smontanaro 

Yeah, not bike-unfriendly particularly, but certainly not scenic either. The draw to Kenosha is almost certainly only the old velodrome. If not for that, I wonder if that would give the planners the freedom to create a more scenic route. The Base Two group here in Evanston sometimes rides out to Algonquin for pancakes. I think that's about 80 miles. I've ridden to Crystal Lake (for fish tacos) and did about 95 miles. It's certainlly possible to ride quieter roads with more shade if nothing else.

Hmmm... Maybe EBC is married to the five rest stops they have. I don't recall any different stops. That would certainly constrain their route selection.

LucasHartong

Been riding around part of the Dutch IJsselmeer (lake), together with my wife. She was on a modern steed, I rode my Giant MTB Atlanta special. A simple bike, they say, but she didn't miss a beat during the 230 kms ride. We visited Marken, Volendam, Enkhuizen, Urk, Kampen and Harderwijk. Saw castles, sailing boats, houses from the Middle Ages, classic cars, campings and we even slept in a former horse drawn cart. The trip was great, building memories and if you do that on a bike dreams do come true.

ZudeJammer

Biked to the top of Camelback Mt. the back way, through the forest, lots of fun

gaucho777 

I did one of my regular loop rides—a roughly 20-mile loop with 2,000’ of climbing—up Tunnel Road above the Claremont Resort, then along the ridge to the Grizzly Peak Summit and back home down Euclid. It was a nice day for a ride. We had some scattered showers in the morning but I missed them during the afternoon ride. Mid-70s, humid, with spots of rain. It felt downright tropical. I also installed a new 30t Sachs Maillard freewheel which is nice to have in this area.

I’ve shared similar photos before, but the views today are worth repeating (plus my new phone has a better camera). View from near the top of the first climb up Tunnel Road looking back toward the bay and bridges. Also shows off the low and high gear range of the Chorus RD.



About 5 miles after that first climb, you get a more expansive view of the bay from the Grizzly Peak summit, the high point of the ride.

JacobLee 

Wow, lots of cool pics above!

Lucky to get to do some commuting lately, so I thought I'd try out the new bicycle/pedestrian bridge in Portland. Named after congressman Earl Blumenauer, and I appreciate that they sloped it downhill. Oh wait...

gaucho777 

I've been rekindling my love affair with my LOOK this week since replacing the 13-26t freewheel with a 13-30t which suits the local hills and my fitness level better. Today I went out for about a 28-mile loop into the Berkeley/Oakland Hills and then back through town and along the Bay Trial to finish off the ride.

I headed through campus to begin the ride. School doesn't start until August 25 but some students have started to arrive early. Campus felt busier than what's reflected in the photo below. Here is a shot of the glade in front of the library with the CampanileTower in the background. Campagnolo...Campanile...Coincidence?



From there, I climbed Tunnel Road up to the ridge of the East Bay hills. It's the same climb I showed a few posts above with some nice views of SF and the bay, so I won't repeat the photo. From there, I rode along the ridge briefly before descending Snake Rd. into Montclair. This was a road used to avoid until recently because the conditions were horrible--bumpy, loose surface, potholes, and long deep ruts that made descents treacherous. (The way up is fairly steep for the first mile, but the new 30t makes it more enjoyable, too.).Here is a panoramic, slightly fish-eyed view of one of the sweeping turns under a footpath. With the new road surface, it's now a fast, fun, curvy, and smooth descent.



Then I made my way through Montclair in the Oakland foothills, meandered through town toward the water, passed near my house again, and extended the ride by riding along the SF Bay Trail. This following photo is next to the connection to the SF Bay Trail and shows the Berkeley Aquatic Park which runs along the I-80 freeway. This is just a few miles from my home. Behind the red boathouse is where one of our local bicycle co-ops is located--shoutout to Waterside Workshops.



I got a close-up look at the new bike & pedestrian bridge being built at the Gilman Street offramp. In the shot above, you can see a bit of the pedestrian & bike bridge near the Berkeley Aquatic Park, which is near the University Ave. exit. This new bridge is at the next exit along the i-80, just about a mile north, which is the exit I take when driving. That underpass is a mess, a nightmare for both cyclists and cars, so the new foot/bike bridge is going to be a welcome improvement.



