Solo Rides

Project Sunrise: Week 1

I decided to ride my bike to Kerry Park every morning to greet the sunrise. The goal is to bike a slightly different route to Kerry Park every morning and take a photo. I have been riding my bike to work most days for the past 8 years. I have the lucky advantage of living in a north enough latitude and have a long enough commute in each direction that I often get the chance to ride with either the sunrise or sunset and sometimes both. If it weren’t for the grey weather that hides the sunrises and sunsets, I could probably see sky colors most of the days of my commute. I’m working from home now with the “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order that looms over most of the country as we limit contact to combat COVID-19. I don’t have a morning commute any more and the gym is closed. My job is the 24/7 sort, so the working from bit doesn’t feel all that different from normal, but having no access to the gym has been the death of me. This project gave me a destination, a way to get out of bed, and a good climb too. I finally found a repeatable ride that meets 2 of the 3 parts of a good ride: exercise, destination, social time. This activity is about half of what I did while working onsite, so it should be easy to maintain every day. I decided Sundays don’t have to be sunrise rides because there is already a “sun” in the “day” (har har). You can tell easily from the summary photos which days are not sunrises!

Tour de Yachats

IMG_20190730_101119~2.jpg

My wonderful aunt recently purchased a house in downtown Yachats. She bestowed it Sweet Haven. She decorated it in greens and purples with mermaids all around. She was kind enough to let my mother and I stay there for a summer vacation. I took the opportunity to ride around. I haven’t been feeling very well, and biking has been tough. I gave it all I had the first day. But the beauty at every turn inspired me. I only wanted to ride more. The next day I went all out and it felt fantastic. Riding from Yachats to Newport was the best day of riding I’ve had all year. I had to cut the third day short for time, so I left wanting more. It’s on my list of priorities to get back there. Soon.

IMG_20190729_072318.jpg
IMG_20190730_111143~2.jpg


Ride Time Capsule: Sunday City Parks and Cemeteries

IMG_20180520_205337.jpg

I first fell in love with cycling during my college years. My beautiful red Schwinn Cruiser was stolen he day before my first midterms, freshman year. I couldn't believe it, the bike I had since 5th grade, gone. I thought it would be safe, locked in a bike shed. I bought a new bike down in Medford after spring term ended but before summer session. It was another Schwinn, this time a green mountain bike. All the mountain bikes had shock absorbers. I couldn't afford such fanciness and I felt a little ashamed for that. But, I took to taking that bike with me to a different city park every day that I could. Summers in Corvallis are glorious. When I couldn't find a park, I'd make my destination a cemetery. Cemeteries have long been a destination favorite, particularly when cycling alone as they afford quiet, tranquility, and reflection. Now, decades later, I get to enjoy the same things I did then, with new bike paths and improved roads. It is a lucky treat to ride in one of the most beautiful places in the world. 

Ride Time Capsule: Bellingham Bliss

Bellingham Bike Ride2.jpg

Bike Everywhere month is underway. I am riding for tacos. It's Friday night and I am a few tacos short of my goal. We vacation to Bellingham spend the first night at the casino run by the Lummi Nation. The next morning, I blast down a lovely route into downtown Bellingham and meet my taco goal. It's mostly on designated bike path. The paths are not new, but they are clean, solid and smooth. I ride among the trees, the marshes, and I hear the bird song the whole way. I cannot be happier. Impeccable, perfect weather blessed us all. I think I enjoyed the perfect sun and mild temperature the most of all, speeding along the quiet country, far away from the sounds of the city. This ride feels as close to euphoria as one can get.

The next day, I ride from the viewpoint at the top of Chuckanut drive, down through Bow and Mt. Vernon, finishing at The Angel of the Winds Casino in Arlington.  It's a little warmer, and the ride is a bit more stressful than the day before. Chuckanut is especially scary after driving the road and seeing how close cars have to get to bikes. It's mother's day and cars congest the roads stopping at every eatery possible for brunch. Google Maps crashes several times and I pedal past my turns, unawares that Google can't tell me where to go. I forget my sunscreen and my skin burns a little in the blaring sun. But, I am blessed with a tail wind the entire time. I ride through country I road through on the dreaded Tulip Pedal ride that had nothing by headwinds. The ride is mostly downhill, and I fly, still enthralled that I am lucky to live in this beautiful country. 

