thinktubes 

Kicked off the long weekend with a 57-miler up north. Supposed to be 99 degrees tomorrow, so I wanted to get out ahead of the heat.

It was new seatpost day! I had been using a nice Ultegra post, but need about 1cm more of setback. Scored a nice generic post for cheap and it worked great.



Discovered that they are repaving Telegraph Road and had to deal with 3 miles of this. Did I mention how much I love Reynolds 531?



Starting to smell like fall. Something stung me in the back my neck right before I took this pic. Guessing it was some kind of micro-wasp.



White Egret wading in the pond at the Deerfield cloverleaf.



Temps were in the early 80s by the time I got home. I had forgotten to bring food on the ride, so I tucked into a plate of eggs and toast, followed by a nap.

jamesdak 

Today was just supposed to be the 4th day in a row of doing 50 mile bike rides. Trying to see how the knee holds up and how well I can recover each day. Started late this morning since rains were forecasted for the early hours. Of course once again the weatherman were totally wrong. Anyway, cool and overcast when I headed out so I didn't figure on any pictures today. But man did it turn into a beautiful day. Had to break out the cellphone for a couple of pics.

The first 3 are what I was surrounded by at about 20 miles into the ride when I was turning around on a side road that turned to gravel.




Then the next two were from another turn around point at the back end of the Monestary



Once I completed 52 miles on the Kirk Terraplane I took it inside and grabbed the Master Extra Light for it's maiden voyage. Did another 8 miles on it with tired legs.

ascherer 

I wanted to take my Falcon out and try those vintage Detto Pietros now that I’ve nailed in the cleats and added a heel protector. I wasn’t a mile down the road before I realized the freewheel wasn’t happy. It was loose but I couldn’t get the lock ring any tighter on the side of the road so I climbed back up to our house (about 150 feet vertical in 3/4 of a mile) and switched to my Paramount. I was riding a route over some familiar and some different roads. Kind of short, 26 miles, but it felt longer in a good way.


The Blue Mountain Reservoir is one of my favorite scenic spots.




I’ve stopped at this tiny church once before. It’s just off a busy, fast road. Turning into the side road, suddenly everything becomes quiet and peaceful and it’s a great shady spot for a short rest and drink of water. I hadn’t noticed the other building with its red pump which I assume was a rectory.

I was wondering what the inside looked like and a moment later a couple pulled up. They had a box and after greeting me they headed to unlock the door. I told them that I had just been wishing I could see the inside and they invited me in. It was humble and charming, I got a strong sense of a warm community space. As we chatted away they explained that they were dropping off toiletries and housekeeping supplies for folks in need. They said that lots of local people rely on food stamps but they doesn’t cover those necessities. There was an impressive collection next to the altar, shelved with care just like in a store. They have an open hose once a month so folks can get what they need.

As I rode off I was struck by the realization that there are people everywhere helping others with little fanfare or attention, in stark contrast to the constant flow of negativity from most media sources. It brought me a lot of comfort.

Oh, and the shoes were great!

northbend 

Rode up to Sunrise in Mt. Rainier National Park this morning with my friend Ty.
Sunrise Road with Ty today by Matthew Pendergast, on Flickr

jamesdak 

I bet that was a beautiful ride. I had a great day there years ago while in the area doing some training in Bothell. I need to get back. I do have a few rolls of Velvia slides I shot in the park that day.

darkmoon

Welcome to Dura Ace 7700 club, jamesdak!
Your Colnago is a beauty!
I have your sister.

curbtender

Had a couple different threads I could post this to, Bikes and Bridges or Empty Road Ahead, but it is landing here. They closed the busy Highway 80 eastbound from Thursday evening until Tuesday morning for repairs. From Cummings overpass.

Wildwood 

A Sunday lite ride. As in the traffic was less, esp on the Holiday weekend. Just stay off the major roads, best one can. 60*s, full clouds, gusty at times, misty at times but dry pavement.

First ride on Soma Vitesse 33s.


Newcastle, WA

No concert at this time. Good chance of showers.

Yes - Fall has arrived in western WA USA. Wool & knicker weather.

Spaghetti Legs 

Now tell us, did you take the on ramp? Once in a lifetime chance!

1989Pre 

Sixty miles on the Grubb today. First time I rode with 140psi. I like it. Great sunny ride, lost twenty-dollar bill out of the pocket in my shorts. Stopped at outdoor farmers market for a scone in Gray. Got ice cream sandwiches, ice tea and water in Windham Dollar General, ate out back on the heat pumps. Threw chain on the high side once on the way back. Don't know why. Shifter still needs adjusting. Too tight. New saddle bag.

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/7498117804/



New, 2L bag by Zimbale. Scene is down-town Brunswick.

In front of Vintage Potato Chips. Note the high-wheeler.

The road not taken (by me anyway). I'll stay on Rt. 4

From the vantage point.

Runaround Pond Recreation Area, Pownal.

Road from Gray to Windham. Large, open areas so usually very sunny.

About 12 black cows.

Local home business.

1989Pre 

Hot ship you got there.

zukahn1 

Looked like nice weather today decided to take quick ride up to Alma on the bike trail only 15 miles or so round trip. Got caught in a small hail storm ended up waiting out for half hour or so under a tree.



The view from under the tree just outside Alma during the storm.


By the time I got back to just outside Fairplay it was already pretty much dry and Sunny.

1989Pre 

Can you take bare handle-bars or are you just experimenting?