Here below is a nice vista point along the bay trail with Marin and Mt. Tam in the distance. (SF and the Golden Gate Bridge, not shown, would be just out of camera view to the left.)



Shown below is Albany Bulb, a nice beach and landfill peninsula along the Bay Trail. Popular dog destination. My dog Argus dog loves to come out here and chase balls in the water. The small jut of land beyond the beach features lots of small walking trails with improvised art installations made from random recycled bits, concrete, driftwood, bicycle parts, etc. A nice place for a short hike.



BONUS PHOTO of Argus and a couple Albany Bulb art installations, not from today's ride:



Last stop of the day: Gilman Brewing Co. for a 4-pack of Dashboard Jesus Hazy IPA. After the photo, I stuffed the cans in my jersey pockets like a good domestique for the final short leg home.

curbtender

Got in a flat ride up in Yountville.

supernova9

Lake Washington in Seattle

DQRider 

I named this bike in reference to a French film from 1986. She is a Peugeot, after all, and from that era. Those familiar with the film will understand if she looks a bit deranged from her original intended purpose.

Across the street from the Amoré Café:



The best place in the neighborhood to enjoy a good book over a blended iced latté.

Outside Tapper's Pub:



The late day sunshine lends a magical quality to a simple brick wall that makes it a perfect background for, well, anything really.

I know that this thread is supposed to be more about the place than the bike, but I've captured all the local scenery within a 50-mile radius of my house on these forums by now. I am going to have to range further afield if I want to present anything new.
Working on it...
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obrentharris 

Great ride Randy! Your rides provide me with lots of good fuel for reminiscing. I worked at a windsurfing shop in that boathouse in 1979-80.
Brent

bironi

No pics.
Going up in gray, blue coming back down.
By

northbend 

Oh man, bironi I need to go back up there again. Nice!

jamesdak 

Overcast and raining when I started to get ready for today's ride. So I put up the Kirk and grabbed the old Team USA. Turned out to be a nice morning anyway though as the storm moved on before I got started. So I just did a lazy 30 mile ride on the ol' girl just enjoying the morning and the quiet snick of all the Superbe parts propelling me along!


She's quite comfortable with the fat tires. I need to put the fat tubulars back on for a day to see how fast I can roll this one.

Another new road for yet more houses....sigh....

The church park about 3 miles from the house.

The church park about 3 miles from the house.

The old Valley Chapel, now a private residence.

SurferRosa

Shilshole Bay, the new album by Miyata 912



.

SwimmerMike 

I found myself in Singapore today. So I rented a bike to explore a bit.

zookster 

Last Thursday I rode Black Creek Park again, doing the full 11 mile out and back trail. Got caught in a heavy thunderstorm on the way back. Took my '93 Diamond Back Sorrento, which was far better suited for the gravel than my Schwinn Racer I rode here last time.

rccardr 

Couple hours on the 87 Tempo with 10sp DA:
IMG_5938 by Doc Mertes, on Flickr
IMG_5936 by Doc Mertes, on Flickr

JacobLee 

Cool bike rack!

DQRider 

Wow! So that's what a Civilized country looks like! Where's my confounded passport?
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northbend 

I replaced the Brooks C15 cutaway on my Woodrup the other day with a new Swift.

Going back to good ol’ leather.

The C15 was comfortable in it’s own way and waterproof which was why I bought it in the 1st place but after only 4 years of use it was really getting ratty and worn out, the top beginning to split.
Never did like how squeaky it was and how the surface was “grippy”.

I never realized how much I disliked those two issues before yesterdays ride up n over Snoqualmie Pass for Lunch at Lost Lake.
A distance of 75 miles, nearly all on dirt/gravel roads and trail, the Swift going through it’s break in process.
Ahhh the saddle is quiet and I can move around on it without it pulling at my shorts. We’re off to a good start.

It had rained the day before cooling us off from the 90+ heat we’d been having for the previous 6 days.
It was still a bit cool when I took off late morning from home. The trail takes the high route above I90 going east.

Friday Lunch at Lost Lake by Matthew Pendergast, on Flickr

I normally take the Iron Horse Trail all the way up to the Pass but this time, I decided to veer off at the McClellan Butte trail and ride Tinkham road so I could ride up to the Pass via the old Snoqualmie Pass Road which passes by Denny Creek campground.