Bellingham Bike Ride1.jpg

Ebb and Flow: Riding from the beaches of Diamond Point

IMG_20180617_193254.jpg

Vastly opposing ride experiences cycled back and forth during today's ride. I'd ride on quaint, smooth and quiet roads with fast and long descents, chirping birds, interesting houses, and the bluest ocean views you've ever seen. Then I'd turn onto steep highways, bumper-to-bumper with rushed cars spitting dirt and oil on my legs and nary a shoulder to ride on. The contrast was  jilting, and gave me chance to ponder the many things in the world that are more beautiful because of the ugliness that surrounds them.

I spent some time the other day reading through past ride blogs. I used to list ride stats at the end of each entry. That sort of went away once MapMyRide and Strava started tracking all the stats for me. Still, they were fun enough to read that I decided to bring them back. I'll just include the bits apps don't catch:

  • Tech: tried turn-by-turn directions with my new Coros Helmet. Best direction experience ever! Tired listening to some music, but this ride was so interesting and stimulating on its own that music sort of got in the way. Everything worked splendidly.
  • Weather: insultingly hot and dry with occasional strong wind gusts.
  • Food: nothing but warm, day old water, suitable for my punishing eastern european heritage.
  • Feel: Inhaling buckets of Chex mix like a starved addict is not the best pre-ride practice. 
  • Pace: Slower than I could have (see reason above).
  • Wildlife: countless birds, 2 dead garden snakes in the bike lane.
  • Danger, Will Robinson: This ride very nearly didn't happen at all. We drove out to Diamond Point with the bike locked to the rack on the back of the van. And the key to the lock was safe at home! With no way to get the bike off the rack, Bryan tried to wedge it free, tried to open it with a shim, and ultimately broke the lock off with a bolt cutter borrowed from a neighbor. 
  • Overall: I am insanely thrilled to have had the opportunity to ride on such great roads with million-dollar ocean views and bright green forests thick with scents of sap and bark. I would do it again in a heartbeat.

BONUS Sunset Photos Over the Bay:

Ride Time Capsule: Mary's Peak 2018

I'm starting a new blog series; the Ride Time Capsule. Ride Time Capsule captures images, thoughts, and notes about rides that happened some time ago that haven't been posted on SheRidesToday before. Here's to saving treasured memories!

IMG_20180521_152147.jpg

Mary's Peak is my signpost of progress, change and growth. During college, friends and I drove up to Mary's Peak a few times. We hiked around and enjoyed the view. You can see many of the Cascades and even a glimpse of the ocean on a clear day. It's an amazing vista and so close to Corvallis. I remember seeing spandex-clad cyclists in their fancy bikes and thinking, "They are insane. Never in a million years could I do that" I couldn't imagine I'd ever be able to ride a bike like they did. And now I can. I slugged my way up Mary's Peak. I felt slow and distracted. My hands hurt terribly. Reynaud's made my hands white and numb. It was scary and difficult to grip the breaks- which you do a lot on the ride down! 

IMG_20180521_153042.jpg

But it was all worth it. Just as I finished soaking in the view, carloads of college kids started arriving to the scene. I decided to hop in the porta-potty and be on my way. I overheard a college lady say, "Oh my god! Someone rode up here on a BIKE." I stepped out of the porta-potty and waved. They sort of gawked a little and I awkwardly clip-clopped on my cleats over to the rock my bike so gallantly leaned on. I wonder if I planted a seed in those younger ladies, creating a me for the next generation? I have to assume the last thing they expected was for that lone rider to be a woman, just like them. 

