Fall 2010

It's been three months since the last post - school work and the holidays filled much of my free time. But I promised myself that before the year ended, I would mention a few memorable rides that I took this fall with friends. The one that stands out most is the ride that started at the Pittsford Community Library and took us to Ionia and the historic beautifully landscaped home of my dear friends Olga and Brian. They were gracious enough to have us for coffee and cookies when we discovered the Sweet Solutions Bakery was closed for the day (off to cater the 10/10/10 weddings). Enjoying this spectacular ride through a colorful fall setting were Terry, Brian, Brian's friend Dan and myself, of course. Olga rode a short distance with us after the break, but she was having problems with her knee, so had to turn back. It was still nice to see her and the garden at her house. I really must grow dahlias again - they are the best fall flower!

Another nice ride that I lead with Gary was from Irondequoit Plaza to Greece. The best part about this ride is the trail and boardwalk that we take along the river. I also like the section that cuts between the lake and the ponds; the most scenic part of Greece for sure. This ride started at 10:00am and did bring more riders out; eleven I think. Beautiful sunny day, stopped at Bruegger's Bagels, but did not finish until about 2:00pm. This may be the trade off if we want to get more of the group out to ride on Sunday's. I would not mind hearing how others liked this starting/ending time...anyone?

My last ride with friends was in November with Gene and Brian. Great ride out to Macedon on a beautiful unseasonably warm day. This ride could have ended painfully as Brian and Gene both went down when Brian lost a wheel on his bike. Fortunately, they were not going fast and neither were injured, just sore for a few days. Brian has since taken his bike to the shop to ensure the stability, safety and performance of his older bike, including the essential rear view mirror!

Overall, the number of fall rides with the group was way down this year. Partly because of colder than usual, rainy days, but also because of the cancellation of the RMSC fall ride course. I also took a few Sunday hikes with friends and family this year, which was a nice change of pace. Karen and I had fun running our first Turkey Trot in Webster on Thanksgiving day. I may continue to run during the winter when the roads are dry as it is a great workout, using a different set of muscles. The fact that it is weight bearing is another benefit.

The snow came early in December and gave us near record accumulations, so cross-country skiing has been our best outlet for exercise and social contact lately. Unfortunately, it is melting rapidly today. On the plus side, I got out on my bike and it felt very good!

Never Say Never

The opportunity to ride on Tuesday nights has come to an end - or so we keep saying...
Just a few folks were able to get out again this Tues., Sept 21, as we needed to start by 5:30pm. Excellent night with warm temps., a beautiful sunset and a full harvest moon in the sky on our return. I rode most of the ride with Del, my former right-hand man leading for the long group; so it was nice to do this again. We had a new rider join us for a second time. Her name is Carol and she handled the 20 mile route quite smoothly, so another female for the long group?

Rejuvenation

After weeks of not getting out for a group ride, I finally got what I needed - a really nice long ride with friends. Sunday, September 19th started out wet and cloudy, but the forecast was not calling for additional rain, so Gary, Steve, Brian and myself rode from Black Creek Park to Leroy and back for a 38 mile ride. The sun even came out for the last ten miles, making this ride absolutely perfect. This was only the second time we have done this route, so I am still enjoying the new roads and the more familiar, favorites, such as Oatka Trail and Stewart. We also have found a gem of a restaurant in Leroy; The D & R Depot, an old train depot that has been nicely restored and serves very good breakfast fair with REAL maple syrup - yum!

It really was incredibly good to get in this ride; the difference in my mood and energy was remarkable. September has been busy for many reasons and the weather played a role here too, with plenty of rain and much cooler temps. I also have taken a job with the Pittsford Community Library this month, which I am happy about, but it is one more thing to incorporate into the week, along with my UB classes and school starting for my kids. Many more miscellaneous items too. Most of the time I am able to maintain a good balance in my life, but September, December, May and June are always challenging!