Fredo76

Today is the Sunday of Labor Day weekend, so I rode west on the highway past my street, instead of east, as usual. It's not a long ride, but nice, and I'll only try it when traffic is at a minimum. Today was fine, with very light traffic. Most folks with ambition are out of town for the holiday, and the remainder want to relax at home.



Black Mesa from La Mesilla

zookster 

Lifetime Fitness sponsored weekly ride from Avondale Park this afternoon on my '88 Miele AzSora.

1989Pre 

You rode three miles of that yucky re-surfacing? You deserve extra points! How much air did you have in your tires? I remember my first tech I had who was a close friend 1980-81, and introduced me to the world of road cycling, and he told me the Schwinn Paramount and Superior were their best bikes. Did you have to hit that stretch again on the way home? (Nice photo of the egret in that wetlands).

1989Pre 

Really nice bike, Zookster. I see you came prepared in the water department.

Wildwood 

Only 20 miles, always have padded gloves. But the narrow bars (34@hoods) have 'been an experiment' on 4 comfortable rides. Then came the 33mm Somas to try, Harding has clearance and clinchers. It is my 'trials' bike, so to speak. Handle bar tape is the last step I take a while to reach on some.

Cream colored bar tape was the choice with black tires (match dt logo), but with tan or brownish sidewalls, not sure. Silver cloth, shellac'd? Match th saddle brown? Yellow cloth POP?

jamesdak 

Well the miles caught up to me today. Had the P&S ready to go this morning but storms were threatening again so I left the camera at home. Hoping to get the miles in before the rain so I headed out first on the Master Extra Light first for around 31 miles. Grabbed these two shots




Once I completed I put this Master aside and grabbed the C40. Still needed more miles to reach my silly goal of 300 miles for the week. The C40 felt great but the weeks miles caught up to me. Well that or age, or maybe just poor recovery nutrition after Saturday's ride. The final miles were not much fun and I just wanted to get them done vs stopping to take pictures. Still, I stuck it out until I put another 40 miles on this Colnago. I have to admit I did get some personnel satisfaction each time this tired old man passed younger couples out on their E-bikes. Made me keep going harder despite being tired just to drop 'em. Anyway, wound up with 321 miles over the past 6 days. Wanted to push the miles to see how the new knee dealt with it and to see how well this ol' body could still recover day by day.

thinktubes 

100 psi, 700x23 Michelins. It looks worse than it was. Only had to do 1.5 miles on the return loop. It will be fantastic when they finish it.

Thanks for the kind words regarding the Egret pic. The “wetlands” are a bit of an illusion. In reality, it’s a retention pond off of I94. The water birds don’t seem to mind and have made a real comeback in the last 20 years.

[

1989Pre 

Wildwood, if you're asking me, I would match the downtube font color and go with white.

zukahn1 

I like the large mixte with drops had couple over the years whish I kept them.

curbtender

Back when they were building 580 through Oakland we had a football game going on the freeway when a cop drove up. The kids scattered but I got caught and was given a ride home. My mom swore that she never told me to go play on the freeway...

bark_eater 

This time there was a tree.

ExPatTyke

Just a few from an Audax a couple of weekends back - a 200k DIY, on the BSA as part of my RRTY this year. There was - unintentionally - an industrial history theme for the ride which went through the former docks in Bridgwater before a visit to Watchet, a small coastal town and former port further down the Bristol Channel, then a run inland following the West Somerset Railway, a heritage line, towards Taunton before a stretch of canal towpath and another stop, then heading back to Weston via Langport and Chedzoy and a cycle path on a former railway line.

I went out from Weston through a nature reserve then followed to road south through some coastal resorts before going over the Poldens then descending into Bridgwater. Bridgwater was a mixed bag - there's a lot of money going into the town from the Hinkley Point nuclear power station development, and while some areas of the old docks were showing signs of regneration there were still plenty of run down and boarded up buildings.

From Bridgwater I followed quiet lanes through some small villages towards the coast until forced onto the A39, a major road. Fortunately this was for just a few miles before turning off and passing Doniford Halt on the WSR en route to Watchet.

Going into Watchet RWGPS let me down - the cyclepath turned out to be out a footpath, taking a descent into the town on a very steep and well worn set of steps. On the positive side it went over a bridge over the railway and a train was passing at just the right moment (is it just me being weird, or does anyone else love that smell of coal smoke and hot oil from a steam locomotive?).

A cup of tea and a cake sat by the harbour in Watchet set me up for the next leg - up and around the edge of the Quantock Hills, loosely following the course of the WSR past the stations at Stogumber, Crowcombe Heathfield, and Bishops Lydeard, before heading into Taunton. The way out of Taunton was along the towpath of the Bridgwater & Taunton Canal, which I followed before turning off to North Curry, stopping at the community cafe which is both cyclist friendly and incredibly good value - coffee and cake for just £2.50.

From here it was through a few villages then the riverside path into Langport, then over Sedgemoor to Chedzoy, then a former railway path before a run over the Somerset Levels and home. A good day out, and the BSA ran perfectly with its triple being well used.


Uphill Nature Reserve, St. Nicholas Church in the background

Burnham-on-Sea, looking down the Bristol Channel towards Hinkley Point

Huntspill River - not a natural river, it was constructed during the last war to provide water for Bridgwater

They're right about that, it was!

View towards Kilve Bay

BSA - perfect bike for the day

Former GWR Manor class 7812 Erlestoke Manor on the West Somerset Railway

Watchet Harbour

Bridgwater & Taunton Canal

Beer and Curry? Now that's a sign!