Comparing a previous climb up Mary's Peak back in 2010, I rode farther and travelled a while 1 mph faster this time around. The previous ride was a cold February day with snow on the shoulder, and I probably hadn't warmed up to doing very much distance in the weeks prior to the ride. Still, I'm going to take it as an improvement over the years because I felt so guarded this time around and knew in my heart I wasn't giving the ride everything I had. It still holds true, Mary's Peak is my signpost, my pedestal of progress. 

maryspeak2010.jpg
IMG_20180521_122121.jpg

I rode past Cookie Monster pinata, complete with patches of various local breweries and wondered what it was. Did someone die at this water fall with Cookie Monster stationed in thier memory? No, it belonged to this friendly fellow hiking around nearby. He carried his pinata with him all around. We crossed paths again at the top of the mountain.

Most Pleasant Training Ride

IMG_20170703_203449.jpg

Finally, after several stressful training rides, I finally had a fun one! I call this the "pleasant ride" because I rode through several pleasant-sounding names; Sweet Home, Pleasant Valley, Mt. Pleasant, Mt. Hope, Golden Valley, all the places that sound as lovely as the day. I truly started to have fun on this ride, real, live fun! The coolest thing about this ride is that I maintained a 16 mph average all the way until mile 65! I tried really had those last few miles to keep the pace up, but my body couldn't take those final hills at speed. This was a training ride in its purest form; I pushed myself and finished just as it got too tough!

A most pleasant view

A most pleasant view

Queens to Kings Ride

I took a training ride in Corvallis that surprised me with traffic. I didn't end up going where I initially planned, but I did end up making a royal loop, as it were. I started on Queens avenue and rode through Kings Valley. Very royal, indeed! 

Other than having a madly full bladder and nowhere to go but thorny brambles on a busy road, and loads of traffic, this ride proved to be uneventful.

Ride to Peavy Arboretum

upload.jpg

On the last day in June, I had the grand opportunity to log some training rides in my old stomping grounds. I don't get to ride in Corvallis often, but when I do, I have a lot of fun reminiscing. I rode to Peavy Arboretum. I used to drive out to this place to run on the trails. Can you believe it? I used to run? What was I thinking. I biked here a few times too, in the summer when most of the students were away. 

This short ride qualified as epic. Google sent me on a dead end. This wouldn't have been too bad, expect going there required me to cross a busy highway, and I had to cross it again to back track. Then I plowed down the Crescent Valley hill, happy that I wouldn't have to climb up it, only to find the road closed at the bottom. I had to climb up it anyway. Then, at the very end of the ride, I fell off my bike while stopped in the drive way! 

upload.jpg

I went  up a hill, err, mountain, I didn't know existed in Corvallis. Maybe I rode it once and blocked the memory out, I am not sure. Vinyard Mountain is accessed via Concord Drive. There is a Strava segment called grape crush that I crushed! That felt awesome!

IMG_20170630_082954.jpg

Refueling while Riding

upload.jpg

I rode out to Seward Park on a miraculously non-rainy Sunday morning. My mom had just mailed me some whole-wheat chocolate chip walnut cookies, so I decided to eat them on my ride. I packed them in the adorable reusable popcorn bag Sara made me. Gifts are wonderful things. What a great treat to eat while enjoying the cherry blossoms. They are in full bloom this weekend!

To the Fair!

The boy had tickets for the spring fair in Puallayup with the goal of eating lots and lots of elephant ears. I decided to offset the bodily effects of fair food gorging by riding my bike there to meet him. The perfect weather perfectly complimented a fantastic ride! I let MapMyRide set the route for me. Then, rather than writing turn by turn directions on a tiny piece of paper taped to my handlebars, I copied the route into Google Maps, put one ear bud in, and let the GPS voice guide me. This worked out well, because I didn't have to worry about the paper blowing away or getting rained on. I also didn't have to worry if my next turn would be a long way away, or if I'd already passed it.