A Century, At Last

I did not have a good excuse and was overdue to ride another century, so with Michele as my accomplice, we completed a 100 mile ride on Sunday, Aug.29th. This was Michele's first century and I was glad she did it with me; hopefully a memorable occasion for her. It was only my second century, as I only want to do it if the weather is ideal and if I can get a good night's sleep. All the stars lined up this time and it was a very good experience. We shared a large portion of this ride with Dan, an enthusiastic, cheerful guy, who is an old friend of Gary's. This ride was scheduled to start at Island Cottage and Edgemere Dr. in Greece at 7:30am. Michele and I rode from her house in Irondequoit to the start location, to get in extra miles, where we met up with Gary, Dan and Rosemary. The ride took us out to Brown's Berry Patch, near Lyndonville, on very quiet open roads. Gary and Rosemary rode together at a nice pace and were not far behind us when we stopped for lunch. We did have slightly different routes and our group missed a few turns, stopped for water and restrooms, dealt with a long gravel road and had to patch up my scraped knee after I took a spill on the gravel, so when you add that up, I guess we did loose some time. But, that is to be expected on such a long ride, especially with many unfamiliar roads.

At Brown's Berry Patch, we had a nice lunch on a picnic table under a big shade tree, where Rosemary announced that this was her last long ride and that she was giving up the bike! If you know Rosemary, this is so hard to believe, as she is the most ardent cyclist I know. But she is turning 80 this year and thinks that it is time to give it up. I'm sure she is making a wise decision, but still... Fortunately, she likes spinning at the gym and will continue riding indoors. We will miss her presence on our longer rides; hopefully we will stay in touch.

The ride back went smoothly, for the most part. It was hot, but not muggy and I think we had a little breeze behind us pushing us along. I had a few leg cramps that forced me off the bike temporarily. I also felt a bit ill at mile 96 and had to stop for a while, before we finally hit the big one zero zero. No complaints from Dan or Michele. I did hear from Gary that they made it back without any problems. They rode 77 miles in all. Nice accomplishment to end the summer!

Tom's Ride

On Aug. 23rd, we were fortunate to start and end our ride from Tom and Denise's home; great area to ride in and the backyard setting was perfect for the group. We took advantage of the quiet country roads of Macedon, Palmyra, Pumpkin Hook, Farmington and Egypt for a scenic 20 mile ride. I was glad Tom lead this ride as he knows the roads well and I found my sense of direction a little off as we were riding in the reverse direction from many of my previous adventures in this area. We rode out the last few miles with the short group, helping out with a few lost chains along the way. I will have to remember to put another old sock in my bike bag, as I gave mine to Christine so she could get the grease off her fingers after replacing her chain. Cotton fabric works so much better than those little packages of wet wipes!

At Tom and Denise's place, we had plenty of food and beverages to choose from including a hot sheet of pizza compliments of our hosts. Many thanks!!! Another surprise was the appearance of a lovely cake thanking the four ride leaders for the summer rides. I heard Barry dropped it off early in the evening, but did not stay to ride. Thank-you Barry, that was very thoughtful of you and whomever was involved in this. The cake was sooo good! I also had the pleasure of eating someone's homemade cookies...just melted in my mouth...definitely worth the calories.

Once it became completely dark, those that remained settled ourselves around the outdoor firepit under a full moon to enjoy a little more conversation before heading home. What more could we ask for on a Tuesday night?!

Karen's Ride

I am getting a bit lazy here, not posting for a WHOLE WEEK! I blame it on the difficulty in trying to figure out how to incorporate a slide show into the blog; NOT easy, but if you go back to our Penfield Town Hall ride you will see a good one and there is a short one from last Sunday's rainy ride as well, finally. Technology would be so much more fun if it were a little more user-friendly.

The ride on Aug. 17th from Karen's house in Penfield was really fun, with perfect weather and a great turn-out of riders. The nine that rode the hills of Penfield with me were Erica, Gene, Michele, Glen, Tom, Steve F, Steve W, Brian and Olga. The route worked out well, despite some busier roads at the beginning and gradually turned into very quiet and hilly country roads. Nice! Brian took a really cool photo of the group as we rested at the top of Furman Hill, by climbing up to higher ground to capture all of us at an interesting angle. There are more pictures from this ride and the party at Karen's that I hope to put into a slide show soon.

After the ride, we were able to comfortably relax and socialize on Karen's back deck with plenty of food and drink to satisfy everyone. My favorite treat was made by John's wife, Linda; decadent shortbread loaded with honey glazed nuts, so healthy and sweet, yum! I brought carrot cake muffins to celebrate Karen's birthday - wanted to sing the corny birthday song to her, but she begged us not to. Happy Birthday Karen!

