I’m back from my Sunday morning bicycle ride. I did 24 miles this morning, with an average speed not worth mentioning. But that’s what happens, I guess, when you haven’t been on the bike for 3 weeks.

Also, it was really quite windy, and I find that usually, even though I have a tailwind for part of the ride, I can’t make up the speed during the tailwind portion that I lose during the headwind.

Still, it was a pretty morning; crisp and clear, chilly but not icy. There was no frost on the ground, but I was definitely glad for my gloves and jacket.

I can’t think of anything of particular note from this ride, other than the amusement I always feel when riding past a field of cows or horses and they stop eating and watch me ride past. Yes, that does happen. I usually try to to greet them when they do this, “Morning, Cow! Morning, Horse!” And then I just keep going.

Technorati Tags: bicycling, Cycling, ride, route

The ride this morning was nice, but difficult. The weather was a little crisp, I think about 58 or 59 degrees when I began, but I was mostly prepared for that. The problem turned out to be, and this always works this way, that about the halfway point I changed directions into a very strong headwind. It kicked my butt pretty much immediately, and I slowed to a crawl.

A side effect of the wind is that it chilled my legs. I wasn’t uncomfortable, but I felt that whenever I hit a hill that I needed to stand to climb my legs were not warmed up. Like I had just gotten out of bed, not like I’d been riding for an hour already.

So, I just settled down and did my ride as comfortably as possible. The final distance was 32 miles with an average speed of 16 mph.

Technorati Tags: bicycle, Cycling, ride, route, weather

I’m updating later than usual. My normal procedure is to get back from a ride and document it pretty much right away, but this morning I started surfing the web, and making pancakes, and then napping through the Panthers game, and I just didn’t get an update written.

So, to answer…yes, I did ride. It was a chilly but pleasant morning. I think the temperature was right around 50 when I left the house, and it was foggy again. Very beautiful, actually, when the sun started piercing through the clouds and lighting up the foggy fields. I rode about 32 miles with an average speed of 16.8. Not bad…not where I was right before the Tour to Tanglewood…I’ve lost a step between then and now, but not too much.

I was just checking the weather reports for tomorrow morning to see what the commute might look like, and I think it should be a nice morning to ride in. I just hope I can get hot water at the office shower. On Friday when I rode I couldn’t, and it was a bracing experience. The water wasn’t icy, but it certainly wasn’t warm either. I was very awake and alert for the morning.

I’ve been watching videos on youtube related to riding a fixie. Things like people doing skid stops, and track stands, and urban alleycat races. Some of it is pretty fascinating. I linked to a video on my pownce page showing a competition of people doing track stands. Crazy when they go no-handed. I can’t even do one at all yet, though I was getting pretty close yesterday until I gashed my ankle open on a pedal. It’s not a big deal, I slipped, it happens. It’s just my first injury on the new bike. Frankly I’m surprised I haven’t fallen off the thing yet, but boy, it is fun to ride.

I also took a couple of the decals off the fixie. I left the model name “Lager” on the top tube, but I removed the big brand name “SE” from the downtube. I also removed the brand badge from the steering tube. So it’s looking a little more streamlined. I may eventually remove more of the decals, there are two more on the seat tube with frame size indicators and such. I should try and post some pictures soon as I make changes to the bike. I’ve bought some fenders, but haven’t installed them yet. I figure I’ll wait and see how the fall shapes up, and what the weather is like. The one key investment I’ll likely have to make soon is in a good headlight. The days are getting shorter.

Okay, that’s enough rambling for now about the bikes. Maybe some day I’ll start posting things about something other than bikes again. Believe it or not I sometimes do.

Technorati Tags: bicycle, commute, Cycling, route, weather

I found a new way to ride to and from work today. I was aware that the Guilford County greenway passed near the office, but what I didn’t know is that there is an access path to the greenway at the end of Tarrant road near the office.

I rode down there after work and managed to get onto the greenway without any difficulty. From there it was a nice ride past natural scenery all the way to East Fork road which I can take to connect through to Guilford road and then home.

The mileage is a little longer, but it’s a really nice option to have when I want a change of scenery. The only drawback is right at the end the light from East Fork onto Guilford is at the top of a hill and there’s a fair amount of traffic there. Getting started again from a full stop on a hillside with cars behind is a little tough.

Still, I’m glad I now know of it for an alternate route. It was 7.6 miles to home instead of the usual 5.3 or thereabouts.

Technorati Tags: commute, Cycling, ride, route

It has been about 20 days since I did any significant riding. I did commute to work one day on the bike, but other than that I could only look at my bike parked against the wall. Between having a continuous cold and large amounts of rain, riding just hasn’t been in the cards.

I finally got out this morning. It was a slightly cool and foggy morning. The roads were still wet in places from all the rain we’ve been having, but it was pleasant. I didn’t do too many miles and I didn’t push too hard to keep a high pace. But I rode 27 miles with a 16.3 mph average speed.

I stopped once or twice and took some pictures with my phone. I’ve uploaded those to flickr. They aren’t of anything in particular, just some fields and part of a lake with the fog settled across. If you are interested in seeing the pictures go to my flickr page.

Technorati Tags: bicycling, Cycling, ride, route