Riding down 1st ave south of downtown felt odd. It didn't feel like a road intended for any bicycle to go on. It was a divided highway with four lanes, littered with light industrial buildings on both sides. It just seemed so...busy. I took comfort in the shadows passing me on the pavement. The city intended this for bikes, even if there isn't another crazy cyclist in sight. In fact, I saw none on the entire stretch of road. Riding on the road felt like an adventure in tourism, however. It was a lot of fun! I passed a mannequin store. You don't see those every day. I also passed the Living Computer Museum, and the Museum of Flight. I rode by Starbuck's corporate hub, as well as Boeing. I enjoyed riding on the Green River Trail. This was a forested trail nestled in the twists and turns of cooperate centers and workplaces. It was also long, straight stretches of power line shadows. I enjoyed the brief moments I could really get into a rhythm without stoplights to break it. I really got to pedal quickly as I got onto the Interurban trail, a separated bike path that spans miles and miles and miles south of Seattle. There are so many biking opportunities south of Seattle, I wish I wasn't so reluctant to pass through downtown to get to all these gems. I started to tires after miles thirty. But, at mile 35 I got a second wind knowing that fair food would soon be in my hungry belly. The closest thing to wildlife I saw were some forlorn looking peeps smushed on the sidewalk that looked like they'd survived there since Easter. I rolled into the fair parking lot with barely enough time to stretch before B arrived to meet me. We wondered the fair, ate way too much fair food, ate some more, looked at exhibits and livestock, listened to The Coats in concert (acapella band), and smiled and laughed before watching the sunset on the way home.

Ride to Bellevue Pond

Screen Shot 2015-03-10 at 12.32.45 PM
Screen Shot 2015-03-10 at 12.32.45 PM

The day was too sunny and pleasant to not ride. So, I headed out to Bellevue Pond via the Burke Gilman Trail over the north side of Lake Washington. The cool, crisp air numbed my right foot while invigorating my soul at the same time. Great ride!

High Expectations Ride

I had such high expectations for today's ride.  I'd start the day with a extra long, hour and a half long Zumba class, then ride into Boulder and enjoy the Boulder Creek Festival.  I would be entertained because not only would I be going on new roads and paths, I'd have a fun destination.  Plus, by leaving from my Zumba class, the ride would be pretty flat. I didn't get any flats, run into any hassles, or get overly lost.  But the ride was lackluster to what I'd hoped.  Apparently I'd been riding too many picture perfect rides, and now one little flaw ruins it for me.  The biggest distraction was some cramping and aching I haven't been able to knock.  It pretty much dominated my every thought the entire day.  My pace was slowed drastically by the path I picked being largely unpaved.  That and a sunburn.  Beautiful day though.  Definitely a day that demanded being outside.

  • distance: 39.74 mi
  • time: 3 hr. 49 min.
  • av. speed: 10.4 mph
  • max speed: 25.98 mph
  • av. cadence: didn't record
  • climb: 926 ft
  • max altitude: 8243
  • av pulse: 129
  • max pulse: 159
  • temp 70-80

PVGR to NCAR

Today I rode into Boulder via left hand canyon.  The day started out cold with my winter jacket and legs, but within an hour I was super hot.  For some reason I saw lots of women on the road today, which is rare.  Maybe all the women do all their riding on weekday mornings, or maybe I was on a popular route for women.  Whatever it may be, that was inspiring!  What was not inspiring was the hills.  I am tired of hills.  I flat out (har har) don't want to ride any more hills for a very very long time.  I spent most of the day being very grumpy because of all these hills.  Needless to say, the ride was beautiful.  I live in one of the most beautiful places in the world.  And as annoying as the hills were, the views they allotted were breathtaking.   I am taking the long, long descents for granted, and know that I will look fondly back at them when I reach a time where such descents are not so readily available.  I also love NCAR.  It's one of my favorite places in Boulder.  I met my dad there and we walked around.  We planned on hiking but a thunderous rain fell upon us as soon as I finished my ride, so we stayed in and l0oked at the exhibits.  Then it was off to Tokyo Joes for lunch and Sunflower Market for groceries.