Heather shared with us her adventurous and successful experience in the Iron Girl competition; she has inspired both Karen and myself to consider doing it next year. Really, I just want one of those beautiful jerseys that participants receive for completing it - looked great on Heather ;)

With moving day fast approaching, Del brought a nice collection of ceramics serving dishes, vases and other miscellaneous items to Karen's and let us take home anything that caught our fancy. I found some nice wood pieces that will look lovely on my table. Thanks Del!

It was too bad that the temperature dropped after the ride, as we finally had a pool to cool off in. Brian was the only one brave enough to take a dip and he did not seem chilled at all. That hot tub would have been irresistible, had it been opened. Next time I shall speak up!

Riding in the Rain

It should not have been a wash out. Forecast showed only a 40% chance of rain and the radar in the early morning hours looked fine, but mother nature likes to surprise us occasionally. We were not able to get back to the park quickly, so we rode out the second half of our ride in a persistent steady rain. For me the worst part of riding in the rain was having the sunblock on my face wash down into my eyes and my mouth; my eyes did not suffer too much, but the taste of the sunblock was awful! On the positive side, our ride on Sunday, Aug. 14th was exhilarating with big hills and beautiful scenery on many roads that we have rarely, if ever traversed. At times I felt like I was on a roller coaster and now that I am familiar with the roads, it would be even more fun to do this again and throw caution to the wind! I'm not sure everyone else liked the challenge of this route, but all survived, staying relatively close as a group.

I saw more animals than usual on this one; fox, red-tailed hawk, heron and lots of deer. Brian pointed out a barn full of cats staring out at us as we passed in the rain. It was tempting to join them. In Ionia, we split up as a group with Erica, Lydia and Gene preferring to get back to the cars and home to dry clothing, while Gary, Brian and myself elected to stop at the Sweet Solutions Cafe to warm up, dry off a bit and get a bite to eat. This was a nice place with lots of character and all the food was homemade and delicious, (check out the story behind the cafe with the link below). Gary had waffles that came with real maple syrup and Brian had an gourmet omelet that looked so delicious, I forgot why I ordered a muffin?

Stopping at the Cafe did not leave that break in the rain that we hoped for, so with a great deal of will power, we got back on the bikes to complete the last 5 or 6 miles back to the park. Still,
I can't wait to try this route and this cafe again soon.
http://sweetsolutions.littlefingerlakes.com

Marge's Ride

The annual Marge's ride went really well this past Tuesday with perfect summer conditions and a terrific rider turnout. I had 11 people in my group; a record for this summer, with the addition of some new and some returning riders like Dick Fox, (so nice to see him again). Fortunately, I felt very strong and did not have trouble keeping ahead of the group. The two Steve's were also extra speedy on this one! Our average speed, despite the many stops and turns of the residential streets of Irondequoit, was close to 15.5 mph and we lost no one along the way. The return to the parking lot on the smooth new route 590 was a blast, being all downhill for a good long mile or so. No reports of mishap from the short group, so I assume all went well for them.

There was one scary moment in our group, I must admit, when a man using a cell phone failed to see our group coming down Lakeshore Blvd. and almost drove right into us while turning left onto Kings Highway. As a bike rider, I will never trust drivers to my safey; too many are just not paying attention or are ignorant of the rights of bicyclists to be on the road. I guess I would call that "defensive riding".

Back at the ranch, or Marge's, we all enjoyed the opportunity to be on the beach at sunset, enjoying our beverages and food. Gene takes the prize this time for the most spectacular contribution to the smorgasborg of food shared with a homemade stuffed pizza that was delicious! Kathy E. brought her blueberry salsa with chips and it must have been good because it was gone before I had some...next time. Lastly, we had the honor of Kel's presence and he was as much fun as always, staying out rather late to reconnect with the group. One of the nice things about the Marge's ride is that we often have a more diverse group, with spouses, family and friends that cannot or prefer not to join us on the road, but like to socialize just the same.

