Weekend Rides

[Peter B]

At the end of September I had an unplanned dismount and broke my collarbone. Between time off for recovery, a heavy workload and nearly 3x normal rainfall my fitness vanished. I've been getting out when I can and just trying to enjoy any time on the bike.

Today the weather cleared despite the rather dismal forecast and I got out for a short, steep neighborhood loop. Hope you enjoy the pics and will share some of your own.

[spiderman]

Katy loves the moonlander! She does love racing cars. When she sees one on the road going our same direction she picks up our pace and actually pulls me along! Hey, I was able to disable my word poetry default and am able to type like a normal human! Don't worry-- I have her harness adjusted properly now! We also have about the same number of cross country skiing miles this weekend so far as well...

[Peter B]

OK, so the weatherman is clueless...and I'm grateful for it.

Sweetwater Springs loop today. Classic Sonoma County riding--steep climbs, redwoods, black oak, madrone, vineyards & sunshine!

I can't be the only one who rode with a cellphone...

[majl]

Hey forumites - why no contributions to this thread - is no one getting out and riding? Peter B started it off with some great shots - BTW those don't loook like the Sierra foothills given that the ocean is right there - where were those pics taken?

Here's some goodness from south of the equator on my annual trip to Uruguay. As always, weather, riding, and people are beautiful. Arrived on the 22nd and got in one ride the following day before we had to go to Buenos Aires to spend xmas with my wife's family. Back in Punta Ballena on the 25th, and then starting the following day, logged 6 straight days in the saddle since I signed up for that bloody rapha challenge to get 500km between the 24th and the 31st. Too much work!

Anyway, couple of stories from this year's trip - Day 4 was an exploratory ride which included over 40km of dirt that I hadn't been on before. First ride down here when I felt it would have been really nice to be on MTB. Ran into a guy and his kid on ATVs out in the middle of nowhere, and he stops and tells me he lives in the lone house I had just passed about 10 minutes ago and if I need anything to head back and see him. Then he says: "What are you doing out here on that bike? At least you have wide(r) tires!" Turns out he rides MTB regulary on those roads. Then today I only needed another 53km to complete the challenge, so I figured I would take it easy and do a shorter ride. Heading up the road into a fierce headwind, three riders pass by and tell me to grab on - of course I obliged. Turns out they were all stronger than me and for the next hour I was on the gas just to hold my place at the back of the paceline. Great guys though - a couple of times when I was about to be dropped the lead guy would slow down so I didn't have to wallow in my own misery for the rest of the ride. Here are some pics. Enjoy!

Out of the case and ready to roll.
http://majl.zenfolio.com/img/s8/v80/p1355606236-4.jpg

Spectacular day in the saddle.
http://majl.zenfolio.com/img/s8/v81/p1355604912-4.jpg

I feel like I'm cheating this year with the Garmin 800 but it sure does make things easy for route planning on unknown roads.
http://majl.zenfolio.com/img/s4/v65/p1355604984-4.jpg

Pit stop at the local market in the small town of Pan de Azucar. Long, hot day - this may have been the best coke ever.
http://majl.zenfolio.com/img/s1/v55/p1355604988-4.jpg

[bironi]

Got nothing as lovely as your neighborhood Peter B.

[jvp]

Rode my fixed gear on part of the new / almost open Neuse River Greenway here in Wake Co., NC. When finished, it will be ~30+ miles of continuous paved greenway along the Neuse river. I took pics of some of the bridges across the river - our tax $ at work! Some parts were not officially "open" but they were passable and the construction crews didn't seem to mind as I passed.
http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/16785_4159110657923_460175713_n.jpg

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/224963_4159106017807_929446035_n.jpg

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/165808_4159102937730_732956854_n.jpg