  • distance: 33.52 mi
  • time: 2 hr. 38 min.
  • av. speed: 12.69 mph
  • max speed: 46.21 mph
  • av. cadence: 63
  • climb: 2521 ft
  • max altitude: 9094
  • av pulse: 149
  • max pulse: 171
  • temp 50-85

Chanelling "America's Toughest Bike Race" and failing

I really wanted to get training going for the MS Ride.  But for this ride I was severely ill-prepared.  I had not fueled up enough, I was not fit enough, I was not dressed enough, nor did I have adequate bike lighting.  It was hard to pick clothing for this ride.  Just the other day it was snowing, but the online weather reports said 79, matching my thermometer.  At the same time I was riding into the evening where it would get colder, but I'd be pushing up hills which would make me hotter, but I'd be speeding downhills which would make me colder, but most riders out here are in just tee shirts.  Sadly, I developed full-body goosebumps on my first decent that remained the rest of the ride. I was numb and shivering when I had still an hour of riding to do. I cut my route short (full route on link at bottom of page) because I worried about getting too cold. I came home and gingerly lowered myself into the nicest bath ever, but by the time I got out I was so famished I felt faint and immobile.  It took 30-40 minutes to get food and another 30-40 to feel better.  Yesterday it seemed like the cold was my biggest problem.  But today, I think it was just too hard of a ride.  Mapmyride started using climb ratings modeled after climb ratings given by the UCI for races like the Tour de France and other professional cycling events. Category 5 is the lowest level, it must be at least 500 meters in length with an average grade of 3% or more.  As the numbers get smaller, the climb gets more intense.  This ride has stretches ranking in category 5, 4, 3 and 1.  With the hardest climb, category 1, spanning 10.8 miles.  I can't ignore the fact that I live right on the stage 6 route for America's Pro Cycling Challenge for this year, aptly titled "America's Toughest Bike Race."  I'm just a casual rider who hasn't exercised at all all winter and barely rode 1000 miles in the past 2 years.  This is not the route to "get me back into shape."  Oh well.

  • distance: 26.76 mi
  • time: 2 hr. 35 min.
  • av. speed: 10.36 mph
  • max speed: 37.35 mph
  • av. cadence: 57
  • climb: 2791 ft
  • max altitude: 8879
  • av pulse: 145
  • max pulse: 163
  • temp 50 (and I was in shorts and a short-sleeved jersey! What was I thinking?!)
  • Ride map

I ride for stir fry and ice cream

20120503-211821.jpg
20120503-211821.jpg

Before today's ride I fueled up at Tokyo Joe's. They serve the sort of food that is my "standby" when cooking for myself at home. But the fun and ease of fast food are too much to resist. And, they are damn good. I sat outside and read the paper. Then it was over to the Sunflower market to get some groceries so I can cook at home (what is it with, you Boulder, being so pretentious? The whole Foods is packed, but the Sunflower is empty. They stock the exact same stuff!) I got dressed in a luxious bathroom at a hotel, then I was ready to ride.

I did a route I did many times before in Boulder. While riding, I realized I had to get 2 birds with one stone for a ride to feel worthwhile. The potential "birds" are: healthy, see something new, chat with friends, get somewhere/have destination. On today's ride, I only had one thing; the health. But the scenery was amazing, as per usual. Left hand canyon and it's deep red rocks are gorgeous. Just after I crested my climb, I blasted past some amazing views of the valley below.

After the ride I decided to stop at the Ice Cream Shop in Lyons to get a cone, because, you know, I might get pekid if I don't eat. Apparently the shop was doing some "training" and the soft serve kept pouring freely, so they gave me a free cone. I never had soft serve taste so good. It wasn't you standard flare, it had something else to it. Can't complain about any of today.

Today I stole a route from a fellow map-my-rider. I am tempted to compare today's ride with past times I covered these same roads. I thought I was a mapmyride member back then, but my membership says I've only been active since 2009. I'll have to dig into the old blogs to find old logs. Sadly, they are not readily available. Guess I don't get to geek out on stats tonight.