A Metric Challenge

On Sunday, August 8th, 2010, we finally ventured into a longer ride - a metric century - starting at Webster Park and stopping in Pultneyville/B.Forman Park, Sodus Point and the town of Sodus for a late breakfast. Our energetic group included Terry, Steve F., Michele, Brian and myself, although I started out much slower than the rest, probably because of a poor nights sleep, (again). Our average mileage was around 16.5 for a while, but dropped a bit as we reached the halfway point or Sodus. 'Found some new country roads that run parallel to Route 14, that were very nice and I will insist that we take them the next time we ride out this way. I think what I liked most about these roads was the fact that they were partly wooded, curvy rolling hills with virtually no traffic or residential settlements. We did stop to pick some very ripe cherries along the way and to take a few pictures. Speaking of pictures, I have quite a few from this trip, thanks to Brian, but need to find a way to post them in a slide show format in the blog.

Breakfast in Sodus was not great, as we went to a new establishment with an island flare and a poorly trained cook. At least the customer service was good. The ideal place to stop would have been Nick's Family Restaurant on Ridge Rd, just before the village of Sodus. It was crowded, so I took a chance that we might find a good place in town, but there is not!

So, we completed this long ride uneventfully and without too much pain. We were greatful for the cloudy skies, which kept the temperatures much more bearable as it was in the 80's and humid. The really great thing about doing a long ride like this is not only more time to ride and be with friends, but I find it really increases my endurance on subsequent rides. I was even able to run this morning for a longer time period, before needing to slow down and walk.

Thanks to Michele for bringing her wonderful, healthy, homemade zucchini muffins and jam. Brian supplied the blueberries - delicious! I brought coconut water to hydrate with, to Steve's dismay, (remember he does not like coconut for some reason). It's funny how closely tied food is to this blog on cycling. I think it may be one of the main reasons we ride...to enjoy the rewards!

New Life in Penfield

Another very warm ride on Tuesday night starting from Penfield Town Hall, heading east and then north into the Ontario area. Only one significant hill for my group, but a favorite, on Jacobs Road. I hit 39 mph on this one for the first time - yeah! My energy seemed to wane after that though and I rode toward the end of the group for the second half of the ride. We had almost the same group as last week with the exception of Erica and Gene. The overall turnout for this ride was smaller than last week, probably because of the heat and the fact that bursts of rain fell from random cells that moved through the area at 5:30pm. Look out for random radical rain cells... sounds scary anyway.

The real excitement for the evening occurred in the short group with quite a few witnessing the first moments of life for a new baby calf born in a farmer's field near the side of the road in Penfield. Karen sent me the photo, taken just after the calf stood on her feet for the first time. A video would have been really nice for this occasion. Eventually I hope to put a video clip into the blog, but for now I'm happy to have figured out how to include a slide show. Thanks to Dave for figuring most of this out - I would have given up! Thanks Gene for the book on blogging for dummies, very helpful! I am also grateful to Brian for the great photo's he takes on most of our rides; please send more!

So, what was my favorite food at the tailgate gathering? This time it was my very own guacamole!

Memory Lane and Beyond

What a nice ride and brunch we had on Sunday, Aug. 1st. Steve F. was kind enough to host this at his home in the town of Greece and everyone brought something edible to share for the brunch. Gary and I both had some maps that Steve could chose from and after flipping a coin, my route was selected. I grew up in the town of Greece and know the back roads well, so we took many quiet residential streets to Greece Canal Park, then onto country roads in and around Spencerport. It was nostalgic for me to be back in my old neighborhood, my friends' neighborhoods, Barnard Carnival grounds and the roads on which I marched with the Barnard Color Guard. We rode a little slower so as not to lose anyone through the many turns in Greece, then picked up the pace in Spencerport. Those who made the ride were Tom, Gene, Erica, the two Steve's, Brian, Kathy, Gary and myself, of course.

I was very happy with this new route with the exception of the use of Latta Rd. and will change that by taking Manitou to Janes Rd to Island Cottage, eliminating this busy road from the ride - Gary's idea-thanks! Incorporating Greece Canal Park was great as it has a restroom and connects with the canal path. The path was not paved, but it was surprisingly smooth with only very fine stone mixed with hard ground. Next time I want to go a little further west of Spencerport to Hinkleyville Rd., adding another mile or two; that would make the ride approximately 31 miles. Hopefully, Steve will not mind hosting this again, as everyone seemed to like the ride.

