back, most of the pacelines were somewhere else. So the muttering abated.
I'm pleasantly tired and my eyes are bright red from allergies. A great day!
04 May 2014
Great Scott!
#340
I arrived at the shopping center parking lot at 7:55am, to find that Whole Foods, my planned restroom and trailmix acquisition stop, didn't open until 8am. So I unloaded the car, unfolded my bike, and bicycled over there at 8:05am. Rested and trail-mixed, I headed out onto Bidwell/Scott Road to take part in the Great Scott! ride (2014 edition).
The county of Sacramento and various other area agencies cooperate to close stretches of Scott, Latrobe, and White Rock roads for a day, so folks can ride and walk through beautiful rural countryside without contending with motor vehicle traffic.
I was met right off the bat with a headwind and a slog up to the top of the freeway overpass. Gracefully getting out of the freeway-bound lanes and over in to the leftmost thru-traffic lane was no problem this early on a Sunday morning. Then down the other side (through orange "witch's hats" spaced a little too closely for a trike) and into the car free zone.
I rode out to Scott Road at Latrobe Rd (a better starting point if you don't like ANY motor vehicles), took a bio break, then headed back to Folsom, taking Placerville Road back from White Rock. Another bio break there (thank goodness for porta-pottys), then out in the Big Wide World of multilane, 50mph traffic. I smoothly negotiated my left turn back into the parking lot, packed up the car, and had a nice lunch at Panera.
I can't really describe how beautiful this ride was. It included not only rolling green countryside and nervous cattle (my singing voice? The flags on my trike?), but redwing blackbird song, peepers (frogs), and the thrumming of a strong breeze through telephone wires.
I arrived at the shopping center parking lot at 7:55am, to find that Whole Foods, my planned restroom and trailmix acquisition stop, didn't open until 8am. So I unloaded the car, unfolded my bike, and bicycled over there at 8:05am. Rested and trail-mixed, I headed out onto Bidwell/Scott Road to take part in the Great Scott! ride (2014 edition).
The county of Sacramento and various other area agencies cooperate to close stretches of Scott, Latrobe, and White Rock roads for a day, so folks can ride and walk through beautiful rural countryside without contending with motor vehicle traffic.
I was met right off the bat with a headwind and a slog up to the top of the freeway overpass. Gracefully getting out of the freeway-bound lanes and over in to the leftmost thru-traffic lane was no problem this early on a Sunday morning. Then down the other side (through orange "witch's hats" spaced a little too closely for a trike) and into the car free zone.
I rode out to Scott Road at Latrobe Rd (a better starting point if you don't like ANY motor vehicles), took a bio break, then headed back to Folsom, taking Placerville Road back from White Rock. Another bio break there (thank goodness for porta-pottys), then out in the Big Wide World of multilane, 50mph traffic. I smoothly negotiated my left turn back into the parking lot, packed up the car, and had a nice lunch at Panera.
I can't really describe how beautiful this ride was. It included not only rolling green countryside and nervous cattle (my singing voice? The flags on my trike?), but redwing blackbird song, peepers (frogs), and the thrumming of a strong breeze through telephone wires.
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>>03 May 2014
Loopy
#339 / #135
Lead a ride today for the Casual riding group. Fun! 7 people aside from Red Leader and me. The weather was lovely - about 72 degrees and sunny, slight breeze. Everyone on the ride enjoyed themselves.
I sneezed a lot. If only I could turn the sneezes around to help propel me!
Scott Road Ride tomorrow. If I rode everywhere they have closed off, it would be 40 miles. I'd better bring snacks!
ttttthaaaath's all folks!
Lead a ride today for the Casual riding group. Fun! 7 people aside from Red Leader and me. The weather was lovely - about 72 degrees and sunny, slight breeze. Everyone on the ride enjoyed themselves.
I sneezed a lot. If only I could turn the sneezes around to help propel me!
Scott Road Ride tomorrow. If I rode everywhere they have closed off, it would be 40 miles. I'd better bring snacks!
ttttthaaaath's all folks!
01 May 2014
Throwback Thursday
May is Bike Month!
but that's not why this post is here.
Monday, 28 April
#337
Yes, this is out of order. Why I forgot to write this post I can't remember. Ha ha.
Our Prius has 120,000 miles on it, which means a day at the shop for service. I loaded my trike in the back, drove to the gym for yoga and weight lifting, then drove over to the coffee shop for a bagel and cream cheese ...
"Wait!" you say, "What has this to do with a riding a recumbent?"
"Patience, grasshopper, we're getting there."
Now, where was I. Ah yes. .... cream cheese. Then I drove (would you STOP, already - PATIENCE!) to the auto shop, unloaded my trike, dropped off the keys, and pedaled home.
There, satisfied!?
I attained my fastest time on Durock road - 28mph, and managed late morning traffic (~9:30am) in Cameron Park reasonably well.
My tentative plan was to vamp long enough at the coffee shop that Red Leader would have arrived at his office (on my way home through town) so I could grab the truck there and load the bike. As it was, I arrived home just as he was hopping through the shower.
I'm going on two rides this weekend. I promise promise cross my heart that I will keep up with the posts better!
CU
but that's not why this post is here.
Monday, 28 April
#337
Yes, this is out of order. Why I forgot to write this post I can't remember. Ha ha.
Our Prius has 120,000 miles on it, which means a day at the shop for service. I loaded my trike in the back, drove to the gym for yoga and weight lifting, then drove over to the coffee shop for a bagel and cream cheese ...
"Wait!" you say, "What has this to do with a riding a recumbent?"
"Patience, grasshopper, we're getting there."
Now, where was I. Ah yes. .... cream cheese. Then I drove (would you STOP, already - PATIENCE!) to the auto shop, unloaded my trike, dropped off the keys, and pedaled home.
There, satisfied!?
I attained my fastest time on Durock road - 28mph, and managed late morning traffic (~9:30am) in Cameron Park reasonably well.
My tentative plan was to vamp long enough at the coffee shop that Red Leader would have arrived at his office (on my way home through town) so I could grab the truck there and load the bike. As it was, I arrived home just as he was hopping through the shower.
I'm going on two rides this weekend. I promise promise cross my heart that I will keep up with the posts better!
CU
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