  • distance: 21.28
  • time: 1 hr. 40 min.
  • av. speed: 12.69 mph
  • max speed: 42.14 mph
  • av. cadence: 69
  • climb: 1207 ft
  • max altitude: 6400
  • av pulse: 146
  • max pulse: 168
  • temp 80
  • Ride map

Peaceful Valley to Katmandu

20120502-211110.jpg
20120502-211110.jpg

Today I rode my bike out to Nederland to meet my father at our favorite lunch meetup spot, Katmandu, the Nepalese restaurant in town. They offer an affordable lunch buffet that my father loves. The food falls short of my expectations, but it is still tasty. It also has to be 10 times healthier than what I eat at work. It's also a place where I can feel totally comfortable sitting in a nice plushy booth wearing head-to-toe bike gear. But that may just have to do with the resuraunt being in Nederland. Nederland is cool that way.

It was a pleasantly uneventful ride. I worry on this ride because the combination of fast driving cars, small shoulder, and rampant gigantic potholes. Luckily, all was good. My dad was convinced in was going to rain, so I rode back with him rather than biking back. Upon returning home, I regretted the decision, as rain never came. I'm also not sure why rain would be so bad. The giant potholes and steep roads scare me. I did reach speeds over 40mph, and to hit one of the 2 or 3 foot potholes would have been disastrous. However, rain isn't really going increase the chances of that happening. To make up for it, I'm going to find a nice place to ride tomorrow.

  • distance: 18.45
  • time: 1 hr. 34 min.
  • av. speed: 11.76 mph
  • max speed: 41.19 mph
  • av. cadence: didn't register
  • climb: 1591 ft
  • max altitude: 9272
  • av pulse: forgot my strap!
  • max pulse: forgot my strap!
  • temp 65
  • Ride map

Flatland Riding 101

IMG_1475
IMG_1475
snake
snake
IMG_1466
IMG_1466

Today I left the cold and snow and mountains for a ride on the sunny front range.  I couldn't have picked a more perfect day.  These are the days to ride in Colorado, when you can find that nice mix between snow and sweltering.  I hadn't ridden in Longmont before, but I what I found was a pleasant similarity to many of the rides I've done in other parts of the front range; Denver, Boulder, Fort Collins, etc.  It was at that point when I realized I that these trails were no worse than any of the trails we rode in Italy.  This trail particularly reminded me of Ravenna.  Since Ravenna is, besides being the mosaic capitol of the world, is also considered one of the world's most bike-friendly cities. It was at this moment that I decided to pretend I was a tourist. First, the wildlife. Early on my way I caught an epic snake sighting! This guy was just making his way across the bike path!  Only every once in a while do I get to see something other than a garden snake! So cool!  I hope he made it all the way across safely!

IMG_1478
IMG_1478

Later on, as I entered into more marshlands, I saw some unique and colorful birds.  I wish I was able to photograph birds so I could later identify them, but sadly, birds just move too much.  I also came across some ducks, which was very Oregon-esque.  When I came into a park that was a sea of geese, I was floored.  Like always, it was then that I was reminded that we've taken away the homes of all these creatures that were here first so we can have our pavement.  But, before I got too sad, I had to appreciate the City of Longmont for recognizing and valuing what was originally here.  At least, as part of their city planning, they retained some places for these animals to go, albeit crowded places.  They keep the species alive and provide some education to the young and pleasure to people like me.