The brunch was the best part of the morning. Everyone brought something wonderful to share and the back deck was very cozy and comfortable, looking over his well kept, nicely landscaped yard. It was also sunny and warm, but not a hot day. Although I enjoyed everyone's contributions, Gene's homemade cranberry almond scones blew me away. I have awarded him the title of "Scone Master". Thanks for bringing this treat Gene and thanks Steve for having us!

The last Thursday in July

I know I don't have to post all rides, but when I ride alone, I stop more often to take pictures. My eyes follow many roads, trails, streams, trees, fields, flowers and even power lines when I'm traveling along in my journey. Usually power lines detract from the scenery, but this time they caught my eye.

M.I.A.

Hey, I'm back. Just did not have the mind to write in the blog. I have rode the bike 110 miles since last Sunday, so I have a few new things to write about. Last Tuesday's ride started from Powder Mills Park and was very well attended. The fact that it was a beautiful night and the starting location was close by, may have been the reason for such a good turn out. That night started out poorly for me, having almost received a traffic ticket for not stopping completely at a stop sign. I was in a hurry despite the fact that I had plenty of time to get there. Maybe my music was influencing my driving? Anyway, my license has been clean for so long that he let me go - thank you officer and yes, I will chill out on my way to the next ride! So, being mad at myself for this, I chose to punish myself by taking the harder, steeper hill out of the park. My apologies to the group - not that they complained.

The route was new, heading south through Fishers and down to Victor with mostly flat terrain, which is unusual for this area, (maybe I just wasn't feeling the hills - still mad I think). I was feeling a little pressure to ride at a fast pace though, as Steve W. brought his friend Mark with him, a hard-core cyclist and I was one of the few with a map out. I did not want to lose those riding at the end though and did keep them in sight or waited til we regrouped. Mark was nice and offered some suggestions for improving my speed and the performance of the bike. I realized that I might like to have someone professional help me become a better rider and even daydreamed a little about racing in my own age group, ( if that actually exists). It was also interesting to hear about the dynamics of racing and the women who do this. Mark also shared with me that he rides 10,000 miles a year and reaches a top speed of 54 mph on some descents-'did not ask if that ever ended badly!

Back at the park, everyone was in a great mood and the spread of food was incredible. We had some nice healthy selections such as a cous-cous salad, beans and nuts, but also some wonderful desserts. Karen and I were lucky to share a piece of Kathy E.'s excellent blueberry pie... that's fruit, so it must be good for you - it was very good for me!

I forgot to take a picture for this post, so the credit goes to Google Images.

Black & White Movies

When the sun refuses to come out, I sometimes imagine I'm in a black & white movie. 'Not a bad thing, especially when riding the bike as I stay cooler and don't have to slather that greasy sunscreen on my skin. The darker skies also add some mystique to the old farmhouses and barns we pass by, making you wonder about past lives and the type of lifestyle that now inhabits the surroundings. The photo here is one of a few old field stone homes that Gary and I passed by; unusual building materials for this area. The ride started at the Tops Plaza in Chili and went to Brockport, taking many quiet flat roads. I used to avoid this ride, wanting more hills at this point in the riding season, but at 37.2 miles, it was a good workout. Brockport is a lovely old town and provides many options for places to stop for a break. 'Stopped at the Tim Hortons where I enjoyed an iced mocha coffee, while Gary had a bagel and hot coffee. We were back on the road in less than a half hour with a little more energy than we may have started with and discussed some alternatives to the Sunday rides to increase the number of riders. Taking the popularity of the Tuesday group rides into consideration, we may try having two groups; long/fast and short/leisurely to accommodate more riding styles. We would also start at 8:30am and skip the midway breakfast stop. The option of a tailgate party or driving to a nearby restaurant after the ride is finished may work well. This is an advantage to those short on time, as they can just leave when we return. 'Love to hear some other thoughts on this plan?

Zen Moments

Tuesdays ride this week started from Veteran's Park in the town of Rush with perfect weather conditions-sunny, low 80's and no wind to speak of. The riders actually split into four groups; long and fast, just long, short, short and leisurely, if I am remembering correctly. I hope that worked for everyone. I had just five in my group; Tom, the two Steve's, Ed and myself. I have to say, this was an exhilarating ride! I felt so energized, just rode my very best. The excellent route was part of the reason - thanks Del! I did take one detour though, as I could not bypass Stonybrook Rd., with it's amazing hills. I hit 39.7 mph on this road...really nice! This would also have been a zen moment for me, my only focus is on the road, breathing and feeling the sensation of flying. Does this happen to anyone else riding?