Friday Lunch at Lost Lake by Matthew Pendergast, on Flickr

The Denny Creek road is paved following the S. Fork of the Snoqualmie River.
Traffic is light and the sounds of the river are mixed with the distant sounds of I90 above me on both sides of the valley where it splits on the final climb up to the pass.
In the trees, it sounds more like a windy day.

Friday Lunch at Lost Lake by Matthew Pendergast, on Flickr

The climb is much more stout than the Iron Horse Trail as it switchbacks through the dense forest until it breaks out into the open on an avalanche scarred hillside just below the pass.

Friday Lunch at Lost Lake by Matthew Pendergast, on Flickr

Friday Lunch at Lost Lake by Matthew Pendergast, on Flickr

I buy a couple cans of beer at the DRUBRU brewery on top of the pass and stuff it into the bag along with the sandwiches I had made for lunch later.
A fast descent down to Hyak where I catch the Iron Horse Trail again and ride it eastward to the end of Lake Keechelus for the stout 2 mile ride up Lost Lake road.

It’s getting warm now but there’s a breeze blowing across Lost lake as I pull off my shoes, soak my feet in the water as I sit on a log by the lakeshore and have lunch.

Friday Lunch at Lost Lake by Matthew Pendergast, on Flickr

Friday Lunch at Lost Lake by Matthew Pendergast, on Flickr

I took the Iron Horse Trail all the way back on the return leg, passing through the 2 mile long tunnel. Home in time for dinner.

Friday Lunch at Lost Lake by Matthew Pendergast, on Flickr

Friday Ride to Lost Lake by Matthew Pendergast, on Flickr

botty kayer

SwimmerMike those buildings remind of the ATAT's from the Empire Strikes Back.

I got my Tommasini back on the road this weekend. A few months ago I lost the front end on an oil spill while going around a 90 degree corner, and in the resulting rapid interaction between rider and road and tangle with bike, I managed to buckle the rear wheel beyond repair. I was fine apart from a few extra minor scars on top of the crash scars that already adorn my elbows, knees and hips.

It's taken a few weeks for my local bike shop to source a new rim, thanks Brexit, some morons still think that was a good idea but all evidence and experience points to the contrary....but don't get me started on that..... So with a new rear wheel and some new bar tape to replace the crashed destroyed last lot, the pink panther rides again!

I was awake early this morning so headed out towards Waterloo before the tourists hit the streets. Through Leake street tunnel....

...out into the bright sunshine and the London Eye on the other side...

I rode along the river towards the east end where I did my usual meander around looking for any new street art works, one out for their morning smoke....

....the worlds favourite mischief maker no doubt hatching a dastardly plan...

This made me want an ice cream...

I then ride around Arnold Circus...

...back west through West Smithfield where the old sits alongside the new, and I think you fellow C&V'ers will agree the old looks nicer than the new...


And also in West Smithfield I saw this sign which made me chuckle.

I didn't need any encouragement today, as after a hiatus over summer, this weekend football (or soccer to you over that side of the pond) is back! Weekends are definitely better with football and a cold beer, so I raced back home to watch my team win 4-1, and for now at least we are top of the league, happy days.

Wildwood 

Been getting in a lot of shorter rides (8 -10mi) on the vintage bikes, refining saddle selection. A few long rides on the trails. Encouraged to downsize, but they still make me smile - like being with a friend, in a way maybe. Nobody wants to lose a friend……
Roll on. With vigor.

None more enjoyable. None more non-descript. Anonymous on the road but seen.

Drillium Dude 

Out and about in the heat - 106 here today. Nice that I was able stop occasionally at various shaded oases. Took some pics at the one closest to home (mormon temple) on Pinnacle Peak Road. Btw, this was the first real ride with the new Lotto 1000s which arrived from Ebay a couple days ago. Keepers for sure! Fit is perfect and cleat location is locked in.

Some pics:







And this is Deems Hills Recreation Area, where I'll be hiking during the next week:



DD

Bianchigirll 

Unfortunately I haven’t got much riding in this year but got out yesterday fir a great spin around my subsonic loop. I took out my “Cherry Tomato” Specialissma X-7 SBX for a first spin since I cracked a rim last summer. I stuck these wheels on for now but don’t really like the dark color on this bike.

Unfortunately I realized around the 6 mile mark I made a dumb rookie mistake. Can you spot it?

Wildwood 

Tubular spare for clinchers.