IMG_1480
IMG_1480
IMG_1482
IMG_1482

I should interject here, that I really admire a town that builds such wide, wonderful bike paths.  The cool thing about these paths is, while they connected park and greenways and rivers, they also connected to strip malls and big box campuses.  I admire a town that thinks about alternative modes of transport.  I thought a minute about the people who work in these stores.  They are huge, they must employ hundreds of people all for a very low wage.  The expectation is to buy some $20K car and also pay $4 for every 20 miles they drive it.  On the flip side, some person can spend $300 on a decent bike and the only fuel they have to pay for is the Chipoltle they had for lunch.  Bike commuting is such an economic way to live, and yet, so many city designs prohibit it.  Las Vegas, for instance, makes it very difficult for one to ride around in town.  Now, the weekend warriors can escape town and have world-class riding nearby, but these sorts of pleasures and income-restrictive, and I admire any town that thinks of it's every person.  Even Denver has a huge and wonderful network of bike paths, but they are not entirely helpful for actually trying to get someplace, and going off the bike path is pretty unpleasant.  I did have to veer off the trail for a few miles on this ride, and for a short while was riding on one of the town main thoroughfares.  It had no bike lane and not much of a sidewalk, but that was only for a mile or so, and I'm sure only because there was a more appropriate road nearby.  For the most part, the entire town was littered with wide roads and bike paths.

IMG_1493
IMG_1493

The last animal I want to mention on the tour of your typical flatlander's bike path is the prairie dog.  The prairie dogs run rampant in these parts, almost to an epidemic level in some places.  They are always poking in and our of their holes near roads and bike paths.  I guess they are the places they can get away with digging holes.  Like all rodents, I admire how prairie dogs wait until the last minute before they have to find safety.  They are always testing their limits.  Every prarie dog that got scared would run to its hole, but rather than instantly burrow to safety, they would hang out at that hole for a while, knowing that everything isn't a threat and they could find safety in a second.  They all took a similar stance, poised at the hole, tails thumping.  I know their epidemic populations are doing something bad to the Colorado ecosystem, but I still like watching them as I ride by.

IMG_1483
IMG_1483

Another great thing about this ride was the random trinkets of art all around.  Every mile or so, I'd come across footprints in the walkway.  They were always something different.  That's a lot of footprints!  They were quite entertaining, and I was pressed to stop and photograph every single one, but, I didn't, for fear I'd never reach my destination!  There was stretch of footprints, though, man's shoes, that was imprinted a little too deeply.  It caused quite a jolt on the bike and I feared I'd pop a tire.  The footprints spanned the whole walkway, so there wasn't any avoiding them.  Other than that, though, the footprints were and absolute delight!

IMG_1485
IMG_1485
IMG_1479
IMG_1479
IMG_1474
IMG_1474
IMG_1495
IMG_1495

There were so many other fun things to see as I passed by.  It made for a very casual, laid-back ride, as there was so much to see.  It made me miss my Steph, as this ride would have been perfectly paired with a latte.  Apparently, Longmont passed a public art bill which explains the bits of art all over.  None of it was that mindblowing, but it was these little details that entertain on what could be a boring ride.  Left hand canyon, for instance is signified on one of the bridges.  Although the hand is also the logo for Left Hand Brewing company, which also makes it's home in Longmont.  Perhaps the hands were made by them.

IMG_1496
IMG_1496
IMG_1498
IMG_1498

There was one spot where I had to detour as the existing bike path was being dismantled.  That was loud.  Really, it was a very Front Ranch typical bike path.  If it weren't for the art, it could have been any other town.  The beauty of it is not unlike the beauty of Alaska.  Once glance you see a barren, brown, desolate dirt pile, but at another glance you wildlife and geology and land formations that you just don't see anywhere else.  What is this white striation in the rock, rock people?  Quartz? Limestone?

All in all, this was a great ride.  There was no point that I wasn't perfectly entertained.  With the exception of a few bodily complaints (sore back, not enough sunscreen) the ride was absolutely perfect!