To follow that theme, we came across the Wat Lao Buddhadham Buddhist Temple on Martin rd. How did such an beautiful, exotic and ornate structure end up in such a remote,rural location? Backroads can be very interesting. Biking exposes us into things most drivers will never see.

Tailgate party had some nice treats. Thanks Mary and Steve for the beans and delicious healthy cookies. I did not move quick enough to get one of the very decadent layered cookies that John brought, but I'll bet they were amazing. Many other good things to choose from. Always fun to see what people bring:)

Photo credit goes to Rochester's "City" newspaper.

Avon Calling...

Yesterday I was back in Rochester and rode with the Sunday riders from Avon to Geneseo. It had been a while since we started at this location and I missed it, but next time I will carpool; burned through a quarter tank of gas by the time I got back home, (a lot for a Honda Fit). On the plus side, I was able to pump up the volume on some favorite tunes and that was especially nice because I did not listen to ANY music on vacation. We had 6 riders, Gary, Chris, Terry, Enrico, Bobo and myself, (some of the names have been changed upon request). Terry suggested I take the name Flamingo, after I told him some of the mean nicknames I had growing up. Beats "stork" anyday, so I'll take it! Nice ride but a little short at 28 miles. I'd like to do this one again next year but make it longer - maybe 40 miles or more. We could start at the Fishing Access Park in Rush, take E. River Rd. to Avon and head towards Geneseo. I would like to find alternatives to Rte. 63 and Lima Rd. as they are somewhat busy with road traffic. With the longer route, we could skip breakfast and have an early lunch in Avon on the return, if needed. Just a suggestion.

Selkirk State Park

It's not often that we go away on a vacation for more than a few days, so taking a whole week off to stay at Selkirk Shores State Park was a treat. We stayed in a rustic old cabin that despite its' small size is quite charming and provides the the absolute basics such as a fireplace, kitchen and bath. The screened in porch that faces the lake (from a distance though) is a nice extra. The trees in the park are very old and beautiful and the trails are extensive, especially if you are walking. I choose to venture out onto the trails on my old hybrid, to see if I would like mountain biking and I loved it! I also did not fall, which was a concern after the falls I took on my commuter hybrid earlier this year through some mixed terrain rides. Alec joined me on one of the trail rides and he seemed to love it too - plans are already forming in my head for future excursions like this with my son. I also want a REAL mountain bike sometime in the future. Anyone else?

Holy Heat Wave!

Our ride on Tuesday night (7/6/10) was about as hot as it gets around here. Must have been around 90 degrees when we started at Dryer Road Park; good turn out despite the temps. I had six in my group; Steve W., Michele, Tom, Brian, and Olga. Great new roads on this one, which went to Bloomfield and then further south of that. Super hills, not too difficult. The second half of the route felt like it was all downhill, so we cruised back at a nice speed. Hardly a car passed us and the sun was a big orange ball in the sky over the scenic landscapes. Michele let us use her spray bottle to cool ourselves with-really works too, especially when you get back on the bike and the water on your skin begins to evaporate, cooling you in the process.

I made a batch of blueberry salsa and brought it with chips to share with the group. A big hit too! Thanks Kathy E. for the recipe. Thanks Karen for the beer - so glad she is riding with us again :D

Solace & the Fourth of July

'Got out before 7:00am yesterday. I wanted to see the lake. 'Thought that may make my heart feel a little lighter. Saturday was an emotional day; filled with pride seeing my son march in the parade with his Robotics team, (something I would never have dreamed he would do) but later I dealt with the passing of my uncle. So, this ride gave me some time to think about my family and how things keep changing. My uncle lived through more pain and loss than most of us endure, and he never complained or fell apart that I know of. A very strong, proud and hard working man. I am glad he is no longer suffering, but will miss him. My mom will miss him so much more. We celebrated the fourth and my uncle at his house with an amazing display of fireworks that my uncle planned for with the help of my cousins' family and the pyrotechnic skills of their teenage children, Janice and Edward.
Today I rode again, alone. Feeling stronger, so I headed for the hills on Furman Rd and Sweets Corners. The view of from the top of Furman hill was very hazy despite the cloudless sky - glad to be on the road early with temps heading for the 90's. Watched some of the Tour de France on Dave's iPhone - free app that actually shows live coverage. A french rider took first place, Sylvan Chavanel. Lance is in fifth place overall. Apparently the road conditions were not up to par and the majority of riders came into the finish refusing to sprint, as a protest. Race referees will have a difficult time determining placement of the main pack - all rode in with same time. Oh the drama!

Cool, Sunny Rides

I'm late to post for last Tuesday's ride (June 28th), but it was a good one. Starting from Ginegaw Park into the many hills of Marion and Williamson. This was the most challenging evening ride of the year with the craziest hills on Warner Rd. I've done them before, but forgot how tremendous they are. Michele, Steve W. and Brian raced up the hills, while Tom and I paced ourselves at a slower rate. I am definitely more comfortable with that. 'Love to race down though! 'Was glad for the cool temps., this ride would be much more challenging in the heat.

We had a different mix of people at the tailgate; some new folks that I met include a very vivacious woman named Margaret, a tall older man named Bill and one of the mom's I met at a Robotics picnic in May, Heather. Did not meet Bill's wife, who was there - maybe next time. Many of the regulars were missing - hope the hilly area did not affect the turnout? I know not everyone likes the hills. I thought I would really feel this ride for the next few days, but I did not.

Road this morning, about 16 miles, felt great! It was only 54 degrees when I left at 7:30am, but with the sun, that was perfect.

Future High Speed Route

Yeah, I know its been a LONG time since I posted last. School and birthdays are mostly to blame. So, this Sunday we did our Northampton to Holley ride and loved it, especially the easy speed at which we were able to maintain (15.6mph ave. at the half-way pt.). I really want to do this one again, when I know all the turns well, to see if it could be done at some kinda record speed...maybe 17 mph ave. I really think this is possible!

We had some rain initially-no big deal. Warm, humid air, some sun, no wind, no traffic and almost no hills. Stopped at Sam's Diner in Holley, which is nestled into a row of restored historic brick bldgs. This place has good food for the lowest prices of any diner that I can think of. Broke out of my standard order and tried a breakfast croissant-was greasy but good. Gary got his blueberry pancakes, Brian had the fr. toast, not sure what Steve and Terry had. We got onto the subject of foods we DON'T like though and Steve made me laugh...he doesn't like" brussel sprouts, coconut and "Circus Peanuts", (you know those disgusting orange peanut shaped marshmallow things). How did he remember the actual market name for these "peanuts"? We are a strange country for inventing such a weird "food" item.

Gary does not like saurkraut; not in a house or with a mouse or in a boat or with a goat... Brian likes everything and Terry's only comment was that I made a face like his daughter when I mentioned that I do not like stewed tomatoes.

Some confusion coming back on roads without signage or signage that did not match the map, but I have made notes on all copies of the maps, so that we can fly through this ride next time. 'Finished our trip with a cooling, nauseating swing on an awesome swing-set at the park...top bar very high to accomodate big people that like to raise their bare feet up into the clouds!

Warm Week in March

An abrupt end to winter and almost 2 feet of snow. I rode almost every day this past week, alternating between the road bike and the hybrid, ( think I will name my bikes-they are too special to not have names). My only regret is that I could not get anyone to ride with me. I know most bikers feel it is odd to ride with snow on the curb, but if the roads are clear, I don't care at all. I don't even see the snow after a while, focusing instead on how good it feels to be on the road again, enjoying the warm fresh air. Weather like this is a blessing meant to be accepted and used. Thank you weather god/goddess.

My longest ride was from Fairport to Pumkin Hook, which was quite hilly and I fought the wind as well. Back pain started before I finished and I realized how important it is for me to keep up the physical therapy exercises I learned last year. I also attended a yoga class at Breath in Pittsford and will try to incorporate some of the stretches into a daily routine. Olga joined me and we had some social time afterward at the juice bar. She is such a good friend-I hope we will ride together this year.

Mileage for the week: Road bike was 39 miles, Hybrid was 25 miles. Not bad.