  • distance 29.53
  • time: 2 hr. 14 mins.
  • av. speed: 13.22 mph
  • max speed: 29.7 mph
  • av. cadence: 70
  • climb: 673 ft
  • max altitude: 8065
  • av pulse: 145
  • max pulse: 168
  • temp 78-80

Ride to Laughter

Image
Image

An unusually warm, and fabulous day, I took the opportunity of steal a quick bike ride.  This was the best ride yet with no face-pummeling wind, no flat tires, no slips on gravel melt, and nothing but big-sky views all around. I took a new road this time, and descended rapidly down into the town of Ward.  I stopped briefly to contemplate how much I wanted to go into the valley, knowing I'd have to climb back up again. What I saw was this hillbilly mashup of homes, a store, outhouses, cars, chairs, propane tanks.  Nothing was lined up at all like most properties are, and I had no way of telling where one property began and another one ended.  The whole area looked universally messy, and like it had no shortage of cars.  While my first glance tempted me to make some sort of judgement of the town, it only took a second to hear the laughter.  The whole town must have been out.  I had to look carefully, but people were everywhere.  Sitting in that bench over there, leaning on the propane tank there, standing in the ditch, partying on the hill.  No one was alone, and everyone was laughing.  I almost didn't recognize the sound, I hadn't heard so much laughter in so long.  I didn't find it annoying, like the sound of a playground at recess, instead, it was calming in it's intensity and how well the groups of people were hidden. The valley was so steep, these folks really were in the hills.  I had to figure a whole town of people having this much fun had to be pretty awesome.  When I finished listening to the laughter, I started climbing up the hill, and worried how long it would take me.  There were several switchbacks stacked up on each other, for several hundred feet.  I started to hear the raspy yell of what must have been a drunken angry person.  I worried the person was yelling at me, there wasn't anybody else on this hill.  I could see them a few switchbacks up, but couldn't tell where they were looking.  They yelled things like, "Get up here you f__king bi_ch!"  I wondered what I could do if this person was aggressive, I was climbing this hill at 4mph, and couldn't go any faster.  One drunken leg kick and I'd be all the way at the bottom.  As I approached the uneven saunter and the shadows lifted, I saw what I can only describe as a mix of Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman and Pocahontas.  A woman?!  I approached her and she smoothly murmured, "peace" and "happy trails to you."  I looked around. The yells had to be directed at this woman, not coming from her.  But there was no one else around.  Not a soul.  Needless to say, I got up the hill without even noticing it.  It's amazing what proper distraction can do.

Image
Image

I am really starting to get the hang of my new bike computer.  It felt a little intimidated by it at first.  It has 4 buttons that all do several things, and I am used to only one button.  But, turns out it's pretty intuitive while you are pedaling.  It the first of all my bike computers that will display the time while wheels are turning.  I find the time and the temperature to be the least discouraging displays to be looking at while climbing massive hills, an option I've never had before.

  • Distance: 15.52 mi
  • time: 1 hr. 28 mins.
  • av. speed: 10.52 mph
  • max speed: 38 mph
  • av. cadence: 55
  • climb: 1592 ft
  • max altitude: 9433
  • av pulse: 149
  • max pulse: 169
  • temp 58-70

First Ride of 2012

Suddenly the snow melted, the sun came out and all was well in Peaceful Valley. A bike ride was in order. This was my first ride with my new computer, and therefore very exciting!  I was pretty nervous riding, simply because of the large amount of snow that was still around and the even larger amount of gravel on the road itself. I really didn't feel like skidding or falling.  The ride was beautiful, I saw clear skies, and endless mountains, and the slower pace of my bike allowed me to oogle at all the fine homes in Riverside. I bonked in 45 minutes. I didn't realize, but all I'd eaten today was oats, a latte, muffin, and 2 baby red potatoes. Luckily, I had a bar in my bag.

I made a goal of riding 20 miles a day, no matter how long it takes.  That didn't seem so ambitious. But it's been so long since I rode that my butt got sore. And it was hard.  The elevation, climbing, and instance winds take their tole. But, I will keep on. It's so worth it!

  • Distance: 13.2 mi
  • time: 1 hr. 14 mins.
  • av. speed: 10.6mph
  • max speed: 36.2mph
  • av. cadence: 54
  • climb: 1257 ft
  • max altitude: 8767 ft.
  • av pulse: 143bpm
  • max pulse: 171bpm
  • temp: 61